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“…Well, after that, the harassment in the noble dorms finally stopped, and things became a lot easier. Like getting this atelier.”
“That’s true. I’m honored to benefit from it myself.”

Having personal access to an atelier equipped with first-rate facilities and an abundant supply of alchemical materials was an extraordinary privilege.

Precisely because of that, though, I couldn’t help wondering about the reason behind it.

“But is your talent in alchemy really the only reason you’re treated this well?”
“…Huh?”
“No, it’s just something that struck me while listening to your story. If having a commoner in the noble dorms was what caused the discrimination, then instead of insisting you remain there, they could simply have given you special treatment in the commoner dorms instead. After all, that’s essentially what happened with Numelin in Class F.”

Rather than bluntly asking about the atelier itself, I figured it would be easier to approach the subject indirectly.

When I brought up the part of her story that had caught my attention, Melua nodded in understanding.

“Ahh… that ridiculously rich girl. She’s famous in the noble dorms too.”
“Forgive me for asking, but your situation is different, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah. It is. And while we’re at it, this atelier isn’t something I got just because I’m a Special-Class Alchemist, either. Once you become one, Master, you’ll find out eventually anyway, so I figured I’d tell you first.”

Perhaps realizing exactly what I had been trying to ask, Melua spoke hesitantly despite how difficult it seemed for her.

“I don’t want to become a Special-Class Alchemist just for special treatment. So you don’t need to worry about that.”

As things stood, I was already perfectly satisfied benefiting from the privileges Melua received.

The reason I needed that qualification was different.

To mass-produce the suppressant for The Black Stone Disease—and ultimately, for my precious mother’s sake—I needed to publish my paper and obtain credentials worthy of recognition.

“…Yeah, I figured. Ah… how should I put this…? I’m really bad at dancing around things, so I’ll just come right out and say it. Just… don’t be too surprised, okay?”

There was both hesitation and tension in Melua’s awkward words.

I didn’t want to pressure her, but she clearly wanted to tell me something.

Perhaps the best thing I could do was simply listen.

“If you’re comfortable telling me, then I’ll listen.”
“Thanks, Master. …Actually… my family’s descended from the Arcia.”
“…The Arcia…”

I wasn’t particularly surprised.

Still, as I quietly repeated the name, a strange feeling resurfaced within me.

The Arcia were the cloned descendants of the ancient Alysians, created by the Old Humanity.

The ancient Alysians were said to have been the people of a civilization that once flourished on this world.

Their origins predated even the technologically advanced Old Humanity itself, and their civilization, built upon alchemy, was said to have reached a level of prosperity unlike anything the world had ever seen.

Then, at some point…

That civilization had vanished without a trace.

The prevailing theory was that they had been wiped out by a cataclysmic natural disaster. Yet no ruins or physical traces of their civilization had ever been found. Because their existence rested solely on legends describing an impossibly advanced civilization, many—even in my previous life—doubted that the ancient Alysians had ever existed.

Alchemists, however, had never questioned their existence.

In fact, I was one of the few people who knew the ancient Alysians were real.

The extradimensional realm they left behind was none other than the place known as the World of Truth. And the Administrator who resided there and imparted knowledge to me was the collective consciousness of the ancient Alysians themselves.

Like me, the people of the Old Humanity who sought the lost art of alchemy had somehow revived the ancient Alysians, allowing them to access the World of Truth and obtain the knowledge of alchemy. That, it was said, marked the beginning of alchemy among the New Humanity.

“…So the reason I have such extraordinary talent for alchemy… is because of the blood that runs through my veins.”
“That makes sense. If you’re descended from the Arcia, the children of alchemy themselves, it’s only natural that people would have high expectations of you.”

Perhaps relieved that I hadn’t reacted with surprise, Melua visibly relaxed.

“Only the senior figures of the Alchemy Society know my family’s secret.”
“Are you really comfortable telling me something that important?”
“I figured I’d have to tell you eventually. Besides, it’s not like you’d go around telling everyone, Master, right? Ah, you can tell Alfe if you want. Though honestly, the reason I get special treatment isn’t just because I’m Arcian. It’s because the Garnel family served a Hero.”

I see.

So she wasn’t receiving preferential treatment simply because she was Arcian.

Rather, because the Garnel family carried Arcian blood, they had become an exceptional lineage of alchemists. Their remarkable talent had earned the recognition of a Hero, elevating the family to its distinguished status.

Even so, this wasn’t the sort of secret that should be shared widely.

Alfe was one thing.

But there was no guarantee that the tragedy of the Arcia—being valued for their exceptional abilities only to be forced onto the front lines during the Great Human-Demon War—would never repeat itself in this era.

“Well, even if I told her, it probably wouldn’t mean much to her. But I don’t want it turning into some kind of ‘secret just between the two of us’ and making Alfe misunderstand.”
“Alfe would be fine. She’s your disciple, after all.”

I subtly made it clear that I had no intention of volunteering this secret to anyone.

I appreciated Melua’s trust, but this was a different matter entirely.

Living in a peaceful era, Melua probably couldn’t truly grasp the implications. But this wasn’t just about her—it could affect the survival of the entire Garnel family.

“Mmm… I guess you’re right, but… I don’t want Alfe getting jealous~.”
“And yet you’re jealous all the time.”
“That’s different!”

Realizing I was teasing her, Melua raised her voice in protest.

“…By the way, who else at this academy knows your secret?”
“Just Estea and Marie.”

Hearing that put me at ease.

I decided then that I shouldn’t tell anyone else about it.

“So the special treatment you receive here is only because of your family’s status?”
“Yep. My grandma told me about it when I was ten. I’m not sure I can explain it very well… Apparently, a long, long time ago, the Garnel family served the Six Dragon Emperor. So we’re not nobles, but we’re considered a family with special standing within the Empire. I guess the Alchemy Society used those connections to really push for me.”

I understood now.

When she first mentioned serving a Hero, I hadn’t immediately made the connection. But the Six Dragon Emperor was the hero who had ended the Empire’s civil war in the 300s of the Holy Flower Calendar.

If Melua was a descendant of the Garnel family that had served such a hero, it made perfect sense that the Felix Foundation had granted her treatment equal to that of the nobility.

“So yeah, the higher-ups in the Society had huge expectations for me and even had this atelier prepared. But because I got all that special treatment, I ended up going through even more trouble. Talk about bad luck.”
“You’ve really had a difficult time.”

Melua nodded, her eyes glistening.

“That’s why… I never want anyone else to go through what I did. I’ve always wanted to do something about the way you and everyone else are treated now, Master. That’s why I want Estea to win the upcoming student council election. I want us to build a school together that’s free, open-minded, and free from prejudice.”

Melua stood up and held out her hand toward me.

Even while we had been talking, she had flawlessly finished engraving every one of the Spark Shot simplified formulas.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Nodding, I took her outstretched hand and gently clasped it with both of mine.