episode_0150

Each person conducting research on improvement was doing it in a different way. Some were researching ways to increase firepower, while others were researching ways to reduce the materials needed. In fact, someone was even making fertilizer to help firewood flowers grow longer in the first place.

There were also school members who were showing success in their own way, so I felt a greater sense of satisfaction as I looked around.

Because I felt like I would get the results I wanted before long. The cost was quite high as a lot of fuel was consumed in the process of producing the product, so if that could be reduced, it would be a huge benefit.

Moreover, if time passed just a little longer, fall would come and winter would come, so reducing fuel costs was absolutely necessary. As the city grew, it was clear that there would be a lot of fuel consumed in the winter.

There might be a disruption in the supply of fuel for blast furnaces and blacksmiths. The fuel used in blast furnaces and blacksmith shops was firewood, and the fuel commonly used by the people of the territory was also firewood.

Considering that, the current level of results could have some use. If the demand for the fuel itself exploded and the price became more expensive, it would be the same as disastrous cost-effectiveness.

Considering all these factors, no matter how I thought about it, the decision to support the Royal Magic Tower’s alchemy school seemed like a very good choice.

“As expected, it was a good thing you supported me.”

“Thank goodness!”

As I expressed my sincerity and at the same time said that I would not withdraw my support, Count Art’s face instantly brightened. It was clear that he was worried about sponsorship.

Count Art, whose expression brightened like that, looked much more relaxed and made a suggestion to me.

“Viscount Steele, if it doesn’t feel burdensome, would you like to meet with the head of the school for a moment? The head of the school is very grateful, saying that thanks to Viscount’s support, the research that can be done at the school has increased significantly.”

“If you are the head of the school… … Are you talking about the princess?”

“That’s right.”

I paused for a moment when Count Arte asked me if I would like to meet the princess of the country I belong to, who is also the head of the school to which Count Arte belongs.

But he immediately nodded. If I were to say she was a princess, it was because she was a member of the royal family and the leader of the alchemists that I needed. It was said that he was a person with whom there was nothing bad because he had built up a network of connections.

After making that decision, Count Art immediately took me to where the princess, the head of the school, was.

Seeing as they were leading me straight to where the princess was, it seemed like the purpose of inviting me in the first place was to meet with the princess.

“This is the school head’s lab. Actually, it is supposed to be used as an office, but the head of the school is just using it as a laboratory as he pleases.”

Count Art’s light explanation reminded me of what he said when he visited my territory before. That the princess really likes alchemy.

However, as soon as Count Art finished talking about the school leader’s laboratory, a loud bang, like an explosion, erupted. Also, in the place that Count Art told me was the school head’s laboratory.

After hearing a strong explosion, the closed door of the school head’s laboratory creaked open.

Black smoke poured out through the open door, and the scene inside came into view. Inside, black things like seeping smoke were contaminating the entire interior.

And, inside the lab, a person who appeared to be human was standing there, completely turned black. Everything turned black, but his pure white eyes were still blinking.

“ho, hohoho… … ! Now, just a moment!”

Count Art, who had witnessed the scene clearly with his own eyes, suddenly smiled awkwardly, went inside, and quickly closed the door to the school leader’s study room with a loud bang.

As the door closed in an instant and the person to guide me disappeared, I had no choice but to remain blank for a moment.

However, apart from my daze, I could hear various sounds from inside the lab. I felt like mana was flowing here and there, as if they were using magic.

“Uh, um… … .”

It was an embarrassing situation, so I wondered what I should do about it. I came to meet the princess, but I also thought that she might not be able to meet me because she had an accident.

However, the accident was resolved faster than expected. As I was thinking about various things in front of the lab for a while, the door that had been closed opened again.

“Viscount Steel, have you waited long? sorry. It’s okay to come in now.”

And then, Count Art, who had slinked into the school head’s laboratory, came out again. The appearance of the laboratory that followed Count Arte was quite different from before.

The inside of the laboratory, which had been black and dirty, became clean as if it had never been that way, and the princess, whose appearance had turned black to the point where her appearance was completely indistinguishable, could be seen. Even better, instead of standing blankly just a moment ago, he was sitting on the sofa in neat clothes.

At first I was embarrassed, but now I was even in awe of how neatly everything had been organized in a short period of time. The entire room had turned black, leaving no trace.

Perhaps that was why I missed the right time to say hello, and Count Art poked my side with his elbow. He came to his senses at that signal and greeted the princess according to the manners of a nobleman.

Of course, although she was the king’s daughter, she was a princess without a special title, so there was no need to show an extreme level of etiquette. Although I had the status of a member of the royal family, I did not have a title, so all I had to do was give my full name without being rude.

“Nice to meet you. Princess. This is Viscount Andrew Steele.”

“Nice to meet you. This is Chemis Barnoal.”

The princess smiled softly at my greeting and motioned toward the sofa as if to sit across from her. As soon as I sat down at that gesture, Count Art also sat down nearby.

As I sat down like that, I was able to see the princess clearly. A little while ago, everything had turned black and I couldn’t see it, but now it was completely different.

Among them, what caught my eye was gray hair that could have been dyed, or could be called silver.

“Is it because your hair is amazing?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“I’m not sorry. There are no particularly bad problems. While doing alchemy in the past, I accidentally spilled the medicine, and as a side effect, my hair color changed.”

Maybe I was paying too much attention to my hair, but the princess twisted my hair and told me the truth about it. For some reason, I thought my family member, the crown prince, didn’t have that hair color.

However, the princess seemed to have no particular intention of talking about hair, so she immediately changed the subject.

“Count Ard introduced our school, right? How was it? When viewed from the perspective of a sponsor who donates a considerable amount of money to our school.”

“It was good. I got a tour of some of the research being done by school members, and there was a lot of useful stuff there. What I requested is already showing results. As a sponsor, I couldn’t be more satisfied.”

I might have been taken aback by the princess asking for a review of the Magic Tower Tour, but it wasn’t difficult to answer because it was just one of my thoughts as I stood in front of the door. It was also sincere.

“Thank goodness. After inviting Viscount Steele, I was worried what would happen if Viscount Steele saw the school and thought negatively of it.”

“I don’t think there was any need to worry? I haven’t looked at all of the school’s own research, but everyone is researching quite useful things.”

“Thank you for saying that. In fact, my father, His Majesty, does not like me practicing alchemy. When you think of alchemy, what comes to mind is turning stones into gold, and there is a prejudice that it is a magician who chases money. They gave me permission because I produced useful results.”

Since I was talking about a family matter that could become dangerous just by mentioning it, I couldn’t react for some reason. When you say the princess’s father, you mean the king, the most powerful person in the country.

But the princess didn’t wait for my answer, as she didn’t seem to have specifically wanted an answer.

“Actually, I was the one who invited the Viscount in the name of Count Art. I was curious about the self-made artist who gave a huge amount of money as sponsorship just for seeing the elixir, and I have a separate proposal that I would like to make.”

“Yes? When you say it’s a suggestion… … ?”

The word ‘proposal’ piqued my interest, but at the same time, I also got worried. Considering that the story of a sponsor was brought up, it could have been about money.

But what the princess said next was something I didn’t expect. No, some parts could be seen as expected, but overall, it was unexpected.

“Magic Tower… … . To be exact, we are planning to open a branch within our school. We are creating a branch to research alchemy and train younger students. If you’re okay with making your own, why not invest in creating a branch? I heard from Count Art and his brother that the Viscount has people researching how to make iron products.”

The princess’s suggestion was to invest in creating a branch of the alchemy school.

Of course, I couldn’t answer such a suggestion right away. When it comes to investment, there are a lot of things that need to be discussed, such as how much capital is needed and what the profits will be.

However, I couldn’t ask any questions about that. This was because Count Art, who was nearby, was startled and started spewing out words that sounded like nagging to the princess.

“Princess! A branch! By any chance, if His Majesty tells you to quit alchemy, you don’t mean to run away to the branch, do you? yes? Please say no! Are you saying that because you know how much we suffered when you ran away from home to do alchemy?!”

“Count Art. Well, it’s not like that… … .”

“No, what is it? Even so, His Majesty the Crown Prince made a request some time ago. The princess was caught by His Majesty while trying to do alchemy in the palace, so he told me to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t do anything wrong!”

“Why does your brother do that… … !”

“Did you tell me to invite Viscount Steele just to say this? If I had known this would be the case, I wouldn’t have invited you! If His Majesty finds out about this, he won’t stay quiet!”

The princess’s face turned a little pale at the sound that Count Arte made that sounded both nagging and lamenting.

And, as I listened to the conversation between those two people, I was able to understand what had happened. The daughter, who wanted to escape from her parents who tried to interfere in everything, tried to use the excuse that it was the Magic Tower’s business. It was clear that he was going to make an investment in the branch and get out under the pretext of looking into it.

It seemed like it would be better to refuse, as it could be overlooked by the country’s most powerful person.

However, as I was about to say the words I wanted to refuse, I stopped. This is because I thought that creating a branch was not necessarily a bad thing. If it was an ordinary branch of the upper class, there would be no particular merit, but if it was a branch of the alchemy school, it was a different story.

It was clear that if the researchers at the R&D headquarters and the alchemists joined forces, the benefits they could bring to me would be beyond imagination. The two elixirs already in use are incomparable.

In the end, I decided to invest in creating a branch. Of course, with conditions attached.