Chapter 22: The Daily Life of an Eight Year Old - The Honorable One
The large barrel that occupied one corner of the room, bathed in the morning light, threw more self-assertion than necessary at its surroundings. The liquor had been transferred to bottles and distributed to the alchemists yesterday. Even so, the amount had not diminished.
Name: Sacrio
Features: A type of rum produced in the west. It is made from molasses, a by-product of sugar refining. Due to its high alcohol content, it has a strong alcoholic smell. So someone who isn't strong can't drink it. The alcohol content is around 75 degrees.
Characteristics: Unknown
The alcohol content was stupidly high. In my previous life, there must have been alcohol itself. But I think this one is also quite high. If it's more than that, it's not "strong alcohol" but "bad alcohol". It wasn't because I thought so, but I could smell the alcohol in the room. Maybe it was leaking out a little.
Just to be sure, I opened the window and looked again at the huge barrel.
What am I supposed to do now?
According to Roland, the alchemists introduced by Pavel have started to prepare the formula. I've also asked Simon to help, so three alchemists are working to make the cure.
However, Valerie's condition was not good. She's getting worse.
I broke my fingers and counted the days left, and was shocked.It's been four days since she was admitted to the hospital. If I calculated from my encounter with the Tremble Cube, today would be the eighth day. There were only seven days left. If the number of days was from the onset of the disease, there was still time to spare. However, if the cure was difficult to make, or if the materials were in short supply. That margin would be blown away.
Would they be able to make the cure that only mages could make eighty years ago?
I hesitated to ask myself the same question.
I'm not so worried about the materials. "Battle Axe of Destruction" and Nelio, who is better than most adventurers is on his way with his friends to collect them. If they can't collect it, it will be difficult for others. That includes me.
Alchemists. That's where my concern still lies.
I opened the status window and stared at a point.
"Growth Potential Strengthening"
If I do this, I'll only be consoling myself for not being able to do anything. Still, I want to do what I can. Even if it turns out to be pointless, there's nothing else I can do for now.
I grabbed the treasures I had displayed and left the house.
As I pushed open the door, the receptionist from yesterday walked up to me with a smile.
No one blamed me for leaving my seat. There was no one on the floor, to begin with. It seems that the Adventurer's Guild is special in that even in their free time, someone comes and goes.
"Welcome, Alter-sama. If it's about the investigation, there's still no progress. Or are you selling that magic stone?"
I'm sorry. The Tremble Cube's magic stone is already crushed.
"You'll have to give that up. It's no longer in my possession. It's a small price to pay, but can you take this?"
I held out the magic stone of Eras Rhino.
He was disappointed but seemed to be intrigued by the magic stone in front of him.
This is quite good. Hmm, it seems that it has a high affinity for the Earth attribute. The size and weight are perfect for staff. Are you selling it?"
"Yes. Assess it for me."
"Yes, sir. I'll call the person in charge."
I waited in the reception room, and after a while, the person in charge arrived.
After a while, the person in charge arrived. He expressed the same opinion and presented me with 70 gold coins. That's more expensive than the Adventurer's Guild. It's probably the difference in the middle margin, but they might have mistaken it for the lord's personal property and colored it.
"Very well. Can you give me the money immediately?"
"Yes, sir. Right away."
The person in charge returns with a leather bag full of gold coins. I thanked him and left the magic guild without checking.
The next stop was a general store.
I asked someone on the street about a store that catered to adventurers and headed there.
The store was small and cozy. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the owner was stroking his beard, looking bored. He stopped as soon as he saw me, but didn't offer any words of welcome, so I spoke to him.
"Does this store have specialized tools and materials?"
"Specialized? It's a store for adventurers, so we do carry a certain amount."
The shopkeeper seemed somewhat annoyed. I think the reason he said adventurers is because he meant that there is nothing that a rich kid like me would want. I'd be in trouble if I didn't.
I stood at the counter and faced the owner.
"First, a set of basic tools for an alchemist. I'll also need the alchemy solution. How many – it depends on the price, but I want ten bottles. Also, show me the healing potions. The lowest grade is fine. How much would that cost roughly?"
"You're an alchemist, aren't you?"
"I'm an alchemist from now on."
"Oh, right. Is this the kind of basic stuff that apprentices use? If so, the set costs 5 gold coins. Ten bottles of alchemy solution will cost you three gold coins. The lowest level healing potion costs 2 silver coins. That's eight gold coins and two silver coins."
He glanced at me. "Do you have any money?"
The price is more reasonable than I thought. That's no problem.
As he looked into the leather bag I held out to him, the shopkeeper's smile changed to a nice one.
"That's a good price. Get it together. Yeah, I'll need to see the actual potion first."
"Very well, sir."
The shopkeeper moved around the store, gathering up the items and placing them on the counter.
There were no alchemy tools in this store as if there was no demand for them, so he went to the back room to get them. In the meantime, I use "Appraisal" the potion in front of me.
Name: Healing Potion (Low Quality)
Features: A healing potion made from Theron grass and an alchemy solution. The more vivid the scarlet, the higher the quality.
Characteristics: Equivalent to healing magic, with the amount of recovery varying depending on the quality. The amount of recovery differs depending on the quality of the potion and the ingredients added.
So this is a healing potion.
I didn't have time to use "Appraisal" when I had the Tremble Cube. The ingredients are Theron grass and alchemy solution. It's pretty simple, but I don't know how to make it. At any rate, let's try some things out.
I also ordered more Theron grass from the shopkeeper when he came back.
"Five large copper coins for a set of ten Theron grass leaves. Do you mind?"
"Yeah, Got it."
I was about to agree when he cut me off.
Isn't the price strange? The alchemy solution costs three silver coins per bottle. In contrast, the healing potion costs two silver coins. Even if Theron grass is inexpensive, we're already in the red, aren't we? Could it be that the alchemy solution is for several times?
When I asked the shopkeeper about it, his expression changed to one of ridicule.
"You don't seem to know this, but alchemists usually make their alchemical solutions. The reason why we still sold it is that the quality of the solution also increases with the alchemist's skill."
"So a good alchemist's alchemy solution will affect the quality of the potion?"
"That's right. We only deal in alchemical solutions that are in demand, which is why the price is a bit high."
Is it natural to be ridiculed for this? You call yourself an alchemist, but you didn't know the basics of alchemy. I'm a little uncomfortable, but I learned a lot, so it's okay.
At the same time, I use "Appraisal" at the alchemy solution.
Name: Alchemy Solution (Good Quality)
Features: A solution containing the alchemist's magical power. Contains Ranim grass and Soglio nut. It is used to create potions and enchantments.
Characteristics: Unknown
Oh, I don't think I can make this myself.
What do you mean, "put magic into it"? Is it enough to release a lump of magic power? Wrong. If that is true, then everyone is an alchemist. Perhaps there is a magic for creating alchemical solutions that are passed down only to them. I see so that's why they have a master-disciple relationship.
Anyway, I'll buy some of this. I heard it's good quality.
"All right, I'll take that good quality alchemy solution. And 20 Theron leaves, please."
"Very well, sir. That's eight gold coins and three silver coins. Oh, you don't seem to have a bag. This leather bag is quite strong. That's one silver coin.
"I'll take it…"
I paid the smiling shopkeeper and had the bag packed in a strange-smelling leather bag.
◇◇◇◇
"It's a bit antique. If only in appearance."
I looked at the alchemy tools on the table and muttered to myself.
This was because the alchemy of this world made no sense to me. The alchemy solution is the key to making potions, but I can't imagine its principle and how it can make potions. If you think about it, a healing potion can heal wounds just by drinking or pouring it. It's a matter of principle before lamenting about it. The laws are different.
Even if it doesn't make sense, we have to try something, right?
What I had on hand was some Theron grass, an alchemy solution, a rum called Sacrio, and some Pharael grass and General grass from the forest. I think I can make a sedative out of the Falafel grass, but I'm going to play it safe and try the healing potion first. That's the only potion I know of that has a definite ingredient.
I put the materials in a corner of the room, leaving only the Theron grass and the alchemy solution.
I should try heating them first.
I put a piece of Theron leaves into a mortar and crushed it. I put it into a beaker, added the alchemy solution, and stirred. Yes, there are fine pieces of leaves drifting in the water. I stirred it for a while, but there was no change, so I transferred it to a flask.
Set up the alcohol lamp under the table and the flask on top of it. I ignited it with a living magic tinder flint.
The temperature of the solution rose and water droplets started to form on the inside of the flask. Still no change. I lowered the heat to keep it from boiling and waited some more, but there was no change except for the garbage called "material" swimming around.
I wondered if I hadn't stirred it enough.
I put on my leather gloves and shook the flask.
"Oh!"
As soon as I shook it, the clear liquid turned reddish.
However, even if I shook it further, it would not become thicker. Even the lowest grade healing potion is a clearer scarlet than this. In comparison, the liquid in front of me is quite thin. It's more like pink. It's a bit fancy.
I took it off the fire and waited for it to cool down. There is still no change.
The material is not poisonous, so I decide to take a sip.
The water was a little rough and lukewarm. It doesn't even taste good.
I immediately activated "Appraisal".
Name: Peach-colored Liquid
Features: A liquid made of alchemy solution mixed with Theron grass powder.
Characteristics: None
Yeah, it's just the same.
The color has changed, so I thought it was pretty good. It needs to be thicker. Do you want to boil it down a little? It's not that simple, is it?
I tilted my head and looked at the lowest level healing potion.
This one is much darker. I wonder what's the difference. Is there not enough Theron grass?
As I continued to observe it, hoping to get a hint, something suddenly flashed through my mind.
Startled, I hurriedly turned my head away.
"What was that?"
It was similar to the time when I was given information from a magic tool.
But it was vaguer than that, more like a flashback.
When I looked back at the potion fearfully, something came to my mind again. It has a bumpy sensation. But there is no discomfort or pain. I hide my brow and focus my attention on my brain.
Could it be a way to create a healing potion?
When I turned my attention to the alchemy tool with that thought in mind, I could understand with my senses, though vaguely, the amount of Theron grass powder and alchemy solution, the heating time, and the timing of stirring.
What the hell is this? I don't get it. Why is this happening all of a sudden?
I opened my status and couldn't believe my eyes.
"Mixing 1."
"What? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! It's fancy water! Why can I learn it? How much of a cheat is that!"
I plunge into the peach-colored potion.
It's impossible. I'm not sure how many times I've had to train to learn to use a one-handed sword. No matter how much of a cheat "Growth Potential Strengthening". This is strange.
I thought back to the process of mixing the light blue liquid, but I couldn't find any reason for it. As I twisted my neck, that thing popped into view.
"No way…"
I picked it up and activated "Appraisal".
Name: General Grass (Processed)
Seriously, it's processed. When I appraised it one after another, all of it was in the process of being processed. And some of it even said that their taste and aroma had been enhanced by rubbing and twisting. So that's what this is all about. I've spent the last few days sparing no sleep in repeating the initial stages of blending? Well, I've taken the liberty of treating it as a tea, but Shogun-cha is a medicinal tea. And since it is brewed and drunk, the process is the same.
As expected of the General, it's amazing.
I'm impressed, but then I realized that I had just experienced something similar a few days ago.
It was "Multiple Chanting". At that time, I had accumulated a lot of experience with the two-handed activation of life magic. It was the same this time. By accident, he repeated the imitation of alchemy and accumulated experience. It blossomed with the actual concoction. The fact that I was able to learn it in one go was probably not only due to the benefits of "Growth Potential Strengthening", but also because the hurdle of "Mixing" was lower than the rare "Multiple Chanting".
Anyway, thanks for the General tea.
I heaped up a piece of General grass in the corner of the room, poured a cup of Sacrio.
It's kind of like a smithy, but that's what makes me enthusiastic.
I begin to create the healing potion, concentrating on the recipe in my brain.