Volume 4 Chapter 17.2 (2/2)

「Yeah, but this one is very white?」

「Yeah. That is what I see as well.…… At first, I thought that it had such a color because it was produced only moments ago…… But after all, it really seems to be different from the one I used in the past. Though the material composition itself seems the same to me.……」

Even though they have the same substance composition, why do they behave differently as materials?

Those terms that only alchemists would understand wouldn’t do anything, so I’d better ask her to explain it in simpler words. And when I thought thatーー

「So it was no good after all……」

The snake god behind me said.

「You expected this? I remember you saying that things depended on whatever we will be able to use this……」

「I hoped it would turn out otherwise. However, now it is clear. The 『Yang Scale』that Daisy-san used previously was a complete one.」

「ーーSo you mean, this one is not?」

The snake god nodded.

「Yes. The other, old name, for Yang Scales produced by me is『Sun Jewel』for they absorb the light from the sun and convert it to the special magic power. Filled with it to the brim, those jewels change their color to that of a clear blue sky. That is the material known as 『Yang Scale』, but you can see how it turned out this time.」

There is not a speck of blueness to it.

What we had here was a pure white ingot.

「For the few months since those purple storms began we didn’t have any satisfactory clear sky.」

「Worsened weather is the fault of the purple storm?」

「Purple colored clouds constantly get in the way. And since I produced the yang scale in such a situation, it turned white like that. Even so, it’s still a very potent material, so I was hoping that it would be enough.……」

The snake god apologized, looking disappointed.

「Ah, well, since this is all you can do for now, it can’t be helped. So this a defective material……」

This reminds me, the situation in the City of the God tree was somewhat similar.

A bit of a change lowers the quality of the material or even ruins it.

This case is close to that.

「It’s a problem common to alchemy, often coming up, but to think it would happen again, right after the City of God Tree.」

It looks like Daisy had the same thoughts.

Even so, there is no point in such reminiscence.

I understood that it can’t fully manifest its potential. If that’s the case.

「What can we do to solve this?」

I should ask for a way to deal with this.

I asked the snake god, to which she closed her eyes, and after deliberating for a whileー

「Either allow me to bask in the sunlight and produce a new one, or expose the created yang scale to sunlight for a period of time. ……However, this yang scale came into existence with my blessing as a local god, so the moment you go away from this town or the desert, it would wither and become useless. So with the current situation……」

「With the clouds getting in the way…… It might be difficult.」

If leaving outside and just putting it under a random ray of sun was enough I would’ve done so immediately.

However, if that is not possible, I guess we will have to look for a more fundamental solution.

……Now, I wonder, what should I do. Now, though a bit pushy, there is a way……

Though it’s questionable if it would fit our conditions.

And the moment I was about to ask about it.

「Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but.」

「Hm? Michaela-san?」

Michaela’s voice came from the side.

Furthermore, she wasn’t alone.

「Master. Sorry for coming late.」

Berzelia was with her.

「Oh, you brought Berzelia?」

「Eh? Ah, yes, Berzelia-san came some moments ago. The timing was just right since I also had business here.」

「I see. Thank you, Michaela.」

「Ehehe, since I had plenty of sleep, I now have plenty of energy. ……and, eh? What’s wrong? Hero alchemist looks very depressed?」

Berzelia trotted closer and noticing the dejected Daisy, asked.

「Well, you see, Beze. We’d like to get sunlight on this…… But clouds are in the way. So I’m wondering if there is a way.」

「Clouds are in the way? I don’t know what this is all about, but if you only need to get the thing above the clouds, then I can do it if you want?」

Daisy’s eyes shone upon hearing a casual line from Berzelia.

「……I see. There was such a way.」

She looked as if she found a solution, but it is too early to be sure of that.

That is what I was thinking about as well.

So I immediately asked the Snake God the question that was bothering me about this.

「Snake god. Will it still be in the range of your divine protection if we go above the clouds?」

「What do you mean?」

「As you know, Berzelia is a dragon. Riding on her I will be able to get through the clouds and expose the yang scale to sunlight. Right, Berzelia?」

「Eh? Y-yes. As I said before, this much is no problem? But flying through the clouds is scary, so I’d like Master to fly with me……」

「Yeah, I know. ……That’s how it is, we can get sunlight for it. But, well…… I wasn’t sure if we would still be in the range of your divine protection. What would you say?」

When asked, the snake god made the most serious expression that she showed until now.

「That is…… Well…… I never tried that, so I can’t really tell…… I feel that it might be impossible, but it is difficult to tell for sure.」

To those words, Berzelia went 「Ah」.

「Did I give you false hope? Sorry for speaking out without a proper understanding, Master……」

Berzelia said, shrinking herself.

While thinking about her often turning timid at such times, I shake my head.

「No, it’s good that you proposed the idea, so there is no need to feel down. And it also seems to be one worth trying.」

I say while patting Berzelia on the head.

「Doing something is better than doing nothing. Berzelia, it’s been a while since we flew high up into the sky.」

「Eh……? It, it’s okay?! It sounds like it might fail though.」

「Well, I also want to test how well I can ride you in my current state. I think it’s a good chance, so I think we should try.」

After I said that, Berzelia raised both of her hands, looking delighted.

「Yaaay! It’s been so long since we flew together!」

Looks like she regained her spirit.

Well, I don’t know how it will turn out, but now we at least have something we can try. So this is fine. And while I thought thatー

「Ah, excuse me, Axel-san. If you are going to actually try what you just said, then there is a request that I’d like you to take……」

「Request?」

「Yes. It’s related to the conversation just now. …… I’d like to ask for your support to get rid of purple storms in the desert and Eniado.」

An unexpected line from Michaela.

This might allow us to solve our own problem as well.

「Getting rid of the purple storms, huh. This would be beneficial to us as well. Please elaborate.」

「Yes. Edgar, Snake God, please listen as well. After going through the information gathered by you, we might have found the cause of purple storms and the way to get rid of them―― I will now describe the plan that might allow us to resolve the problem plaguing our town.」