Chapter 30

### A Major Event

I went to the commercial guild, which is open even at night, to confirm if they were handling the deposit of gold.

"Yes, we offer a storage service. The fee is 300 silver for a week and 1,200 silver for a month. After the deadline, you can only withdraw items, and three years after the deadline, the contents of the storage will be donated to the commercial guild. We will notify you before the deadline and the day before the donation. We recommend you recharge if you plan to be away for a long time, such as in a dungeon."

"Additionally, starting two days from now, the silver transactions for consignment sales and the exchange of goods will be conducted through this storage."

I received the explanation at the reception. I paid for ten months, kept the amount to pay the old bookstore, and the silver for new equipment and production, and immediately deposited the rest. I also decided to deposit items I wouldn't use for a while. The storage capacity is 300, and silver can be deposited separately. Additional capacity is possible for a fee, and deposits and withdrawals can be made at the main and branch offices of the commercial guild, which also include production facilities.

From past experience, I'm sure I'll need additional capacity once I start production, but for now, it's fine. The guild card will register personal storage.

First, I deposited all production materials except food. Next, I checked my equipment.

I have the 'Ring of Strength' that dropped from the King of Chototsu, which appears reddish in certain light, the 'Ring of Vitality' that dropped from the Deidrizzards, which is dark in color, the 'Ring of Dexterity' that dropped from the Circle Moss, which is silvery, the 'Ring of Agility' that dropped from the Yaggyakuru, which is golden, and the 'Ring of Intelligence' that dropped from the Fire Polyp, which is greenish.

I put three on my right hand and two on my left. I wonder if all the effects stack or if there are any that cancel each other out. Is there a priority for which effects take precedence?

The solo rewards were the 'Pendant of Substitution,' the 'Boots of Gale' which significantly increase agility, the 'Gloves of Dexterity' which increase dexterity, and the 'Droplet of Flame' which enhances fire attributes and provides fire resistance.

I think solo boss hunts were expected to be much later, as these items outperform most currently available equipment. I'll probably use these for solo play for a while... If I equip and move with them, my abilities will be so high that it will be obvious something is off.

I only equipped the 'Pendant of Substitution' and put the initial item pouch away. Is there a way to set up equipment changes?

I put the 'Mantle of Yaggyakuru' and the 'Chestplate of Circle Moss' on hold. I've seen a few rings on the bazaar, so it's probably fine, but maybe not. I'll take off two just in case. I'll ask Shin if he needs the 'Gloves of Fire Polyp' when things calm down.

### Alchemy

Now that I've deposited a large sum and lightened my load, it's time for alchemy. While it's not allowed to share the answers to puzzles among players, it's fine to ask the residents. I'll go to the Alchemist Guild and ask if they have any specialties.

"Excuse me, I have a question about alchemy."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Do alchemists have specialties?"

I asked a guild staff member.

"Yes, we don't often hear about weaknesses, but we do hear about specialties. The first potion you use has a significant impact, and the type you first learn from a mentor also matters. Learning from a mentor is more beneficial than just using potions."

"I see, thank you. But it's a hassle to specifically search for and ask someone to be my mentor."

"The guild can also introduce you, and there are experience courses available."

Wow!! Can I choose my specialty myself?

I was excited, but the courses were for HP potions, MP potions, and antidotes.

If I follow the principle of my favorite dishes, I might get multiple HP and MP potions from the party, so it might be better not to take the course. If I have to choose, I might go for the less popular status recovery antidote course, but in my previous games, I usually let poison run its course and then recover HP all at once.

I chose this profession because I can make my own potions, so either HP or MP potions are fine.

"It would be great if you could take the antidote course."

The staff member spoke up, noticing my lack of interest. Apparently, many alchemists choose HP and MP potions for their immediate effects in combat, while fewer choose status recovery potions. They also emphasized that status recovery potions are useful for general illnesses, not just adventurers.

...Well, looking at the bazaar, there are many production-focused players who specialize in HP and MP potions, so I can always buy them if needed. I can make HP and MP potions, so I'm not too concerned about production quality.

"Alright, I'll take the antidote course."

"Thank you."

"Hey, you're the student, huh?"

"Sorry for being late. My name is Homura, nice to meet you."

An old man with a bent back appeared in the antidote course room, and I was a bit worried about his condition.

"I'm Pieg. Let's start by following the recipe. Here are the materials and tools."

He suddenly left me to my own devices. Well, it's fine. I can make it with the recipe and tools.

I had already bought a similar recipe before going to Fos.

I decided to extract and process the materials manually, which takes more time but allows for more control. I really want a mortar and pestle.

"Hmm, you can already use 'Extraction'? And 'Time Acceleration'?"

Pieg, the old alchemist, asked while watching my work from a chair.

"Extraction and Time Acceleration from cooking."

I realized my smooth progress was due to the 'Extraction' skill.

"Then let's use 'Time Acceleration' to speed up the process. Alchemy, cooking, and alchemy have some common tasks."

I followed his advice and used 'Time Acceleration' to finish the work.

"Since you showed me the proper steps, let me do something like a teacher."

The old alchemist stood up from his chair and moved to the workbench.

"Give me the finished antidote."

I handed over the antidote, and he examined its color and smell, nodding in satisfaction.

I confirmed that the antidote I made with the 'Gloves of Dexterity' had a rating of 10. This was my first rating 10, and it was a potion. A rating 10 potion can be used without loss by drinking or applying it. The recovery amount of potions generally changes with the rating.

For antidotes, a rating 1 is actually poisonous, a rating 2 has a 1% chance of removing poison, a rating 3 has a 20% chance, a rating 4 has a 50% chance, a rating 5 has a 60% chance, a rating 6 has a 70% chance, a rating 7 has an 80% chance, a rating 8 has a 90% chance, and a rating 9 has a 100% chance. However, this is for oral consumption. If used in combat by applying it to party members, the effectiveness drops to two-thirds. Only a rating 10 can fully recover when applied.

For HP and MP potions, the base recovery amount is fixed, and the recovery amount changes with the rating. A store-bought HP potion has a recovery effect of 100, which is also the recovery amount for a rating 4 potion. A rating 2 potion recovers 60, a rating 3 potion recovers 80, a rating 5 potion recovers 110, a rating 9 potion recovers 150, and a rating 1 potion, which is considered a failure, causes a poisoned state. The recast time for a rating 4 potion is 5 minutes, for a rating 5 potion is 4 minutes 30 seconds, for a rating 6 potion is 4 minutes, for a rating 7 potion is 3 minutes 30 seconds, for a rating 8 potion is 3 minutes, for a rating 9 potion is 2 minutes, and for a rating 10 potion is 1 minute. Ratings 3 and below have a uniform recast time of 8 minutes. Using a potion before the recast time ends results in no recovery and a poisoned state.

There's a rumor on the bulletin board that the base recovery amount can change based on the method of production, as mentioned by Ochazuke.

"Excellent work."

The old alchemist turned to me after examining the antidote for a moment.

"Your work is so good that there's nothing more I can teach you about antidotes. So, as a service, I'll teach you something else."

He started laying out additional materials. Despite looking like he found standing tiring, his movements were quick and precise.

"Here, this will prevent poison before it happens."

He handed me an 'Antidote,' which, when taken, makes you immune to poison for a certain number of times. This old man made a potion that surpasses antidotes because I couldn't exceed a rating 10 with antidotes!

"Amazing."

I couldn't say anything else. The rating of the potion he made so smoothly was also 10. The benefit of a rating 10 is that it can be used with other resistance potions.

"Hehe, I didn't get this old for nothing."

"Thank you for the lesson."

I received the recipes for poison resistance and antidote potions and finished the session.

### Specialties

- Status Recovery Potions

- Preventive Potions

- Pills

- Herbs

Herbs.

Well, I guess it means I'll become better at handling herbs and antidote herbs, but it sounds a bit surreal when said in one word.

I borrowed the production facilities at the Alchemist Guild and started alchemy. For combat-focused players, your level only increases with experience from your main profession. For production-focused players, levels can be increased through production, but for me, who is combat-focused, production only increases skill levels unless I switch professions. Similarly, combat-focused players only increase skill levels in combat.

Recipes are one per recipe, unlike cooking, where you need to make it once following the recipe. Recipes are just for knowing the materials. You can make potions without a recipe, but it's harder to guess the materials. Without cooking skills, you can make tasteless dishes, but without alchemy, you can make potions with low ratings, though it's inefficient. Making potions without an alchemy license is illegal and can get you arrested. Additionally, potions with ratings other than 1 can contain poison, like a Russian roulette.

I immediately took herbs from storage to make HP potions.

One herb and one water make one potion. All the herbs I had turned into potions. The recipe level is 1, and the material rank is low, so the ratings are mostly 10, thanks to the 'Gloves of Dexterity.'

Next, I made MP potions, which was quick due to the limited number of magic fruits.

I bought materials for antidotes and made a few to create the antidote. The materials for the antidote I received from the old alchemist were three antidotes and serum. The serum is quite expensive at 200 silver, and without the funds from Galahad and the 'Gloves of Dexterity,' it would be too expensive for leveling up. But I'll use it! Isn't serum supposed to be a solid? The antidote the old alchemist made was a pill, but the serum I bought was a powder.

The pill can't be used on party members in combat, probably because it's taken before being poisoned. I should keep some antidotes on hand.

A rating 1 potion is poisonous, a rating 2 potion has a 1% chance of removing poison after two checks, a rating 3 potion has a 10% chance after three checks, a rating 4 potion has a 20% chance after four checks, a rating 5 potion has a 30% chance after five checks, a rating 6 potion has a 40% chance, a rating 7 potion has a 50% chance, a rating 8 potion has a 70% chance, a rating 9 potion has a 90% chance, and a rating 10 potion has a 100% chance. The checks continue until the poison is removed.

I bought recipes for fire extinguishing and de-sticking potions and made them, converting half to preventive potions. The fire resistance and de-sticking potions were made, but the de-sticking potion was a liquid and had a warning not to drink it. It seems to be applied to the body... why is it different from the others with similar materials?

I made a life activation potion with three HP potions and serum. It seems to gradually recover HP over time. Similarly, I made a mana activation potion from MP potions. Being able to make these two is very exciting.

The highest rating for the preventive potions I made, even with rating 10 antidotes, was 8.

The old alchemist, who made a rating 10, is truly a professional!

My alchemy level is too low, and I want to aim for more rating 9s.

Herbs cost 4 silver, and water costs 2 silver. The buy price for an HP potion is 6 silver, and the sell price is 5 silver. Since my level stopped increasing with HP potion production, I thought about buying HP potions and making life activation potions, but I remembered that store-bought HP potions are equivalent to rating 4, so I continued making HP potions. The same for MP potions.

It seems that smaller batches have more lenient ratings, but I found it too troublesome, so I made 99 potions at a time, keeping the rare rating 9s for combat and making 10 life activation potions with rating 10 materials. Thanks to this, I got more rating 9s for life activation potions after my alchemy level exceeded 10.

Taking advantage of my silver, I made HP and MP potions and life and mana activation potions until my level reached 11. My alchemy level increased when it reached 10, and my alchemy synthesis level also increased.

I heard that the 'Crafting' skill, derived from 'Smithing,' increases when 'Smithing' reaches a certain level, so my alchemy experience is probably flowing into alchemy synthesis.

Incidentally, Peter took the 'Crafting' skill. I wonder what he plans to make... hidden weapons?

Next, I want to increase my alchemy synthesis, but since recipes aren't sold, I'll have to figure it out on my own. Advanced and combined production professions derived from initial production professions generally don't have recipes.

---

### Enhancements

- Specialties

- Status Recovery Potions

- Preventive Potions

- Pills

- Herbs

---

Homura Lv.25

Rank D

Profession: Magic Swordsman, Alchemist (Assassin)

HP: 730

MP: 927

STR: 36

VIT: 22

INT: 49

MID: 17

DEX: 18

AGI: 26

LUK: 16

NPCP: [Galahad][—]

Titles:

- General

- [Communicator]

- [Circulating Power]

- [Mystery Solver]

- [Economic Leader]

- [Solitary Adventurer]

- Blessings of the Gods

- [Blessing of Val]

- [Blessing of Verna]

- Slayer Series

- [Lizard Slayer]

- [Bug Slayer]

- [Beast Slayer]

- [Gel Slayer]

- [Dragon Slayer]

Skills (5SP):

- Magic

- [Wood Magic Lv.4]

- [Fire Magic Lv.5]

- [Earth Magic Lv.4]

- [Metal Magic Lv.4]

- [Water Magic Lv.4]

- [Wind Magic Lv.4]

- [Lightning Magic Lv.4]

- [Light Magic Lv.2]

- [Dark Magic Lv.8]

- Swordsmanship

- [Swordsmanship Lv.11]

- [Slash]

- [Katana Lv.7]

- Summoning

- [White Lv.