I Got Fired As an Adventurer, So I’m Starting Anew As an Alchemist! Frontier Exploration? Alright, Leave It to Me!

140. Having More Fun Is A Joy, Isn’t It?

“By the way, it’s almost been a year since I became an alchemist.”

While checking the production guild’s schedule, I let that slip out.

Leafan, who was working beside me, looked up.

“Oh, you’re right. It’s been a little after your Coming-of-Age Ceremony that you joined the production guild, Craft.”

“Yeah. The Coming-of-Age Ceremony is the biggest festival in this country, right? The Adventurer’s Guild was really busy around that time. Up until then, I managed to stick with a party… but after that, I got the notice that I was no longer needed.”

I recalled the day I was kicked out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

The Coming-of-Age Ceremony is a unique event in this country.

People here don’t really have the concept of birthdays.

Instead, it’s common to age up during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

The year you turn sixteen is the most special day in your life.

In all other years, it’s just the day of the most exciting festival and the day you age.

In this country, once you pass your Coming-of-Age at sixteen, you’re considered an adult and can take on an official job.

But there’s something even more important.

“Craft, I heard you’re planning something big for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony?”

“Hey! That makes me sound terrible! It was Kyle’s idea, okay?!”

“I know, but… are you sure it’s going to be fine?”

“Kyle’s leading it, so of course it’ll be fine.”

“Hmm, well, that’s true, but…”

The look Leafan gave me wasn’t filled with much confidence.

…I could kind of understand why, but this time it’ll be fine. I mean, it’s Kyle’s plan!

“Anyway, I’ve got to go since Kyle called for me.”

“Oh, don’t forget to give him the progress report on the bridge.”

“Got it.”

Thanks to the evaporation potions and underwater breathing potions, the work efficiency has shot up, and the construction time is being shortened almost daily, so we can barely keep up with the report writing.

There’s a huge amount of data to give to Kyle, but since we can’t visit all the time, we hand it over all at once when I or Leafan are called for other things, like today.

With a stack of reports in my arms, I head to Kyle’s place… well, it’s just next to my house.

◆

“Are you really going to do it?”

The one double-checking with Kyle and me was the heraldry officer, Generis Ing.

Behind him stood his grandson, Feidal Ing, likely as his assistant.

If you ask what we’re doing, it’s checking if we’ll test everyone’s heraldic aptitude at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Kyle and I both nodded to Generis.

“I understand. Before we proceed, how about a little review?”

“A review?”

Kyle tilted his head slightly.

Persia, standing guard, let out a sharp breath, but I pretended not to notice.

“Yes. This will be Kyle-sama’s first Coming-of-Age Ceremony as a lord. This ritual is one of the most important duties of a lord. For the people, it’s often the only time they can feel the impact of their lord or nobility.”

“I see.”

Before I met Kyle, I too judged the quality of a lord by how good the festival at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was.

“Therefore, it’s important to revisit what the people expect from the ceremony and the festival.”

“That makes a lot of sense. Please, go ahead.”

Generis bowed courteously.

“In this kingdom, everyone ages on this day. In simple terms, it’s like a shared birthday.”

Kyle earnestly took notes. Serious much?

“In other words, the Coming-of-Age festival hosted by the lord is like a birthday party for everyone. While nobles may celebrate a separate formal birthday, that’s a distant concept for commoners.”

“I see.”

“Even all of the kingdom’s public institutions operate based on this day. That’s how crucial it is.”

“Yes.”

Generis slowly crossed his arms.

“So, when something different happens during this festival, it changes the people’s understanding of the norm.”

At that, Kyle and I both looked up sharply.

Now we finally understood why Generis had taken the time to review this ceremony, a staple of the kingdom’s customs.

“Are you prepared, Kyle-sama, to change the norm and uphold that change?”

Generis stared straight at Kyle.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kyle responded to the heraldry officer.

“Of course. I must uphold the right to happiness.”

Seeing the determination in Kyle’s eyes, Generis gave a gentle smile.

“I am truly glad to have come to Golden Dawn.”

Feidal, his grandson, widened his eyes at Kyle’s resolve.

At about the same age as Kyle, he seemed shocked by the weight of responsibility Kyle carried.

“Now, let’s continue. In the traditional ceremony, all those who’ve turned sixteen line up before the heraldry officer. They then convey their desired crest, which has been pre-selected, to us.”

It had been the same for me.

Before entering the grand tent where the heraldry officer waited, the assistant had explained that I should already know which crest I wanted.

Most people pick a crest that would help them in their job or their family’s trade.

For example, if your parents are blacksmiths, you’d ask for a blacksmithing crest.

“And here, we heraldry officers use magic to draw out the power of the requested crest, but… it usually doesn’t go well.”

“That’s the crest aptitude issue, right?”

Generis looked at Kyle like a teacher would a bright student.

“Exactly. Unfortunately, a person’s aptitude for a crest is something they’re born with, so it’s rare for someone to receive the crest they desire. However, if their parent possesses a crest, the chance of inheriting the same one increases significantly.”

That’s probably why the number of crest-bearers isn’t increasing much.

If your parent has a crest, it’s great, but even in the kingdom, only a few people possess crests.

“And so, rather than allowing people to choose the crest they want, Kyle-sama plans to check everyone’s aptitude and have them choose from crests they can actually receive… but that can’t be done in one day.”

“What do you mean?”

“For most commoners, getting a crest during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a lucky bonus. But if you conduct an aptitude test, they’ll almost certainly get one.

And when you suddenly present them with options, who could make a decision right on the spot?”

I couldn’t help but let out an “Ah.”

Yeah, making an instant decision wouldn’t be easy.

“Therefore, I propose this: We spend one-day conducting aptitude tests and informing them of which crests they’re most suited for. Then, we give them a day to consult with their parents or guardians.”

I see.

In Kyle’s territory, only Golden Dawn and Leafan Town are inhabited.

The few people coming of age in Leafan Town are planned to be brought to Golden Dawn with their guardians.

The residents of Golden Dawn can quickly consult their parents, and the adults from Leafan Town will have their guardians with them.

One day should be enough time to discuss things.

Since this decision is directly tied to their future, rushing them to decide in a single day might be unfair, but the chance of receiving a crest at all is low to begin with. They’ll just have to make do.

“I see. So after giving them a day to consult, the next day will be when they receive the crest. With the aptitude tests, consultation day, and the actual ceremony where they get their crests, you’re asking for three days in total.”

“Exactly. Another pressing issue is that the magic used for the aptitude tests consumes a lot of mana. Even with legendary-quality mana potions, repeatedly exhausting and restoring mana in one day would lead to severe fatigue. We’d also need rest.”

It was almost a plea from Generis, but it made sense. Naturally, Kyle agreed.

Then, as if a thought just struck him, Kyle looked up.

“In that case, why don’t we extend the festival for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony to three days?”

That casual remark decided that the kingdom’s biggest festival would now last three days straight.

That afternoon, I found myself shouting, “It wasn’t my fault!” while bowing in apology on my way to Leafan.