Chapter 94 Arnold And The Juniors
Iris and Basilio-san were in the middle of synthesizing something when the door to the synthesis room was knocked. I reflexively replied, "Yes!" to the person behind the door.
I asked the two juniors to stop synthesizing for a moment ―― as we were handling poisonous herbs, just in case ―― and opened the window wide to ventilate the room. Then, after taking a breath or two, I opened the door, saying, "I've kept you waiting."
The person standing before me was Arnold, his eyes slightly wide.
"Ampère, you were here?"
"Arnold-san? Why are you here?"
"I have a letter from Lukas-dono."
I was the one with wide eyes now as he handed me the envelope.
I wondered why Arnold had taken the trouble to deliver it himself. Judging from his earlier tone, he must have gone to some lengths to find me.
As I stood there frozen in surprise, Arnold moved the envelope closer to my face as if to urge me on. I came to my senses with a start and hurriedly accepted it.
"Thank you very much for taking the trouble."
I thanked him and looked down at the envelope.
I stared at my name written in Lukas's handwriting, when Arnold whispered softly, so that the two juniors couldn't hear him.
"I've been discussing the date of the operation with Reinhardt-dono several times, but we haven't reached a decision yet. ...What about Lukas-dono?"
I understood the reason for his actions from Arnold's question. He wanted to know as soon as possible whether Lukas would come to the experiment.
I hurriedly opened the seal. And I apologized for skimming through the letter from my childhood friend ―― and found the "answer" that Arnold was looking for.
"It seems like he'll come. He says he'll leave the village as soon as I send him a letter."
"――Who's coming?"
Suddenly, Iris's voice cut in. And almost at the same time, I felt warmth wrapping around me from behind. It must be Iris.
I turned around, surprised, and replied with a smile.
"My childhood friend is coming to see me."
When Iris heard the word "childhood friend," she must have realized that Hero was visiting the royal capital. She gave an ambiguous smile, as if she was unsure what kind of expression to make.
"Do you have a childhood friend?"
When Basilio-san asked this question, Iris raised her gaze from the floor and looked at him. He seemed to be watching her with curiosity.
I wondered in the back of my mind if I would have time to introduce Lukas to my juniors, but I opened my mouth.
"His name is Lukas. Would you like me to introduce him?"
Half as a formality, half as a sincere request. Since there was Elvira's matter, Iris and Lukas would definitely meet, but Basilio-san also nodded in agreement.
Imagining the sight of my juniors and childhood friend talking, I turned back to Arnold. Then he turned around to see Iris and the others behind me. He seemed surprised and asked, his eyes wide.
"Is this a weekend training session?"
"I was doing research and we met by chance."
I laughed at the word "weekend training session." Although Iris and Basilio-san both participated of their own volition, it was true that what we were doing was a weekend training session. We were also using the synthesis room, which was a facility of the royal castle, so I should probably submit a proper application after the holidays.
I was thinking about talking to Kasper-san first to make arrangements for the holidays, when Arnold looked behind me and said,
"...Are you synthesizing poison?"
He easily guessed the content of the training from a distance. However, it was probably easy to guess since the protective masks were still on the table.
I hesitated to use the word "demon king" in front of Basilio-san, who didn't know the circumstances, so I answered vaguely.
"We're looking for a way to fight monsters."
At my words, Arnold crossed his arms and seemed to be thinking about something. Then he said,
"Would you mind if I join you?"
He threw out an unexpected word.
Arnold's participation would be a great experience for Iris and the others. As their instructor, I would really appreciate it, but there is one concern.
"That would be a great offer, but aren't you busy?"
"I have some free time right now. Is that okay?"
Arnold asked if it was okay, not to me, but to Iris and Basilio-san who were standing behind me.
Basilio-san, who was suddenly spoken to, straightened his back as if he was nervous, while Iris had her usual innocent smile. I couldn't help but smile at the contrast between the two.
As I waited for their answer with Arnold,
"Yes, of course!"
"Sure!"
They replied enthusiastically ―― Basilio-san's voice cracked, though.
Arnold then turned his gaze to me to confirm. I nodded vigorously and immediately started preparing a protective mask for Arnold.
Iris, Arnold, and Basilio-san stood in front of the synthesis machine in that order. The synthesis machine that was given to the three of us was not that big, and I thought it would be a bit cramped to do synthesis at the same time, so I decided to watch.
As soon as the three people who had put on their protective masks lined up,
"I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Arnold Rocco."
Arnold asked for a handshake with the people on either side of him.
The two juniors had only met Arnold a few times before. I remember that Iris had exchanged a few words with him in the synthesis room before, but I don't think they had ever greeted each other properly. I'm sure they had passed each other in the hallway, since they are seniors and juniors.
"I'm Basilio Essen. And this is..."
"Iris Harteau!"
Basilio-san and Iris responded to Arnold's handshake. After a brief greeting, they immediately started working on the synthesis.
First, Arnold quickly synthesized the poison while Iris and Basilio-san watched with interest. Impressed by his usual skill and precision, I glanced at the two juniors and saw that they were watching Arnold's hands with serious expressions.
Of course, Basilio-san, and Iris too, never skipped training or acted carelessly since becoming alchemist trainees, no matter how they got started. Both of them still accept my advice, even though I'm still inexperienced, with sincerity. I'm truly blessed with juniors.
After Arnold finished synthesizing, Iris and Basilio-san started synthesizing under his supervision.
"...You're good at it, Essen."
"N-no, not at all. You're too kind."
"Basilio, you're too nervous!"
Iris laughed cheerfully at Basilio-san, who was so embarrassed that his tone was a bit off. In response to her, Arnold quickly pointed out.
"Harteau, it's good that you're decisive, but your movements are too rough. You should be more careful when handling poison."
"Yes!"
Iris nodded vigorously at Arnold's precise instructions. Then, in the next synthesis, she started slowly, taking twice as long as before. Iris is innocent and very straightforward.
I watched the 3 of them with a smile, but I thought it would be okay to leave them alone for a while, so I went out into the courtyard with a bag in hand. And I looked for some fallen leaves and broken branches. It's to test the synthesized poison.
Strong poison can melt even the skin of a monster. So, of course, it should also melt the surface of fallen leaves and branches. However, this method can only tell whether it is toxic or not, not whether it will be effective against monsters ―― the demon king.
I was a little anxious that I had to find a better testing method soon, but I put the fallen leaves and branches I had gathered carelessly into the bag and returned to the synthesis room.
We returned to the synthesis room, where the other three had already finished synthesizing several different types of poison. I waited for a good time to speak without disturbing their work.
"I've collected some leaves and branches. Why don't we try dripping the poison on them to see if it dissolves the surface?"
Iris was the first to jump at my suggestion. She grabbed the container of poison she had synthesized and ran over to me.
"Be careful, you're holding poison!" I warned her as I took the container from her. I spread the leaves and branches I had collected on a flat board and dripped a few drops of the liquid on them. The result: no reaction.
"There's no reaction... and there's no pungent smell either. Maybe the toxicity has all been eliminated."
There was no reaction, and there was no smell at all. It was just a quick test, but it seemed like the potency had disappeared.
Sadly, I'm all too familiar with this phenomenon of the potency disappearing.
"It's highly likely that the potency of the 'Drinking Water of the Spirits' is too strong and is canceling out the other effects."
I looked at Arnold, and he was looking at me too. Our eyes met, and he nodded slightly. I think we were thinking the same thing.
I remembered the days of suffering when we had tried to create an antidote to Elvira's self-destruction disease by synthesizing the 'Drinking Water of the Spirits' with various herbs, but to no avail. It was somewhat expected, but maybe the 'Drinking Water of the Spirits' could cancel out the toxicity of even ordinary poisonous plants.
"Let's try more!"
Iris brought over the poison that Arnold and Basilio-san had synthesized.
But the results were all the same. The leaves didn't dissolve, and there was no pungent smell. We couldn't say for sure that the toxicity had disappeared, but it was highly likely.
"Even if it's not toxic or harmful to humans, there's a chance it could still work on monsters, right?"
Everyone nodded along to Basilio's words. Right now, since we were using poisonous potions as materials for synthesis, we could use visible results like the dissolving of leaf surfaces as an indicator. However, there might be cases where items without poison would be effective against monsters. That's how the [Holy Water] of "Last Brave" worked.
The possibility was extremely low, but it wasn't zero that one of the items that didn't dissolve the leaf surface could have a great effect on monsters.
"I guess the best way is to try it on a monster..."
Iris' words were true. It would be best to try it on a monster. However, it wasn't going to be that easy.
For now, I tried to change the sinking atmosphere by suggesting it in a cheerful tone.
"Let's put up the memo with the synthesis method and save it. As for trying it on a monster, I'll consult with various people."
The Savila Knight Order... Lukas. The smiling face of my childhood friend popped up in my mind, but I reconsidered that it would be too much to rely on my childhood friend.
The kind Lukas would do his best to help me if he knew I was in trouble. He was also scheduled to visit the royal capital soon. However, asking him for help with Elvira and the poison experiment...
I swallowed back a sigh that threatened to escape and continued the synthesis.
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