Chapter 235: Natalie Wakes Up, Meeting Label For The First Time

-----

Humanity’s future.

Wasn’t that too exaggerated of a statement?

Label couldn’t help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over her after hearing Riven’s heavy words. Her cheeks flushed a light pink as she fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, glancing between Riven and the others with wide, uncertain eyes.

"W-What do you mean with the future of humanity? That’s way too much!" she said, her voice rising slightly in protest.

"Hahah, forgive me. I just genuinely believe that’s the case regarding Alchemy and what you can do," Riven explained with a calm smile, leaning back slightly in his chair. "Can’t you already mass-produce hundreds of products as long as you’ve got the materials?"

"I-I can, but that’s simply unrealistic. Even if we gathered everything you have in your dungeons it wouldn’t be enough to—"

"Your name... is Label?" Natalie wondered aloud as she carefully sat down on one of the available chairs, still looking a bit pale from the earlier ordeal.

"Ahhh! S-Sorry! I forgot to introduce myself properly," Label said quickly, bowing her head a little in flustered apology. "You’re Natalie, right? Part of the Sunrise Family? The Young Heiress of Sunrise Pharmaceuticals!"

"Yeah, that’s right. I suppose Riven already introduced me to you," Natalie let out a soft sigh, still feeling slightly tired as she rubbed her temples. "And I suppose... we’re in your house?" she asked, looking around the modest but clean living room with mild curiosity.

"Welcome," Riven said simply. "I left every other person I rescued outside, but I brought you guys along because I just felt like it was a little ridiculous how you got yourselves almost killed again."

"Ahh..."

"Shit..."

"Sorry..."

The other three members of Natalie’s party mumbled their apologies while looking thoroughly ashamed of themselves. They were all supposed to be D-Rank Hunters, and yet they couldn’t even handle a group of Kobolds on their own without ending up captured and nearly sold off.

Riven, who back then had not even been an Awakened person, would have been overjoyed and accomplished so much more if he had simply been given the same starting strength they possessed. He still couldn’t fully believe that people born with such natural power would waste it by acting in such irresponsible ways, never taking the strength they held within themselves seriously enough.

"I am honestly very upset about this," Riven reprimanded them while crossing his arms firmly over his chest. His voice carried a quiet but unmistakable authority. "You’re all D-Rank Hunters, and a group of four at that! You entered a D-Rank Dungeon and then got captured by Kobolds?"

The red-haired girl with freckles scattered across her face, Clair, pouted angrily as she searched around for her bow and arrows. "Hey, okay, we committed a mistake, but that’s not really your problem, right?!" She clearly didn’t like the way Riven was reprimanding her as if she were his daughter or something. "Plus we’re not your kids, nor are we part of your guild or whatever. And why did you even bring us here? Did you kidnap us or something?!"

"..."

Riven grew even more irritated by her careless words. On the outside he remained calm and composed, but his aura darkened into a deep, oppressive red that filled the room and made everyone present feel a sudden chill of intimidation.

"And don’t get me started on—"

"Clair, don’t make things worse!!!" Philip, Emma, and Natalie all moved at once to cover her mouth before she could speak another foolish word. This girl seemed to possess an incredible talent for ruining situations and making everything more complicated than it needed to be.

Philip, the only man in the group — a young tank with a tall, broad-shouldered build, short blonde hair, and clear blue eyes — quickly apologized on her behalf. "I-I’m so sorry. She sometimes just talks without thinking."

Emma, the blue-haired fencer of the party and Philip’s girlfriend, groaned while shaking her head in clear exasperation. "Sometimes? It’s more like all the time..."

Natalie apologized once more, her tone sincere. "I’m sorry about her... Uh, and please don’t worry — we don’t think this is kidnapping at all. You saved our lives and brought us to safety. We owe you a big favor for that. But... um, I was wondering what the actual purpose of this reunion is? And Label... is she the person you spoke about earlier, the one you said you needed to find before contacting me, Riven?"

Riven nodded after taking a moment to calm the sharp edge of his irritation. "That’s correct. Label here is an incredible Alchemist with the rare power to continuously evolve her Class without needing the help or sponsorship of any Authority."

"?!"

Everyone who heard that statement was left momentarily speechless. The four friends exchanged glances of pure confusion and growing interest.

"That amazing?!" Clair asked, her earlier annoyance fading into genuine surprise. "Huh? This girl?"

"She looks really... I guess not how I expected the greatest alchemist ever to look like," Emma noted with a thoughtful tilt of her head.

"Eeehh... W-What’s wrong with me..." Label cried softly, feeling suddenly self-conscious as she tried to hide half her body behind Riven’s larger frame.

"Emma! Clair! Stop it!" Natalie barked, lightly smacking both of them on the backs of their heads. "Just shut up and don’t talk if you’re not going to say something nice!" She then turned back to Riven and Label with a more composed expression. "I’m really sorry about them— Ahem! As I was saying... does this mean that the offer I gave you earlier... are you actually considering it?"

Riven nodded firmly. "That’s right. I’ve already obtained the recipes, and Label has the ability to mass-produce incredibly high-quality products using less than half of the normally required materials. I want her to continue developing her Alchemy freely, but for that we also need someone who can help us secure a steady flow of resources. And while we do that, we need someone capable of properly selling these products on a larger scale. That’s where you come in, Natalie."

-----