CH 101

We return to Habbafulton safely, and I rush over to my tent after asking Ahri to report to Kalin.

I have a two day time limit, and a lot to do.

I’m so busy trying to work out how I’m going to do this, that I fail to notice a person standing in front of my tent.

“Rust! You’re back. Hm, judging by that look on your face, I’d say you have a plan.”

“Master Halhammer! Am I really that transparent?”

I say while rubbing my cheeks a little.

“I’ve seen that confident expression you have when you come up with something many times. And most of the time you ended up making something outrageous after I saw that face. I have some bad memories associated with it too.”

Says Master Halhammer before a hearty laugh, and I shrug.

I didn’t realize it, but now that he mentions it, I remember that did happen a lot.

“We’ll help you. Where should we go?”

“We?”

“Ou! Me, the advisor of the Kagero Institution, and the new provisional members of the Kagero Institution.”

He says while pointing to a brick building next to my tent. Since when is that there?

People then start coming out of this building, and they’re all dressed like alchemists.

All I can do is stare vacantly as they line up.

“So Lady Kalin really didn’t tell you. She told me to surprise you, and I see I followed that order.”

Master Halhammer says something I can’t overlook.

“Yes, you sure surprised me. I didn’t know the Kagero Institution turned into something like this when I wasn’t looking. I guess this is also part of the reason why Kalin wanted me to hurry up and pick a name…”

I answer while mentally swearing I’m going to complain to Kalin later.

“Remember the golems we saw when we arrived? Those golems are their transmuted beasts. So, while you were gone, Lady Kalin asked me to roughly organize this group. She figured we’d need them. I’m done measuring their ability and I have a good grasp on their aptitude too.”

Says Halhammer with a smug look on his face.

I guess this is simple stuff for someone who managed the alchemist association.

“Good work doing all this in the short time I was away… But what do you mean by provisional?”

“Of course, even if they weren’t recruited officially, they still need to be approved by the head of the Kagero Institution. Here are their documents. You can do it later, since we have an emergency on our hands, but I recommend giving them a thorough look. And you can decide how we’ll work from now on. Now, give me your instructions and I’ll take care of assigning them.”

He says while pounding his chest.

I take a deep breath, and separate in my mind what I’m going to do and what I’ll leave to Halhammer.

Hmm… If Halhammer will be acting as an intermediary and making adjustments along the way, I think I can leave everything but the hardest parts to them.

I make my decision, and explain to everyone how we’re going to be working.