Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 8. An Unexpected Visitor
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"...And that concludes the Blaze Family's position. Please forgive our family head for not attending in person."
Zeira Blaze had barely arrived in Preta when she went straight to visit Mureos Avantredin, the director of the Adventurer Academy.
To deliver the most crucial message: the will of the Blaze Family.
The Blaze Family held no enmity toward her.
Mary Blaze, the one who sparked the incident, had her title stripped and been expelled from the family.
They sought forgiveness for the family head's foolish judgment.
That was the gist of it, more or less.
"Oh, no need for that. I think it's more than enough that the eldest daughter came in person."
And so, beginning with the Blaze Family, to secure support from the nobles of the Solte Kingdom.
Mureos Avantredin accepted her apology.
Normally, she would have demanded punishment even for the family head who dared oppose her.
But in exchange, she could make them indebted to her, foster good relations, and gain their cooperation, so she decided to let it slide.
'Well, they went as far as completely kicking Mary Blaze out of the family. Letting it go at this level is only fair.'
The Blaze Family had braced for major losses in making this decision.
She figured she'd match their resolve.
"Thank you."
As Zeira finished her courtesies and turned to leave, Director Mureos spoke up.
"Since you're here, why not take a tour of the academy before you go? We've put a lot of work into it—you might actually like it."
"Ah, sure, why not?"
She hadn't planned to head back right away anyway. She wanted to see her friend Lunarin Brettis.
And conveniently, Lunarin was now a teacher at the academy.
Zeira thought she could ask her to show her around.
"In that case, could I ask Lunarin Brettis to guide me? We've been friends for a long time."
"Hehe, of course. As for her class... I'll handle it personally."
With that, she summoned Lunarin and asked her to guide Zeira.
The students scheduled for Lunarin's class were shocked to suddenly get Director Mureos instead.
"Long time no see, Luna."
"Hehe, it's been ages for you too, Zeira?"
The two shook hands, reuniting after so long, and slowly began catching up on everything they'd missed.
"So anyway, back then I..."
"Hello, Teacher Lunarin."
"Oh, hey there."
In the middle of their chat, some passing students spotted Lunarin and gave her a quick bow.
"Teacher. Sounds nice, doesn't it?"
"Think so? Why don't you give it a shot? We're hiring external teachers who aren't ex-adventurers too."
"Hmm... maybe."
Teacher.
Zeira pondered it for a moment.
The family would be in good hands with her eldest brother Kin anyway.
He was competent enough not to need her support.
She'd originally planned to assist him at his side with family matters.
But trying something else didn't sound bad.
Teacher, adventurer, royal mage... Her talents would be welcomed anywhere with open arms.
But lately, she had her eye on a different field.
"Magic's great, but I've been getting into alchemy lately too."
"...Alchemy?"
Lunarin's eyes lit up at the mention of alchemy.
Aware or not, Zeira smiled and went on.
"Yeah. You extract the components while preserving each material's properties. Then combine them into a potion with a unified effect. It's a lot like magic, but just a little different."
Drawing out mana, readjusting it for its purpose, weaving spell formulas to complete the magic.
Extracting components from materials, combining them by role, mixing in precise amounts to brew a potion.
Magic and alchemy definitely shared common ground.
But the key difference was this: magic twisted principles to create or alter the impossible in reality.
Alchemy took things the world had made according to its principles and combined them just right to birth something new.
"That difference pulls me in. Similar to magic but not quite. And it enables the impossible—like magic—without defying logic."
As she explained, Zeira's eyes sparkled.
These were the eyes of someone who'd found their true passion.
The eyes of someone utterly absorbed in their pursuit.
"Oh, really? That's perfect then."
Seeing Zeira's sincerity, Lunarin clapped her hands like it was meant to be.
She knew someone else with eyes just like Zeira's.
And someone with the monstrous talent perfectly suited to it.
"There's a new alchemist at the general store. I recommended them—they're incredibly skilled."
"What? For real?"
Zeira latched onto Lunarin's words.
Eyes shining, she asked,
"The general store...? Can I go check it out?"
"Hehe, sure thing. But..."
Then Lunarin suddenly turned serious.
"That person's an adventurer who was in the same party as your sister Mary."
"...?"
Zeira tilted her head at first.
Then she jolted in realization.
She remembered why Mary had been cursed with insomnia by Director Mureos.
'Come to think of it, they said she condoned and even encouraged violence against a former party member.'
Apparently, back when they were in the party together, Mary had always been domineering and bossed him around.
Who would've thought that person was the alchemist she was about to meet.
This was awkward.
He might hold a grudge against Mary and refuse to even deal with her.
'Guess the one I need to apologize to is someone else.'
That said, Zeira still intended to go.
Even if he refused her.
She had to apologize for Mary's misdeeds no matter what.
"...Take me there."
"Got it."
Noting Zeira's steely resolve, Lunarin smiled knowingly and led her to the general store.
Zeira was her friend.
And the Blaze Family—Mary aside—was a true noble house that understood decorum perfectly.
Edin probably wouldn't hold it against them, but just in case he had biases from Mary.
Lunarin wanted to introduce them properly to clear the air.
'...But man, it kinda feels like I'm voluntarily adding capture rivals and upping the difficulty myself. What's with that?'
A faint unease and impatience tugged at her heart for some reason.
But it wasn't strong enough to worry about, so she brushed it off.
Who knew Lunarin and Mary's older sister were friends.
Apparently, they'd met on a request back when Lunarin was an adventurer.
Their perspectives and knowledge on magic clicked so well they became friends.
Her looks bring Mary's face to mind.
Definitely the same red hair and pretty features.
But her vibe is worlds apart. Mary's was overbearing tomboy energy.
Zeira has a more mature air.
Her figure's more... well, whatever.
Still, she reminds me of Mary, so facing her feels kinda awkward.
But Lunarin knows all about my history with Mary and introduced us anyway.
She must have her reasons.
As I was thinking that,
"Mr. Edin, I'm so sorry! Please accept my apology for my sister's actions."
Suddenly, Zeira bowed deeply with overwhelming momentum and apologized to me.
Caught off guard by the intensity, I instinctively stepped back a little.
"Pardon?"
Apologizing in place of her sister.
And a high noble bowing her head to a commoner like me, no less.
She's nothing like Mary, that's for sure.
Guess that's why Lunarin made the intro.
"No, no. I'm not mad about it anymore anyway... You don't need to apologize, Ms. Zeira."
I mean, right?
Mary was the one at fault from the start. If it's bad parenting, the parents should apologize—not the sister.
I don't feel anything toward Claude or the others anymore anyway.
Though if Claude popped up out of nowhere like this, it'd be annoying.
That aside, having the lady of the Solte Kingdom's Blaze Marquis Family bow and apologize right off the bat.
Honestly, it's a little overwhelming.
"Phew. Thank you for saying so. For your information, Mary has been held accountable and expelled from the family over this."
"...I see."
Nobles do prize their public face and honor above all, it's said.
But expelling a direct heir? Impressive resolve from the Blaze Family.
Not that I care much.
"Hehe, anyway, that's not why I came today."
Lunarin grinned slyly and snatched a potion off the shelf, handing it to Zeira.
"Here, take a look."
"Oh, ooh... So this is one of Mr. Edin's potions."
She eyed the potion with intense fascination.
Does she... have an interest in potions? Alchemy maybe?
"No way...!! Th-this...!!"
Suddenly, Zeira jumped in shock and turned to me.
"D-did you really make this yourself?"
"Y-yeah. Why?"
"Oh my god. The purity is insane... Don't tell me the academy has some ultra-precision alchemy machine...? No, but Luna said earlier you make everything by hand... But is this even humanly possible? This defies belief..."
She probed it intensely with mana.
Then started muttering in a trembling voice.
...Yeah, feels like another odd one showed up this time.