Chapter 2

The capital of the vast kingdom of Lusein, which boasts the largest area.

This is where Reis is now. However, it's not as if Reis is a native of the capital. Reis comes from a remote countryside with no people. He only recently arrived in the capital.

"Did you get all your money stolen...?"

"Yeah, yeah, I was really worried at that time."

Raphi, who had been listening to Reis's story while guiding him through the capital, grimaced at the words that came out of his mouth. According to Reis, on the first day he arrived in the capital from the countryside, almost all his money was stolen.

He says it with a smile, but the fact that he ended up collapsing on the street is no laughing matter.

"Besides, the money I had left is gone now, and to be honest, I was in a bind. I didn't have any acquaintances to rely on in the capital."

"... In that situation, was it okay to give me the elixir?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I think I can make a decent amount of money by selling the stuff in my bag."

Saying this, Reis patted the large bag he was carrying on his shoulder. The sound of liquid shaking inside suggested that there were still potions left. Reis wouldn't just hand over an elixir without thinking.

"By the way, why did you come to the capital?"

"Well, monsters suddenly appeared where I lived, so I had to come to the capital for safety. It was the closest city, and since I'm pretty confident in my alchemy, I thought I could make a living here."

"Indeed, if you can make elixirs, you should be able to make a living."

Raphi nodded in agreement, impressed. The fact that Reis can make elixirs means he is a top-tier alchemist.

"--- So, can you tell me where I can sell potions?"

Saying this, Reis flashed a mischievous smile.

***

"Wow, this is the Adventurer's Guild?"

In front of Reis stood a grand stone building—the Adventurer's Guild. Armed adventurers were constantly entering and exiting. For Raphi, who was also an adventurer, this was a familiar sight.

The guild also buys potions, and as a public institution, there's no worry about being cheated on the price. For alchemists like Reis, who don't have their own shops, it's the perfect place to do business.

"Let's go in."

"Sure."

Following Raphi's lead, Reis stepped into the Adventurer's Guild.

As grand as the exterior, the interior was quite spacious. A counter with receptionists lined up in the front, a bulletin board with request lists posted on the right side, and a bar annexed on the left side.

As Reis looked around the guild curiously, he noticed that the adventurers' gazes were focused on them.

"Is that... an S-rank adventurer?"

"Yeah, no doubt. There were rumors that he had left the capital because he hadn't been seen around the guild recently..."

It seems the attention was on Raphi.

"Is Raphi famous?"

"Well, I'm an S-rank adventurer, so..."

"Wow, that's pretty impressive."

S-rank is the highest rank among adventurers. It's not surprising that he's the center of attention.

Raphi, who seemed used to such attention, walked to one of the counters without a care.

The receptionist there was a woman with pink hair down to her shoulders. She was a bit older than Reis, exuding a mature aura and fitting the description of a beautiful woman.

"Oh, Raphi, it's been a while."

"It has, Amelia. About a month, I think."

The woman called Amelia smiled beautifully and looked at Raphi with delight. Amelia had been taking care of Raphi since he became an adventurer.

"What brings you here today?"

"Actually, I'm not the one with business today; it's this alchemist."

Amelia's gaze turned to Reis, who was standing next to Raphi.

"Hello, I'm Reis."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Amelia."

After saying this, Amelia stared at Reis for a few seconds.

"Um, is there something...?"

Feeling embarrassed, Reis spoke up, and Amelia tilted her head.

"Are you... Raphi's boyfriend?"

"Wha, Amelia!?"

Raphi, blushing, quickly confronted Amelia. Reis finally saw a hint of a teenage girl's behavior in Raphi's reaction.

However, from this reaction alone, it was clear that Raphi was not the type to enjoy jokes.

"I just met Raphi today, so we're not in that kind of relationship."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Reis's wry smile was met with a full smile.

Feeling that the conversation might continue into irrelevant topics, Reis decided to steer it back to the main point.

"Um, about the business I came for..."

"Right, I'm listening."

Amelia seemed to switch to work mode, and the conversation could finally progress. Reassured, Reis opened his bag and reached inside. There were different types of potions, and he was looking for the one he wanted to sell.

Raphi, relieved from the embarrassment, took a deep breath and watched from the side, simply curious about what an alchemist who can make elixirs would be selling.

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, a sense of déjà vu hit him. He thought he saw several familiar blue liquids in Reis's bag.

"No way..."

That liquid was the one he had just received. It was valuable, and there was no way he could have so many.

...There was no way.

"I want to sell this."

Reis, with a full smile, held out a small bottle filled with blue liquid. It was the same as the one Raphi currently had.

In other words—it was an elixir.

"Huh...?"

Before the shock, a dry voice came out.

—This is the second one. Moreover, if he didn't missee, there were still more in the bag. Could this be possible?

No, it couldn't be. It made no sense at all.

Who is this man next to him?

In that moment, Raphi's evaluation of Reis changed from a normal alchemist to an 'abnormal' one.