Chap 15-Alchemy Class

 

“Ciel. Did you know this?”

I had just finished beating up the boar Edenberun and returned to the lecture hall, settling in with a good feeling, when Arietta suddenly asked me a question from beside me.

“Know what?”

I nodded, still not used to hearing my name.

“We were talking about star signs in the dormitory earlier.”

“Yes.”

“In our Paleove Empire, there are titles given to the Emperor’s children at birth. The Rose of the Imperial Family, the Sword of the Imperial Family, the Shield of the Imperial Family, the Lion of the Imperial Family, and so on.”

“Star signs, then.”

I didn’t expect a princess to say that first.

Some humans receive the star sign’s blessing and gain the abilities of their star sign.

The anti-imperialists and rebels argue that there’s nothing special about the royal bloodline.

But unlike kingdoms, in Paleove, the imperial family receives blessings and gains the abilities of star signs.

So, within the empire, Paleove is indeed a chosen imperial family.

That’s what she must be referring to.

However, considering the promiscuous nature of the Paleove imperial family, some question whether those blessed outside the imperial family might be illegitimate children of the Paleove imperial family.

I was originally from a kingdom, so I purely received the star sign’s blessing.

“Yes. The Paleove royals receive the star sign’s blessing.”

“Yes, I know.”

I nodded, pretending to know.

I thought they just made it up, but it’s related to the star sign.

“Ailia is called the Rose of the Imperial Family.”

“Well, she’s beautiful, but she does feel thorny.”

A rose that bristles and is hard to approach.

Conversely, only those chosen by Ailia can board her ship.

Probably something like that.

“Her abilities are in that area too.”

“Is she sprouting thorns all over her body or something?”

Imagining it with her appearance is absurd. Maybe it’s something else.

Thorns sprout from her body to fight enemies.

“She does use thorns, but not like that. Like a thorn whip, or something.”

“So, she can incorporate thorns into her attacks. Does she smell like roses too?”

“No, not that. It’s just that her star sign is the Rose, and she uses thorns.”

A woman with thorn abilities, so they expressed it as a rose.

Thorns. Thorns. How compatible would that be with me?

The other royals are all hothouse flowers, so I shouldn’t set my expectations too high, but considering the star sign, I can’t just ignore it.

“Masochists would love that. What about the others?”

“My third older brother’s ability is the Sagittarius of the Imperial Family.”

“A Sagittarius-related position. I bet he uses a bow.”

That’s a bit annoying.

I hate archers the most.

They just shoot from behind. What class is more comfortable than that?

Kayla was that kind of bitch, and it’s disgusting that there’s someone like that among the royals.

If he wields a bow freely, it’s a problem when armed conflicts arise.

“Yes. He wields a bow freely. And. My second older brother is the Lion of the Imperial Family. Brave like a lion, instilling fear and dread in enemies.”

I’ll have to see him to know for sure.

If they receive the star sign’s blessing, even in terms of individual combat strength, Ailia is stronger than that Edenberun successor.

And the second one is the Lion of the Imperial Family.

Then the answer is clear.

The succession probably favors the second older brother now.

In the empire, when the Empress has a child, if it’s a boy, he’s the 1st Prince, and if a girl is born next, she’s the 1st Princess. They number them one by one like that.

If there are now the 2nd Prince, 2nd Princess, 3rd Prince, and 4th Princess competing for the throne, it means the 1st Prince and the 1st and 3rd Princesses are already dead.

There’s a possibility that the siblings killed each other.

“Predictable. The second prince is probably quite popular. The empire’s symbol is the lion, and his abilities are like that.”

“Yes, well.”

“Then there’s something we need to clarify here. Let’s be frank. What is the Princess’s star sign?”

I’m curious.

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard about her star sign from her.

If all the Paleove royals receive a star sign, then she must have one too.

“My star sign is, um, that’s, um.”

“What is it?”

“It’s literally the Star. So, I’m told I’m incompetent. I have nothing. They call me the Star of the Imperial Family.”

Her shy appearance was a bit cute.

Something’s strange.

Regardless of being incompetent, the Star. The star sign. If the star sign itself is the Star, then that’s more like an upgraded version of a star sign.

Receiving the blessing of the Star, or anyway, if it’s not just a star sign that humans have deified, but literally the Star, then this isn’t something to just pass over.

Ah.

So, that’s why.

That’s why those royals were desperately trying to stop it.

‘The Star of the Imperial Family,’ ‘The Star itself.’

What does this mean?

It means that a tremendous ability could manifest at any time.

“So, that’s why.”

“Why what?”

“That’s why they’re like that. They don’t know the Princess’s abilities at all. They’re planning to cut off your hands and feet entirely.”

You never know what might come out.

At least until something incompetent comes out, they need to cut off their sister’s arms and legs.

That’s why the Franz Family fell, and that’s how she’s been treated in the imperial palace.

“So, that’s why I’m in this state?”

“Yes. That’s the only way I can see it.”

“But in that case, there have been other royals who received star sign’s blessing of insignificant star signs.”

“That’s separate. You could get a dud, or you could hit the jackpot. It’s like gambling.”

A predetermined insignificant reward and ‘What could this be?’ are completely different.

A predetermined insignificant reward versus a dud or a super jackpot. Which one would you be more interested in?

“Hmm.”

“The threats may become more blatant in the future. The other royals as well.”

“I really want to write a waiver giving up the throne.”

That wouldn’t work.

It would eventually be rejected.

From the other candidates’ perspective, it’s easier to grab a royal with no power, whether it’s a waiver or anything else.

It’s right to eliminate a royal who could become the center of the opposition later.

“If you do that, any faction opposing the next successor’s political moves could try to enthrone the Princess.”

“I guess I’ll have to stay in the academy for a while.”

“Getting a job as an assistant instructor is one way, though.”

However, even then, there’s the possibility of poisoning.

There were many nobles who requested the Thieves’ Guild to push out the family successor and seize control of the family.

That’s how the Thieves’ Guild delivered ‘poison’ on order.

Most of the assassinations were successful, and even if they failed, they couldn’t complain to the Thieves’ Guild, so the Thieves’ Guild could avoid responsibility.

No.

Conversely, what about us poisoning the other royals?

Aiming for a natural death without getting caught.

“Princess, do you have any brotherly or sisterly affection?”

“Would I have that?”

I’d want to kill them too.

Then poisoning is. Hmm. No, it would be difficult.

We have to consider the risk of getting caught.

They’re supposedly hardened veterans of the succession battle, so wouldn’t they be prepared for poisoning?

Besides. If we assume we kill them all.

Wouldn’t that be infuriating in its own way?

If Arietta is the only child left, she’ll have to receive the throne even if she doesn’t want it.

“First, let’s start with awakening the Star’s abilities.”

“The Star’s abilities?”

“Yes. At least we have to show that we’re doing something. If we awaken the star sign’s abilities, wouldn’t something change?”

The problem is how to awaken them.

Considering the Paleove dynasty’s characteristics, we can’t deny the possibility that she has combat-related abilities.

While others are Sagittarius, Rose, brave, and whatever, Arietta alone could gain the ability to overwhelm them all.

To do that, we need to develop her strength in that direction.

At least swing a sword diligently so that her abilities can awaken.

“From today, let’s swing a sword. Let’s seriously learn as Instructor Gustav told us.”

“A sword?”

“Yes. You might awaken in that direction.”

After all, the hero also received the Holy Sword’s ability from the goddess’s star sign to save the world.

The church seems to think that the goddess bestowed it.

Well, whatever.

“Why?”

“That’s why the Princess didn’t have a teacher to teach her swordsmanship or anything in the imperial palace. Because teaching her like that could awaken the Star’s abilities.”

The other royals didn’t assign her a teacher to keep her in check.

Or rather, they interfered.

That’s how I see it.

They were trying to prevent the flower from blooming.

“I hope we have a safe day today.”

“What could happen? It’s definitely safer than the imperial palace.”

Strictly speaking, the 2nd Empress Marina made the best choice in a powerless situation.

To hide a tree, hide it in the forest.

The imperial palace is dangerous now, so putting her in Schperen and buying a few years is a pretty good idea.

And keeping me here in case something happens.

“What’s next?”

“Alchemy.”

“Alchemy, huh? I miss that skill.”

I foamed at the mouth and honed my skills because they said I could make gold.

Of course, it was full of disappointment, but at the time, it was a field of study that offered at least the possibility of making money and living comfortably by making and selling gold.

Alchemy was a branch of magic.

“Welcome, everyone. I’m Reivan, a 3rd-class magician and alchemist from the Blue Magic Tower.”

The professor in charge is Reivan.

She’s a woman with glasses, quite young, but her eyes were filled with madness as if she was crazy about alchemy.

She’s a magician belonging to the Magic Tower and teaches alchemy at the same time.

Honestly, I think it’s the most useful magic for those who aren’t magicians.

But it was already a scam in that it didn’t create gold that could create a creative economy.

However.

The students’ eyes are sparkling at the ‘gold’ story.

It seems like this is the first time alchemy has started this semester.

“Alchemy is a great field of study!”

Reivan, with a face soaked in madness, began to list unknown formulas on that large blackboard.

Yes. That was a combination recipe.

A recipe used in alchemy to create what you want by pushing materials into the Alchemy Table.

It looks great just by looking at it like that.

I shook my head.

I don’t know about ordinary people. At least from my perspective, that alchemy was a scam.

I shuddered because the memories of experiencing it with my whole body came to mind.

“Alchemy is a great field of study? There’s no bigger scam than that.”

“A scam?”

Arietta seems to have innocently admired that alchemy.

“If it’s a scam to make other things while saying it makes gold, what else would it be?”

In the first place, alchemy is a field of study created to make gold.

But today, alchemy doesn’t make gold. It just uses a device called the Alchemy Table to make things from various materials.

Shouldn’t they change the name entirely?

“You’re too twisted. Well, it’s definitely not gold, but you can make a variety of convenient things, right?”

Arietta pointed to the combination formula on the blackboard.

Certainly, according to that combination method, it boasts extreme efficiency.

Looking at the elaborately made things, that Professor Reivan seems to be quite an expert in that area.

“Yes, well, that’s true. So, I used to put in various things back in the day.”

I only said that alchemy itself was a scam because it made gold, but I don’t deny that it’s useful.

Anyway, potions and imbuing weapons with magic.

You can also make various tools.

It’s mainly used to make potions, so every general store has a cheap Alchemy Table.

“Back in the day? You look about the same age as me. Did you even have a ‘back in the day’?”

Ah, that’s right.

At best, I’m a blooming woman attending Schperen right now.

Just looking at my appearance.