Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: 8. Unexpected Visitor
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The Adventurer Guild branch building.
Every day, over a thousand adventurers flock here to pick up requests or handle guild business.
And the Preta branch was especially lively, since academy students came by too.
"Hey, check that out."
"Oh ho, upper-class students."
Whenever students showed up to take on requests, adventurers' eyes would often turn their way.
Not every time, of course. It was mainly for the upper-class kids with a high chance of becoming top-rank adventurers in the future.
And especially those who'd already made a name for themselves as adventurers.
Like, say, Qumel's party, who'd just returned after taking down a Goblin King yesterday.
That sort of thing.
Yesterday, in particular, the guild had been buzzing about it.
Even for the strongest party in the upper class, taking down a Goblin King without a single scratch was impressive.
A B-Rank difficulty Goblin King.
No matter how weak goblins were, when it had three hundred under its command, even a B-Rank party would struggle.
Half-decent parties failed outright, solid ones braced for heavy casualties, and only perfectly synced veteran teams could pull it off with minor injuries.
That was the level of challenge.
And rumor had it this one even had orcs and dire wolves—mid-tier monsters—as slaves.
That jacked up the difficulty even more.
Yet they'd cleared it spotless? Even if they were elite temps with A-Rank cards.
A student party pulling that off without a scratch? Something was off.
Did another S-Rank prodigy like Claude pop up?
Nah.
Qumel Satirios, Shnero, and Rin.
All talented, hardworking types.
But none had the jaw-dropping gift to hit S-Rank.
Lucky break?
Or did supervising teacher Rasen step in because it got dicey?
If a veteran A-Rank adventurer like Rasen took charge, it was possible.
But the rumors said otherwise.
"I know a guy in the academy. He said that new alchemist they got helped out with support."
"What? Just support? What kind of help lets them wipe it clean?"
Alchemists? The potion-brewing guys.
That was most adventurers' take.
Sure, some alchemists tried adventuring.
But the job was too far from frontline monster-slaying, so they usually quit fast.
Edin from Claude's party had stuck it out longest, but folks saw him as Claude's tagalong, scavenging scraps.
"Yeah, that Edin. The alchemist who joined the academy."
"Right. And they say his potions are insane."
Word of his stellar potions was already legendary among academy students.
And now it was trickling out to outside adventurers.
"He churns out C-Rank potions like a machine. And way better than regular C-Ranks."
"Wasn't he just the guy sucking up to Claude?"
"Doesn't seem like it. Got comfy at the academy, started mass-producing, and boom—awakened."
Rumors of Edin's top-tier potions spread like wildfire, starting from academy students' contacts.
"No wonder. Academy kids have been clearing requests easier lately."
"Duh. They buy killer potions near cost and spam 'em. Monsters wouldn't stand a chance otherwise."
"Damn... Jealous. I want cheap top-shelf potions too."
Come to think of it, students' request success rates were way up lately.
And injuries? Barely any now.
Back in the day, they'd come back banged up, needing teacher backup to finish.
Now? They cleared solo, faces lit up, barely scratched.
With C-Rank potions that used to cost 20-30 silver or D-Ranks at 4-5 silver going for a tenth the price—in bulk, no less.
Requests were a breeze now.
Even teachers who'd praised the cheap potion trials for learning item use and tactics.
Now worried: "What if grads hit the market potions and get disillusioned?"
"How good are they, anyway?"
"...I wanna try one."
"Should I ask a student buddy to grab me one...?"
Anyone with academy connections pondered shelling out for Edin's potions.
How amazing were they to worry teachers like that?
'Don't just hurl the sticky potion at charging enemies willy-nilly. It needs time to harden a bit on contact with air. Otherwise, it stays liquid and they barrel right through.'
Riley recalled Edin's advice, holding her breath quietly as she pulled out a Sticky Potion.
A D-Rank Sticky Potion bought from Edin's shop for a measly 50 bronze.
Used right, it could pin even a strength-freak orc for minutes.
Today's foes: six E-Rank Mane Wolves.
Gray-furred wolves with pitch-black manes, preying on goblins and kobolds.
Pack hunters with killer agility—tricky even for E-Rank.
To counter them, she'd slathered on odor remover from Edin's shop, lurking in the brush.
Her intermediate third-class party hid nearby, watched by their supervising teacher from a distance.
Tense moment.
'Meaning it's best as a surprise hit to nail 'em solid.'
Whoosh—
Recalling Edin's tip once more, Riley lobbed the Sticky Potion at them.
Along with a Shock Ball to burst it mid-air.
Boom! Crash!
"Grrrng?!"
"Kwaaang!"
The Shock Ball exploded, shockwave blasting out, shattering the vial and spraying the liquid everywhere.
The Mane Wolves startled at the blast, glancing up.
Too late to dodge the rain of sticky goo—they leaped anyway.
Splat—!
The spread was wider than expected; even their agility couldn't evade it fully.
'Spreads huge.'
The supervising teacher watched, eyes widening in surprise.
Way broader coverage than standard D-Rank Stickies.
Tuned for fleeing foes, probably.
"Kyaaang! Kyang!"
"Grrrrng!"
Three Mane Wolves drenched, stuck solid—half the pack immobilized.
"Now!"
Riley shouted, bursting from the brush with her party, charging the wolves.
"Grrrng?!"
"Kking!"
No scent, no sound—sudden ambush from the brush threw them off, bodies shrinking back.
Riley seized the gap, slashing one wolf's throat clean.
"Kwaaa!"
"Yip yip!"
The survivors charged, but only two were mobile.
Three flopped like netted fish in the goo, one already headless.
Two against a four-person party? No contest.
Quick cleanup, then the struggling stragglers.
Battle over in a flash.
"Whoa, Riley fights like a pro."
"Yeah. Great tactics, killer leadership."
"Hehe... Nah. Just used what Edin-sensei taught me."
Riley grinned sheepishly, rubbing her neck at the praise.
Since that incident, she'd changed a lot.
Crushing on Edin? Or toughening up to quash weird rumors and spare him trouble?
Either way, harder training, bolder moves.
Result: Party leader material, grown in skill and spirit.
'All thanks to Edin-sensei.'
His consumables were top-notch, sure—enabled her plans.
But her grind made it click.
"Seriously potent stuff. Scent-hounds like these didn't smell us at all."
"Sticky too. Saw others use D-Ranks before—didn't spread that wide, didn't stick that hard."
"Ugh... Edin-sensei at the perfect time. Academy's lucky."
"Agreed."
They praised Riley too, but Edin's gear? Near-worship.
Leagues above what they knew—not one or two steps, more.
Worth slapping a "+" on the rank: D+.
"Alright, done. Let's head out. Grab the proofs."
"Yes, sir."
Students sliced off Mane Wolf ears for the subjugation proof.
An E-Rank request cleared way too easy, they headed back to Preta.