Chapter 9

"Found it. It's quite a troublesome situation, isn't it?"

Zosimos, who had forcibly connected to the broken Sage Tower, projected the scene onto a virtual monitor. I ran through the dim forest, glancing at it out of the corner of my eye.

"It's a Lesser Tarask, as expected. But what are those around it?"

"A monster that doesn't exist in the preserved archives. It might have appeared recently."

"Then we don't know its weaknesses or habits. What should we do... there are quite a few of them."

Moreover, they seemed to be surrounding a few people who looked like Beo's companions. There didn't seem to be much time to waste.

"First, we need to prioritize human lives."

"That's a good priority, but maintaining secrecy will be difficult."

I grunted slightly at Zosimos's words and let out a small sigh. Given that human lives were the top priority, I couldn't hold back.

"Alright. I wasn't aiming for complete secrecy anyway. Besides, if I set up a laboratory to revive the alchemical culture, it would eventually be exposed."

"Yes, Master is too careless. It was only a matter of time before it was discovered."

"Is that so?"

"Rumors are already circulating among adventurers that you possess secret potions."

...Just a few bottles of [Healing Magic Potion]? Such a potion that is barely useful in daily life can't be a true secret potion. Ah, but that's right. They haven't seen a real secret potion.

Well, it's my job to change that in the future.

The ideal scenario is that instead of rushing into the temple with a tragic expression, one can buy a magic potion from my laboratory and regenerate an arm on the spot... but let's focus on the present. I need to save them now.

I reached into the small phase space storage and pulled out a simple metal staff with no decorations. This metal rod, known as an [Alchemist's Staff], is both a magical tool and a weapon.

Not all alchemists are confined to their laboratories. Collecting materials is a basic part of alchemy, and to solve problems, one must go to the site and deal with them. If it's a monster, it must be eliminated. Alchemists, who are 'handy fixers,' must be able to do anything.

"First, I'll separate the small monsters. It's been a while since I've fought... if I mess up, I'll need your support."

"Well, how about this? It's rare to see such a scene, so I'd like to observe it."

While giving a mischievous response, the support-type artificial fairy began preparing magic. Yes, magic. The other day, when I passed by the adventurer guild, I saw a mage casting magic in the training ground. When I asked if I could reproduce it, this excellent partner replied, "It's no problem at all."

When using alchemical pots, Zosimos performs the same kind of magic control as I do, and can maintain it in a virtual space. In other words, this artificial fairy has the skill to handle magic, and can use it if it knows how.

"──...──!"

An incomprehensible high-speed voice input followed, and in the next moment, seven blue-white magic light swords appeared around the artificial fairy. Zosimos immediately launched one of them, which pierced the head of a small monster.

"Hey, Zosimos."

"Sorry, I got ahead of myself. No, I'm not blaming you for being slow, Master."

"You said it!"

I was a bit late, but I decided to let the adventurers see this.

– The true way an alchemist fights!

With that resolve, I grabbed a handful of magic stones from the phase space storage and threw them forward. These small magic stones, taken from small monsters, were infused with one of the four major elements... they had effects similar to modern elemental magic.

"Activate!"

A heat wave explosion, a cold frost emission, a shower of rocks and mild petrification, and a gust of wind and a whirlwind. These mixed effects rained down on the small monsters. Since I didn't know their weaknesses, I had to throw them randomly and judge which were effective.

However, my plan was a bit off. Those small monsters were somewhat fragile. Before I could determine which were effective, half of them were blown away. This only left me with the impression that "fire magic stones were probably the most effective in terms of efficiency."

"Hey, aren't you the new guy Beo was meddling with the other day?"

"I'm just passing by to help."

"Idiot! Run! You can't handle these monsters!"

A male adventurer, raising his head, tried to stand up to help me despite his injuries. I recognized his face; he was the one who had heckled Beo in the adventurer guild's tavern that day. His head was quite distinctive.

Yes, that day... he was the one heckling Beo in the adventurer guild's tavern. But to be concerned about me in this situation... he's a bit of a good person, like Beo.

"I can handle it. This level is no problem."

I smashed the head of a small monster that lunged at me with the [Alchemist's Staff] and faced the Lesser Tarask. It was slightly smaller than the ones I knew, probably a young individual. Still, it would be a threat to inexperienced humans.

Should I use some magical tools or just beat it with the [Alchemist's Staff]? As I was thinking, six magic light swords came from behind and pierced the Lesser Tarask in quick succession.

The magic light swords pierced the hard carapace of the Lesser Tarask's abdomen, penetrating deeply. Hmm... I see, I see. This is useful. It's not hard to understand why people in this era rely on easy magic rather than alchemy.

"Hey, weren't you in trouble? You seemed a bit dazed."

"What do you think I am? Anyway, I'll finish it off."

I raised the [Alchemist's Staff] and threw it at the Lesser Tarask like a spear. A staff that bears the name of an alchemist is not just a simple rod.

The [Alchemist's Staff], responding to my will, changed its tip to a sharp point and struck the Lesser Tarask's neck. After piercing it, it transformed into a blade and rotated, returning to my hand.

This is a special [Alchemist's Staff] I found in the old Ald laboratory, designed for me. Made of thought-responsive metal, it can change into any shape and can even become a pot or a skillet if needed. For example, it can cut off the thick neck of a Lesser Tarask.

"Excellent. No support was needed."

"I'll lecture you when we get back..."

"Do you have no friends if you lecture an artificial fairy?"

I, who has no friends in this world, lightly argued with the artificial fairy while confirming that the small monsters had fled and approached the stunned group of adventurers.

Thank you for reading!

I'll try to update on Monday ('ω')!

【Glossary】

- Small Monster... Tiny Tarask. An inferior species of Lesser Tarask. It appeared and reproduced through special mutations over the past few centuries. Although it is relatively weak for a Tarask, it has a strong reproductive ability and is a troublesome monster that hunts in organized groups.

- Magic Light Sword... A magic with the straightforward name of 'Magic Light Sword.' It generates a magical blade and launches it at the target. It is a relatively basic attack magic with low mana consumption, making it 'fuel-efficient.' The power and number of swords depend on the user's proficiency and talent, with court mages capable of generating up to five magic light swords.

- Processed Magic Stone... A magic stone processed through alchemy to contain aggressive elemental magic. It is activated with a word after being thrown. The names vary by element, but Vaiken simply calls them 'fire magic stones,' etc. It is a popular magical tool that can be found in ruins and can be purchased at market stalls, though it is quite expensive.

- [Alchemist's Staff]... A weapon primarily used by alchemists. Made of various materials, Vaiken's specialized staff is made of thought-responsive metal and can change into any shape, even becoming a pot or a skillet if needed.

- "Do you have no friends?"... I didn't have many friends in my previous life either.

How was it ('ω')?

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