Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The tension between the two companions didn’t last long.
Their purpose was to build a connection with me, not to fight each other.
Making a scene in the shop would only lower my impression of them, so there was no reason to risk it.
After a silent agreement, the two of them began carefully inspecting the shop.
Standing in front of the display shelves, they each picked up potions and checked the contents.
“Hoh.”
“Hm.”
Clovis and Cecilia each let out small exclamations, holding a health potion and a mana potion.
The ruby-red and sapphire-blue liquids shimmered beautifully. At a glance, they were clearly not ordinary.
Even when shaken, the liquid clung cleanly to the glass without leaving residue. There wasn’t a single impurity.
“No sediment at all. This is top-grade.”
“There aren’t many Nigredo alchemists who can make this quality in basic potions.”
Their first meeting might have been strange, but both were veterans.
They had survived life-or-death frontlines and understood healing potions better than most.
So they immediately recognized the quality before them.
This alchemist is real.
This one is the real deal.
Every other potion on display was also top-tier.
This wasn’t luck. It was pure skill.
Their expressions changed.
They glanced at each other.
“… …”
Their thoughts were so similar it was almost uncomfortable.
They could already guess what the other was thinking.
And most likely, they would make the same suggestion.
Both of their gazes turned to Teo.
Pale white hair, eyes like a star-filled sky, delicate facial features.
If angels existed on earth, wouldn’t they look like this?
Sitting at the counter playing with the spirits, he looked like a painting.
When their eyes met his bright smile, both of them quickly began calculating.
No matter how they looked at him, he was only mid-teens in age. And already at Nigredo level?
Can I handle this level of talent alone?
Too many flies will gather around him.
For someone with this level of talent, cooperation between them was necessary.
Especially in Astrum, a city filled with ambitious people chasing success.
After quickly assessing the situation, both of them spoke without looking at each other.
“Temporary alliance.”
“Agreed.”
As much as they hated to admit it, their synergy was perfect.
With that unspoken agreement, they began filling their baskets with potions.
They had been traveling around cities and visiting new ateliers not only to form connections with new alchemists, but also to secure high-quality potions without competition.
Soon, the counter was filled with their purchases.
I looked at the two of them.
Each had taken exactly twenty potions.
I scratched my head.
Sold out on the first day.
“You’re buying a lot. Is that really necessary?”
“What are you talking about? You don’t find potions like this easily.”
“You should buy them while stock is available.”
“These are high quality. Worth seven silver each, not five. You’re not losing out.”
Without answering, both of them placed payment on the counter.
1 gold and 40 silver each.
2 gold and 80 silver in total.
In a single day, I had earned it all.
I smiled brightly.
1 silver was roughly equivalent to 10,000 won. That meant I had made around 2.8 million won in a flash.
“Thank you for your purchase!”
“Can’t let good potions go to waste.”
“Glad Astrum has a talented alchemist now.”
“I should be the one thanking you. This will cover my expedition expenses to the Demon Frontier.”
I had spent everything I had buying the atelier, leaving only 10 silver.
Now I had 2 gold and 80 silver.
I could finally breathe.
At my words, both of them reacted sharply.
Like predators spotting prey, they leaned forward over the counter.
“Demon Frontier?”
“Yes. If I want to gather rare materials and save costs, I need to go there.”
“Then… should we help you?”
“Trying to score points with me?”
“Correct.”
Clovis and I spoke, and Cecilia naturally joined in.
“We met by chance, so consider this fate. If you’re going to the Demon Frontier, call us. We’re both mid-rank explorers.”
“We’re not weak.”
“Reluctantly speaking, this guy is the real deal.”
Their confidence was obvious.
I chuckled.
They really did act like a bickering pair.
“Then how about we meet tomorrow to plan? I just arrived, bought the atelier, and rushed everything. I’m not fully prepared.”
“Got it. Contact us when ready.”
“We’ll be waiting at the Explorer’s Guild.”
Their expressions brightened immediately.
They had openly offered help and I had accepted. That meant we were now on good terms.
After finishing their purchase, they left the shop.
I waved them off, then flipped the sign and locked the door.
All prepared stock was gone. Shop closed.
Now it was time for the next phase.
“Register the atelier at the Sage’s Tower, buy materials, and prepare for the Demon Frontier. Busy day.”
“Kyuu!”
“Yeah. And subscribe to the Sage’s Tower system too.”
Maybe because they had watched me play so many times, the spirits had become full Alchemist Story veterans.
One of them puffed its chest proudly.
I patted its head.
“You like being petted, don’t you?”
“Kyururu!”
I tapped its head lightly, then put on my alchemist robe.
With the Sage’s Tower emblem on the back, I pulled the hood over my head and tucked the spirits into my sleeves.
It was to avoid unnecessary attention.
The spirits actually preferred staying summoned rather than being stored away, so they cooperated happily.
Outside, the city of Astrum stretched before me.
Wide streets lined with buildings that looked like works of art.
Some structures defied modern architecture entirely, as if multiple civilizations had merged due to dimensional rifts.
But what caught my attention wasn’t the buildings.
It was the people.
Fox beastkin with swaying tails, birdfolk with folded wings, orca-like aquatic humanoids drinking water as they walked, towering giants twice the height of humans, and insect-type races with antennae.
A sight only possible in Astrum.
People from all across the continent gathered here, making rare races common.
“This is Astrum…”
Seeing it in reality made my heart beat faster.
A world filled with unknowns and romance.
I couldn’t help but smile.
I wanted to create something right now, but there were more important tasks.
I headed north toward the Sage’s Tower.
The white tower stood out like a sacred monument.
Even among fantasy architecture, it was on another level.
As I approached the entrance, a strange wave passed over me.
A scanning force.
Then a voice echoed in my mind.
“Nigredo-class alchemist Teodoro confirmed. Welcome to the Astrum branch of the Sage’s Tower.”
I nodded slightly and stepped inside.
The interior was pure white mixed with colors, resembling a temple of knowledge.
Yet despite its beauty, it felt strangely chaotic.
Almost like a place full of walking corpses.
“What is wrong with this formula? I followed everything perfectly…”
“Why is this working? I even missed an ingredient…”
“I need a vitality potion… urgently…”
Alchemists wandered around like zombies.
The spirits peeked out from my sleeve, suddenly cheerful.
They looked like they wanted to greet their “kind.”
“They’re not undead. They’re humans.”
“Kyut?!”
They stared at me in disbelief.
Understandably so. They really did look like undead.
But they were just exhausted alchemists.
“Move! Delivery coming through!”
“Did you prepare your paper for the symposium?”
“What was the schedule again?”
I passed through the chaotic crowd and reached the reception desk.
A receptionist greeted me warmly.
“Welcome to the Sage’s Tower. How can I help you?”
“I’d like to register my atelier.”
She handed me a form.
I filled in the atelier name, location, hours, and details, then returned it.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you. We’ll notify the Explorer’s Guild and other factions by tonight. Anything else?”
“I’d like to subscribe to the Sage’s Tower system.”
The Sage’s Tower was a supra-national institution dedicated to advancing alchemy.
Among its many services, the most famous was the subscription system.
Inspired by ideas from other worlds that crossed through dimensional rifts, it was literally a subscription service.
“Which subscription would you like?”
“Monthly journal and research papers.”
“That will be 10 silver. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course.”
I paid.
She handed me two thin books.
Small, but extremely valuable.
“This is the monthly journal and research compilation.”
“Thank you.”
I stood up with a satisfied smile.
Everything was done.
Now I just needed to buy materials and prepare for the Demon Frontier.
As I left the tower, I moved quickly to finish the rest of my schedule.
“I’m really getting used to this alchemist life.”
“Kyuu.”
It had been less than a day since possession, yet I was already adapting well.
After purchasing potions from Teo’s atelier, the two companions entered the Explorer’s Guild.
“We’re back!”
“You’re loud as always, Clovis.”
Their arrival immediately drew attention.
Veteran mid-rank explorers recognized them instantly.
“Hey, the twins are here.”
“Looks like a new atelier opened today.”
“You two never miss a chance to scout new shops.”
Clovis normally would have snapped at being called a twin, but today he was in a good mood.
He grinned and rummaged through his bag.
“Guess what I’ve got?”
“You actually found something good, didn’t you?”
“Correct! And not just good. It’s exceptional!”
He revealed a ruby-colored potion.
The crowd gasped and rushed forward.
“Where did you get this?!”
“Not telling. Figure it out yourself.”
“Do you know how many ateliers there are in this city?!”
“I told you already. It’s from a newly opened atelier.”
Confusion spread through the guild.
The information was still not officially registered.
So while they searched the bulletin board in excitement, they unknowingly scattered across the city in the wrong direction.
Clovis smirked.
A little misinformation wouldn’t hurt.
Cecilia sighed.
“You idiot…”
“I didn’t lie. You’re not going to tell them either, right?”
“I don’t need to.”
They were similar in more ways than they wanted to admit.