Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Alchemy?
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“…Found it.”
Finally, the post I had discovered. I hurriedly tapped the title.
Low-Grade Poison Status Effect Remedies Collection.honeytip [102]
Hello~~ It's Friendly Neighbor~ 👋
“……?”
For a moment, I wondered if I had clicked into the wrong post. I glanced back at the title at the top of the screen.
[Title: Low-Grade Poison Status Effect Remedies Collection.honeytip]
[Author: Friendly Neighbor]
No, it was the right one.
Here to share some sweet tips and info with you all today, as always!! 😇
I don't know about you all, but it's chilly and windy here!
Everyone in the Alchemy Gallery, stay warm and don't catch a cold~~^^ 🥶
Now, let's make the 'Universal Basic Antidote Potion'!! 🙌
This potion cures most status effects from common neurotoxins, paralytics, hemorrhagics, etc., from low-level critters (chopped green onion mushrooms, Shadow Swamp Vipers, …)!! 👍
Ingredients: 5g dried Moonlight Herb powder, 7cm Rock Lizard tail, 500ml purified water….
“…This is it.”
No doubt about it. The name of the 'Shadow Swamp Viper' that Ddaechung had mentioned was right there in bold letters. I had only checked just in case, but a real antidote recipe actually existed.
“…Huh?”
My rising excitement deflated in an instant as I frowned at the list of ingredients.
Moonlight Herb? Rock Lizard?
Names I had never heard of in my life. If they were game items, sure, but where the hell was I supposed to get these?
I opened the search bar again. Searching for 'Moonlight Herb' brought up a post from someone who had clearly thought the same as me, thankfully.
Where can I get Moonlight Herb?
Go for it.
That stuff is all over the mountain behind my house.
Where the fuck is the mountain behind your house?
Our dimension has the Northern Great Forest. Try looking in a somewhat chilly wooded area.
Fuck, there are no intact forests left because of those crazy dragon shits.
Anyway, thanks.
“…….”
My head buzzed for a moment.
Dimension? Dragon?
It was too serious an atmosphere in the comments to dismiss as just some concept gimmick or joke.
“Ah.”
Then, something flashed through my mind.
[This is a gathering of victims whose bodies were forcibly altered because of 'that bastard.']
The introduction on the gallery's main page.
What if the 'victims' weren't just from Earth? What if this was a place where victims from multiple dimensions gathered?
Swipe, swipe—
The more posts I checked, the clearer it became.
In this place, I was the only one living on Earth.
“Haa….”
In the end, it meant I had to procure materials that might not even exist.
Something impossible for me from the start….
Or is it?
Just as I started to worry, my brain rejected the complicated thoughts.
Without thinking much, I returned to my computer and opened a familiar web browser. Then, I typed the material name I had just seen into the search bar.
Places selling Moonlight Herb.
Hitting enter filled the screen with dozens of search results.
And among them.
There was a title blatantly proclaiming, [Hunter Trading Channel - Selling Moonlight Herb.]
“…It exists.”
I clicked the link without hesitation.
Please check the pre-trade notices first.
It was a crudely designed website. I skimmed the beginning of the notice and went straight to the search bar in the middle of the site, typing the material name once more.
Moonlight Herb.
Rock Lizard tail.
Actual trades were happening.
“…Hm.”
The problem was money.
I immediately pulled out my smartphone and opened the banking app.
29,340 won
“…….”
It was pathetic.
Over the past month, I had crammed sleep to hunt cute monster-lookalikes every day. The gold I earned from selling that went to rent, stocking up on cup ramen, and this was what was left.
I turned back to the trading site. The cheapest Moonlight Herb was 13,000 won. I had to save even a few thousand. No reason to hesitate.
I clicked the 'Contact please' selling post.
“…Uh.”
The moment I saw 'direct trade,' my heart sank. Meet a stranger in person? Just imagining it made my palms sweat and my breath shorten.
I hurriedly hit the back button.
“Whew….”
Once the dreadful word vanished from sight, my choked breath finally eased. No need to risk my life over a few bucks.
…Though it's more than a few bucks, I guess.
Anyway, I only had one option left.
Yes, no need to meet in person. That alone made the 7,000-won premium worth it.
I scrolled down. Past transaction histories and reviews, I entered the open chat at the bottom and expressed my intent to buy.
Less than a minute later, account details arrived.
Moonlight Herb: 20,000 won.
Lizard skin: 5,000 won.
Total: 25,000 won.
Plus shipping….
“Ah.”
…Time to return to instant noodle purgatory.
*
Ding-dong—!
The bell sliced through the quiet room, making my shoulders twitch. I froze all movement and held my breath.
Please just leave it at the door.
But as if mocking my wish, a heavy knock followed soon after.
Thud, thud.
“Delivery!”
The booming voice slipping through the door crack made every hair on my body stand on end. I tiptoed to the entrance and pressed flat against the wall.
I wrote clearly to leave it at the door… and not to ring the bell…!
Of course, I lacked the guts to fling open the door and snap at him.
Seconds dragged like minutes, and finally, it went quiet outside.
After confirming via intercom that the delivery guy was gone, I cautiously opened the door.
There sat a shabby cardboard box, all alone.
“…Why don't they read the delivery instructions?”
Muttering complaints, I quickly dragged the box inside and headed straight to the kitchen.
A leftover cup ramen container from yesterday rolled around on the sink counter. I shoved it aside and opened the box.
Two small packets carefully wrapped in bubble wrap.
One held a single flower emitting a faint glow, the other some dry, twig-like thing.
This is the Rock Lizard?
It looked way more pathetic than expected.
I placed the ingredients side by side on the sink counter.
According to the recipe, the Moonlight Herb needed to be powdered. No proper tools handy. I grabbed a bowl, tossed in the flower, and mashed it thoroughly with the back of a spoon.
It didn't grind finely, but it was roughly powder now. I cut off just the tail-looking part of the Rock Lizard and finished prep.
I stared into empty space and focused my mind.
[Title: Low-Grade Poison Status Effect Remedies Collection.honeytip]
[Author: Friendly Neighbor]
[…First, boil 500ml purified water over low heat. Once it starts boiling, add the Moonlight Herb powder and stir slowly with a wooden spatula…]
I alternated glances between the translucent [Alchemy Gallery], the pathetic ingredients in front of me, and the battered pot on the sink shelf.
Wasn't alchemy supposed to be something mystical and grand?
Attempting it in this dingy, pathetic excuse for a kitchen felt kinda off.
“…Anyway.”
With the ingredients before me, I fell into thought for a moment.
Can I really pull this off?
The only cooking I'd ever done was ramen. Sure, alchemy wasn't cooking, but….
“Eh, just follow the recipe.”
No point overthinking—it only gave me a headache.
“…So, dump everything in and boil?”