Chapter 48

Starting from 2018/10/08, I have made significant changes to chapters 45-47.

For those who have bookmarked the story, if you feel the content doesn't connect, please start reading from chapter 45.

Thank you very much m(__)m

---

I left the adventurers to Kyle and the Guild Master of Cygnus Guild, and returned home with all my might.

On the way, the Adventurers' Guild sent a few low-rank adventurers as messengers to participate directly in the battle against the Cockatrices.

"Hey!? What! So fast!"

"Wait, Mr. Craft!"

"Idiot! Go ahead! I know the way to the house!"

"Got it! Hurry up! I'll leave the door unlocked!"

"Okay!"

"Hey... Mr. Craft is an alchemist, right!? Why is he so fast!?"

"People who have lived in the frontier village for a long time are all incredibly strong!"

They are probably new adventurers who have only recently come to Golden Dawn.

I quickly left them behind.

How weak! They're not even on the Black Dragon!

I left the adventurers behind and rushed into the alchemy room.

"Welcome back, Master."

The maid, Ryuuko, appeared smoothly.

"Ryuuko! Help me!"

"Yes, everything is ready."

All the materials needed to complete the anti-petrification potion, which I had started making, were neatly arranged.

It seems Ryuuko had prepared them for me.

The anti-petrification potion requires many valuable materials and is not suitable for mass production. If I didn't have the emblem of the Twilight Alchemist, I wouldn't have been able to make a decent amount.

Especially now, I am using some materials to勉强替代其他材料，这使得制作过程更加耗时。

简单来说，我需要炼制出用于制作抗石化药剂的炼金药剂，而这本身就需要炼制出另一种炼金药剂，这是一个多步骤的过程。

"Damn...如果我能得到那种材料，就能一次性制作出解石化药剂和抗石化药剂！"

一种不可能得到的材料在脑海中一闪而过。

如果我能得到那种材料，就能跳过所有步骤，一次性解决问题！

"呼呼……对不起，让您久等了！有什么我能帮忙的吗！？"

"正好！帮我把这些炼金药剂转移到这个桶里！"

"好的！"

在冒险者和Ryuuko的帮助下，我将中间材料的炼金药剂转移到桶中。

喂，冒险者！你们的力量比Ryuuko还弱，真丢人！

当炼金釜空了，我立即开始制作下一个炼金药剂。将这两种炼金药剂混合，再进一步炼制出另一种炼金药剂。

每制作一次炼金药剂，都会消耗大量的魔力。

通常情况下，我会在这里转做其他工作，但今天我毫不犹豫地喝下了珍贵的魔力恢复药剂。

依靠魔力恢复药剂，我一个接一个地完成了中间材料的制作。

突然，我发现帮忙的冒险者们已经汗流浃背，疲惫不堪。

"糟糕。拿这个！"

"这是……难道是Craft品牌的传奇耐力药剂吗！？"

"快喝！"

"是！"

"哦……哦哦哦！这是什么！？完全不累！"

"真厉害！"

Ryuuko平时帮忙时，我完全忘记了这一点。

冒险者们开始欢呼。只要他们能帮忙就行。

在他们的帮助下，终于完成了第一批抗石化药剂。

大概是一桶的量。

"好！分成两半，立刻送到右翼和左翼！"

"明白了！"

他们将抗石化药剂装桶后，立即扛起来飞奔出去。

我甚至没有送他们，而是停下手，准备开始制作下一个药剂。

因为我听到了外面的喧闹声。

我冲出去，看到城墙上未完成的部分西侧，中央部队那边发生了骚动。

"他们已经到达城镇了吗！？"

从瞭望塔上看，我以为还需要几个小时，但Cockatrice的进攻速度比预期的要快得多。

"即使已经完成的部分，城墙的高度也只有一层，真的能抵挡得住吗？"

"Master, if you wish, I can go check the state of the wall?"

"What?"

Indeed, the wall is a concern. If it is breached, our defense strategy will be completely undermined.

But Ryuuko is a maid. Can she make that judgment?

"Please leave it to me."

Ryuuko said firmly.

Then I will trust her.

"Alright. Go check. But under no circumstances participate in the battle! And if you can, also check on the central unit."

"Understood."

Ryuuko bowed lightly, and I immediately turned back to the alchemy room. My battlefield is here!

With the remaining adventurers' help, I began to create the petrification cure potion.

It's a stopgap measure, but there's no other choice!

I went crazy with alchemy.

If... if only I had that material, I could prepare the necessary amount in no time!

"Damn... If only I could get a Cockatrice egg..."

Ryuuko seemed to lift her head at my muttering.

---

This was the incomplete part of the western wall.

The central unit, where a large number of adventurers had gathered.

Degard Bismarck, who had just reached Rank C, was staring at the horizon.

Due to his experience as a mercenary, he was temporarily appointed as the commander. It was a big responsibility.

"Ultimately, how many people were able to take the preventive potion?"

"About 100 people."

The one who answered the stern-faced Degard was his partner, the tiger beastman Taigal Gaidal. They had both belonged to the same mercenary group but became adventurers after their unit was destroyed.

"About half?"

"Normally, the strength of 100 skilled adventurers is no joke."

Taigal, the tiger beastman, also stared at the horizon.

Rushing towards them was a massive army of Cockatrices, like a giant tsunami.

Cockatrices.

Their appearance is best described as a vicious chicken.

Their size ranges from that of a horse to several times larger, with significant individual differences.

Of course, the beak attacks from their size are powerful, but Cockatrices have a particularly troublesome ability.

The petrification breath.

Experienced adventurers can defend against it to some extent, but there are limits.

If they inhale too much petrification breath, they will eventually turn to stone, no matter how skilled they are.

Fighting while avoiding the breath is a significant handicap.

Such troublesome Cockatrices are attacking in the thousands. It's no joke.

Even the 100 adventurers who have experienced dragon hunts and received the petrification prevention potion are fortunate.

"Listen up! Under no circumstances should you stand out in the front! Use the incomplete part of the wall to your advantage! Only take out the ones that get inside!"

"Oooh!!"

The central unit responded with determination.

Degard was inwardly relieved that they had some experience with coordinated dragon battles. If they were a group of self-important, scattered adventurers, their numbers would be a liability.

"Those who didn't take the preventive potion, provide backup! Carry out the injured and pour healing potions on them! If you have free hands, use any long-range attacks you can!"

"Oooh!!"

The petrification cure potions distributed to the central unit were minimal. Most were given to the left and right units.

Degard's central unit had to minimize the number of adventurers who were petrified.

A skilled alchemist could reverse the petrification later, but the more people who turn to stone, the more the fighting strength would decrease.

"Damn. If Raidock were here..."

Raidock, a B-rank adventurer recognized even by Degard. Not only is he skilled, but his entire party is capable.

Raidock isn't the only one missing. Most of the few B-rank adventurers are not in town.

Due to the Cockatrice disturbance, surrounding monsters have become more active, and they have gone to deal with them. They didn't expect the Cockatrices to attack the town so quickly.

But there's no time for complaints.

Degard wanted to repay the favor to Kyle Gandal Bairood, the leader of the frontier village who had welcomed and favored adventurers, even accepting demi-humans.

More importantly, Golden Dawn was already their second home and a place of comfort.

Why would they hesitate to protect their own homes?

"Hmph. Those chicken-like creatures. I'll turn them all into shreds."

"Ha! We won't run out of grilled chicken tonight!"

"They're not edible, though!"

Unfortunately, Cockatrice meat is poisonous.

The battle-hardened Degard and Taigal laughed, and the surrounding adventurers began to relax.

A shadow watched the adventurers with a pale face.

"Ah! You guys are here!? Get back to the church immediately!"

"Az-sis!"

Azure, the fox beastman who was both the orphanage director and a church priest, finally found the four orphans from the Edsai Kakaiwami Adventure Group, out of breath.

---

Thank you for waiting! I apologize for the long break!

I'm still working on setting up my personal life (´Д｀).

I'll try to make progress bit by bit and keep writing!

Please don't give up on me!!

As mentioned in the preface, I have made significant changes to chapters 45-47 from 10/08.

A certain hate-filled old man has disappeared!

If you understand this, you're fine.

If not, please start reading from chapter 45!

For those who have bookmarked the story and are receiving notifications from this point.

I apologize for any inconvenience m(__)m