kscans

Chapter 218 - The Expert

It seemed Arc had been found out immediately. Like master, like disciple, apparently.

"What do you mean, Arc has become a man?"

I decided to try and resist, just in case.

"Arc is a girl. He was not a male."

Yep. It's hopeless.

"Hmm, well, let's sit and talk. There is no need to revere me, and this is not something we should discuss while standing."

"...Yes. This way, please."

Lydia-chan stood up and gestured for me to sit at the table. As I took the offered seat, Lydia-chan sat down across from me.

"Since you seem to have realized, I will be honest. Arc has indeed become a boy. How did you know?"

"I have been watching him since we were children... I knew from the beginning that Arc was a girl, and I noticed it immediately when I met him just now."

Hmm, is this the power of love?

"You knew from the beginning? I heard from Arc that you two promised to get married or something."

"That was when we were children. It is the sort of thing children do without thinking too deeply, is it not?"

It never happened to me, but I know that sort of thing exists. Like with childhood friends, or the 'I'm going to marry Daddy' thing.

"But you really are getting married now."

"Indeed... Um, Witch-sama. How much do you know about this world?"

"I've heard most of it. It's on the brink of ruin, right?"

"No... It is not on the brink of ruin, but it is in decline."

Well, I guess it's not that bad.

"Hmm, Lydia-chan, stop calling me Witch-sama."

"My apologies. Then, I shall call you Eleanor-sama."

Well, she could just call me by my name, but she seems polite, so I guess it's fine. She seems to call Arc by his name, but that's probably a privilege of being a childhood friend.

"So? What were you planning to do about the marriage? Arc's siblings passed away, and Arc became the next in line to the throne."

"Yes... I believed I could manage it one way or another."

Hmm?

"Manage it? The King and Arc were at their wits' end."

That father and son pair, honestly...

"The problem is that Arc and I cannot have children. We cannot allow the royal bloodline to end."

They have teleportation magic, after all.

"Then it's impossible, isn't it?"

"I simply needed to bear His Majesty's child. We could then pass that child off as Arc's."

...This girl is terrifying.

"How old are you?"

"I am the same age as Arc, so I am thirteen."

That is not the idea of a thirteen-year-old.

"And you were okay with that?"

"I would rather spend my life with Arc than with some random person of unknown origin."

Is she a yandere? If I look closely, the light in her eyes is gone... Scary...

"You have a unique skill, don't you?"

"Yes. It was bestowed upon me from the heavens."

I knew it... I thought so.

"It's a good thing it didn't come to that."

"Yes. I am grateful to Eleanor-sama."

Lydia-chan bowed her head.

"No, no, I didn't do much."

"How could you say that... when you used a precious Gender Reassignment Potion for us."

Ugh...

"Gender Reassignment Potion?"

"Yes. You are an Alchemist, are you not, Eleanor-sama?"

Ugh...

"I am not."

"Ah... a Swordsman, that's right."

This girl knows my stats.

"Is that your unique skill?"

"Yes. My Appraisal Eye can see a person's information."

There really are no decent unique skills. Yoshino-san's perfect memory is probably the most normal one... Though the person herself is another story.

"That's amazing."

Also, Arc should have told me beforehand that Lydia-chan has a skill like that! The royal family manages the Status Cards, don't they!

"I do think it is amazing myself. However, I have not told Arc or His Majesty about this skill."

"You haven't told them? The royal family manages the Status Cards, so they should know, right?"

"Yes. But it is impossible for them to know everything. After all, my Status Card only says that my Appraisal Eye can see a person's information."

Information is a broad term. Gender, age, and name are all information.

"Is that how it works?"

"If someone who had this skill in the past had self-reported, it would be in the records. In fact, there are unique skills that are understood in detail. But there are no records of the Appraisal Eye. No one must have ever reported it."

Not everyone is honest... Well, we're keeping our unique skills a secret too.

"What is the royal family's understanding of the Appraisal Eye?"

"That it can only see a person's name, level, and job."

The stuff written on the Status Card... I see... so gender isn't on there.

"You're not going to tell them?"

"I was planning to tell Arc if he ever confided in me. This eye of mine is both a weapon and a shield. It can see everything from basic information like name and age to skills. I was going to sell this eye and bear His Majesty's child to be with Arc."

"You're very resourceful."

"I am the daughter of a merchant family, after all."

I'll say this to protect the honor of other merchant families, but you're the weird one.

"I see. So that's how you can see my Alchemy..."

"Yes. And for that matter, I can also see your Swordsmanship. Six is amazing. I have never seen it before."

I know, right! I know!

"Hmph... But if you know about the Gender Reassignment Potion, does that mean you can also see the recipes I can make?"

"Ah, I cannot see that far."

"Then how did you know?"

"My family is in the trading business. We once did business with a legendary Alchemist, so I know that Alchemists can make Gender Reassignment Potions."

Ah, that idiot who ruined the world.

"Hmm, did you sell it?"

"No, we did not. It was my grandfather who did business with him, but after discussing it with the Alchemist, they decided not to sell it."

"Why? Because it wouldn't sell?"

Everyone dislikes changing their gender, so maybe it wouldn't sell?

"No, it would sell. But it was clear that it would be misused."

"Misused?"

Badger games? Peeping?

"Yes. There are several ways. First, as you probably know, Eleanor-sama, changing one's gender issues a new Status Card. This is a bit problematic."

Ah, that's right.

"That's true. I have two cards myself."

"Another is human trafficking. You could just turn some random orphan into a girl and sell her. And since she becomes a different person, it would be impossible to trace."

Yikes... That's terrifying.

"That's scary."

"There are many other ways it could be used. Taking those things into account, they decided not to sell it."

Lydia-chan's grandfather and that Alchemist were both conscientious people.

"And you know about this."

"My father taught me. I also know things that the royal family does not. This information is also a weapon and a commodity. I sell myself at a high price."

Arc... You will never be able to stand above this girl. You are of a different caliber. You will be under her thumb for the rest of your life.

"That is very admirable... Well, do your best. Arc is a bit of a worry, so you must support him."

"I will do so. And I am grateful for the happiness of being able to bear Arc's children..."

Lydia-chan prayed toward me.

"Hmm, so the talk was just to thank me?"

Well, he certainly couldn't have Arc listen to this.

"Yes. And I also have a request."

"What is it?"

"Please sell me some Gender Reassignment Potions."

Ugh...

"Why? What will you use them for? Just so you know, I've already promised to give Arc a permanent supply."

"No, it is not about Arc."

"Then what is it?"

"It is best not to meddle in the affairs of a married couple."

..................This girl is scary.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

Good luck, Arc. Sorry, but this girl is on a level too high for your master to give you advice.

"Yes. How much will you sell them for?"

"Hmm, you don't have to pay me. I'm already getting money from your husband and father-in-law. Instead, could you help me with something?"

"Help you?"

Lydia-chan tilted her head cutely. But I could no longer see this girl as cute.

"Yes. I'm dealing with a rather important matter, and I'd like to borrow your eyes."

"My Appraisal Eye? Well, if it is just that much, it would be a simple task."

"It's a simple job."

"Understood. Please leave it to me, Master!"

Don't. Seriously, don't. You are on a much higher plane than me. There is nothing I can teach you.