Disappearance (1)
Two days after the practical training.
“Already exam time...”
Exams were three weeks away. It was time to start preparing. He needed solid grades to have a good reason to send Elraim back home.
Was it because Elraim made him uncomfortable? Not at all. If anything, their relationship had grown closer with each passing day. She visited every morning, and her expressions of emotion had become far more vivid than before.
Yeah. To be honest, he loved this side of her. How could he not? His ideal type was right there, acting so adorably—impossible to resist. Mornings were now something he actually looked forward to, unlike the silent days of the past.
“Breakfast...”
“Let's eat at the student cafeteria, nuna.”
“Y-Yeah... If that's what you want, Kyle...”
She still hadn't gotten used to it—her face flushed bright red every time she called him nuna. It was a sight he never tired of watching.
But sending her back to the family estate was a separate matter entirely.
By the original story, Elraim was supposed to return home at the end of the first semester. Even as a supporting character, her role had to follow the established setup. That way, he could prepare for the [Dead Dragon's Descent] episode that would unfold in the Arden territory about a year and a half later. Elraim played a key role in that arc.
'She can hold out for another year and a half, right?'
She'd return to the territory after graduation anyway. They'd have to be apart until then, but Elraim was tough enough to endure it. She wasn't the fragile type.
'Anyway, I do need to prep for exams...'
The practical wouldn't be an issue. With all his training, he'd get at least a B—no doubt about it.
'Actually...'
He could aim for an A if he played his cards right. Professor Mailon had already given him a favorable review last time.
The written exam was the worry. He'd attended every lecture without dozing off, memorized all the material, turned in every assignment on time, and studied back at the dorm. But that wasn't enough for the written part. He needed the library books.
The ones in the General Department building, packed with continental knowledge. Exams were based on lectures, but Tianis was different. To test how much extra studying you'd done, they'd pull related problems from the library texts.
But he had no access privileges. No library for him—which meant no way to solve those problems.
'Maybe ask Rana...'
She'd definitely help. Not as a favor exactly, but if he suggested studying together, she'd jump at it and drag him straight to the library.
'I'll ask when she gets back.'
Rana had been helping her grandfather until today. Cleaning around the World Tree in the Contract Land, from what he knew. Fewer than ten people at Tianis could even approach the World Tree. Rana, beloved by the gods, was one of them.
'Why'd it have to set up shop here, of all places...'
Truth be told, he didn't like having one of this world's gods so close by. But there was nothing to be done. The divine tree's branch was there per a contract with the founding emperor. He couldn't just chase it off because he felt uneasy. Plus, story-wise, it was a crucial entity.
“Haa...”
“Is something wrong, Young Master?”
Elraim reacted to his sigh mid-bite of meat.
It was just personal worries, so he brushed it off vaguely.
“Nah, just stressed about the exams.”
“You'll do fine. You've worked hard.”
“Thanks, Elraim.”
“...Not at all.”
She stuffed more meat into her mouth awkwardly. Her ears were already betraying her embarrassment.
They finished eating while chatting about this and that. Afterward, he wrapped up his lectures and arrived at Ruina Lindel's workshop. Elraim waited outside as always while he went in alone.
“Just finished up?”
“Yeah.”
The senior sat in her chair, a plate of cake balanced on her lap as she nibbled away. She always reached for cake when stressed or after alchemy sessions.
“Anything to clean?”
“That.”
She pointed to a box. Leftover scraps from alchemy production—metal bits, useless plant parts, that sort of thing. He hauled the box to the disposal area outside, dumped the trash, and returned.
“Anything else?”
“Not yet. Oh, right.”
She seemed to remember something.
“That box over there. Open it.”
She nodded at a small box on the finished-products shelf. Inside was a vial of blue liquid.
“This the one I commissioned?”
“Yeah. Made it in my spare time.”
“Thanks.”
He'd commissioned it using the 10-year mana grass from his practical reward. And since he was the part-timer, she'd done it for free. The mana density in the potion was impressive. No average alchemist could produce something this potent. Only Ruina Lindel's skill made it possible.
He lifted the sloshing vial.
“Can I drink it now?”
“Go ahead.”
He nodded, turned away, and downed the liquid. A cool, spicy energy flowed down his throat. He guided it to his dantian using a mana circulation technique.
Truthfully, he didn't need more mana right now. His reserves were plenty, and even absorbing refined mana grass barely registered.
But a gift was a gift—he'd make full use of it.
“Whew...”
It settled in. As expected, his mana pool barely budged. Maybe a twentieth of its capacity?
“Done?”
“Yeah.”
She'd kindly stayed quiet and watched without interrupting.
“How's the effect?”
“Top-notch, obviously.”
“Yeah. I made it.”
She could say that because her skills backed it up. Her academy grades might suck, but in alchemy, she had no peers. Of course, the low grades came from skipping lectures constantly.
“Getting interested in alchemy?”
“I've always been curious.”
A lot of people dismissed alchemy as lesser magic, but that was a huge mistake. It was equal to magic, never inferior. The stereotype of it being mere crafting ran deep in people's minds. And most things alchemy could do, magic could replicate.
But if he'd had talent for it, he'd have picked alchemy without hesitation. Its potential was beyond imagination.
“Wanna try making this?”
“Huh?”
Ruina Lindel pointed at the empty potion vial.
“I'll supply materials and guide you. What do you say?”
“Senior...”
The sight of her stepping up for her junior student was touching... or not.
“Nice try, but no dice.”
“...Tch.”
Ruina Lindel looked away and clicked her tongue. She'd switched from straight invitations to temptation lately. Realizing the direct approach failed, she was easing him into it, planning to transfer him over once he warmed up. Fat chance.
“Senior. Like I said, I have no alchemy talent.”
“What matters for alchemists is your sense for it. I can teach you timings and ratios.”
She explained in her soft, low voice.
“I'll cover your weaknesses.”
“...Haa.”
He sighed. She was dead set on teaching him alchemy.
“Senior. Why are you so desperate to teach me?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded faintly.
“Why, exactly?”
After over a month of rejections, most would quit. Not her. There had to be a special reason. The novel never showed this level of obsession.
Ruina Lindel pressed her lips tight for a moment, then spoke.
“...I need an assistant.”
That was it? Lame answer. He stared at her pointedly.
“That's really all?”
“...No.”
As expected, she was hiding something.
“Be honest. I'll consider it positively if you are.”
Finally, the truth.
“No one else... gets it.”
“Alchemy?”
“Yeah...”
Suddenly, it all clicked. Why she wouldn't let him go. Tianis drew talent from across the continent—geniuses galore, at least five per year. Yet no one understood her. Even professors who taught students threw up their hands.
Genius or not, no one to share techniques or chat with? Lonely as hell. Then a student who met the bare minimum appeared? She'd cling for dear life. Her one shot at someone who clicked.
“Haa... Senior.”
“Yeah...?”
“Let's make three promises.”
He'd planned to just chat with her anyway. Fine, he could do a bit more. She was a villain who'd vanish eventually, after all.
“First, no more transfer pushes or alchemy recruitment after today.”
“Okay.”
“Second, if you teach me, I'll do my best, but no forcing it. I'm in the Knight Department, not Crafting.”
“Got it.”
“Third, alchemy lessons three times a week. That's it.”
“Too few...”
She grumbled softly.
“I'm here to help with your work, not take classes.”
“What if I force it?”
“I'll stop taking commissions and find another job.”
“...Fine. I'll compromise.”
“Senior, I'm the one compromising.”
“...Don't nitpick.”
He chuckled at her response but agreed to understand.
“When do we start?”
“Today's work done?”
“Yeah. All clear.”
“Then let's do it now.”
With no tasks, she'd drag him into it anyway. Better to limit sessions upfront.
“Basics first. Get the vials and herbs.”
“Got it.”
As expected, gathering materials was his job.
And so, Ruina Lindel's alchemy lessons began.
“Ugh, brutal.”
On the way back after his shift, he massaged his temples to ease the headache.
Studying unrelated alchemy was torture enough. Actually using it? Pure agony.
“Something wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, Senior's teaching me alchemy.”
“Magic and now alchemy...”
Elraim muttered to herself. He could tell her—she'd believe it and keep her mouth shut. Her lips were as sealed as Veil's; no way she'd tell his father.
“Must be tough. That Ruina Lindel seems stubborn.”
“Stubborn? Yeah. Insanely so.”
Just reading the workshop rules showed her personality. Alchemy was her reason for living, so she was bullheaded about it.
“But it's fine. I set conditions, so she won't overstep.”
“If you're okay with it, that's good.”
As they walked, chatting, the sunset appeared ahead. Shift over—already evening.
“Dinner before heading back?”
“You've had a long day.”
“I can afford to treat you.”
His pockets were still flush. Anything short of gold-coin dishes, he could buy repeatedly.
“If you insist, then gratefully... Young Master, someone's coming.”
Elraim cut off mid-sentence, glancing left.
“Huh?”
He turned to look. Two female students. Faces he vaguely remembered.
'When was it...'
Racking his brain, it hit him: the ones who'd escorted Rana during the entrance exam.
He schooled his expression and eyed them.
“What do you want?”
“W-We have a question...”
Even after all this time, their voices trembled in fear.
“Spit it out.”
His sharper tone made one shake harder; the other pushed forward despite her terror. Her voice didn't improve.
“Wh-What happened to Rana...”
“What're you talking about?”
“D-Don't lie! We know...! You hid Rana! Hand her over, you villain!”
Her shout left him with question marks popping over his head.