Part 15: Chapter 4-1: Paintings, Princesses and Purchases

Part 4-1: Paintings, Princesses and Purchases


The Family’s Atelier



You do love to study, don’t you Lydie. I get a headache if I read for more than five minutes.

You just focus on hating it too much, Sue! It’s fun, learning all sorts of fun things from books.

Not me. I’m not smart like you, Lydie. I’ll leave all the intellectual stuff to you.

Hmm. Should I press the point, as your sister? Or stop trying to force you to do something?



From Mireille, then? She wants us to come to the castle to tell us the next exam requirements.

Is this that Atelier Ranking System? I was surprised to hear you two signed up for that.

Hahaha! We didn’t discuss it with you, did we? Sorry about that, Dad.

No harm done. It looks like the system is working, anyway. Many new alchemists have moved into the city, and there’s an energy in the air as they compete. Some ateliers are already shooting up through the ranks! We can’t afford to fall behind!



She’s right! Dad, you just messed up another request! The client was really upset!

Hahaha! These things happen. No need to worry!

Boy, I can’t believe you… We’re needed at the castle, anyway.

No problem. Just take care.


The Princess and the Painting

First, before I forget, this is for you. Your next test requirements.

Thank you! We’ll read them over carefully later.

Good. The reason I called you here, though, was for something else. You see… I’ve obtained a new Mysterious Painting! As we promised, you can go in once you raise your rank.

Wow, really? Mireille, what kind of painting is it?

You’ll find out once you get there, won’t you? Where’s the fun in telling you beforehand?

Bah! One thing I’ve been meaning to ask you, though… Just how are you collecting these Mysterious Paintings? Are they just lying around somewhere?

Hahaha, I wish! We negotiate and buy them from the current owners. They’ve been suddenly discovered not so long ago, and are now becoming very popular. Some of them were even appraised as national treasures. It’s not easy to arrange our budget for all this… But we believe they are worth it, which is why we’re willing to spend so much collecting them.

N-National treasures? I can’t imagine how much they cost! You really are amazing, Mireille. Having command of so much money, if you need it!



What? Princess? Mireille, I’ve never heard you make a joke like that before!

Joke? I’m not joking. My full name is Mireille Ferrier Adalet. First princess of Adalet, although you don’t seem to believe it. Mathias is the first prince, of course.

R-Really? I’m sorry, Mireille… I mean, Your Highness! I’ve been so rude to royalty, all this time!

Ah, you can stop that. I hate all that formal stuff. Princess, Highness… I’m still just cute and cheerful Mireille! Alright?

Hahaha! Cute and cheerful it is, then!

Hehe, that’s the way! Keep working hard and raise your rank as soon as you can! And before you go… here’s your subsidy as a G rank atelier!

1000 Coll! Look at all this money, Sue!

Right! A higher rank means we’ll get even more!



And the Mysterious Paintings are gonna get us there! To the gallery!

Yeah, right.

Hold on. This painting looks different from when I last saw it…

Oh, you’ve got a good eye! That is another reason why they are called “Mysterious” Paintings, you see.



Wow, really? So even if we’ve been to a painting before…

Yes. Visit it again and something may be different. You should investigate all of that, too.



In we go!


Playing with Fairies

Hey, Lydie. Wanna play with this fairy?



Let’s!

Nice! Now…



Did I poison it? It’s not like I coat my ammo in venom…

It must be something about this painting. But be careful about them doing the same to us!

Some time later…




Alright, moving on! Mireille said that this painting could change next time we came in… but we haven’t seen anything different yet. Let’s go further in!

Something at the… Whispering Marsh, right?

Right! Last time we went here, the right fork in the road was a dead end. Let’s try that way.



I don’t remember these creepy pumpkins being here last time!



Creepy or not, they sure make a nice shortcut!

No kidding! The less time we have to spend in here, the bet… hey, Lydie, why are we going back to the graveyard?

There was a church back there, and I saw something behind it before we left last time.

But there’s ghosts there!

But we won’t be there for long. Now let’s go!



I don’t see anything, except for a huge boulder to our left.



Pant… pant… you weren’t kidding!

Just keep at it!



Finally!

Looks like you were right, Lydie! There’s a treasure chest back here!



Looks like… I have no idea what this is.

Anyway, back to the castle!

Should we check in with Mireille?

Let’s! Even before we learned she’s the princess of this country, I wanted to get closer to her!


The Hypercompetent Bureaucratic Princess

Next. Ah, tax related? Take these documents to the tax office.

Thank you!

Next. Oh my, divorce? Fill this form then. Next!



Phew. Hey, girls! Is this about your Atelier Rank?

Ah, no… We just want to talk to you, actually.

That’s more than welcome. Work has just calmed down a little, too.

You handled that work so efficiently, Mireille!

Yes, well, I have confidence in my work. I’ve been doing this since I was small, after all!

Ah, that confidence is so cool! You are wonderful, Mireille!

I know. Cheerful, honest, and so skillful! Just the kind of woman I want to grow up to be!

Oh… uhm…

Wow… Have we made you blush?

Don’t…

What?



I’ve been living in a world of adults since I was a child. Doing this job is just what I was raised to do.

Hahaha, that’s unexpected! You’re so beautiful, well dressed, and smart!

I know! You have such smooth skin, too. Not to mention your wonderful handwriting!

Hold it, girls! Stop it. Stop it! I can’t stop blushing!

What are they playing at now…

Hehe, I think that’s enough fun with Mireille for now. Let’s go to Soleil Street!

The twins move on.

Phew. Everything is ready.


Soleil Street Shopping Spree

Wow, you’re right. The boss of a secret organization!

Excuse me, sorry, but I’ve no recollection of starting any secret organizations.

Uwah, you heard that? Sorry! Come on, Sue, you apologize too!

Ah, sorry. I just remember someone calling you “boss” and, you know…

I see. I need to tell my subordinates to be more careful with what they call me. Ah, sorry. I’m Corneria. Boss - that is, head - of the Corneria Enterprise.


Music: Camellia Sazanka (Lydie & Suelle Ver.)

Corneria? We’re…

Lydie and Sue, I take it?

Suelle is my name. Everyone just calls me Sue.
Voiced out, Corneria called her “Sue-chan-san”, hence this sequence.

Hahaha, yeah, Lydie and Sue it is. Nice to meet you.

One thing, Miss Corneria… Just what is it that your Enterprise does?

Miss Corneria… The way you say that, I have to say, it takes me back! The Corneria Enterprise is the name of my shop. It’s actually quite famous, in other lands. So I’m here doing some market research in order to expand into Adalet.
And Sue called Corneria “Coru-san”, like how Sophie would call her “Coru-chan”. Hence why Corneria suddenly felt nostalgic, but that’s lost in the text here.

Wow… I thought the boss just sat at a desk and looked at documents!

Hey, Sue! I’m sorry for my sister, she really is…

No, it’s fine. In fact, most of the time, that’s precisely what happens. However, a move to a new market is best to be seen through by yourself. I’m just about to open a street stall to check the market for myself!

Ah, that makes sense. In which case, will you show us what you are selling?

Yes, of course. I’ve got plenty of confidence in my lineup, I can tell you that!



These Crafts look great! We’ll take them!

280 Coll, please!

Pure Oil, Multicolor Dye… this also looks like it could come in handy for another time.

Well?

Uwah! Your shop is packed with some of the best items I’ve seen!

Tell me about it. We could do some real fine synthesizing with some of these goodies!

Synthesizing? Could it be that you are both alchemists?

That’s right. I guess you could tell that from hearing “synthesizing.”

But of course. I see, so you’re alchemists?



I’m sure she just gave me a really creepy smile. No, I’m just imagining things, right?

Maybe. Anyway, let’s move on! Right down the street to Hagel’s!



I-Is this a job request?

That’s right! I need you to fetch me some real quality ground metal!
Read: Ingot

Ground metal? That’s it? Any particular reason why you are asking this of us?

I’m recalling something about a pot with two bottoms and an endlessly spinning door knob… We really don’t need that.

Those are just silly ideas I came up with when drinking with Roger. This time I’m making something much more serious, don’t worry!

Alright… Then you won’t mind telling us what it is you’re making?

Nope, that I can’t do.

You aren’t serious at all! You’re planning on making something totally weird again!

No I’m not. I’ll pay you, so please just do the job!

Alright, okay. I’m not really trusting this, but work is work.

Well, we have plenty of Ingots to spare, so might as well.

Hagel! We…



Hagel, not again! I can’t take these sudden bursts of masculinity!

Hey, I have feelings too, you hear?

A-Ahaha. Anyway. What caused your outburst this time?

That thing you’ve got right there. I think we can use it to customize your weapons.

Really? How?

Here, let me explain. There are accessories I can attach to your weapons. And detach. For a fee, of course!



These accessories have their own traits and effects, which your weapon, too, can have so long as they are attached. They can make your weapon stronger, more accurate, or boost your combat skills… sky’s the limit! But remember, only three traits at a time can be active!

Hmm, I see. You can do something like that…

Me? Of course I can! Customization will let you make exactly the weapons you desire, you’ll see! I’m not going to mess up! Just come and see me, any time you want to try it!



That’s nice to know, thanks Hagel! Anyway!

Ah, that’s just what I needed! Some fine, fine ground metal. Great work, girls! I can make something really great with this. I can’t wait to get started!

In that case, I think we’ll stay and watch. I’m still worried about what you’re going to make…

Yeah, good point. We’d better keep an eye on him.

I don’t mind an audience, but being stared at that hard makes me really uncomfortable.

We’ll just back off a bit, then.

Some time later…

Good, it’s done!



…statue of a man with a shiny head?



Uwah! No one said bald!

You just said it, you little…!!

Uwaaah! That’s not fair!

Hold on, Hagel… This statue’s face… Is this you?

Yes, that’s right! Well done, Sue. Nice that you at least understand art!

Didn’t you say she had no clue when we were here before?

Let me level with you. As part of promoting my store I’ve been placing statues of myself around. They’ve become a bit too popular, though. Statues of the God of the Forge, they call them.

Huh… Because it looks a bit divine?



Uwah! I can’t say anything, can I?!

I don’t mind a bit of fame, but it has its downsides too. You can’t be too careful. So I decided to try a smaller size. That is what you see before you now, girls!

Okay. This sounds about as totally ridiculous as I was expecting, but very well. What is this for?

Decoration, of course! The bedroom. The living room. It will brighten any space where you place it!

Brighten? More like intimidate…

Hahaha, that’s fine too! That just makes it more worthy of being displayed!

Right…

Right. As a reward, this one is for you.



What? W-We don’t need that…

Huuuh?

W-Wow! What a lovely gift, thank you very much!

She can barely force that gratitude. Still… W-What should we do with this? A paperweight? A doorstop, maybe? You know what… Toss it in the cauldron and see what happens… That sounds like the best idea.

Let’s go, Sue. Maybe Liane will have something…

Wait, is that…


An Unobtainable Flower?

That piece? That’s 10,000 Coll.

Then I’ll take it. For 9,500 Coll.

Huh? Alright, I can drop to that! Thanks!

Wow. You barter with them?

In a pretty brutal fashion, I might add.

Geh, you two! You saw that?

Yes. We’ve been spying on you!

W-What?! That’s not a very nice way to pass the time!

You really are rich, though, aren’t you Lucia? Buying all that expensive stuff, bam, bam. Flower oil shampoo, and hundred-year spices… That luxury brand mixing stick, too! Wow!

Uwah, it’s all too much for me. My tummy is aching just from hearing the list!

Well, we make enough money to cover all this. Here you go, here’s a little something for you.



We can’t possibly… haha, I’m kidding, of course we can! Thank you!

Hehe, no need to worry. After all, I’m like your big sister! Go ahead and eat! Ohohoho!

Lucia leaves.

Hahaha, thank you. You really are incredible, Lady Lucia!

Sue, Lucia’s not here anymore…



Uwah, I’m so jealous! I want her to hand me some sugary treats!

Hah, like you have a chance. Lucia is an unobtainable flower!

Lucia? An unobtainable flower?

Hahaha! That’s hilarious! Unobtainable? She’s a dandelion that can grow anywhere!

I mean, she is pretty… I guess that’s how people who don’t know her see her?

Maybe… Wow. So many guys who just don’t have a clue!

You know someone else who’s pretty? And owns a shop by the garden?

Liane! To the garden!

Ah, Lydie and Sue! I’ve some rare goods today! I dare say you won’t find these anywhere else!



Really, Lydie? That book is so expensive…

But it has recipes for stuff we can use to make gems! Buy it now, and it’ll repay the investment tenfold! Liane! Here’s the 780 Coll!

Hehe, thank you!

Let’s go home immediately and divine its secrets!!



Hmm… so that’s how it goes… hey, Sue! Wake up already!

I’ll leave it to you, Lydie… just tell me everything important once you’re done…

She’s unbelievable sometimes…

Learned Granate recipe.
Learned Jet recipe.
Learned Polish recipe.