CH 90

“There’s a lot of people here. What is this line for?”

We arrive at Kalin’s new workplace, a brick mansion. It’s probably a government office building too.

There’s a line of people facing the entrance, and I talk to the last person in line.

“Excuse me. Can you tell me what this line is for?”

“Hn? To see Lady Kalin and present our petitions of course. Aren’t you here to meet Lady Kalin as well?”

“Eh, ah. Yes. Thank you.”

I go back and tell everyone, and Roa looks puzzled.

“We should just ignore it and go in.”

Says Roa, before she walks next to the line towards the entrance. I guess she has a point, so I follow her.

But just as she’s about to reach the entrance, a woman who looks to be a member of the staff calls out to her. I’ve never seen her, so she’s probably new.

“Please show me your permit.”

“Don’t have one.”

Roa responds bluntly.

“Then please wait in the petition line.”

“Too much trouble. Let us through.”

“Eh… I’m sorry, but those are the rules. If you don’t have a permit, you have to wait in line.”

I feel like an argument is about to start.

“It can’t be helped Roa, rules are rules…”

And then I hear the echoing voice of someone calling us.

“Master Rust! Roa! Welcome back!”

It’s Litna, the person responsible for the food storehouse.

He’s leaving the mansion, and before we can respond, the woman arguing with Roa turns to him.

“Mister Litna! Thank goodness you’re here. These people don’t have a permit but refuse to stay in line…”

“Bah, you! What are you talking about!? Don’t you know who they are!? Were you trying to make them wait in line!?”

Litna says very quickly while looking back and forth between us.

“Eh… Yes…”

The woman answers without much confidence, after seeing how flustered Litna is.

“Uwah, really… Hey hey. This man is a master ranked alchemist and the head of the alchemy research department in the Admiral dominion. And he saved my younger brother too.”

The woman’s face turns blue as she puts her hands to her mouth. Now that I think about it, she looks younger than Roa.

“Ah. I’m Rust. Nice to meet you…?”

I don’t really know what to do, so I introduce myself.

“And she is ‘that’ Ahri’s little sister. She has magic eyes too of course, and she is under Lady Kalin’s direct command.”

Litna says while pointing at Roa.

“Roa Sard.”

Roa introduces herself while copying me. She’s getting a bit carried away.

The shocked looking woman begins to move her mouth, but no words come out. Eventually she manages to quietly talk to us.

“I am Cherry Carr. I am very sorry for this rudeness…”

“It’s all right miss Cherry, you didn’t know. I think we can go in now. Litna, I have to report to Kalin and give her something I brought, so can you take us to her?”

“Yes! Yes! Of course, this way!”

Litna guides us, and we finally reach Kalin’s office.