Part 16: Chapter 4-2: Love, War and Alchemy

Part 4-2: Love, War and Alchemy


Declaration of War

Ah, Lucia! Are you here for some tea?

Finally, a social visit! I’ve got a new card game, if you want to play?

No, that’s not what I’m here for. I’m here today to declare war! War on you both!

War?

As the owner of Atelier Borthayre! And as your… *mumble mumble*!



Lucia leaves.

Hey, wait! Hold on! What does “mumble mumble” mean? I didn’t catch that part!

That was so sudden. If she wants a war, though, that’s what we have to give her.

Still, though… war…? Is that how Lucia sees this?

Lydie, we need to be ready for anything. We cannot afford to lose to Lucia!

You’re right. We shall redouble our efforts, Sue!

Let’s! We’ll start brushing up on our synthesis.

A few hours later…


The Mentor and their Father

Whaaat?! How can you be so calm? We have to do something!

Sure we do, but I think it’s too late. Hahaha…

This is no time for laughter! Uwaaah, help!



What?! O-Okay! Hey, it’s stopped!

Phew, that was close. This one catches a lot of people off guard.

Thank you so much. You literally saved us. You just turned up at the right time!

Hehe, I was watching outside. I thought it was about time you blew up your cauldron!

Gah, are we that predictable? Why do I feel so ashamed?

Haha! I’ve got you in the palm of my hand. This is for you, then.



A textbook? Wow, it’s packed with detailed information!

That’s right. It should contain all the data you need to proceed to the next level. If you read all of that, your abilities could double!

D-Double? Are you sure?

Oh, you doubt me? Then I’ll give you a task. Make the item here and bring it to me. Doing that should show you that this textbook is worth your time.

Hmm, okay. We’ll give it a try.

Don’t try, do! And don’t make that cauldron explode again! Bye-bye.

Ilmeria leaves.

She came over just to bring us this book. She’s so different from Dad, I can’t believe it!

Hahaha! He just leaves us to our devices, really…

Yeah. I’m so glad that she’s a kind teacher! We have to work hard to keep her on our side!



You’ll have to work much harder than that, Sue!

Learned Tanning Fluid recipe.
Learned Leather recipe.



Are you awake now, Sue? Teach wants us to bring her a piece of Leather to show her we understood the homework. But we need to make Tanning Fluid first.

Suspicious Fluid from the Spooky Forest, two batches of Magic Grass… so, Tauns will work… some Puni Liquid… and Blue Neutralizer!



This trait will come in handy on leather for armor!



Now for the leather itself. A Broken Rock should do the trick for synthesis…



As will this combination of ingredients.



This is gonna be some amazing leather! I know that Teach will be impressed!



Last but not least, traits!

Oh, looks like Dad came up from the basement!

Sue?

Hey, Dad! I just had a thought. You’re kind of an artist, right?

Just? “Kind of”? I’ve been an artist and alchemist for as long as you’ve known me!

Whatever. Does that mean you know about Mysterious Paintings?



(…Looks like Sue’s struck gold!)

Why? Some alchemists on the street were talking about it, that’s all…

Huh. To answer your question, yes, of course I know about them. Mysterious Paintings are pieces of artwork created using alchemy and that have worlds inside them. Many alchemists have tried but few have succeeded in creating them, making them very expensive. Their existence has only been proven recently. Until that, it was all just rumors. As an interesting note aside, the first to ever paint one was a female alchemist named Neige…

Stop, stop! That’s too much information to absorb all at once!

Kind of surprising, too. You sure do know a lot about them!

That’s because, like I said, I’m an artist and alchemist!



Me too! We told you that we went inside it! We saw a different world in there!

Nope, that can’t be. I painted that picture! I can’t make Mysterious Paintings, never! Hahaha!

As always, so confident about the stuff you can’t do!

In any case, you thinking you went inside it is all a dream. Just forget all about it.

Roger returns to the basement.

Whew! That was a close call.

Bah, another plan fails. But I’m not giving up on that painting yet!

He sure seemed relieved to get away from us after you brought up the painting in the basement. Anyway, we’ve synthesized the leather, so let’s report to Ilmeria.

The twins go to Ilmeria’s atelier.

If you’re finished, then go ahead and submit your work!



Good, good. It looks like you’ve done a good job. Well done.

We did it, Lydie!

Mmm!

How about that textbook? Did it help you?

Yes, a lot! It was so easy to understand!

With all the images and diagrams I could read it too, no trouble!

When you’re awake, anyway…

You have great in textbooks, Ilmeria! Wherever did you find it?

Oh, I didn’t buy it. I made it!

What?! You made it yourself?! Your handwriting is amazing!

That’s what you take away from that revelation? Well, I guess I’ll take it. But I’m glad you two liked the textbook I made you. After all… The textbook I used myself was really difficult. Very hard to decipher, just horrible. So I decided, if I ever got students of my own, to make my own textbook for them. I really broke down everything I had trouble with, so it should be quite easy to follow!

It was! Thank you so much for doing this for us!

We’ll keep it safe, we promise! Hey, we’ll make it a family heirloom!

Y-You don’t have to go that far! A bit of an exaggeration there! I hope it can be of help to you, though. It wasn’t easy to make, I can tell you that much! Show me that all my hard work was worth it!

We will! Oh, and do you want me to write a book report on it? I can do that, if you like!

Ah, no… That won’t be necessary. Anyway, off you go! Bye-bye!

Wow, Lydie! She practically kicked us out after you offered to write that book report!

I don’t think I went too far… anyway, let’s get back to work.

Later that day…


Hospitality…?

Ah, Lydie. Throw those materials there into the cauldron, will you?

Sure thing. Heave-ho!

You’re ignoring me? Really? After I’ve come all this way to see you? I’m a guest. A guest! Bring me some tea, some sweets, do something!



That’s no way to welcome anyone! I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll wait until you’re done.

Sorry, Lucia. We won’t be much longer.



So you say, but…



What happened to “we won’t be much longer”? You don’t seem any closer to finishing!

Hahaha. Sorry, we’ve actually started over about three times.

Having you wandering around doesn’t help, Lucia. I can’t concentrate!

And now you’re blaming me? Gah! I think my patience has run out!



Sorry, we don’t have time. We need to finish this work today.

That’s right, Work over Lucia, I’m afraid! Can you please just sit there quietly?

Sniff… Wah! Very well. I’m leaving! That’s what you want, right? Uwaaaah! Lydie and Sue, I hate you!

Eh, Lucia!? What should we do? She ran off!

I didn’t think she would actually cry. Still such a crybaby. I do feel a little bad, though… But we do have to finish this work. We’ll make it up to her next time, that’s all.

Still… remember what Lucia said about a declaration of war? You think maybe Lucia’s coming in here to distract us so we can’t get better at alchemy?

She would! But all’s fair in love and war, I guess.

That afternoon…

All done for the day! Time for some me time…

Ah, you’re reading? More studying?

No, actually. Look!




I can see where you’re coming from, but it’s really a romance! A serious love story!

Hmm, give it here. Hmm… Yes, it looks legit soppy.

The main character runs a bar, and falls in love with a girl who makes barrels for him. They have a strong bond, but all sorts of problems get in their way!

Like?

Mold grows on her barrels, and then a giant Puni appears and stops the flow of beer!

Hold on. It sounds like a comedy to me!



But the love of the two of them allows them to make it through! Ah, that’s the power of love!

I can’t take any more of this… Lydie, you’ve always loved romance stories.

Yeah, I know!

Uwah, you’re joining me in the conversation again?

I just love these pure romance stories. It so makes me want to support the lovers!



Hahaha, make up your mind, Lydie! One moment your eyes are sparking, the next they’re filled with rage! Still, romance! I’m a girl too, so I don’t dislike the idea! But we’re a bit busy at the moment.



The next day…


Bought Attention

Sue, can you get the door?

Girls! Out of the goodness of my heart, I’ve come to see you again!

Hey, Lucia. This isn’t going to go any better than last time!

S-Sorry, we’re really busy again today.

Hahah, I’ve already accounted for that! My plan to get some attention from you this time is perfect! Look at this! The greatest sweets you can find anywhere in the city!



The rulers of all sweet things! Doesn’t that cost around 30,000 Coll?

What do you think? Want to have a taste? If you spend some time with me… You can have the whole thing! Hahaha, decide! Sweet heaven, or more boring work? Which is it to be?

Sweet heaven!

Ohohoho! You girls are pushovers!

I wouldn’t say that. Who can resist a dose of sugar and some gossip about love!

We’ve almost finished all our work, too. So let’s start eating!

I’m not sure I like the feeling of buying your time, but if you are happy, I guess it worked out. By the way, though, I am still a guest. Could you at least try to treat me like one?

Ah, right! We did prepare a few things for when you came again. Sue, can you go get them?

Here, look! We picked these cookies up from the shop of this old lady who lives nearby.



These are the ones! The ones I’ve been wanting to eat! Ah, perfect!

Hahaha, go ahead and eat them all. We got them especially for you, Lucia.

Great! Heheh, they really do look delicious.

Hehe, you still have that sweet tooth, don’t you Lucia.

Some things never change. She’d always trade small, expensive treats for a multitude of cheap ones! Not that I’m one to question anyone’s tastes. We get to eat this little beauty now!

You said it. In which case, less talking and more eating!

Later that afternoon…

Lydie! Want to take a walk in the garden?

Let’s! I really need to walk off these sweets…


Mathias picks up an official

Ah! Sorry, I’m not… I mean, no!

She leaves.

Gah, another failure. This really isn’t working.

Hahaha, how sad! Mathias, failing to ask a girl out again!

Gah, you saw that? Just the pair I didn’t want to be seen by, too.

Mathias, let’s get real for a moment. Your success rate is super low, right?

What! How did you know that? You’re not wrong, but there’s no way…

It’s your silly lines. “Lovely as the ocean”? I think my grandpa used that one!

But this is all from a book! It said this stuff works!

You can’t rely on a book. A girl wants to feel like you’re looking at them, and only them.

Guwah! Lectured on love by a kid!

Come on, Lydie, contribute something. Why do you think Mathias is always failing?

Me? Well, I guess because he doesn’t have a job?



Haha! Nice angle there, Lydie! Carry on!

Well, I wouldn’t want to date someone who’s just hanging about outside at this time of day.

Hold it. Lydie, could it be? You don’t like me?

Ooof! Now this is getting personal. I mean, I wouldn’t exactly call you reliable myself…

One thing. I’m not unemployed, OK? I do have a job, which I do often!

I’ve never seen you do it. You can’t complain if people think you’re unemployed.

I’m not unemployed! I’m not! You’ll see!

Mathias runs off.

Ah, you chased him off! Wasn’t that a bit harsh, Lydie? Could it be, you actually don’t like Mathias that much?

No, that’s not it. It’s just, sometimes, he reminds me a little bit too much of Dad.

Ah. That actually makes a lot of sense, hahaha!

Dammit! Humiliated by the twins… I really gotta cleanse my palette after that!


Mathias picks up Grace

Here I am, at the church… I wonder if there are any pretty ladies around here? Ohhh?

I need some carrots and some onions. Hehe, I’m going to cook up a delicious curry!



I’m sure a curry made by your angelic hands would taste delicious. Especially if we ate it together.’

Hehe, aren’t you a smooth talker! And wasting your talents on an old maid like me.

Old maid? Please, if you wish to reject me, I can take it. No need to bend the truth…

By my vow to the divine, I am not lying! I am in my fifties, I’ll have you know.

You are? That’s older than my mother! But you don’t look it at all…

Regardless of what you see, it’s the truth. Why don’t you try picking up someone younger, hummm?



I approached you because I was struck by your beauty. That’s all there is to this!

Oh, my! How about this, then? Let’s go shopping together, and then have some curry back at the church. How does that sound?

S-Sure, that sounds fine. I’ll help you carry the shopping bags.

Thanks, that’s a big help. Shall we?

Hmm, this is odd. How did things turn out like this? I need to hone my skills further!