CH 102

“T-these are basic materials!? I didn’t even know there was water this pure…”

“So you can use kagero bark like this…”

“I-is this really all right? These all feel like secret…”

The provisional members of the Kagero Institute are all talking.

“Hey you! Stop jabbering and start moving! You’re not gonna make it if this is enough to shock you!”

Yells Halhammer, and everyone closes their mouths and starts moving their hands.

Despite what one might think based on what they’re saying, everyone actually has cheerful expressions on their faces.

Well, alchemy is a job tied to the idea of cause and effect, so most alchemists love learning new techniques. I don’t think I have to worry about their motivation.

I start preparing what I have to do, while glancing at the provisional members and judging their skill.

The person making the preliminary preparations to make potions is very thorough. Their ability to concentrate seems to be pretty good. Hou, the girl preparing the magic stones looks to be pretty skillful. She can probably do that too.

I’m planning the production of a new scroll, mostly relying on my gut instinct and figuring out the design of the magic circuit I have to write.

“Hum, Master Rust, it’s done.”

It’s the girl I was just thinking is skillful.

“Thank you. What is your name?”

“Shellrule.”

I take the magic solution transmuted by Shellrule. I soak a pen in it, and draw a line with it and its magic elements on a scrap of parchment.

“Approved. You’re pretty good, Shellrule.”

“…! Thank you very much…”

I activate a few scrolls to aid me in making a new scroll, and they begin rotating over my head.

Let’s start making it right away. I have several magic circuit designs running around in my head. I keep moving my hand while imagining the operation of the magic elements to figure out the shape the magic circuit needs to be.

“This here… Error… 《Delete》 《Delete》. 《Duplicate》 here. And then this route… All right. This is done, or at least it should be.”

All the noise of people working around me suddenly stops.

I raise my head from the scroll I’m working on. I was too focused to notice the people around me, before, but they’re all silent. What happened?

I look around, and see everyone is looking at me.

Some look at me with blank expressions, others have a fire burning in their eyes.

“You… Didn’t I just tell you? If you’re shocked by something like this, you’re not gonna make it.”

Says Halhammer, breaking the silence.

“He activated several scrolls at once!”

“And he’s making a brand new scroll!”

“Yes, and he’s doing it directly without a blueprint or even a draft.”

“Master Rust goes beyond even what I heard…”

“Enough already, get back to work!”

Halhammer yells again.

Apparently activating multiple scrolls and some other things aren’t that common.

I make a mental note to teach this stuff to whoever wants to learn when we have the time, while checking the overall progress.

Is everyone doing well? Are they falling behind here and there a little?

I jump in to help just a bit, and the overall progress is regulated.

Tomorrow we can finally start the main part. This is good, it’s looking like we’ll make it in time.

I tell everyone that we’re done for today, while breathing a sigh of relief.