Chapter 5
Chapter 5
I managed to solve my meals somehow with the food left at home, and while organizing the materials I had bought from Storyflower in the storage room, I tilted my head.
“…Something’s off.”
I couldn’t say it for certain, but something about the quantity of materials didn’t match the price I had paid.
It wasn’t that there was too little. If anything, there seemed to be more than expected.
“Don’t tell me… a service bonus?”
“Pyu?”
Since Layla wasn’t the type to make mistakes, it was most likely a bonus.
I let out a dry laugh, not expecting to receive something like that from her.
In the game, she was always portrayed as a temperamental witch.
“So I get services from the Witch of Stories now that I’m possessed…”
Maybe this was another difference between the game and reality.
After chuckling for a moment, I pulled myself together.
“Alright. Let’s make the things I’ll need for tomorrow’s expedition.”
“Pyu!”
“Pyiit!”
Even if I didn’t end up using everything in the Demon Wasteland, it wouldn’t hurt to prepare.
If I had leftovers, I could always sell them at the shop.
“Let’s start synthesis.”
“Pyu!”
After confirming that the spirits had brought the mistflower and cloud powder, I activated the alchemy circle.
Wooooong.
Light flowed from the engraved magic circle on the floor.
Watching the materials float above the circle, I calmly moved my hands.
I first dissected the mistflower, isolating the organ responsible for generating mist, and reconstructed it into a white orb.
Then I absorbed the cloud powder into the orb and gently mixed the two materials so their energies wouldn’t conflict.
Thanks to Teo’s excellent body, it wasn’t difficult.
But the real work started now.
I set the flow of the cloud powder inside the orb to rotate clockwise.
Then I split that flow into three strands and twisted them into a spiral shape.
Spiral dispersion was more effective when releasing smoke, so high-quality smoke bombs always used that structure.
After that, I repeatedly broke down and reconstructed both materials until they were perfectly blended.
“Phew. Done.”
A gray orb filled with mist rested in my palm.
Satisfied with the quality, I took a short break to recover mana and organize the ideas in my head.
During that time, the spirits approached me with sparkling eyes.
I already knew what they wanted, so I smiled and handed them the smoke bomb.
“You want to play with it?”
“Pyu!”
“Here. Don’t explode it.”
As soon as I gave permission, they happily tossed the cloud smoke bomb into the air.
“Pyuui!”
“Pyu pyuu!”
Even though it was a delicate item, they handled it surprisingly well.
I didn’t need to worry about it breaking.
Even if they looked clumsy, spirits were unexpectedly precise.
Watching them play, I stretched lightly and returned to the alchemy circle.
Now that I had warmed up with the smoke bomb, the next items came easier.
My synthesis speed increased, and the color of the smoke bombs became closer to pure white.
Satisfied with the result, I made two more combat-grade items and several potions before finally stopping.
I wanted to continue all day, but there wasn’t enough time.
I still had to prepare a homunculus.
I turned toward the massive block of granite in the corner of the atelier.
The homunculus-grade stone purchased from the Stellar Merchant Guild.
It was so large and dense that I couldn’t help but wonder how it even got inside.
“Maybe I’ll make a golem as a temporary solution.”
Creating a homunculus wasn’t simple.
You needed a core to serve as the heart and power source, a mana circuit replacing muscles and veins, and a properly designed body suited for its purpose.
Only when all of that was complete could it be called a true homunculus.
It was a guardian meant to protect alchemists, who lacked combat ability.
Even for me as a possessor, that weakness couldn’t be easily fixed.
But things were different now.
“The bodyguards are already covered by my companions.”
What I needed now was simply a porter to act as an inventory substitute.
In Alchemist Story, inventory space was handled by spatial bags.
But those required quests or enormous amounts of money, so I needed a temporary substitute for the expedition.
“I’ll just make a mana-driven golem.”
I didn’t even have a proper core material like a mana stone.
In the end, I had to do everything myself.
“Pyuuu?”
“Yeah. Without proper tools, drawing a mana circuit is pure manual labor.”
But since I didn’t have disciples, I had no choice but to do it alone.
If I built it with future expansion in mind, it could start as a simple golem but evolve into a proper homunculus later.
With a mix of exhaustion and excitement, I approached the granite block.
“I didn’t think I’d be doing early-game speedrun strats for real.”
Mana gathered at my fingertips as I prepared to carve the stone.
The night was long.
Tonight, I wasn’t the alchemist Teo.
I was a veteran laborer, Lee, returning to work.
The morning at the Adventurer’s Guild always came early.
Since the Empire’s declaration of Demon Wasteland exploration, those chasing success began their days before sunrise.
In the guild cafeteria, Clovis and Cecilia sat awkwardly across from each other.
The familiar duo drew whistles and teasing looks from nearby adventurers.
“Hey, Clovis! Sitting with Cecilia again?”
“After all that fighting, you two finally together?”
“Shut up!”
“Try saying that again if you want to die.”
Their sharp reactions only made the others laugh more.
Once the crowd passed, both of them sighed simultaneously.
“You’re the reason I’m getting unnecessary attention.”
“That’s my line.”
Despite their words, both of them felt slightly relieved.
The silence between them had been suffocating, so even the teasing helped.
They were used to arguing, but somehow ended up working together anyway.
Their eyes met and they quickly looked away again.
The awkward tension returned.
Still, they waited for Teo.
‘He said he’d come today.’
‘Please don’t tell me it’s the afternoon…’
Just as the silence became unbearable again, the entrance door opened.
Both of them brightened instantly.
But their expressions soon froze.
“Good morning, everyone…”
Teo’s face was clearly exhausted under his hood.
Clovis frowned.
“Did you not sleep?”
“Yeah… I was preparing a lot of things…”
Cecilia spoke seriously.
“Sleep deprivation is bad for health. You should rest properly.”
Clovis nodded.
“Yeah, sleep is important.”
Teo smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry. Today was just special.”
But the two didn’t look convinced.
They exchanged glances.
‘He’s definitely going to pull all-nighters regularly.’
‘We can’t really stop him though.’
‘Let’s just go to the wasteland first. He’ll crash afterward anyway.’
‘…Fair enough.’
After silently agreeing, Cecilia unfolded a document.
“Then I’ll explain the expedition plan.”
As a mage and veteran explorer, her plan was thoroughly prepared.
The Demon Wasteland was dangerous.
Out of ten who entered, three died, two were crippled, and four crawled back out.
Even skilled fighters could die if careless.
So preparation was essential.
Cecilia had designed an optimal route using guild and tower data.
‘This is a balanced party: warrior, mage, alchemist.’
She was confident.
Then Teo spoke casually.
“Oh, I already researched the route.”
“…What?”
He handed them his documents.
Clovis and Cecilia scanned them.
And froze.
Information they had never seen before was written there.
Their confidence cracked.
‘Wasn’t he a beginner?’
‘We don’t know this information…’
They swallowed their pride.
They had to act professional.
Clovis forced a smile.
“G-good plan!”
“Let’s go with this!”
Teo smiled.
“I was worried it might be lacking. Let’s go then.”
“Y-yeah!”
The two immediately rushed out of the guild.
Teo followed behind them, amused.
Neither of them noticed.
They had just been outclassed in preparation.
And the expedition had only just begun.