「Are you an absolute IDIOT or what!?」
Ow—don't shout right next to my ear. That ringing noise isn't going away now.
「We're talking about the overseer of the West District here! The guy's a big shot in more ways than one! He's so ruthless that just hearing his name sends wealthy nobles trembling in fear! And you went and picked a fight with his kid? Are you insane? No—beyond insane!」
「Yeah yeah, I'm an idiot. I get it.」
「No, you don't get it! You're not just a thoughtless idiot—you're a reckless, thoughtless, super idiot!」
「You said 'thoughtless' twice.」
「Because it's important! Seriously, what is wrong with you!?」
「Okay okay, I'm a moron. Happy?」
「Now now, Sorte. From what I've heard, our lord here acted to protect a woman.」
「You mean that big-breasted slave girl, Wendy? Why the hell were you with her today?! Didn't you say you were taking a break and heading off for a nice, peaceful day of 'doing nothing'? What happened to that?!」
「Yep, I'm a dumbass. Totally.」
「Sorte… don't take it out on him just because he left without you. You were all excited to show him around the city, weren't you? But I'm sure he had his reasons.」
「That's—not—the—point—! I'm not taking it out on anyone!!」
Sigh. Man, I should've just kept my mouth shut when I got back.
But no, if something happens, I'll need their help. Better to keep them informed.
「Hey! Where do you think you're going?!」
「Alchemy. I need to figure out how to make some money.」
「You're only just now thinking about that!? Seriously, you really are hopeless.」
「Yeah yeah, I know. I'm hopeless. Got it.」
「My lord, is there anything we can do to help?」
「Hmm… for now, just keep collecting materials like usual.」
「Understood. In the meantime, we'll keep an eye out for your safety as well.」
「I mean, I think I'll be fine… but thanks. I'll keep making potions for adventurers, of course.」
「Even now, you're keeping your promises to us…」
Of course I am.
A promise is something you keep. It might seem like just words, but it's still a contract. I can't break it just because of my own problems.
「Alright then. We'll head out to gather materials. You stay focused and do your best, my lord.」
「…Thanks.」
「Heh. You're kind of cool right now, you know. I mean, it's a little frustrating that you're not doing it for me… but still. I bet Sorte feels the same way.」
「I do not! Get over yourself!」
「No? My gut tells me otherwise.」
「'Your gut'? Don't act like that's reliable! Your instincts are never right, Aina!」
「Hmph. That's a rude thing to say. But fine—I'll take out this frustration on some monsters instead.」
「Now that's a plan I can agree with. As for you—get your butt in gear and only focus on making money! Got it!?」
I'm lucky to have those two around.
Seriously. If they're working that hard, I've got no excuse not to give it my all too.
「…Did the dog just get all lovey-dovey?」
「I did not! Go die! Go get plowed by a pig and die!」
Yeah no thanks.
Getting plowed by a pig and dying sounds like it'd make the Top 5 Most Embarrassing Ways to Die in the World.
「Plowed…? What does that mean? Is it some kind of pig tattoo thing?」
「Aina, no! You don't need to know!」
「But now I really wanna know.」
…Yeah, I'll leave that one to Sorte.
Good luck coming up with a believable lie.
-0-
Anyway, time to go through my stuff.
– Healing Herb
– Magic Herb
– Poison Herb
– Moonlight Grass
– Iron Ore
– Red Copper Ore
– Steel Ore
– Silver Ore
– Magic Ore
– Jade
And then today's purchases:
Soap, a knife, that knockoff Ch〇man firestarter, some empty magic stones, colored glass bits, a magic conduction plate, and a vibrating orb.
Also, the Greater Healing Herb and Greater Magic Herb the girls gave me earlier.
Greater Healing Herb is pretty much what it sounds like—bigger and more potent than the regular kind.
I can't use it yet, but maybe I'll be able to make Large Potions from it someday.
Hmm… oh, right.
I forgot to give her that brooch I bought.
If things hadn't gone sideways today, it could've been a much nicer moment…
A soft pink glimmer sparkled in the light.
A transparent rose quartz, delicately adorned with platinum.
Yeah, it'd suit her perfectly.
I imagined Wendy wearing it as a subtle accent on her chest.
That gentle, soothing glow of the stone just felt like her.
「Why're you muttering over a gem like that?」
「Reinrich!? At least knock first!」
「What are you, a teenager? Anyway, what did you screw up this time?」
「Hey, I didn't screw anything up…」
「Yeah yeah, just spill it. You've made me plenty of coin, kid. Least I can do is give you some advice.」
「Ugh… alright, so here's what happened.」
I started explaining the whole thing to Reinrich.
「Wait a sec. What kind of bet did that Yasis brat bring up?」
She cut in right when I got to the part where Yasis gave that smug little grin.
Almost like she knew something I didn't.
「Hold on, lemme think. I'll try to remember it exactly…」
Okay, so—uh…
「I ended up in a competition with the son of the West District's overseer, some guy named Dadaril. He asked how much money I had, and when I said about 3.5 million Nohl, he told me to prepare 80 million. Meanwhile, Dadaril himself will continue collecting the original 120 million Nohl. So, the terms are: no direct interference allowed, we can't incapacitate each other, and if either of us dies, the other will be reported to the lord as the murderer.」
「Hmm…」
「Reinrich?」
Reinrich fell into thought, muttering under his breath, 「That damn brat.」
「I see. That means indirect sabotage is definitely on the table.」
「Like what?」
「Do you even know what that overseer's son does?」
「No idea. Maybe he runs a pig farm or something? He seems like the type.」
「Don't guess it like that because he looks like one. Anyway, that pig is actually the head of the Pharma Guild. If he looks into it, he'll find out soon enough that you're supplying potions to the Alchemy Guild.」
「So you're saying he might go to the Adventurers' Guild master and stop them from buying my potions?」
「That won't work. Low-ranked adventurers can't afford expensive healing potions anyway, and if the Guild pulled a stunt like that, it really would collapse.」
Reinrich-sama's smile is not a smile at all—it's terrifying.
Still, the Pharma Guild again… another wall in my path.
「Well, that's all the hint you get from me. Honestly, you'd be better off coming up with a way to make money besides healing potions.」
「Come on! I've been making nothing but healing potions lately! You can't just spring this on me!」
「Don't be so pathetic. You stood your ground for a woman, didn't you? Then follow through with that pride until the end. Women are weak to that sort of thing.」
「You too, Reinrich?」
「Of course. When I was young, Dolma and Galleria… but never mind that story.」
So Reinrich was popular in his youth, huh.
「Hmm…」
「You're really helpless. I'm pretty sure you've got extra silver ore and jade, right? Try making some accessories with those. For practice, use red copper ore and magic ore. You've also got those colored glass pieces. The stone quality's lower, but they'll do for training.」
「Accessories, huh… I haven't made anything since that twisted iron necklace.」
I really have been focused solely on healing potions.
They're in demand, and it felt like I had an endless supply of ingredients. Plus, once I figured out how to make the medium-grade ones, I got so hyped.
「Just think about what kind of accessory would suit the girl you want to protect so badly. There's no such thing as an accessory that only suits one person in the whole world, but if it suits even one person, someone else will want it too.」
「I see… Yeah. Thanks, Reinrich. You really are my master!」
「I don't remember ever taking on a disciple… Ah, wait, I did say that. But don't let it go to your head!」
Reinrich stomped out of the room with long strides.
Was she… embarrassed? Reinrich?
Still, it's kind of refreshing. Heh. I'm actually feeling a bit motivated now.
An accessory that would suit Wendy, huh.
Sorry, Hayato, but I'm going to borrow that jade.
Oh, right—can't I talk through the guild card?
「Guild card, open. Let's see, I just tap on Hayato's name, right?」
When I tapped his name, the characters lit up with a soft white glow.
『Ah, hello! Hayato here! Is that you, Itsuki-san?』
「Hey, it's been a while. Are you still busy right now?」
『Yes, I'm inside a dungeon at the moment, but I'm on a break, so a short chat is fine.』
Whoa, he's actually inside a dungeon.
『Sorry, in the dungeon, I can't use the friend function outside of rest rooms, so I couldn't reach out to you. Did something happen?』
「No, not really. I just wanted to ask if it's okay to use the jade from the magic pouch you left with me.」
『Of course! Feel free to use everything in there. But wait, you can already process jade? I thought that required alchemy level 7 or 8?』
Level 7 or 8, huh. That means I'd need to raise it by two levels in a short time. The higher your level gets, the slower it rises… but fine, bring it on.
『Itsuki-san?』
「Ah, not yet. But I'm planning to seriously focus on making accessories soon, so I just wanted to ask ahead of time.」
『I see. I'm glad to hear you're working hard! Then next time we meet, could you make an accessory for me using the ores I found in the dungeon?』
「Sure, but wouldn't you be better off with something made by someone more experienced? And are you okay with your equipment slots?」
『No worries. You can wear as many accessories as you want. Just rings alone—you can wear ten on both hands. Though I haven't seen anyone wearing them on their toes.』
Ten, huh. Must be hard gathering that many. If the rings have abilities, they'd definitely be in demand.
Yeah… maybe focusing on accessory-making really is the way to go.
「Thanks, Hayato! You just gave me a great idea!」
『Uh, ah. Then… you're welcome?』
「Yeah, all that's left is for me to do my part. Time to chug some magic potions and get fired up!」
『Huh? Hello? Hey, hello? Itsuki-san? Can you hear me?』
Without even noticing Hayato's voice fading away, I began refining the red copper ore into usable ingots.
―Hayato's POV―
「Hey. Is he going to be okay?」
Letty asked Hayato after the conversation ended.
「Hmm…」
Hayato couldn't give her a clear answer.
「He feels different somehow. Before, he was all lazy and bleh, but now he's like… fired up nano desu.」
「Maybe… something happened.」
「S-Something? Like what?」
「Just… something.」
The cryptic conversation between Mii and Emily only made the unease grow stronger.
It couldn't be… or maybe it could. Too many things came to mind.
But if it's him, surely not. I want to believe that. No, I do believe it.
「Normally, this would be a good thing. If he's motivated, his alchemy level will go up faster, and he'll be able to make what we asked for sooner.」
「That's true, but still…」
Even though what Chris said was undeniably a good thing for them, there was still a lingering sense of unease.
Back in the carriage before they parted, his mood hadn't seemed like that of someone filled with drive or determination.
It looked like he was going to live the easygoing, carefree life he had talked about.
But now, he said he was going to put in serious effort.
「Anyway… we'll know once we clear the dungeon and get back.」
「Yeah. Then let's all get fired up and do our best, too.」
「「「Yeah!」」」
Only Chris and Mii actually responded in unison.
「Sigh… I just hope he doesn't burn himself out.」
「He'll probably be fine.」
「Really? He seems like the type to step on every trap in his path.」
「Not that kind of trap.」
「Wait, you mean him? You think he might've fallen?」
「Yeah. But he hasn't.」
「How do you know that?」
Letty asked Emily, and Emily looked up dreamily for a moment before tilting her head and replying, uncertainly:
「A hunch?」