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chapter 62
“Hmm?”
Grace muttered absentmindedly, and Leto turned around worriedly, asking what was wrong.
The variable that no longer existed now: Sophien.
Avorant would have easily formed a friendship with Sophien just for being a merchant, once he came down to the territory.
That would have led him to meet Leto, and perhaps, as it is now, Leto might have shown interest in the alchemy Avorant mentioned.
‘In the end, that just means he’s unbelievably lucky…’
Grace couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
What she couldn’t know, however, was how Avorant, Sophien, and Leto would end up in the future.
Avorant had only succeeded as the target person; Leto had never taken the forefront even once.
‘No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem like the type to just use Leto and discard him.’
He must have understood Leto’s situation as they built their friendship.
He probably even tried to help.
But still, it would have been difficult to avoid Sophien’s gaze, always by his side.
Grace felt like she had a rough idea of the answer.
Some of the money earned from the success of the transmutation stones probably ended up in Sophien’s back pocket.
It was fortunate that it had been dealt with in advance.
“Lord Leto.”
“Hm?”
“Are you still interested in alchemy?”
“Yes. Seeing this, I want to try it properly. There’s potential.”
“Ah! Really?!”
Avorant covered his mouth and stomped his feet in excitement.
“Well, it won’t be easy, but it’s interesting.”
“Good. Keep investing, so give it a try.”
It didn’t matter that Avorant wasn’t as good a person as he seemed.
After all, Revaanu, one of the main culprits in dragging the world into chaos, was still around, so using someone a little was nothing—just a scratch.
Whatever happened in the past, it was fine as long as nothing like that happened immediately.
“I’d like the contract to be properly set, though.”
“Huh? What contract?”
“Even though Avorant personally created this theory, I think our young master will be the one to complete it. If so, shouldn’t the shares be set properly?”
“Huh?”
“If the experiment succeeds and it becomes commercially viable, let’s divide the profits 9:1.”
“Wait, I get 9?”
“Do you agree?”
“…You’re a complete robber!”
Avorant realized what it meant to be hit in the nose while wide awake.
When receiving an investment, he felt like he had an ally, but in an instant, it turned into the feeling of facing an enemy.
“You don’t like it? Then should I not invest?”
“…Grace, 9:1 is too harsh. Let’s make it 6:4…”
“6:4 for an experiment that can’t succeed without our young master? That’s ridiculous. Young master, don’t do this. Absolutely not.”
Grace spoke firmly, and Avorant, as if he couldn’t lose, tried to persuade Leto.
“You said it’s interesting. Doesn’t it seem fun?”
But Leto was on Grace’s side.
“It’s interesting, but I don’t have to do it.”
“Ahhh.”
Avorant collapsed in frustration.
“7:3…”
“……”
“Even 8:2, please…!”
If Leto succeeded in this experiment as Grace expected, it would be a surefire win.
Even taking 1 of the 9 in a 9:1 split, Avorant could still hit the jackpot.
Grace, unable to find a reason to back down to 8:2, turned away, and eventually, Avorant surrendered.
“Ahhh! Fine, 9:1!!!”
“Let’s draw up the contract.”
Grace, smiling sweetly, turned back.
Even though it was practically an unfair contract, they signed it.
The terms set the share if Leto succeeded in the experiment, and Avorant thought it wouldn’t be easy anyway.
After all, there was still a chance he might succeed in the experiment himself.
Of course, Grace’s trust in him might have slightly faded, but Avorant was determined to try nonetheless.
“Just wait. I will succeed in this experiment.”
“Even if you do, it doesn’t matter much to me. I’m the one investing, so either way, there’s profit.”
“…But the difference is huge. This is profiteering!”
“If you don’t want to be exploited, try succeeding first, just as Avorant says.”
Grace shrugged, acting as if she didn’t care.
“…Are you trying to provoke my competitiveness?”
Avorant’s eyes lit up, with a look of, “Maybe?”
“Eh?”
“See? You haven’t abandoned your trust in me!”
“……”
“Rather, I offered this contract because I believe you can do it. Right? You thought it would push me to work harder, didn’t you?”
“Well, if you want to think that way…”
“No need to be embarrassed. Haha.”
Avorant, who had been trembling as if wronged, suddenly interpreted Grace’s words in his own way and laughed heartily.
For Grace, even if Leto failed, she wouldn’t lose anything, so she let him think whatever he wanted.
“Do your best.”
“I will live up to your expectations, goddess.”
“…Grace.”
“Yes, goddess.”
Grace looked at Avorant with a slightly cold expression, but he just chuckled.
“Grace, let’s stop dealing with this fool and go.”
Revaanu, clearly fed up, led Grace away.
Grace, fearing she might hear even more praise if she stayed, quickly followed.
On the way back, Revaanu shot a fierce glare at Avorant.
Avorant knew from experience that this wasn’t an ordinary glare, but he had no idea why.
“Hehe.”
He just pouted.
They set up an entire room as a laboratory for Leto.
From that moment, Leto devoured books on alchemy like a wild horse off the leash.
He wasn’t forced, nor following his older brother; he did it because he wanted to. He focused more than ever and genuinely enjoyed it.
Grace, curious if he was doing well, noticed his eyes sparkling every time she checked.
“Is it really that fun?”
Esi asked, curious. Leto replied:
“Yes. The reaction depends on what you mix and where. Look at this. Isn’t it amazing?”
He mixed a shimmering liquid and showed the reaction to Esi.
“Isn’t that gold?”
It was understandable to think so at first glance, but it was just a combination of metals creating a color—pure gold it was not.
“I want to make transmutation stones, but more than that, the study of alchemy itself is fascinating.”
“It’s amazing, indeed.”
Esi appreciated watching but didn’t share the joy of studying and researching.
The colors were fascinating, but the deeper Leto’s explanation went, the more it seemed like another world.
“I’ll support you.”
“Thanks. But Grace…”
“Yes?”
Grace, quietly scanning the lab, looked at Leto.
“Do you really trust Avorant more than me?”
“…Huh?”
What did she mean?
Seeing Grace puzzled, Leto brushed it off as nothing.
“Ah, is this because of what Avorant said back then?”
“……”
“That was just Avorant assuming things. I…”
“…You?”
Leto swallowed nervously, as if expecting something.
Grace barely held back a laugh and thought, the kid really is a kid.
“Of course, I trust you more. We’ve spent time together.”
“Khmm.”
Leto coughed awkwardly but couldn’t hide the slight smile.
He said:
“I’ll succeed before Avorant.”
“I believe you will.”
“So don’t worry about the profits.”
“Profits?”
“Didn’t we contract 9:1? I don’t know how much money this will make, but I’ll make sure the investment isn’t wasted,”
“Wait. If the experiment succeeds, it’s obviously your profit. I didn’t make this contract to take it for myself; I was asserting your rights.”
“Huh?”
Leto blinked in surprise.
“My rights?”
“Of course. If the experiment succeeds, you’re the main contributor!”
“Then what about you?”
“Me? I’ll just share Avorant’s profit.”
Grace, smiling, casually said what Avorant would have called outrageous if he heard it.
“But it’s only 10%.”
“It’s fine. I’ll gratefully accept whatever the second young master gives me. And even if he doesn’t, I won’t complain. He can live doing what he wants.”
“…That’s it?”
“What more could there be?”
Given Leto’s personality, if he ended up rich, he wouldn’t abandon Grace or Esi.
Both brothers had a surprisingly soft side.
Even if Leto didn’t give anything, it was fine. Grace had Revaanu.
She smiled gently, showing no greed.
