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Watching the older girl and the little bird communicate through eye contact, their mutual trust was obvious.

In my previous life I casually called the Unknowns “friends,” but what did I really think? I feel like I drew a line somewhere and watched them from a distance—telling myself I was human and they were Unknowns.

Even though they worried about me so much and stayed close to me.

…Looking back after being reborn, I just keep finding things to regret. It’s depressing.

Let’s stop. My mood is getting dark.

“The main difference between summoning and taming is the contract method. A tamed creature acts alongside you with their real body at all times, while a summoned creature will only lend its power.”

Saying that, she took out something like a red gemstone from her clothes.

“O raging flame, bearer of red scales, child of scorching heat. By the bond and covenant between us, come to me, my ally — Salamander.”

Her magic swirled, and using the gem as a core, a large lizard with crimson scales and a burning tail and tongue appeared. It exhaled flames, drawing small screams in the training grounds.

“Summoning Art forms contracts with higher beings—spirits, cryptids, holy beasts, divine beasts… They’re called many things. As proof of the pact, they seal part of their power into a gemstone, and by weaving your own magic into it, you can call forth their ‘phantom body.’ A phantom body is a pseudo-body woven from the higher being’s magic. It’s like sending part of its consciousness to control a puppet.”

I see… There really are higher existences in this world with far greater power than humans. A clear example would be Alveria’s Guardian Deity, the Star Dragon.

They imbue power into a contract gem, and the body you summon is constructed using your own magic. Compared to tamed beasts, where it must accompany you physically, this is far lower risk, and it feels like a contract type that could grant power to many people at once.

“Forming a contract itself isn’t that hard. What matters is how you befriend magical beasts or higher beings. You might even befriend one during your activities as an adventurer. If you’re interested, visit the Tamer’s Guild. All big cities have one.”

After neatly advertising her guild, the woman stepped back.

I was starting to understand. This training existed to show apprentices many possibilities and broaden their choices. Martial arts and magic alike, and taming or summoning too, aren’t things you can just decide to use and immediately use.

Alchemy, even more so.

“Next is me… What image comes to mind when you hear ‘alchemist’? Someone hunched over a desk working on magic tools? Mixing medicines? Treating patients as a doctor? Or freely manipulating metal and soil? These are all correct. An alchemist is fundamentally a researcher, not someone whose main role is adventuring or combat.”

Instructor Gildor spoke smoothly, clearly used to this sort of thing. It felt like watching a lecture. …Well, it is a lesson.

“However, depending on the research, fieldwork becomes essential. Like myself, many alchemists travel in search of techniques, knowledge, and materials unique to certain lands. Because of such circumstances, methods of self-defense become important. Traveling alchemists, to some extent, all possess ways to fight.”

Gildor touched the ground with a patterned glove. The formation was heavily distorted. Normally a dangerously unstable design that would almost certainly explode.

…Just in case, I spread my own alchemy arrays between my group—including Nick’s group—and Gildor so I could raise a wall at any moment.

“Forging.”

From where his hand touched, the ground burst in a straight line and earth shot out like a spear.

The principle was simple: the ground exploding because it couldn’t withstand sudden transformation. By giving it direction and limiting the area, the burst force increased along with power and activation speed.

I sometimes intentionally cause explosions using warped arrays too. I’d considered they might be usable offensively, but it is fascinating to see it actually applied in practice.

After glancing at the astonished apprentices, Gildor touched the ground with the other hand.

“Forging.”

This time a distorted earthen wall rose before us. Probably the formation was warped because it had to handle a wide range of materials, but for a disposable wall, visual precision didn’t matter.

“This is a technique considered both a fundamental and an essential art among alchemists. Forging originally meant for precise work, admittedly this is an unorthodox use of it, but as you can see it can be used for offense. And licensed alchemists also possess basic pharmacology and medical skills, though of course proficiency varies.”

He smoothed the ground he had destroyed, smiling wryly as he looked up.

“That said, it remains true that we are poor at combat. If you ever form a party with one, don’t dismiss them as mere scholars. Confirm what they can do, cooperate, and make it your strength.”

By the time he finished, the ground was restored. He brushed dirt off his gloves and stood beside the other two instructors.

After the three exchanged quiet words, Gildor spoke again.

“That concludes the overview of the arts. We still have time, so we’ll move to questions. Anyone who wants to ask something, raise your hand.”
“Yes! Lord Gildor, do you have a lover!?”
“Yes! What kind of girls do you like!?”

Not just Sena from Nick’s party, several solo apprentice girls were leaning forward with sparkling eyes.

You can aim all you want, but that person’s probably a traveler…

Under the girls’ momentum, Gildor’s cheek twitched before resignation appeared on his face.

Meanwhile the mage and tamer calmly answered normal questions about magic and taming. Noche and the others went to ask the mage group.

As I wondered what to do, I made eye contact with the butcher’s kid watching me.

“Hmph, I’ve decided—I’ll become an alchemist!”
“Yeah, good luck.”
“Huh? Y-yeah! Not like half-beasts like you could ever do it! You should focus on learning how to flatter people!”

Encouraging the butcher’s kid as he went to ask about becoming an alchemist, I sighed again.

“Hey, Alice…”

Sufi tilted her head while looking at me.

“Sufi’s been wondering this whoooole time, but… what’s with that one?”
“…No idea.”

More precisely, she was looking at the summoned Salamander, sitting neatly to my left, staring at me with sparkling eyes.

Well, I did wonder why it felt oddly warm right after the tamer girl finished speaking, and I found it already sitting beside me.

It had apparently picked a flower from somewhere and placed it by my feet, and since Gildor began speaking until now, it had been looking up at me the entire time.

The tamer seemed to be searching for the Salamander while answering questions too… I wonder if I just triggered some kind of event.

So I’d been troubled about what to do the whole time.

This is just like how it was in my previous life, things just suddenly became attached to me.

***

#Author’s Note:#

Because the Adventurer’s Guild is an international organization, it is a mutual aid society that also serves as a brokerage for a wide range of requests.
Other guilds are mostly mutual aid societies or research groups for specific professions.
Those with specialized skills generally belong to multiple guilds.
Of course, there are some exclusive guilds, such as artisan guilds rooted in urban or regional powers.

The Alchemist’s Guild is, in some ways, the most free-spirited.
(Some clans can be exclusive, but the guild as a whole has a liberal atmosphere.)