Chapter 68: Meticulous Preparations

 

"Alright, before we leave, I'll distribute these," I announced, retrieving stamina potions contained in leather water bags from my spatial storage, handing one to each member of the group.

Eva, receiving a leather water bag, looked puzzled.

"We already have water, and I can make it with magic..."

"That's not water, it's a stamina potion."

"...What?"

Eva shook the small water bag slightly.

"Is this all of it!? How many potion bottles’ worth is in here!?"

"Who knows? Maybe about twenty bottles’ worth. You can drink it like water if you want."

"What?"

"You can make as much as you want. Just use it to stay hydrated. Don’t worry, it's not addictive."

"This is a legendary quality stamina potion, isn't it!?"

Why is she so surprised?

Anyone in this town who is an adventurer uses them regularly.

As I wondered, Reydock chimed in with a wry smile.

"Eva, when you first came to the adventurers' guild in this town, there was a mandatory request, right?"

"Yes, it was training within the guild."

"Right. Every new adventurer in this town is assigned a full day of mandatory training. Without completing it, they can't work at this adventurers' guild. And part of that job is the obligation to take stamina potions."

"I didn't know that."

Reydock shared a fact I was hearing for the first time.

"If adventurers regularly use legendary stamina potions, it greatly reduces the mortality rate. But newcomers to the city, even if the potions are cheaper than usual, would not normally buy stamina potions meant for emergencies."

That made sense.

Having been a poor adventurer myself for a long time, I understood. Just hearing about an impressive effect wouldn’t normally make someone buy a stamina potion.

"That's right. So, the guild devised a plan to make the first request one where the effects of the stamina potion could be directly felt, helping them understand the level of adventurers in this town."

"I see."

"Reydock, what does this have to do with the potion?"

"All the stamina potions consumed in this town, and all the potions that traders buy, are crafted by one person."

"..."

Eva blinked several times before opening her mouth wide.

"Whaaaat!? All of them!? Is that true, Craft?"

"Yes. I had a special alchemy kettle made by Leafan. Without it, I wouldn’t have enough hands."

"I've seen merchant caravans in town, the amount is unbelievable!"

"There's a little trick to it."

"A trick?"

Hearing about a trick seemed to reassure Eva slightly.

"Stamina potions of legendary quality do not degrade, but they are sold in typical potion bottles at the time of sale."

"I remember... the carriages were filled with boxes of potion bottles."

"Yes. They could also be sold in water bags or barrels, but then everyone would buy without limit."

"That makes sense. If I were a merchant, I’d load as many barrels as possible onto a cart."

"Yes. There was a period like that. Production just couldn’t keep up."

Reydock grimaced slightly.

"That's why we stopped selling in barrels and switched to selling everything in bottles, which are easy to grip and are commonly distributed."

"Doesn’t that just mean the contents get transferred from the bottle to a barrel?"

"I thought the same."

"Really?"

"The idea was Kyle's."

"Lord Kyle?"

"Yes. At first, I didn’t see the point, but it was Kyle’s idea. When we tried it, it was a hit."

"...Why?"

"I asked a trader named Akindo about it. He said, 'When the potion is in a bottle, it feels safer.'"

"Does that mean even though they know it doesn't degrade, they still feel uneasy if it's not in a protective bottle?"

"I think so. We're used to it, but Eva, you felt uneasy about the potion being in a water bag, right?"

"Yes. To be honest, it made me nervous... ah."

"Exactly. Kyle brilliantly exploited that. The potion bottles are made by a craftsman who came to this town, and Leafan checks the quality, so it's emotionally difficult to throw away the bottles. Kyle had foreseen that."

"Such a young man, yet so impressive."

"Yes. Kyle is remarkable."

Due to his prolonged illness, Kyle had developed a deep understanding of suffering and the ability to closely observe others. He truly could be called an ideal lord. Though he said he would never succeed the Margrave, what a wonderful thing it would be if he did.

"So, with stamina potions, you can make enough for a journey anytime, even without an alchemy kettle. Don't hesitate to drink up," I continued.

"It's a potion favored by adventurers and purchasable at a preferential rate, but I still hesitate to use it as freely as water..."

At that moment, Leafan appeared with a smile, hugging Eva from behind in what seemed like a leap due to their height difference.

"Don't worry, Eva! The cost price is shockingly low! We only set the market price to a certain level because we have to, but it's practically free."

"Exactly, and we have the potion bottles made more as a way to raise the price and ensure a steady income for the craftsmen," I added.

"Yep, yep! So don't worry about it and use them generously!"

"Just like this! ...ugh."

"Jitaro. I didn’t mean waste them, okay?"

"I was just trying to reassure Eva...!"

"Yeah, I know, I know. But keep it in moderation."

"Okaaay."

"It really seems fine," Eva finally seemed reassured after watching the exchange between me and Jitaro.

"Nevertheless... you seem to be an even greater alchemist than the rumors suggest."

"I'm nowhere near Master Jabir's level, though."

I continued handing out other provisions, including different water bags and small vials.

"What?"

Eva's eyes widened again at the array of supplies accumulating in her arms.

"What’s this?"

"This is a healing potion, this is sharpening oil, and this one is a mana potion. Since you're a magician, you'd better have them, right?"

"Ha... whaaaaaat!?"

Somehow, Eva seemed exasperated by the generosity.

Camille, the second daughter, emotionlessly equipped the potions she received, while Marilyn accepted hers with a grateful "thank you." Maybe Eva was just particularly expressive.

These were just the basic sets I was distributing to the Kendal siblings and others...

"Craft, your standards have been a bit off lately, haven’t they?"

As I pondered, Leafan interjected with a weak retort.

I thought they’d be happy since it's convenient. They're included in the expenses for this trip, after all.

I shook off the confusion and resumed preparing for the journey. I slung a shoulder belt over my robe, designed to hold potion bottles. The bottles I used, and those I distributed, differed in shape; mine were designed like test tubes for easy and quick deployment.

Leafan approached as he noticed.

"Craft, how are the new potion bottles?"

"Pretty good. They have a bit of a learning curve, but I've practiced enough to use them effectively."

"That’s good to hear."

Reydock, curious about our conversation, peered at my potion bottles.

"Is there something different about these?"

"Hmm? Oh, they look the same, but I've had them significantly improved."

"Really? Let’s hear what changes you’ve made."

"That’ll be fun to find out when you use them..."

"Your little tweaks tend to stray from common sense, so they only add to my worries."

"That’s harsh."

"I think that's just the result of how you usually behave, Craft."

"...I don’t get it."

"Craft sometimes goes completely overboard, you know!"

"Air Burst Extreme!!!!"

"Nooooo!"

A compressed ball of air exploded, blasting Jitaro toward a nearby wall. He landed, complaining, "That hurts!" but stood up as if nothing had happened, much to everyone's astonishment.

Lately, Jitaro seems unusually tough!

"Well, let's regroup, Leafan. It's really okay, right?"

Reydock, why are you asking Leafan?!

"Yes, it's fine. I made it myself, after all. There’s nothing dangerous about it."

"If Leafan says it's safe... then it must be okay."

"You guys..."

"Craft, what exactly do you do normally?"

"I'm just a staff member at the production guild."

When I answered Eva's question honestly, for some reason, everyone except the three sisters looked at me with a stern gaze.

I don’t get it.