Part 48: Chapter 8-1: The Promise Resumed

Part 8-1: The Promise Resumed


Their Life Back on Track

I’m back. No sign of him today either…

I guessed as much. Oh, where did he go…?




It’s just the Messenger Puni. From Mireille, I presume?

Puni!!

Thank you. …It’s the requirements for the next Promotion Test. Sue, what do you think?

Hmm. Maybe we should concentrate on increasing our rank, for now. I’m worried about Dad, but…

We can’t just sit around doing nothing. Dad will be fine! He’ll be back when his money runs out! We just have to put on a brave face until then. Right, Sue?

Yeah…

Also in the envelope is… our subsidy of 4000 Coll. And a letter permitting us to travel to the Dawn Realm and the Morrakis Range.

Those are the farthest outskirts of Adalet, right? I hear they’re super dangerous and that only the strongest adventurers are allowed to go out there… I guess we’re really moving up in the world if Mireille thinks we got what it takes!

Right! But first, let’s prepare well.

Ooh! I got an idea for a stronger Lightning Bomb!



We need it to slightly slow the enemy down…



And there we go! But I’ve got more ideas on where to go with this. First, let’s just make a really high-quality one…



Bleeh! We’ll have to compromise a bit on the power, but the side effects will more than make up for it. Now, let’s do the thing!



This looks incredible, Sue…!

But we’re not done here yet! Next, I want to try using that Rainbow Corundum we found in the Treasury at the Sea Bottom in a bomb.



I see where you’re going with this, Sue. “Twin Powers” tacks on Fire and Ice… so if you put this trait on a Lightning Crystal, then Firis…!

Bingo! Now, for this synthesis, all we really need is that trait!



Alright! Anyway, before we head out, we’re about due for an equipment upgrade.

Right! Speaking of which, I want Hagel to make me the Captain’s gun!



Woohoo! Thank you, Hagel!

Hmm, what else… Let’s also get Firis a new bow, and Alt a new book.




Now, then…



Let’s go!


Music: Twin Birds Dancing in the Snow
(Music: Twin Birds Dancing in the Snow -Night-)

Brr! It’s freezing…

Can we not stay here too long? I hate the cold…

Well… I bet a battle will warm you right up!



Like with this Big Tree Soldier! …Now, let’s see…




Light ‘em up, Firis!

Hehe, you got it!





That was flashy! But it didn’t quite finish the job, ehehe…



Then we must keep it at bay until then.



There we go! The Scatter effect means that Lightning Crystal will knock it back down the line… twice! Now, then! Luft, Firis…



A total victory! Now, on we go!



Sue… If Twin Powers has Fire and Ice, then Twin Powers Pair…

Hehe… we can still upgrade the Firis Bomb yet!

Girls! There’s someone over there!



Yeah, I guess so…

You understand the beauty of the snowy mountains! Wonderful! Tell me - what do you like most about them?!

I… I guess it’s something how cold they are?

Don’t underestimate the mountains! Cold robs you of your strength more than you realize! Take the greatest care!

Thanks, mister. Anyway, let’s go further up the mountain trail! All the way to the top!



Right? It doesn’t snow in Merveille…

Haha! Seeing these two brings back memories to my first time seeing snowfall…



We made it to the peak! But I gotta ask, Lydie… what do you think is with all the ruins in these mountains?

I was wondering too! It’s not like this area was ravaged by a god, like Falgior did Braisewest…

Mmm… Maybe we’ll find something else when we return some other time. Anyway, next up… the Dawn Realm!



You know, girls… I’ve heard from some customers that late at night, dragons roam the Dawn Realm…

D-Dragons? Really?

Maybe if we hang around long enough, we’ll see one.


Dragon Battle



Looks like your customers were right, Lucia! Here it comes!

Uwaaah! T-Take this!




Let’s try this out! Hmm… Blizzard Weave, was it called?



Good on my students for being able to make such amazing Distilled Water! Now, don’t mind if I do…



Hmm…



Firis! You’re up!

Ah, right!




Amazing… the dragon didn’t even get a chance to retaliate before Firis put it down…

Hey, Lydie. Remind me never to get on the other side of Firis’ bow…

Definitely… Anyway, I read somewhere that gods visit the Dawn Realm.



This looks like somewhere a god would show up, I guess. But for now, let’s go home. We’ve been out for days, and I’m shot!

The night they get home…

Sue! Sue!


Swole Lydie?

What is it, Lydie? Hey, why do you have that Puni with you?

Haha! I’m here to show you how much stronger I’ve become, Sue!

Hahaha, what are you talking about? No matter how many Puni you defeat, it won’t prove a thing! I mean, you need to at least be able to shred a Puni with one hand!

Oh, is that all? I could do that with my eyes closed!

…Eh?
…Puni?



Lydie, stop it! That Puni is innocent! … Hold on?



Hold on? …What happened?

You told me to hit you as hard as I can, so I slapped you! A bit too hard, I think. I think I knocked you out! I’m really sorry!

So that stuff with the Puni was all a dream? Owww! Now that I’m back my cheek hurts!

Hahaha, but look how much stronger I’ve become? Sorry… Too soon?

Strength to slap your sister isn’t something you need! Ah, I shouldn’t have asked you to do that!

The morning after…

Oh right, Lydie, did you notice that Ilmeria had a Battle Mix ready to go as soon as you chucked the Ori Bomb the other day?

Well, we’re due for a visit with our teacher all the same.

Hehe… a visit, and some fun with our teacher!


The Twins’ Innovation

Yes, probably. Plachta’s alchemy may actually differ slightly from modern-day alchemy…



Oh, there you are. In fact, we were just talking about that thing you two came up with.

That thing…? What do you mean? “The Fully-Automatic Lecture Machine Ilmeria Mark 3”, maybe?

No, I bet they’re talking about the “Pretty Ilmeria Doll”… Uh!



Wh-What are you two talking about? Why are you wasting your time thinking up things like that?!

U-Uh-oh…! Firis, what was it you were talking about?

Y-Yes! Tell us, please! We really would like to know!

Huh? Oh, it was “Battle Mix.” You know, the technique you use to synthesize things in-battle.

Ah! That was a revolutionary idea, if I do say so myself. A truly historic achievement, if you’d like.

…You might be right. I mean, it’s turned the conventional alchemic wisdom on its head.

Huh, really? In what way?

It’s that you don’t use anything like a cauldron. Traditionally, alchemy has always been conducted in a vessel… But “Battle Mix” makes use of Anima, allowing you to synthesize without any vessel.

That’s a remarkable achievement. But it does make it more difficult. Sophie and I tried it out several times, but we just couldn’t get it to work…

What?! Sophie and Firis…?! This is too much! Too much, Lydie! This is amazing!

I-I know! This makes it all somehow feel more real…! We invented something really incredible!

Haha… Well, Firis and I think the difficulty may be due to differences in schools of alchemy. But it is certainly true that you two are very talented alchemists, to come up with something so remarkable. …You should stop wasting your time with lecture machines and dolls, and make something else truly useful.

Okay! Something truly useful… I’ll remember that! …Then I will invent the “Medicine Distributor Angel Ilmeria” to hand out medicine to patients!

And I will make a machine that automatically plows fields - the “Il-dozer”!

Hey! Stop coming up with things relating to me! I’m going to get really mad…!



Well, there you have it, a story reason for why Sophie and Firis can’t use Battle Mix while Lucia and Ilmeria can. (As for Alt? …Ignore him for now.)


Absence

Hahaha! If she were here, she’d have collared him and stopped this before he made it out the door!

Hahah, that sounds about right! Oh, Mom…



Praise us, telling us how well we’ve done? Ruffle our hair with a smile, like she used to? I really want to see Mom again… so badly!

Sue! I’m sure she’d praise us. She’d ruffle your hair right off! I’m worried about Dad going off, too, but we just have to do everything we can for today. Right?

I know. I’m sorry for having a moment of weakness… We’re the sisters who always move forward! We’re aiming for C Rank, Sis! Let’s take this Rank Exam down!