Chapter 39

The morning passed in alchemy work alone.

In alchemy, since the materials are not as limited as in concoctions, it wasn't too troublesome... or rather, because the failed materials from concoctions like magic pills could be processed into potions, all I really needed were magic stones.

Then, in the afternoon, my master arrived, and after I reported the events of last night, he sighed with a weary expression.

"Phew... It's turning into a troublesome situation."

"Master... What is the Pharmacists' Guild thinking?"

"They must be in a hurry. Being cut off as a supplier by the Adventurers' Guild, even if it's temporary, is a fatal blow. The aftermath is the problem; it was a foolish move."

Foolish... indeed.

Monopolizing materials... even if you do that, what will you do if there are no delivery requests? Materials will deteriorate in quality if they go bad. Potions don't last forever either, though they do last for a considerable period. However, if relations with the Adventurers' Guild become the worst... it's self-destruction.

"...What will happen?"

"There's nothing you can do... well, it's actually a good opportunity to have Leo and the others level up. It's dangerous otherwise."

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. It's only a matter of time before it's known that I have a disciple. Your existence will be a hindrance... the current Pharmacists' Guild might even try to eliminate you."

"...Why are they so short-sighted?"

Taking on a disciple and then trying to eliminate them... that's just not normal, right?

I didn't receive any such explanation when I became a disciple, did I?

Apparently, it was because the master didn't want to share his original recipes or something like that.

The current Pharmacists' Guild must have such a deep-seated grudge against the master. The master also dislikes them... something significant must have happened.

"...I hope it doesn't come to that. Monopolizing materials, if you think about it normally, only has disadvantages. If it's someone who would go that far, it's best to consider the worst-case scenario."

"More than me... the master needs protection."

"A decrepit old woman like me doesn't need to be eliminated. I'll die soon anyway. Moreover, if I were killed, there would be a thorough investigation. But for you, it's easy to be killed while on an adventure."

"...Yes."

Indeed... if something happens in town, you'd be caught immediately, but outside, if there are no witnesses, it's unknown. For a weak adventurer, that would be the end.

To go that far... it must be a deep-seated issue.

"Master... what happened in the past?"

"Since you're involved this much, I can't keep it from you..."

The master slowly began to tell the story.

He became a pharmacist and became independent around the age of 30. For the next 10 years, he also gathered materials like an adventurer. By the time he was 40, he started to rely on requests for gathering. Then, he took on a disciple. This was about 40 years ago.

At that time, the master had created several original recipes through his own research and was a rising star as a pharmacist. He was entrusted with a young pharmacist from the Pharmacists' Guild, but the training didn't go well.

"Why not?"

"Well... he was the child of a noble. From gathering materials to preparation... everything was done by servants, and he only did the final concoction himself. For a noble, with money, it was fine, but it didn't work in my place."

That makes sense.

The master likes that I gather materials myself, which might be part of the reason.

I don't know much about this world, but I can understand that nobles might be like that.

"Originally, he became a disciple to get my original recipes. I realized it too late, which caused the trouble."

At that time, the master created a recipe to replace hundred-grass. The main ingredient was sage leaves, making the medicine cheaper and easier to obtain.

However, this recipe never saw the light of day. The disciple accused the master of making fake medicine, and the master was expelled from the Pharmacists' Guild.

"Cheaper medicine helps the common people, but it's despised by the nobles. There's also a wholesaler that deals with sage leaves. For them, it would mean the end of their business. The family in question rose from merchants to nobility, and this recipe threatened their foundation."

"Even so..."

"Later, he married the son of the Pharmacists' Guild leader... the current leader. And he became the best pharmacist in this town. He eliminated his business rival, as you would expect."

"Such..."

The master stopped being a pharmacist but continued to make and sell medicine to those who sought it. He had a steady number of customers, so he didn't struggle. Later, with the help of Leonis, he received more requests from adventurers. As his connections with adventurers grew stronger, the quality of the medicine he could produce also improved.

Furthermore, an event that spread the master's name occurred. He successfully created a special medicine for a popular disease and was honored by the royal family.

He became known as a genius and took on the task of creating medicine for the royal family's special diseases. Even though he was expelled, the name of the pharmacist Pamela grew.

"That's right... his father, his wife, don't like the fact that the pharmacist Pamela, who they thought was eliminated, is doing well. Another thing... the current guild leader, with his low skills as a pharmacist, finds it annoying. He wants to create a situation where I can't make medicine and wants to advertise it."

"..."

"Well, it's not hard to understand when it comes to power and money. ...By the way, if I die, the recipes will become theirs. With you appearing... it means..."

"Yes... in other words... they know about me?"

"Probably... if they cut off the delivery from the Pharmacists' Guild, it means they have other pharmacists secured. ...The document of taking on a disciple would have been sent to the lord, so they can find out through connections. They intended to steal the recipes, but that plan failed... I think their final move is to send a new pharmacist from another town as the guild leader... but you should consider the possibility of being targeted out of spite."

Normally, when a new recipe is developed, the guild examines and certifies it. The master's recipes were discarded when he was expelled. For a while, the master was an unlicensed pharmacist, selling uncertified recipes... but 25 years ago, the royal family resolved the issue.

Currently, the royal family certifies the master's recipes, and the creation methods are under the jurisdiction of the master and the royal family.

However, if the master dies, the recipes will be passed to a disciple. If there is no disciple, they can be passed to a former disciple or a related colleague...

Hmm.

It's quite troublesome... but the relationship between the master and the Adventurers' Guild doesn't seem to be that close?

"What's wrong? Is there something bothering you?"

"I don't understand why the Adventurers' Guild would side with the master."

"Oh... adventurers face more dangers than ordinary people. Antidotes for special poisons from monsters become more difficult as the monsters get stronger... well, they become more advanced recipes. Of course, the current guild leader and his wife can't handle the materials from monsters, so they can't make the subtle adjustments needed for each monster."

"So, many adventurers have been helped by the master..."

"That's right. Leo is a good example. He diligently brought materials all the time."

I see... indeed, antidotes require subtle adjustments, so it's not as simple as just following the recipe.

Hmm... when the master retires, how will this be handled?

"Don't worry. You are you. I won't make you do the same thing just because I'm giving you my recipes."

"But that's what they expect, right?"

"I told you. A new pharmacist will be sent to this town. If he's competent, there won't be a problem."

I see?

Well, that might be true.

A mediocre pharmacist can't be sent to a town where the master is. Someone who can make advanced medicine will come. Furthermore, someone who can mend relations with the Adventurers' Guild, perhaps?

For now, it's best to be careful until then.

Ultimately, since we don't know how far the Pharmacists' Guild will go, the three days until departure were spent almost entirely on production work, and we didn't go outside.

My level reached 12, and my crafting and production skills improved, so I couldn't confirm, but my DEX value was boosted.

The brothers spent the mornings practicing outside and the afternoons helping with production. They focused more on confirming that they could move while wearing armor rather than actively leveling up, and they helped me, which I deeply appreciated.

Both of them supported me without complaint, which was a great help.

The older brother reached level 6, with crafting and carpentry at level 6 and stonemasonry at level 1, just 1 SP short. His combat skills also improved. Naga reached level 6 with only crafting.

Additionally... after hearing the master's story, the two brothers banned me from going out alone. ...The relationship with the Pharmacists' Guild... I hope it all works out without any issues.