ASDP Chapter 30

When my father brought the newly prepared magic circle, he offered the same price as the magic circle that can be used only once. Certainly, the same price for the material is not wrong, but it’s much cheaper than I expected. Maybe if they know this price, the complaints from the people who are currently trading with him will be amazing.

“Um. Isn’t it too cheap?”

Theo was offered the same price, so he seems to have noticed that this has been discounted considerably. He’s looking at my father with a confused face.

“That’s right. But this is just a loan. I’ll change the subject, Mr. Alfie. As you told me earlier, you don’t have money. You want to become an apprentice to an alchemist now, don’t you?”

“Yes. I only have two attributes, so I think an alchemist is more suitable than a magician, so if I can become a disciple, I think it’s an alchemist. However, even if I become an apprentice, I know it’s difficult because you need money.”

Alfie’s eyes wavered sadly and he lowered his eyebrows.

There are two main ways to be a magician or an alchemist. It’s to go to school or to become a disciple of someone. If both of them finally pass the exam, they can call themselves magicians or alchemists. The advantage of becoming a disciple is that there is no age limit and you can be strong in practice because you study while working as a disciple.

However, even if you get paid according to your work, it will disappear with the tuition fee of becoming a disciple, and there are many cases of live-in disciples, so your freedom will decrease. And alchemy costs money, so the tuition fee is quite high, and the salary alone is very expensive.

“Then I’ll talk to an alchemist I know, so become a disciple. And if Amelia wants you to consult, it’s free of charge, and in addition, don’t let Amelia’s information leak out to others. This is the condition for lending the magic circle to Theo. I’ll tell the alchemist who’s disciple you will be not to go deep into it, but you also need to make an effort not to leak information.”

Instead of saying that he was going to sell it, my father said it was a loan.

It’s certainly a price that can’t be sold, but this is also the first time I’m hearing about lending the magic circle. But if it’s a loan, I think it’s also the price offered.

“Eh. I’m an orphan, right? Is that okay?”

“If you have motivation and talent, there is no problem. The alchemist I’ll introduce you to has money to study glasses, and he owes me. If you make an effort to become an alchemist correctly, he will accept it.”

Even though they didn’t talk a lot or for a long time, my father easily arranged for him to become a disciple.

It’s no wonder that Alfie is surprised. Orphans can’t aim to be alchemists unless they are taken in by nobles. If you remain an orphan, you can only open the way to a magician if you are highly compatible.

“Let me tell you one more thing about your strength. Few people have the attributes of light and darkness that you have. And if you talk about the knowledge you learned on your own, you will definitely be accepted. I’ll also contact the alchemist, so if you give your name, he will listen to you. After that, you can both decide.”

My father’s story would be a dream-like convenient story for Alfie, an orphan.

But it’s the basics of the world that there is a condition to every favor. Alfie looked happy, but also looked worried.

“Um… really?”

“However, as I said earlier, the information about what Amelia is researching should not be leaked out of your mouth even if you die. You probably don’t know the details yet, so if you don’t get involved, you can turn back.”

“Even if you die…”

I opened my mouth in the silence that came after my father’s words, which felt too strict, but my father looked at me quietly.

“I don’t want to interfere with what Amelia wants to do, but because I’m a parent, I want to remove the danger as much as possible. I confirmed Theo’s ability and resolve, so the probability of him opening his mouth is low, but Alfie’s position is much weaker than Theo’s, and I think that people around him will listen to whatever he says. That’s why it’s important for Alfie to keep the secret. Besides, Amelia wanted an alchemist’s help, didn’t she? If Alfie accepts this condition, Amelia can get it.”

My father is a good person at first glance.

There is an image that is big and you can ask him anything. But my father is a person who can fight so much that he won’t be eaten in the royal capital. My father uses others if necessary.

He’s distributing benefits to Alfie, but at the same time, I don’t know what to say about tying Alfie down. It’s for me that my father goes this far, and it’s to make sure that there is no danger around me.

“I’ll do it. I’ll take the story I learned about Amelia to the grave.”

“But…”

“We, the priests who originally consisted of orphans, can’t say what we were told to keep a secret in the relationship of the temple even if we die, so this contract is similar. But I might become an alchemist which was my dream. Then I don’t want to be just a priest to keep living, but I want to be like Royal Palace Magician, Clark.”

In front of the strong light in the eyes of Alfie, who seemed to be weak-willed, I swallowed the words of denial.

Either way, I have to keep quiet, and I want the alchemist’s help so much that I can’t open my mouth. Because when investigating the maga, there are parts that can’t be done by the knowledge of a magician alone.

“If Alfie can do what he wants to do, I think he should take this deal. If you became a disciple of an alchemist, you would be able to live in, so you can get out of being a priest. Because I don’t think the current situation is good for Alfie.”

At the words, current situation, I remembered that Alfie is a taste impaired person. And now, every time one of the saints made a dramatic dangerous dish that is close to poison, he should have been called and made to eat it. Alfie doesn’t seem to feel pain because he doesn’t have a sense of taste, but I don’t think the situation is good. I think the recklessness of bringing the monster honey and beeswax this time is also terrible. Alfie almost died just for beauty.

“Then that’s it.”

My father quickly wrapped up the conversation because Theo and Alfie were convinced.

It’s a contract for me, but I don’t have the right to say anything.

Alfie asked my father to write a letter of introduction, and he looks really happy. But is it my imagination that I feel like he feels more value in the part that the one who wrote the letter is my father?

“Ugh. I don’t want to give this to anyone.”

“If you don’t give it to him, you won’t be able to become a disciple.”

“I know, but. I know, but!!”

Theo corrected Alfie, who was looking at the envelope with sparkling eyes. There is no benefit that the letter was written by my father, but he’s like a person with an amulet.

“That’s right. Oh, that. Please sign it!”

“Eh. I don’t want to.”

When Alfie courageously asked him to sign, my father refused. I also don’t want my signature to be used as a decoration like a family heirloom. Even if you can give a hundred steps and accept the amount of Alfie enjoying alone, what would others think if they saw you?

“Oh, that’s right…”

I’m sorry for Alfie who seems to remember the mushrooms that were removed yesterday, but I also agree with my father.

“That’s right. Then, when I get a reply to Amelia’s question, I’ll also send you a thank you letter. It’s a letter, so keep it without showing it to anyone. How about this?”

Alfie’s face made me smile at my father’s words.

I felt a little sorry for him, so I’m glad they found a good compromise.

“Ms. Amelia. Please send me a question right away. I’ll look into anything.”

“Oh, thank you. Ah. If that’s the case, I’m sorry to bother you right away, but if there’s anything written about ore made from tree sap, I’d like you to make a manuscript, but can you do it?”

I don’t remember the details either, but I’m sure there was such an ore.

And this time, I want to compare the crystals that trapped mana. This is not the royal capital, so it’s difficult to read, but if there is a collaborator, you can look it up.

“Of course. I’ll look into it right away.”

“Wait. Even if you use the library, you need money, so I’ll pay for the manuscript. Don’t accept it easily. Mr. Theo, if Mr. Alfie seems like he will be reckless, stop it. It’s not something I want him to take a risk for.”

If he gets something from my father, I’m afraid he’ll spend it until he goes bankrupt.

“I got it. I’ll keep an eye on Alfie. It takes a while to find a new house, but I’ll send you a letter, so Amelia can rely on me, not just Alfie, right?”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

I promised to exchange letters like this, and I saw off Theo and Alfie who were leaving for the neighboring town.

 

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Sorry for the long delay between chapters!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!