Chapter 11

"Excuse me. I'm the owner of this house... I came to talk because I heard you were going to rent it."

"Ah... I'm sorry. I went out... and kept you waiting... The room isn't clean yet... Is the upstairs room okay?"

"Oh my, I heard you were an adventurer, so I thought you'd be some roughneck, but you're quite well-mannered."

"I just registered as a new adventurer."

The woman turned out to be the landlord. That explained why she had the key.

But she had been waiting outside because it wasn't right to enter without permission.

For now, I guided her to the clean second floor and prepared tea for three people.

Hmm. Even in the light, the landlord is beautiful. ...But, she looks a bit tired around the eyes. She seems to be exhausted.

"Wow... It's been years since anyone lived here, and it looks completely different now."

"You've cleaned it up quite nicely... but it seems to be just this room."

"Ah, yes... I started with a place to sleep and cook... I'll clean the downstairs room bit by bit."

I've been cleaning a little bit of everything except the bedroom, toilet, and kitchen. The second floor is clean, and I want to make the bathroom usable too. The first floor and basement haven't been cleaned yet, but with my level up and increased MP, I think I can handle the large rooms.

Maybe I'll do it before bed. My MP has already recovered, so I think I can manage.

"You're serious, huh. Well, I have something to talk to you about... I was told to rent this house to a pharmacist or alchemist. But I heard there was a mix-up, and it ended up being rented to an adventurer."

"I am an adventurer, but I requested a house where I can mix potions. As an adventurer, I plan to gather materials and make potions to earn a living. I was told that mixing potions in an inn could leave odors, so I looked for a room and was introduced to this one."

The rental condition... no adventurers. So, she came to cancel the contract.

What about the penalty? I've already paid for this month, so it would be nice if she lets me stay until the end of the month.

For now, I'll convey my request... and if it doesn't work out, I'll consult with Leonis.

"An adventurer and a pharmacist... I've never heard of such a thing. Is it even possible?"

"Mixing potions is a job that deals with life. You say it's easy to deliver while adventuring, but do you think it's okay for someone who doesn't know anything to make and deliver products? If they're defective, it could even lead to someone's death."

Well... I understand that potions are serious business.

If you take too much, they can become poison. I understand that you shouldn't get into it without proper preparation.

But I also think it's necessary for my survival. Having a skill is a big advantage.

"I will learn the knowledge and make sure not to cause trouble for others. Fortunately, I was introduced to Pamela as a master and became her disciple. I promise that no one will die from the potions I make in this house."

"Pamela? The Pamela? She never took disciples before! What made her change her mind!?"

"Wow, really? Pamela-sama!?"

Hmm?

Is Pamela famous? She never took disciples?

She said she would take me as a disciple if I gathered materials, but there was no particular reason.

The way she leaned in and glared, as if she wouldn't forgive a lie, made it clear that they respected her master. So, they probably know Leonis too?

Originally... I only knew their names and professions. I should have asked for more basic information.

"Well... I was introduced by Leonis, who used to gather materials. I promised to become his disciple and learn mixing if I could sell some of the materials directly to him. He buys the materials at a fair price."

"Really?"

"Well, if it's his introduction, it's possible... but..."

"Yes. Today, I learned how to gather materials. Here, this is a memo."

I handed over the memo with what I had learned.

It basically listed the names of plants, their appearance, how to gather them, and how to preserve them. I know just showing this doesn't prove that Pamela taught me, but it shows that I'm studying.

While she nodded and read the memo, she started adding notes on how to process the materials, so I stopped her.

"Um... these are the processing methods my master taught me. If you want to use different methods, could you write them on a new sheet of paper?"

"Hmm, that's a good point... By the way, do you have any materials you gathered today? Can I see them?"

"Ah, yes... but I've already delivered some of the materials listed in the memo to the Adventurer's Guild, so I don't have everything."

I laid out the materials I had.

I have some materials for mixing, but I've mostly sold the alchemy materials for cash. Since my money is running low... I was told that I can gather more materials later.

Well, the materials that beginners can gather in safe areas don't fetch much money.

"Is that so? It's a shame you sold the materials you won't use for mixing. From the invoice, it looks like you were underpaid."

"Is that so?"

"Did you know when you delivered them?"

She asked with a disappointed look, and I was at a loss for words.

Well, if the guild says, "The buyback price is ~G," you'd just sell it, right?

I also handed over the delivery invoice, but it didn't look good.

This is how much you can sell it for at the Alchemy Guild. If you sell it directly to me, it's this much... I noted down the prices she told me. I understand that the Adventurer's Guild buys at a lower price to take a margin, but it seems I was sold at the minimum price.

She said the price would be higher if the processing was good, so from now on... well, negotiating is difficult. I think it's easier to deliver at the price they offer.

"...First, I need to prepare some living expenses... I wanted to turn them into money."

I can't say that I couldn't pay the rent for this house myself.

If she says she can't rent it to me, my debt will only increase.

"Well, new adventurers don't have much money. Don't worry about it. By the way, what about this?"

"Yes, what about these already dried stems and fruits?"

"Well, I used magic to dry them. If the moisture is gone, they become lighter and easier to carry."

"You make it sound so easy."

She seemed to understand that adventurers use magic, and she expressed a desire to buy some materials from me instead of the guild.

She said she would visit once a week. For materials that don't spoil, she suggested holding off on deliveries... but that means no income. What should I do?

"Hey, can you dry the wood I prepared like this?"

"Eh? Ah, yes... if you pay me for the work, I can do it."

"Great."

I don't mind drying them. I don't know the going rate for processing fees, but I want to earn money if I can.

But more importantly...

Who is this person?

"By the way, are you the landlord's husband?"

I asked because I didn't know why he was here.

"Huh?"

"Wh-What!?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know the relationship."

I was wrong. I bowed my head and apologized to the two of them.

But they were arguing, and they came in together, so I thought they were related.

I thought they might be a couple because they seemed to get along well despite arguing.

"I'm from the neighboring workshop. My name is Cranach. I probably will make some noise and cause trouble, so I came to introduce myself."

"Oh, I see. So, you know the landlord?"

"Yeah. We were born in the same year and grew up in this town. We both became production workers. By the way, I used to live here, so we were neighbors."

"Just old acquaintances. Don't get it wrong. I'm Astrid. Nice to meet you."

Same age...

Seriously, she's a beautiful woman. I thought Astrid was a bit older than Leonis, but this old man... Cranach is the same age? Amazing.

It's like anti-aging... Is that what alchemists are like?

"Um... I'm sorry. About the house..."

"...Well, if that person is teaching you, you'll probably learn how to mix potions, so it's fine. I'll rent you the house."

The fact that she knows my master is a big factor in her decision to rent me the room. She also asked me to pass on her regards to my master.

Hmm? So, masters are respected figures in production professions. The neighbor was saved from an epidemic. The landlord... admires her. Wow... the world is small.

It seems I've been blessed with good encounters since coming here.

Thinking about my relationships from my previous life suddenly gave me a headache, and I put my hand to my head.

"Ah...!"

"Are you okay?!"

"Ah... I just have a headache... I'm fine now..."

The headache subsided when I stopped thinking about my previous life. I need to stop thinking about what triggers it.

I smiled at the landlord, who looked worried, and stood up with my empty cup.

"Take it easy. Rest a bit."

"No, I'm fine. I'll just make some more tea."

I lit the stove in the kitchen and made more tea.

I wish there was something like an electric kettle, but magical devices are expensive and not common among the common people. I want to learn fire magic... it would make lighting the stove much easier.

I have a flint, which Leonis taught me to carry, and it's quite easy to use.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you. By the way... can I use the equipment in the basement?"

"That's for alchemy, but some of it can be used for mixing too. Feel free to use it."

"Thank you. I will use it."

Now, the workroom is also fine. But... I need to think about how to obtain alchemy recipes.

Asking the landlord to buy them for me... feels a bit too much. I can't afford it, and I don't want to be too dependent. I'll think about it when I have more money.

"Oh, and... can I remodel the house, not immediately, but eventually?"

"Hmm. I don't want you to remodel it. Why? And if you move out, can you restore it?"

"Um, I'll restore it. I didn't plan to open a store, so I wanted to change the entrance room from a shop layout... but after hearing about the specific materials today... I think it's better to store them separately... for example, storing them at room temperature, in a cool place, and in a dry place... and books should be stored in a separate room to prevent damage."

Currently, the large room has shelves and bookshelves mixed together.

I think it's easier to store things if I divide the large room into several smaller rooms. I want to clean and organize them while I'm at it.

"Hmm, if that's the case, I can't say no. As a pharmacist, it makes sense to be careful about storage. Let me know when you have a specific plan."

"Yes, I'll consult with you again."

The permission for remodeling was given easily.

It seems that as long as I organize the storage of materials, it's fine.

If I'm going to store alchemy materials, I'll need a considerable amount of space.

"Well, I'll be going. If I have materials to process, I'll come by."

"Ah, yes. I'll be waiting."

"Also, here's a list."

If I go to gather materials as an adventurer, the neighbor asked me to gather some monster materials, cut down trees, and collect minerals. If the quality is good, he'll give me a bonus.

It's not urgent, so he wants me to bring them when I have them... well, that's fine.

If the neighbor doesn't post a delivery quest at the guild, I can sell them directly. I'll check with Leonis just to be sure.