Episode 296

Episode 296

“Let’s go! Time to show our skills!”

The alchemist spoke with a face full of resolve.

Lee Han asked, a little flustered.

“Um. I’d like to meet Yoner of the Meikin Family…”

“Ah. That works out well. The person evaluating today is none other than Yoner of the Meikin Family. Just follow me.”

At the alchemist’s words, Lee Han’s face brightened.

He felt bad about interrupting the always-busy Meikin Family, but according to the alchemist, if they went now, they’d be able to meet Yoner.

Ratford tilted his head.

“Wardanaz, I’m not sure I understand… Isn’t Lord Meikin a first-year like us? I know he’s exceptional at alchemy, but can he even evaluate a newly created potion?”

“That’s true. I wonder if the other members of his family are giving him advice on the side?”

Noble families often pooled achievements to boost the reputations of their children.

It wasn’t all that surprising for Meikin Family alchemists to whisper advice and let Yoner evaluate under his name.

“Indeed. Noble families are fascinating.”

“Right? You should learn all this, Ratford. Someday it’ll be useful.”

“Thank you… Hm?”

Ratford was confused.

Useful for what, exactly?

‘Does he mean for stealing?’

• * *

“Basic ingredients go on the left, optional ingredients in front, if you want special ingredients leave a note to the right, and if you need any special alchemy tools just let us know! If you cause a major incident inside, you may be held responsible, so if you feel uneasy, please call for a supervisor!”

The Meikin Family’s servant rattled off instructions at breakneck speed.

Urgency flashed across his face, as if he had to finish work here quickly and move to the next task.

“Wait. Aren’t you nobles? Why are you here?”

Only then did the servant realize Lee Han and Ratford’s attire, and he became flustered.

If you were from a noble family, you didn’t need to wait in line with the people at the manor entrance.

You could just send someone in your family’s name, make an appointment, and meet privately.

Then the alchemist spoke up sternly.

“Even a noble must wait his turn when he’s at a disadvantage.”

“What…? No, understood. If you need anything, just call me!”

Deciding it was better not to interfere and risk being rude, the servant resolved to leave the guests alone.

It was always safest to just stay out of the way.

“All right. Shall we get started?”

The alchemist looked at Lee Han and grinned.

A moment ago, they were allies with the same purpose, but now, they were competitors.

“When is the Meikin Family’s representative coming?”

“They’ll show up once we finish our potions, I’d bet.”

Lee Han hesitated a moment.

Things were getting complicated. Perhaps he ought to go outside and grab a servant to explain there’d been a misunderstanding.

‘Hmm. That would just make me feel bad.’

But if he did that, starting with the doorman and the guide, he’d only put them in an awkward position.

Failing to properly receive a noble guest was a pretty big mistake, and someone would have to take responsibility for saving face.

“Ratford. It seems I should have just revealed my status at the front door earlier.”

“……”

Ratford looked at Lee Han in disbelief.

Wait…!

“So that’s what I should have done? No, something felt weird! You’re from the Wardanaz Family…”

“Indeed. Everyone else was lining up, so I just joined the line.”

“If you’d announced yourself as you entered…”

“The alchemist shouted first, so I missed my chance. Still, if I had, things would’ve gotten noisy.”

Lee Han scratched his cheek and made up his mind.

“Let’s just make the potion and call for Yoner. If I can meet him, I can settle this quietly.”

“Understood.”

“Ha! Finally made up your mind. What potion are you going to make?”

“Lesser stamina recovery potion.”

“I’ll make a lesser stamina recovery potion.”

“?!”

Both the alchemist and Kaljunin were startled by that.

It was a precious opportunity to be evaluated by the Meikin Family.

Wasn’t this the moment to go all out with a truly extraordinary potion of your own creation?

“Is that really okay?”

Ratford looked to Lee Han, unsure how to answer.

But to Lee Han, seasoned by the harsh training of Einrogard, this was child’s play.

“Sometimes the most basic things are the greatest.”

“The most basic is the greatest?”

“If there’s an alchemist who’s made one potion a thousand times, and another who’s made a thousand potions one time each, who do you think is better?”

“…!”

Kaljunin was struck by Lee Han’s words like a bolt of lightning.

It really made sense.

‘Is that so? Have I been too greedy?’

Kaljunin had been worrying about how to show more than his true skill.

But thinking about it, that was just overreaching.

Wouldn’t the brilliant Meikin Family alchemists see right through such bravado anyway?

“Indeed…!”

Kaljunin nodded deeply in enlightenment.

Better to make the potion he felt most confident in, rather than a shaky, unfamiliar one.

Ratford whispered with an impressed look.

“That story you just gave was moving.”

“Really? But I just made it up, so don’t take it too seriously.”

“……”

The three alchemists busied themselves, starting the potion-making process.

Cheerful clinks as they chopped ingredients, ground them in stone mortars, set cauldrons to boil, waved staffs and chanted spells…

“The color looks a bit muddy? Boil it for one more minute.”

“Understood.”

Ratford answered, then suddenly felt something odd and asked,

“But this isn’t a test, is it?”

“If we’re going to do it, may as well do it right. It’s not like we’re studying for someone else’s benefit.”

“R-right.”

Feeling the subtle mania of the top student, Ratford shivered.

Maybe you had to enjoy studying like this to be top of the year.

• * *

Yoanen Meikin carefully polished her amethyst glasses, then put them back on.

She asked a servant,

“Are they in the west wing now?”

“Yes. Three people.”

“How did they look?”

“I’m hesitant to judge, but… ah. Two seemed to be from noble families.”

“Hmm?”

Yoanen brushed her red hair aside and asked again.

“From which families?”

“They just seemed of noble birth…”

“Then why are they waiting in the west wing?”

“I’m not sure about that either.”

The servant, embarrassed, made no further answer to Yoanen’s question.

Well, if someone just waited, what could the servant say?

“Did they want to be judged on ability, not their family name?”

“Oh! That could be it, maybe.”

“A good attitude. Let’s go.”

“Are you sure? Shouldn’t you get more sleep…”

“A person only needs one hour of sleep a day.”

“……”

The servant followed Yoanen, wondering if this was really okay.

Yoanen entered the west wing and headed for the guest workshop.

Upon entering, the alchemists inside stood to greet her. Yoanen gestured for them to remain seated and checked the potions first.

“Why not bring a new potion, and just make this olive stone potion? It’s not a particularly difficult one, is it?”

Kaljunin replied nervously,

“My intention was to submit my own unique potion. But on second thought, I realized it was better to show the potion I could make best, than to force something I couldn’t make perfectly.”

“Indeed. I like that you didn’t show unnecessary pride. Well thought.”

“Thank you!”

“Next…”

Yoanen looked at the next potion, and appeared a bit baffled.

“No matter how well you can make it, isn’t this one a bit too easy?”

“That’s…”

Before Lee Han could answer, Yoanen opened the vial and checked the potion.

Then she was surprised.

‘This is?’

-Lesser Stamina Recovery Potion- was such a well-known potion that it had dozens of recipes.

Even those who knew little of alchemy tried to make it using rumors and hearsay.

But, of course, having many recipes didn’t mean they were all equal in quality. The quality varied greatly.

And this -Lesser Stamina Recovery Potion- was truly outstanding.

A well-refined method, excellent craft, and…

‘How much magical power did he use?’

Alchemy wasn’t just about putting ingredients together. The higher the recipe’s difficulty, the more magic was required from the caster.

A great alchemist had to be a great mage, too.

And this potion had several times as much magical energy as others.

It was clear the mage had poured power to the limit without breaking the potion’s balance.

Magical control bordering on art.

“No deliberation needed. Approved. What do you want?”

Yoanen looked away from the potion.

She saw two young students looking at her, a bit embarrassed.

“Um, could you call Yoner for me?”

“…??!”

• * *

Seeing someone who was obviously not Yoner, but perhaps his older sister, walk in, Lee Han asked Kaljunin,

“Didn’t you say Yoner of the Meikin Family was evaluating us?”

“Ah… Sorry. I must have been nervous and got mixed up. It was Lady Yoanen.”

“……”

If this were Einrogard, Lee Han would have punched him right then, but unfortunately, this was outside school.

He held back and waited for Yoanen’s potion evaluation.

“…No deliberation needed. Approved. What do you want?”

“Um, could you call Yoner for me?”

Yoanen, startled, belatedly collected herself.

“Are you a friend of Yoner’s? An Einrogard student?”

“Yes.”

“You’re a noble… right?”

“I am.”

“But you still wanted to be evaluated properly?”

Yoanen looked at Lee Han with deep admiration.

Lee Han answered firmly,

“No.”

“No?”

Lee Han briefly explained what had happened since the manor’s front gate.

Yoanen replied apologetically,

“I’m so sorry. For our staff to be so negligent towards my younger sibling’s friend, no matter how busy we are, is inexcusable.”

“No, it was my mistake.”

“Thank you for being considerate to the servants. They’re all people I care about.”

Yoanen was deeply impressed by Lee Han’s thoughtfulness.

It was rare for nobles to show such care for other family’s staff.

“Which family are you from?”

“My, it must be an especially busy day.”

Lee Han subtly changed the subject.

When he revealed he was from the Wardanaz Family, people usually had one of two reactions.

One was respect, as the Empire’s premier mage family.

The other was fear, as the Empire’s craziest magic family.

He hadn’t even met Yoner yet; he didn’t want to take the fifty-fifty chance.

“Today? No, today there are relatively few guests.”

“Huh? But there’s a crowd at the door…”

“When there are many guests, it can take up to a full day to get in.”

Lee Han was impressed.

The Meikin Family was even wealthier than he’d imagined.

“It’s a family rule. You never know what kind of talent will show up, so we welcome everyone as best we can. And see, outstanding people like you came today.”

“Not at all.”

Yoanen felt even more satisfied by Lee Han’s humble attitude.

Her little sibling seemed to choose friends well.

She’d worried that having to look after a dim-witted royal cousin would keep Yoner from making decent friends…

“By the way, which family are you from? I never heard.”

“…I’m from the Wardanaz Family.”

“Where?”

“The Wardanaz Family.”

“……”