Chapter 1

"Ha!"

In the depths of the forest.

A single girl with fiery red hair that reached her waist was swinging her sword with a determined cry.

With a fierce and beautiful expression, her sword easily sliced through the monster she faced, killing it instantly.

"Raphi, good work. Are you hurt?"

"Just a light scratch, nothing to worry about."

The one who spoke to Raphi was a boy. Unlike Raphi, who was armed, he carried no weapons.

Instead, he had a large bag slung over his shoulder.

"It's dangerous to leave it as it is. If bacteria get into the wound, it could worsen."

The boy said this as he took a small bottle from his bag. He quickly uncorked it and poured the liquid inside onto Raphi's wound.

Instantly, Raphi's wound healed.

"W-Wait! Is that...?"

"Hmm? It's an elixir, though?"

Raphi was taken aback by the boy's words, which seemed to imply that there was no problem.

An elixir is considered the most potent of all healing potions. To obtain one would require a considerable amount of money.

"Your concern is appreciated, but don't use such an expensive potion on such a small wound!"

The boy, who received Raphi's very reasonable words, smiled and said:

"It's fine. I can make more elixirs."

"That's not the issue..."

Raphi pressed her temples and sighed deeply.

Only a select few highly skilled alchemists can create elixirs. Even among such alchemists, it's not easy to make one. It takes years of effort to produce just one.

However, the alchemist in front of Raphi used the elixir as casually as if it were a health drink.

To Raphi, an S-rank adventurer, this was abnormal.

—Someone, please teach this alchemist the meaning of restraint.

Her inner cry went unheard as Raphi recalled her first meeting with the alchemist.

***

In a store run by a famous merchant in the kingdom, a girl with fiery red hair was raising her voice.

"Please, I'll pay any amount of money! So...!"

"Well, that's the thing... We only have one elixir left. Besides, it's already been purchased by a member of the royal family, and we've already received the payment."

"But if we don't get it, my sister's life will be in danger..."

"I'm sorry, miss. I'm in business, so I hope you understand."

No matter what, Raphi, an S-rank adventurer, could not obtain the elixir. This fact left her in despair.

Raphi needed the elixir to save her sister, who was bedridden with a mysterious illness and in critical condition. No matter how many renowned doctors she consulted, they could not find a way to save her sister. There was no other option but a universal cure.

—But now, even that option was out of reach.

How could she face her sister, who was getting weaker every day? Could she really not save her?

As she walked from the store to her home where her sister waited, negative thoughts filled her mind.

"...I can't be like this as an older sister. I need to be strong for her."

To shake off her negative thoughts, she took a deep breath, stopped, and looked up at the sun shining in the sky.

"Alright!"

Just as Raphi was about to start walking again, a figure suddenly collapsed from an alley.

"Huh?"

Raphi, who let out a strange sound, saw the person who had collapsed in front of her. It was a boy around eighteen years old, with rare black hair and a large bag. He didn't seem to have any noticeable injuries.

She quickly looked around, but due to the location being slightly off the main street, there was no one in sight.

"Are you okay...?"

Unable to ignore him, Raphi tentatively touched the boy's shoulder. Suddenly, a loud "Gurgle" sound echoed.

"I'm hungry..."

The boy muttered in a voice that sounded like he was about to die. Raphi froze for a few seconds, then, after some thought, extended her hand to him.

"Would you like some bread if I have it?"

"Really!?"

The boy suddenly sat up, his eyes shining brightly as he approached Raphi.

The intensity of his reaction made Raphi chuckle involuntarily.

"Yeah, I just finished shopping."

"Thank you! Meeting a kind person like you in such a big city, I must be so lucky..."

Clearly very hungry, the boy took the bread from Raphi and finished it in an instant.

Raphi was taken aback by his eating speed.

"By the way, what's your name?"

Raphi came back to her senses at the boy's question.

"My name is Raphi. I'm an adventurer."

"Got it, Raphi. I'm Reis, an alchemist. I can make various things, so if you need anything, just let me know. It's a thank you for the bread."

"An alchemist, huh..."

Alchemists are those who create potions and magical accessories. They are also the ones who make elixirs.

"If that's the case, I'd like an elixir... But it's probably impossible."

It was a joke, a statement with no real hope. Raphi fully understood the rarity of elixirs.

—There's no way an ordinary alchemist would have one.

Raphi chuckled at her own unreasonable request and was about to correct her words when—

"Sure, that's fine."

"——...What?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected response, Raphi stared at Reis. The boy, seemingly oblivious to his own words, was rummaging through his bag. Soon, he pulled out a small bottle filled with a blue liquid.

"Here, an elixir."

"W-Wait... This is an elixir!?"

"Yep."

"Yep... Where did you get such an expensive item!?"

"I made it."

"You made it!?"

The alchemist in front of her looked no older than Raphi, if not younger. It was hard to believe that such a young alchemist could make an elixir.

However, the color and the magical energy emanating from the bottle were exactly the same as the genuine elixir she had seen before. It was likely the real thing.

—With this, I might be able to save my sister.

"Reis, I'll pay any amount of money! Can you give me that elixir!?"

This might be the last chance to save her sister. Money was no object.

"No, it's a thank you, so I don't need money."

Reis smiled kindly.

"No, that's too much...!"

It was far too much to receive an elixir as a thank you for some bread. Reis didn't seem to mind, but Raphi genuinely wanted to make up for it in some way, even if he wouldn't accept money.

"How about giving me a tour of the city?"

"Is that enough?"

"Sure. It's my first time in the capital."

Honestly, a city tour was far too little, but it would be strange for Raphi to offer more.

"...Alright. If that's what you want, Reis."

"Thanks a lot."

At this point, Reis was just a kind and mysterious alchemist to Raphi. It wouldn't be long before her opinion of him changed to "abnormal" alchemist.