Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Rahilla's Legacy
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"Making potions is truly fascinating. Depending on the ingredients you mix, the results can be completely different."
Rahilla was a character with a ton of dialogue.
Even if you didn't talk to her, she'd fill any silence by bragging about her archery and crafting skills.
And the reason I knew about the ingredients in front of me was simple.
[Affinity Quest: Rahilla]
Content: Rahilla has taken an interest in your crafting skills! Learn crafting from Rahilla and earn her recognition.
Reward: Intermediate Crafting, NPC Rahilla's Affinity Increase.
Failure Penalty: NPC Rahilla's Affinity Decrease.
"What? You want me to teach you crafting? Of course! Follow me!"
One of the quests to build affinity with Rahilla was learning "crafting."
Thanks to that, I had to endure endless tedious grinding, experiencing countless successes and failures.
And the result?
'Now I can handle most injuries on my own.'
My zombie swordsman character had reached a level where it could not only regenerate itself but also craft advanced healing potions.
Somehow, it had turned into a jack-of-all-trades character.
Back when I was running around with Rahilla, I'd grumbled about why I had to learn this stuff.
'...Who knew it'd come in handy like this.'
That experience was helping me now.
You really can't predict what lies ahead in life.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
I recalled those memories as I mixed the gathered herbs.
"Ah, what is this...!"
Ervehim, who was watching, was stunned like a samurai in a drama.
"My friend! Isn't that our elven crafting technique?! How do you...!"
He realized the crafting I was using was elven in origin.
I shrugged nonchalantly and replied.
"For the same reason as before."
"Before...? You mean Lady Rahilla taught an elf technique to a human swordsman?"
"Yes, quite thoroughly."
This time, it was true.
There probably wasn't another player who'd learned crafting as deeply as I had.
'I maxed out from Intermediate Crafting all the way to Advanced Crafting.'
Anyway.
Grind, mix, crush...
How many times did I repeat the process?
Finally, the first potion was complete.
I confirmed the liquid's color matched what I'd seen in the game, then asked him to catch a rabbit nearby.
"A rabbit? You put rabbits in it too?"
"...Pardon? No. It's been a while since I made one, so I want to test if it's safe."
Crafting was finicky—even a slight change in process could yield wildly different results.
That's why testing the potion's effects was essential.
"Ah, right. Got it."
Ervehim dashed out of the house and quickly returned with a rabbit.
He'd left empty-handed, but as expected of an elf, he caught it bare-handed without issue.
Kyuu-!
I carefully fed the potion to the rabbit wriggling in Ervehim's left hand.
Then, after a moment.
Flash!
"No way!"
The rabbit suddenly kicked off Ervehim's hand and escaped.
It began darting around the house.
Tadadadadak!
It was so fast that even Ervehim couldn't catch it again.
A bit hyper, but...
'It worked.'
The potion's effect was proven.
"This should be safe for you to drink."
"Really? That's it...?"
"Even if there's an issue, it won't kill you."
"Hmm..."
Ervehim pondered briefly before downing the potion.
The reaction was immediate.
"Ooh, my body... my body feels like it's flying!"
Fwhoosh!
Reacting as if power surged through him, Ervehim swiftly snatched the bounding rabbit.
He was undeniably much faster than before.
I quickly made the second potion and had him drink it right away.
Truth be told, this second potion was the real reason I was using crafting now.
"My arm itches..."
Ervehim scratched his right shoulder, then abruptly unwrapped the bandage on his right arm.
The exposed area was already changing.
Crack, crack!
The pitch-black crusts clinging to his arm peeled off like scabs, revealing fresh new skin.
After about 30 minutes, Ervehim wiggled his fingers in awe.
"...I can feel it again. Incredible!"
Ervehim grabbed my shoulder with his healed hand.
"My friend! This is truly amazing. It's on par with the elven healing potions I had as a child!"
"Haha... Glad to hear it. Your arm should be fully recovered by tomorrow."
"No, no! We can't just let this slide. Won't you share the secrets of this crafting technique with us elves? Every last detail!"
"You're going to research crafting again?"
"Of course. If you teach us... reclaiming our former glory will just be a matter of time!"
Ervehim pleaded with desperate eyes, then clasped both my hands.
"I beg you."
'...Crafting, huh.'
No need to think twice.
"Sure, of course. I'll teach you."
It was just returning the elven technique I'd learned from them.
It wouldn't diminish what I had.
"Thank you so much!"
Watching Ervehim bounce around in joy, I sank into thought.
For some reason, I felt a mix of emotions.
'Who would've thought it'd turn out like this.'
I didn't demand any reward from Ervehim this time.
I planned to pass on the crafting without any compensation.
Maybe that's what she hoped for when she taught it to me.
'My final gift.'
My first companion and the elves' seventh elder, Rahilla.
This was my last gift to her, who had sacrificed her life for me.
***
The transfer of the crafting technique happened swiftly.
The skillful elves quickly mastered the recipes I taught them and even refined the ratios for perfection.
They restarted planting the herbs they'd halted production on.
Just as Ervehim said, the elves regaining their former glory seemed only a matter of time.
'Hmm, now it's time to tackle that.'
With no more tasks left, I moved to the next phase.
Through Ervehim, once again.
"You want me to use the secret art...? Are you serious?"
Ervehim was startled by my sudden request.
No wonder—using it once had wrecked his arm like that.
But a little thought made it clear there were no issues now.
"Yes. You can't keep living in that state forever, right? That secret art is the core of an elf elder."
"But it'll surely destroy my arm again...?"
"So what? We have healing potions now."
"But the pain..."
"So you won't do it?"
"..."
Ervehim fell silent at my question.
He knew it too.
An elf elder unable to use the secret art was a grave problem.
So Ervehim had no real choice.
"I'll do it."
It was something an elder had to endure.
"Good. Let's head to a suitable spot for practice. Oh, and bring some healing potions. At least ten, minimum."
"...As long as I don't die, it'll be fine."
She grumbled but packed the potions.
Our destination was the [Black Forest].
One of the areas now purified after all demons were exterminated.
"This looks good. Give it a shot."
Ervehim nodded and immediately activated the ancient runes.
Shwaaa-!
The runes etched on her shoulder glowed blue.
Up to here, it matched the elf secret art I knew perfectly.
But then.
Fwaaah!
Problems arose once her entire right arm was enveloped in blue light.
Ervehim grimaced as if feeling intense heat.
Soon, she let out a groan.
"Urgh..."
Yet even then, she drew back the bowstring.
Firing an arrow in that state would obviously wreck her right arm again.
I reached out to stop her.
"Stop. It's pointless to continue."
"...Pointless?"
"Yes. You'll just ruin your arm for nothing."
That method could never solve the issue, even in death.
Suspecting the cause, I approached Ervehim and examined the ancient runes on her shoulder.
'...It's different.'
I couldn't decipher ancient runes, but I knew what they should look like.
And the ones on Ervehim's shoulder were subtly off from my memory.
'This is it.'
The ancient rune, composed of four characters.
One of them differed from what I remembered.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes. You said this happened because the succession wasn't proper, right?"
"Correct. It occurred because Elder Rahilla turned to ash in the demon realm."
As Ervehim said, Rahilla had died during the demon realm expedition.
Thus, the succession to the next elf elder hadn't been complete.
Especially for these ancient runes.
No one would know the exact characters.
'Rahilla's personality—she must have recorded them somewhere... but even that wasn't enough for proper succession.'
Based on that judgment, I asked how the succession had proceeded...
"Yes, there were records like that. But I heard they were damaged by those demon bastards."
"As expected."
Now I understood how this happened.
There was one way to fix it.
Scritch, scritch.
"What are you doing?"
"Wait and see."
Recalling from memory, I picked up a nearby twig and etched characters into the ground.
I'd watched Rahilla's shoulder runes countless times up close.
I didn't know their meaning, but replicating them was child's play.
As I etched, Ervehim's expression hardened.
"This is... no way."
"Yes, exactly."
Ervehim recognized the ancient runes.
She began comparing the ones on her shoulder to what I'd drawn.
"One character is different. ...Could this be why?"
"Not certain, but it's the most likely cause."
"If that's the case, it's ridiculous. All because of something this minor."
Ervehim sighed deeply.
But it was too early to relax.
Not until we confirmed the results.
"Can you correct the rune on your shoulder right now?"
"Easily. I'm an elder, after all."
Ervehim covered her shoulder as she replied.
Fwaaah!
Blue light seeped out.
When she removed her hand, the rune had changed.
Gulp.
Ervehim swallowed dryly, then activated the runes again with a tense face.
And then.
Ervehim looked down at her hand, now fully blue, and said.
"...It doesn't hurt."
Something felt promising.
