Chapter 35
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 35: The Unfinished Story (1)
Deep inside the research area of the Main Castle, the mansion-cum-research building prepared by the Wintel family for Vivienne harbored a silence different from the outside.
On the high ceiling, crystal lighting lamps were hung, and on the walls, exquisitely drawn alchemy schematics and medicine cabinets were arranged orderly.
Subtle herb scent and smell as if metal was heated then cooled were mixed in the air.
In the middle of the reception room, Vivienne was sitting calmly.
Since it was a reception seat combined with rest now, the atmosphere was a little soft.
Blue pupils were clear and deep, shining calmly under long eyelashes.
The man sitting opposite her was dressed in a black suit.
Redric Ricardo.
He, who was a professor's assistant during Academy days, still maintained a neat appearance, but the impression was much sharper than before.
Dark red hair was neatly combed back and fixed, and pupils tinged with grey light were smiling a beat late.
Face with straight and neat lines, but calculating air and coldness hidden beneath it had become clearer than before.
"It has been a really long time, Lady Vivienne. Is it 3 years?"
His voice was still soft.
Not much different from those days organizing experiments under the podium.
Vivienne smiled lightly putting down the teacup.
"Indeed, Young Master Redric. Since graduating from the Academy, I haven't heard news. Have you been well?"
"I was well."
He bowed his head slightly with fingers interlocked.
His grey pupils scanned her slowly.
And stopping speaking for a moment looking at her, he added with a low voice.
"By the way, you are still the same."
"Yes?"
"No, rather... seem to shine more."
A soft smile spread on his lips.
"Even in Academy days, you were a talent standing out by far, but now it feels like depth is added to beauty even more. You are beautiful."
Vivienne stopped for a moment.
Although not blatant, spending every day immersed in research, such direct compliment on appearance felt unfamiliar.
And she thought that compliment wasn't simply offered.
Because most compliments are to package nicely what will follow behind.
"It is undeserved praise."
She answered calmly lifting the teacup.
"When immersed in research, there isn't much leisure to care about appearance."
"Nevertheless, that beauty doesn't disappear is an uncommon thing."
Redric laughed low.
His gaze was still polite, but strangely long.
Vivienne unconsciously corrected her posture.
"Young Master Redric... seems your atmosphere has changed somewhat."
She changed the topic.
"People are bound to change, aren't they."
His eyes darkened for a moment then softened again.
People are bound to change.
In those words, his current self dwelled.
Himself who became a high-ranking executive of anti-state force [Endermit] from an assistant of some academy.
"But one thing hasn't changed."
He added quietly.
"That seeing a talented person, I still admire."
The air in the reception room became subtly taut.
Compliment was polite, but the texture of emotion laid in it was more than simple greeting.
Vivienne, feeling unexplainable awkwardness and unnaturalness, changed the topic carefully.
"Then, what brings you here today?"
Short silence flowed.
Steam rising from tea disappeared slowly.
Redric opened his mouth after drinking a sip of tea.
"Actually... there is one unsolved problem, so I came to visit like this."
"Seems related to alchemy?"
"Not directly related, but thinking an alchemist enough to receive Grand Duke Your Highness's call might find the problem, I came here."
"Is that so. What kind of problem is it?"
Redric took out a small box from his bosom.
It was a hard yet pitch-black box as if made of obsidian.
Putting it on the table and pushing forward, Redric continued explanation.
"It is an explosive condensed in high concentration by melting mana stones."
"Bomb?"
"Yes. Of course, what is contained in this box has explosive power excluded, so do not worry."
"Ah...."
"Actually, the business I started after quitting academy assistant is mine development."
"Mine development? Unexpected. Didn't know you would advance to such side...."
"Haha. Trying to make a living, it became so. I found a vein in the outskirts of the North now, but the mine stratum is excessively hard. Since efficiency is low with general blasting, I tried to produce an ultra-high firepower device condensing mana stones, but the condensation process is unstable. It collapses, or explosive power disperses."
Vivienne leaned forward lightly.
Light interest as much as that gesture dwelled in the alchemist's eyes.
"Condensation ratio?"
"3:1. Multi-layered compression structure."
"That degree needs internal resonance correction. With simple compression, possibility of runaway and loss is high."
Redric's eyes curved narrowly.
"As expected, you see through at once."
His tone contained admiration, but another calculation was hidden in it.
What he wanted to make wasn't a simple mine bomb.
Device inducing large-scale destruction by condensing mana stones extremely.
To dig out the cause of failure of that experiment, he came to find the most capable alchemist wearing a false mask.
"We also know internal resonance must be corrected, but there was absolutely no way. So wondering if I could receive help, I visited Lady Vivienne."
Vivienne, who expressed interest, expressed reluctance this time.
"Hmm... sorry, but right now I am proceeding with important research so it won't be easy to make time. To find internal resonance point, it seems it will take quite some time too."
"I see."
"Or you could try requesting another person in our research institute...."
Redric shook his head firmly.
"It is a meager intuition, but somehow... I felt like I could get the answer only by seeking advice from Lady Vivienne."
When she was attending the Academy, Redric was an assistant, and therefore they were acquainted often.
Although that couldn't be a reason, Vivienne, knowing trust sometimes relies on intuition, received the box carefully.
"Hmm... is that so. Then if you give the sample, I will try reviewing when I have time. I can't give a definite answer."
Something brushed deep in Redric's grey pupils.
"That much is sufficient. Then."
He rose from his seat.
Hem of the long black coat flowed softly.
"It was glad to see you again like this."
Redric, finishing greeting politely, leaves the reception room.
Vivienne looked down at the small box held in her hand.
Explosives for mine development are commonly handled.
Using explosion to break hard strata, and clearing debris to dig deep was also standard method.
However.
Even though it's a reason not strange and request not strange, strangely it was a reluctant request.
Vivienne, fiddling with the box, began to retrace from the reunion with Redric.
Ominous, to know where on earth this feeling originates from.
**
Vivienne, leaving the research institute and returning to the mansion, headed straight to the bathroom.
Shoulders stiffened fully preparing for experiment calculating mana circuits all day and weighing condensation ratios loosened little by little touching warm water.
"Haa...."
At the feeling of whole body melting softly, heated breath is exhaled naturally.
Amidst bathroom steam, red hair sat heavily holding moisture.
Leaving the bathroom and changing into thin indoor clothes, she sat in front of the mirror.
Blue pupils stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, then slowly lifted the comb.
Swish, swish.
Combing wet hair carefully, she reviewed the experiment and preparation today.
Variables of mana condensation experiment, reaction delay time, catalyst stability, it was much more comfortable for numbers and formulas to fill the head.
At that time, knocking sound was heard.
"My Lady."
The butler entered bowing politely in front of the door.
In his hand, one envelope was held.
White seal stamped on dark navy envelope.
It was Wintel family's seal.
"Invitation has arrived."
The butler approaching handed it, and Vivienne accepted it indifferently.
As she tore the seal and took out the invitation inside, the butler attached words.
"News arrived that a great victory was achieved in Saloon Central Plains Battle. Matching the time the army returns tomorrow, it is said a grand banquet will be held in the Main Castle to commemorate this. Invitation came to My Lady too."
Vivienne opened the invitation and read.
Formal phrases, flashy expressions, content proposing to share glory of victory together.
Her gaze scanned a few lines and stopped.
It was a formal invitation.
"I will refuse."
At her lady's calm voice, the butler nodded.
Reaction as if expected.
Now it's time to prepare a reply expressing refusal containing polite reason.
"Right now I am preparing for important experiment."
Vivienne said putting the invitation back into the envelope.
"Troublesome if research schedule shakes. Since it's research report going into Grand Duke Your Highness too."
Northern Grand Duke had said.
If it hinders alchemy research, she can judge herself and refuse any event.
Saying he will give right to exercise intention freely, so please focus on alchemy research.
Therefore she was absent from the last banquet too.
Even then there was no problem.
Since it was refusal approved by the Wintel family head.
Vivienne handed the invitation, and the butler tried to receive the envelope without a word.
That moment—
"...Wait."
Vivienne's hand stopped.
The butler looked at her with puzzled eyes.
Vivienne's gaze hesitating for a moment fell down, then came up again.
"...Perhaps in this battle."
She added pretending to be indifferent as much as possible.
"Did Iden Summonfield participate too?"
The butler's expression changed very slightly.
Because it was rare for his lady to bring up questions first with topics other than alchemy.
Especially bringing up someone not even related to the family as a topic was extremely rare.
"Yes, I heard so."
He nodded.
"Messenger conveyed directly. Saying the person who contributed greatly to this great victory no less than Young Lord Galliard is Summoner of the Dark Night, mentioning the name several times."
Summoner of the Dark Night.
Iden Summonfield.
As expected, at that name heard again, Vivienne's fingertips stiffened subtly.
Name heard in street, research institute, and even victory report.
Now to the extent scabs sat on ears.
Vivienne fell into thought staring blankly at herself in the mirror.
Then, lips opened, and question flower blooming on the butler's face blooms fully.
"I will attend the banquet tomorrow so please prepare."
Her lady who stayed indoors ahead of important experiment declared she would attend the banquet.
It was a calm tone, but resolution was clearly contained in it.
Resolution of an alchemist whose daily life is observation and inquiry.
"Yes, understood."
After the butler withdrew, Vivienne stood in front of the mirror alone again.
Blue pupils in the mirror shook subtly.
It is unchanged that research schedule is priority.
Banquet is just... a brief outing.
To check him once more, properly.
Vivienne, excusing to herself like that, started combing hair again quietly.
Edom Rivan who disappeared like a mirage overnight.
His disappearance, hushed even in the family at the time, birthed various rumors, and birthed various doubts.
Couldn't endure his own twisted possessiveness and took his own life.
Bewitched by a girl, smeared mud on family name and was trapped underground.
Name suddenly heard in distant land Northern Territory, face suddenly seen, doubt suddenly arising was bringing out rumors of that day again.