Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 164

First Spirit Conference

After we came back to the Sanctuary via teleportation and cared for the weakened kids ーー with the girl named Julie doing well and no longer sickーー, we decided to have a conference with the Great Spirits.

「I think that at this rate, people coming for the Sanctuary would increase endlessly. We were lucky enough to be able to save the kids this time but…………」

Passing through the savage lands riddled with many small monster nests, a person would be fortunate to arrive at the Sanctuary. Exhausting their strength on the way and falling prey to monsters, individuals unable to reach the Sanctuary would likely appear too. When I pointed this out, Undine also seemed to be of the same opinion that the current trend is not good.

「Certainly, that is so. The half-baked stationed soldiers are also a hindrance. We have to think of something.」
「To me, I do not think that there are enough Dwarves that have gathered. After all, we are making alcohol.」

Gnome had said that there weren’t enough Dwarves, and we can’t deny that. For some reason though, no matter how far they are, they still catch wind of this place.

「The Dwarves will be fine. I imagine they’ll kick around any monsters by themselves as they come here. And in the first place, people who were not guided to the Sanctuary can’t come.」
「Then Elves will be fine as well. Princess Mimir is also there, and Yggurle Kingdom should have plenty of orphanages. Well, even then, that kingdom also has families like Melty’s that can’t survive there.」

Sylph was giving a nonchalant OK to leaving the Elves be. Sure they’ll be fine if they use Spirit Magic, but I think an unlucky family could still fall prey to monsters.

「Before that, why did the Sanctuary expand this much?」
「What? You don’t even know why?」
「It has been decided, hasn’t it? Ask the spirits.」

Sylph and Gnome had faces saying “How is it that you do not know this?“. Well, that’s because, normally, the only ones who can hear the voices of the Spirits were the Fairykin like Dwarves and Elves.

「Wappa, Colette, and the kids are Catkins and Humans though.」
「Those children are the children from towns in remote regions of countries that we know have stationed their troops here, aren’t they? Really, those children truly are lucky.」
「Still, Sylph, you say “lucky”, …… well it really is a relief though. Haa, we can’t stop rumors about the Sanctuary from leaking out, can we?」
「Jeez, it’s time, let’s make a town.」

Undine started spouting crazy things. And just when I thought that, Dryas dropped a bomb.

「Listen Takumi, this is hard to say, but my dependents had also increased..?」
「Eh? Your dependents, Dryas?」
「Yes, the Faeries are already working in the orchard.」
「F-faeries?! A F-faery?」 [1]
「Elves, Dwarves, Cat Siths, and Mermaids are Fairykin, aren’t they? Why are you all flustered about Faeries now?」

Dryas’ quip was accurate. Still, Faeries are those tiny ones with small wings, aren’t they?

According to Dryas, because of their appearance, nobles and wealthy merchants were interested in keeping the Faeries as pets, and there was a time in the past where the Faeries had been over-hunted. That’s why Dryas said she wants to shelter them in the Sanctuary.

「Then, unnecessarily rash people wouldn’t be let into the Sanctuary, right?」
「Yes, so why don’t we reveal the fact that “The Great Spirits have manifested, evil people will not be able to pass the barrier of the Sanctuary” to Valkyra and Lomaria? Yggurle has Princess Mimir who knows the true state of affairs of the Sanctuary. Samandour is some distance away so it would be fine to put them on hold. Also, it’s fine to disregard Triaria, isn’t it?」

Undine said that if the various countries were informed about the Sanctuary to some extent, the annoying stationed soldiers might withdraw. That’s overly optimistic though.

Incidentally, Great Light Spirit Selene and Great Dark Spirit Nyx did not participate in this meeting. They basically spend their time doing as they please, Selene basking in the sun and Nyx sleeping in her room.

「Then, for now let’s focus on sheltering distressed children. If they’re adults without any issues like the Elf Melty-san, the Cat Siths Mapo-san and Poporo-san, then we’d like them to come for the children’s sake as well.」

In the end, we’re leaving things as is. They said not to worry about the Fairykin. This doesn’t mean that there are no evil people among the Fairykin though. That lecherous Elf aiming for Sophia is still continuing to make futile efforts to go through or destroy the barrier.
Well, while it is a matter of course, the Fairykin qualified to enter the Sanctuary, a land connected to the Great Spirits, wouldn’t commit misdeeds. In the first place, the Great Spirits have a unified opinion about those who can’t hear the voice of the Spirits, even if they are Fairykin.

The beings known as the Great Spirits are objects of worship similar to gods, especially so to the Fairykin. Sophia is better now, but at first, her attitude was stiff towards Sylph and Undine. She’s still slightly nervous though.

For the person on Valkyra’s side, I gave that person’s name.

「Should I try talking to Lord Volton?」
「That might be a good idea. If it’s Margrave Volton, you will likely have an upright discussion. It wouldn’t be with the so-called royal faction, but their connections are deep.」

My work just keeps increasing.

The stationed troops of various countries didn’t notice, but the Sanctuary is gradually spreading out. Right now, it is four times the size of the town of Volton. The soldiers haven’t realized that they’re slowly being moved outward. The Great Spirits seem to want to make this land into a small country in the future. They show no signs of reining in their tendencies.

「Also, I think we should call Princess Mimir to discuss this together, so we will call her here. 」
「…………summoning the princess of a country.…」

Well, let’s just go with “It’s the Great Spirits so it can’t be helped”.
Nevertheless, I have a feeling that this discussion is getting bigger and bigger. I wonder if a Spirit King or something would come out and govern this land.
To be negotiating with a high ranking noble… I just want to concentrate on making the ship…………………

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Footnotes:

1. Dryas and Takumi’s first uses kana(フェアリー), second uses kanji(妖精). I think I’ll use Faerie to differentiate with Fairykin (妖精種).[↩]