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

206. Having Determination Leads To Growth, Isn’t It?

In Golden Dawn, there is a massive church.

Azur, a beastman and childhood friend of Craft, was appointed as the first beastman priest and managed the church for a while, but now a high priest has been sent from the church, and Azur serves as a regular priest.

The state religion of the Maugaria Kingdom, the Luincent Church, worships the goddess Luincent.

Although the Luincent Church denies discrimination against beastmen, it has been hesitant to take action to alleviate discrimination due to pressure from some deeply rooted anti-beastman factions.

Amidst this, there was a fox beastman who bore the priest’s emblem. Of course, it was Azur.

Naturally, there are many priests in the church, but few bear the priest’s emblem. Even within the church, emblem bearers are rare, and now one of them is a beastman. This serves as a powerful wedge against beastman discrimination.

Proper training and life. If they can participate in the adult ceremony, beastmen can obtain emblems just like humans, proving there is no difference. By teaching this to the followers, this common sense spreads widely.

Because of this, in Golden Dawn, a new settlement created by Kyle, coexistence and mutual prosperity are advancing at an unprecedented level.

In this ideal church that the Luincent Church has always desired, Azur remains busy today.

Since the announcement that the empire is advancing, there has been no end to those coming with anxieties.

“It’s alright. Kyle-sama, though young, is very capable.”

Azur tries to reassure an old woman who came to pray and shared her worries, touching her shoulder.

“Of course, I know Kyle-sama is capable, Priest Azur. But this time, it’s war, right? I understand he’s excellent at pioneering and politics, but when it comes to commanding battles, isn’t it difficult for the young Kyle-sama?”

Most residents coming to the church seem to share the same anxiety, and most consultations are about this.

“Fufu. It’s alright. Remember the monster hordes that have attacked Golden Dawn many times before. Even during the larger-than-usual stampedes, Kyle-sama didn’t let a single resident die, right?”

The old woman’s eyes widen.

“That’s… that’s right… Even when the city walls weren’t complete, Kyle-sama protected us.”

“Yes. And that’s not all. The king has decided to dispatch the kingdom’s army. King Vaindeck is said to be particularly valiant among past kings. With his knights coming, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“That’s right. Kyle-sama is favored by the king too. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes.”

Thus, Azur spends her days alleviating the residents’ concerns.

Though it seems like a small thing, in terms of civilian control, it holds significant importance by preventing dissatisfaction with the military from arising due to anxiety, which could otherwise lead to opposition to military actions.

Of course, Azur doesn’t act with such intentions; she simply wants to help people, but her actions have become crucial for the Elexir territory.

Now, as for the children at the orphanage Azur is in charge of, they are all doing well.

With the increase in immigrants, the number of orphans has also risen, but the central figures remain the Kendal siblings.

Upon learning that another country is attacking, they were outraged.

“Attacking Golden Dawn where Azur-nee is? That damn empire won’t get away with it!”

Shouted Ed Kendal, the eldest of the four Kendal siblings, a wolf beastman. They call themselves the Kendal Adventure Group.

The four are originally orphans, not related by blood, but were given the Kendal surname by Kyle, becoming siblings by bond.

Kai Kendal, a red panda beastman, interjects.

“It’s the Duvatten Empire, Ed.”

“I know that, Kai!”

“Really? Ed is always so careless.”

“Saika…”

Saika Kendal, a rabbit beastman, complains to Ed. This is a usual routine.

Following her is Wamika Kendal, a cat beastman, known for her sleepy tone.

“We learned about other countries in class~. But I don’t remember well~”

“Right, right! Wamika!”

“Kai, that’s admitting you don’t remember…”

“Huh!?”

“Ed is really stupid.”

“Hey, I remember! More importantly, we need to train to defeat the Ivatella Empire!”

“Huh? We’re not going to the battlefield.”

“Ed, it’s the Duvatten Empire, right?”

“Both of you are annoying! With Reidoc-nii-chan here, we won’t lose, but maybe one or two enemies might reach the church, right!?”

Ed admires Reidoc, so he’s biased.

Hearing this, Saika tilts her head slightly.

“I can’t imagine anyone getting past Soral-nee’s arrows…”

Unlike Ed, Saika strongly admires Soral. Even without bias, Saika can’t imagine the bow goddess missing her targets.

This time, Kai nods too.

“Right. I can’t imagine Wise-man Eva allowing enemies to get this far…”

Kai can imagine Eva burning enemies to ashes but can’t fathom her losing.

Finally, Wamika, who respects Marilyn, adds lazily.

“Overconfidence~ is the greatest enemy~? Golden Dawn is~ big after all~”

Since Marilyn bears the high priest’s emblem, she doesn’t seem to participate directly in battles, making her opinion quite calm.

“Good point! We can’t be overconfident! That’s why we need to train!”

“Right. Let’s do our best in class.”

Thus, until the empire arrives, the academy operates as usual.

◆

“Good morning! Myrna! Feidar! Persia-neechan!”

The Kendal siblings, arriving at Kyle Academy, immediately greet their classmates.

Myrna, Kyle’s twin sister, responds to Ed.

When she first came to the settlement, she was shy, always hiding behind Kyle or Craft, but now she’s fearless.

Perhaps as a reaction, she’s become far from ladylike, overly curious.

“Mm, morning.”

Persia, standing behind Myrna, smiles and nods slightly.

She’s merely a guard, after all.

Next to respond is Feidar, the grandson of the emblem officer.

He hasn’t been in this territory long, so he’s hardly experienced large stampedes.

“Ed… why are you so energetic?”

Feidar shakes his head with a slightly haggard face.

“The empire is about to attack! Don’t you feel any tension!?”

“Of course I do! You’re the one being all wishy-washy!”

“What!? It’s war! What can we kids do!?”

Words exchanged in heat.

Feidar reflexively raises his voice.

“Hey. That’s exactly it, I’ve been thinking. Why don’t you and Myrna join us for some special training?”

Ed, breathing heavily, starts explaining his earlier argument about training.

Watching this from the corner of her eye, Kai sighs.

“Feidar might manage, but Myrna-chan might not, physically or positionally.”

Saika also looks at Ed with half-closed eyes.

“It’s fine. Persia-nee isn’t saying anything. As Feidar-kun said, there’s nothing we can do anyway.”

“That’s true.”

In fact, Persia, Myrna’s guard, seems to find this endearing.

Persia has been advising Myrna to exercise more, so she might see this as part of that.

Moreover, guards are prohibited from interfering with academy classes. Unless there’s direct danger to their charge, they must not intervene.

Perhaps influenced by Ed’s fervor, Myrna and Feidar’s breathing becomes heavy.

It seems they’ve caught Ed’s enthusiasm.

“Alright, let’s train during the adventurers’ physical education class!”

“Yeah!”

“If Myrna-chan is trying, then I will too!”

Thus, the Kendal Adventure Group and sub-members (as Ed arbitrarily decided) begin their peculiar training with unusual enthusiasm.

“Stop it, Persia-nee…”

Ed glances at the warm but incompetent knight and lets out a deep sigh.