Part 26: Chapter 5-4: Learning Curves

Part 5-4: Learning Curves

One morning…


The Twins in Tandem

At this time of day? You really don’t have a job, do you, Mathias?

Sue, this isn’t doing the poor guy any good. We need to find a job for him!

I’ve already told you! I’m not unemployed! I’m a Knight, which just means I’m off duty a lot!

Off duty, that’s what you’re calling it? Slacking off, you mean?

Gah, enough! Why do you think so little of me, Lydie?

For all sorts of reasons. Never mind that. Why are you here, anyway? It’s rare for you to just visit.

Well, I’m getting interested in alchemy. I thought I’d see you work.

Oh. Well then… I don’t have a problem with that.

OK, you handle the synthesis, Lydie. I’ll make some tea.

Thanks! Come on then, Mathias. Over here.

To the cauldron?

Yes. First, add the materials and adjust the temperature of the cauldron.



Wow, it really is just a big cauldron! I can’t believe all that stuff comes out of this.

Hahaha, at the beginning I thought so too. Right. Now we mix everything inside…

Right… And it starts to smoke. There’s a lot to learn, isn’t there!



Lydie, are you- woah! Gyah! I got tea on my foot! Ow, ow, ow, that’s hot!

Hey, Sue! Are you alright? What am I saying, I’m not OK either! This is going to explode!

After the twins finish cleaning up…

That’s a taste of synthesis for you, anyway. Now I will pour the tea.

Uwah. We should have done these things one at a time to begin with.

Hehehe, they’re like two halves of a single person.



To think we’d embarrass ourselves in front of Mathias like that…

Yeah. We’ve a lot to learn. Speaking of which…

You were also thinking of visiting Firis’ atelier, right?

Yeah! Even before I knew she was a certified alchemist, I thought she was something special.

We can learn something by watching her in action!


Alchemy of the Mysterious Journey

Firis, we’re coming in!

Welcome! Come on in!

Ah, sorry, you’re synthesizing? Oh, but that might actually be perfect…

What? Perfect? Don’t tell me, now that I’m vulnerable while synthesizing, that you’re going to…

Where did that come from? We want to watch, Firis, and learn from you!

What, that’s all! You’re welcome to do that! Watch all you like!



Wow… what is she even doing?

I don’t know, but I can tell it’s something incredible!

Her form is amazing! You can tell she’s been at this for a while!



Wow. That’s all I can say. You made that amazingly complex item without even hesitating!

Totally different from us. Why is that? The benefit of experience?

Maybe not… I’ve only been an alchemist for five years. I collected ores, when I was back home.

What?! Five years?! That’s about the same as us! Firis, you’ve already taken the certification exam, right?

Ah, that’s right. I passed it about one year after I started. Haha!

One year?… H-How did you manage that?

Well, I studied as I traveled, and resolved the problems of lots of different people, I guess?

That’s it? I mean… That doesn’t sound like you did anything all that special?

Uwah, I know you’re a genius, Firis, but this is still a bitter pill to swallow!

If only Dad had done a better job of teaching us! Gah. Sorry to have bothered you.

The twins leave, thoroughly dejected.

Hey! You’re leaving already? Hey, girls! Come on!

Ah? Were those long-faced girls I saw leaving Firis’ atelier none other than Lydie and Sue? Well… I might as well drop in myself!



Ah! Lucia, welcome! What can I help you with today?

Well, I can’t say this too loudly, but I want you to teach me some alchemy. I hate to admit it, but you’re better than me. I’d very much like to learn from you.

Sure, no problem. I’m not sure what I can teach you, though… Actually, I know! I was just about to do some synthesis, so maybe watch me do that?

Please!

First, you throw in the materials with a splash!



Next turn up the temp of the cauldron, see it roar! Then mix it up, mix mix mix!

Splash? Roar? Mix mix mix? Are you joking?

Then wait for it to cool down, and we’re done!



Hahaha, this is how I synthesize. Did you learn anything?

Nope, not at all! I didn’t have a clue what you were doing?

What? I’m sorry! I know how to do it but I’m not good at teaching it.



Meanwhile, at the twins’ atelier…

…Oh? Summons from the castle?

Can it be? Has Mireille recognized our abilities and decided to give us the next exam already? Let’s go!

The twins go to the castle.

…Wait…


The Next Exam

M-Mireille? You have an extremely evil-looking look on your face!

Don’t I just! I’m planning something really evil, that’s why.



What?! Drop our rank?! Why would you do such a thing?

Hah! This is payback for all those things you said to me before. I was so, so embarrassed!

Tyrant! This is an abuse of power!

What are you talking about? I’m just testing you, following the rules of the system!

Gah, this is hopeless! It’s like hitting a puni with a stick!

We can’t outmaneuver her… Just give up. Come on then, Mireille. What is the test?

I want you to make Zettel! The highest quality you can, or I won’t accept it!

A tougher question than I expected… We have to do it! We don’t want to lose our rank!



Bah… I guess we can part with these.

Mireille, we made the Zettel. Is this good enough?

Yes, you’ve passed! Although, to be honest, there’s no test to pass!

…What?

Hehe! You mocked me, so I thought I’d get a little payback! I wanted this Zettel for memo paper. It’s just so comfortable to write on!

T-That’s it?! All that worry for nothing?!

I’m sorry. But now that the jig is up… Here’s your reward.

1800 Coll received.

Hold on. All we did was make some Zettel… Are you sure you want to give us this much?

Yes. As an apology for tricking you. Go ahead and take it.

Thank you! If you just wanted memo paper, though, does it have to be Zettel? I just use any scrap of paper I can get my hands on…

Ah, well, you know what they say. Nothing’s better than Bettel!



Hah…

You see, nothing’s better than…

We heard you! We heard you, no need to say it again!

Good. Funny, wasn’t it? Pretty witty on my part, I think you’ll agree!

Hah. You’re so cool the rest of the time, Mireille, but sometimes you just…

We should write this one on an official notice. It’s so good everyone in the city should know it!

Uh… Please don’t…

Lydie… let’s go home. We’ve got some more jobs to do… and if we finish them early enough we can catch some coffee on Lune Street afterward.

The twins go home, and that afternoon outside their atelier…


The Real World

If it isn’t Mireille and Mathias! Are you having a meal together?

Yes. My sister’s idea. Why don’t you join us?

That sounds great! I’m in the mood for something really delicious!

The twins walk over and dig in, but…



Ah, sorry. I love it as spicy as possible. Here, you should be able to eat this one.

Seriously, you’re a lightweight who loves spicy food! How do you have a single friend?

Mireille, you’re totally drunk, aren’t you? You’ve been drinking nonstop since we got here.

That’s only because Mathias won’t drink. I have to cover us both!

Uwah, this is bad! She’s not making any sense at all now!

Hmm… Wow, that’s delicious! It’s hot, but not overly spicy. Just right!

See? You get it. These peppers are carefully grown to keep the flavor while dialing back the spice.

You don’t say? You’re pretty knowledgeable, Mathias!

Don’t get sucked in, Lydie. His knowledge is just one of the things he uses to pick up women.



Suuuure, suuuure. What good such superficial knowledge will do you, though, I don’t know! Aaaahahaha!

Uwah. She’s a real pain when she’s drunk.

Hahaha. She works so hard the rest of the time, I guess this is the price for that.



I-I’m sorry! I can’t take so much!

Whaaaaaat? Isn’t that about what we spent?

Sorry, Mireille, but it’s probably a tenth of that? Maybe less?

You see? Sister doesn’t have a clue about the real world herself!

Hahaha, looks that way!

Mathias has acquired the skill “Sky Guardian”.

Sky Guardian - Increases DEF.

That night at the castle…

No, really, you tried to give the barkeep 10,000 Coll! TEN THOUSAND! You should have seen the look on everyone else’s faces!

Whaaaat? Is that so unusual?

Really, you have no clue about the outside world sitting behind your desk like this!

Come on! I’m not sheltered! I know, I’ll get the twins to back me up on this!

The next morning…

Summons? Again? What now?

Ah… might as well go and check. And hope Mireille’s sobered up.

The twins go to the castle.

Say, twins, I’ve got something to ask you.


The World Outside the Castle

Yes.

Uwah, in perfect unison, too! I’ve been feeling it, but I guess you’re right. It’s too extreme, isn’t it? Not being allowed to leave the castle until I’m grown!

Hahaha. I guess there’s no helping that?

Maybe, but that’s a bit too clean and easy for me… I’m in line for the throne, after all. In order to learn more about the world, I’m thinking of going to do a homestay somewhere.

What? With who, Mireille?



Uwah!

Hold it, Lydie! What was that noise for?

That’s not a “homestay”! I don’t know what that is!

R-Really? Then I think I have to change my plans.



Huh?