Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?

The audience that pains stomachs

The convoy of Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford, two highly influential nobles even in Valkyra Kingdom, which included their knights was truly impressive.

A bizarrely impressive carriage ran as if caught between the center of them. Pulling the carriage was an intimidating Dragon Horse that had tough scales covering its body and a sharp horn protruding from its head.

Even as it lined up at the queue for nobles arriving into the Royal Capital, the attention it drew did not diminish.

Led by Margrave Volton’s carriage, we arrived in front of Margrave Volton’s capital mansion.
Knights on horseback approached our carriage and guided it.

「Iruma-dono, please park the carriage for a moment and travel with us afterwards.」
「No need, it’ll be fine because I will store my carriage. Tsubaki who pulls the carriage will also return to the Subspace.」

「I-is that so?」

I could tell that the knight’s expression stiffened, but as Margrave Volton already knew that I can bring my familiars in and out, as well as store large quantities in my Item Box, there was no point in being prudent this late.

Xervus-san, who ushered us into the Margravial residence, informed us that the audience with His Majesty will be 3-5 days after, so until then, we were to stay in the mansion until then.

That night, I had a dinner meting with Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford.

「The audience, am I needed for it?」
「Naturally. What would we do if we exclude the maker of Soma?」
「Though I certainly did request the ingredients for Soma, the one who did gather them was you, Iruma-dono.」

The energy to challenge the second audience just wouldn’t come. If it’s just the presentation of the Soma, then I’m not needed.

「Fret not, though it could be called an audience, it was only with His Majesty, Prime Minister Simon, and the escorting royal guards. His Majesty had also accepted this.」

「Should the successful creation of Soma be known to the other nobles, blood will be shed.」

Apparently, when they were requesting for an audience, they were careful to not leak information.

It had been a dinner with high nobility, and yet I hardly had the complacency to taste it.

It was two days later that we had gotten word from the Royal Palace that they were ready for the audience.

Margrave Volton, Earl Rockford, and I attended the audience in the Royal Palace, but not at the venue where audiences are held, but in a room that had an anti-eavesdropping magic device installed.

「It would seem His Majesty is apprehensive about an information leak. They were told it’s about a very serious topic, after all. There was still a concern of being overheard even if people were cleared out during the audience.」

「Haa, is that much really necessary? The Soma recipe was information from Margrave Volton, and wouldn’t an alchemist would be able to create it if they have all the ingredients?」

When I said that, Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford sighed deeply.

「Haa, think about what you’ve just said. Listen here, Iruma-dono. Only a few of the leaves and dew of the World Tree are exported by Yggurle Kingdom yearly. If you have the time and money, you might be able to get your hands on it. Even the dragon heart, it might be possible if you request top class adventurers.」
「Yeah. Also, for some reason lately, there have been a large number of dragon materials appearing through Samandour Kingdom.」

The instant Earl Rockford mentioned a large number of dragon materials were circulating the markets because of Samandour Kingdom, my heart skipped a beat. Those were definitely the dragons we subjugated when we went dungeon capturing in the Dragon Dungeon with Queen Fraal, weren’t they?
Not noticing that I was panicking by myself, Margrave Volton continued to speak.

「However, the Hermit Peach was the only one that impossible for anyone other than Iruma-dono.」

I was puzzled when he said that. Sure enough, the Hermit Peach spoils suddenly when harvested. However, that shouldn’t be a problem with the existence of the magic bag which had a time delay effect.

「No, don’t look so puzzled. First of all, no one aside from you would walk into the Forest of Death.」

「Well, it’s definitely a harsh environment, but……」

Now that I think about it, we would leave markers at night and teleport back to the mansion, so maybe it would be hard to camp out in the Forest of Death.

「There you have it. Well, if information about the Soma is leaked out, there would be foolish nobles and merchants who gather materials by letting money talk would surely come out.」
「In doing so, just how many adventurers would be sacrificed……」

At that time, the door to the room opened, three people entered with Royal Knight Commander Galahad-dono at the lead, followed by His Majesty, and Prime Minister Simon.

Margrave Volton and Earl Rockford rose from their seats and so I too hurriedly got up.

「……first, take a seat.」

The King took his seat, Prime Minister Simon sat beside him, and Galahad stood at attention behind the King. We sat down at His Majesty’s urging, and the stomach-wrenching audience began.