Greatest Alchemist? Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Wedgefort functions as a wedge

The swarm of monsters that attacked Wedgefort have mostly been suppressed. The monsters that ran away likely wouldn’t approach Wedgefort for a while either.

After the battle, we stayed in an inn at Wedgefort and slept like logs until the afternoon the next day.
Drastically leveling up, Marnie, whose status values were on the rise, was perplexed by her own change.

「……Wow, it’s like it isn’t me.」
「It’s because your level was low before that you instantly level up just by dealing the finishing blow, Marnie.」
「That’s right, with this, you can make progress with dagger training, too.」

It seems that to Maria, a maid must learn to use assassination techniques at any cost. Just what could Moulin-san have indoctrinated in Maria?

「For the time being, I was thinking we could relax at Wedgefort, but there’s no problem with that, right? 」
「Yes, we are in no hurry to accept a request.」

The requests we’re pertaining to are not the requests of the Adventurers Guild, but those of the Papeck Company and Margrave Volton’s for magic devices and different kinds of potions.

「Now then, I’m hungry so shall we go to the restaurant?」
「「「「Yes.」」」」

「Listen, Heath, I wanna know what type of guy that Takumi is.」
「Mm? About Takumi-kun? I met him maybe around 2 years ago. I first met him when he came with us to Volton from Bohd, a rural village. At that time, the Papeck Company bought a bunch of things from him. I wonder if he was a blacksmith and a pharmacist.」
「A blacksmith and pharmacist? He wasn’t an adventurer?」

In the bar next to the inn at Wedgefort, Merilda, the leader of the 『Crimson Rose』 was asking Heath, the leader of the 『Lion’s Fang』, about Takumi. The participation of Takumi’s group yesterday had been a shock to Merilda.

「That’s right. But the next time we worked together was when we went hunting for Treants in the outskirts of the Forest of Death, I think. You probably know Doganbo-san, the dwarven blacksmith living in Volton. It looked like he was going to dig for ores with Doganbo-san at Horuas, but that was the second time we worked together.」

Merilda could not believe her ears when she heard from Heath that, at that time, it hadn’t even been a year since Takumi registered as an adventurer.

「Well, Treants are not that difficult of a monster, but they aren’t something for a newbie to hunt so soon after his registration.」
「Well, Takumi-kun was hunting even in Bohd Village, so I don’t think he’s just a newbie.」

The image of Takumi yesterday was burned into Merilda’s eyes. Rushing into the middle of the monsters, moving freely as he clutched a spear in one hand and a sword on the other, defeating the monsters. Moreover, she lost sight of the flashy and violent Takumi at times during the battle. Suddenly monster blood sprays, then Takumi could be seen at that spot. The next moment, Takumi’s figure would disappear again. Merilda said that to Heath.

「Ah, that’s probably the Stealth skill, right?」
「If it was the Stealth skill, even Linda, who is a scout in my party, would have noticed, but it likely wasn’t Stealth.」
「Maybe, but I think he used a magic item that enhances Stealth.」

In actuality, it’s the effect of the cloak that even grants a +Inhibit Perception, but Takumi didn’t discuss their equipment to anyone else aside from his household, so there was no way for Heath to have known.

「A magic item?!」
「Maybe it’s Takumi’s own creation.」

Merilda could understand if it was found from a dungeon treasure chest or at an ancient ruin, but she’s never heard of a magic item made by an artisan or an alchemist that has an effect to such a degree.

「Even if that were so, there’s no way he’s only been an adventurer for 2 years. Just what is that nonsensical strength?」

Merilda became an adventurer when she was 15 years old, and A rank is finally within reach after 12 years. It is common sense in this world that high level adventurers have longer lifespans. If you go by that standard, Merilda is at an age where she still has years of great effort to do to reach that. And the young man known as Takumi Iruma has grown and acquired that strength in 2 years.

「The healer in Merilda’s group asked, didn’t she? Is he involved with the Genesis Faith. Takumi-kun isn’t a liar so it’s probably different, but I think that’s exactly why it wouldn’t be strange for him to have powerful divine protection from Goddess Norn.」

Hearing Heath’s conjecture, Merilda ended up agreeing. He has outstanding skills as an artisan that leave nothing to be desired, and has the ability to grow in combat. It certainly seems like he had been blessed with strong divine protection by Goddess Norn.

「When I think about it that way, I understand. It isn’t just that kid either. While the people around him aren’t at his level, they’re oddly strong enough.」

Merilda said so herself, recalling once again how absurd they were.

「You get the idea from his tamed familiars too.」

Archenie, Dragon Horse, Metal Golem. None of which are monsters normally tamable.

「That’s why, Merilda, I’d like you to keep Takumi-kun’s relation to the Genesis Faith a secret.」
「…… If it’s the Genesis Faith, then it’s still preferable. The problem is the Light God Faith. If the zealots of the Light God Church knew, who knows what they’ll do.」

For adventurers operating in countries aside from Triaria Kingdom and the Divine Empire of Sydnia, they perceive the Light God Faith to be a gathering of avaricious zealots. Merilda’s party has a beastkin comrade. The Light God Faith’s treatment of the Beastkin is unforgivable to Merilda.

「Right, if it’s the Light God Faith, they’d send assassins. Well, I can’t imagine Takumi-kun would die from that though.」
Haa, we’d really like to get that kid to make our equipment too.」
「Yeah, those spears and swords were amazing. Their armors would definitely also have outrageous abilities, right?」

The two remembered Takumi’s group’s exhibition during the fight yesterday. Cutting tough monsters with no resistance; clad in fire; creating storms; freezing monsters.

「It’s as if they’re artifacts. Just how much would it cost to make them?」
「It would probably be expensive even at a friend’s rate.」

Drinking since morning, the conversation of the two continued until the afternoon.

After leaving his subordinate in charge with the post-processing and returning to Volton, Knight Leader Dorn went to the castle to report to Godwin the following day.

「This is the quick summary report. We will calculate Wedgefort’s defense with this.」

Godwin looked over the report that Dorn had given.

「There were no parts in the wall that collapsed?」
「There were no large scratches. According to Takumi-dono, the wall was bestowed with Harden. The surroundings of the wall have been dug up too, not allowing the monsters to invade.」
「Is Wedgefort enough to be a wedge[1]?」
「More than enough.」

A strong wedge hammered into the buffer zone of three countries known as the savage lands. Triaria Kingdom would likely be shocked to know that Wedgefort’s defenses had weathered the flood of monsters without any damage.

In one room in the royal castle at Tivaal, the royal capital of Triaria Kingdom. Two men were having a private talk there.

「Is the report of the spy correct?」
「Yes, I have verified it from reports of multiple sources, but it is a fact that a large fortress town was built in that location, moreover, it is also a fact that it overcame a large-scale flood of monsters without any damage.」
「……………………」

The expression on Mercules, the king of Triaria, who had fallen silent was filled with so much anger that it was easy to understand.

「Can this town called Wedgefort be assailed?」
「……………………」

When the Minister of Armed Forces, Valacan, was asked this by King Mercules, he could not voice his opposition.
Eventually, he opened his mouth and out came his words.

「Difficult……, no, that would be pretentious. I believe it is impossible. Firstly, marching through the savage lands is a suicidal act. If we were to circumvent it, the burden would be too great and unrealistic.」
「We can not march inside Lomaria Kingdom either?」
「If we were to do that, we would be at war with the alliance of Lomaria Kingdom and Valkyra Kingdom. It would be too perilous for our country, which has only just recovered from the liabilities from the war with Yggurle Kingdom 50 years ago.」
「Yes, that is so.」

A heavy atmosphere circulated between the two.

「However, for such a large fortress city to suddenly appear in a place like that.」
「With the large flood of monsters on this occasion, the monsters in their surroundings would settle down for a while. The matter regarding Wedgefort was taken in by Valkyra Kingdom.」
「Nevertheless, it would likely be impossible for us even if we gather earth magic users.」

Isn’t there a plan to recover from this hopeless situation? King Mercules sank into a sea of thoughts.

At the Divine Empire of Sydnia, information that held a sense of impending danger was received.

「In a mere few months, the fortress town Wedgefort was completed? An impregnable fortress town with a firm foothold in savage lands?」

Pope Warvaal had a dazed expression as he read the report he received.

「Why God’s work did not occur at our country, but in that of the Genesis Faith’s is something I do not understand.」
「Musudan-dono, it is an exaggeration to call it God’s work. They must have mobilized a mass of Earth magic users.」

Prime Minister Musudan’s remark on God’s work was remonstrated by Head Magician Homer.

「That aside, is it not surprising that they resolved the matter of a flood of tens of thousands of monsters with seemingly no damage?」

Holy Knight Leader Packard learned from the report of a spy that the monsters were eradicated by the reinforcements consisting of adventurers who rushed in from Volton town and knights dispatched by Margrave Volton. He wondered what if it had happened in his own country, and cold sweats ran down his back unceasingly.

「It is a year until the hero summoning. When that happens, the time will come for the Divine Empire of Sydnia, the Light God Faith, to conquer the continent.」

The first imperial princess Elizabeth said to have a little bit more patience.

Afterwards, when the detailed information came in, they learned that the adventurer party known as 『Wings of Norn』 had played a very large role in it. Thus Pope Warvaal and the others had gotten the wrong impression that the 『Wings of Norn』 were members of the Genesis Faith and had restrained themselves from carelessly starting a fight. Not sending in more zealots causing Takumi’s group to be able to have a peaceful time was an ironic result.

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Footnotes:

  1. In case it isn’t clear why they ask if Wedgefort is a wedge, a wedge is technically “a material having one thick end and tapering to a thin edge, that is driven between two objects or parts of an object to secure or separate them”. So you can think of it as something that can stop something from moving, like a door stopper. But it can also be a simple machine that splits things apart, like an axe cutting through a log. In the novel’s case, Wedgefort is a very strong and secure door stopper against monsters and possible invaders.

Sphy’s Note:

I’m grateful to people who point out mistakes, but please don’t be rude and accusatory about it. It’s really demotivating. I’m sorry if this ruins anyone’s day / mood. In any case, let’s all just talk about the chapter~ we don’t need to be gloomy, I’ve vented enough in the previous page! Thank you for reading and for the encouraging comments! ^^

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sfcipher

Thanks for the treat.

ReEternity Zero

Thx for the chap!

jose gonzalez

althougth i havent read the intro in this chapter, i would like to said something. if people comment something good, its fair, but when people start to write comments to make complains just for the fun or disagree with something, please be civil and dont insult the traslator. isnt easy to traslate, most of the time one just need to think about the words that can be used to keep the idea the author wrote. i dont traslate anything, i am spanish speaker than learned english several years ago ( almost 30 years, how the time is flying) but still… Read more »

O-Tak

Thanks for the chapter!
Me personally thinks it is absurd to give any negative critisism when people translate chapters of novels, its either you give constructive critisism that will help imporve the writers translation quality/help them fix mistakes, or you shut the hell up and do the translation yourself, you doing this for free for us, and I for one, am greatful for you doing this.
Anyway, keep up the great work and im looking forward to the next one.

Philip

Some corrections I noted down (hope it helps): [The monster that ran] -> {The monsters that ran} [what could Moulin-san indoctrinated] -> {what could Moulin-san have indoctrinated} [are the not the] -> {are not the} Interesting, this monster stampede was mostly turned into an experience bomb, but most importantly it showed just how beefy the new fort is, thus most countries nearby will be more cautious next. What can I say, tasty common sense beating Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation! God bless you! P.S. If someone posts annoying comments, either warn first, or straight ban, if possible. Take care… Read more »

Blythe

Thank you as always. I’ll fix them later~

aditue

thanks for the chapter, i’m confined in the house (covid 19) so having more chapter is better ! hope your’ keep your motivation to translate more and more

Blythe

Please take care and stay healthy! ^^ There are way more supportive people than there are rude, so I hope to be able to continue translating too~

EvilGinger

Me want more. How can complain? I can not.

kuching

I have also been confined in my house since yesterday

Tremur

Thank you for the update. I quite enjoy this story and very much appreciate the work you do ?

Bakrit

LOL. The spy just couldn’t find out that it was all done by one man and so everyone thinks that it was an army. I wonder if kaede will be more like spiderman. Shooting webs from her hands after this evolution.

zeru

Watch kaede goes from being little kid top half to big busty waifu who wants to be with master for some night time fun with master

Andrew

Thanks for another chapter and all your hard work

TAMA-MII

Lol, at this point sydnia would misunderstand takumi’s party as goddess norn’s army/appostles.

Thanks for the hardwork.

caudyr

The irony of this is that it’s not that far from the truth (at least with regards to Takumi…he just…doesn’t know it, lol). They just saved their own skin by not sending people after him. XD

Tanskandoggi

Thanks for the chapter

kariageweb

Thanks for the chapter! 🙂

Kuzo

I’m not really interested on another comment but, you made some mistakes and someone give a rude comment? The hell with that guy??

Thanks for the chappu~

exd890

Thanks for the new chapter

MikeLima52

Thank you for the chapter!

Sebastian agudelo

thanks for the chapter

Maurice Voortman

thanks for the chapter!!!
keep up the good work ??

KarmaTy

Thanks for the new chapter~

Brass Knight

Thanks for the chapter (and the TL up to know as well)! The expression on the Mercules, the king of Triaria ———> The expression on Mercules, the king of Triaria Honestly, it’s because of all those who have no respect for the translators (or anyone else for that matter) that I generally don’t feel like commenting on most of the series I read. Of course, I could just post “Thanks for the chapter” and leave it at that, but it feels like I’m a ‘bot’ after a while, so unless I actually have something to say, I tend to stay… Read more »

Blythe

Thank you~ I’ll fix it soon. I am honestly fine with silent readers because even I am not much of a talker, so I totally get. What I very much dislike is the occasional entitled, arrogant reader who talk like they’re the boss of me and that I owe it to them to keep the site perfect. Like any mistake is a serious offense. I do try to keep it in tip top shape, but even I overlook things. Though, I’ll admit that my choice to vent out in such a childish way is not really the most ideal method.… Read more »

Coolman

Thanks for the chapter!