The Empire's New Saintess
The conversation with Saintess Rudine ended right there in the audience chamber. I left without offering any firm promises, and she kept her eyes fixed on my retreating back until the very last moment. No real progress had been made, but at least one thing had become painfully clear. She wasn't simply crazy—she was completely, irreversibly mad.
What was that nonsense about giving me everything I could ever want? About not abandoning her? Even now, the memory sent a chill crawling down my spine.
Utter garbage. My mind was still consumed with thoughts of escaping this world. What possible reason could I have to stay? The only emotion lingering after our talk was a deep-seated discomfort, but that didn't mean the encounter had been entirely fruitless.
Isabelle being locked away... that's actually good news.
After all, she had slapped a member of the imperial family. No matter how fiercely Count Ustia wielded his influence, securing her release wouldn't be easy. Which meant, at least for the foreseeable future, she wouldn't be able to obstruct my path.
The only problem was...
Scenario Progress: 40%
It had risen again. I could roughly guess why. Most likely, it had to do with Isabelle's current predicament.
I walked for a long time before stopping abruptly in front of a building entrance. An arched iron door covered in mysterious patterns. This was the sole entrance to the empire's one and only Alchemist Association.
I moved to knock without hesitation. After all, visiting this place had been my primary reason for coming to the imperial palace. But as I raised my hand, the door creaked open on its own, as if it had been waiting for me.
"...What?"
I peered into the dark gap before stepping inside. A man who had been waiting just beyond the entrance approached immediately.
"Ah, you've arrived."
A vaguely familiar face. He was the one who always appeared like clockwork whenever I visited the Alchemist Association to guide me through the building.
"I've been informed of the situation. Please, follow me."
I trailed after him up a narrow staircase. The interior of the building was unnervingly silent, as though no living soul occupied its halls.
It's been a while since I've been here.
The Alchemist Association bore countless illustrious titles. Those titles attached to an organization's name served as symbols of its prestige. Among all the associations in the empire, this one ranked among the top three in scale. The very foundation of the empire's flourishing civilization wasn't magic or holy power, but alchemy itself.
It was no wonder the emperor had personally brought the organization under the imperial family's wing. Each discovery made by the Alchemist Association carried tremendous influence.
After navigating several winding corridors, a faint light appeared ahead. A massive magic circle awaited at our destination. It looked exactly like the scene from the game in my memories.
"Simply stand in the direction I indicate."
I took my position in the center of the circle as directed. The man verified my placement before sprinkling an unidentified powder across the array. In that instant—
Kuuuung—!
The ground trembled as a massive roar erupted from somewhere deep within. A powerful vibration surged up from beneath my feet, as if the entire building were shaking. Five overlapping pentagrams materialized above the magic circle, pouring forth streams of light. At the same time, blue haze scattered into the air.
Uuuung—
I barely managed to steady my swaying body. My hair whipped wildly in the rushing torrent of mana. No matter how many times I experienced it, the entrance process was always excessively dramatic.
"..."
The vibration ceased as abruptly as it had begun. The deathly silence that had filled the building gave way to a cacophony of noise. When I turned around, a door had appeared on what had been a dead-end stone wall. Though calling it a door felt generous—there was no handle, no visible latch or groove to pull.
"Please wait a moment."
The guide walked forward slowly. He stroked his chin, studying the door with serious intensity, then reached out and placed his palm against its surface. With a low rumble, the door slid sideways, revealing a new space beyond.
It was impossibly vast and opulent, far beyond anything the humble exterior could have suggested. A familiar sight.
"Welcome to the Alchemist Association."
I had finally arrived.
****
Alchemist Association Reception Room.
"I've been briefed on the situation. You need to prepare one spiritual medicine, correct?"
Association President Estdel spoke in a gentle tone as she reconfirmed the details that had been relayed to her. I nodded slowly.
"That's correct."
"I'm sorry. This is the first time I've encountered a situation like this."
Estdel took a brief breath before continuing.
"It's unprecedented for the imperial family to bring in an outsider so forcefully... I'm not sure how to interpret this..."
"There's no need for excessive concern. The status I've been granted is literally nothing more than 'temporary.'"
"Well, that's beside the point..."
Estdel tapped her fingertips against the desk. Her suspicious gaze felt uncomfortably sharp. She let out a long sigh, then slid a single document across to me.
"Just what exactly are you trying to manufacture that the required materials list looks like this? If it's not too rude, I'd like to hear your explanation."
"Do you really need to know?"
"Yes, I do. What could possibly require raiding nearly half of the imperial treasury? And why is the imperial family supporting you with conditions that defy all common sense? It doesn't make sense. They've placed absolute trust in someone who's never even studied alchemy."
To cure the emperor's hair loss.
I barely managed to swallow the words. Those burning eyes made it clear that any casual excuse would be impossible. Hoping to change the subject, I asked instead, "Have the materials been secured?"
"If you want my cooperation, I must insist on an answer first. I promise to keep everything strictly confidential."
What am I supposed to tell her...
My goal was to manufacture the Elixir. Naturally, no one in the empire knew the recipe except for me. In fact, it was more accurate to say they didn't even know of its existence. The Elixir was quite literally the stuff of legends, the kind of mythical panacea that only appeared in ancient tomes.
Given that I needed to create such an item, the association president's cooperation was absolutely essential.
So the question became: could Estdel, president of the Alchemist Association, be trusted?
She's trustworthy enough.
Both in the game and in the official setting materials, she was the type of woman who would keep any promise she made with her own mouth until the very end, even if it cost her life. Above all, I had manufactured the Elixir multiple times during my playthroughs. Out of five attempts, Estdel had never once let me down.
However.
"I cannot tell you."
"...What did you just say?"
"I said I cannot tell you."
Estdel's eyes widened in shock. I met her gaze and emphasized once more.
"That's strange. No matter how influential the association may be, it shouldn't rival the authority of the imperial family."
"..."
"This is an imperial command. Not a mere order—an imperial command. And it's not just you. I was also compelled to come here under that same command. In this situation, what possible reason would I have to reveal classified information to you? When my own life is at stake?"
She stiffened. It seemed she hadn't expected that response. Soon after, Estdel let out a short sigh.
"...I understand. I was out of line."
My heart wasn't in a good place, but it was an unavoidable choice. I had to return to my own world. That was why I couldn't fully trust anyone in this damned place.
"Most of the materials have been prepared by emptying out the imperial treasury. However..."
Estdel paused, then continued carefully.
"The Blue Flower Herb, the Soul Stone, and the Holy Dissolution Agent."
Familiar names. I remembered these had been the most difficult to obtain.
"The Blue Flower Herb is scheduled to appear as the sole item in a public auction in the principality. The Soul Stone is currently under negotiation with the Torté Merchant Group. The real problem is the Holy Dissolution Agent."
"I'm listening."
"The Holy Dissolution Agent is a treasured item belonging to the Papal Court. The imperial family has offered a massive price, but negotiations aren't proceeding smoothly."
The Papal Court had always been arrogant. Still, the agent's value wasn't high enough for them to risk open opposition to the empire. Given time, they would inevitably yield and hand it over in exchange for the enormous compensation, pretending they had no choice.
"The prepared materials have been arranged in a private laboratory. No one except you will be allowed access, so you may rest easy."
"Thank you."
"Not at all. Lodging is available as well, so please stay as long as you need."
Our business was concluded. I was about to stand when—
Knock, knock—
A light rapping sounded twice in the air.
"Come in."
The person who entered at Estdel's invitation was a young girl. She smiled brightly as she carefully placed the bundle of papers she'd been carrying onto the table between us, then withdrew.
"What is this?"
"Ah, it's the newspaper."
Estdel unfolded it immediately, as if she'd been waiting for this moment. I glanced over the pages from the side. Debutante balls, various banquets, and social gossip... nothing but meaningless fluff.
Then my eyes caught the massive headline dominating the next full page.
....
It was utterly absurd. Really.