Chapter 21

"Sir, instead of a small workshop, I plan to convert the temple's lands and the properties that currently sit on them into an alchemy estate."

'An alchemy estate...' Xuan Tian murmured. 'Which means she'll require a horde of alchemists, and that's precisely why she wants me.'

"So you're going to round up the other alchemists after assigning me as the head?"

"Yes. Of course, I plan to pay you fairly. I'll guarantee all the alchemists of the duchy appropriate identifications, places of dwelling, and occupations."

Identification! To the alchemists who were currently illegal immigrants, the guarantee of identification was a reward more mouth-watering than anything else. He and the other alchemists had no reason to refuse.

"...Hm."

However, he pretended to mull over it idly. There was one more thing that he wanted; the one thing he desired even if there were no promises of identification, place of dwelling, or occupation.

The recipe for the Liquor of God!

Xuan Tian moistened his lips. 'Is she gonna deny me the recipe?'

But the Little Lady was sitting still and watching him with twinkling eyes as she awaited his answer.

'Should I play hard to get?' He wondered, but Law suddenly cut in. He grabbed Kynemeia's hand tightly and asserted earnestly.

"He'll do it."

"What?!"

"Master, please quit wasting your days eating, sleeping and breathing liquor and tobacco, and start working for a cause instead. Miss Fairy is requesting your help."

"This rascal!"

Furious, Xuan Tian raised his voice, but—

Ah, a good person...!

On the contrary, Kynemeia's eyes shone. She and Law looked at each other with sparkles in their eyes as they clasped each other's hands.

"Let's work well together."

"Yes, Miss Fairy!"

"You're not gonna listen to my opinion?"

Just as they were about to enter into the contract with a steely sense of purpose—

FLICK—

The sound of a finger flicking suddenly came from behind.

FWOOSH—

Law's hands separated from hers even though she was holding onto him tightly a second ago, followed by his abrupt disappearance from her side.

"..."

Kynemeia turned her head, dumbfounded. She didn't know when he'd arrived, but Eian was now sitting squeezed by her side with a smile etched across his face.

"When did you arrive...? No, what was that earlier?"

"I arrived just now. Warp magic."

Eian answered her string of questions calmly.

"Warp magic?!"

All of a sudden?!

"W-Where did you send him to?"

Eian flashed a grin at her.

"The nameless and dark forest."

'The nameless and dark forest' was the most extensive natural habitat of high ranking monsters. Reputed to be far deadlier than dungeons, it was one of the three forbidden places where humans were strictly barred from approaching.

"Get him back quickly!"

"Why?"

"How could you send someone to such a dangerous place?!"

"Well, because I'm your guard, and you were grabbed by a suspicious person."

'This lunatic...' Kynemeia's face was turning as white as a sheet.

"Are you angry?"

Eian cocked his head to the side.

"Bring him back! Hurry!"

"I get it. I get it, so don't be angry."

He coaxed her in a cutesy tone and lightly brushed her cheek, then snapped his fingers.

FLICK—

Law popped up again in the very spot he'd left, in a fighting stance. His shredded clothes and dishevelled hair made one wonder what could've transpired within that short frame of time.

"Is... Is everything okay?"

Kynemeia asked warily as his eyes darted around, brimming with worry. After confirming his surroundings and her presence, Law relaxed his stance.

"Oh, Miss Fairy."

"Are you okay?!"

"Of course. It's only this much... However..."

The smiling man lowered his voice to a whisper,

"Please be careful. There's a wicked mage here."

"Uhh..."

She hesitated, and her pupils trembled. Law and Eian hadn't been introduced to each other yet, but he was already able to grasp Eian's characteristics perfectly.

"Shane, Liline."

She called over the maids and ordered them to prepare for a bath and some garments for Law. Eian tilted his head and followed Law with his eyes as if he felt it was a pity he returned without a scratch. Xuan Tian, who was observing everything, picked up the tobacco resting on the table and held it to his lips.

'That guy.'

Rather than his patently beautiful outward form, what Xuan Tian felt from that boy was...

'That guy... He seems to have some screws loose?'

This gut feeling evoked memories of the time he lived in the Eastern Continent's empire, Yu Ga, and met the epitome of a nutcase, the tyrant Xing Kakahn. No, this sensation was possibly far stronger.

"It was my mistake. I won't do that anymore, so don't be angry. Yeah?"

Xuan Tian puffed a cloud of smoke while he watched the crazy lad pretend to be sane and endear himself to the Lady. 'Must be hard on our Little Lady to have that kind of guy sticking to her.'

She then left Eian's side to approach Xuan Tian.

"Sir Xuan Tian."

Behind her, the nutcase stood facing the wall, his head downcast on her order to remain in that position until she finished conversing. Seeing Eian's drooping shoulders, Xuan Tian ran a hand over his chin.

'...No, maybe the Little Lady is training him well, after all.'

As she came scurrying his way, Xuan Tian straightened his open-mouthed expression.

"Little Lady, about your offer earlier..."

"I'll tell you the recipe as long as you agree to one condition."

"...!"

He smiled. What a spunky little doll.

"And that condition is?"

"A life contract with the Lyonne House."

"A life contract?"

He blinked at the unexpected stipulation. Kynemeia nodded in affirmation.

Though powerful, divine power was rather lacking since it took a priest a long time to heal a single person. On the other hand, potions could be mass-produced. Even in the original novel, once the alchemists convened and showcased their abilities, the Church Order's influence nosedived, and everyone and their moms rushed hotfoot to scout alchemists.

'I can't lose my pokemons.'

She needed to lay hold of Xuan Tian to be able to prevent the other alchemists from getting snatched away.

How? With a life contract!

Kynemeia waited for his reply, her face taut with anxiety.

"Ho—"

The corners of his lips tipped upwards as if he found this development amusing. Who could've imagined this girl would propose a life contract for alchemy? It was an uncommon occurrence even in the Western Continent. Wasn't this move too adventurous of her? However, he could see Kynemeia's unshakeable faith in alchemy in her eyes.

Right, if she didn't believe it, she wouldn't have come up with this plan, to begin with.

But...

'The recipe to make the Liquor of God...!'

Xuan Tian learned about liquors from his master.

"Xinghai, I'm sure the Liquor of God exists somewhere in this world."

Even his master couldn't find the Liquor of God until the day he passed. Wouldn't that mean this child was the only one who possessed the recipe for the Liquor of God? The only owner of the recipe he'd spent a lifetime searching for.

After deliberating over the life contract, the Eastern Continent and the liquor recipe, Xuan Tian arrived at a conclusion. As long as the Yu Ga Empire didn't fall into ruin, the day of his return to the Eastern Continent would be far off anyway. He could live anywhere provided that he had identification and the Liquor of God. In which case, there remained only one conclusion.

Xuan Tian stood up with a grunt and surveyed the room.

"Alright, Little Lady. Where should this personage sign?"

Kynemeia's face took on a glow of delight, and her eyes twinkled.

'How cute.' He raised his arm and patted her head, earning a grin and reddened cheeks from her.

"My aide will bring the documents soon. Please wait for a moment."

"Alright."

"Thank you for listening, even though my request was unreasonable."

He burst into chortles.

"Little Lady, you're so amiable. I also feel good to be in the company of such a little doll."

"Thank you for viewing me favourably."

While the two of them were having a pleasant and friendly conversation—

Only

Leaning against the wall with crossed arms, Eian watched the two with a face that revealed he was not satisfied in the slightest.

'He's an alchemist?'

Eian, the Rikasha, had more knowledge of alchemy than others. If the temple were going to pretend the Grand Duchy didn't exist, then alchemists were a good choice, no, a brilliant choice indeed.

But he itched terribly to send this alchemist packing at once that his hands curled in self-restraint. When he noticed the less evolved primate holding her hand earlier, it was like a frenzy of discomfort had coagulated in his heart. Not only that, but he also felt somehow perturbed at the sight of her beaming at that man and being doted on by him. But Eian wasn't trying to disturb her business, nor did he have any intention to.

His gaze swung down to the ground. His head was in turmoil, wondering what it was that made his chest feel stifled and piqued to the point that he wanted to split his ribs open to remove it.

"Ah, I think the documents are here. Hold on."

Kynemeia chirped as she scampered about.

Eian clenched and unclenched his fist in vain, then whirled around swiftly.