First-time apprenticeship, huh. Nerves, right?

"Student?! Are you serious?!"

Of course there’s a condition.

What is it?

If I can be the master’s disciple, I’ll do anything—just don’t bother Kyle too much!

I heard from Your Lordship that you made the secret elixir. Is that true?

Yes!

S-so... right. Listen. This is just a test. I'm asking to see if you're fit to be a disciple... right... about the... ingredients... for the secret elixir...

Ah, then it's all gathered over here.

"...is that so?"

I pulled out the parchment I’d prepared, listing the materials and method, figuring someone’d ask me about it sooner or later.

I thought I’d be asked by Lord Orthros, but yeah—since Professor Javir’s here, leaving it to him is definitely the right call.

I handed over the parchment with a smile.

“Y-you’ve left behind a secret technique!?!”

“Y-yes? Is that… a problem?”

“N-no, no, that’s fine for now. Give me that parchment to read.”

Then, Professor Javir bent over the vellum, muttering, his face twisted in concentration. Really into it, huh?

“Ah… I see…! So this is how the alchemical elixir works…! This combination…! But the magic required… it’s insane…! The materials… if I ask the lord… no… already used them up, I suppose…”

Muttering to himself, Javir devoured the parchment with his eyes, rereading it again and again. Insane focus. No wonder he pulled off something legendary.

I kept my distance, just glancing around the room.

Then I saw it—Javir’s rare, hard-to-find manuscripts on the shelf. My breath caught.

Ohhhhh! That’s the newest volume—only available after two years of waiting!

After a pause, it hit me—this guy’s the one who’d been trying to reserve books at Gandar’s shop! Even Akindoo couldn’t get his hands on it.

Then, after a while, the teacher finally looked up. Something in his expression—almost excited.

“Ah… I forgot to ask one thing. Did you use that elixir to cure Lord Kyle’s illness?”

“Y-yes. Lord Kyle… personally proved it by offering his own body as proof. A brave man.”

“Hmm. So he’s fully recovered?”

“Yes. Just to be safe, the Marquis said he’d have his personal physician check him later. But I believe he’s healed.”

“Then we can confirm it later.”

“Eh?”

“No, nothing. Just thinking.”

The eager look from before vanished. Now he seemed calm. Gentle.

Speaking of which, Master Javir was supposedly famous as a healer too. Might examine Kyle later.

"Good then—your apprenticeship is accepted!"

"Thank you! Um... actually..."

"What is it?"

"If possible, I'd like to live nearby and learn from you... but I—I have things to do in the frontier village..."

"Hmm... How many of my books do you own?"

"Uh, this one, this one, and... this one."

Pointing to the books lined up on the shelf.

"Then I’ll grant you a manuscript I don’t have. That should be enough to study for now."

"Wait—really?! You’re serious?!"

"Just one thing—still, that’s not quite it..."

Master Javir swallowed hard, almost cute.

"You’re going to write a paper on this secret remedy, aren’t you?"

"Eh? No, I hadn’t even thought about that!"

“W-what? ……Wait, right. You never had a teacher, did you?”

“Yes. I’m afraid it’s all self-taught.”

"Hmm. Then you wouldn’t have the slightest idea about the format of a paper, where to publish it, or how much of the materials to disclose, would you?"

"Yes."

"Ah……"

The teacher crosses his arms again.

"Alright! Then I’ll write the paper for you!"

"Eh!?"

"Though, it’ll have to be co-authored—including verification and all that, of course…"

"Co-authored!?!"

"Ugh! Yes! You probably won’t be happy with it, but this is for the advancement of mankind…"

"Such a thing! Co-authoring with Professor Javir!? Can I really—am I even worthy of such honor!?"

"Hmm!? Ugh! Yes! If you’re satisfied with it, then I suppose I could do it!"

"Of course! Sir! Please, please, I’d be honored!"

I bowed over and over, so thrilled I could barely contain myself.

A paper co-authored with Master Javir?!

What kind of reward is that?!

"Y-yeah! For my disciple, that’s what matters!"

"Thank you so much!"

I shook hands with the master, warm and firm.

After that, we debated every last detail of secret elixirs until dawn.

Midway through, I figured I’d go for broke and ask the master something.

"Master, about that wooden artificial creature… could you teach me how it’s made?"

"Hmm? Ah, I thought you’d ask for a grand secret, but this is it?"

"Wha—what did you say?"

"Nothing… well, it’s fine. I’ve lost interest in that research anyway. It’s only half-written, but all the necessary details are there. I’ll lend it to you—special exception."

The master bounced up, springing toward the high shelf, so I pointed and confirmed before pulling it down.

Looks like a research manuscript written by hand, Master.

"Are you sure about this!?"

"Um. But don’t let anyone else see it. And if you come up with anything new…."

"Of course! If I find anything, I’ll tell you everything—promise! I’ll return the book, along with my findings, without fail!"

"U-um. I’m counting on you."

"Yes!"

Ah, so that’s why the artificial golem I made earlier turned out half-baked—must’ve been too busy. Now I’ve been handed the next step in his research straight away. Gotta give it everything I’ve got!!

And so, with a smug grin, I carried the book back to Lord Bairoroad’s manor.

◆

"Craft… Craft?"

A distant voice calls out, dazed.

"Aaah…"

"Think you can wake up?"

"Aaah, Leifan? Sorry, haven’t slept much…"

My head was foggy. I slowly pushed myself up.

Even though it was an impossibly fancy bed, I’d messed up the whole thing by sleeping like a lazy dog.

“Good morning… eep!?”

Leifan screamed for no reason.

“W-what?! Why are you naked!?”

“Huh…?”

I vaguely remembered. Right. I’d taken all my clothes off because it felt too shameful to sleep in them on such a fancy bed.

I figured seeing my bare chest was nothing new… but oh. I’d been about to expose myself completely. Close one!

“Look away for a sec.”

“I’m already looking away, idiot!”

I fumbled out from under the blanket, reaching for the clothes tossed on the chair—then paused.

“…Maina, move.”

“…Hm.”

Maina was sitting right on the chair. Sitting on your clothes? That’s just rude.

Maina was staring at me, blankly, while I changed clothes.

Not like I care what a kid thinks.

“Sorry I kept you waiting.”

“Yeah. Uh… were you with Lord Orthros all day yesterday?”

“No, after I explained things, I went to see Professor Javir.”

“Wait. Javir? The famous alchemist?”

“That’s right! Hey, listen! I’m his apprentice now!”

“Wait, what? An apprentice?”

“Yeah! Pretty awesome, right?”

“Uh… yeah. I guess.”

“‘I guess’? What’s that supposed to mean? You’re not excited at all.”

“Honestly, I’ve never seen Craft this excited before.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Now that you mention it, I guess I am kind of bouncing.

I straightened my collar. Clear my throat once.

Yeah. Time to switch gears.

“Professor Javir’s the one attached to Zaid-sama, right? Um…”

“It’s fine! Just meet him once—you’ll see.”

"Yeah, uh, that’s right?"

Leifan had this weird look on his face. Why?

No, that fairness and nobility... you just gotta meet him to know.

"So, uh, what’s up?"

"Yeah. Craft, you got plans today?"

"Got places I wanna go, but no real plans. Just hoping to hit 'em while I’m here."

"Got it. Wanna come with me to the production guild?"

"Ah."

"Then let’s go."

"Got it. Maina, stay with Kyle, okay?"

Maina pouted and turned her face away.

Kids are tough...

When I said we’d be going out with Leifan, Persia ended up tagging along.

"Got nothing better to do?"

"Like that’d ever happen! Seriously... you oughta get a grip on your own position....Though I guess you can’t change that overnight."

"Craft, you’re clearly just a guard, no matter how you look at it."

"Kyle comes first, right?"

"Who the hell would break into the Marquis's mansion?"

"Yeah, that makes sense."

And so the three of us ended up happily strolling through town together.

"Not a date!"

What a stick in the mud. The kind who doesn’t get jokes.

I’m waiting for the correction—“Actually, she’s not even a knight”—anytime now (´ω｀)