Ch.51Alchemist Guild

# Alchemy.

A technique where you put colorful liquids into oddly-shaped glass containers that look difficult to clean, boil them vigorously, and then with a puff of smoke—bang!—something amazing is created.

To master such a technique, one needs above all a strong body and mind, as well as high intelligence to understand what results come from combining various drugs and reagents.

And naturally, since there was no way that such advanced knowledge would be taught at Amurtat’s school yet, they couldn’t even dream of training alchemists. Consequently, alchemists had to be brought in from outside. Thanks to this recent agreement, the Alchemists’ Guild decided to establish a branch in Amurtat.

Finally, this small city would have a place that would serve as home, school, factory, and laboratory for alchemists.

“Whew! So this is Amurtat? Quite a lively city. Personally, I like it better than Fahrenheit.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Now, please come this way. This is where the Alchemists’ Guild branch and factories will be located.”

The first alchemist to arrive was Viriditas, who would become the head of the Amurtat branch.

Alchemists are divided into five major ranks: “Nigredo,” apprentices who handle all sorts of menial tasks under a master while learning alchemy; “Albedo,” those who have moved beyond apprenticeship and can now perform adequately on their own; “Citrinitas,” veteran alchemists with the right and duty to take on disciples; “Rubedo,” those who have reached the level where they can synthesize reagents, drugs, and compounds independently; and “Viriditas,” an administrative position overseeing all alchemists in a country.

Among these, Rubedo was considered the pinnacle of alchemical achievement, while Viriditas existed purely for the convenience and administration of alchemists—essentially an honorary position. However, since only the oldest—and therefore wisest—among the Rubedo could hold this position, its authority was not something to be easily dismissed.

As a side note, these rank names are said to be derived from the process of creating the “Philosopher’s Stone.”

“Here will be the guild headquarters, those plains will house the workshops, over there will be the alchemists’ quarters, that area will have warehouses and shops selling various materials, and over there we plan to build the research wing.”

“Oh… good… very good. It seems the ruler of this country has quite high expectations for the Alchemists’ Guild.”

Viriditas listened attentively to the official’s explanation with a satisfied smile.

For all alchemists, having their own workshop and laboratory is a dream come true. With such a spacious site and excellent facilities being provided, the alchemist’s instinct would naturally emerge before the obligations of being Viriditas.

“His Majesty has great expectations for the potential of alchemy. We only hope that you will repay his kindness with equivalent results.”

“Don’t worry. We alchemists are renowned for repaying our debts with certainty. We will never forget the excessive consideration that His Majesty Tiberius von Adler has shown us.”

“In that case, our discussions should proceed smoothly.”

*

The seventh year of Amurtat was already coming to an end.

Around the beginning of the bitter winter, an enormous number of wagons arrived from Fahrenheit, loaded with various machines and equipment for the alchemists to use.

“Oh dear. We spent so much money, and now the road is blocked!”

“Did it have to be today of all days?”

This caused inconvenience to tourists from Fahrenheit who wanted to enjoy winter in Amurtat, but it was an unavoidable force majeure.

The machines and equipment moved into Amurtat’s city area quickly disappeared into warehouses, and soon massive materials were being pulled out and dumped on the ground.

“Time to work, you lot! Start assembling right away!”

“Yes, sir!”

The construction workers of Amurtat showed off their hard-earned labor skills from the past summer and autumn, demonstrating a speed competition of hammering nails and raising floors simultaneously.

This could be considered a rapid wooden construction type only possible in this medieval era without concrete.

Of course, they were people too, so there had to be a reason for them to expend their energy in such a speed race during this cold winter…

“Additional bonuses for each day we finish ahead of schedule!”

“Your wages will be doubled!”

“Amurtat, quickly quickly!”

There it was.

If work speed seems slow, check whether sufficient performance bonuses have been provided.

“One, build! Two, install!”

“Oooone!!”

“Buuuuild!!!”

“Twoooo!!!”

“Instaaall!!!”

Though winter should be a season when even the sense of smell becomes numb, the few alchemists observing the construction experienced the miracle of their blocked noses clearing.

And what flowed into those cleared nostrils was likely the scent of sweat shed by workers flowing even in this cold winter without freezing.

“Put your spirit into it, you lot! We’ll complete the Alchemists’ Guild branch within this year!”

“Aaargh!!!”

The sight of over 20,000 workers simultaneously groaning and working in perfect unison to raise the building could no longer be called a construction site.

Could this be what cultists’ human sacrifices look like?

The alchemists left the scene with disgusted expressions at the symphony of groans and the spectacle of men who had thrown off their upper garments.

“Will they really get the performance bonuses?”

“Well… I think so? If not, they might start a riot.”

At those words, the alchemists imagined the workers, drunk on madness, clamoring for their bonuses, and then shook their heads.

Twenty thousand manual laborers participating in a riot with tools in hand… perhaps even the army couldn’t stop them.

*

“Capitalism really works. Definitely effective.”

Two weeks after construction began, I smiled contentedly at the already forming framework of the Alchemists’ Guild.

“It looks more like a religious ceremony than construction… but that’s fine. Such expenditures are always welcome.”

“Someone listening might think I only care about spending money.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“…”

With that response, I was left speechless.

Well, even I had to admit I’d never tried saving money, so I had no grounds for rebuttal.

“Still, I’m better than other rulers. I just endure when the treasury is empty, but other rulers enjoy luxury even if they have to print money, don’t they?”

“Wouldn’t it be more productive to compare yourself with better rulers than yourself?”

“Ah, this isn’t working.”

“Did you expect it to?”

Hmm. Maybe I’ve kept this aide too long. It might be time to replace him, but there’s no one else who works as diligently as he does.

Thanks to him, I had my blood drawn by Michaela again today, but calculating that this level of banter wouldn’t damage my dignity as a ruler, I smiled slyly and said to my aide:

“Well, they say everything in the world is relative. It’s not like I’m wasting money frivolously—I’m spending it all for the future of the country. If you keep criticizing my spending habits… should I say it dampens my enthusiasm for governing? Anyway, it breaks my spirit. Understand?”

“…”

My aide looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Just sit down and review the documents.”

“It’s because Your Majesty does so well that I can’t say anything.”

Indeed, from the aide’s perspective, it must be truly maddening. He’s been taught that rulers who spend too much money end up ruined, but the ruler he’s serving now brings in money when there is none and spends it.

And the worst part is that it all works!

All the ventures succeed, and the money isn’t spent on luxury but on initial investments to attract businesses or on building social infrastructure to make the city more convenient. The rate at which the treasury decreases and fills back up maintains a golden balance.

Honestly, he probably thinks he’s applying the brakes somewhat forcefully, but deep down he must be hearing a voice saying, “If our lord keeps going full throttle like this, we’re doomed someday!!!” so he can’t help but raise objections.

“Hmm. Maybe I should replace him after all.”

“My goodness. Could you please stop saying that while having your blood drawn?”

“Oh, you can hear me.”

“If you want to talk to yourself, you should lower your voice.”

While the aide and I were bantering inside the castle, outside, the construction speed race continued in a state of madness.

*

And by the middle of December, the construction workers—who had voluntarily devised the cruel system of three shifts without anyone ordering them to—achieved the feat, or rather the miracle, of completing the Alchemists’ Guild in the winter of the seventh year.

“Is this what they call obsession beyond madness?”

I finally paid them the performance bonuses as promised for shortening the construction period, and was shocked to discover that the total bonuses paid equaled a month’s worth of tourism revenue.

“Urgh… if this doesn’t contribute to economic revitalization, I’ll hang myself…!”

While I was lamenting at my desk, the alchemists from Fahrenheit were staring in amazement at the completed Alchemists’ Guild site, while behind them, storekeepers were approaching to unload the machines and equipment.