Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 3
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 3
* * *
Even after sending Sylvia away, Lion spent a long time combing through every corner of the garden.
To carry out what he had planned, he first had to clear the “Three Stars” achievement.
Fortunately—perhaps thanks to the prestige of a renowned mage house—herbs were everywhere, and with Expert’s Eye, he easily procured the remaining two herbs.
[White Star Fern (★) acquired!]
[Blue Moon Fern (★) acquired!]
[“Three Stars” achievement completed!]
[20,000 Shillings acquired!]
[Congratulations! Gathering Proficiency: Apprentice Lv.5!]
“Heh, this is the stuff!”
Checking the messages, Lion let out a triumphant cry.
A full twenty thousand Shillings.
In one moment, he had received an amount equal to one hundred percent of the assets he had scraped together through all that petty grinding!
That alone brought an involuntary smile to his face, but the gains didn’t stop there.
[Potion Crafting Talent activated.]
-You realize that by combining three kinds of herbs, you can create a special potion.
A potion recipe had automatically entered Lion’s mind!
This was thanks to his ‘Potion Crafting Specialization’.
‘If there’s one slight disappointment, it’s that the Shilling Shop hasn’t opened yet.’
As he had initially guessed, it seemed likely to open only once he reached 100,000.
In any case, the preparations were complete.
Just as he had requested from Sylvia, a basic alchemy equipment set had been placed inside his room.
“Well then…”
Shall I get to work?
Just in case, he closed the window and even drew the curtains before examining the potion vials arranged neatly in the pitch-black room.
As expected of items brought in from a renowned mage house, they appeared to be considerably high-grade.
Doing this in the dark looked quite bizarre, but appearances weren’t what mattered at the moment.
“First, I should start with a basic potion.”
This was the first step toward being able to stay in House Asteri a little longer.
Specifically, ‘affection grinding’ with his grandfather.
He had already fallen out of favor (most likely), so once or twice wouldn’t fix it, but if he showed up empty-handed in the current situation, his reputation would obviously plunge through the floor and straight into the abyss.
To at least keep it from dropping further, wouldn’t he need evidence that he hadn’t simply idled away this whole month?
And as it happened, he had obtained some excellent items and a potion recipe.
But before using the marked herbs—
Sfft.
Lion took out ordinary low-grade herbs.
Since this was the first potion he’d ever made in his life, he needed to practice before the real work.
‘Just like the [Novice Herbalist] achievement, gathering relied on repetitive grinding.’
If that was the case, then potion-making should have a similar achievement.
While grinding for that achievement, he’d naturally reach at least Apprentice Lv.4, wouldn’t he?
Unlike in the game, now that it was reality, the change brought by proficiency levels was very tangible.
‘Even though that was gathering, not potion-making.’
And that was only at Apprentice rank, out of all those tiers.
Apprentice was the lowest among life-skill levels.
After this came Expert, Artisan, and finally the Master tier, attainable only by the top one percent.
Even so, his hand-feel had changed, and the damage inflicted on the herbs had changed.
Then naturally, leveling up came first.
‘According to my prediction…’
During gathering, pulling a hundred times had earned him the Novice Herbalist achievement.
Then what would potion-making be?
“Make a hundred vials and drink a hundred vials. That should do it.”
He happened to have plenty of herbs—not to mention a potion-crafting talent.
On top of that, an alchemy set of quality that exceeded all expectations.
Items that were nothing short of luxurious for grinding low-grade potions.
What was the point of being a golden spoon?
You had to spend that money freely.
‘It’s not like it’ll ever be my money anyway.’
Lion gathered his cache of herbs into an enormous pot.
‘As expected of Sylvia.’
At the mere words ‘alchemy set,’ she had brought him everything from basic items like glass tubes and flasks to all sorts of magically treated equipment.
Especially the pot that could heat without fire, the mortar that automatically ground herbs, and the distiller that fundamentally prevented burning!
Judging by the ancient script written all over them, she had clearly brought out special artifacts from the family vault.
‘As expected of a golden spoon.’
To obtain such luxurious items with a single word.
Thinking that, Lion stirred the herb leaves in the pot, sweeping them around until they dried crisp, as if roasting tea leaves.
Just as a fresh, deep fragrance began to waft from the pot, he took the leaves out, crushed them, mixed them with the extract, and pushed the mixture into the distiller.
Then he stretched a hand toward the distiller and shouted:
“Extract.”
Fwoosh!
With a small sparkle, a translucent liquid trickled out, filling a vial.
And then…
[Successfully crafted Low-Grade Health Potion.]
Success!
[Asteri-Made Low-Grade Health Potion]
-Although made through a process so simple that it would normally be dismissed as ‘processing’, the maker’s promising talent and good materials combined to barely touch the realm of ‘alchemy’.
-Possesses the effect of slightly increasing the drinker’s health.
“Like I said, gear makes all the difference.”
Good items combined with talent produced a result that was quite presentable.
Glug!
Lion immediately downed the newly made low-grade potion.
[Partially recovered HP. Current HP: 80%]
[1/100 toward completion of Novice Alchemist (1) achievement]
Just as he’d predicted, the achievement was also progressing nicely.
“Hahaha. Wait for me, Grandfather!”
Not bothering to hide his crazed laughter, Lion repeated the cycle of making and drinking potions all through the night.
As the sun slowly rose and the total number of potions crafted and consumed reached one hundred…
[Novice Alchemist (1) achievement completed!]
[1,000 Shillings acquired!]
[Congratulations! Alchemy Proficiency: Apprentice Lv.4!]
Just as expected.
He had reached Apprentice Lv.4.
‘Which means…’
Lion looked at the star-marked herbs.
It meant he could finally use those special herbs.
And fittingly, reaching level 4 had also given him a good recipe.
-Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion
“Yes. This is what I’ve been waiting for.”
Lion had been contemplating the whole time he was searching for herbs.
What kind of gift would an old man actually like?
Give his grandfather, who overflowed with mana, a mana potion, of all things?
Nor did he feel inclined to give a health potion when a professional medical mage was on standby at all times.
But, a fatigue recovery potion.
Not just any fatigue, but one that specifically recovered mental fatigue—how about that?
Day after day, his grandfather was weighed down by work.
No matter how outstanding his mental strength and no matter how much he kept his body maximally active with mana, his mental fatigue was probably the same as any office worker’s.
“Then, let’s try it.”
Lion immediately plucked the herb leaves, each shimmering a different color.
The recipe differed from everything he’d done so far.
First he added the basic green leaves, then the red and blue herbs, and gently stirred them in the pot.
A fresh, exhilarating fragrance emerged, on an entirely different level from before.
It was enough to clear out his nose, completely blocked from making so many potions, and to relieve the throbbing headache from fatigue.
And moreover…
‘Something’s different.’
This sensation was just like when he had pulled the star-marked herbs.
He had a good feeling about it, and the feel of the ladle as it stirred through the mixture was superb.
The peculiar pleasure of knowing a creation was coming together successfully wrapped itself around his body.
Now it was time to add all the roots into the pot, crush and stir them.
Then, amazingly, the heated roots began to ooze a clear gel.
Bubble, bubble!
Surprisingly, the liquid inside the pot was glowing.
Almost like the night sky reflected in a calm stream on a fine day.
‘Is this why it’s a Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion?’
It produced a sensation that conjured fond memories one after another, coaxing out a smile for no reason.
‘In the game it was treated as just another junk potion, but now that it’s reality, it feels completely different.’
Lion scooped the liquid from the pot and let it stream into the distiller.
And then…
“Extract.”
Just as he had done every time before, Lion quietly murmured the command.
Fwoooooosh!
In an instant, the room flashed as if struck by lightning!
Rather than falling directly into a vial, the liquid from the distiller floated into the air, as if defying gravity.
Then it divided into fine particles, like clouds, and filled the entire room.
The tiny droplets packed into the room sparkled, reflecting light like the stars of a night sky.
It was just like those childhood summer nights, sitting at the pavilion in the countryside and gazing up at the sky while a gentle breeze blew.
The chirping of crickets, even the sensation of the wind brushing through the grass…
A strange emotion surged, bringing forgotten memories to the surface, and his heart grew calm.
‘If it’s this much, and I haven’t even drunk it yet…’
It looked as though a potion much better than expected would emerge.
The little droplets floating in midair gathered once more, coalescing into a single mouthful of liquid that streamed into the potion vial.
The transparent bottle filled with a blue liquid the color of a deep azure sky.
[Successfully crafted Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion (★★)!]
-Recalls happy past memories and dispels mental fatigue.
-Has no effect on those without happy memories.
“Two-star grade, you say?”
He had just created a potion that should have been impossible to produce at his Apprentice level.
His Potion Crafting Specialization trait must have triggered.
‘Even so, to get a potion that normally shows up around Expert Lv.8.’
With this, it would be more than sufficient as a gift for his grandfather.
[Congratulations! Alchemy Proficiency: Apprentice Lv.5!]
Naturally, the level that had been blocked was now unlocked.
At the same moment, multiple recipes poured into his mind.
‘No, there’s still more.’
If Lion’s expectations were correct…
Ding!
[You have created a potion that is impossible to create at your current level.]
[“Potion Maniac” achievement completed!]
[25,000 Shillings acquired.]
[Mana permanently increased by 1.]
[The potential to form a Mana Circle has arisen.]
[“Mana Allocation” talent activated.]
[You can control mana more precisely than others.]
What Lion had expected.
That was precisely this ‘Potion Maniac’ achievement.
As he recalled, in <In the World>, activating high-level life skills consumed mana.
This was due to the setting that allowed you to create and gather things ordinary people could not.
Perhaps because of this, clearing a difficult achievement like this granted you mana.
‘It isn’t a massive amount, though.’
The fact that he had obtained it at all was what mattered.
Wasn’t this a major event for the person known as Lion Asteri?
The body that had lacked mana his whole life could finally accept it.
And on top of that, the ‘Mana Allocation’ he had purchased earlier but which had been locked was now activated!
“Heh heh… hahaha!”
Lion burst out laughing. Dopamine was hitting the stratosphere!
And the money!
Hadn’t he earned money, too!
A total of 66,000 Shillings!
With this, his total assets had tripled in a single night.
At this rate, he would soon reach 100,000 Shillings.
Then the Shilling Shop would open, and he could finally start to pseudo-whale!
‘Wonder what it will sell, though?’
It didn’t seem likely to sell the exact same items that were in <In the World>…
Ding!
[Your assets have exceeded 50,000 Shillings. A preview of the Shilling Shop is now available.]
[Would you like to view it?]
“Obviously.”
Lion instantly composed himself and gazed into the air.
[Preview opening.]
[Currently, only the list of items can be viewed.]
[Item descriptions are censored.]
Lion slowly looked through the categories.
The categories Life, Food, and Grooming were present, while the remaining slots were inactive.
[In Preparation]
So it would open when the Shilling Shop officially launched?
“Let’s start with Life, shall we?”
Lion selected the Life category.
[Sharp Scissors]
-■■0,000 Shillings
[Standard-Rated Fishing Rod]
-■■0,000 Shillings (MD’s Pick!)
[Old Key]
-■,■■0,000 Shillings
“…”