Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: 9. My Potions Are Selling Too Well
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Thud thud─
"Ah! You're back, Lady Zeira."
"Yeah. Hi."
"Welcome ba... Where are you rushing off to the moment you arrive?"
"Oh, I've got some urgent business to attend to."
Zeira Blaze, who had returned to the marquisate, headed straight for the office of her older brother, Kin Blaze─the man who effectively held the reins of power as the acting head of the family.
Bang!
"Zeira. I'm glad you made it back safely, but you should knock before entering the office..."
Kin started to say something upon seeing Zeira barge in without knocking.
But she ignored him completely, striding right up to stand before his desk.
And then.
Thwack!
She slammed her hands down on the desk almost like she was striking it and said to Kin.
"Bro, I want to become an adventurer."
"...What?"
"Huh?"
Her bombshell declaration startled not only Kin but also his aide, who had been working beside him. Both turned to stare at her.
There was no hesitation in her eyes.
They were the eyes of someone who had found their path perfectly and was walking it straight without a single misstep.
No─the eyes of someone who had discovered that path and yearned to tread it.
'This is bad. No matter what I say, she won't listen.'
He knew full well how stubborn Zeira could be, so he let out a quiet sigh.
"...Zeira. You do know what that means, right?"
And he asked.
Whether she truly understood the implications.
What Mary had done after becoming an adventurer.
And how it had all ended for her.
The gazes from the family and the kingdom's influential figures that would come raining down the moment she became an adventurer─the worst possible precedent.
Even if she became a free adventurer, she wouldn't be free from the Blaze Family.
On the contrary, because of that poor example set by Mary, the eyes turned toward her would be even colder and heavier.
Could she endure it?
That was what he was asking.
"Doesn't matter. I can prove myself with skill and achievements."
Of course, Zeira was well aware.
She had already considered all of that before making her decision.
If she hadn't, she wouldn't have blurted it out to Kin like this.
"...I understand. I'll respect your choice."
Kin nodded.
He had only been worried about the burden and cold stares his little sister would face. No matter what she chose to do, he intended to support her.
Whether she stayed by his side as his right-hand woman in the family...
Or joined the Alchemist Guild to pursue her passion for alchemy, which she'd been neglecting lately...
Or became an adventurer to experience a new world.
'Well, if she said she wanted to become head of the family over my head, that might give me pause.'
At least becoming an adventurer was a goal he could cheer for.
"Thanks, bro. I know you'll take the Blaze Family even higher."
"...Yeah. And as an adventurer, work hard to spread the Blaze name across the entire continent."
Zeira nodded and left the office.
The aide, who had been watching the situation with a bewildered expression, spoke up.
"Is this really okay, Young Master? We're already in turmoil because of Lady Mary─er, Mary."
They were losing a key figure who could bolster Kin's position and help calm the chaos in the marquisate.
The aide looked somewhat concerned.
"...It's my last remaining little sister's request. As her brother, that takes priority over any choice as the next head."
Kin chuckled wryly at the aide's worry.
"Besides... I can handle everything on my own anyway."
It was a confident smile.
#
The capital of the Myos Empire, Preta.
Even in this massively developed metropolis, darkness lurked in its underbelly.
For example, the shadowy alley behind the eastern market district.
The guards' eyes didn't reach here easily, making it a hotbed for illicit deals.
There were even back-alley gangs that had set up shop in the area, specializing in black-market trades.
No matter how out of sight it was from the guards, this was still the capital Preta─they wouldn't just let it slide.
Rumors said the gangs paid protection money to high-ranking nobles and provided various conveniences in return.
Whatever the case.
Right now, another shady transaction was taking place there.
"Don't go blabbing about this anywhere. Academy items aren't supposed to be handed off to outsiders."
"Of course, of course."
Judging by their words, it was a deal between a man who seemed to be an Academy student and another who looked like an adventurer.
The man wrapped head to toe in a robe, apparently the Academy student, kept fidgeting and glancing around before handing over a few potions to his counterpart.
"Oho, so these are the potions I've only heard rumors about."
The adventurer happily accepted the potions and handed over a plump coin pouch to the student-looking man.
"...Okay. Payment received. Later."
As if anyone might be watching, he kept looking around until the end before scurrying off.
"Hmm, they say these have amazing effects."
The potions he got in the deal were none other than those made by 'Edin,' the alchemist recently hired at the Adventurer Academy's general store.
Word was his skills were exceptional, producing items far superior to standard potions of the same rank.
They were all the rage among Academy students, so out of curiosity, he'd bought some through an acquaintance enrolled there.
The Academy stores priced items low to give students hands-on experience.
That led to occasional cases of cheap Academy-bought goods being resold outside at higher prices.
As a result, there was a strict academy rule against transferring or selling purchased or supplied items to outsiders.
Violators faced warnings for rule-breaking.
In severe cases, expulsion.
That was why the student-like guy had been so cautious.
From the adventurer's perspective, though, rules be damned.
He'd scored potions better than standard rank equivalents at below-market price. He was thrilled.
'Heh, a D-Rank Healing Potion for 1 silver 50 bronze each. Even with the risk, that's a steal. The Academy really is the best.'
He'd graduated from the Academy himself and bought cheap potions from the store back then too.
But they were the same as or even inferior to market goods.
This felt novel.
On the market, D-Rank Healing Potions went for about 2 silver each.
The price of three or four meals.
Considering they were one-use, it was definitely pricey for a D-Rank item.
Higher ranks were supplied by fewer people, so prices skyrocketed exponentially. Using Healing Potions as a baseline: F-Rank – 5 bronze, E-Rank – 30 bronze, D-Rank – 2 silver, C-Rank – 15 silver, B-Rank – 3 gold, A-Rank – 50 gold and up.
Unless they used special ingredients, most potions hovered around these prices.
If Edin's potions truly outperformed standard ones as students claimed, they'd probably fetch 1.5 to 2 times the price.
"Heh heh heh, let's see just how good they are."
Even if overhyped, he'd still gotten them cheap, so no big loss.
If they really were that good... he'd pay extra next time, no question.
So he thought.
#
"Hmm..."
Something's been off lately.
My potions... are selling way too well.
Is that weird? You might ask.
"Ring these up for me, please."
"Uh, sure?"
Suddenly, students are coming in droves, buying six or seven bottles at a time.
And it's not just one day─it's been going on for three days straight.
What's going on...? Do they need potions that badly these days?
Or since I'm the only one making them, are they stockpiling before supplies run out...?
"Should I look into it?"
Saella suddenly appeared from behind again, asking if I wanted him to investigate the students.
Hmm, progress─I'm not even startled when he pops up anymore.
Maybe I'm growing.
No, forget that.
Investigating students feels a bit much.
"Nah. If they're buying in bulk, that's good for the store. Besides, once I make a batch, it dilutes into multiples, so no worries about stock."
Yeah, as long as they buy and use them well, the more they sell, the better for me.
I've heard my potions outperform others.
That means using mine boosts their quest success and survival rates, right?
More sales mean more days with higher success and survival.
That's a good thing.
And honestly, not wanting to pile on more things to think about was another reason to turn down Saella's offer.
Plans for internal Academy practical training are finally solidifying─they've decided it's okay to start soon.
The instructors worried it might be too early for students, which delayed things a bit.
But now, it'll be announced to students soon, with actual fieldwork just days away.
I need to think about that too, and Zeira let me know she'll be visiting the Academy to take the transfer exam for first-year entry.
...No idea why she told me specifically, but she's Lunarin's friend, and we both love alchemy, so it'll probably click.
Anyway, I need to prepare to welcome her.
She reached out to me directly─ it'd be awkward not to greet her properly.
She's a high noble lady, after all; lots to keep in mind.
On top of potion-making, material gathering... If I added investigating why students are bulk-buying...
My head might actually explode.
Why is everything piling up lately?
Well... busy days are fulfilling and fun.
Plus, I've got more friends around now, so that's nice.