Part 58: Chapter 9-2: Luck and Leadership

9-2: Luck and Leadership



…Ashes? Lydie, you want to make ashes?

Believe it or not, Sue, these are supposed to be a really powerful elixir! And can be used as gunpowder and… well, you’ll see once it’s done.



Whatever you say, Lydie. Anyway, looks like we’ll want red and blue components…



You know what this needs, Sue?

Yeah! An enhancing agent!



This one’ll do the trick!




Aah, I’m wiped! We’ve been synthesizing for days on end! We need a break…

Hmm… let’s head to the tent!


In the Cards

Ah, you noticed? We’ve just been so busy with work.

Hmm, we can’t have that. Let’s take a break! I know just the thing.

Woohoo! A break! For…



Oh. Uh. Sure, we can do that, but Lydie’ll need her usual handicap.

Sure, fine. I’m feeling lucky today, so a pretty heavy one might be a good idea.

Hm…? Ah, well. Let’s get started. I’ll deal!

Ah, I win! Royal Geshpenst Finish!

What the…?!

See what I mean, Firis?

It’s not like I can help it, Sue…

Ah, well, let’s go for another round! She can’t get a hand like that again… Hmm… Shuffle, shuffle… and deal!

Yes, I win again! Super Extreme Straight Nova!

Ah… well… one more round! I’ll win this time…

Hehe, I win again! Ultra Imperial Destiny Full House!



Uwah! Lydie is impossibly lucky. There’s no way to beat her in games that involve chance.

Ah, so that’s why there’s a handicap!

Bah, this is no fun! Lydie, you’re just too good!’

I do see where you’re coming from, but I can’t exactly hold back, can I?

Hahaha… Sounds like it’s time to test a medicine I thought up a while back. Bring me these materials here!

What? Sure, we can, but just what are you trying to make?

You’ll see once it’s ready. I’m counting on you!

Hmm… all she needs from us is some Honey Syrup.


Lady Luck Forsaken

Firis. We’ve got the stuff you asked for.

Ah, thanks. This is just what I need. Let’s synthesize at once!



Luck…?! Putting the silly name aside, if that works then it will be incredible.

I know! Go ahead, Sue, take a swig!

Roger that, Professor Firis! With this, I can beat even Lydie! Mmm… glug, glug… Wow, it tastes good too! It feels like my whole body is brimming with luck!

Right! Time for some revenge, Lydie!



I definitely was luckier than before… And all the hands I wouldn’t get before were turning up…

But she always had better… We’ve been completely defeated.

Ah! I hate this heavy atmosphere!

Firis. There are just some things even alchemy cannot overcome.

I guess so, although I’d rather have not learned that. Lydie’s luck really is incredible.

I said that I’m sorry! Forgive me, please!

Thanks for the games, Firis, but… let’s go home, Lydie.



Oh, right. We have the fragments from Etel Nepica, so… we can make an item that’ll recreate its atmosphere!

Dunno why we’d want to, but why not? We have all the ingredients on hand, to boot.



Done!

I gotta say, though… wouldn’t it be convenient if we could just do all these syntheses in a flash? Like when Sophie helped us out that one time?

Yeah. How does she do it? We oughta catch her in action again!


Maturity and Responsibility

Sophie, hello! Wow, you look busy!

Hahaha… I went and took on too much work again.

Oh boy! But you can just finish it all in an instant, right? Just like when you helped us.

I wish I could! The more I do, the more it seems to pile up!

What! Just how much did you take on?

I’m actually not sure. Enough to fill a notebook?

If that’s so, I think it’s too much. Do you want our help?

No, I’m fine. I took it on, I’ll handle… uwah!

You’re not fine at all! You’re wobbling about all over the place!

Hahaha, I haven’t slept in three days. Don’t end up like me, girls. I’m bad enough at cleaning already, and now I don’t have any time for it at all! My room is getting messier and messier. Plachta is going to chew me… out again…

OK, OK! No need to keep talking. Just take a break, Sophie!

Haah, Grandma… see how grown up I am now? Heheh…



Let’s… come back once Sophie isn’t delirious from overwork.

Give it a few hours, maybe?

Yeah, a few hours. …Best of luck, Sophie…


Reader to Leader

Uwah, you’re studying, Sophie? I just never feel like reading.

Ah, I can’t ignore a comment like that! Reading is very important. Knowledge is vital in life and alchemy. You need to study hard everyday.

Yes, I know. I just really dislike reading.

Sue, you’re hopeless. But Sophie, do you really need to study any further? You’re already an incredible alchemist. Don’t you know the contents of all these books already?

Hahaha, of course not. I’m not there yet. There’s no end to the path of alchemy. The only way to carry on is to study more, and harder.

Uwah, that’s a hardline approach! I wish Sue would take a leaf out of your book!

Uwah, even Sophie still has to study? All I ever read is comics!

Hehe. I didn’t like reading either, when I was younger. All those words, dancing before my eyes! But I started with easier texts, slowly got used to it, and now I’m totally fine with it.

Simple books, you say. Like the picture books we read as kids?

Yes, I think that would work. Just do what you can, a little at a time!

Hmm, what would be good? “Beauty and the Puni”? “Cinderpuni”?

Hahaha, let’s take a look once we get home. Thank you, Sophie! We’ll see you later!



Sophie, recommending reading to others? She really has grown up.

Sophie has acquired the skill “Tool Expert”.

Tool Expert - Reduce the increase in wait time when using tools.

Hmm… you think, Sue?

Yeah! This one, and that one… they’ll be good places for me to start.

I’m glad to hear that! I’m behind you every step of the way, Sue!

Thanks! But before I actually get to it… I want to visit the Treasury at the Sea Bottom first.

Oh? How come?

There’s plenty of rare gems in its treasure vaults! We could use some for syntheses, right?

We sure could. Let’s go, then!


The Minions’ Oath

…

…

You know, now that we’re here…

Yeah. Coming here always reminds me of the Captain.

Me too. He was completely crazy, but also a really interesting man. …We can’t go getting all soppy, though, can we? We’re his minions, after all!

That’s right! We have to be full of life, full of energy, just like him!

Awahaha! Well said, you scurvy dogs! That’s why you’re worthy to be my minions!



Stow it! I’m not a ghost! This is the real, one-and-only me!

Hold up! Captain, you said all that cool stuff and faded away!

That was quite a performance, wasn’t it? Did it move you? It moved you, right? Didn’t it?

Hahahaha! Ah, you really pulled one over me!

Hahaha, me too! I’m glad you’re still with us, anyway.

Me too. You’re a tyrannical pyromaniac, but I was sad to see you fade away.

Awahaha! Me too, me too! I’ll continue to lead you across the seas, fear not!