Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: 3. Gathering Our Own Materials
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‘What’s going on? Why is she smiling? Was my request that ridiculous?’
Edin couldn’t help but worry that Chairman Mureos might feel offended, since it came across like he was just announcing his decision without much discussion.
But contrary to his concerns, Mureos wasn’t upset at all.
She was a bit shocked by his proposal, sure, but if anything, it made her happy.
‘Heh heh heh. Truth be told, I was planning to grant any request he made.’
As long as Edin’s ask wasn’t completely outrageous, Mureos intended to approve it without hesitation.
Need a shop clerk?
She could hire as many as necessary.
Worried about the dangers of gathering materials outside?
Just post a commission and hire adventurers for escort duty.
But Edin had come up with a solution on his own—one that would benefit those around him and the Adventurer Academy as much as possible.
He’d given Suiven Rosu, who dreamed of running her own shop after retirement, a formal chance to work at a general store.
And by having her collect alchemy ingredients, he’d created an extra lesson for the Academy students.
Sure, there’d be some monthly payroll expenses for the new clerk, but otherwise, no losses at all.
In fact, it was a win for the Academy, the students, and ultimately the entire Adventurer Guild.
“Let’s do exactly as you wish, Edin.”
She’d had no intention of refusing from the start, and objectively speaking, there was no reason to.
“Thank you!”
“Will you head out today, then? Intermediate Class 3 from the first-year practicals.”
He’d already fielded questions at the general store earlier, so they’d recognize his face.
Just slot him into a suitable party, and that was that.
“Yes. Most haven’t left yet, so if I hurry, I should be able to join them.”
Adventurers had more prep than just buying consumables from the store.
Camping gear for if the commission ran long, weapon and gear maintenance, health checks, and so on.
A few early birds might have departed, but most teams were probably still gearing up.
Once he picked a destination, he could tag along with the right party.
He’d overheard nearly all their commission details during that barrage of questions earlier.
Just decide in his head, and done.
‘Kobolds in the mine cave. Mines mean ore materials.’
Ederium ore for extractions, coal or tar for better fires, various metals, etc.
Ores were hugely important in alchemy, so yeah, useful.
But honestly, heading to a functioning mine—safe from monster raids—would be way more efficient.
No need to fight kobolds just to get there.
‘The forest it is, then.’
Dangerous plains and forests teeming with beasts and monsters.
Especially the lush woods full of herbs and poisonous plants.
A living treasure trove for herbalists, alchemists, and research mages.
‘Forests...’
Then, an image of a certain female student flashed through Edin’s mind.
The girl with jet-black straight hair and beautiful dark eyes.
Her vaguely uneasy demeanor and her party members’ slightly rough attitude toward her.
It reminded him of his own time with Claude, which made her stick in his memory even more.
“...Orcs. There was a party heading out to hunt orcs. I’d like to join them.”
He hadn’t gotten the exact location.
But he knew orcs—except for specific tribes—tended to settle deep in forests.
Not just any forest, either.
With their insane breeding rate, they needed massive amounts of food, so they claimed rich, well-developed ecosystems.
Those abundant woods naturally hosted countless plants and creatures.
In other words, paradise for alchemists and the like.
The black-haired girl stood out in his memory, but even without that, he’d have picked the orc forest.
“I’ll check with the supervising teachers.”
“Thank you.”
After a brief call via communication orb with the outside supervisors, Mureos turned back to Edin.
“It’s Teacher Rasen’s party. They’re at Preta’s west gate right now.”
“Got it! I’ll head there right away!”
Edin flashed a bright smile and spun on his heel, leaving the chairman’s office.
Time to gear up and hit the west gate.
“I knew bringing him here was the right call.”
Mureos watched him go with a proud smile.
To prepare for any contingencies, I grabbed a few potions from the general store’s warehouse and stashed them in my magic pouch.
Embezzlement...? Nah.
This place belongs to the Academy, sure, but while I’m working here, the store’s fully mine.
They take 50% of the profits, but honestly, that’s just on paper.
Everything inside might as well be mine anyway, and the chairman confirmed it’s fine to use as needed, as long as it’s not excessive.
Anyway, with that sorted...
“I’ll be off.”
I left the shop in Suiven’s hands.
“Sure thing. I’ll watch the place.”
She was in high spirits after the chairman approved her side gig—and once they found a replacement tank teacher, she’d get the official transfer.
She waved me off cheerfully.
Seeing her so happy made me glad I’d agreed to her request.
The west gate was a solid 30-minute walk from here.
Closer than the other gates, but still—Myos Empire’s capital was massive.
Already delaying their departure because of me; I had to hustle.
I broke into a run down the streets.
Thanks to my training, I had C-Rank melee adventurer-level physical stats.
At full speed, I made it in 10 minutes.
“Ah, there you are.”
Whoa, polite speech from Teacher Rasen?
He usually went full informal with students, so it felt off.
“Huff... Sorry for the sudden join request.”
I apologized first to Rasen and the waiting students.
Even 10 minutes was a delay.
“Hey, isn’t that the guy...”
“From the general store earlier?”
The male students murmured as they spotted me.
They hadn’t asked me anything directly, but they’d overheard my chat with the black-haired girl, so they remembered my face.
Guess Rasen hadn’t mentioned I was coming.
“Um, pl-please take care of me. I’m Riley Gabriel, first-year intermediate class. I’m a frontline swordswoman.”
The sole black-haired girl in the group bowed politely and introduced herself.
When parties added impromptu members or linked up with others...
Sharing your position and basics was standard adventurer etiquette.
Good training.
“Nice to meet you. C-Rank adventurer... alchemist and frontline. I use a spear. Edin.”
I returned the intro in proper adventurer style.
“Hey, you lot introduce yourselves too.”
Rasen ordered the three boys, who were scowling behind her.
“Tch. Such a hassle...”
“Tsk.”
They weren’t thrilled about my sudden addition, apparently.
Hm. Not like I was taking their commission pay or anything... why gripe?
Probably same reason as Claude.
Herb gathering and such was a time sink...
“Octo. Archer. Use a bow.”
“Ens. Mid-tier mage.”
“C-Rank tanker, Tom.”
“Not C-Rank yet.”
Whack!
“Ow!”
Rasen smacked the head of Tom, the last one who’d called himself a tanker.
Still a provisional adventurer—and a first-year at that—claiming C-Rank? Deserved it.
“...Violent teacher.”
“What?”
“......”
Rasen raised her hand like she’d strike again.
Then...
“......”
She suddenly flinched and stared piercingly in one direction.
What? Did she spot something?
With her sharp senses, she might’ve picked up on something we couldn’t.
“...Nah, just my imagination. Let’s move out.”
“??”
What was that?
Just a false alarm?
Whatever.
She was an A-Rank adventurer alum, a swordsman with exceptional senses.
If it was real danger, she’d have halted us.
Trusting her, I followed the party out the west gate toward our destination.
...Come to think of it, I never asked where we were headed.
Need to know to plan what materials to grab.
“Hm.”
Eh, I’d just ask on the way.
‘As expected of Teacher Rasen. Such sharp senses.’
Saella, who’d been hiding nearby the west gate in perfect concealment to watch Edin, jolted when Rasen detected his perfectly hidden presence.
Complete stealth.
Even that prodigy Lunarin Brettis couldn’t have sensed it.
Frontline instincts were not to be underestimated.
‘Truly, Teacher Rasen. Beautiful skill.’
The dazzling perfection of someone like Lunarin, born a flawless gem, was one kind of beauty.
But the rugged allure of a statue painstakingly carved from rough stone, like Rasen—that had its own appeal.
That was why Saella had enrolled in the Adventurer Academy.
Here, he could encounter all sorts of refined beauties.
And witness the birth of new ones.
Some of which he even claimed for himself.
But that wasn’t important right now.
‘Good thing she didn’t catch me... Time to keep tailing that rock with zero beauty, even if you squint.’
Just give me one slip-up.
I’d drag you out or finish you right there.
With that in mind, Saella slipped through Preta’s west gate after them.