Raine, Helen, and Erica walked through the bustling streets, taking in the sights. Although the town wasn't as grand as the royal capital, it was lively and full of people.

"Erica, are you an alchemist?" Raine asked.

"Yes, I passed the tenth-level certification exam last year," Erica replied.

Impressive... She looks so young, yet she's already passed such a notoriously difficult national certification.

"You must be very talented, Erica."

"Oh, not really... And you don't have to be so formal with me. Just call me Erica," she said, smiling a bit shyly.

"Hmm?" Raine pondered for a moment.

"Helen, what should I do in this situation?" he asked, turning to Helen.

"Huh? Just do what she said," Helen replied with a shrug.

Well, that makes sense...

"Is your familiar's name Helen?" Erica asked, looking curiously at the small black cat perched on Raine's shoulder.

"Yes, this is my familiar, Helen," Raine confirmed.

By the way, he had named her after Helen Keller.

"Aww, she's so cute!" Erica exclaimed.

It seems she has a good eye for things—just as expected from someone who passed such a challenging exam.

"Thank you," Raine replied, lifting Helen from his shoulder and handing her over to Erica. Erica gently cradled Helen in her arms.

"My name is Helen. Nice to meet you," Helen said, introducing herself. Erica's smile grew even wider.

"Nice to meet you too, Helen! I heard you were always with Raine, the alchemist," Erica responded cheerfully.

Ah, so that's why she was comparing me to the description on the paper earlier, Raine thought.

"Got it. But Raine, you're an alchemist and also a mage?" Erica asked, sounding surprised.

Indeed, having a familiar is something typically associated with mages, not alchemists. Alchemists don't usually have familiars because they might knock over all their tools. But my little one has never done anything like that.

"Well, I trained in both because my mentor was skilled in both," Raine explained.

Of course, he was referring to the head of their academy. She also had a familiar—a falcon—but it never came out in front of his little one because it made Helen too nervous.

"That's really impressive! I've heard you're a distinguished alchemist, but to also qualify as a national mage... that's amazing," Erica praised, returning Helen to Raine with a smile. Her smile was sincere, without a hint of envy or arrogance.

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She's a really nice person, Raine thought.

"No, no, Erica, you're the national alchemist here, aren't you? That's pretty incredible at your age. How old are you, by the way?"

"Thank you. I'm 20 this year," Erica answered.

So young... she really is talented, Raine thought.

"Have you ever considered moving to the royal capital? With your skills, you could advance quickly," he suggested.

Unlike me, her personality is impeccable too, he mused internally.

"I was born here," Erica explained with a calm expression. "I want to contribute to this town. It's not that I don't admire the royal capital, but I want to make my hometown a better place."

Hmm...

"Helen, are we really the same kind of person?" Raine muttered under his breath.

Clearly not, right? I've never even considered trying to improve my hometown, not even in my past life.

"Raine, Erica is a good example to follow. This is true goodness. You should try to purify your soul," Helen replied with a hint of sarcasm.

So, I'm supposed to get purified in the end...

"Oh, by the way, Erica, do you know the Side Hotel?" Raine asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, it's the hotel on the west side of town. Are you staying there tonight?" she asked.

"Yeah, a friend... or rather, an acquaintance gave me a discount voucher," Raine replied.

Adele had called herself a friend, so I guess she is one. The first friend I've ever had... despite the awful things I've done...

"Wow, sounds like a great friend," Erica commented with genuine enthusiasm.

Yeah, really...

"Yeah, she is," Raine agreed, smiling a little.

As they continued walking, Erica started explaining more about the town. Even though it was in a remote area, the proximity to the sea and forest meant it was rich in food and resources. The people were generally calm and kind, making it a great place to live.

While Raine was listening to her, Erica suddenly stopped in front of a building. The sign read, "Alchemist Association - Liet Branch."

"This is the branch," Erica announced.

The building was three stories tall, smaller both vertically and horizontally compared to the main headquarters in the royal capital. Well, that's to be expected. However, it did look a bit rundown...

"Thanks for showing me around. Is the branch chief here?" Raine asked.

"Yes, he's in his office," Erica confirmed.

"I'd like to introduce myself," Raine said.

"Understood. Please, come inside," Erica said, opening the door.

Inside, the first floor was similar to the headquarters with a reception area and sofas for waiting. However, there wasn't a single person in sight.

Maybe it's a holiday today? Even on holidays, there was always someone at the reception in the royal capital, but this is the countryside, after all...

"Where is the branch chief's office?" Raine asked.

"Oh, it's over there," Erica pointed to a door behind the reception desk.

"On the first floor?" Raine was surprised. At the main headquarters, it was on the top floor, the fifth floor.

"Yes. The second floor is the workshop, and the third floor is the storage for materials and supplies," Erica explained.

Hmm... I guess each branch has its own way of doing things.

"Alright, this way, please," Erica said, leading the way to the reception area.

Raine and Helen followed her, entering the reception area and stopping in front of the door. Erica knocked.

"Branch chief, Raine has come to introduce himself," she called out.

"Ah, come in," a man's voice answered from inside.

Erica opened the door and entered, followed by Raine and Helen. Inside the office sat a large man in his forties at a desk. He had black hair streaked with gray and a beard. To be honest, he looked more like a soldier than someone who did desk work.

"Branch chief, this is Raine Alexander," Erica introduced him.

Raine felt a strange discomfort looking at the branch chief.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Raine Alexander. I will be working here starting tomorrow," Raine greeted with a bow.

"Ah, I'm Werner. To give you my full name, Werner von Langheim," the man replied.

A noble... I thought he didn't look like an alchemist, but he's probably just here because of connections. It's common in both my past life and this one, but I don't really mind. It's up to the higher-ups to decide, as long as he doesn't get in my way. Though, there are always those who do get in the way...

"Branch chief, Raine is also a mage," Erica added with her ever-present smile.

"I know. We've received all the paperwork. Still, you're quite the elite," the branch chief said, glancing at a document.

That's probably my résumé.

"Is that so?" Erica asked.

"He got his national alchemist certification at the youngest age ever and also became a third-level alchemist in record time. Plus, he holds a fifth-level national mage certification," the branch chief explained.

"Wow... It's almost like he's not human," Erica marveled.

I don't think so either... In terms of light and darkness, I'm definitely the darkness...

"But he's been demoted... Apparently, he's not great on a personal level," the branch chief added.

"What? Really? He seems like a kind person," Erica said, looking surprised.

Thanks, Erica... I'm almost tearing up. But does the branch chief have to say that right in front of me?

"No, that's what it says here. They even wrote that they'd like me to straighten him out, even if it takes a bit of force," the branch chief continued.

It has to be the head of the main office...

"V-Violence is not the answer!" Erica protested.

"I know, I know. But still, it's quite something for the head of the main office to write that..." the branch chief muttered, looking a bit exasperated.

"The head of the main office is my mentor. She's also my guardian since I'm an orphan," Raine explained.

"Ah, I see. Then it makes sense. This is coming from a mentor and parent figure," the branch chief said, tossing the paper he was reading into a trash bin.

"There were a lot of mistakes I made at the main office," Raine admitted.

"I see... Well, these things happen. Anyway, I'm counting on you starting tomorrow," the branch chief said.

"Understood," Raine replied with another bow.