Chapter 24: The Immortal Dragons

— Border limit with Viscount Lancaster's territory, midday.

"Hah... Do you think we'll find something?"

"We've been searching for days, and still..."

A group of five people were following the river towards Courtenay's fief. They wore what seemed to be old armor and rags serving as protection for their limbs.

"Regardless, we must hurry... The longer we take, the smaller the pay."

"Oh? What's that?"

The adventurers spot what appears to be a cluster of stones in the lake. The net holding all the rocks was mostly undone. The water on the other side flowed out extremely clear.

"I couldn't tell you... Something like a blockade?" Probably, some kind of spell blocking impurities from the water.

"At any rate, it's not our job. Sera, make a report. The other three, help me remove these rocks. We'll recite a spell to make them fly. I don't want to get dirty."

"Yes, yes..."

— Ai's Room.

She would be storing what appeared to be another blueprint, inside an envelope with an attached letter. After doing so, she added a seal.

"Do you want me to carry that, ma'am?" Dorothea would appear in front of the window.

"Were you here?"

"Just passing by..." She takes a piece of chocolate.

"What is this!? It's delicious."

"This time I'll take it... I want to see the conditions in which the place is." In other words, I want to get some sugar, as it runs out too quickly for me.

"I understand..."

— Aristocrat Heaven's Sugar Factory.

Ohh... She really put in effort.

The factory was inside an old warehouse. In its surroundings, there were vast fields of what seemed to be poisonous beets. Ai approaches the door and the noises of industrial machines flood her ears.

Ai recites an invisibility spell and heads towards some bags that seemed to store the final product. A conversation could be heard nearby as she crouches down.

"Boss, we managed to produce the changes you wanted..." A man, dressed in a white coat, shows Clara a white powder on what seemed to be glass.

In the last letter, Ai asked me to conduct some experiments to improve purity, but I didn't imagine such a striking result... It truly shines.

Clara decides to try it.

The taste is even purer, and the color approaches the lightest white... I'm sure it will attract the attention of the nobility throughout the country...

"Good job, please, start with mass production."

"Yes."

Everything is going in the right direction... According to the reports, we can generate around 150 kilograms of sugar per month, and in the last quarter, it's estimated that we can double that figure.

I wonder... What did I do to meet that girl?

While Clara thought, the stored sugar seemed to move in the air in handfuls, heading straight for a container Ai was holding.

Clara detects movements behind her.

"Who's there!?"

"Cough... You caught me."

"Boss! I'm glad to see you here... What do you want? I've made hundreds of reports that I'd like to show you for-"

"Well, y-yes... I consider that you're handling things well, so you can decide on your own."

"Understood! In that case, I'll do it... By the way, what are you holding on your back?"

"Ah... This is... Th-the new product!" Ai takes out the letter and a bag from her pockets, while still holding the jar of sugar on her back.

"Is this...?"

"I must be going, see you."

What does the boss want this time?

Clara opened the bag with anticipation, wondering what surprise awaited her this time. Upon opening it, she found mysterious spheres of dark chocolate. Curiosity led her to take a bite, and her mouth was immediately filled with exquisite sweetness.

"What is this?" Amazed, Clara found herself unable to resist the temptation to eat more. She couldn't help but put three more chocolates in her mouth, savoring each bite.

"I must calm down and not get carried away," she reminded herself, though it was difficult.

While savoring those chocolates, Clara continued reading the attached note. Her boss's voice resonated in her thoughts, describing the chocolates as a primitive version and offering her the opportunity to take charge of their production. She promised her a share of the profits and left the decision on price and sugar quantity up to her.

"And, uh... Continue with your task and expand the business throughout the empire. For now, I'll be busy and won't be communicating with you for a while. Nevertheless, you'll stay in touch with Envy and Dorothea.

Send me a letter if you need help with something, regards, Ai."

Gratitude flooded her, and her eyes teared up. She looked up at the sky as if seeking to thank the same force that had granted her such fortune.

I will live up to your trust. I will make Aristocrat Heaven grow throughout the empire. She thought with determination.

Clara closed the letter with reverence and stored the production blueprint along with the instructions. She felt filled with determination and gratitude, ready to face the challenge of expanding the business far and wide.

And so, the little thief returned to her mansion having completed her mission.

— Forest near the border limit, evening.

Envy was walking while singing a soft melody. Suddenly, she came across what seemed to be adventurers.

You would notice four people forming a spell that seemed to contain enough power to destroy the obstruction in the river. Another person was cooking meat over a fire.

"How much longer do you need?"

"We're almost done, just a little more..." We need enough power to blow up all these rocks...

"Hello! What are you doing here?"

"Who's that!?"

"Sera, take care of her." One of the adventurers who was forming the spell murmured.

"Hm?" Envy continued trying to understand the situation.

"Come, I'll give you what you want."

What I want? I came to the forest looking for something to eat, it seems there are more people who came for the same reason! That thing you're cooking looks delicious...

"Really, you're a great help! I was so hungry..."

I see... It's a primitive beast accustomed to feeding on those who get lost in this area... It's normal.

Sera takes an attacking stance, ready to cast a spell. Envy wouldn't be able to understand the situation. Behind her, those reciting the spell seemed confident.

Our group, the Immortal Dragons, is known throughout the empire for being calculating. We usually predict our enemies' movements, which has led us to win dozens of fights and establish ourselves as a group of A-ranked adventurers after ten years of effort.

This is no exception. Sera has high control over her water attribute magic, which allows her to control the river and use it as an aid in combat. She can easily obliterate a group of 10 mercenaries, which is why we left her on guard.

I'm sorry, hungry beast, but you don't stand a chance-

"Splat; splat, splat." The sound seemed like a wet object hitting the ground three times.

The adventurer who was contemplating his group's history opens his eyes. His friends, astonished, stop the spell.

"Hey! Why are you stopping? It doesn't have enough power..."

A few seconds of silence filled the air with uncertainty.

Hm? What's going on with them?

As he thought this, he looks back. Sera's head was about a meter away from him, forming a puddle of blood.

"Why is she attacking me? It's unfair! She invited me to her food."

"Huh?"

"DAMN BASTARD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

While one of them starts reciting a spell, two rush towards Ai with their swords. The one who seemed to be the leader remains stunned.

"If you were resistant to Sera's magic, it means you're useless against close-range attacks!"

One of them lunges with a feint that was followed by another attack from the other adventurer with his sword. Envy dodges their thrust and, with the palm of her hand shaped like a sword, beheads him in a movement that surpassed human capabilities in speed.

"ALEX!"

[FIREBALL]!

Envy stops the spell with her hand.

"Why are they attacking me? If they know they won't be able to, shouldn't they just retreat?" Damn it, don't they realize I'm not like the other lost people in the forest they're used to hunting?

[INFERNO BUR-]!

Envy moves behind the sorceress's back. In front of the fifth adventurer's eyes, she thrusts her hand into his neck, piercing it. Then, she aims the spell that was being finished towards the remaining swordsman, burning him until he falls unconscious.

Ahh... I must be dreaming.

The remaining adventurer watches as Envy walks, calmly grabbing the steak that was on the fire.

"Oh! It's burning!"

The remaining adventurer falls to his knees.

Envy takes a bite of the meat and steps back, a bit annoyed.

"Why were they so stingy with their meat? Heavens." She chews in frustration.