Chapter 14 - Chapter 11: The Quiet Alchemist

🧪🌅 — What He Remembered, What He Made Right

Morning arrived quietly.

No explosions. No floating furniture. No rope.

Paul sat alone at the small worktable, the window cracked open just enough to let cool air brush against his face. Pale sunlight spilled across the wood, illuminating his notebook, his tools, and one carefully prepared vial resting at the center.

Clear. Still. Perfectly calm.

Lisse had gone to fetch breakfast, insisting—very firmly—that "a rested body makes better experiments." For once, Paul hadn't argued.

Because today wasn't about curiosity.

It was about memory.

Paul turned the vial slowly between his fingers. The liquid inside didn't glow. It didn't shimmer. It didn't hum with excess mana.

That was deliberate.

In his past life, he'd learned something that never made it into fantasy stories or alchemy textbooks:

The best medicine doesn't announce itself.

---

The memory surfaced unbidden.

A narrow pharmacy tucked between concrete buildings. Fluorescent lights buzzing faintly overhead. Shelves packed with identical boxes, all promising relief in neat printed fonts.

Paul—older, tired, methodical—stood behind the counter, double-checking labels while the clock ticked toward closing time.

A woman had come in late that night.

She looked exhausted. Pale. Nervous.

"I don't need anything strong," she'd said quietly.

"Just… something that won't make it worse."

He remembered how carefully he'd listened. How he'd chosen not the strongest option—but the safest. The one that balanced efficacy with gentleness.

He remembered thinking, If this helps even a little, that's enough.

That mindset hadn't vanished when he died.

It had followed him.

---

Paul exhaled and set the vial down.

His earlier experiments had chased results. This one chased responsibility.

He reviewed his notes again, even though he already knew them by heart.

Reduced mana density.

Stabilized absorption curve.

No secondary elemental triggers.

No enhancement. No amplification.

Just healing.

Just support.

Just something that helped the body do what it was already trying to do.

Lisse returned quietly, stopping in the doorway when she saw him.

He looked… different.

Not tense. Not distracted. Focused in a way that felt heavier.

Lisse: "Young master…?"

Paul looked up.

Paul: "I'm ready."

She didn't ask what he meant. She stepped inside and set the breakfast tray aside, eyes moving to the vial.

Lisse: "Is this… another test?"

Paul nodded once.

Paul: "But this time, I'm not testing limits. I'm honoring them."

She frowned slightly, confused—but she trusted him.

Lisse: "Do you want me to—"

Paul: "Stay. Please."

That alone told her how serious this was.

---

He lifted the vial.

No dramatic speeches. No hesitation.

He drank it.

The taste was mild. Almost forgettable. Like warm water infused with herbs you'd barely notice unless you were looking for them.

He waited.

Five seconds. Ten. Thirty.

Nothing happened.

Lisse's shoulders tightened.

Lisse: "Paul…?"

Paul closed his eyes.

And felt it.

Not a surge. Not a shock.

A settling.

Warmth spread through his chest, slow and steady, like slipping under a blanket after a long day. His breathing eased without him realizing it had been shallow. A dull ache he hadn't noticed—leftover tension from weeks of sleepless nights—softened and faded.

No fireworks.

Just relief.

Paul opened his eyes.

Paul: "…It's working."

Lisse leaned closer, searching his face for signs of disaster.

Lisse: "You're not floating."

Paul: "No."

Lisse: "You're not glowing."

Paul: "No."

Lisse: "You're not taller."

Paul paused.

Paul: "I believe I am the correct height."

She laughed despite herself, then froze.

Lisse: "Wait—are you actually okay?"

Paul nodded.

Slowly. Firmly.

Paul: "Better than okay."

He flexed his fingers. No tremor. No mana backlash. His thoughts felt clearer. His body lighter—not energized, but supported.

Like his past life, when medication worked not by overpowering the illness, but by giving the body space to heal.

Lisse sat down hard on the chair.

Lisse: "…It worked."

Paul picked up his notebook and wrote carefully, each word deliberate.

"Test #3: Mild restorative tonic

Result: Stable. No side effects. Sustained recovery response observed."

His hand paused.

Then he added:

"Emotional clarity improved."

Lisse watched him quietly.

Lisse: "You look… calmer."

Paul nodded.

Paul: "In my past life, I wasn't a genius. I wasn't exceptional."

He swallowed.

"But people trusted me. Because I was careful."

She listened without interrupting.

Paul: "I forgot that here. I kept trying to prove something—to myself, maybe. Or to this world."

He looked at the vial's empty glass.

Paul: "But healing isn't about proving anything."

Silence settled gently between them.

Then Lisse smiled.

Not wide. Not excited.

Proud.

Lisse: "You remembered who you were."

Paul returned the smile—small, but genuine.

Paul: "I think… I finally did."

---

Later that afternoon, he prepared a second vial.

Identical. Carefully measured. Verified twice.

He handed it to Lisse.

She stiffened.

Lisse: "…Me?"

Paul: "Only if you want to."

She hesitated, then nodded.

Lisse drank it.

She waited.

Her ears twitched once. Then relaxed.

Lisse blinked.

Lisse: "…My legs don't hurt."

Paul tilted his head.

Lisse: "They usually do. After walking all day."

She stood, shifting her weight, surprised.

Lisse: "They really don't."

Paul wrote one more note.

"Confirmed cross-subject stability."

But what he didn't write—what he only felt—was something deeper.

For the first time since reincarnating…

He wasn't just surviving this world.

He was contributing to it.

Quietly. Responsibly. As himself.

And that felt right.

Very right.

🍃💡🧝‍♂️ — A Quiet Plan and an Unsettling Realization

The next day passed peacefully.

Sunlight filtered through the windows of the Gonzalez manor, and the faint scent of dried herbs lingered in the halls. Lisse moved quietly from room to room, tidying shelves, airing out bedding, and carefully organizing Paul's ever-growing collection of jars and notes.

She paused in front of the small laboratory door, peeking inside.

Paul sat at his desk, reviewing his notebook with a serious expression. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp—focused in a way Lisse had come to recognize whenever he was thinking about something important.

She stepped in.

Lisse: "Young master, I've finished sorting the storage room. The herbs from yesterday are drying properly."

Paul looked up.

Paul: "Thank you, Lisse."

There was a brief pause.

Then he spoke again, more hesitantly.

Paul: "…There's something I want to tell you."

Lisse straightened instantly.

Lisse: "Yes?"

Paul set his notebook aside.

Paul: "I'm thinking of starting my own pharmacy."

Silence.

Lisse blinked once.

Then twice.

Lisse: "…A pharmacy?"

Paul nodded calmly.

Paul: "A small one at first. Tonics, basic medicine, restorative mixtures. Nothing flashy."

Her ears twitched anxiously.

Lisse: "B-but—young master, do you know how business works? Rent? Suppliers? Permits? What if people don't trust a new pharmacist? What if nobles interfere? What if—"

Paul raised a hand gently.

Paul: "It's alright. I've thought about it."

Lisse: "Really?"

Paul: "Yes. I won't rush it. I'll start slowly, gather reputation first. I know how people think when it comes to medicine."

She frowned, clearly unconvinced.

Lisse: "But money management? Pricing? Negotiating?"

Paul smiled faintly.

Paul: "I've done it before. Not here—but I understand the principles."

Lisse clasped her hands together.

Lisse: "Still… I worry. What if someone takes advantage of you? Or mocks you?"

Paul shrugged lightly.

Paul: "That might happen. But I can handle it."

She stared at him for a long moment, then exhaled.

Lisse: "…If this is what you want to do, I'll support you."

Paul nodded.

Paul: "For now, I want to keep it a secret."

Lisse tilted her head.

Lisse: "From everyone?"

Paul: "Yes. Especially my family."

He didn't say it aloud, but the thought was clear in his mind.

They'd ignore it. Or laugh it off. Or treat it like a childish phase.

Lisse hesitated, then nodded firmly.

Lisse: "I understand. I won't tell anyone."

Paul smiled slightly.

Paul: "Thank you."

He stood up and gestured toward the door.

Paul: "You should rest for now. You've been busy since morning."

Lisse blinked.

Lisse: "Then you should rest too, young master. You barely slept last night."

Paul chuckled quietly.

Paul: "I'll take a break soon."

She gave him a doubtful look but didn't push further.

Lisse: "Alright. Call me if you need anything."

She left the room softly, closing the door behind her.

---

Paul slumped back into his chair.

He stared at the ceiling for a moment, then let out a quiet breath.

Paul (thinking): Lisse is a good person…

Reliable. Kind. Unwaveringly supportive.

Then—

His thoughts derailed completely.

Paul (thinking): BUT.

He bolted upright.

Paul (thinking): I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAVED THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS OF THE ELF FOREST!!

He ruffled his hair aggressively.

Paul (thinking): NOT ONLY THAT—SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MAIN PROTAGONIST'S MAID! NOT MINE!!

His heart pounded.

Paul (thinking): She was supposed to be saved when the protagonist enrolled in the Royal Academy… during a weekend stroll in the capital…

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

Paul (thinking): He was supposed to see her in rags on the street after she escaped from an underground auction house—

Paul groaned softly.

Paul (thinking): But instead…

His grip tightened on his hair.

Paul (thinking): I went to that auction house to buy rare herbs and ingredients.

Paul (thinking): And just before placing my bid… I saw her.

A memory surfaced clearly.

Iron bars. Dim lantern light. A small elf girl locked inside a cage, eyes dull but unbroken.

Paul (thinking): I didn't even think. I used my power of gravity, to break the lock, and took her out of there.

He sank deeper into the chair.

Paul (thinking): I didn't expect to end up with an elf maid.

Paul (thinking): And definitely not a princess of the Elf Forest.

His gaze drifted to the window.

Beyond the manor lay the distant green horizon—the great forest where elves lived among towering trees and ancient roots, where bioluminescent plants glowed at night and mana flowed thick through the soil like veins. A place governed by tradition, royal bloodlines, and strict isolation from the outside world.

Paul swallowed.

Paul (thinking): The current king of Beltran abolished slavery and racial discrimination…

Paul (thinking): But that didn't erase the criminals.

Paul (thinking): There are still smugglers. Traffickers. People who hunt other races in secret.

His expression darkened.

Paul (thinking): Anyone caught doing that would be imprisoned for life… or executed on the spot.

Paul (thinking): Which is why they're careful.

He sighed heavily.

Paul (thinking): I didn't expect to meet Lisse this early—before the game even started.

Paul (thinking): This will definitely cause a butterfly effect.

He leaned back.

Then shrugged.

Paul: "Well… there's no use crying over spilled milk."

A small smile appeared.

Paul: "And Lisse is a great maid."

He counted off quietly.

Paul: "She cleans perfectly. She can cook. She helps me find herbs in the forest…"

He shook his head in disbelief.

Paul: "All that, despite being a princess."

The smile faded slightly.

Paul: "…I just hope this doesn't completely derail the original storyline."

He ruffled his hair again.

Paul: "Argh! No use thinking about it!"

He reached for a thick reference book and flipped it open.

Paul: "Let's see if there are any new herbs I can use for my medicines."

His eyes sharpened as he began reading, notes already forming in his mind.

For now, worries could wait.

There was work to do.

😱🍃🌳 — A Scream Between the Trees

A few days later, the weather was unusually pleasant.

Sunlight filtered gently through drifting clouds, and the forest breeze carried the scent of damp earth and leaves. Paul and Lisse walked along a familiar path near the outskirts of the woods, baskets lightly filled with herbs they'd gathered earlier.

Paul glanced up at the sky.

Paul: "It's warmer than usual today."

Lisse nodded, looking around happily.

Lisse: "Yes! The forest feels lively. This kind of weather makes the plants grow faster."

Paul smirked.

Paul: "Or it makes certain people wander deeper than they should and forget the time."

Lisse tilted her head.

Lisse: "…Are you talking about me?"

Paul: "I didn't say names."

Lisse puffed her cheeks.

Lisse: "Young master, you are clearly implying things."

Paul chuckled.

Paul: "If the shoe fits."

Lisse crossed her arms and huffed.

Lisse: "At least I don't stop every three steps to write notes."

Paul: "That's called being diligent."

Lisse: "That's called being slow."

Paul: "Says the one who tripped over a root yesterday."

Lisse froze.

Then pouted harder.

Lisse: "That was an ambush."

Paul laughed softly.

And then—

"HELP!"

Lisse stiffened.

Her playful expression vanished instantly.

She turned her head sharply, ears twitching.

Paul noticed the sudden silence.

Paul: "Lisse? What's wrong?"

She didn't answer right away, scanning the trees.

Then—

Lisse: "I heard a woman's scream."

Paul's expression tightened.

Paul (thinking): Elves have far better hearing than other races… If she heard it, it's real.

Paul: "Do you know where it came from?"

Lisse raised her arm and pointed.

Lisse: "That direction."

Paul didn't hesitate.

Paul: "Then why are we waiting? Let's go!"

They broke into a run, Lisse leading effortlessly as she darted between trees, her steps light and precise. Paul followed closely, basket abandoned without a second thought.

"HELP!"

The scream came again—closer this time.

They burst into a small clearing.

A woman with long black hair lay on the ground, her clothes torn and dirtied. Standing over her was a massive beast—its body bulky and plated with thick, rock-like armor. Cracks glowed faintly across its hide, pulsing with dull brown light. Its limbs were thick and heavy, claws sinking into the soil with every movement.

Paul's breath caught.

Paul (thinking): That's a Terrahorn Ravager… an earth-elemental beast.

Paul (thinking): It won't be easy to defeat.

Instinctively, he raised one hand slightly.

Soft pink, pastel-colored energy began to gather around his fingers, gravity bending faintly in the air.

Paul (thinking): I wanted to keep my power hidden…

Paul (thinking): But there's no other way—

Before he could act—

"HEY!"

Lisse dashed forward.

Paul: "LISSE—!"

Too late.

She spun mid-run and delivered a powerful kick straight into the beast's side.

The impact was explosive.

The Terrahorn Ravager was launched into the air, smashing into a tree with a thunderous crack before collapsing to the ground, completely unconscious.

Silence.

Paul stared.

The woman stared.

Dust slowly settled.

Lisse turned around calmly.

Lisse: "Miss, are you alright?"

The woman blinked, snapping out of her shock.

Woman: "I—I… yes. I think so."

She shakily pushed herself up, still staring at the unmoving beast.

Paul (thinking), smiling wryly: As expected of the elf princess…

Paul (thinking): She really is worthy of being the protagonist's maid.

He walked over quickly.

Paul: "Are you hurt anywhere?"

The woman shook her head.

Woman: "No… thanks to you both. Thank you for saving me."

Paul gave a small nod.

Paul: "Don't mention it."

Lisse smiled gently.

Lisse: "Anyone would've done the same."

The woman looked between them, then paused, eyes settling on Paul's attire.

Woman: "…Are you a noble?"

Paul blinked, surprised.

Paul: "Ah—yes. I am."

Her expression shifted to concern.

Woman: "Then what is a child doing in the forest in broad daylight? It's dangerous."

Paul waved a hand lightly.

Paul: "I was collecting herbs with my maid."

Lisse straightened proudly.

The woman gasped.

Woman: "Really?"

Paul nodded.

Paul: "Yes. I enjoy making medicine. It's… more like a hobby."

Her eyes widened.

Suddenly, she grabbed his hands, eyes sparkling.

Woman: "That's wonderful! I didn't expect someone so young to have the same ideals and ambition as me!"

Paul stiffened slightly.

Woman: "Most nobles say medicine is trivial—that it's for commoners only. But you're different."

Paul smiled awkwardly.

Paul: "I just like helping people."

The woman froze, realizing herself, and quickly released his hands.

Woman: "Ah—sorry!"

She stepped back, glancing toward the forest.

Woman: "It's getting late. I should go."

She smiled warmly.

Woman: "I hope we meet again someday. Please go home safely."

With that, she turned and disappeared into the trees, her figure swallowed by the greenery.

Paul watched her leave, thoughtful.

Lisse looked up at him.

Lisse: "Young master… are you okay?"

Paul exhaled slowly, then smiled.

Paul: "Yeah. Let's head back too."

They turned toward the path home, unaware that this brief encounter had already begun shifting the future in subtle ways.

🧵🦋🏘️ — Threads That Quietly Connect

The carriage rolled to a gentle stop before the iron gates of the Dunham estate.

The woman stepped down, brushing dust from her cloak as the familiar sight of her home greeted her. The tension she'd been holding since the forest finally eased from her shoulders.

She had barely taken two steps inside when—

"Mother!"

A blur of black hair with a bright pink streak came rushing down the hallway.

"Lena—!"

Lena practically launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around her mother in a tight hug. Amelia laughed softly, steadying herself as she hugged her daughter back.

"Careful," Amelia said fondly. "You'll knock someone over running like that."

Lena finally pulled back, eyes sparkling.

"I just really wanted to see you!"

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"And what exactly was so urgent that it couldn't wait five more steps?"

Lena grinned.

"I wanted to tell you about my next project with Lixia!"

As if summoned by name—

"It will bring fascinating results for our marketing."

Amelia nearly jumped out of her skin.

"—!"

She turned sharply to see Lixia standing behind them, arms folded, crimson eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

When did she get here…? Amelia thought, heart still racing.

She let out a very awkward laugh.

"Haha… Lixia. Did James agree to this… project?"

Lixia placed a hand over her chest with solemn confidence.

"Of course. I obtained the Baron's permission and promised not to make any inventions involving the young mistress without his knowledge."

Amelia exhaled quietly in relief.

"That's… good to hear."

Then Lixia continued casually—

"I'll be introducing several new inventions to him soon and having him personally test their capabilities."

Amelia and Lena both stared at her.

Deadpan.

What a terrifying woman, they thought in perfect sync.

Amelia silently clasped her hands together.

Darling… stay strong.

Lena tilted her head, studying her mother more closely.

"Mother, you seem to be in a really good mood today," she said. "Did you find new herbs for your medicines?"

Amelia blinked, then smiled.

"Yes. I did. And… I met an interesting young boy as well."

Lena's raises her eyebrow slightly.

A boy?

Amelia continued: "He seem to be the same age as you"

"…Same age as me?" Lena wondered silently.

She leaned forward a little.

"What's he like?"

Amelia hummed thoughtfully.

"Well… he had soft pink hair and gentle pastel-colored eyes."

Lena brushes her chin thoughtfully

Pink hair... And pastel-colored eyes?

Amelia continued, unaware.

"He spoke about medicine with such clarity and sincerity. His perspective was refreshing. In noble society, most people mock the idea entirely… but he genuinely enjoys it."

Her expression softened.

"It made me relieved. Knowing there's someone out there who shares that passion."

Lena watched her mother talk animatedly, sweat slowly forming at her temple.

She's really enthusiastic about him…

Still, she smiled to herself.

Well… it's nice, Lena thought. Mother used to be a commoner before marrying Father. It must mean a lot to her.

Lena gently interrupted.

"Mother, let's go have dinner together. Father, Louise, and Thomas are waiting—they wanted to eat your special steak."

Amelia chuckled.

"I suppose I shouldn't keep them waiting."

The three of them began walking down the hallway together.

Halfway there, Amelia suddenly froze.

"…Oh."

She facepalmed.

"I forgot to ask that child's name."

Lena and Lixia both stopped, staring at her in surprise.

"Mother?" Lena asked. "Are you okay?"

Amelia waved her off with a forced smile.

"I'm fine. Just thinking."

Oh well… she thought quietly. Let's just hope we meet again someday.

With that, she straightened herself and continued down the hall—unaware that the threads tying her family to that "interesting young boy" were already tightening, one coincidence at a time.