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Royal Court Alchemist Zegrus

Translated by: ME

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*****

A heavy silence descended as the imposing man appeared behind Leon.

Since I couldn't be certain of the relationship between the two, I turned to Master Clein for confirmation.

「Master Clein, who is this?」

Being a novice to the world of high-level alchemy, I asked with pure intentions...

Apparently, that was a taboo. The man called Segrus glared at me with a terrifying expression.

(I should have asked quietly later.) The air grew heavier by the second, making the situation incredibly uncomfortable.

「Hmph. It seems you've taken on an incompetent assistant, Clein.」

「Not at all. It's simply that you weren't an alchemist worth knowing to her.」

It was clear these two were on bad terms. There was a distinct thorn in Master Clein's words, and as their gazes locked, they glared at each other as if sparks were literally flying between them.

So, the reason Master Clein hadn't been looking forward to this wasn't because he didn't want to see Leon—it was because he didn't want to see Master Segrus.

I certainly didn't have the courage to wedge myself between them in this hostile atmosphere. However, since I was the one who had made the slip of tongue, the brunt of the anger was quickly directed at me.

「I am Segrus Warren, granted the title of Baron. I have served as a Court Alchemist for ten years now. Don't let a little bit of fame go to your head, Mia Hopewell.」

The downside of my situation was that my rumors—for better or worse—had spread far and wide. Naturally, I was recognized; both my name and face were well-known.

「Y-yes. I shall be more careful in the future...」

Since this mess was caused by my own ignorance, I bowed deeply to express my sincere apologies.

Just after Obaba-sama warned me that a lack of alchemical knowledge would lead to embarrassment, I had gone and caused this kind of trouble. I felt a wave of inadequacy for causing trouble for Master Clein as well.

「Mia, you don't need to let it bother you. Opportunities to converse with other Court Alchemists are rare, after all.」

Master Clein offered words of comfort, perhaps sensing my feelings, but it was still a fact that I should have known better.

Especially when dealing with nobility. If a needless conflict can be avoided, it absolutely should be.

Still... to think that I, who used to handle nobles at the Adventurers Guild reception desk, didn't know him. Perhaps he was granted a life-peerage Barony after achieving merit through his work as a Court Alchemist.

Usually, someone with a Barony would try to be more humble and avoid making enemies...

Master Segrus, with his overbearing attitude, was the exact opposite of that.

「What are you here for? This is no place for half-baked runts like you.」

(R-runts?) Setting aside an apprentice like me, he was treating even Master Clein like a "runt."

It seemed that sitting in the position of Court Alchemist for many years had made him incredibly arrogant.

「I mentioned this briefly before, but there are few people among the Court Alchemists worth talking to. Most are consumed by self-interest.」

Come to think of it, during the monster outbreak, when I suggested spreading the technology for EX-Potions, he did say that the Court Alchemists were a bunch of "unreasonable people."

However, saying that right in front of the man himself was a guaranteed recipe for conflict. The staring contest between Master Segrus and Master Clein was clearly heating up.

「A little rich boy who spent his time wandering the low ranks certainly has a comfortable life, dreaming his days away.」

「I'd rather not hear that from someone whose hobby is collecting gold. Does ten years as a Court Alchemist make a mere Barony feel insufficient?」

Faced with the two of them snapping at each other so fiercely, I felt completely shrunken. I slowly sidled up to Leon and whispered to him.

「Are those two on really bad terms?」

「I think finding a cooperative person among the Court Alchemists is the real rarity. But yes, the relationship between these two is the absolute worst.」

「It's exactly as it looks, then. I was secretly hoping for some twist where they were actually close friends.」

「There isn't one.」

「I figured...」

From what I could gather, there was no way that Master Clein—who approached alchemy with sincerity—and Master Segrus—who used alchemy to climb the social ladder—would ever see eye to eye.

Even though their ranks and ages differed, I wondered why they were at each other's throats to this extent. Was there some underlying reason?

「By the way, why are Master Clein and the rest of you here?」

「Ah, that’s actually my fault. Obaba-sama told me to attend in her stead, so I invited Master Clein. Here is the invitation.」

When I handed him the invitation, Leon’s eyes went wide.

「This is indeed the invitation addressed to Lady Barbaril... but you are the proxy, Mia-sama? Not Master Clein?」

「Yes. She told me to go broaden my alchemical horizons. I've just recently become interested in the Enchantment skill, you see.」

「No wonder such impressive rumors are going around. To think you were someone recognized by *that* Lady Barbaril.」

(Yes, yes, I know exactly what you mean, Leon.) Being recognized by that eccentric, stubborn old woman is no small feat.

Even Master Clein had held his head in his hands and reacted with total shock when he first heard about it.

「Speaking of which, Leon, weren't you also praised by Obaba-sama?」

「Ehh!? H-how do you know about that?」

「I happened to be there when I went out for supplies. It seems you've made a very fine bracelet.」

「N-no, not at all. Mine is truly still a work in progress...」

Leon became a bashful, fidgety mess, radiating a peaceful aura—yet the two Court Alchemists were still at it.

Somehow, the focus of their argument had shifted toward a debate over the Bracelet of Power.

「We should focus on developing Magic Items as a means to suppress monster damage. Alchemy exists to protect human lives!」

「Idealistic nonsense. You clearly don't realize that humans are far more terrifying than monsters. Value is born in alchemy only when it creates the power to deter war.」

Sparks were still flying, but in a weird way, these two seemed like they had a "toxic old friends" kind of bond.

I got the feeling that even if we left them alone, it wouldn't actually escalate into a major catastrophe.

Though, continuing to bicker at a prototype demonstration wasn't doing either of them any favors.

「It’s quite difficult to stop men when they start arguing like this, isn't it?」

「Y-yes. But it's partly my fault as well...」

「Hmm? What do you mean by—」

I was just about to ask about their complicated history when the bickering stopped instantly. At the same time, the King approached with a dignified air.

Instinctively, Leon and I straightened our backs, making sure to show the utmost respect.

「Are you two at it again? You never change, do you?」

At that moment, I realized that even the King recognized them as a pair that was always fighting.

*****

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