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

137 - - The world of aristocrats!!

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　I shake a glass of fruit wine.

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　With my back against the wall and as much as possible out of sight, the glittering world in front of me seems strangely like a picture.

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　After that, my plan to return to Harbor Fulton, leaving everything in Karin's hands, was shattered in a spectacular way.

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　On the contrary, Kareen had taken me to as many balls and balls as I could attend.

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　I gently sipped the fruit wine that was being passed around.

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　According to Kalene, this was a particularly important party.

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　The white-face party, I think that's what Karin had told me. As the name implies, the participants all wear white masks covering the upper half of their faces.

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　It seems to be an evening party of that kind.

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　The lavish furnishings and subdued lighting added to the atmosphere.

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　The lighting fixtures are all first-rate. The artwork displayed here and there is of little value, though.

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　I was thinking such a thing as I observed the magic tools in the room through the mask.

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　Then a voice calls out to me.

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"Excuse me, may I come in?"

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　His voice is high for a man. He is dressed in male attire, but has a rather neutral air about him. However, from the mouth under the mask, I would guess that she is a woman.

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　Above all, she looks quite capable, judging from her center of gravity and her movements.

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　I responded with a bashful nod of the head.

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"Of course. To the Kingdom."

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　With that, he lightly raises his glass. This is a popular greeting these days, which Karin has taught me.

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"To the kingdom. And to the heroes of our salvation."

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　The man-dressed beauty also raises his glass.

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　Well, with a mask like this, it's easy to tell who's who. I have no idea who I'm dealing with, though. Well, he's a participant in this soiree, so he must be of noble rank or higher. From the way they are moving, I guess they are either military or Kingsguard protecting the royal family.

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　I think as I observe my opponent. Kalin had told me in advance that it would be interesting and that I could do as I pleased. She said that the kingdom owes me a huge amount of money, so I can do whatever I want.

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　I look for Karin, wondering what's going on. I can see her in the distance, exchanging heated words with the bigwigs over there.

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　It is a little pathetic that Ary, who is standing nearby, seems to be on edge.

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　Well, I don't mean to take Kareen's nonsense seriously, but since it's a good opportunity, I'm going to throw out a bait.

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"Speaking of heroes of salvation, do you know this story? He is looking for a certain sorcerer.

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　I will talk to them about the sorcerer whom I have not been able to get a clue this time.

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　For Taura's sake, of course. In addition, I would like to get some personal information from the sorcerer, since he seems to be targeting Seyrukh relentlessly.

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"Oh. That's an interesting story. A sorcerer. You know, there's a saying in the creation myth. "The dove is in the nest of the magpie."

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　I wait for the rest of the story, but that seems to be the end of it.

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　The man dressed in men's clothes in front of me is just smiling and tipping his glass.

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　I have no idea what he means. What do pigeons and magpies have to do with sorcerers? Is this the aristocrat's way of speaking? Well, I'll just reply in kind. Well, a "Kasagi" is a member of the crow family, isn't it? So, do they feed pigeons in their nests or something? If so, they are quite clever.

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They also say "the wisdom of the humpback is wonderful.

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　Well, I'll just say back that I'm sure the buzzards are smart.

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　For some reason, the visible part of the face of the man-dressed lady in front of me suddenly turns bright red.

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I am completely defeated. You are indeed the best alchemist of our time. Here."

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　Saying this, he suddenly closes the gap between us. A sharp step. The scent of flowers spreads.

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　The man dressed in men's clothes slips something into my hand and walks away.

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　I look away from her back, not knowing what to do.

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"You and the Sword Princess were quite friendly, weren't you?

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　Karin's voice.

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　I turn around to see Kareen and Aari approaching me, probably finished with their exchange with the big guys. Kalene's uplifted face exudes an air of happiness.

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　Perhaps the negotiations had been satisfactory.

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"Sword princess... Is that Her Highness the Second Princess Lily?

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　I was a little nervous, wondering if I was talking to the princess of this country whose name I had only heard of.

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　I thought it would be a good time to tell Karin about the exchange I had just had with the princess and ask her what she meant.

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　For some reason, Karin starts to cover her mouth with her hand in the middle of my story. It seems that she is trying not to laugh too hard.

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　This makes me even more uneasy.

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　Ary seems to not understand what I'm talking about as well as I do, judging from the way he tilts his head.

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"Kalin?"

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"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry. That's Rust. That's funny. Too funny.

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Don't be like that. So, what does it mean?

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"The dove is in the nest of the magpie," he said, "and it means that he's coveting other people's success and position. The very trend of the sorcerers. Of course, the royal family must have wanted to show that they have information about the sorcerer.

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"...... How the hell am I supposed to know that?"

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　Kareen's commentary makes my brow furrow. Mythology is out of my league.

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"I'm not sure if it's a coincidence that Rust's reply is ironic," she says. The wisdom of the magpie means to worry so much about the future that you don't notice the dangers around you."

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"Uh, ......."

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　Kareen's story makes some sense to me.

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"All the people in King's Landing were attacked by parasitic mushrooms, weren't they? Of course, Her Highness the Sword Princess is no exception. Even if he pretended to be well-informed, Rust would have said that I was the one who saved him from being attacked by the mushrooms."

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"That's... that's not a good idea, is it? Wouldn't that be disrespectful?"

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"No. I didn't mean it directly. Rust was just talking about the beaks and thorns. Don't worry. What's more, what's that thing?

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　The perceptive Karin pointed out something that reminded me of something she had just handed me.

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　Slowly I opened my hand.

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