CH 10

“That’s all for the discussion. As for the future, Yuren, Hisui, I leave it to you to make the arrangements.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood, Father.”

Yuren-kun stood up first and gestured for us to follow him.

I wiped away my tears and stood up.

“Thank you very much.”

I bowed deeply again to express my gratitude.

Then I turned around and walked on the carpet to leave the room.

But then, as I took a few steps, a voice called out to me.

“Oh, wait. I forgot to tell you something important.”

Hearing His Majesty’s voice, we stopped.

When we turned to look at him, he had inexplicably stood up from the throne.

And then——

“Aria Lawrence, I am deeply grateful to you.”

His Majesty bowed deeply and thanked me.

“Eh?”

I didn’t understand what he meant.

I even thought it was a mistake for an outsider like me to make a king bow to me.

His Majesty continued to bow his head.

“Thanks to the potion you made, my daughter has recovered.”

“Ah…”

So that’s what it was.

The reason Yuren-kun was aiming to become a Transmutation Master.

It was for his sister who was battling a serious illness.

In other words, I was able to help the princess of this country, who was His Majesty’s daughter.

Maybe Yuren-kun had also conveyed that I had made it.

“I’ve wanted to thank you for a long time. As a king of a country, of course, but also as a father of a daughter, I can’t thank you enough for what you have done. I will definitely repay you for what you’ve done.”

“N-No, I just… did what I could.”

“I see.”

Just receiving words of thanks is enough.

Yes, it’s enough.

I didn’t do it for something in return.

I just wanted to be acknowledged, and that wish has already been fulfilled.

“I have high expectations for you. Not just me, but many others will be helped by you. In return, we promise to be your allies when you need help.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Expectations.

Words spoken in recognition of oneself.

I am inexplicably happy and it feels new.

And…if It had been in “that place”, those words would have never been spoken to me.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

At the King’s Castle of Mayquin Kingdom, which serves as a political base, many people work every day.

Even after Aria was expelled from the palace, everyday life continued without any changes.

Her laboratory was taken over by her sister, Celica, who was grieving over the fact that her sister was gone and wanted to use the place where her sister spent her time.

When those around her heard of this…

“It’s so kind of her to say such nice words to her incompetent sister.”

“Oh, what a wonderful person she is.”

They praised her without knowing her true nature, not even those who were closely related to her.

They did not have any feelings for her sister.

If anything, they viewed her “incompetent sister” as a hindrance.

The word “sisters” was nothing but a fantasy for them.

Celica’s biggest reason for taking over Aria’s laboratory was to take her research results as they were.

The laboratory was left as it was when Aria used it, with all the materials still there.

“Well, I’ll make good use of them.”

After obtaining Aria’s research results, Celica released new potions and new substances one after another.

Potions with the effect of undoing petrification and potions that temporarily completely neutralize poisons.

Metals that are harder than iron, have excellent heat resistance, and can be easily processed by simply mixing a specific liquid.

She continued to invent inventions that developed not only domestic but also world civilization.

Celica’s reputation continued to rise.

A true genius.

The greatest Transmutation Master of the generation.

She was called by various names.

But all of them were just borrowed glory.

It wasn’t her own talent or the result of her efforts.

Yes, she didn’t do anything.

She would have had the talent as a Transmutation Master.

However, she did not try to develop her own talent, but rather devoted herself to taking talents away from those who had them.

So…

“What? A production method?”

“Yes. His Majesty has ordered you to provide a simplified production method for this new potion here.”

“Eh, do we really need a production method?”

“Of course. Even if the effect is good, it’s no use if only Transmutation Masters can make it. That’s how it’s been until now, hasn’t it?”

The envoy from the king tilts his head.

He is just stating the obvious, as they have always responded in that way.

The role of a Transmutation Master is to create new things that have not existed in the world before.

After creating them, the task also includes shaping them into a form that anyone can create.

Only those with the talent of a Transmutation Master can use the transmutation circle.

They are just one person, and there are limits to what they can do.

“The deadline is two weeks as usual. Thank you in advance.”

“Understood.”

Up until now, she had only been stealing Aria’s achievements.

Therefore, it was inevitable that she could not respond to any further demands.

Celica hurriedly searched the entire lab and despaired at the fact that there was no description of the mass production method.

She didn’t know.

Why were so many of the achievements left in the lab not published?

It was because the mass production method had not been established.

Aria always looked to the future, and she only saw the present. She could never reach it.

She was not a real genius.