Though she had received notice that she had passed the skills exam, Senior Rena’s steps as she headed back to the lodgings held no leisure.
I had been a little worried that she might have been hurt by the examiner’s behavior, but,
“We barely passed this time, right? Next time, I’ll pass so decisively that anyone can see it!”
Seeing Senior Rena shout that at the top of her lungs put me at ease.
‘Still, just in case, I’d better prepare.’
We had gotten through it relatively lightly this time, but this exam stank in more ways than one.
They would probably be prepared to fail Senior Rena in the next exam.
As long as I couldn’t intervene directly, all I could do was support her.
“Senior, there’s somewhere I need to stop by for a bit. How about you go on ahead?”
“Hm? What for?”
“There’s something I need to prepare in advance.”
“That sounds suspicious…”
Senior narrowed her eyes and stared at me.
But after seeing my calm attitude, she nodded as if she understood.
“Well, I’ll be busy training anyway. If you need something, go take care of it.”
With Senior’s permission, I turned and headed toward the market.
Worthy of its reputation as the Empire’s second city, Astrum’s market was lined with shops of all kinds.
Among them, the place I was headed was an herbalist. A special shop that dealt in magical herbs, at that.
‘It should be around there, I think… Ah, found it.’
I headed straight for the small sign hanging at the mouth of a dark alley.
Just as I reached the door and was about to open it, I heard two people arguing inside.
“I’ve told you several times, miss. I can’t sell that.”
“Please, sell it to me. I’ll pay three times the price.”
“I’m telling you, the price isn’t the problem.”
The shopkeeper’s voice grumbled in frustration, while a young woman’s voice pleaded for understanding.
It was a rare situation to see in this shop, so I quietly opened the door.
Inside the shop, filled with the acrid smell of herbs, a woman in a pure white dress was holding an expensive herb in her hand and looking at the shopkeeper.
‘Who is that?’
Snow-white silver hair. Was there someone like this in the game?
Perhaps sensing my gaze on her, the woman turned to look at me.
Her jewel-like purple eyes sparkled as she bowed her head to me.
“I apologize. I am currently in the middle of a discussion with the shopkeeper, so I ask for your understanding for a moment.”
The woman’s attitude was polite, but perfect to an excessive degree. I felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity from it, but I suppressed it and looked at her.
“No, it’s all right. But what’s going on?”
“Well, this young lady here is making an unreasonable demand.”
From beyond the counter came the shopkeeper’s grumbling. Though he was an old man with his back half-bent, there was firmness in his voice.
“She’s asking for unprocessed mandrake. Handling that without an alchemist’s license is a crime in itself. I won’t even ask what she’s trying to do with it. In any case, you’re a new customer. Are you looking for something?”
“Yes, but before that, it seems better to resolve this young lady’s issue first. Your name is…”
“It’s Karin. Please call me that.”
“Understood, Miss Karin. Could you tell me why you need mandrake?”
Karin hesitated, her lips parting slightly, then soon let out a sigh as if she had no choice.
“She isn’t related to me by blood, but someone who is like a mother to me desperately needs a rapid recovery potion. To make it, I need mandrake.”
“A rapid recovery potion using mandrake… That recipe is easy for a beginner to fail.”
I gathered several of the herbs placed around us and put them into Karin’s hand.
“You should be able to substitute these for mandrake. The effect will be a little weaker, but you can make up for it with quantity. However, be careful not to overuse it, or the medicinal effect may actually decline.”
“Oh? You’re quite something for a young man.”
Karin’s initially half-doubtful expression brightened immediately upon hearing the herbalist’s words. Bowing deeply to me, she smiled brightly.
“Thank you. You must be quite knowledgeable about alchemy.”
“I only know a little.”
‘It’s thanks to Kim Yuhan’s knowledge.’
I had never actually tried it even once, but I had never failed either. The recipes in my memory were perfect.
But she seemed to take it as humility, repeatedly bowing her head as she expressed her thanks.
“Then, it may not be much of a repayment, but I will… um, who were you again?”
“I’m Ashen.”
“Yes, I’ll pay for all of your herbs as well, Lord Ashen. Please think of it as a small token of my sincerity and don’t refuse.”
“Thank you.”
Excited at the thought that I could give Senior Rena a better elixir, I began selecting herbs.
Both the shopkeeper and Karin watched with curious eyes as I chose the herbs.
“That’s an unusual combination. Young man, do you know what sort of combination that is before buying it?”
“Yes. It should be unusual. This isn’t an Imperial method, but a Kurdan method.”
“Oh-ho, a Kurdan method, is it? So there’s a combination method like that too.”
A strange light flickered in the shopkeeper’s eyes as he heard my words.
“Young man, would you be willing to sell that formula? I’ll pay you handsomely.”
“I’ll consider it once I become a regular. Now, please ring these up.”
“Very well. Come by often. I’ll give you a discount.”
It seemed he wasn’t merely saying it, as the herbalist actually lowered the price to nearly half. After settling the bill with Karin, I opened the herbalist’s door and stepped outside.
“Um, once again, thank you so much. Thanks to you, Mr. Ashen, I was able to take care of this matter.”
“It was nothing. I hope things go well with your mother.”
“Hehe, thank you. Ah, by the way, Mr. Ashen. You don’t seem to be from around here. Are you perhaps planning to enroll in the Academy?”
“…That’s right.”
“Then we may see each other again. I’ll greet you properly then! Well, I’ll be going now.”
Was she also an Academy entrant? I was about to ask her a few questions, but before I knew it, I could only see her back receding into the distance.
‘What an unusual person.’
In any case, I had obtained all the ingredients needed for Senior Rena’s elixir.
‘Now then, shall I get to work too?’
Walking quickly toward the lodgings, I smiled.
**
After parting with Ashen, Karin arrived in front of a grand building.
‘I’m not late.’
Catching her breath after running, she slowly opened the door.
The interior of the building was utterly silent.
Judging by that, it seemed no one had noticed her outing, fortunately.
Just as Karin let out a sigh of relief and was about to step inside,
“So you have finally returned, Lady Theodora.”
Contrary to her hopes, a low voice seeped into her ears.
When she looked toward where the sound had come from, she saw the face of an aged but sharp-looking priest.
“For what reason did you go out?”
“Ah, I went to get some medicine for Mother Superior.”
“That is not something someone like you should be doing.”
“…Yes.”
“Keep this in mind. You are a tool that upholds the will of God. Forget all else.”
“I apologize.”
At the priest’s words, from which no emotion could be felt, Karin—no, Theodora—lowered her head.
This place had always been like this.
It had taken her in when she had become an orphan in childhood, but she had never once felt warmth here.
The gazes the people of this place directed at her came in only two kinds.
The madness of those trying to create a perfect existence, and the contempt of those looking at someone to be used as a tool.
Theodora existed here solely to satisfy those two emotions.
“More importantly, Lady Theodora. I heard the exam results. A perfect score, I believe. Though it was only natural.”
“It is all thanks to the teachings of the Order.”
At Theodora’s answer, the corners of the priest’s mouth twisted in satisfaction.
“A fine attitude. Please continue not to forget it. Now, it is about time for prayer, so shall you come with me?”
“Yes, Bishop.”
Theodora followed him.
At the end of the long corridor was a spacious room covered in stained glass.
Theodora looked at the ornament in the shape of scales directly in front of the door. Beneath it were written the words Perfect Justice.
Perfect. Every time she saw those words, it felt as if her throat were tightening.
As if paying no attention to Theodora’s reaction, the bishop continued speaking in a leisurely tone.
“Under the original schedule, we would proceed immediately with prayer and confession, but there is something planned today, so let us do that first.”
“Something planned?”
“We are simply having you meet the person who will assist you at the Academy. It should not be a difficult matter.”
When the bishop gestured, a young man seated in the back approached Theodora.
What he wore was the familiar priestly robe, but the symbol embroidered on it was not scales, but a shield.
“Well now, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Theodora.”
With a foxlike smile, the man extended his hand to her.
“My name is Ramsey. I look forward to your guidance from now on.”