Chapter 34

After saying goodbye to Mary, I returned home.

Around the time when we finished lunch with the two of them, the master arrived.

"Well, we have three people today... I've brought as many recipes for crafting, woodworking, and stonework as I could, so you should give them a try. Crane, I'll show you a sample of the alchemy recipe just once."

After confirming that the others had started working in a different area, I decided to consult with the master before starting my work.

"Master... I'm sorry, but I have something to ask."

"Chick. It's not a troublesome matter, is it?"

"Um... The Adventurer's Guild has requested us to supply healing potions, magic orbs, ability orbs, paralysis potions, poison potions, sleep potions, and other alchemy potions. Can I do it?"

I handed him the paper with the details of the supply request, and he began to check the contents.

"Hehe... I thought it would come to this. Well, it's not impossible. However, the alchemy potion is still quite difficult. You see, an alchemy potion is a refined version of a healing potion, which is made to enhance its effects, but it's quite challenging. It will take some time to be able to make it."

"I see... And, I said the success rate for magic orbs and others is 50%, but is there a problem with that?"

The master's eyes widened in surprise when I mentioned the 50% success rate for magic orbs. There must be something to it.

Ugh... I shouldn't have answered so easily just because it was Mary.

"Chick. Is the success rate for magic orbs really 50%?"

"Um... Yes. When I reached level 10, my alchemy skill became rank 4, and since then, it's been around 50%."

"That's right... I haven't explained it properly to you, but there are several criteria for the success of alchemy. The first is the difference between your rank and the rank of the recipe. Alchemy recipes are divided into beginner (upper, middle, lower), intermediate (upper, middle, lower), advanced (upper, middle, lower), and expert. The success rate decreases when you try to make something higher than your rank."

"Ah, yes... I see."

Well, I kind of understood that from what I heard. The reason I received the recipes for magic orbs and ability orbs is that they are used frequently by adventurers and help increase proficiency when making items higher than my rank.

I didn't really mind because it became easier to make them as my level increased.

"The second is the proficiency in the item you are making. The success rate increases with the number of times you make it and your understanding of the materials and the potion. The third is the status of the creator. INT and DEX are important for alchemy."

"Yes... Both values affect the success of alchemy... Both need to be at a high level, right?"

"The key to being a pharmacist is exactly that. Especially, DEX, which is a talent that can't be improved just by effort... No, you need to put in a lot of effort to do anything."

In other words... Since it depends on unseen talent, you need to do everything to increase DEX? And, I'm already higher than the master expected, with a high success rate.

"Master, could you explain it in more detail?"

"Where should I start... Well, pharmacists are few. This is because it's known that it depends on talent, so fewer people aim for it. The talent is INT and DEX, especially the unseen DEX. Alchemists are similar, but it's still manageable. Do you know why?"

"Um... Does INT increase with magic, and is it good for creating alchemy potions because it uses MP?"

"Yes. Pharmacists tend to create fewer potions than alchemists. To succeed, you need to perform well with fewer creations. INT increases MP, but SP doesn't increase."

Hmm. Proficiency increases with creation, but the difference in the number of creations... I have a difference in SP and MP, so I always start with alchemy. If I wanted to, I could quickly increase my alchemy skill.

However, SP increases with level, so I don't think the difference with alchemy is that big.

"Furthermore, many pharmacists stop at the intermediate level. This is because they can't make advanced items."

"Can't they make them?"

"If you can gather the materials yourself like you, it's fine, but the materials themselves become expensive. It becomes difficult to buy intermediate materials. To make a magic orb, it costs 100G for materials. If you can't get the materials and have to request gathering, it will cost even more."

"Oh... The commission fee is 20%, right? ...I don't know how much the selling price is, though."

"It's about that much if you're supplying a certain number to the Adventurer's Guild. If a patient needs a special treatment, they won't rely on the Pharmacist's Guild. They will go to someone who can make it without considering the possibility of failure. Since pharmacists can't prepare the materials themselves, it becomes difficult... As a result, requests are concentrated on a few people. In a world where only the capable can earn, the opportunities to gain experience are limited."

Ah, I see.

I heard that the master used to gather materials himself, and since Leonis provides the materials, I'm fortunate. Conversely, those who can't obtain materials can't create items, so their level and proficiency don't increase.

"...So, most people stop at the intermediate level."

"That's not all. The materials for magic orbs and ability orbs... You don't even consider failure because you can gather them yourself, right?"

"Um? Ah, yes... I make them with hundred-grass. I can gather other materials from the Western Hill or the Eastern Forest, so I just go and get them if I run out."

"Even a beginner adventurer can gather them, but they don't even try. As a pharmacist, they expect the materials to be provided. It takes years to gain the necessary skills. Your 50% success rate means you've made over 300 potions, including failures... You've done well in a short time."

"Do you know that?"

"Yes. You're overworking yourself. I gave you intermediate recipes because you need them as an adventurer, not because you had to be able to make them immediately..."

No, but it's very convenient... Once you can make potions, you can use them to extend the time you spend on alchemy and alchemy. The special training with my brothers is also more efficient because of this, as it reduces recovery time... Naturally, I started making as many as I could because I always needed them.

By the way... I fail a lot, but the failed magic orbs and ability orbs can be recycled into healing potions, so they don't overflow... Well, healing potions... Even if you have a lot, you can't use them all, so I've been delivering them. Even if I deliver 300, I still have a lot in stock.

"Anyway, let's get back to the Adventurer's Guild request. I'll prepare the recipes. First, practice paralysis potions if you can defeat Killer Bees, and sleep potions if you can defeat Stinky Flowers. For poison potions, stop hunting monsters and get the materials. They are D-rank monsters, so the guild won't be happy. I'll prepare other recipes gradually, but start by being able to make these three."

"I see... But, if I request materials, the profit margin is 20%, right?"

"Regular pharmacists do this and earn enough. ...Well, it's also a good time to earn. ...How about negotiating?"

"Negotiate?"

"Instead of delivering, get your adventurer rank raised to E or D. Negotiate to expand your range of action. However, raising your rank is dangerous when you're solo."

"I see... I'll try it."

Raising my adventurer rank...

If it's up to the guild's judgment, can I negotiate?

Indeed... Even if they are D-rank monsters, it's more profitable to defeat them if you can. Furthermore, I don't want to hand over my alchemy records to the Adventurer's Guild... or let the master find out... My brothers are also strict about not taking unnecessary risks. I want to keep it hidden.

However... Solo is dangerous.

No, if I explain the reason, my brothers will follow me without being asked... but I don't want to be a burden.

Because, coming to a dangerous place for my sake... it feels like I'm being selfish. They won't refuse, but it makes me feel very uneasy.

"Also, tell them that the alchemy potion will take time. If you keep up your current pace, you can make 50 in a week. In two weeks, you can meet the desired number. I'll prepare the recipes quickly."

"Um... Is the alchemy potion difficult?"

"You... might be able to make it in two months."

"Um... What's the rank of the alchemy potion?"

"Below advanced. Once you can make it, you'll be among the advanced pharmacists."

Advanced is completely pushing it!

I just heard that pharmacists usually stop at the intermediate level, so why is the advanced level mixed in... Moreover, the requested quantity is quite high.

The materials will also become valuable, so it seems tough.

Is it because there's a chronic shortage, so they wrote a large number?

Should I write down what's needed?

The master can probably make it, but he doesn't seem to want to. He seems to enjoy seeing how far I can go.

"Is it pushing it... What are you thinking?"

"Well, do your best. I think you can do it if you level up."

"I understand. I'll work hard."

"Well, it's not all bad. Trying various recipes is more educational than making the same thing over and over. Many of the items on this list are not needed unless you're an adventurer. Think of it as a temporary request and give it a try."

"Yes."

Some of the recipes on the list were given to me by the master. Upon checking, they were mostly intermediate lower to intermediate upper, and I couldn't make them immediately due to a lack of materials.

The master provided sample materials, so I would start gathering materials from tomorrow.

I might ask my brothers to change our training location to the Western Hill.

Becoming stronger is important, but since it's a good opportunity, I might as well make money and establish a foundation here.

After that, the master's lesson mainly focused on methods for gathering materials.

He said I needed to learn them, so my brothers also joined in. I intended to do some crafting, but today was mostly spent explaining new materials, so I couldn't.

Actually, the master intends to have the two of them gather the materials. They are already stronger than me, but he emphasized that we should go as a group of three.