You're Pretty Good for a Greenhorn

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Translator: Ruby

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: You're Pretty Good for a Greenhorn

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"With this level of ability, it's really, really incredible! Cheep!"

That seemed like an important story.

But with all the incessant cheeping, I felt my concentration dropping tremendously.

Still, I did my best to listen attentively.

"So you're saying I should raise you?"

"That's right, cheep! You've already taken the ability, so you have to raise me, cheep."

"If I've already taken the ability, shouldn't that mean I don't need to raise you?"

"Gasp! Cheep! Did, did I say something unnecessary? Cheep..."

The phoenix blocked its own beak with its wing.

After already saying everything.

'What kind of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠creature is this?......'

The phoenix seemed to ponder, rolling its head around, then opened its mouth—no, its beak—again.

"B-but if I die and become an egg, your ability will disappear too, cheep!"

Hmm.

The phoenix's healing ability......

This was content that had never been revealed even in the original work.

Because of that, I couldn't gauge how powerful it was either.

'Still. Having a recovery ability is better than not having one......'

The plan to grind the phoenix flower into powder and ask an alchemist to make an elixir was ultimately for recovery power as well.

But instead of a flower that was just named phoenix, a real phoenix had appeared before my eyes.

'The original would definitely be more effective, right?......'

Moreover, it even called itself a divine beast, a mystical spiritual creature, with its own mouth.

'If it's divine beast level, that's quite something.'

The problem was that this tiny chick-like creature didn't match at all with the divine beast in my memory.

Anyway, if it was real, it definitely seemed worth taking along and raising.

'Horacidon wouldn't have bequeathed his heart to a meaningless egg.'

While I was pondering.

Diaz showed interest in the phoenix and approached closer.

"Lord Rohan. I'll take good care of it. How about we take it with us?"

"......?"

"It's, pitiful. And cute......"

If Diaz would look after it, that would be comfortable and good for me.

At her words, the phoenix flapped about.

"Good, cheep. Then I'll make you my number one subordinate! Cheep!"

Watching such a phoenix, Diaz smiled broadly.

"Yes. Sure."

"You'll be blessed! Cheep!"

Well......did that work out well?

I chuckled and nodded my head.

"Do that."

"Thank you for allowing it, Lord Rohan."

And so we exited Horacidon's lair.

***

The day after the Horacidon raid ended, Jephron personally visited the lodging where I was staying.

After brief greetings, he soon brought up the main topic.

"Do you have a next destination by any chance?"

Of course it was decided.

Unexpectedly on the way, I had encountered the demon's minions.

And getting entangled with Lebarsen had thrown off my original schedule.

But my goal was clear.

Oliton's unprecedented alchemist.

"There's someone I want to meet in Oliton."

"In Oliton, you say? That works out well. As I mentioned, I'm also scheduled to return directly to the Oliton Grand Cathedral. Would you be alright with traveling together?"

"Let's do that."

"By the way, who are you looking for?"

"I'm trying to find a fellow named Marco."

At those words of mine, Jephron tilted his head.

"Marco......hmm. That's a name I'm hearing for the first time."

What was this about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now?

Marco was someone who had already earned the title of great alchemist at a young age.

Even at the point of the original work he was young, so I had thought he was someone who had started as a prodigy from childhood and walked an elite course.

Inadvertently, that is.

But it seemed that wasn't the case.

'Could it be that Marco's fame hasn't spread yet?......'

Hmm.

Then it would be a bit difficult to find him......

Just as I was having such worries.

"I'll try pulling some strings."

Jephron stepped forward first.

From my position, I could only be grateful.

But this old man's favorability toward me seemed to have risen tremendously?

'Did I do something that particularly drew his favor?'

Honestly, I wasn't sure.

I had hoped not to become a troublesome villain.

But somehow it seemed like I had gained a backer.

Well, whatever.

Good things are good things.

"Then please do. If you search among promising alchemists, you'll probably be able to find him easily."

"A promising alchemist......understood! Just leave it to me!"

Jephron clenched his fist tightly.

Along with a smile that said to trust only him.

***

A few days later.

We entered the capital Oliton together with Jephron and Knight Commander Vincent.

The journey there had been unprecedentedly comfortable as well.

And the entry was smoother than any other moment until now.

It seemed you really needed connections.

Usually, even with Diaz stepping up, some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠waiting was unavoidable.

But with Jephron and Knight Commander Vincent flanking me on both sides.

This was as unobstructed as a highway high-pass.

Everyone just saluted, and no one blocked our way.

The most excited one in the midst of this was the phoenix, Pico.

"Master! This is Oliton? Wow, it's gotten huge! Cheep!"

The creature was busy frantically turning its head this way and that, taking in the sights.

Diaz was handing water to such a Pico.

"Pico. Drink water."

"Ooh. Right. Water's good, cheep. I was just getting thirsty anyway. Cheep."

Watching them until we arrived in Oliton.

The two seemed to get along quite well.

Diaz, who usually seemed extremely cold, would frequently smile when it came to Pico in particular.

Thanks to that, there wasn't much for me to worry about.

Also, finding Marco was progressing quickly and well at the same time.

I received a progress report from Jephron.

"Rest for today, and we've arranged to visit tomorrow. I'll guide the way."

"Let's do that."

It seemed he had sent someone ahead before we even arrived and found Marco.

After taking a day's rest like that.

Following Jephron's guidance.

We came to stand in front of a shabby building.

In front of a shanty on the verge of collapse that was bewildering even to me.

"Marco is......here?"

At my question, Jephron also answered with a slightly flustered face.

"Well......yes. No matter how much we searched, this was the only alchemist with the name Marco in this area. I had them check again thinking it might not be right......but still, the result was......"

Jephron looked at the shanty.

"Actually, he's not even an official alchemist yet, but an alchemist aspirant."

'Is this......somehow messed up? Even so, there's too big a disconnect from the Marco I know......'

Still, since there was no other way.

Let's go in for now.

I nodded and answered.

"Let's go in."

"Yes."

When Jephron reached out and grabbed the door handle.

Crack.

The handle rotted and broke off.

"......"

"......"

I wasn't sure if this was right......

***

"Marco. Are you there?"

Somehow opening the door, Jephron entered first.

A cluttered and shabby laboratory-like space unfolded.

When there was no response from inside, Jephron raised his voice.

"It's Jephron who sent word in advance yesterday! Marco, are you there? I've brought Sir Rohan!"

Only then did a voice come from deep inside.

"Ah! Lord Jephron? Just a moment!"

Right after answering, the sound of something collapsing followed.

Crash bang clang!

Something chaotic seemed to be happening inside.

Before long, Marco revealed himself.

"Haha! I was doing some experiments......sorry!"

A young man with his face covered in some unknown soot.

That was Marco.

'Fortunately, it is the Marco I know.'

Since it was such a different place from my memory, I had doubted for a moment......

It just seemed he was still in his state before experiencing future success.

"Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you! I'm Marco, an alchemist aspirant! Please treat me well!"

The Marco in my memory had already risen to the position of the youngest legendary alchemist.

So his introduction had been not as an alchemist aspirant, but as the greatest alchemist.

With his own mouth.

'His personality......seems to have been like this originally, even before success.'

Cheerful, positive, confident.

Those were the ingredients that made up Marco.

"But wait. What business does the Order have in looking for me?"

Marco looked at Jephron with a face full of curiosity.

Jephron naturally turned to look at me.

Now everyone's gaze turned toward me.

I took out the phoenix flower powder I had been carefully keeping in my pocket.

And then placed it with a thud on the desk.

"This is phoenix flower that's been well-dried and ground into powder. Can you show me your skill with this?"

"W-with this? Suddenly?"

Just then.

Flap!

Pico, who had been sitting on Diaz's shoulder, flew onto the table.

"Oh, this is pretty well dried, isn't it? Cheep. By the way, I can't believe this still exists without going extinct. Cheep."

Seeing Pico, Marco's eyes sparkled.

"Oh! A talking chick!"

"Who's a chick? Cheep!"

"Huh? Aren't you a chick?"

"Where do I look like a chick? Are your eyes crooked? Cheep! I am a phoenix! Cheep!"

At those words, Marco's eyes glittered.

"A phoenix? Really a phoenix?"

"Ahem! That's right, cheep!"

Marco looked at me and asked.

"Can I dissect it? I really want to!"

Marco suddenly accelerating.

At that, Pico's pupils shook violently.

"D-dissect? Cheep?"

Regardless, Marco continued what he was saying.

"Wouldn't it be incredibly interesting?"

"Ch-cheep! Master! Tell him no, cheep! You absolutely have to say no! Cheep!"

Marco looked at me as if praying with both hands clasped together.

And Pico flapped its wings tearfully.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"No."

"Aw, what a shame......"

"Phew, pheww......cheep."

When I said dissection wasn't allowed, Marco immediately lost interest in Pico.

And only now focused on the phoenix flower.

"With this......hmm. Something this precious might be better entrusted to other skilled alchemists rather than me. It's too precious a material to use carelessly."

At that, I shook my head.

"I want you to do it."

"Me? Why......"

"Can't you do it?"

"Well......honestly, recently my experiments under research have been failing one after another. I'm a bit lacking in confidence. So......"

I had thought he was always confident.

But it seemed that wasn't the case either.

Still, I didn't abandon my faith in him.

"You can do it."

"Pardon?"

"It's something only you can do."

"M-me?"

"Yes."

"Can I......really do it?"

"Of course. I guarantee it."

I showed my affirmation firmly, without a doubt.

Then Marco's pupils wavered slightly.

My eyes and Marco's eyes intertwined ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in mid-air.

And his gaze began to change sharply.

To that sparkling look in my memory.

"Ha, hahaha. You're the first person I've met who believes in me more than I believe in myself. Alright! Just a moment!"

He disappeared toward the back again, then appeared carrying something in abundance.

"Let's see......this, and this, and if I add this. Hmm. Not that? This and......"

"You need to add that first! Cheep!"

Unexpectedly, Pico suddenly butted in without any warning.

What was even more surprising was that Marco was listening carefully to those words.

"Oh? Wait a moment. So you're saying to add this and do it like this?"

"That's right. Cheep. If you do this first like this, it becomes like that, so at best it only increases recovery power, cheep."

Increasing recovery power was what I wanted though?

The two's conversation continued.

"Then, if I do it like this and like this, and then like that?"

"Wow! That's a good idea. Cheep. In my view, it would be good to also throw in Raflaren petals there, cheep!"

"Ooh! Raflaren. I didn't think of that. As expected, Lord Phoenix! Then with this, in this order, and Raflaren petals at the end!"

"You're pretty good for a greenhorn, cheep!"

"Thank you!"

Pico stuck out its belly and placed its wings on its waist.

Somehow the two seemed to be achieving a back-and-forth synergy.

But......it was a bit different from the direction I had in mind?

"Lord Rohan! With this, I can do it!"

What exactly could he do......

"With this......I'll be able to dramatically enhance physical abilities! Permanently!"

"Cheep!"

I had come to increase recovery power......but it seemed all my stats would be going up.

"......"

Since recovery power had already gone up from the contract with Pico anyway......

'This is a huge gain, isn't it?'

It was a development I hadn't even thought of.