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Thanks to Philip’s mediation, we somehow evaded getting into trouble.

“Sir Sigrun has a meeting with the feudal lord, you see. He can’t make it to the guild right now.”

It seemed the guildmaster we sought wasn’t even at the guild to begin with. The reason nobody we knew was in the guild was also because he’d been running his staff around for a task concerning said meeting.

Anyway, since we’d established contact, explaining our purpose made things proceed smoothly.

“You’re looking for work? Of course! A skilled alchemist is most welcome!”

His narrowed eyes widened frighteningly, gleaming brightly. The rough hands gripping mine across Sufi seemed to convey an “I won’t let you escape” resolve.

He was quick to pull his hand away when he sensed Sufi’s mood plummet at the frightened yelp slipping out of me. That was pretty sharp of him.

With that being said, carried on Sufi’s back, I was being shown around the third floor of the guild. It was my first time here, but apparently, it only had a staff break room and a storage area.

“Actually, you see… we’ve discovered a goblin nest in a forest about two days’ journey from here.”
“…………”

Walking down the hallway, Philip suddenly dropped this bombshell. I glared at him sideways.

Goblins are a type of cunning earth sprite; racially speaking, they belong to the demonic races.

While there are numerous varieties of races, as a general rule of thumb, any humanoid resembling the caucasoid or just your general idea of human are part of the Human race, while humanoid creatures with forms far removed from that belong to the Demon race.

Speaking of which, magic is called mahou (demon’s technique) because it was based on a technique developed by the mazoku (demon race) to mimic divine miracles, and that association sticks till today.

Animals that wield magic are called majuu (magic beasts), and among them, those possessing great power are called genjuu (mythical beasts) or seijuu (divine beasts).

As for mamono (monsters), I’ve encountered some firsthand and they truly are something “other” compared to these beasts..

“They’re troublesome, you see. The Adventurers’ Guild and the Knights’ Order have decided to cooperate and send out an extermination squad.”

Goblins are like the quintessential demons often confused with monsters. After all, they prefer snatching women and children, committing horrific acts without a second thought.

Individually, they aren’t that strong, but they attack villages in secret, in large groups. They’re highly fertile and use tools and tactics.

They’re such a nuisance that some theories even claim they were created long ago by an evil god as an invasion weapon to destroy the human race favored by the gods.

“Alice, you mustn’t do anything dangerous.”
“Ah, no need to worry.”

Sufi, whose DEFCON status had dropped significantly, drove the point home. Philip shook his head with a wry smile.

“Actually, we need Miss Alice to stay in the safe zone. She’s a valuable asset.”
“…Physical labor is out of the question for me.”
“We’ll assign you an assistant. First, I need repairs done.”

Philip opened one of the rooms on the third floor. Inside… sat something resembling a giant pot fused with countless pipes. It almost looked like a steam engine.

“What’s this?”
“It’s a barrier magic tool crafted by Old Master Haumass. Quite an old piece, though.”
“…I see.”

I’d never seen Grandpa build such a large-scale magic tool at home. He’d made small things for me while teaching me, but those were all left behind in the village.

“Can you fix it?”
“Sufi, come closer.”
“Okay.”

Sufi approached the apparatus, her footsteps pattering softly. I lit the lantern tied to my tail with a string and cast a shadow to form an ‘Analysis’ alchemy circle for inspection.

…Hmm. Several pipes are broken due to age, and the enchantment patterns carved inside them have worn away. Structurally speaking… It seems Grandpa intended to use a potion placed in the cauldron as a medium, spraying it around to create a barrier with healing effects.

Ah, so it uses a special potion containing magic power to achieve both the barrier and healing.

Somehow, for Grandpa’s work, it feels youthful with all this unnecessary complexity.

After all, as far as I knew Grandpa’s main research theme was making massive magical devices compact.

“The structure’s too complex, you see. The alchemists specializing in magical devices at our branch can’t handle it.”
“It was made quite a while ago, right?”
“Yes. The fuel potion won’t pose a problem, however.”
“If you give me time, I can manage it. But first, I have a request.”
“Clothes, an advance on your payment, and lodging arrangements, I’d guess? We have staff dormitories for alchemists; I can lend you one temporarily. And… you shouldn’t flaunt that lantern too much, especially around other alchemists.”

Just when I thought he’d read my mind and guessed what I wanted, Philip’s expression turned serious.

“I don’t know where you acquired it, but that’s an ancient artifact… I would dare say a Divine Relic, even. I doubt ordinary practitioners like us could master it, but watching how you use it… it might very well be a poison that would summon the demons out of alchemists aiming for the top. Being able to freely conjure alchemic circles like that is nothing short of a dream tool for all practitioners.”
“…And you’re fine with it, Mr. Philip?”
“I’m nearly forty. I know my place. Even then, it stirs something ugly within me… Be careful. If anything happens to you, I wouldn’t be able to face Master Haumass’ grave, who did me such a great favor.”
“Understood.”

Seeing me nodding at his warning, Philip relaxed, a smile touching his lips.

“If anything happens, just mention my name. I’ll help as much as I can. …Now then, let’s get your clothes and money ready right away. Wait here for me.”
“Okay.”

I could hear Philip calling out to staff as he stepped into the hallway. I let out a sigh and leaned my back against the magic tool behind me.

All the tools Grandpa made for me were left behind in the village.

Compared to them, this magic tool possessed a unique quirk. Because complex mechanisms were crammed into such a tight space, it developed a habit to tangle various arrays and spell patterns, making them encrypt themselves.

*‘It wasn’t until my later years that I finally managed to improve my methods,’* he’d said with a wry smile. That flaw remained in full force in this magic tool. It was a crude contraption, nothing like the spell patterns I’d often seen demonstrated before me. It was the same mistake I would often fall into while learning under him.

I’d mentally closed the door on ever seeing Grandpa’s magic tools again… but seeing it now, it still feels nostalgic.

“…Hm.”
“Hm.”

I hugged Sufi back tightly as she clung to me, eyes teary.

For some reason, I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to see Noche and Filia. Even though it hadn’t even been a few hours since we parted ways.