Famicase 2020: My First Alchemy

This post is part of a collection on Famicase.

I participated in Famicase again this year, making it my fifth year. Since Meteor moved to a smaller location last year the deadline has been changed from the end of March to whenever slots fill up. Last year that worked out to being near the end of March anyway, but this year entries were closed after just about a week, catching me by surprise. Luckily I managed to squeak in under the deadline anyway.

My entry this year was 初めての錬金術 or "My First Alchemy", an occult edutainment simulator.

The description:

おおいなる神秘「錬金術」、ここで丁寧・簡潔に紹介します! 長年の修業やラテン語の知識は一切不要! ヘルメス・トリスメギストスその他の偉人の手法の具体的なシミュレーションが楽しめます。金の錬成方法、円と同面積の四角の求め方、薑汁撞奶のレシピ、不老不死の薬の作り方など含まれています。 注意:月の涙、猫の足音、人の魂などの材料は別途お求めください。

In English:

A concise introduction to the sublime mystery of Alchemy! No need for years of training or knowledge of Latin! Enjoy detailed simulations of the methods of Hermes Trismegistus and other great masters. Includes guides to the transmutation of lead into gold, how to square the circle, a recipe for ginger milk curd, and a formula for an elixir of eternal youth. Note: Tears of the Moon, the sound of the footfalls of a cat, human souls, and other ingredients not included.

The painting is by Joseph Wright. I generally think of it as The Alchemist in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, but the full title is "The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful Conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers". It is not a light novel. It's one of my favorite paintings and I see it most every day as a desktop wallpaper.

Here's to many more years; hopefully for next year I'll get my entry ready ahead of time. Ψ