How did you know about that, Prince Oscar? 

Hmm. I don't know why... 

　I was facing Prince Oscar. No, I'd say we were staring at each other. Very few people really know about Proto. And that's only those I believe I can trust. It's hard to imagine someone leaking it to me. As I was pondering this, he made a suggestion to me. 

'Let's be blunt, you know that anyway. I want you to be the symbol of the mystics. 

...Is it a symbol? 

That's right. It's the mystics who run this kingdom. Alchemy is certainly a theoretical thing as well. But it's still just something that humans have applied on their own. Even you don't think you've arrived at the truth of alchemy yet, do you? 

It's... 

　I'm at a loss for words. It is true that alchemy is a theoretical thing. I've developed alchemy by going through the theory and theory. But Prince Oscar was right, alchemy is still an unknown quantity. That's exactly what I've described as the realm of the gods. 

　God. That is an existence that cannot be proven. There is no proof that there is, and no proof that there isn't. In other words, proof of the devil. But it seems that my existence is the closest to the god of alchemy. That's what the azure star class [Bluesteller] is.......to them....... 

''This world was created by a god, and that god created the miraculous work of alchemy. And you are the one who has reached the deepest depths of alchemy in this world, Mr. El-Eid Willis. Come on, let's go together. I know you'll understand. And we'll help you, too. We'll help you with your vegetable interests, we'll give you an engagement to Alice. Will you join us as royalty and help us make this country a better place?　Not a bad story, is it? 

.... 

　There are no immediate words. It's certainly not a bad deal. With the backing of the royals, my business is definitely going to ride the wave. I'm definitely closer to my dream. From a rational standpoint, I should be here to get in on the conversation. But my emotions don't say so. 

　A blue star class "Bluesteller" alchemist. It is the closest being to the truth of this world. That's what an alchemist is, if you trace it back to the source. But but, but is my dream good?　Even if you follow this path. Riding the rails of others, getting engaged and becoming royalty just for the sake of your dreams. I'm sure Alice will have mixed feelings about it. She's always been thoughtful, but she's been seriously supportive of me. 

　In light of that, what should I do....... 

　No, I've already decided. I should move forward on my own. It's fine to cooperate with others. But it's on an equal footing. If it goes on like this, I'm just a tool to be exploited. I'm a mere token of this country's respectability. But I'm a farmer. I have a dream that I want to fulfill as a farmer. 

　When I made up my mind to do so, I showed Prince Oscar a firm attitude. 

''.......I'm sorry, but I can't accept that proposal. 

Oh... how's that? 

Because I want to achieve my own goals. 

''I don't know. It's hard to believe that a being who is driven by such emotions is a blue star class [Bluestella]. Is there some other element of anxiety? 

'No, no. And I don't care if I'm a mystic or a theorist. I'm just chasing my dream. That's all. 

'Well I get it. I see your point. I'm sorry to take up so much of your time today. Maybe some other time, if I get the chance. 

Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me. 

　So I left the party, and went home to eat with Fee. 

　Back at home, Fee and I ate dinner together. At that time, I guess I was a little depressed, but Fee spoke to me with a worried look on his face. 

'Elle ... is there something wrong?' 

'Huh you're the Fee. Actually, Prince Oscar asked me to join the Mystics. He wants me to join the Mystics. 

I knew it. So...? 

I said no. Said I had things to do. And somehow the prince knew about the proto. You're definitely leaking information. 

Lie....where does it leak from...? 

'I don't know. At the moment I don't think anyone else has told you and you don't think Fee is betraying you, do you? 

'That's true ... and I hate those mystics. They're always being nebbishy, nebbishy about my nuptials.............ahhhhh!　I'm even more pissed off when I think about it! 

Yeah. Well, I said no anyway. You'll be fine. 

　We ended the conversation there and parted ways. But it seems I had a strange night of sleep this evening, and I woke up well into the night. 

　Hopefully, my dreams will continue to go on.... 

　§§. 

Actually, Rita. There's someone I want to introduce to you today. 

"...Is there someone in there?　Dr. Elle. 

　The next day. I was teaching Rita in a seminar. Lately, this time has been really therapeutic. Rita's alchemy skills are quite good, and she's really improved compared to when we met. If she keeps this up, she might be able to become a Gold Grade 《Gold》 alchemist in the near future. I'm going to submit an application to the association soon and have him take the test. And just like that, right now, I want to introduce that guy to Rita. 

'Here, come on out. Proto. 

　Proto peeked out of his bag when I called him that. Today I brought him to the lab. Of course I wanted to show Rita, but I brought her here because I wanted to see if she could communicate with the first one and others. 

''........! 

　Proto, as usual, said, "Hey! He raises his right hand as if to say, "I'm not going to let you go. Rita's eyes widen when she sees it. 

''What!　Is this that proto! 

Yeah. That's the proto I keep talking about. Look, I can walk these days. 

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a small gait, but the way it walks without hesitation. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. 

''Ohhhhhh!　Soooo, that's amazing!　You used to crawl around!　I was surprised when I heard that the homunculus could walk on its own, but when I saw the real thing like this, it was very impressive. All the results of your research are packed in here, aren't they? 

That's right. 

　Rita is a really understanding guy. She always listens to me seriously. I've also recently entrusted Rita with the care of the walking corn. When I'm not around, I give her the key to the roof and let her walk them. At first, they were hesitant, but then they said, "By all means, let me do it! So I left it to them. Then, the corns liked Rita more than me, and they've been leaving it up to her lately. 

''All right, then ... let's call it a fated encounter, shall we? 

　I lay out all of numbers one through four on my desk. Then I decided to make contact with the proto and see. 

''...! 

"..........! 

"....! 

".............................. 

　They are exchanging some kind of gesture. I quickly compile it into a notebook. After all, it seems that a fully independent artificial intelligence can communicate with each other, no matter which crop it's on. Even though they're two different crops, carrots and corn, they're communicating well. 

　And after a while, the proto starts shaking hands with all of them. It seems to be accepted. 

'Hoeeeeeeeeee.......this is truly an encounter with the unknown!　It's amazing!　I must have witnessed a historic moment! 

'Oh!　That's right!　There's no doubt about it! 

You did it, sir! 

'Oh!　Yes! 

　For a while after that, we went on a fool's errand with tensions high. But then I happened to walk by and Fee said, "Shut up! I was blackmailed by him. Fee is pretty scary when he's angry, so me and Rita just shuffled off and broke up. 

　As we were about to leave the academy, we ran into Fee by chance. It's strangely awkward after what happened earlier... but I can't ignore it. 

''Oh, is Elle home now too?'' 

Yeah. 

Can you have dinner with me tonight? 

Well that's fine. There's nothing in my house right now. 

"I'm just out of it right now too. Do you wanna go shopping with me? 

Yes, sir. 

　Apparently Fee doesn't care so much about it. Thank goodness so the two of us go to the supermarket to do some shopping and then we both walk down the street at night. 

　The road we're on now is in a place where the street lights don't work very well, and it's a bit dim. It's not safe for a woman to pass by alone. Most importantly, the kingdom of Canovaria is a safe place, so there are rarely any thugs. There's no need to be so vigilant. As I was thinking this, I sensed a strange presence. 

"Fee, get behind me for a minute. 

What...? 

''Look closely, it's a smelting scar. This is........a nerve paralyzing thing....... 

　I look at the wrought team and see that. And then resist it in an instant. From the accuracy of this formation, the person who set this up is definitely at the platinum level. I'm going to be even more cautious than before. If I'm alone, I can handle it, but I can't understand it when Fee is with me. However, I'm not worried because Fee is strong in his own right, but just in case. 

''I've resisted, but my opponent is quite skilled. There are no quirks in the training team. This one is going to be difficult to identify from here.'' 

Well, I guess so. 

　Fee and I stared at the resisted alchemy formation. There was an endlessly beautiful formation on the ground. Each person's team has their own peculiarities and is unique. It would be easy to identify individuals from there with the association. However, this one deliberately erased that quirk. 

　We've seen tens of thousands of training teams, and we know this very well. 

　And then we realize. Apparently, Prince Oscar and his mystics don't intend to leave me alone. 

"Let's go home, Fee! 

Yes. 

　I squeezed Fee's hand and hurried back to the house. 

'...... 

.... 

　We eat in silence together. That's what happened, and I can't bring myself to talk about it cheerfully. Then Fee spoke up. 

I'll tell my uncle about today," she said. 

'Yes. You'd better have the Chairman's ear. 

.... 

.... 

　Then there is silence again. When I looked closely, I saw that Fee's body was trembling slightly. 

''Fee, you........'' 

'I'm scared. I don't want someone to harm me because Elle is too good for me because I know I'm too good for her....　Elle has been doing her best for a long, long time. And I've never seen anything like this.　What the hell is that?　What would have happened if Elle hadn't found out?　I am, you know, frustrated. I can't allow people to do that. Just because he's a Blue Star Class Alchemist, Elle is a human being too. Ignoring that and calling him a god... there's no such thing... 

　When I looked closely, I saw that tears were flowing from Fee's eyes. I can't believe that you care that much for me.... 

Hey, Elle. I'm going to be with you today, okay?　I want to stay with Elle today. 

Okay, fine. I'll stay the night. 

　Since I live next door to Fee, I don't have to stay there separately. Normally you might think that. But I respected Fee's feelings. He told me he wanted to be with me, Fee, who rarely asks for it like this. 

　Fee had been doing a lot of work for me all along. I could see that since I started working at the academy. That's why I wanted to repay her for that. 

"...Hey, are you awake? 

I'm not sleepy yet. 

　We've bathed each other since then, and now we're both in the same bed. I said I'd sleep on the couch, but Fee gave me a disgusted look, so I decided to sleep with her. 

　We have our backs to each other and I can hear the sound of our breathing up close and personal. 

'I wonder what's going to happen now...' 

I don't know. But we need to do something about it. 

But they're royalty.　If you're going to disobey me... 

I'm ready to leave the country if it comes to that. 

No, it's not possible. 

'Not really, my research can be done outside. Environmentally, this country is the best, but there are other countries where alchemy is thriving. 

'Well yes but I'm going to miss Elle. 

''Well I will. I'm going to miss Fee too, and I've got a family to look after. I guess that's a last resort. 

'Hey Elle stay with me the whole time I don't want to... there's no such thing...' 

　Fee hugs me from behind tightly. It's a small body. Thinking about it, I've been watching Fee work hard for so long that he looks bigger mentally than his body. They're ten years apart in age, too. But Fee is so much smaller. And shaking. No matter how old you are, people can't be that strong. We have to support each other to survive. 

　I accepted Fee's hug as I thought about that. 

　And the next thing I knew, Fee was breathing in her sleep. 

 

　I turned over and looked at Fee's face and saw tears streaming down her face. Like the last time he was drunk, Fee is a lonely man. He had grown up in a tough environment all his life and had been called a genius alchemist. He didn't have many friends, and the chairman had told me once that he was isolated. At the time, I didn't think that was the case with that Fee. He was social, diplomatic, and serious and firm. That was my impression of him as a student. But now that we work at the same academy, I've come to understand Fee's struggles, and I know he's been working alone for a long time. 

　That's why I need to be Fee's rock. I'll be there for Fee until the day he finds someone to marry and doesn't need me anymore. 

　I fell asleep with that thought in my head. 

　I slept well that night. I slept like the previous day's insomnia was a lie. In my dream, I saw myself selling my produce to the world. That's me in the future. I will get to that place for sure. No matter what obstacles I face....