Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Saint Tillis.
She was the only existing High Elf and a spirit master.
Despite the benevolent-sounding title of “Saint,” she was an extraordinarily radical and unorthodox individual.
Hearing her epithet, “Saint of the Slums,” one might imagine an angel tending to the weak… but…
“I’ve dealt with thirty-two gangs and sixty-eight demons so far.”
She hadn’t healed the sick or treated the suffering. She had simply eradicated the root of the problem—destroying the criminal organizations that plagued the slums.
Fundamental problem-solving.
“Yes. Shall we start the sparring match right away?”
Her invitation to the cradle wasn’t for character training based on her saintly nature but for combat experience.
Saint Tillis declared, with a face as beautiful as an angel, that she would spread not faith but violence.
“Wow…”
Ariel, attending Tillis’s class, was amazed.
It was a breathtaking sight.
The spirits summoned by Saint Tillis were buried beneath dozens of pure white wings, evoking the image of angels from legend.
Ariel quickly realized that Tillis’s saintly title was earned not only from her appearance but also from her character.
Anyone seeing her might assume divinity at first glance.
“Which student shall we start with?”
“M-May I try?”
“And your name?”
“Ariel… Ether.”
“Oh my, from the Ether ducal family. I look forward to working with you.”
Ariel Ether gripped her staff tightly, preparing for combat.
“So you came to the alchemy workshop? Not to spy on me?”
“Lord Johan, what exactly do you think of me?”
“Hmm… a creditor, I suppose.”
I half-ignored Ariel as I adjusted the mixture of the potion.
Hmm… not this either.
Just now, half a year’s worth of our domain’s revenue passed through my hands. Typical.
“Now that you know why I’m here, can I get a potion?”
“Do you think this workshop is a storage for potions?”
“Considering the money I left here, yes, it counts as storage.”
“Then isn’t that something to ask Professor Georg?”
“Since he’s not here, I’m asking you, Lord Johan!”
“What a nuisance.”
Sensing she would pester me endlessly if I refused, I checked the ledger for how much Ariel had left in the workshop.
“Huh… got taken for a ride, huh?”
“Excuse me?”
“No, just healing potions and mana potions, right?”
…Not my fault you got swindled. Even Professor Georg must’ve been thinking about how to fleece the Ether ducal family.
Ignoring the disgruntled Ariel, I pulled one healing potion and five mana potions from the shelf and handed them to her.
“Won’t you explain how to use them?”
“You won’t drink them for just a day or two, so do I need to?”
“Yes, please do.”
Is she trying to annoy me, or is she forcing friendship?
Realistically, Ariel has no reason to want to be close to me, so she’s probably just picking a fight because she dislikes my attitude.
“Healing potions applied to wounds help them close gradually. You can also drink them if the injury is internal. Mana potions are simply drunk.”
Neither will restore you completely. If they could, doctors would be out of jobs.
Mana potions, being infused with elixirs, slowly restore mana. They’re expensive, but effective. Considering she’s drinking five bottles, her mana reserves must be extraordinary.
I don’t need even half a bottle. Usually, one is enough to sip occasionally.
“Lord Johan…”
Frowning, Ariel downed mana potion after potion, gripping the bottle tightly.
I take it she doesn’t like the taste. The fact she keeps talking while drinking proves it.
“Lord Johan?”
“What now? Don’t you see I’m busy? Do you know what I’m researching?”
I’m putting in all this effort to save her, yet she keeps interrupting.
“You’re cold. I thought we were getting closer.”
“We? I have no idea where you got that impression.”
Honestly. I’ve said countless discouraging things, so why feel close? Maybe it’s her type.
“You’re the only one who knows my secret.”
Ariel’s eyes shone.
Huh… really troublesome. Her words carry weight, making it hard to mock her fully.
“So what exactly do you want to talk about?”
I’ll humor her briefly.
At this point, Ariel Ether can no longer be considered just a stranger.
“What do you think of the saint?”
“She’s insane.”
“W-What did you say?!”
Ariel screamed. She’s throwing a tantrum over my insulting Tillis, while in some places, people curse the king.
Did she get beaten a lot in sparring today? Though, judging by one healing potion, maybe not so much.
“The saint is incredible. Even His Majesty couldn’t lift a finger against her.”
“I see.”
I’m not particularly impressed. Seeing Ariel beaten like this, I doubt Robelia could have defeated Tillis either.
At this point, Ariel is stronger than Robelia. Later, I’m unsure. I haven’t seen her future—probably near the time she’d pass in the original story.
“Why don’t you request a sparring match yourself?”
“Me? That’s insane.”
“Even though I ended up like this, the saint’s sparring was effective. She pointed out weaknesses and suggested ways to leverage strengths.”
Ariel seems to want me to grow stronger.
Crazy… I’m here struggling to make a potion to save her, and she’s so relaxed. Or maybe she has no expectations of me.
“I know my weaknesses and strengths, so it’s fine.”
“And you’re very pretty.”
“Ah… yes. I suppose so.”
Ariel tilted her head. Many people apparently came just to watch Tillis.
I don’t understand wanting to watch her. To me, Tillis is a threat. More dangerous than the cult in some ways.
“Hmm…?”
As I scrambled through the reagents, I noticed we were out of the most important one. Without it, the experiment couldn’t proceed.
“Could’ve stocked these properly.”
No choice. Only freshmen like me were in the workshop. Most older students had quit, burned out from last year. I understand; I would have too.
Bottom line: to restock this reagent, we need to go outside.
“Ariel, could you guard me for a bit?”
“Huh? Me? Uh… why?”
“I need to step out briefly.”
“Does that mean you’re leaving the cradle now?”
“Well, should I live in the cradle forever? Sometimes you need fresh air.”
“True, but you’ve said before you’d graduate without ever leaving the cradle.”
“That was just my mindset. If necessary, I have to go out. What else can I do?”
Honestly, I wouldn’t leave the cradle unless necessary.
But that’s assuming it’s a safe zone.
Right now, the cradle is unsafe. The moment one person entered, the danger level inside and out equalized.
Tillis has many enemies. Anyone she’d swept through the alleys likely bears grudges.
Her rarity as a High Elf and her beauty give countless people reason to target her.
“And with Ariel here, it should be safe, right?”
“I didn’t realize you rated me so highly.”
Personally, I think Tillis is more dangerous than the cult.
If the cult is unprecedented terror, Tillis is a tangible threat. Being nearby is the most dangerous.
“So what do you want to do? For context, I’m experimenting to create a potion to heal you.”
“You don’t have to stress me. I’m not free, but I’ll help.”
“Thank you. Let’s prepare. It won’t take long.”
Ariel and I stepped outside the cradle.
I never imagined leaving so freely. Oddly amusing.
I used to fear dying outside, yet now I feel liberated.
“Lord Johan.”
“Yes, Ariel? If you want ice cream, we can get some on the way back…”
“Ambush.”
“…Already?”
“Seems so.”
I sensed an ambush, but this is fast. We’ve been out less than ten minutes.
If we sprinted back to the cradle, it’d take three minutes. Who’s foolish enough to ambush us now…?
“What is that?”
I looked in the direction Ariel pointed. At first, the assailant was barely visible, but focusing revealed it.
Fshhh!
Steam shot forth with force.
Tat-tat-tat!
Gears intertwined, spinning.
A fire-breathing machine stomped through the street, smashing everything in its path.
A bizarre structure reminiscent of steampunk.
“Ex Machina. Some madman must be testing experimental results and started a random attack.”
In other words, this isn’t targeting us. It’s a blind attack.
Still, it’s unlikely Ariel will ignore it.
“What shall we do, Lord Johan?”
She asks politely, but Ariel has already decided her course.
“Deal with it quickly. I’ll wait here.”
“Lord Johan… will you die soon? Why are you acting so differently than usual?”
Does she think I’ll cling to her, dragging her down, begging to be protected?
Her assessment of me wasn’t far off. I am that kind of person.
But…
“Yuna, what do you make of this?”
Near me was my unstoppable stalker. Calling her name, she peeked from behind a pillar.
“Maybe he’s gone mad from too many experiments?”
“Hmm. I wish that were the case, but it feels off.”
“Shall I investigate?”
“…No, better not. Could stir up a hornet’s nest.”
Ex Machina is a group of geniuses.
And geniuses are stubborn, prideful, and if mishandled, can cause serious trouble.