Chapter 74. Alchemy Night Class (1)
Radel was waiting for Armandy behind the dormitory building.
He had to receive information in exchange for the poisoned fork he had given him last time.
"Your Highness."
After a short while, Armandy appeared.
"You're here, Armandy."
"Here is what I have prepared."
He handed the documents to Radel with a serious expression.
Armandy, who seemed to be contemplating something while Radel was looking through the documents, asked cautiously.
"Why did you do that at the last Imperial Hunting Competition?"
Radel, having already been nagged by Inette once, thought it was about that again.
He wondered if refusing the wish voucher was such a big deal.
"Are you also here because I didn't take the wish voucher?"
Armandy's expression became subtle.
"...I'm talking about the assassin."
So it was about that.
It seemed the Ability Management Bureau knew what had happened at the hunting competition.
Well, it would be stranger if the Ability Management Bureau didn't infiltrate a place where the royals were gathered.
"Were you at the hunting competition?"
"I didn't go near Your Highness."
Well, if Armandy, a magician, had come near Radel while hiding himself with magic, he would have been discovered immediately due to the Status Effect Nullification.
That meant that the Ability Management Bureau had noticed that illusion magic didn't work on Radel.
'They've figured it out well even though I didn't tell them.'
As expected of the empire's secret agency.
Radel silently looked through the documents.
What Armandy had handed over was a list of organizations that had been confirmed to have infiltrated the academy or were suspected of having done so.
Information about the assassin's guild, Black Fang, which Tunia had mentioned, was also written there.
That an assassin's guild of the same name had disappeared 10 years ago and had reappeared this time, that they would finish a mission once they took it on, no matter how astronomical the fee, and that they would eliminate a failed assassin and deploy another one—it was exactly as Tunia had said.
Well, there was no reason for Tunia to lie about a matter of life and death.
Radel was comparing Tunia's words with the information in the Black Fang's file.
Armandy cautiously opened his mouth.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but it's dangerous. Even if you persuade that assassin, as long as the request has been made, another assassin will come to deal with the traitor."
"Really? That's even better. I can deal with them one by one."
Radel didn't seem to care about Armandy's words.
The documents also contained detailed information about the poison Tunia had used in her assassination attempt last time.
It was a drug that caused a heart attack eight hours after ingestion.
'As expected, the intention was to disguise it as an accidental death.'
However, the documents stated that the Black Fang intentionally revealed what they had done. It was to instill fear in the assassination target.
In other words, Tunia was definitely on a different path from the Black Fang.
Armandy became anxious every time Radel carefully turned a page of the documents.
'Really? He's really going to confront the Black Fang?'
It wasn't a situation Armandy could step into. There were orders from above to just watch whatever the 8th Prince did.
He wanted to just watch, but the 8th Prince was trying to go down a dangerous path.
Still, if he could somehow coax the 8th Prince and get him under the protection of the academy...!
Just then, Radel smiled and asked Armandy.
"...But Armandy. You completely left out the Ability Management Bureau from the documents, didn't you?"
Armandy was at a loss for words.
It seemed he couldn't just hand over the Ability Management Bureau's classified information.
But it was an excuse that wouldn't work on Radel.
"Should I have a diary reading session of Armandy's diary in the dormitory lounge tomorrow?"
Armandy squeezed his eyes shut.
That guy was a real psycho...
Alchemy class.
The herb garden was full of 1st-years pulling weeds.
They were diligent students who had come early before class started to prepare their ingredients in advance.
But they each had a straw hat on their heads.
It wasn't just one or two.
The sight of them pulling weeds while wearing straw hats as a group was a strange sight even for Cailin, a 10-year veteran alchemy professor.
Professor Cailin approached the students and asked.
"Where did you all get those hats?"
"The Prince is selling them over there right now."
What is this?
Professor Cailin went outside the alchemy workshop.
Radel was really selling hats, laying them out at the entrance of the workshop.
"Here, buy one beginner's alchemy set and get one free. It would be great to share with a friend, right?"
"Buy one, get one free! Want to chip in and buy one with me?"
"Should we?"
Although Professor Cailin loved money, he had never seen such a guy in his teaching career.
To openly sell things before class time.
Normally, he would have scolded him, but his curiosity got the better of him.
Professor Cailin approached Radel and asked.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Professor, you've come at a good time. Please take a look at my product composition. I've gathered only the essentials for pulling weeds and making potions. What do you think, Professor?"
Professor Cailin found himself looking around Radel's stall.
Radel was selling a bundle of a straw hat, a lightweight hoe, and various ingredients that were essential for making beginner potions.
In Cailin's eyes, it was a good composition.
It was nothing short of excellent business acumen.
"I noticed that many of my friends were having trouble with the hot sun while pulling weeds last time. I figured that with these items, my friends could work much more efficiently."
"Ho-oh."
"If it's alright, I would like to hear your esteemed opinion."
Look at this guy.
He had thought Radel was unusual, but this was beyond his expectations.
"I won't say anything. You won't be able to hear the words you want from me."
"Oh, that's a shame."
As expected, he wasn't falling for it.
Radel grinned at Professor Cailin.
If Professor Cailin had just said it was okay, he was planning to immediately promote it as 'A beginner's alchemy set approved by Professor Cailin'.
But Professor Cailin had long since noticed Radel's intentions.
He chuckled and entered the workshop.
"Stop that and come inside. We'll be having a lecture indoors today."
"Yes, Professor."
Radel quickly folded his stall and followed Professor Cailin inside.
"Now, I have an announcement to make. It's about the alchemy night class."
Alchemy night class.
The students, except for Radel who had already heard about it from his seniors, began to whisper.
"A night class?"
"Don't tell me we're going to have lectures late into the night."
"No way."
Professor Cailin tapped the blackboard with his staff.
Then, a simple map appeared on the blackboard.
"See? Tonight, you guys will be collecting alchemy ingredients along this course. You can go alone, or if you're scared, you can move in a team of two."
The students' faces brightened at the news that they were going to collect ingredients that could only be obtained at night.
Especially the news that they could stay out after the dormitory curfew made the 1st-years quite excited.
"What, so we're not listening to a lecture?"
"This could be fun."
However, there were also those whose faces darkened.
Inette, who was afraid of ghosts, was one of them.
'Are they crazy? That's a place where ghosts are said to appear!'
The map that Professor Cailin showed was especially a problem.
If they moved according to the map, they would have to pass by the academy's lake.
A place where there were rumors among the students that strange things often appeared!
As expected, the sounds of other frightened students trembling in fear were heard.
"No way. What if a ghost appears?"
"Isn't there someone among the 1st-years who saw a ghost at the lake?"
At that, Inette tried to act calm.
She didn't want to show that she was scared in front of Radel and Gusto.
"Th-there's no such thing. Right?"
However, Radel and Gusto seemed to have different thoughts.
Radel shrugged as if to say what kind of ridiculous nonsense that was.
"What are you talking about, Inette. Of course there are."
"Wh-what?"
What they called ghosts.
In Radel's opinion, they were likely a type of undead, like zombies or skeletons.
Radel began to seriously discuss it with Gusto.
"Would undead byproducts be worth some money?"
"Most of them are contaminated with demonic energy, so it would be difficult."
Inette looked at the two of them, who were conversing calmly, with a dumbfounded expression.
Those guys were really strange.
Evening, as the dormitory curfew approached.
The 1st-years taking the alchemy lecture came out of the dormitory on time.
Contrary to their expectation that it would be dark, it was bright outside.
It was because the alchemy major seniors were lined up holding magic lamps.
The 2nd-year representative, Anesha, greeted the 1st-years brightly.
"Nice to meet you, 1st-years! Come this way! Just follow us."
The 1st-years hesitantly walked, following the seniors' instructions.
Anesha, who was guiding the juniors, found Radel and approached him.
"Junior!"
"You're working hard late at night, senior."
When Radel greeted her, Anesha nodded.
"I did have a bit of a hard time. I prepared a lot this time to make it really realistic. But it'll be a lot of fun."
It was questionable whether all the 1st-years would think it was fun...
At least, Radel thought the night class would be fun.
"Is there anything you're curious about?"
At Anesha's words, Radel asked without hesitation.
"Do you know how many ingredients we can collect? I was wondering if there was a limit."
Anesha burst out laughing at Radel's question.
She had never seen anyone ask such a question, even when she was a freshman.
"I've never seen anyone like you. You're really funny."
Anesha explained that since the purpose of this class was a test of courage, there would be few people who actually picked a lot of herbs.
Radel was relieved to hear that.
'There won't be many competitors. I should tell Gusto to secure as much as possible.'
The 1st-years soon arrived at the place where the night class was to be held.
Professor Cailin of alchemy was waiting there.
"Nice to see you at this hour. I know some of you may have complaints about this night class, but think of it as a training process for night gathering, which is necessary for alchemists."
Radel nodded in sincere agreement with Professor Cailin's words.
He couldn't miss such a precious opportunity.
Soon, a lottery began for those who wanted to start in a team of two.
Since Radel was planning to go alone, he was standing at a distance and talking briefly with Gusto.
"Did you bring the sack?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I have it ready."
"Good. Let's check again later."
Gusto took out the sack and hoe he had prepared. Radel also put on the bag with the space expansion spell and packed a hoe.
Their goal was to dig up as many herbs as they could carry.
As the two of them were checking their equipment, a familiar voice was heard from afar.
"No way!"
It was Inette, who had drawn a lot, saying she could never go alone.
If you chose a team of two, you had to go with the partner you drew.
Did she draw a partner she didn't want to be with?
Radel was guessing when a dejected Inette approached.
"Who did you draw?"
"...Tunia Fiore."
As soon as he heard Tunia's name, Radel had a premonition.
It was a vague premonition that perhaps Inette would finally have a friend.