Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Memory of the Stars: Celestia (4)
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Begerton Antares wasn’t one to throw around the word “genius” lightly.
He had been exceptional from birth, so his benchmarks were always himself, never others.
For someone like Begerton, earning his recognition demanded nothing short of extraordinary feats.
Overwhelming skill and results that no one else could match.
That was why so few people ever drew true “genius” from Dr. Begerton’s lips.
“Truly impressive, Avery...!”
And now, the doctor revised his assessment of the green-haired alchemist.
In his eyes, Avery was a genius of alchemy.
There was no other explanation for the experimental apparatus humming away right before him.
Tok-. Tok-.
Amid droplets of vibrant colors trickling down glass tubes.
The doctor gazed at the legendary potion taking shape before him—the Elixir—and couldn’t contain his ecstasy.
“I know I pushed you, but to achieve this in just over a month!”
“......”
“It’s impossible not to praise you. I, Begerton Antares, acknowledge you!”
It had been just over a month since Avery joined the doctor’s lab.
Yet in that short time, she had accomplished the miracle of perfecting the Elixir.
The product of her innate alchemical brilliance, the ancient wisdom passed down in her family.
And her burning determination to get home.
Tok-.
Beneath the beautiful droplets rippling in the glass vial, she flashed a radiant smile at the distillation apparatus.
“Doctor... I worked so hard...”
Naturally, Avery’s complexion—pale even by flattery—told a different story.
She had sacrificed sleep night after night, pouring her body into the work over that brief span.
Nod, nod-.
Head drooping, Avery pulled out a test strip to prove the Elixir’s purity.
“I barely slept... experiments every day...”
“You’ve done more than enough, Avery. Beyond my expectations.”
“At least the calculations didn’t go wrong...”
The test strip fluttered from her limp hand.
It glowed with a vivid mana reaction from the Elixir’s raw essence.
Nod-.
Her head dipped perilously close to the floor.
But only for a moment.
“Ah! I have to get home...!”
She snapped awake, remembering something.
Lifting her head, Avery looked at the doctor.
His monocle-framed smile still looked wicked, but by now she knew he wasn’t all bad.
Though he was still plenty strange.
“Doctor! The Elixir’s done, so I can go home now, right...?”
Her voice trembled as she asked.
What if he went back on his word?
That fear lingered in her mind.
“Of course, Avery. I, Begerton Antares, am not so faithless. A promise made is a promise kept—I’ll send you home as you wish.”
“Thank goodness... I can go back now.”
Luckily, he seemed fully intent on honoring it.
Sigh-.
Relief escaped her lips.
As she relaxed, the doctor added casually.
“Oh, of course, no exporting research from here.”
“That’s... unavoidable...”
“And I’d appreciate it if you kept the results under wraps outside.”
Naturally, nothing from her work here could leave with her.
Still, Avery didn’t feel too bad.
She regretted not taking the data, but she’d gained so much here.
“It’s fine. I couldn’t even dream of this without a place like this...”
Her gaze drifted to the ancient relic still humming in the corner.
The Elixir yielded mere drops despite oceans of mana stones.
Without vast funding, it was impossible from the start.
Her words rang true—this research was only feasible here.
*It’s a shame I can’t publish it as my achievement.*
Knowing that, Avery curbed her greed.
For a kidnapping victim, this was far from terrible.
Maybe even a net positive.
*Time to go home.*
As she let go of those thoughts and looked at the doctor, he adjusted his monocle like he’d been waiting.
Click-.
He beamed at her for a few seconds.
Then came words she never saw coming.
“As promised, a gift for my excellent assistant who fulfilled her role splendidly.”
“A gift...!”
Her body jolted at the word.
He was actually giving her a present too?
Faint anticipation flickered in her eyes.
*What will the doctor give me?*
Having handled priceless materials here, her heart swelled with “what if” hopes.
Maybe some rare ingredient.
Beaming confidently, the doctor began presenting his gifts.
“Here you are. Gifts I prepared for the brilliant researcher, Miss Avery.”
“......”
“This brooch? A treasure I snuck from the Chairman’s vault. Specially for you.”
Swish-.
He placed a stunning brooch in her palm.
It screamed expense at a glance.
But as she stared, a thin question crossed her mind.
*Chairman? Who’s that...?*
The “Chairman” lingered briefly.
Then she remembered where he worked, and her face hardened.
—Pilgrim Bartov.
The infamous head of the Arcane Research Society treasured it.
“Ch-Ch-Ch-Chairman...?”
Tremble, tremble-.
Her hand shook holding the brooch.
Undeterred, the doctor added more to her palm.
“And this is a ring marking membership in the Arcane Research Society.”
“Huh...?”
“Don’t worry. Even if you unluckily run into the Chairman, flashing this means he won’t kill you.”
Another item joined her palm.
The ring proving Arcane Research Society membership.
Her face drained of color upon hearing it.
—The Extremist Arcane Research Society.
A symbol of the heinous secret society, every member wanted by the Empire.
“No need to fret too much. Unless you flash it at the guards, this won’t cause trouble.”
Oblivious to her dread, he rattled on cheerfully with absurdities.
Who in their right mind would show this to guards?
Avery eyed the “criminal collection” with profound dismay.
“And this note... lists contact points for the Society’s secret network.”
“Huhhh...?!?”
“Someone as brilliant as you shouldn’t research alone. Need help from top experts? Send a letter under a pseudonym anytime.”
“Huuuhhhh...?!?”
Her mind went blank.
Gifts? Why only these dangerous things?
It looked like she was joining the Society!
Refusing his “kindness” terrified her—what nonsense might he spout?
Tears pricked at her smiling lips.
His voice faded from her ears.
“And my final gift to you, Miss Avery.”
Was it not over?
Beaming with delight, he addressed the dazed Avery.
“If you ever need aid—just once—I, Begerton Antares, will help with all I have.”
“......”
“You’ve seen me enough to know I mean it.”
His final words.
The one true gift she could accept.
Blink, blink-.
Her dazed eyes met his.
He smiled brightly.
“You’ve worked hard, Miss Avery. Best of luck ahead.”
Kekekeke-.
His eerie laugh echoed through the vast lab.
Still wickedly resonant, but it no longer grated on her.
The brief dream was over.
Winter beckoned once more.
* * * * * *
The Imperial Academy, under direct imperial control.
Roan Adenov strode its halls, face alight with resolve.
Step, step-.
His steps rang clear after so long away.
His outfit was worlds from academy uniform.
“......”
Leather cloak against the cold, bulging pack stuffed with gear.
Sword sharp at his hip.
He looked ready for a long journey, fully equipped.
No hesitation lingered in his chest as he walked.
Sparring Klein in the capital.
Through endless bouts, he’d etched a vow into his heart.
*I won’t hesitate anymore—.*
Vivid resolve rippled within.
He’d already submitted his intent to the academy office.
He’d just tossed a white envelope to the clerk.
Withdrawal application—.
No more wasting time on pointless classes.
*No one’s stepping up. I have to rescue Avery myself.*
Without her, the academy held no value.
He’d quit and start searching today.
Hoo-.
His determined eyes scanned the hall briefly.
Step, step-.
Walking the alchemy wing, Roan halted upon spotting what he’d sought.
“......”
A large cabinet in the corner.
Avery’s name gleamed clearly.
Swish-.
His hand traced her name on the cabinet.
This was her locker from when she was here.
“Avery...”
He’d watched her open and close it countless times; surely it held their memories.
Eyes misty with nostalgia, he stared.
Emotions surged.
Avery. A cherished name.
Murmuring it, red-rimmed eyes fixed on the cabinet, he spoke.
“Wait for me, Avery...”
Resolve poured from his lips.
A vow reborn despite breaks.
Unyielding grit glared at the cabinet.
Some things must not be forgotten.
Some must not be abandoned.
To Roan, Avery was that.
“I’ll find you, no matter what—.”
Flames scorched his chest.
A knight’s pride, buried in ashes, blazed anew.
He had to find her.
And tell her.
Mountains of unspoken words piled for her.
“The confession I couldn’t last time—I’ll say it right this time...!”
Scarred hand traced her name.
In the academy’s sunset glow.
The unfinished tale must end from his lips.
Thud-.
Head bowed, he poured his heart.
“So, Avery... I... you...!”
“R-R-R-Roan...?!?”
No—mid-breath.
A sudden voice cut him; he swallowed the rest.
Swish-.
Head up, he turned toward it.
And faced the unexpected.
“......Avery?”
“R-Roan... You’re back at the academy?”
“......”
“I heard you took leave for bad injuries...!”
There she stood in academy uniform.
Fresh from class, clutching thick alchemy tomes.
Roan’s stunned gaze met hers.
Hers mirrored his unease.
“Uh, th-th-that... what you were about to say...”
“......”
“Ah, uh, s-sorry... Later!”
Thud-.
Crimson-faced, her hands slapped over her cheeks.
Then she bolted down the alchemy hall.
Tadadada-.
Dazed, Roan watched—then snapped to, raising a hand.
“Avery! Wait! Hold on...!”
Pack on, he lunged after her.
Step, stop-.
But realization halted him.
Why was Avery wandering the academy unscathed?
Important, but he had priority.
“Ah...!”
The envelope just submitted to the office.
The withdrawal form.
“Withdrawal! Fix that first—!”
His feet flew opposite her direction.
Tadadada-.
Their footsteps clashed, heading apart.
Screaming down the hall, Roan wailed.
“Waaaaaah—!”
Roan Adenov.
Humiliation burned; he yearned to hide.
Autumn, a month shy of winter break.