Part 91: Chapter L-12: The Meaning of Happiness

Part L-12: The Meaning of Happiness

I ended the last update on a spoilery scene for Atelier Sophie, and this entire update is going to be following up on that. If that’s something you care about, then skip this update.

Everyone else here? Good. Let’s see what’s going on in the tent today…

Sophie! Plachta! Do you want to play cards with us?…

Hold on. It looks like they are having some serious discussion…


Parting Ways

Alright, Plachta. What is it that you want to talk about?

Do you remember, Sophie, the goal that I once set for you?

Of course. To surpass you as an alchemist, Plachta. What about it?

I tried some synthesis recently. It was a success. I made an item without any trouble.

Wow, you did? That’s great, Plachta!

Thank you. However, at the same time, I realized something: you have already well surpassed me.

…What?

Congratulations, Sophie. You have surpassed me as an alchemist. As your friend, your family, and your teacher, I am so happy. You really have worked hard.

…Thank you. All that hard work has paid off… But this doesn’t mean things are going to change, right? We’ll still be student and teacher?

No, we won’t. In this moment, I think something has definitely changed.

…What do you mean?

You’ve been so good to me, Sophie. You’ve done so much for me, all these years. I am so grateful for that… Too grateful for words! But that’s also why I’m worried. Worried about you.



…

If so, then you’ve done enough. You’ve made me as happy as I can possibly be. For the sake of your own happiness, is it time for us to take different paths?



You know what I mean. Time for you to graduate. We should go our…

Ughhhh…



S-Sophie! I’m not finished yet! …Sophie? Sophie! I’m only thinking of your happiness! That’s why I suggested…

Ah! She’s done it now. I can see why Sophie would be angry, putting it like that…

Me too. Plachta is just too blunt sometimes… And now it’s no fun staying around here anymore. Now there’s this sense of gloom hanging around this tent…

Yeah. Maybe they’ll have worked it out in a few days?

Dunno if it’ll happen that fast, but… it’s worth a gamble.

And so after a few days of synthesizing…


Feelings From The Heart

Uwah! Plachta is super depressed!

Ah, girls! Please help me… Sophie won’t listen to a word I say. I only proposed what I did because I was thinking of Sophie’s future.



Ah, Sophie! We need to finish our conversation…

Hmph!



Hahaha… Sophie doesn’t hold back, does she?

I don’t understand this… I truly don’t! Does Sophie hate me now? Is that it?

Come on! She could never hate you, Plachta!

Of course not! Sophie still loves you a lot, even now! That’s exactly why she’s acting like this. Can’t you see that?

I’m sorry. I just don’t understand… Lydie, Suelle! Please! Tell me the answer! I can’t believe that not being able to talk to Sophie is so difficult!

Uh, I’m really starting to feel sorry for her. But…

I know. We can’t tell her. This is Sophie and Plachta’s problem. …Plachta. You don’t have to worry about anything.

…?

That’s right. You just need to place your hand on your heart and think for yourself.



Those are your true feelings, Plachta.

My… true feelings…?

That’s enough hints from us! You can handle the rest yourself!

We’ll see you later!

…



What now, Sue?

Plachta will figure it out soon enough. And then she and Sophie will make up. Give it a few more hours…


Sophie’s Secret Mission

As it turns out, I have a favor I need to ask of you…



Sophie, can I…

Hmph!

Ugh… Never mind…



Hahaha, you two are still fighting…?

That was completely Plachta’s fault, after all! She suddenly came out with that! Anyway, putting that aside for a moment… I want you to go and fetch me some soil potatoes.

What, soil potatoes? You’re going to use them for synthesis?

What I’m going to use them for is a secret. Get some really delicious-looking ones, though!



Hahaha, very well. We accept this secret mission, Lady Sophie!

Good. Lydie, Sue! I’m counting on you!

…Hey, Sue. These soil potatoes…

Yeah. I know what she’s going to use them for. In which case…

Of course! We need to get the very highest quality soil potatoes!


Together Forever
Well you heard Lydie, only the best for Sophie! You need Soil Potatoes with upward of 80 quality, which you can find using Special Nutrients in the Dawn Realm.

Uwah, what delicious looking soil potatoes! This will do the trick!



What? You knew what I was planning?

Of course. You’re pretty easy to read, Sophie, in many ways.

Uwah! You’re not the first to say it… Ahem! As you seem to have guessed, I’m going to make Plachta’s favorite soil potato stew. How about you join us? It’ll be even better if we share it with you, too.

That sounds great! I’ll help you make the stew, as well!

I’ll lay the table, then! I’m all about the eating, rather than the making!

Hahaha! It’s the great Make Up Using Delicious Stew Operation! Let’s do this!

Okay! Hehe, I’ll set the table so that Sophie and Plachta are facing each other…

So, Sophie, tell me more about this amazing soil potato stew recipe of yours…



Well, Sophie… It’s time now, isn’t it?



Sophie…?

Hehe. We’ve made some delicious soil potato stew. Care to join us, Plachta?

Yes…! I’d love to!



Hahaha, Plachta sure does love this.

You bet I do. I’ve eaten a lot of different things since I became human… But I can easily state that Sophie’s cooking is the very best!

Hah, that’s very kind of you. I’d better get some of this too, then! Munch, slurp… Oh yes, it’s good!

You see? You see why I can’t stop? Munch… munch… Ugwah!

Uwah, you’re turning blue! Here, drink some water…

Glug… glug… Uwah… thanks… I thought I was done for, and just after becoming human again!

No need to hurry. The food isn’t going anywhere. I can make this stew anytime, as well... So long as you’re willing to stick with me.

Hah… I can’t beat you, can I, Sophie. Very well. I take back everything I said. After all… It would be a shame to go without such delicious food.

That’s your reason? Not being apart from me, but my food?

Hahahaha!



Thank you for the stew! We’ll come again soon!

…Hey, Plachta. That stuff you said, about getting in the way of my happiness? Well… That’s not a thing. Like, not at all.

Sophie…



I met loads of other new people because I met you, Plachta.
I’m so happy, Plachta, because I met you.
You don’t get in the way of my happiness. And you never will! Because… You’re the one who’s made me happy, Plachta.



Until I’m an old granny! Until I die! That’s what would really make me happy. Of course, if that’s OK with you… Plachta, what do you think?

Hehe. When have our feelings never been in alignment?

Ah…!

I also wish to walk the same path as you, Sophie. Those are my true feelings on this matter. …I now have a limited lifespan myself. I don’t know how long we will be together…



I promise the same. That’s my promise to you, Plachta.

“Spirit Fire” received.



Learned Flame of the End recipe.

We picked this up on our way out. It’s gotta have something amazing…



This looks like the Flame of Origin, but even stronger! And we have everything on hand to make it… so why not?



Now, wanna show it to Sophie?

Sure! Even though she could do a much better job making this… Off to the tent! …Oh…?

Aah…


A Life of Happiness



Hahaha, it just feels like I need to take a break, you know? So much has happened…

You’ve been like this for a while. I guess it can’t be helped, things have been crazy.

True. You finally fulfilled one of your longest-held wishes, after all!

I guess that’s true. What are you going to do next, Sophie?

Next…? You know, I haven’t really thought about it. Even after I’ve seen you two rise to the top and run the greatest atelier, I’ll probably stay here for a while. After that, I’ll head back to visit Kirchen Bell. And then, well…

I know what you are planning: to travel around again.

Ah, I know why! To use alchemy to make everyone happy, right?

That’s right! You’re on the ball today, Sue!

Hehe, I’m the same as you! I like to think about how we can bring more happiness to others everyday!

True, but the only ideas you ever come up with are about money!

Ah, because that’s the easiest way! If you have money then you’re happy, I’m sure!

Hahaha, that’s just like you, Sue.

I think you need to dream a bit bigger! Like, how about being surrounded by bears?

Stuffed bears? Because if you mean real ones, that’s a nightmare, not a dream!

Hehe. Free thinking is the way to go. There’s no right answer to this question, anyway.

That’s right. We don’t know the answer, either. We just have to do what we can, and see where it leads us. Lydie, Sue… The road we take may diverge…



Yes!

To do that, you need to study more alchemy. I’ve been myself, recently. Do you want to try the “Alchemy 20 Days Training in Hell” that Ilmeria and I came up with?

In hell…? I-I don’t think I’m ready to go quite that far!

M-Me neither! S-See you later!



Cowards, running away… No matter. Firis, you will participate, correct?

What? …Girls, wait for me!

No running away! Who will be test subject… I mean, course participants now?



Haha… All this energy, and all this laughter. I have so many good friends all around me. Grandma… Are you watching, from on high? I’m still really happy.

…They ran this way… Oh! I believe that’s Luard’s atelier… and he would know very well what I’m feeling right now!


The Ancient Alchemists’ Duty

Yes? What?

Sophie has surpassed me, and become a wonderful alchemist… Yet I’m so happy about it! In the past I pushed myself so hard, not wanting to lose to anyone… Yet now, having my student surpass me makes the happiest I’ve ever been.

Hehe… I understand that myself. Everything I’ve experienced change my thinking, too. It seems so obvious now, doesn’t it? There’s no way that we two could hope to master alchemy. With the passage of time, our alchemy will fade into the past… Progress overtakes us. That’s good! That’s the right thing! That’s how alchemy evolves. As we and our ways become the past, more people are being saved by alchemy everyday. That’s why I’m happy to see us overtaken. If only I’d realized this 500 years ago…

Indeed. Well said. Our role now is to watch over them. To watch over and nurture the youth who will lead the future.

Yes. This will be much harder than just synthesizing stuff! Do you think you can do it?

Hah, I was about to ask you the same thing. Can a softy like you really lead people?

Huh! If you can do it, there’s no way that I can’t! …Anyway, look at us, both back in living bodies. Our methods differed, but we can finally collect on an idea that we forgot 500 years ago.







Later, at the Smithy…



To wield this staff is to master space and time!

Indeed! Can’t say it isn’t fitting for Sophie…



Atelier Sophie spoilers end here.