Strongest Alchemist System
Chapter 27: The sudden call

“Nee, Riku, what should we do from now on? Somehow I feel heavy to stare at everyone's face.”

“Ja-Don't say that, I feel that way too!”

Shit, I can't believe that all this mess is our own fault.

Just thinking about it, my stomach hurt once.

Geez, how am I supposed to pay for all this?

While I was twitching that, the door in this room was suddenly knocked. Hearing that, Alicia and I quickly corrected our appearance.

“A-What's up?” I'm a little nervous.

“Riku-sama, Alicia-sama, sorry to interrupt your time. But, the village chief called,” replied the man from behind the door.

“That's it? All right, tell him we're coming soon,” said I tried hard not to sound panicked.

“I understand,” reply, and after that go leave this place.

Realizing that she had gone far away, Alicia and I sighed in relief, we were really very panicked.

After all, who could remain calm after hearing all those stories. I now no longer have the face to meet the Elves.

After all, the reason why this village was destroyed was our fault.

Since we took Crsyta who is the barrier to protect this village from the monsters, Estella and the dragon were able to enter this village. If we hadn't done anything then, I don't think this would have happened.

Most likely the Crsyta I took that time was the barrier in question, and the butterfly-winged toad Alicia had mentioned before was likely the high-level Spirit guarding the place.

Perhaps she thought that a Goddess would not do anything wrong, so she kindly allowed Alicia to see that Crsyta.

“Haahh...” I sighed with a gloomy bowing face. “What should we do from now on?”

“Riku, I think we should apologize properly. We're the ones who caused this mess, so at least we have a responsibility for it. Let's go to the village chief's place and apologize. I don't know what they'll say or do if they know that we're the one causing all this trouble, but we have no right to complain with that.”

Hearing Alicia's words, I closed my eyes for a while and then took a deep breath to solidify my resolve.

“Well, I think you're right. Let's go... Estella, sorry, but can you wait here for a minute?” I said as I intended to leave the room with Alicia.

“I'm fine with that, but aren't you afraid I'll escape?” chirped Estella with a confused expression.

But I don't care at all, I've thought of that.

“Don't worry, Alicia will cast [Sanctuary] magic to keep you from getting out of this place, and instead, there won't be anyone else who can enter this place, so you're safe.”

“Seriously, where did you get all those ideas? Somehow I was a little afraid to make you my enemy,” Estella replied while grumbling.

I ignored him and left the place. But, before we went to the village chief's place, I told Alicia to cast [Sanctuary] magic in that place first.

[Sancturay] is actually a protective magic, which can protect its users from physical attacks and any magic attacks as long as they are inside, and this magic will also continue to survive until the magic power of the user is exhausted or they turn it off themselves.

But, now I use it to lock up the girl.

By the way, this is also the same magic we used when we were camping in the forest. This is quite useful because it can protect us from monsters and mosquitoes.

“[Sanctuary].”

As soon as Estella casts her spell, an invisible bluish-white light appears and confines Estella in a cocoon-like shape on the spot she sits.

“Alright, we go first, be a good boy,” I said and immediately left the room with Alicia.

...****************...

Arriving in front of the village chief's room, I knocked on his door.

“It's me, Riku. I heard you calling us, Tia-san,” I said at that doorstep.

Tia was the name of the village chief and also the ruler of the Elves.

I heard he used all his strength to create a barrier in this place, and saved everyone when the chaos occurred.

I was really impressed with him. Therefore I also used a sign of respect in her name, despite her appearance like a Junior High child.

By the way, that was also the reason why such a strong person did not take part in the fight before, because he had to protect this hideout from the monsters.

“Come in, you two. I was inside,” replied Tia in a low and soft voice, despite the appearance of a small child, she had a parent-like speech.

“Excuse.”

After we were welcome to enter, Alicia and I opened the door and entered the room while courteously excusing her.

There, I saw the little village chief who was preparing a cup of tea for us on the table made of white wood.

“Sit down, I've prepared tea for you,” chirps.

“Umm, thank you,” reply me with a little nervousness, and I immediately took the seat that had been reserved for us that.

Alicia was also sitting next to me, she had even sat down before me, and was savorfully drinking the tea.

“It's delicious!” tusky.

“Really? I'm glad you like it, Alicia-sama.”

Seeing that, I also drank my tea, and my eyes immediately opened wide. It was much tastier than I thought, so I drank it all the time.

“Add again!” I was the one who finished the tea.

Hearing that, Tia chuckled and happily poured it over for me.

“Fufu, drink slowly, Riku-sama. I still have a lot, and if you guys want a snack, I have a pastry here too,” reply while putting a plate of pastries on the table.

I ate the cake with my tea, and it was really delicious.

But, while I was enjoying all the food, I realized something I had missed, and my expression immediately turned startled.

“Eh, wait a minute... ‘Alicia-sama’? ‘Riku-sama’?” many of you are confused about the additional word ‘-sama’ which was suddenly used by Tia.

But, Tia's expression did not change at all, she smiled gently.

“Sorry to surprise you, Riku-sama. Actually, I've been looking for information about you two from the spirits I know. So I already know the identity of the two of you,” replied Tia, which left my eyes wide open.

However, different from my reaction, Alicia did not seem to care at all, she just kept quiet while enjoying tea and all the snacks that were on the table.

—No, it should be here you care, right?

Our identities are known, this is not the time to—

“Hm?”

Why am I so panicked?

There shouldn't be any loss at all even if we reveal our identities, right? The problem is whether they can believe it or not.

Doesn't mean we should hide it, does it?

Oh my God, that just freaked me out.

“So, what do you want from us to call us here, Tia-san?” ask me once again, who's trying to get into the conversation.

Hearing that, Tia sat right in front of us and drank her own tea.

“Well, actually this is not something that matters. I just want to express my gratitude directly to the two of you, for saving this village from the monsters,” he replied gently.

Right then, my body froze, and so did Alicia.

“Be-Be?” I tried to stay calm, but my hands trembled as I lifted the teacup and drank it with one gulp.

But, after I drank that tea, somehow my body became strange.

Whatisthis?

My energy suddenly disappeared, and my eyes felt very heavy.

I'm sleepy.

“Oh, it seems it is starting to react,” someone said.

When I see who said that, there—

“Tia.. san.”.