“Who?”
Roa still hasn’t let her guard down, and Taula is still holding her sword, ready to strike.
“Ah, hum… This is Master Halhammer. He took care of me when I first joined the alchemist association.”
“I’m Halhammer. Pleasure to meet you, beautiful ladies. Rust… Is a bit of a blockhead that likes his research a little too much, but he’s a pretty good guy.”
Says Halhammer while pointing at me.
“…I think there’s some sort of misunderstanding going on here, Master Halhammer.”
“What are you talking about? You’re a blockhead that spends too much time doing research and has almost no interest in girls. What part of that is wrong? Actually, it seems that last part has changed since I was demoted and quit!”
“Eh? You quit too Master Halhammer!?”
My surprise overtakes my need to argue about the rest.
“Yes, probably a year ago by now. I didn’t want to just sit back and be paid in that place. Did you also quit the association?”
“Yes. A friend I went to school with offered me a new job. I’m sorry I didn’t contact you.”
“No problem no problem. I didn’t contact you either. I’m just happy to see you aren’t rotting in that place out of consideration for me or anything.”
“I’m very relieved to hear that. I actually did want to do my best to protect the basic research department I inherited from you, but in the end, they reduced our budget to zero and it was disbanded.”
“I see. That must have been tough. But don’t worry, people are what’s important. Organizations are only vessels that matter because of the people in them. So don’t worry about that. How’s your research been going since you quit?”
“I’ve actually made quite a bit of progress since I left.”
“Hou… I definitely want to hear more about…”
“Ahem, Master Rust? Is this going to take long?”
Asks Taula.
“Well, maybe a little…?”
I answer, and Taula stares at me with a smile on her face.
She holds that smile without saying a word. I think her shapely features make it more intense.
I turn away and see Roa also looking at me, completely emotionless. But her eyes behind the glasses feel cold.
Halhammer taps my shoulder and laughs.
“Hahaha! Delightful! Good luck young man! But let’s not stand here and talk. Do you want some tea? I can explain why I’m here too.”
Says Halhammer before he starts walking. The last phrase felt directed at Roa and Taula, who go back to their usual expressions like nothing happened, and the three of us follow Halhammer.
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It’s probably not a good time to create any type of new alchemist association despite two former department heads being here. The kingdom or empire will be looking to place blame (and thus fines and slave labor judgments) if it is shown that these two alchemists quit in order to create a competing alchemy association. If they simply remain individual quitters, the prior alchemist association will pick up all the blame for fraud, mismanagement, and disaster. Well, it depends on how much the author will plot protect these two alchemists and former department heads in the disgraced alchemist association.
The government still might place the blame on Rust and Halhammer. After all, the new president was a politician, one of their own, and Rizalhem disappeared under mysterious circumstances, looking to recruit Rust back.
The government may well decide to unilaterally accuse Rust of sabotage on his way out, just to save face.