CH 362

“I’m back.”

“Rust! Welcome back!”

I return safely to Putaresque after almost drowning, and enter the laboratory of the Kagero Institute for the first time in a while.

Shellrule comes running when she sees me.

“Ah, Shellrule. Any changes in the Kagero Institute?”

“Everything is going well here! Are you all right, Master Rust…?”

“Eh!? Ah, yes. No problem whatsoever.”

I respond, as Shellrule looks at me like she feels something isn’t right.

Oh? Was Shellrule always this perceptive?

But then she stops, and changes the subject. I don’t show it, but I’m relieved that she’s not asking any further questions.

“That’s good then. Oh, and we have a lot of documents piling up that need your approval, so I will bring them to you later. Ah, and how was the coronation ceremony?”

That’s right. Shellrule got along pretty well with Queen Lily. I saw them hanging out a few times even after Queen Lily was released from the Third Seat of Immorality.

“It went without a hitch. Queen Lily looked very good in the black military uniform she wore to express her grief. She dragged a black cloak behind her, advanced as Seilook descended from the skies, and looked like a real queen even before she wore the crown.”

“Uwa. I can picture all that so clearly. It sounds like she carried herself very well for someone who has just lost her father.”

Shellrule sounds happy, almost like it’s her we’re talking about.

“But Seilook was really sloppy after that. I was feeling kind of anxious.”

“Eh!? Did something happen?”

“Cardinal Attenborn from the church of Araysla stepped forward with the crown, and Seilook just picked it up with its mouth and sort of tossed it on Queen Lily’s head. I was so nervous, because I thought the crown was going to fall.”

“Oh dear!”

Shellrule looks cute with how surprised she is.

“Yes yes. But that coronation ceremony made me think of something. Can you help me?”

“Of course! Just say it. Are we going to transmute something?”

“Thanks. Yes, we are going to transmute gold.”

“I see, gold, understood. Gold!?”

I face Shellrule’s shocked face with a smile, and start getting ready to transmute right away.