kscans

Chapter 184 - Glad the King is a Friendly Guy

The skill called Alchemy apparently caused a world war and destroyed the world.

"Can you explain in detail?"

"Um, I can’t really go into too much detail…"

"Just what you’re allowed to say. Tell me what started the war."

I need to know this.

"O, okay. It started with a small famine."

"A famine? The crops didn’t grow?"

"Something like that. There was little rain in a certain region."

Well, that sort of thing happens.

"And then?"

"That region with little rain was along the border of two countries. And in one of those countries, an alchemist was born. That alchemist saved the people of his country using useful items like Healing Potions. As a result, his deeds were recognized, he rose in status, and he developed that region more and more."

With Alchemy, that would certainly be possible.

"It developed and became prosperous…………just one of the countries."

"Right. In the other country, people began to starve to death one after another. That gave birth to resentment."

It sounds like misplaced resentment, but I can understand the feeling. They must have wondered why it was only them.

"And that’s what started the conflict?"

"Yeah. At first, it was just small skirmishes. But the country that wanted the alchemist used the skirmishes as a pretext to launch a military offensive, and it turned into a state of war. That created a chain reaction across the world, and a world war broke out."

"How did the war end? I heard you were destroyed."

"I can’t say. I absolutely can’t say."

That ‘absolutely’ was unnecessary.

"The alchemist did something, didn’t they?"

"I can’t say. I don’t know."

It must be an alchemist’s item. There’s something capable of destroying the world.

"Yoshino-san, I’m really going to retire. I don’t want to raise my level any further."

I said to Yoshino-san after hearing Arc’s story.

"I think that’s for the best. It feels like the same thing could happen again."

"Sorry, but that’s what I’m going to do."

It might mean Yoshino-san’s childhood friend, Lin-san, will also have to quit.

"It’s fine. Money is important, but peace is just as important."

Right.

"Arc, that’s enough. I fully understand how dangerous Alchemy is. I may be called the Golden Witch, but I have no intention of becoming a real one."

I absolutely don’t want to be able to make nuclear-level weapons.

"R, right. I’d appreciate it if you did that…"

"I think I’ve got the gist of it. Let me meet Charles-san."

"Wait a moment."

Arc said, then closed his eyes.

"What? Meditation?"

"Be quiet…"

After being told off by Arc, I looked at Mia.

"It is the Telepathy skill. The royal family possesses it."

Royalty is pretty amazing.

"Can you talk to anyone with it?"

"It is limited to those who both possess the Telepathy skill. Therefore, it would not work with myself, Eleanor-sama, or Yoshino-sama, as we likely do not have it."

So it’s a skill that’s useless if only one person has it. How subtly useless.

"Alright! His Majesty says it’s okay. We’re teleporting."

Arc opened his eyes and said that, so I finished the rest of my tea and stood up. Then, Yoshino-san and Arc also stood up.

"Ready?"

"I’m ready whenever."

Yoshino-san nodded at Arc’s question.

"I’m ready too, but just one thing…………next time, don’t just serve tea, serve snacks too."

Does he have no manners?

"This woman is definitely petty, isn’t she?"

"When I went to her place, she didn’t just serve snacks, she dosed me with a Sleeping Potion."

"Isn’t she dangerous? She’s already a witch."

"She’s a top-class unique woman in Feire."

"I knew it…"

Don’t get along so well!

"Mia!"

"My sincerest apologies. I am of the same opinion as those two."

My Mia…………

"Alright, you brat, hurry up and use your teleportation magic."

"Okay~"

Arc nodded obediently and held out his hand. The view in front of me turned pure white.

◆◇◆

When my vision cleared, the room had changed from Arc’s room to a long, vertical one. This room was probably for dining. That’s because there was a long table in the middle of the room, looking like it was ready for a banquet. And sitting at that table was a single man.

He was an older gentleman with a magnificent beard, wearing clothes that resembled a military uniform.

"Are you Charles-san?"

He seemed important, so I figured I couldn’t be wrong and asked.

"Indeed. I am Charles. You can think of me as the king of Frontier, for all intents and purposes."

"You don’t have a country name?"

"We do not. We’re thinking of making it Frontier."

I think they should come up with their own name. Frontier isn’t exactly a great name from their perspective.

"Hmm, well, whatever. I’m Eleanor. And this is my companion, Yoshino-san."

"A pleasure. I wasn’t invited, but I can’t predict what Eleanor will do if left alone, so I came along as a minder."

So she was a minder…

"Mm. Welcome. Yoshino, you are welcome as well. It is an honor to meet two beautiful women."

He’s a smooth talker.

"He’s nice, isn’t he?"

"He must be a wise king."

Yoshino-san and I nodded in agreement.

"Twenty six-year-olds are so desperate…………"

The brat muttered under his breath.

"Mia, shut that brat up."

Better yet, go back to your own room.

"Yes… Arc-sama, that was uncalled for."

"S, sorry."

Arc might have a higher provocation level than Satsuki-san.

"My apologies for my incompetent son. It seems my parenting was poor."

Even the King apologized.

"It’s fine. You’ll regret it in thirteen years."

You’ll get old too, you know.

"My apologies. In any case, please be seated. Mia, please prepare some tea. Ah, right. Don’t forget the tea cakes."

The King gave his instructions with a wry smile.

"Eavesdropping isn’t very nice."

I said as I sat down opposite the King. Yoshino-san sat next to me. As for Arc, he sat next to his papa.

"I did not intend to eavesdrop, but I was worried whether he could explain things properly."

The King said, looking at his son sitting beside him.

"He gave a fine explanation. Though he did say one or two things too many…"

"My apologies…………"

The King apologized once again.

"He apologized to me!"

Well, of course he did. This kid really has no self-awareness…………

"So, King-sama. Am I correct in assuming you want to buy Healing Potions and Invisibility Potions from me?"

I decided to ignore Arc.

"That is correct. But first, I wish to confirm something. You are an Alchemist, are you not?"

"No. My job is Swordsman. It’s true I have the Alchemy skill, but I am a swordsman first and foremost."

"A Swordsman…………even with a unique skill… I wonder if that’s because your skill level is as high as six?"

Like I’d know if you guys don’t.

"Maybe so. Well, I certainly have Alchemy, so does my job really matter?"

"I suppose you are right. Then, I would like to know what you can create. From what I’ve heard, it seems you can also make Cure Potions?"

When I mentioned Cure Potions, the maid Mia’s movements became strange. There was no doubt they wanted Cure Potions.

"That’s right. I can make them. But I only just learned how, so I don’t have much stock."

"Can you not make them right away?"

"Depending on the quantity, I’d need a day or two. How many do you want?"

"One thousand Level 2s, no, I want two thousand."

That many Cure Potions? I only have about a hundred in stock.

"I don’t have that many. I’ll still need one or two days."

"I see. In that case, how about this? Would you consider staying here for a short while? We would welcome you."

Stay? As in, stay the night?

"Stay the night, huh…"

Since it’s a special occasion, I do feel like I want to stay. Opportunities like this are rare…

"What do you think?"

I decided to ask Yoshino-san.

"I don’t mind either way."

"What about work?"

"Our party already finished up for the year, so no more adventures, and the branch manager is in meetings. I’m already on my break."

So she’s on winter vacation too.

"King-sama, can I send a letter to the guild? I want to let them know we’re staying."

I need to tell Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san that I’ll be staying out.

"Ah. That is of course possible."

Well then, I guess it’s fine.

"Shall we do that, then?"

I looked at Yoshino-san.

"Let’s."

Yoshino-san nodded as well.

"Then it is decided. I will have you shown to the guest rooms later."

It seemed Yoshino-san and I would become the first people from Earth to ever stay in Frontier.