Led by Amelia, Wraith went upstairs to the second floor of the guild. After passing through several doors, she was ushered into a room lined with tools for alchemy.

''Please wait for a moment.''

　After saying that, Amelia left the room with Totetete at a small run.

''I didn't know the guild had a room like this.

　Wraith waits for a minute, looking around the room. Then Amelia came back with one of the same guild staff.

''Sorry for the wait. This person is the judge.''

　Standing next to Amelia is a gentle-looking man in his mid-thirties, wearing glasses, who looks like he could be the master of a calm coffee shop. He looks like he could be the master of a quiet coffee shop.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it. I'm Keel.
I'm Lace. It's nice to meet you.

　I take the hand extended by Keel and we shake hands.

''Then I'm going to prepare the paperwork for Wraith-san's procedure, so please take care of me, Keel.

　Amelia bowed her head in a bow and walked away from the room.
　The remaining Wraith sat down on the sofa as indicated by Keel.

''Um, I haven't finished my review yet, is it okay to have the paperwork ready for me?

　When I suddenly mentioned the question, Keel nodded with a gentle smile on his face.

''According to Amelia-san, Wraith-san will definitely pass the screening first, so it's fine. I've heard that you are a terrific alchemist as well.
It's kind of embarrassing, isn't it...

　Wraith chuckles as he receives the praise head on. It wouldn't be funny if he failed the judging process with this, though.

''So, what do you do with the judging?''
I just need a little paper test and some potion making, please.
The paper test...

　I had heard that they were going to make potions, but I didn't expect a paper test. Although the wraith has accumulated a good deal of knowledge, it is only about alchemy.

　I'm not going to be able to get any other field questions.

''Well then, let's start with the potion creation.
Oh, yes.

　--Well, it'll come to be.

　Wraith abandons his thoughts with a resigned thought. It's also called opening up.

　The tools and herbs are presented to the Wraith. The herb is a commonplace material called lamb's weed that has a hemostatic effect. You will be asked to make a potion using this.

Then I'll be working on something else until I'm finished, so please give me a shout when you're done.

　Kiel is only a judge, and he is a man who is well versed in both alchemy and pharmacology. Hence, he also knows that creating potions takes time. You can't just do nothing in the meantime. That's what Keel thought.

　Suddenly, a light leaks out in front of him.

''Eh?''

　Such a dumb voice naturally came out, but Keel's thoughts had no time to worry about such things. Because an impossible scene is spreading out in front of him.

　In the hands of the Wraith in front of Kiel is a bottle filled with a red liquid. It is unmistakably a potion.

　Kiel continues to look at the potion in the Wraith's hand with his eyes darting out and looking at the potion in the Wraith's hand.

''Well, um.......I finished.......''

　Wraith couldn't stand the gaze that kept pouring in and set the potion down on the table with an awkward smile. Kiel's gaze follows it, too.

　Eventually, Keel ruffled his shoulders and shook--

'Oh, it's over, but it's only been a few seconds!　When did you finish it?!
'That's after we receive the tools and the rummage...'
''No matter how great an alchemist you are, you're going too fast!

　The momentum was tremendous, and Kiel's glasses were slipping off. As Wraith was thinking about how he hadn't seen this kind of reaction from others in a long time, Kiel quickly picked up the potion on the table.

''The finest potion!　How can you make something of such high quality in a few seconds...!　Impossible, how in the world did you...

　Keel, who was mumbling about something while fixing his misaligned glasses, eventually put his head in his hands. At first I had the impression that he looked calm, but he looks far from it.

　When Wraith hesitated on how to speak to him.

''Wraith-san, excuse me, but what is your age!
Eighteen, sir.
'I'm not an adult... but if I'm this good...'

　Keel puts a hand to his chin and thinks excitedly. Wraith, who has been left behind, is frozen like a statue with his hands in his lap. 'I really want you to tell me the results of the examination as soon as possible.

''If it's Wraith-san, then the instructors at the academy... or even the guild for that matter...''

　Keel, who continues to be excited by himself, is apparently making plans for the future of Wraith on his own, and names various places. Wraith decides that it won't settle down if it continues like this and decides to call out to him.

''Ah, um, in the end, the judging process.......''
Oh yeah, that's right.

　Finally brought to himself by Wraith's call, Keel coughs with a gurgle. He suppressed the upset he couldn't hide. He seemed a little embarrassed, if not mindful.

''No problem. Now if you could just do the paper test.''

　Kiel put away his tools and put the paper and pen in front of Wraith. He looked at Wraith, who had begun to solve the problem while troubled, and finally took a breath as if he had calmed down.


　* * * *




Hahaha thank you for your help.

　Amelia roughly guesses what's going on and turns a wry smile to Kiel, who gives a blank smile.

''Well, I'll take my leave now.
Yes, thank you very much.

　After watching Keel leave the room after he finished his role, he turned his gaze to Wraith.

''Wraith-san, thank you for your hard work too. So as for the results........''
He's fine.

　The paper test, which he was somewhat worried about, was fortunately a question that he managed to handle with his knowledge of the Wraith. There were many things related to alchemy, such as how to store and process certain materials.

''........Well that's true. I've got the paperwork ready, so please check and fill out the rest here.
I understand.

　Wraith, who has been handed some forms, looks over the contents with a difficult expression. There are quite a few forms to be filled out, and it's going to take some time.

　Amelia, who was not handheld until Wraith finished filling out the forms, looks at the potions that were left on the desk. It was made just to clear the examination, but the perfection is very high. It's a bright red potion with no cloudiness whatsoever.

''Even looking at it again, it's amazing!

　Age has nothing to do with talent, but it's still a marvel that he's mastered a skill related to one field at such a young age. Who would believe him when he said that he wasn't even an adult yet to be able to create an elixir? At the very least, if he had even a shred of knowledge about alchemy, he would be laughed at for being ridiculous.

　Amelia reaffirmed the Wraith's substandardness.

　Looking at Wraith, who is running his brush over the documents, I suddenly remembered something.

''Speaking of which, Wraith-san, did you enjoy the gift for Raffy-san?

　In response to the abrupt question, Wraith shows a pretense of thinking for a moment, and for some reason he looks impatient.

''Ha, yes. They were pleased with you.''
'I see, that's good. How did you like the one I chose?

　At the moment, what comes back to Wraith's mind is a doll with a chimera-like appearance. It's an object that I didn't even show her, let alone hand her over. The doll, which still exists quietly in the corner of the room, was too unbearable to throw away.

　Lace inwardly apologizes flatly to Amelia.

''Of course, of course she was pleased!
Thank God!

　Seeing Amelia smiling happily, Wraith, on the contrary, was damaged in his heart. However, at the same time, she also thought that if this smile is protected, she doesn't mind lying about it, but at the same time. Amelia tilts her head at the sight of Wraith, who seems to be in pain as she holds her chest from guilt, but the truth is never told.

''........Okay, it's done.''
'Yes, thank you for your time. You'll fill out the form ... it's fine. I have some paperwork and other things to give you, so please come back in a week or so. Oh, you can have the shop started already.
Yes, sir.

　Wraith, who looked terribly tired, was seen off by Amelia with a strange expression and left the guild.

''Well, next........''

　Although he was tired, he still had somewhere to go. Wraith began to walk towards his next destination.