Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Let's Gather Money
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"I can't believe it. To produce potions of this quality in such large quantities...!"
A golden-skinned goblin... no, a dungeon merchant of the Gord race, peered at the liquid in a small vial with a look of rapture, his monocle glinting. His hands were filled with the high-quality potions the witches had mass-produced this time.
"And all of them the same quality...! Oh! Potions without any stray mana mixed in!"
"You'll pay a fair price for them, right?"
"Of course! But... is there some secret method that allows you to produce this many potions?"
...There is, actually.
The most crucial and time-consuming process—extracting mana from the base water to create pure water free of impurities—could now simply be skipped.
The witches had said that the most important and tricky part of making potions was extracting mana from the base water onward to produce pure water without mixed impurities. They explained that how well the mana was extracted from the water at this stage could even determine the potion's quality.
"The more perfectly the potion's mana is extracted, the better the catalyst materials' mana infuses into the solution. That's the benchmark for a potion's quality."
But naturally, everything in the world contains what is broadly called 'mana'—whether it's natural mana or magi—and extracting it was even difficult for the witches, who were alchemy specialists. They had subtly complained about the hardships of potion supply while venting.
...Mana?
Listening to the witches' laments, what came to my mind was the endless water pouring from the [High-Pressure Cleaner]. The witches said all things in the world contain mana, but...
"Your master's magic is truly wondrous. No precursors at all... There should at least be some flow of mana, but there's none."
Those were Erzsebet's words every time I activated the [High-Pressure Cleaner]. She said she detected no mana at all from the [High-Pressure Cleaner]—precisely from the water gushing out here. Those who'd been hit by my [High-Pressure Cleaner] so far had fallen because they couldn't read the mana flow, she added.
She'd even complained that the blood pouring from her own [High-Pressure Cleaner] had no mana at all, making it taste awful.
'Wait. Then...?'
My actions were swift. It was as simple as handing water from the [High-Pressure Cleaner]—which I could draw anytime—to a witch on her way back after delivering potions.
"...!!!! Th-this! How did you make this? Huh?!"
She was so shocked that the usually polite and cautious witch nearly grabbed my collar in frenzy—a minor incident passed—and the witches hailed this as the masterpiece of alchemy, a revolution in potion-making. They praised me. Or rather, the water I produced.
After calming the witch who clung to my legs begging to share this miraculous product and even tried to kiss my feet, we made a deal: in exchange for periodic supplies of pure water from here, they'd hand over 70 percent of the potions made with it.
...I felt a pang of conscience taking 70 percent, but the witches were satisfied, saying even that was generous. Just how hard is it to produce pure water without mana...?
Anyway.
"The secret method is, naturally, a secret. Unless you tell me how you source all that information or those goods?"
"My apologies... that was a slip."
The dungeon merchant, who had briefly shown greed, neatly admitted his mistake and quickly paid for the potions I'd offered. At a price three times higher than I'd expected.
"...Is this right?"
"We sell everything and buy everything, but we don't haggle down prices. That's the current market rate for these potions."
"Even though it's tripled?"
"Especially lately, demand for potions in the north has surged. With two 5-star heroes heading north, they're apparently struggling more than expected."
As a service, the dungeon merchant shared that among the heroes dispatched to the north, the one called the Mad Flame Hero had flames that required amputating the burned area and treating it with potions—nothing else worked.
Potions were already precious, but demand had exploded even further, and the merchant grinned ear to ear.
"Is it okay to share that info?"
"You're a VIP customer!"
Well. I still find all this VIP customer talk pretty unfamiliar.
Back then, knowing nothing about dungeon merchants, I'd brushed it off. But now, with other dungeon masters under me, hearing from them... even excellent customers don't get special favors from dungeon merchants.
Is it just because this dungeon appeared after a long silence? The treatment seems too generous. When I asked why, he just said it's repayment for all the profits I've brought...
"Do you have more potions? If so, we'll buy those at the same price..."
"No, not right now. But I'm open to more deals later."
"That's delightful news. Potions always have overflowing demand, so please do business through us."
But what do these guys even spend their money on?
"Never mind that. I want to see the monster catalog."
"Ohoho! Excellent! Take your time!"
I'd planned to restock monsters lost to the heroes anyway, but with the sudden influx of potions—and them selling for top dollar—my wallet was bulging.
Now I could afford pricey magic tools or top-grade monsters... Huh?
'It's sparse?'
Excited for a spending spree with my new funds, the monster list the merchant showed was noticeably thinner than before. The standout ones were merely mid-grade. No high-grade or above, even if I scoured it.
"Dungeon merchant. What's going on? The catalog's missing all high-grade monsters and up."
"My deepest apologies, customer. Right now, high-grade monsters sell out as soon as they arrive."
"All sold out?"
"As I mentioned, the northern front is being pushed back by humans. So the northern ruler buys every usable monster through us... Ohoho. We tried reserving some for other customers, but when that lord pays a premium, what can we do?"
Damn. Just when I had money, no stock to buy.
Sure, I could buy mid-grade or lower, but after experiencing high-grade power, I wanted more of those if possible. The Giant Wood Golem that shone with Dray's abilities this time? That was high-grade.
"Tch. Fine then. Just a few mid-grade ones..."
"Ah. Please wait a moment, customer. There's one thing I should mention."
"Hm?"
Swallowing my disappointment and resigning to mid-grade, the merchant stopped me.
"Since you're a VIP customer, I'll tell you this... but I recommend saving your money for now."
"Why?"
"Well. Anything beyond that's a secret. Look forward to later."
A merchant discouraging purchases and advising to save money?
.
.
.
.
.
"So. You didn't buy anything?"
"Felt off about it."
Dungeon merchants are inscrutable, but for some reason, they're oddly favorable to me. I figured I shouldn't ignore advice from them, so against my plans, I bought no monsters.
"Alfred. Any guesses?"
Not knowing why the merchant said that frustrated me, so I called Alfred, who had the most dealings with dungeon merchants in this ruin, and asked. He offered one speculation.
"If this old man may speculate... an auction might be coming soon."
"Auction?"
"Yes. Before humans implemented dungeon preservation policies, dungeon merchants would invite dungeon owners to auctions selling rare items unavailable normally."
Items there included ancient grimoires hard to buy even with money, top-grade monsters stronger than most demons, elixirs called ultimate potions—things so rare the word fell short.
Dungeon owners could also auction their own items beyond the merchants' offerings.
"It's been ages since peace lasted long enough for no auctions... but given the current state of affairs, they might be resuming."
"Hm."
So the merchant was telling me to save for an auction?
"How do auctions work? Dungeon masters are scattered across the continent—how do they...?"
"I'm not certain, but they use dream demons' help. They create illusory virtual spaces and invite dungeon masters there."
"Participants enter as virtual avatars, not real bodies. Purchases are handled separately by dungeon merchants, gathering masters from across the continent safely, eliminating theft or loss risks."
Alfred wrapped up, saying I'd be better off asking Riene, who had actual auction experience.
'Auction. Auction house...'
Even if virtual avatars in a virtual space, it's a chance to meet other dungeon owners. And with enough money, snag priceless treasures.
'Better prepare.'
Convinced the merchant wouldn't give idle advice, I activated the communication orb linked to the elves' dungeon.