Part 49: Chapter 8-2: Those They Miss

Part 8-2: Those They Miss


A Wastrel No More?

Hey, Sue. Can you get that material over there for me?

Sure… hold on?



None that changes the fact that I’m scared! …Owww! Sis, come on, you’re going to rip something off!

Uwah, what’s going on out there? Is that Mireille and Mathias?



Hi.

Ah, hello. What was going on out there? It sounded like quite a frenzy.

Oh, you heard that? Well… let’s cut to the chase. We want you to defeat some monsters for us.

Some monsters? Sure, but this is all a bit sudden.

We received a report of monsters nearby. I was going to send Mathias… But he seems intent on running away from the task!

Come on, it’s scary! Who knows what monsters are out there! It’s not like any regular people go there. The monster will just go off again, surely.

See what I’m dealing with here? So we need you to step up.

I see. I think we understand. Come on, Mathias. Why don’t you come with us?

If you show us how cool you can be, we’ll stop calling you the King of the Wastrels!

OK, I’m in. Let’s go right away. Come on, both of you!



I’m just glad to see him a little invested. Girls, keep an eye on him out there!

Sure thing, Mireille! Anyway…



The reports we got came from the Spring-green Odahlia. A bit too close to the capital, I’m sure you’d agree? Now off you go!

OK! …Come on, Mathias! This is your chance!



What’s going on here? You’ve fought with us against monsters lots of times.

And I hate it! I don’t like to admit this, but I’m not all that brave. If possible, I never want to fight another monster again!

You don’t? Even though you protected us from them, all those times?

H-Heeeelp! Help meeeeeeeeeee!



Hey! Someone is being attacked!

W-We need to move, quickly…



M-Mathias! Yeah, you lead the way!




Hraaaaaagh!!




Nngh!



I’m going all out… so they’d better be ready!



Huh, that’s pretty impressive… Firis! Let’s go!

You got it!




Let’s not go overboard… this is Mathias’ time to shine.




Gaaah!

Shine…




It’s time you all witnessed my true power!



I’LL CUT YOU DOWN!!



HRAAAAAGH!







Haa… I… I did it!



No problem. I recommend you don’t come back here alone.

R-Right! Phew! I’ll take my leave… and thanks again!

Phew. At least no one was hurt.

Mathias! That was so cool!

Yeah! You rushed straight in there! It was actually quite thrilling!

Come on. Stop picking on me.

We’re not! You did look really cool!

I’m a knight, after all. I can’t just stand there when someone is in danger. …Ah, I’m exhausted! That was scary, too. I’m off to bed.

There he goes. I guess being praised by us embarrassed him!

Hahaha, yeah. We were just telling the truth!

I know! In any case, it’s time to retire the “King of the Wastrels”.

Indeed! Now then, we’d best go home as well.

The next morning…


The Twins’ “Toybox”

Ah, welcome. Make yourself at home.

Hahaha, thank you! The medicinal smell in the air, the bubbling cauldron! Ah, this all takes me back. I do love the atmosphere in an atelier.

What’s that, Drossel? You’ve been in other ateliers before?

Sure I have. I’ve got other alchemist friends. Gaaah! Now I’m getting excited! Hey, could I take a look around? I’ll try to stay out of your way!

Sure, that should be fine… Take a look around, as much as you like!

Thanks! I’m going to go over every inch of this place with a fine tooth comb!

Hey, stay away from the bedroom, will you? Nothing to see in there…



Hehe! An atelier really is like a toy box, isn’t it? ...Even if a lot of this stuff isn’t exactly safe to play wi…



Wait… Is this your mom?

Yes, that’s right. She passed away…

Ah, sorry for asking… It’s tough not being able to see your mom, isn’t it?

Well… What’s your mom like, Drossel?

She’s kind. So very kind, and bright like the sun.

Hehe. Just like you then, Drossel!

No, not as insensitive as me. She’s prettier, and brighter. I want to be just like her. I can barely remember her face, to be honest, but I still want to meet her and see her again.

Oh, Drossel…

Ah, sorry! I didn’t mean to do this in front of you two.

Don’t worry. We were happy to hear about it, Drossel.

I’m sure you’ll meet your mom again one day. Don’t give up!

Thanks. You two really are something special. It was fun looking around your atelier. See you!

You too! …Hmm…

Drossel is sad about not being able to see her mom, isn’t she…

Of course she is. I wonder if there’s anything we could do to reunite them?

Hmm… Anyway! After we wrap up this synthesis, let’s go for a walk. I’m thinking the plaza!

Sounds like a plan, Sue!


Childish Innocence

That’s scary! That laugh is real scary, Mireille!

Uwah, I’m going to have nightmares about that. You need to sleep with me tonight, Lydie…

I-It was that bad? Sorry!

You were watching those kids, right? Not thinking about eating them, are you?



Uwah!

I’m joking. I was just taking a break from work. Watching kids play is very calming, right?

Huh… I’ve not seen this side of you before, Mireille.

Seeing them play so innocently gives me the energy to keep on going. To make a great kingdom, that everyone will be proud to live in once they grow up.

Haha, most impressive. Thinking about the future even when you’re taking a break from work!

H-Hold on! I told you to stop praising me!

Hahaha! Hey, Mireille. We’re still kids ourselves, right?



Very well, then. I’ll make them as hard as I possibly can, just for that! A real sweet and naive child would never ask such a thing! You’ve just proven your maturity!

Gah! Forget I said anything! Keep things the same, things are fine as they are!

Haha, then don’t try to get tricky! Kids should be honest and innocent. …There will be plenty of time for tricks once you are all grown up, believe me.

Hmm… anyway, Lydie, break time’s over!

Later that day…

I’m coming in, you two!

Ah, Lucia! What’s up? Sorry, we don’t really have time to talk at the moment…


Rumors and Whereabouts

What? They did? Where? Where was he?

Outside the city. He was gathering materials like a madman, apparently. He had a fixed expression on his face, and didn’t respond even when talked to.

Lydie! Let’s go find him! We need to chew him out for making us so worried!

H-Hold on a moment. They saw him a few days ago. Even if you go now, I don’t think you’ll find him there. But at least we know he’s safe!

That’s almost enough… Thank you, Lucia, for making the time to come and see us.

Yes, thank you, Lucia. You’ve been asking your customers about our dad, haven’t you?

Yes, well… I need you happy and cheerful or it’s no fun competing with you! I-If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know! See you later!

…Hehe, that Lucia. She really is kind at heart, even if she tries to hide it.

Hahaha, I know. Like a real big sister. Still though, I gotta ask… “gathering like a madman, with a fixed expression…” That sounds totally different from the dad we know!

Right? But I guess it’s good cause to redouble our efforts!

Sure is… shoot! We’re almost out of Rubies! We’ll have to pay a visit to Corneria after this job is done.

That night…

Corneria!


The Magic Number

E-Excuse me? What’s going on?

You’re my 5000th customers! Well, 5000th and 5001st.

O-oh. Thank you, I guess?

You win a permanent “Top Up Your Used Items! Completely Reassuring Refill Service” discount!



Saying that kinda makes me feel bad!

No, no, no need to worry. Go ahead and fill up whenever you need to. I’ll just have to cut back on my evening meal. It’s no problem!

Gah, enough! We’ll use it, alright, but you better eat well too! Do you hear me, Corneria?

Very well… Girls… Wel… come…


Price of Power

Ah, I’m sorry… I should never let my customers see such weakness… I’ve been using my copying power too much recently. The two of you warned me about it, I know…

You can barely stand! You need to rest!

No. As a merchant, once the doors are open I can’t close them until closing time…

You take this all too seriously! Very well. At least let us get something for you.

Ah, good idea! What do you want? We’ll bring whatever you need!

In which case, I’d like to drink some milk.

What? Milk? Like, from a cow?

Yes. Milk.

Are you sure that’s all you want? Are you sure you’re not taking it easy on us?

No. I’m not. I love milk, more than anything else.

In which case, it would be our pleasure. We’ll bring you the most energizing milk ever!


Price of Power II

Here you go, Corneria! Here’s the milk you ordered, moooo!

Ah, that does look delicious! Let me get some of that right away! Glug, glug, glug! Uwah! Phew, I’m alive again! Thank you so much. I was about to shrink away to nothing!

Hahaha, is that the first time I’ve heard you make a joke? Is work going to make you shrink?

No, I’m not joking, unfortunately. That’s the truth.

Excuse me?

There’s a cost to my power. Each item I copy makes me shrink a little. If I rest a little then it returns to normal, but if I’m not careful I’ll stay tiny forever!

What?! That’s terrible! If you copy too much stuff you’ll be able to hide in the palm of my hand?!

That might be cute, actually…

Sue, don’t start that now. If that’s the case, you should stop using that power, right away!

No. I can’t do that. It is one of the main services I offer.

But the cost is too great!

It’s fine. If I can meet my father again, it’s fine…

Oh…

Running this shop, I might meet someone who knows my father. If the shop becomes large and famous, my name may reach my father’s ears. So long as I have this shop, one day I’ll be able to meet him. That’s what I believe.



…

We can’t get involved in this, Lydie. You understand how Corneria feels, right?

Yes. I’m sorry, Corneria. I said too much.

Hehe, you’re very kind, Lydie. If you are worried about me, there’s one thing you can do: keep buying stuff from this shop! That’s what will make me the happiest.

Hahah! I see what you did there! So we just have to buy lots and lots of stuff, right?

It looks like it. I walked right into that one! Come on then, Corneria, what have you got?

Remember, Lydie? Before all this, we came for more Rubies!

Oh, right! It’s really late, after all… Here’s your money, Corneria!

Thank you very much!

The next morning…

This is bad. Real bad. I need to do something about this!

Huh? Lydie, what’s up? You look really pale!


The Clothes She Made

Really…? Doesn’t look like it to me.

My clothes feel all tight, though! Like I can hardly move!

Hmm. Let me take a look…



Lydie, you haven’t gotten fat. You’ve just gotten taller.

What? That’s all?

Yeah. It’s not a tummy problem at all. You’ve grown, which is stretching your clothes. …I have as well, actually. It’s getting a bit tough to move in my clothes, too.

You have too, Sue? But we can’t just go and get new clothes, can we…

No, not really… Because after all…



(Wow, lovely! Clothes!)

(They are pretty flashy. Did you make these, Mom?)

(That’s right! To celebrate your first successful synthesis! Hehehe… All female alchemists wear cute clothing, just like this.)

(Wow, they do? Can I try it on right away?)

(Of course, but I think they might still be a bit…)

(Uwah, Mom! It’s all baggy!)

(Haha, of course it is. I made these for you to wear when you’re a bit older. Just keep learning alchemy from your father. Once your skills and bodies have grown some more… I want you to come and show me what you look like, wearing these clothes.)



I know. How about we let them out a little, then? Then we’ll be able to wear them a bit longer!

Yes, good idea! I’ll go and get the sewing kit!