On the third floor of Beginning Footprint's Clan House, there was a research room dedicated to alchemists.
A vast laboratory that occupied seventy percent of the third floor. It stretched across multiple interconnected rooms, outfitted with the latest equipment and rare materials — arguably the most expensive room in the entire Clan House.
Originally, there had been only one alchemist in the Footprint: Citry Smart. Another had since joined, so she was no longer alone, but the fact that alchemists — a rarity among hunters — occupied nearly an entire floor was because Citry had personally invested a large sum from her own pocket during the building's construction.
It was enough money to shut even Eva — a former merchant who was notoriously strict about finances — right up.
The contrast between Eva's dumbfounded expression and Citry's beaming smile was so striking that it's still burned vividly in my memory.
When I entered Citry's research room for the first time in a while, it was as tidy as ever. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, where two massive iron golems stood guard, flanking the entrance with an intimidating presence.
Alchemists tended to carry a somewhat suspicious air, but Citry's research room was spotlessly clean, reflecting her meticulous nature.
White wallpaper and a floor polished to a mirror sheen.
Glass shelves lined with bizarre instruments, bookshelves brimming with volumes written in languages I couldn't even identify — the room had all the trappings of an alchemist's workspace, yet nothing felt disorderly or gave off a shady impression.
"I get misunderstood a lot, but an 'Alchemist' is more of a researcher than a Mage," as Citry herself put it.
Alchemical materials — monster ingredients, herbs, and the like — often carried distinctive smells, yet the air in here was perfectly fresh with not a trace of foul odor. She really was an unassuming, untroubled girl.
Alchemical materials included costly items like gemstones and precious metals. Citry's research room was always locked, and only those of us in the Mourning Specter — plus one other alchemist girl, Talia — held spare keys.
At the sound of the door opening, one of the two figures standing before the central table — Citry, in a plain gray robe — turned toward me.
Once she confirmed it was me, she clasped her hands together, smiled, and came over.
"Welcome, Klye-san."
"Busy?"
"No. I was just making potions for sale... The prep work is done, so it's fine."
On the table sat a large, peculiar device resembling an hourglass. The differences were that the top chamber held a paste-like substance instead of sand, some odd contraption was mounted at the center, and the bottom had collected a pool of residue.
It was probably a device for extracting components, but I had no idea what was what.
Citry bought monster materials from the Mourning Specter at above-market prices, then refined them into potions and other items that sold for even more, peddling them to various trading companies and amassing a fortune.
In principle, the spoils of our adventures were split equally among members, but Citry was the richest of us all because of this side business. According to Eva, who had brokered some of the deals with the trading companies, the amount was extraordinary for an individual earner.
"Talia, I'm sorry. Could you bottle up the remaining potions and put them in wooden crates?"
"Sure."
Talia, who had been pouring a pale green powder from a massive glass vessel, wiped the sweat from her forehead and replied.
She was unusually busy today.
Potion-making was Citry's biggest sideline, but apparently overproduction would crash the market, so this was the first time I'd seen her going to such lengths — even enlisting help.
Talia detached the glass vessel from the bottom of the apparatus and carried it to another room.
Reading the question on my face, Citry explained.
"The other day, everyone who helped charge my mana approached me — they wanted to attempt the trials themselves when they had time, and asked if I could lend them potions."
"You're kidding... That was nothing like training..."
They'd been foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious. And rather than being traumatized, they wanted to drink more? Were they masochists?
"Of course, I'll charge for materials, but... it's wonderful. It shows your passion has rubbed off on them, Klye-san. I'm glad I took the trouble to motivate them."
"Uh-huh, sure."
It had looked more like provocation than motivation to me, but I wasn't about to point that out to Citry, whose eyes were sparkling with excitement.
Nodding vaguely, I listened as she continued in an even more heated tone.
"So I'm thinking of making a small improvement to the potions. It's extremely rare for a hunter who's absorbed a huge amount of Mana Material to volunteer as a test subject. Until now, human experiments mainly involved orphans from the Decadent District. They don't rot afterward, which is nice, but their health tends to be rather poor — and every single one had to be recovered."
"Uh-huh, yeah?"
"If I can monitor everyone's progress and establish a reliable method for rapid mana growth, it would be revolutionary. Lucia's mind was too strong to be useful as a reference. If I can demonstrate this with a mage of modest talent, it could change the entire paradigm of mage training. I'd owe you an enormous favor! And right now, offering potions to everyone at a steep discount would still leave me well ahead! What do you think, Klye-san?"
"Moderation, please."
Moderation?
"I'd considered simply giving them the potions I've been using on Lucia, but that's difficult... the cost is too high, and the effects on mental state—"
"I came to pay you back, you know."
"Huh?"
Citry blinked, looking puzzled. I didn't mind seeing her having fun, but explaining things to her fellow alchemist Talia would probably be more productive than trying to get through to me.
What I was repaying was the money she'd covered for me at the tavern the other night.
Most of the drinking and eating had been by members other than me, but I was the one who typically covered those expenses. Since I couldn't keep up with the group in the Treasure Hall yet still took my share, the least I could do was spring for meals.
When I'd mentioned I'd forgotten my wallet, Eva had called me out on it.
Citry blinked and looked up at me.
"No, it's fine. It's been a while. I'll just keep it on your tab."
"I've borrowed so much I've lost track of how much I actually owe..."
I did jot down notes each time I borrowed, but I'd never tallied them up, so I had no idea what the total was. That was what happened when you borrowed too often.
Treasure Weapons were absurdly expensive, and since I only managed clan affairs, I had no other source of income. Citry knew this, but she'd never once pressed me for repayment.
I vaguely recalled someone at the tavern mentioning a ten-digit figure... Was that for real? That'd be a billion Gill.
Citry placed a hand to her cheek and said with a shy smile.
"I've borrowed a huge amount too... So whenever you can pay me back, that'd be nice."
"If I don't pay back a little at a time, I'll never manage it."
"A million or two million wouldn't make a dent. When the time comes, I'll have you pay me back with your body."
"I'm being way too spoiled here."
In any normal party, getting kicked out for this kind of thing would be expected, yet here I was being treated like this. I felt incredibly awkward.
If anyone found out how much I owed Citry, the earful Eva would give me... Citry, unaware of my inner turmoil, flushed and said in a sweet, coaxing voice: "I'll spoil you as much as you want. In return, when the time comes, you have to let me have my turn, okay?"
Hmm? Was I going to be a kept man? Would retirement be comfortable after all?
I was well aware of my lack of provider qualities, but I still liked to think I had some common sense. I furrowed my brows.
"I'll pay you back."
"...How?"
"...Borrow from Lucia?"
"That's still borrowing, you know..."
"Actually, I've been thinking about opening a sweet shop after I retire."
"That's amazing. It'll be a huge hit! How many years are you planning to take to pay back the higher end of those ten digits?"
Citry said this with a grin. She probably wasn't being sarcastic, but it sounded like nothing but.
The higher end... I'd face Eva's wrath and consult her about it next time. I engraved that deeply into my mind.
For the record, I had no intention of selling the Treasure Weapons I'd collected. Every encounter with a Treasure Weapon was a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Among the pieces I'd accumulated over the years were ones that were nearly impossible to obtain.
When I retired, I planned to donate them all as shared party assets. Well, Luke and the others probably wouldn't use several hundred Treasure Weapons, but it was the least I could do as compensation for irresponsibly leaving the party.
For now, I repaid Citry for the last night of drinking. The amount: 360,000 Gill. For an ordinary household, that was enough to live modestly for two months — a hefty sum. For a hunter, it was pocket change. For me, it was a painful expense.
Citry accepted it without fuss, tucked it into her oversized robe pocket without counting, then suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, that's right. If you really, truly can't pay it back... there are about three ways to zero out your debt."
"...I'll listen, just for reference. But no erasing the debt as a gift."
Even I was careful about financial matters. Cheeks flushed, Citry said: "The first is... marrying me. If we became spouses, our assets would merge and the debt would naturally disappear. I'll work hard to learn to like sweets too. I'll make sure my sister stays quiet. I won't let her lay a finger on you."
A funny joke. Well, it wasn't that I was dead set against it, but as a method of debt repayment, it didn't count.
"...And the second?"
"The second is... you, Klye-san, becoming my husband. I'd take on your debt and all. I know you very well. I'll handle all the cooking, laundry, and housework, and I'll let you keep the sweet shop as a hobby. I'll work hard to keep my sister quiet."
Citry's sense of humor was on par with Eva's. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between this option and the first.
Suppressing my exasperation without letting it show, I nodded solemnly.
"That's... a compelling proposal. And the third?"
Citry answered without a heartbeat's pause.
"Turn me in and throw me in prison. But since I'd be lonely all by myself, I'd be grateful if you threw my sister in as a set."
Don't say that with a smile. I needed to be more careful about not piling up more debt...
Besides, it wasn't like I'd done anything warranting imprisonment. I sighed once and decided to change the subject.
"Come to think of it, that Thunder Dragon teriyaki you made ages ago was really delicious."
"Ah... That was because the seasonings were special. I think chicken would actually suit your taste better, Klye-san. Thunder Dragon meat can't quite compare to livestock raised for consumption, no matter what. I remember the recipe. Shall I make it tonight?"
Citry played along with my blatant subject change without missing a beat.
Now then, how was I going to come up with money...