Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: 2. Got a Job at the General Store
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No, don't get cocky.
Still, this is a position hiring staff for the Adventurer Academy.
Obviously, only people with skills that wouldn't be outshone anywhere else would apply.
Just focus and do my job.
I lit the lamp, poured clean distilled water into the flask, and began heating it first.
Temperature is key.
Too hot or too cold, and it won't work.
That tiny difference in temperature determines the quality.
As I raised the temperature inside the flask, I added herbs to the mortar and started grinding them.
Even when grinding the herbs, I couldn't overdo it.
There's a risk of destroying the components, and the mortar could wear down, introducing more impurities.
I placed the properly prepared herb paste into the distilled water at the right temperature.
Slurp─
The water spread out.
I adjusted the lamp flame while watching for temperature changes.
Once the herbal components had steeped sufficiently in the water... now for the Etherium ore powder.
It felt a bit coarse, so I ground it finer.
That's necessary for high-purity extraction.
Etherium ore absorbs components above a certain temperature and stores them within itself.
The powder naturally dissolved into the water, absorbing the medicinal properties of the Crish Grass.
The Etherium ore powder, now laden with the restorative components from the Crish Grass that forms the base of recovery potions, sank to the bottom of the flask.
The spent grass residue floated to the top, the distilled water became clear again after losing its components, and the Etherium powder—now green from absorbing the herbal essence—settled at the bottom.
Three distinct layers formed perfectly.
Now's the moment.
Pour─
I skimmed off the grass residue from the top and filtered out the Etherium powder from the water.
Hmm, the extraction and separation look spot-on.
I'm in good form today.
Now, refine this to boost purity, then concentrate it into a thick liquid.
Repeat the process with the other ingredients, mix them in precise ratios, and...
"Done."
A Healing Potion was complete.
Thanks to my good condition today, it only took about 30 minutes.
The speed is solid, and with quality materials, the result feels top-notch. I'm pretty satisfied.
Alright, next up.
Let's try making a Sticky Throwing Potion.
Where are the materials...
"......"
Mureos Avantredin had come for the special screening, but she only had eyes for one person.
It was Edin, the C-Rank Adventurer and alchemist recommended by Lunarin.
The regular judges would handle the screening anyway. She was just here under the pretext of "special screening" to observe Edin's skills.
She had little interest in the other participants.
Of course, they didn't know the inside story and were giving their all to impress the chairman.
Whatever the case, their extra effort would positively influence the screening results, so it was all good.
In any event, she focused solely on Edin to gauge his abilities.
And the result?
'Holy shit.'
She cursed inwardly.
She had enough dignity not to say it aloud, but even after over 70 years of life, she barely suppressed the urge rising in her throat.
She was that shocked.
The reason was simple.
'Lunarin was telling the truth.'
As Lunarin Brettis had said, he was a monstrous genius incomparable to Lunarin or even herself.
At a glance, he seemed no different from any ordinary alchemist.
No—considering how skilled ones added their special ingredients to enhance potions, he seemed too ordinary.
But that... that was insane.
It was like the ordinary process had been pushed to its absolute limit.
If viewed through emotion magic or the special technique "Truth Eye" that pierces all essences.
And if one had decent knowledge of alchemy.
Then Edin's true value became clear.
Every step was flawlessly synchronized, like clockwork.
Temperature control had zero deviation—not even 0.1 degrees.
Perfect extraction timing, refinement, mixing ratios... no errors anywhere.
This wasn't about a small margin of error.
There were no errors.
As a human, some deviation is inevitable, no matter how minor.
Even Mureos herself had slight variances in mana distribution when casting spells.
It's human nature.
No matter the mastery, all you can do is minimize the error margin.
Sometimes it aligns perfectly, sure.
But...
'That's not "sometimes"—it's consistent.'
If it happens repeatedly, isn't that just pure skill?
'Is he even human?'
It was like watching a highly advanced precision machine.
Even those had minute errors because humans built them.
'This... this is definitely a monster.'
A monster is a monster.
But you had to look closely to see it.
Few probably knew Edin's true nature.
He might not even realize it himself.
That's why he was just living as a mere C-Rank Adventurer.
If not for Lunarin, Mureos might never have known in her lifetime.
Naturally so.
'No matter how precise the process or high-quality the materials, a standard procedure won't yield B-Rank or higher.'
She'd heard that from one of the Alchemist Guild elders.
That's why alchemists obsessed over unique ingredients and processes, rarely sharing them.
Of course, B-Rank items were rare but obtainable from skilled alchemists with enough coin.
If he'd just been mass-producing B-Rank stuff diligently, Mureos wouldn't have cared much.
Alchemists of that caliber popped up occasionally.
But this... this was different.
With more time, materials, and the right special processes.
A-Rank... no, even beyond.
S-Rank consumables.
The kind Alchemist Guild elders slaved over for days with trial and error, using ultra-precision machines.
Items nations and major guilds hoarded for emergencies, with outrageous performance.
And one individual could make them!
'I have to snag him.'
Before the Alchemist Guild's old fogeys discovered and claimed him.
Whatever it takes!
That's what she thought.
Fortunately, he didn't know his own talent yet, and it wasn't the flashy type that screamed genius.
Whoever spots him first wins.
With that in mind, Mureos decided to pick him up and raise him herself.
'Heh heh, feels like I struck gold.'
But there was one fact even she didn't know yet.
Edin could already produce B-Rank potions using hastily gathered low-grade materials.
Lunarin wasn't deeply versed in alchemy or potions, so she didn't know B-Rank was the peak for standard processes.
And she hadn't mentioned it to Mureos.
When Mureos learned this later, she'd collapse onto the sofa in the greatest shock of her 70 years, legs giving out.
But that's a story for a bit later.
While Edin diligently brewed potions and Chairman Mureos reeled in shock.
In the branch chief's office on the fourth floor of the Adventurer Guild building in Preta...
"You fucking idiots!!"
BAM!!
A man in a towering rage slammed his desk to splinters.
His fist was the size of a man's head, and with his height over 2 meters and bushy brown beard, he was a massive brute.
His name: Vito Takmin.
Former S-Rank Adventurer and current head of the Preta Adventurer Guild branch.
And sitting before the furious man were three figures.
"......"
"......"
"Ahem."
They were the culprits behind this mess: Claude, Mary, and Sophia.
"Twenty-six dead, twenty-six! And Clamp Village half-destroyed... Fuck, lucky an A-Rank party was nearby. Shit."
The Wyvern attack on Clamp Village.
Seven wyverns from Twilight Valley had suddenly assaulted, killing villagers and wrecking half the village.
This incident two days ago was barely contained thanks to a passing A-Rank party evacuating residents.
The Imperial Knights rushed in afterward, finally subduing the wyverns at dawn today.
Total deaths: 26 Clamp Village residents.
Whether that was "fortunate" or not, casualties were lighter than expected.
Most villagers escaped alive.
At the cost of the village being half-ruined, of course...
Another relief: no Adventurer Guild or Imperial Knights fatalities.
Claude's bitten shoulder was the worst injury.
Naturally, after cleanup, Branch Chief Vito summoned the perpetrators: Claude's party.
"Head office is fucking pissed, total bullshit... Ugh, and they trusted those "heroes" enough to assign them..."
Vito's head was exploding from this incident.
Survivors from Clamp Village flooded the guild with complaints.
The Imperial Knights, dragged into it after procedural delays, blamed the guild outright.
As a result, the guild elders were tearing into Preta Branch Chief Vito.
And it didn't stop there.
"Fuck, wyverns aren't shit. This bitch..."
"What? Bitch...? Yeah, I fucked up, but why just me?!"
"B-Both of you, calm down... Mary's at fault, but this isn't the time to fight."
"Hah! So you're innocent? Acting all nice now."
The actual culprits showed no remorse, too busy bickering among themselves.
"Haaah..."
Just hearing it made sighs pour out.
These were A-Rank Adventurers? One even a "hero"?
It showed how much the guild brass cared only about results and records.