Part 11: Chapter 3-3: The Bodyguard and the Painting

Part 3-3: The Bodyguard and the Painting

It seems the reputation of our atelier is picking up. Maybe we can take the Promotion Test now?

That was faster than even I expected. Let’s go and see what Mireille has to say!


The Test and the Bodyguard

Interesting. Your reputation has grown quite a lot. I think you might be ready for the test. What do you think? Do you want to try the next Promotion Test?

Yes! We’re ready!

Very well. I will reveal it! The next test is…



…Collecting eggs…?

Recently, cooking using eggs has become very popular. Suppliers just can’t keep up! Not just any old eggs, either. People want monster eggs. Monsters have been causing a lot of damage, too, so this is kind of two birds with one stone!

Sure, but… surely anyone can collect some eggs? This doesn’t seem like work for an alchemist.

What did I hear you just say?

Ah, Ilmeria!

I just came to take care of some business in the castle, and hear my students being silly?

Come on. Anyone can collect eggs. And you’ve just taught us so much about synthesis, too!



Gathering, synthesizing and fighting monsters. Alchemists take on anything they are needed for. A true alchemist won’t be picky about their jobs. Understand?

Yes. I’m sorry, Mireille. We’ll do our best and find those eggs!

Yes! We’ll bring so many that no one can eat them all!

Hehe, glad to hear it.

Girls, I’ll be counting on you. Oh, and about that bodyguard we talked about! I’ve chosen someone to protect you two exclusively. They’ll be waiting for you at the city gates.

Wow, really! Hehe, I wonder what they’re like?

Someone strong and cool, I hope! I can’t wait to meet them!

Hahaha, me too! We’ll see you later, Ilmeria, Mireille!

The bodyguard will be at the gate, right?

That’s what she said!



Here we are. This is where our bodyguard should be waiting, right?



Don’t tell me, that’s our bodyguard…?

No, I don’t think so. I mean, I hope not. Look at what he’s wearing!



Yeah, but… Doesn’t he look like he’s trying to catch our attention?

Don’t look! Promise with Mom Number 4! “Stay away from strange people!”

You’re right. Do you think we should report him to the guards?

Hey! Don’t cause any trouble for me! I’m not suspicious at all!

Eck, no way, you’re grossing me out! You really are suspicious. Stay away from us!

I knew this wouldn’t work, either! I didn’t want to dress like this! Damn! This stupid thing!


Music: What Do You Know?

Laugh it up, little girl. We’re just getting started and I already can’t see how this can work.

What does that mean? Mask creep, you really are meant to be our bodyguard?

That’s right, apart from the “mask creep” part. My name is Mathias! Please, try to remember it.



Cree… I mean, Mathias. My name is…

I know your names, of course. You are Lydie, and this is Sue.

Wow! We’ve only met briefly, but you already know our names? Creepy!

You’re joking! My sister told me! When she asked me to look out for you, she told me your names!

Your sister asked you to do this? Don’t tell me! Mireille is your sister?

That’s right. She made this mask in order to help put the two of you at ease.

Phew. If you’re Mireille’s brother, I guess there’s nothing to worry about.

She always was the popular one. Well, at least you seem to have accepted me now. I’m here to protect you. You can count on me, both of you.

Thank you, Mathias!

Do anything odd and we’ll tell Mireille right away, you hear? Just remember that, Mathias.

Ugah! They’re bossing me around already. These kids are evil beyond their years. Can I really make it work with them? My stomach is aching already.



Say, Lydie. If Mathias here is gonna be our bodyguard…



We can put him to work by having him take blows for us!



What?!

I mean… that’s what Mireille expects you to do, right?



And you’re well built for it to boot!

Gah… what has Mireille roped me into this time?!

Okay, okay, that’s enough out of you. Off to work. Off to the Spring-green Odahlia!



Uwah! I thought we were here for eggs? We have to defeat that monster first?

That won’t be an easy battle. Wouldn’t it be faster to just pick up the eggs we can find?

Hey, “bodyguard”. You’re getting cold feet already?

Not exactly. Teaching you to avoid unnecessary battles is one of the key parts of being a bodyguard. And to be honest… I don’t want to fight that thing, either!

Hahaha, some honesty at last! Let’s just grab all the eggs we can!



We can find Unknown Eggs around these nests, I imagine. They must belong to the monsters.



But they’re tiny! No wonder Mireille will reward us more for ones actually dropped by monsters…


Griffon Battle

Kyah!



They’re pretty bulky, and Bombs won’t do much. And we don’t have any sources of electricity on hand…



But this will work well enough!



Nice one! Now it’s my turn…



My turn!



Not bad! It’s a sitting duck now, so we just have to keep battering it…



Until it goes down!



Phew! That actually wasn’t so bad!

Yeah! We can pick up the eggs from the nest, or stick around and hunt the Griffons for their Large Eggs.

Right! In for a penny, in for a pound! They seem to skulk around this particular spot…

So we just have to keep coming back here every now and then until we’ve gotten our fill!



That should do it! Let’s report back to Mireille!


The Mysterious Painting
Flower stamp condition : 4 Large Eggs OR 20 Unknown Eggs. A combination thereof like 2 Large Eggs and 10 Unknown Eggs will also work. I just gave away another Unknown Egg because hey, low quality, and why not, I’ve plenty to spare.

It’s time to announce my evaluation!



Well done. Most impressive, in fact! I can’t fault this at all! Hehe, great work. You passed. Congratulations on advancing to G Rank, both of you!

Yes! We did it! We’ve caught up with Lucia already!

I’m glad you’re pleased. Tell me, was Mathias any help?

Yes, actually, he was! I was surprised to learn you have a brother, Mireille.

Hahaha! Sorry if he did anything weird. You may use his services as you like, from now on.

Hehehe, that sounds like fun! I’ve got so many ideas for pranks already!

Ah, can I ask you to take it easy on him?

Ri…ght… get… home… been… while…



Lydie, what’s wrong? Are you OK?

What? Oh, I’m sorry. I thought I heard a voice coming from over there. I also heard it last time we were here. Is there anyone back there?



A voice? With the alchemy, I guess it is possible… It might be worth looking into. Say, girls. Would you like to go somewhere fun with me?

Somewhere fun? That sounds lovely!

Good. You can go on ahead to the gallery.



Alright! It’s down that way, right? Race you there, Lydie!

Hey! Wait, Sue!

Now, both of you… I’ll lead the way.

The three enter the gallery.

Now! Look at this wonderful painting!



A Mysterious Painting? It just looks like a regular painting to me?

Well, this was painted by an alchemist. You see, there’s another world inside the painting!

Another world?

Yes. Including lots of rare materials. National policy is currently to collect these paintings.

Wow! So the one in our basement was also a Mysterious Painting…



That painting is a secret! You heard what she said. We don’t want them taking it away!

Ah, you’re right! I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful.

Sheesh. For all her book learning, she really isn’t much for street smarts.

What are you two talking about over there?

Nothing, nothing at all! Please, tell us more!

I’d love to, but… There’s still plenty we don’t know about them. Our best alchemists are working on it diligently. And now I want to bring both of you on board.

I see. That does sound like a great opportunity, but why us?

Lydie talked about hearing voices from this direction. I think maybe you heard it coming from this Mysterious Painting.

A voice from a Mysterious Painting? Is that possible?

Maybe. Alchemists can sometimes hear the voice of materials, after all. If you can hear such a voice, you’d be perfect for investigating Mysterious Paintings. Even without that, I think you too can do some good in there. What do you say? Want to give it a try?

Yes, please! We’re both really interested in the worlds inside paintings!

Great. That settles it. Lucia is already inside. I want you to work together with her to investigate the painting. Go stand in front of it.

Alright! …We’re doing that, but nothing’s happening yet?

To get in, you just need to strongly wish to visit the world inside. And to come back out, you need to strongly wish to come back to your original world.

What? We jumped into that hole for nothing?

Hahaha, sounds like it. Come on then, Sue. Let’s go.

Count me in! We’re going into this mysterious world!




Come on out, Mathias.



There’s a lot we don’t know about the world in there. There might be dangerous monsters in there. I need you to protect them both. Understand?

Yes, you can leave it to me. We’ll be right back.