Part 57: Chapter 9-1: Roger's Challenge

Part 9-1: Roger’s Challenge


The Battle Lines Drawn



I know… The next conditions have arrived, though. What do you think?

I’m wiped… We’ll handle that later. We’ve been up all night… I need some sleep!



Lydie! Sue!

Huh? What’s up, Lucia? We were just about to get some sleep…

There’s no time for sleep! Move it!




I’m awake now! What’s going on, Lucia?

Exactly what I just said! Your dad suddenly showed up at our atelier… and demanded that my father and I compete with him in alchemy! We tried…

But he defeated you easily?

Yes. Then he chased us out of the atelier!

Just what is he playing at?! Honestly! I’m sorry about all this, Lucia.

I’d love to make fun of you for losing to our dad, but we’ve been doing just that all night…

He was like a different man, seriously. We couldn’t do a thing. …It seems he really is a certified alchemist. My dad said the same thing.

I see. Lucia, is he still at Borthayre now?

Yes, most likely. You’re going to see and see him?

Of course! We’ve got lots of things to say, but first we need to chew him out for running off!

You said it! I’m going to be telling him off for three days straight! Let’s go!




Of course we have! Where have you been?! We were so worried!

So worried! And what are you doing to Lucia and her dad? Come on, let’s go back home!

I’m sorry for upsetting you, but I’m not going back with you.

Why not?! We’ve got so much we want to ask you, Dad!

You’re a certified alchemist, aren’t you? We saw you traveling the Mysterious Paintings, too!

We even saw you crying because you couldn’t save Mom! We understand so much more now!

Ah, “Etel Nepica”… Yes, everything you say is true.

In which case, let’s keep working at our own atelier! We can’t become the greatest without you, Dad!

Come on, come home! It’s too sad without you there.

…Lydie. Sue. I challenge you.

Challenge? What do you mean, challenge?

To see which of us can raise our Atelier Rank the fastest. I’ll raise Atelier Borthayre’s rank. You two raise the rank of your own atelier. The one who raises it faster is the winner.



Uncle! Please! This is all just too crazy!

Lucia. What is Borthayre’s rank at the moment?

What? C Rank, but… you aren’t seriously going to take this on, are you?

Yes, of course we will. We’re C Rank too, so the start line is the same. …Dad. If we win, you have to come back to our atelier. Understand?

Yes, very well.

We’ll see you soon, then. Don’t think you can beat us.

Lucia. We’re leaving.



Now then… let’s regroup in our own atelier.

You’re coming along too, right, Lucia?

I’m coming, I’m coming!



Yes. I’ll get ready to start synthesizing.

H-Hold on, you two! Are you really sure about this? He’s your father, and also a certified alchemist! And if you lose, you have to give up your atelier!

It’s alright. We aren’t going to lose.

What are you talking about?! There’s no guarantee you can win this!

But we’re going to. We have to.

There has to be some reason that our dad suddenly challenged us like this. We want to know why. That’s just another reason why we can’t afford to lose.

Alright… If you’re going to go that far, I will say no more. Just make sure you win, then!



Hehe, yes, yes, we know. Thank you, Lucia.

Ah, Lucia. You can stay here until this competition ends!

This is all our dad’s fault, after all. You can help out with the chores, of course.

What? Are you sure? A bit of washing up is nothing compared to sleeping outside! Thank you!

Good, that settles it. Now, time to get serious about beating Dad!

And this’ll help us along the way… our subsidy of 5000 Coll!

Only five thou… (You know what? I guess that is a small fortune as far as these two are concerned.)

I’m sure that some of the shopkeepers will have something that’ll help us along the way. So, let’s hit up Soleil Street after a short nap!


Friends from Kirchen Bell

Eh! Sophie, is that you?

What! Corneria?! Wow, it’s been ages! How have you been?

Well, I haven’t done much growing, but I’m fine. How are you doing, Sophie?

Hahaha, I’m fine. Plachta too, of course!

Ah, that’s lovely!

It is! By the by… You sound so polite, Corneria! Have you grown up a little?

Yes. I’m trying to be a bit more respectable. The old accent comes out every now and then, however!

First things first! We need more… oh?



Hello, Sophie. Are you doing some shopping at Corneria’s store?

Hehehe, renewing old friendships, actually! Corneria and I have been friends for a long time!

We come from the same town. We’ve even went adventuring together.

Wow, that’s unexpected! The world is a smaller place than I thought!

Hehe, I guess you could say that. I’m happy to see Corneria again. …Say, Corneria. Have you found your father yet?

No, not yet… But my shop is still getting bigger.

Yeah, the Corneria Enterprise! I know all about it! You’ve been working so hard, haven’t you?

Not that hard, haha! What about you, Sophie? You became a certified alchemist, yes?

Yep, I totally did! I’m totally certified, from head to toe!

I see! …Back home, Monika, Elise and a few of our friends were complaining about you never even visiting. Monika even said she was going to head out herself and drag you back.

Uwah, I don’t like the sound of that! It has been awhile since I’ve been in Kirchen Bell, though… We’ve got so much to talk about! How about going for a drink?

Yes, I’d like that very much. I’m quite a hard drinker, though, so watch out!

Hahaha, sounds like it’s on now! See you later!



Corneria, you looked very happy!

Of course. The reason I can have this shop is because of Sophie! She hasn’t changed at all… she’s still so incredible! I wish I had half her conviction.

Hehe, I know! I want to be just like her, too.

Oh, and… I’m sorry, but I don’t have any Rubies ready yet. Come back in a few days!

Huh… okay…

Let’s go to Hagel’s next, Sue!

Hagel! Hagel!



Oh? Just try us, Hagel!



Oh… a book…

A very rare text, at that! You don’t come across this everyday! And I believe it’s got a recipe in it…

We’ll take it, Hagel! …Don’t give me that look, Sue! New recipes will come in handy to one-up Dad!

Feh… when you put it that way…

1280 Coll, then… Thanks! Come again soon!

Mmm… Hey, Lydie, if we’re gonna be putting our noses to the grindstone, we oughta stock up on sweets. They’ll come in handy when we need a break, yeah?

You’re right, Sue! So…

Let’s visit Liane’s shop! She makes really good sweets!

Okay, so the forthcoming event is mildly spoilery for Atelier Firis. It doesn’t go so much as “here’s the plot of that game from start to finish”, so much as “here are things Firis did in her home game”. Still though, better to err on the side of caution. Now…
Mmm… thanks for the sweets, Liane!

Sue, Sue! What shall we make after getting home?

Hmm, good question. A bomb or some medicine?


The Work of an Alchemist

…What? Suns? What are you talking about?

What do you think? A sun! Alchemists make small suns to melt snow, right?

No, we don’t! I don’t think that’s even possible! I wouldn’t even want to try doing that!

What, really? Firis used to do that… What about making ship parts, then? Merveille is close to the water, so you must do that?

No! Ships are made by shipbuilders!

Huh? What about items to restore a broken bridge in an instant, then? An instant bridge item?

That’s not possible either!

Hahaha… You have a pretty confused of alchemy, Liane.

I-Is that so? I’ve been thinking alchemy was like magic, basically, all this time!

Hmm. Is this because Firis is a great alchemist, or because Liane is actually an airhead?

Hahaha, maybe a little of both!
Spoilers over!

Now then, let’s go home, Sue!



Learned Globe Ball recipe.

I know you spent the money, Lydie, but I just can’t…

Well, then… just lend me a hand with the synthesis!

Lucia! How’s the housework coming along?

Just fine. Glad you asked.



Some dye, some wood, and some paper…



Hmm… Twin Powers: Pair might be great if we can use this Globe Ball in a bomb. Now for the other ingredients…



And voila! But… I can’t think of any bomb we could use this in just yet…

Let’s move onto the next synthesis, then. …Oh!


Rivals, Childhood Friends, and…

Sure, no problem…

Lucia. I’d like to eat some fish tonight. Can you cook some tonight?

Sure, I can do that…

Ah, we’re out of tea! Lucia, can you go and buy some more?



Cleaning, washing, cooking, shopping! I’m not your maid!

Oh yeah? You’re living here rent free, Lucia! You said you could handle any chores, right?

Guwah…! You are letting me stay here, I know! Gah! This is all because your dad came and took over! Although I guess it’s more like him just coming home, really, isn’t it…

C-Coming home? Atelier Borthayre is Dad’s home? What do you mean?

What? You don’t know? Your dad Roger is my father’s younger brother!

What? Our fathers are related? They’re brothers?



…Seriously, you’re only just now finding this out? How is this possible?

Hold on, hold it! We have different surnames! Our surname is Malen, and yours is Borthayre!

Yes. He changed his name when he left home, I guess. His real name is Roger Borthayre.

Uwah, I’m getting a headache! So we are your cousins. Hmmm.

No need to sound happy about it! I’m off to get the groceries, anyway.

…We’re cousins with Lucia? I’m shocked, being related to such an airhead!