The Novice Alchemist’s Store

"Good, the shop is safe!

It was my castle that broke up with Iris and welcomed us back to the village as it was before we left.

Some of the fence in front of the store has been broken, but I can easily cure it, so much as the visible damage.

I was honestly relieved just to be prepared to break the window as harassment.

Window glass is expensive.

I can fix it myself.

"Yeah, really. - Even if it means Sarasa won't run wild."

"That's why I won't."

I opened the door and entered the shop, feeling a little unconcerned about Lorea, who seemed to be relieved in a different way from me.

Even if I'm away for a while, the shop has a “clean” stamp on it, so it doesn't look dusty.

You want to introduce one to the family, don't you? Engraving.

If the inhabitants had magic, but...

"... that?

The magic of engraving is decreasing more than you can imagine.

It was almost full before we went out, but now it's about half full.

Even though I have been away for a long time and did not supply magic in the meantime, this reduction is too much.

What is conceivable is that there is a lot of magic and something that needs to happen.

"... maybe" crime prevention "?"

The effect of the engraving on the shop also includes “crime prevention”.

This is activated when trying to destroy a store from the outside, just as it was activated when the pussy went wild before going to collect Masanon.

I didn't originally give it to you, so I don't know exactly how effective it is, but maybe it was because the window wasn't broken.

"By the way, Sarasa. How much magic did you consume?

"Well, it's hard to say how much..."

It is difficult to express the amount of magic in numerical terms.

For example, the amount of magic you need to boil a pot of water.

If you use the same magic stove, it doesn't matter who uses it.

If Lorea and I try it, I'm more accustomed to magic manipulation, and even if I make a smelter (artifact) that weighs the amount of magic, it's the same.

Including the difference, if it means "effective magic amount", it will be possible to investigate, but unfortunately, such research has hardly been carried out.

Because it doesn't cost money because it takes a lot of trouble.

If you use magic for such research, you would normally earn more by using magic to make alchemy potions.

So my answer to Lorea will inevitably be ambiguous.

"The stamp of this shop has an allowance that doesn't fill up even with all my magic. So the magic consumed is more than half of all my magic?

"Um... what was the amount of magic you used when Sakura blew up the back forest?

The woods on the back are now just the right place to play.

I'll think about it a little before I answer Lorelei, who looks at you and asks.

"I think 'I blew it up' is a big deal, but that magic... a bit?

"Isn't that important? The man who attacked the shop is alive, isn't he?

"It's not as efficient as using direct magic, so it's impossible to compare."

I think it would be quite flashy if I consumed half of all my magic and used attack magic, but this shop's engraving is by no means an attacking forgery (artifact).

The “security” stamp on this shop is completely security and is basically non-lethal.

"What kind of attack doesn't strike back that suddenly kills you...?

"'Should be'!" Should be "! If only there were a Baron Kirk himself among them...."

"Well, it's okay. I don't think he's gonna be able to move before he dies."

"I can't feel safe...."

Looking anxiously at me, Lorea slaps me on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, the more magic you consume is to defend yourself, maybe."

If you can throw a stone, you have to prevent it.

If we can light it, we have to put it out.

It also consumes accumulated magic.

Counterstrikes are designed to prevent further attacks and are not the subject of a security function.

"Unless you try to break into it, you'll be numb and unable to move, I'm sure."

"The words at the end of the story have made me uneasy, Sarasa. But... before Sarasa-san came, there were some people who came into this store. To get the remaining furniture."

"Ah, that's what you said."

I also heard that Daruna and Marie got along (...) well (...) in this shop.

From Lorea, who is nothing else but the fruit.

"I suppose that's because crime prevention was minimal."

The alchemist who used to live here probably set it up before moving.

There must have been a point in reducing the amount of magic consumed, but I thought it would be a lot of trouble for the villagers not to get inside.

It's normal to get furniture left over from a move.

I didn't put my hands on the workshop stuff, but I might have left it there saying, "Don't touch it because it's dangerous."

"Well, you don't have to worry about what happens to bad things. More than that, we're ready to open, Lorea! I've been closing it for a long time. Some of you may have had errands in the winter."

"That's right.... but I'm a little anxious, so I'll gather some rumors."

"Yes, please. I'll do my best with hair thinners."

◇ ◇ ◇

That night, for the first time in a long time, I enjoyed proper Lorean cooking.

It was Lorea who was in charge of the main cooking during the gathering, but it was still different from what was made in a decent kitchen.

That's fine with wild cuisine, but it lasts a long time.

Business report as usual while savouring well.

"How was the shop today? I knew you were free.

"It wasn't as much as it was before winter, but it was a bump. I didn't get much sales because I just seem to be working nearby on good weather days."

The collectors also seem to have money to spend the winter, and not only have they been relaxing in the inn for a long time, but some have been working.

The fewer competitors, in a sense, the winter is the time to earn money, so I'd like you to do your best... Marley asked me to give you some information about winter gathering?

Speaking to Andre and the others will have an effect on them and the village gatherers.

It would be nice if collectors with experience in winter mountain sampling came, but the more veterans you become, the easier it won't be to change bases.

There's no need to dare to move from a stable place to earn money.

There is also a way to call me for a reward, but it is difficult for me to get that far.

Given the long-term profits of the store, I think it's worth considering, but isn't it possible in the meantime? I can't afford it right now.

"Also, I tried to gather rumors when I bought dinner, but it seems that some people were messing with the shop."

"Ah, is that so? Do you know what it was like?

"Until then. Everyone, just looking from afar, seems to have left right away to stay out of it."

I see.... yeah, that's better. "

Bandits and bandits must be destroyed as soon as they are found.

Depending on the situation, we can look for it and destroy it.

I am quite aware that I am such a minority.

I have no intention of expecting anything more than villagers to catch dangerous people with weapons.

And if it's aristocratic, it's the right thing to do.

"Well, it looks like Jasper took out his bow."

"Eh!?"

On the shock message that popped out of Lorea's mouth, I suddenly raised my voice and got up from the chair.