Read The Frontier Alchemist ~ I Can’t Go Back to That Job After You Made My Budget Zero

1 - Let's retire!!

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"......999 bottles,1000 bottles. Okay, I'm done for today!　All right, all right, all right. It's only mid-morning. This will give me more time for research in the afternoon. ......" I was checking the bottles of distilled water that I had made by alchemically fast brewing.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Distilled water is the most important material for the alchemy of magical creatures as well as for various potions.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The quality of distilled water greatly affects the quality of the products. Incidentally, the distilled water I made was of the highest quality, specially made by mixing magic power evenly.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　One thousand bottles of it. That's all that is used in a day here at the Alchemy Society.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hey, Master Lust. Master Lust!" and a shrill voice calling my name there.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"...... Rehalzam, what can I do for you?" I reply. A middle-aged man approaches me. He is an alchemist in the armory.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"What the heck is your reply? That's why people in the basic research section. Well, the head of the association wants to see you. He laughed sickeningly.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Riharzam is always trying to get into my head. He usually criticizes the budget of the basic research section to which I belong, while he is a member of the armory department, which is the biggest earner in the industry.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Today, however, he is in an unusually good mood. It was a little creepy, but I couldn't ignore his summons, so I did as Riharzam told me and went to the head of the association's office.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Well, the scullery maid should just do her chores quietly," Riharzam muttered behind me as I left. Then he left with as much of the distilled water I had just brewed as he could carry with his own face.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I was so happy to see him.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The head of the association hands me a piece of paper as if to throw it in front of me, saying, "The basic research section's budget has been cut.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It appears to be a budget statement for the next fiscal year.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I look at the paper and feel as if my eyes have gone completely black.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yo, zero budget!

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hmm. The basic research section has not produced any results. All we do is help other sections. If that's the case, it's only natural that the budget should be allocated to the section that earns the most money.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"But that's the thing. ......" I tried to defend myself, but he interrupted me and started to speak.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Enough!　The Basic Research Section has now been dismantled!　All you have to do is prep the other sections. You should be thankful that I'm not going to fire you. Now, get back to your work! He points to the door.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I feel like an idiot for even arguing with him.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The budget and personnel have been continuously reduced since the current head of the association took office.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It is true that at first glance, it may seem that the basic research section has not produced any results. However, I am proud to say that none of the new products we have recently developed would have been successful without the Basic Research Division. They all require materials of the highest quality. I am the one who has prepared them all.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　However, I have come to understand that it is useless to say anything to the current head of the association, who is determined to cut the budget of the basic research section and dismantle it.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　No, I have known for a long time now that I was regarded as nothing more than a trivial chore.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　With the budget statement for the next fiscal year in hand, I stagger back to my laboratory and take a seat. I look around the room gloomily, knowing that I will be evicted from this room sooner or later.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　Then there is the tinkling of a bell, signaling an incoming call. It is a state-of-the-art telecommunication device.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

I look through the parchment that has been spit out, muttering to myself, "We prepared the basic materials for this too, didn't we? .......

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

It's been a long time since I've heard from Karin. I haven't seen you since our graduation from the school. She became a knight in one piece and fought well in the last war, didn't she? What is it? ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　It's been a long time since I heard from my girl friend from school. I read on, feeling nostalgic. I met her by chance at the school, but we were strangely compatible. We were like boyfriends, and we used to make fun of each other in various ways.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"So, Kalin, you got a fief in the frontier. I've heard rumors that you've done well in the war, but that's great. So, they want me to help them develop their territory. ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　I have two pieces of paper in front of me.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　One is a budget statement that shows a future where I will spend the rest of my life doing nothing but chores.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

　The other is a parchment filled with the future that I don't know what will happen. Looking at them, I am naturally reminded of Karin's mischievous smile when we were students.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"...... work, or quit."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Table of Contents

Next

Table of Contents

Next