Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?

A request from the Yggurle Kingdom’s Prime Minister

Having safely(?) finished making marriage greetings to Sophia’s parents, we stayed in Sophia’s home.
As soon as we entered the room, Sophia bowed deeply and apologized.

「Takumi-sama I apologize.」
「No, I don’t mind it at all. I think fathers are really like that.」

I knew why Sophia was apologizing. It was about how Dante-san had been interacting with me ever since we arrived. Still, I think parents who have daughters would more or less act similar to that. If I ever become a parent and have a daughter, even I might end up saying 「I will not approve of a man weaker than me」.

「Yeah, it’s not something to worry about. A bit……well, he was a bit out there, but Freesia-san was sensible, so isn’t it okay that it balances out?」
「Akane-san, you’re not praising him, are you?」

Sophia was also surprised by this side of Dante-san that she saw for the first time. To Sophia, Dante-san seemed like a strict man to both himself and others, and not a person that would throw a tantrum and sulk because he didn’t want to marry Sophia off.

「No, based on Freesia-san’s attitude, he really had that side to him. Though it was surprising that Freesia-san suddenly beat up Dante-san.」

I agreed with Maria’s opinion. It was surprising that she hit him so hard he fainted.

The Sylphide family’s maid came to us, who were relaxing, to say that dinner preparations were complete.

「She is not a formal maid. Our family is a Chevalier governing over a small territory and has no money, so we’re employing the old people from a farmer family in the neighborhood.

The maids working in Sophia’s parents room were the elderly who had retired from farming.

「Income is low because it’s a small territory, yet we are required to employ a fixed number of soldiers, so it had apparently been difficult.」

As we headed to the dining room, Sophia told me about the Sylphide family’s financial situation.
The last time we visited, I did notice that there was not much surplus seen in the mansion, but sure enough, the both the exterior and interior of the building was simple…… or bluntly speaking, worn out. Firstly, the size of the mansion was smaller than that of a wealthy farmer’s residence.
As they were originally a vested Chevalier, they had been conferred the small territory like harassment, and the next 50 years were a series of hardships.
Dante-san himself had plowed the fields and constructed waterways in addition to his government work. However, unlike Humans, the Elves who had high magic aptitude and use Spirit Magic were able to use wind and water magic in agriculture, so they were able to save somehow during these 50 years.

「Sophia, you also send money, right?」
「Yes, they seem to have cleared the debt with it.」
「Even if we have sweets, all we do is buy sweets, don’t we?」
「No, that’s probably just you, Maria. I buy books.」

「Ehh~ haven’t you only bought three books in the past 3 years?」
「Wha!? Why do you know this, Maria!?」

While Sophia and Maria were having a friendly banter, we arrived at the dining room.

Perhaps because they were on the lower ranks of nobility, nearly half commoners, I’m relieved that the seats reserved for Marnie, Laeva, and Lulu-chan were also at the same table.
I didn’t want to harbor unpleasant feelings in Sophia’s parents’ home.
Dante-san and Freesia-san who raised Sophia must not have been averse to other races for Sophia to be like that.
This was unusual for the Elves. The hard reality is that many of the Elves, even the commoners, look down upon the other races.

The slightly depressed Dante-san, the smiling Freesia-san, and the aged Elf was at the head of the table.

「Takumi-kun, I will introduce you. This is the Prime Minister of Yggurle Kingdom, Balza-sama. He appears to have something to request of you.」
「Wha!?」
「……haa.」

Sophia was at a loss for words hearing “Prime Minister”, but I somewhat expected it, so I wasn’t as affected. Sure enough, I remember he was among the Sanctuary observation group. Moreover, I could imagine what he wanted to ask. Even though Princess Mimir, who is close with Akane and the girls, was attending the wedding, he was likely discontent about there being no other representative from Yggurle Kingdom.

「Allow me to greet you. I am Balza who had been conferred the role of Prime Minister of Yggurle Kingdom. Yet, I am simply an old fogey. As Madam Freesia had stated, King Forselty has a matter he wishes to ask of you, Iruma-dono.」
「Me?」

The prime minster of a country had come to inform me of his king’s request. What a joke……

If possible, I would have liked it if we had such a conversation after dinner. I can’t taste anything like this.