The Greatest Genius Alchemist Of All Time Wants To Retire - Chapter 9 – Sorry for the trouble –
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- Chapter 9 – Sorry for the trouble – - A Brief Rest and Disaster –
Chapter 9 – Sorry for the trouble –
Evening. The three of us are heading to Serena’s house. This country has the Canovarian Alchemy Academy in the center, and to the north is the noble district. My house is in the center, so now the three of us are moving north.
「Well, Elle…… my mother might say something weird, but don’t worry about it…..」
「Hmm? Ahh, I understand. I guess it’s social courtesy.」
「Yes…. I hope so….」
「Serena’s mother would like to have Master and Serena engaged. If I were a parent myself, I wouldn’t leave someone like Master alone.」
Serena reveals her anxiety. Whenever I go to Serena’s house, I always get asked, “When are you and Serena going to get engaged? Today? Tomorrow? She’s a very kind girl, a good baker, and probably a good mother for raising children”. But Serena seems to dislike it.
I guess she’s in her rebellious phase. I walked around with that in mind when we arrived at Serena’s house.
The grounds are fairly large, with a fountain in the garden and a huge mansion behind it. I’ve been here many times, but I’m always impressed.
「….O~oh, it’s as big as ever…..」
「Then….. I’ll go change and meet at the usual place.」
「Yeah, yeah. We got it.」
Serena said so and walked into the mansion.
「Well, let’s go ahead then, Fred.」
「Yes! Master!」
It’s always in this garden at Serena’s house where we always train in alchemy. It’s because it’s safer than the hard ground, even if we are thrown around or blown up.
And by the way, Fred and I are already in simple clothes that are easy to move around in. Serena is always dressed up when she goes out, so she’s in the process of changing her clothes now.
「Ara~ara, Elle-sama and Fred-sama. Welcome to our home.」
「It’ s been a long time, Madame Kate.」
「It’s good to see you since yesterday. Sorry to bother you, Miss Kate.」
I call her Madame Kate because she’s an noble, in case you’re wondering. Fred is closer to her, so she calls her Miss Kate.
「How do you think of my daughter, Elle-sama?」
「Yes. She’s been a great help today in setting up the workshop. She’s been very helpful.」
「Oh my! A workshop! The workshop of a Blue Stellar Alchemist. You must have done some amazing things.」
「No, I’m just working my way up the ladder as usual.」
「You’re too humble. Elle-sama’s alchemy is truly amazing. And your crops are truly amazing. Let me know when you’re ready for a real venture. I’m sure our family can help you.」
「Thank you very much, I’ll keep it in mind」
She bows her head and smiles at me. I find the soft, age-appropriate atmosphere relaxing. Then Fred, who was next to me, whispered a few words to me.
「…..Master, don’t be fooled. If you’re going to rely on someone, it’s better to rely on the Bart family. There is no doubt about this.」
I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who can hear Fred’s voice. But she’s got hearing it seems, and she immediately enters the conversation.
「Ara~ara? Fred-san? What’s that supposed to mean? Ne~e?」
Un, I’m scared. She’s smiling tremendously, but her eyes aren’t smiling. Just as I was wondering what would happen, Serena comes over.
「Mother! I haven’t told you about today, so why are you here!!?」
「Fufufu. I sensed Elle-sama’s presence here. Are you making any progress on “that” matter?」
「No….. that’s…..」
「Good thing. As long as you can create a pre-existing facts, I’ll establish a solid support system and guide you to your goal. You will achieve it, I promise.」
「But….. me and Elle don’t have that kind of relationship…..」
「Lies. I know all about it.」
For some reason they are arguing, but it was over quickly and Serena’s mother leaves just like that.
「Well then…..you two have a good time.」
She behaved gracefully until the end. I wonder if Serena will be like that in the future.
「Then let’s do this! Fred, do you want to start with me first?」
「Yes. Thanks for having me.」
Thus begins our training.
—–§§§—–
「…..」
「…..」
We stare at each other and walk around to see who’s going to go first. Score a hit from me. It’s a simple rule. Any means of attack is acceptable. However, the use of alchemy cannot be done beforehand.
Normally, the alchemy used by knights is to strengthen the body beforehand. However, what we’re working on right now is focusing on using alchemy while in battle.
「….Ha~a ~tsu!!’」
Serena closes the distance. Fast. In just one step, she’s near my breast-pocket and tries to punch me on my solar plexus.
「…..Too naive, Serena」
「…..What?!」
I swooped in and dodged the attack by shifting myself a bit. Then I delivered a kick to her unguarded torso as hard as I could.
「Guuuh!!!」
Serena is blown backwards, she’s holding back the pain. But it’s not a fatal wound in terms of the sensation. The moment she feels my attack coming, she activates her alchemy. She concentrated the surrounding First Quality Primamateria on her torso to mitigate my attack.
「…… Serena, you’re making progress. You wouldn’t have reached this point in the past.」
「…… There’s more to come!!!」
And so, for the next half hour or so, I beat up Serena rather seriously.
No, I’m not bullying her, okay? It’s just that she wants me to really come at her. I showed a relaxed effort to the extent that I wouldn’t be found out, but I did fought pretty seriously.
My impression on the introduction of alchemy into actual combat was still only on the defensive side and not for offense.
「Ha….. ha….. haha….. Elle is too strong…..」
Serena is lying in the garden. I, on the other hand, am not even out of breath.
The use of alchemy was previously thought to be something that came with an alchemy formation, but I can use alchemy without an alchemy formation. It is activated by simply drawing a clear mental image in my brain.
Of course, not everything can be just like the image. What’s important is the amount of the First Quality Primamateria and how to put the magic power in it. You need to have a good balance between the two.
I mentioned in my previous lecture the importance of three things: mental image, the first quality primal materia, and magic power, and this is what I meant. When those three things have the right conditions, alchemy is activated. It’s not a universal power.
And I’m just unusually good at handling it. In a battle without alchemy, Serena would kill me instantly. But with alchemy to strengthen my body, plus I can use alchemy in no-time while fighting. The amount of magic power i have isn’t much, so I can’t use it continuously, but I can create a wall in front of my opponent and so on.
Even now, several raised grounds have been created.
I can essentially create something out of nothing. Strictly speaking, if you have enough First Quality Primamateria, you can forge anything. However, the First Quality Primamateria exists unevenly in this world, and ordinary alchemists can’t create something out of nothing. That’s why we make use of what we have here in this way to fight. If you have earth, you can use earth, if you have water, you can use water, and if you have fire, you can use fire more easily for alchemy.
「As expected of Master, your alchemy is still active even after all that.」
「Well, I use it every day. Not in combat, but in research.」
「Ha~a…..you really have overwhelming strength. You’ll be at the top of the Order as soon as you join, won’t you?」
As me and Fred are having a chat, Serena comes over to us, after finally catching her breath.
「So, overall, how was it today?」
「You’re getting used to alchemy without an alchemy formation. But you’re still only able to show its true value on the defensive side. You’re imagining an alchemy formation when you’re attacking, right? Maybe defense is an instinctive act of protection, so it’s easy to do. But attack is different. As I always say, it’s all about the right balance of mental image, first quality primamateria, and magic power. Serena’s in too much of a hurry to put magical power into it. So its leaking out all around her. If you are someone like me, you can use that magic power as a stepping stone to use alchemy. This can be fatal in battle. The opponent isn’t using their own magic power. From now on, it might be a good idea to focus on your magic power manipulation. Your mental image, which was an issue before, is much better, and you should try your best to keep it up.」
「As usual, your analysis is strange.」
「It’ s easy compared to crops. This is because crops don’t have the same obvious flaws as humans do. With humans, it’s easier to analyze because we are all the same. What would you do if you were me? And if you imagine that, the advice comes naturally.」
「Ha~a …… I know you’re talented, but you really are a quintessential example of that.」
(ED: quintessential can also mean typical, stereotypical)
「Master! I’m next! Let’s go!」
Fred’s tension is unusually high and I have a bad feeling about today.
Actually, about Fred. His combat power is about the same as mine. I’m still stronger than him, but he makes up for his poor alchemy with his physical abilities and positioning. But when I say poor alchemy, I mean lower than me. Fred, is already a platinum alchemist, one of the best alchemist in the country.
In short, this guy,he is a genius in battle.
「Yosh! Come at me for real!!!」
「Here I go! Master!」
And an hour later…..
「Ha….. ha….. I won….. but Fred you….. are getting too strong….. seriously I’m being serious…..」
「Master is as strong as ever….. ha….. haha….. I really went for the win today. 」
There’s was a large amount of icebergs and crushed ice scattered around us. My specialty in alchemy is ice. I’m good at creating ice from the First Quality Primamateria. Fred, on the other hand, came from a house of flame. He can create fire from First Quality Prima Materia.
When we realized that we couldn’t settle this with a physical battle, we then used alchemy on each other.
I created a large quantity of ice shards and release them to Fred. Fred blocks it with a wall of fire and charges at me.
It was obvious that I was at a disadvantage in close-range, so I created an iceberg around me and kept my distance from that guy. And in the end, Fred’s magic power run out. Fred has more magic power than me, but I can use it more efficiently. That was the only difference between winning and losing. Probably a year from now, I won’t be able to beat Fred.
「Um….. are you two okay?」
「Wa-water!」
「Give me some water too…..!」
Me and Fred asked for water. I’m very thirsty right now. I want to quench that thirst even if a little.
And that’s it for today.
Yeah….. seriously I’m tired….. today.
「Hai, here’s some water.」
「Thank God.」
「Thank you.」
And so we were rehydrated. Fred’s strength is probably one of the best in the country. Fighting while using alchemy will surely become more important in the future. But with Fred there, I could teach him. So I’ll be able to focus on the crops. Yeah, I hope so……
While I was thinking about this, Serena’s mother came over.
「Oh my goodness, you look awful….. please use our bath.」
My struggles had just begun.