Ougon no Koku

Also known as: 黄金の刻

by Marina Abe

An alchemist who can create gold from nothing is a rare existence—there may be only one in the entire kingdom. Argo, a con artist who uses sleight of hand to impersonate an alchemist, happens to meet the real thing: an alchemist named Nitro. Believing Argo’s tricks to be genuine alchemy, Nitro is overjoyed to find a “fellow alchemist.” But in truth, Nitro has grown weary of life in the castle, forced to produce gold without end, and has run away. Spending time with Nitro brings back memories for Argo of days spent with his late sister. He lost her because they had no money. “Now you have money—but are you happy?” Nitro’s question shakes him to the core. What will be born from this encounter—?