The Novice Alchemist’s Store

"Looking for a place to study next? Because of that, I'll hang out with you and pick a good spot."

"Ha, thank you.... and it's not, this backpack is so light!?"

I didn't realize what I was putting in it originally because it was a light thing such as changing clothes, but putting in the whole alchemy doesn't make it heavy at all.

No, of course it's getting heavier, but not a tenth of the weight I expected.

To too unexpected lightness, so much so that I almost fell.

"I told you it came with weight loss, didn't I? If that's not the case, you can travel with Dae-seok?

"That's... yes"

I'm not proud, but I'm powerless.

Reason?

Well, if you keep studying, you will, won't you?

I'm a small person originally, and it's self-evident what happens if I don't train my body.

Sadly.

"... No, thank you. Honestly, it's very helpful."

Consider the effect of this backpack and the price assumed from it and thank the master again.

Though it's graduation celebration, I'm scared enough to get it for free, but where I turned it down and gave it back, the master won't receive it, and I'm sure he'd be more than happy to thank you.

You look a little heartless, but the fruit, it's so sweet.

Master is such a person.

"Hmm. Well, it's the doorstep of a disciple. Don't worry about it."

I smile back bitterly to my master, who finally strokes my head with a pomp, and head to the Student Support Division.

In addition to introducing me to a part-time job while I'm in school, they also provide post-graduate job support.

I hung up and did some part-time work besides my master's shop, so my sister and I are close enough to have her name remembered.

When I go in "Hello ~" as usual, I get a light response from my sister in charge who seems free.

but the moment I saw my master, my sister stretched her spine and floated the perfect sales smile, as if the condition a few seconds ago were a lie.

"What can I do for you today?

"Uh, uh, I want to find a place to train, so can you show me a job?

"Okay. Please wait."

While I was a little confused, saying so, your sister took a seat and walked over to the shelf.

It must be the effect of the master that the tone is different and polite than usual.

I don't usually feel like we're dating, but this still makes my master a super elite alchemist, doesn't it?

"Hmm. No people, huh?

It was one sister at the counter and not one student.

These sights are rare because there are usually a few more people.

"Uh, that's because today was graduation."

My sister, who has the binder back in her hand, responds to my master's questions.

"Oh well. I had a party or something with friends after graduation, too. Will it be serious tomorrow? Sarasa..."

"Recruitment requirements, can I see them?

He ignores the Master's said gaze and offers his hand to his sister.

Yeah, I don't have any friends to party with anyway!

I didn't even ask you out!

The seniors invited me last year, but I couldn't take part in it in a whim with all the strangers, and the next day, just the four of us, including the juniors, had a dinner party!

When I was rolling "Meow" the binder with that in mind, my master had stroked my head with some gentle eye difference "Manaza," but such ignorance!

"I'm sorry, can you show me some empty store info?

"Ah, yes. This way, sir."

Was the store information on your side, your sister will give it to your master immediately?

"Is that it? Master, do you want more shops?

Because it's so prosperous, it's no surprise or anything in itself to increase the number of branches or the size of the store, but the master didn't seem interested that way.

"That's not what I'm saying...... was there a better place than that?

"No, so far..."

The binder I'm looking at lists a store of alchemists that can accept disciples at the moment.

Looking for a store that fits your criteria from this, getting a job after an interview, saving some money while gaining experience there, buying your own store and being independent is the typical alchemist's career plan.

Considering the funds needed to get a job, the nearby area is good... I don't have a shop in Wangdu.

I guess just because there's a school, the talent feels excessive.

A lot is a region, after all. It was also the province where the seniors took up their jobs.

If I can get a job, I'm not very focused on the place, but the difficulty is the time and cost of going to the interview.

If you do not hire after spending transportation and accommodation, the cost you pay will be wasted.

Even if you hire them well, renting a room or getting all your necessities will cost you money.

At the school dorm, I was paid for it... but now that I've bought all the alchemy, I don't have much room, do I?

Sometimes that happens, and with Conne, it's the safest way to get a job at an alchemist's store you know.

So the truth is, I'm so lucky that my master invited me.

Because my master looked sorry for me for kicking such a story, but he admitted my thoughts with a little joy and even gave me the words "so that I may come back if I have trouble".

"By the way, Sarasa, how much money do you have left to spend on a job?

"Ugh..."

My master asks me if I am Zubari, who is desperately calculating the distance from the store where I am offering recruitment and the costs I need by then.

To my answer, which I conveyed with hesitation to such a master, the master gave a slightly frightened look.

"I had expected it at the time I bought Alchemy Daiichi...... Do you have something for me?

With that said, what the master offered was the binder the master was looking at.

That's a compilation of store information on sale, basically a used Alchemist property that went out of business.

The Alchemist's shop, by its very nature, comes with a variety of facilities.

That, on the other hand, is a thankless piece of equipment for alchemists, which is wasted on the general public, and only diminishes in value for the more effort it takes to remodel it.

For this reason, alchemists cannot buy properties that sell at high prices without discounting them at the hands of the average person.

Even if it were sold as an alchemist in the general realtor, given the total number of alchemists, it is obvious that no buyer would be able to do so.

The school also mediates real estate in order to eliminate the inconvenience of both parties.

"What is it, master? Recommended... Huh!? Anxious!

The price of the store that was written on the page my master gave me, what a 10,000 rare.

Even my assets, which have been greatly reduced thanks to all the alchemy, will be able to pay enough.

"Hey, what is it, this store!?"

"The store part is slightly narrow, but there is living space, there are herbal fields, with all kinds of equipment and tools. The place is country, but it's a pretty good deal."

Looking at the intervals, it's not as big as the master's shop, but the countryside doesn't need that much space because there are few guests in the first place.

It's two floors, there's living space, as the master says, and there's a well.

There's a pretty big field on the back, and if you need it, it looks like you can grow herbs there too.

"... No, it would be too cheap! It's impossible!

It's not cheap as a house or that level, it's too cheap.

Wang Du will only get enough change for about a month or two of rent, just the cost of going for one interview.

Honestly, I'd like to suspect there's something dangerous about it.

- I think maybe it's okay because the intermediary is at school.

"Well, that's it. I think there's a lot of subsidies out there, huh?

"Oh, I see. Then... well..."

Subsidies are money that the state supports when alchemists set up stores.

As a country, I want each city to build an Alchemist's shop, but where to set up a store is the Alchemist's freedom.

The most popular is still the heavily populated Wang capital, where the large cities around it said second.

Everyone wants to avoid deliberately opening a store in an inconvenient country with few customers.

That's where the subsidy comes out.

How the country managed to secure people by making the difference that there were so many places that people didn't want to go, and no subsidies for cities such as Wang Capital.

For the new American alchemist in training, it's pretty hard to save money to buy a store, so the alchemist who wants to have a store soon is mostly in the favor of it.

But if you put it the other way...

"I mean, this store gets subsidized enough to sell for 10,000 rare, it's in a hell of a country," he said?

For once, I have an address on it, but I've never heard of it.

At least as little as it isn't in my knowledge, you're sure it's a small town.

"This is a small town on the side of the Great Tree Sea...... no, it's in the village"

"What's the Great Tree Sea... it takes about a month's ride from here, doesn't it?

"Right. It's just that alchemy materials are easy to get, so it's not a bad place to upgrade your technology, is it? - We may not have many customers."

A great tree sea is a great mountain range stretching north and south and a tree sea stretching at its foot on the border of this country.

The official name is "The Tree Sea at the foot of the Gerba Roch Mountains” and is famous for its ability to take many alchemy-related materials such as various plants, insects and ores.

So the master is right. It is the perfect place to brush your arms......

"It's fatal not to have customers, isn't it? I spit out all my savings, so I can't live without customers."

Yes, it is.

The proximity to the region of origin means that even if various materials are obtained cheaply, there is nothing that can be done if the product cannot be sold.

If I had as much storage as I had before I bought Daewood, I might have had the option of brushing my arms there for a few years, but I can't live with the current storage.

"Hmm, I think it's good."

"First of all, I just graduated yesterday, right? I can't believe I have a store all of a sudden..."

"That's not a problem. Anyway, if you were an amateur at all, you'd have worked at our store for years, right? I think we can do that a lot, huh? It's three levels."

"... Huh? Three?"

"Oh. - Sarasa, do you know how the level of alchemist rises?

"Speaking of which...?

Instead of saying the alchemist's level is ~ or the master class is ~, the school couldn't teach me how to level it.

They just tell me to drill, or try.

"Hmm. Well, it's normal to be taught after qualification, after apprenticeship"

That's what my master taught me: "If I could make all the things in every volume of Alchemy, I would increase my level."

In other words, if you make all the objects in Volume I, you can go to Level II, and if you make all the objects in Volume II, you can go to Level III.

What they don't teach within their students seems to be that they try to get to a level quickly, so that they don't exercise alchemy because they don't have formal qualifications.

"Speaking of which, you made a lot of things in part-time. Huh? I mean, did I make all one or two volumes of stuff at some point?

"That's the thing. It's the most commonly used scroll around here."

If you think you've made quite a variety under the guidance of your master......

No, I guess, you were making me think about that.

"So I think you could open the store."

"But... I don't know anything about business."

If the master is right, it certainly doesn't seem to be a problem to make a selling product.

However, during the part-time period, all I did was make it and sell it, etc., I am not involved at all.

I mean, he's a total amateur when it comes to valuing, purchasing, and other business matters.

"Um, yeah...... okay, let's do this. If you send me rare materials from that neighborhood on a regular basis, I'll buy them. I'm sure you won't have any trouble with your life."

Then you can earn about the cost of living, right?

I don't want to be extravagant, and if you think of it as training, that's well...

"- Master, is that what you're after?

"I always think about the future of my disciples."

A master who strokes my head with a refreshing smile that I usually don't show.

"Ha, thank you for that? - No, you didn't deny it!?"

"Oh, you, what am I supposed to do with this contract? - He said if you pay here, you'll get a letter of rights. Okay, now."

Ignoring my protest, the master received a letter of rights and a key with the money he took out of his wallet.

It folds gently and sticks into my pocket.

"Come on, now Sarasa is also a fine alchemist with a store. Congratulations! Oh, that's a gift from me. Take it."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

A master who says that with a pompous slap on my shoulder.

Something about my future was determined by the momentum of Rage Tao.

Huh? I came here to find a job, didn't I?

When is that going to be an independent manager?

"I'm so anxious."

"Well, I'll help you, so try your best. Because if you don't even owe me money, I'll hire you if you fail to come back."

"Ha..."

If that's the case - is it good?

I can go home to Wang Du. If I can secure my travel expenses, I can work in my master's shop?

Even the apprenticeship part time was giving me enough wages, so I shouldn't have a twinge when I got a job.

Whatever you say, I already have the Alchemy's License!

"Okay, I'll try my best!

That's what I said, get in the mood, and hold my hand tight.

"Yeah! That's intentional!

My master seems satisfied with how I am, and encourages me to snort.

... Is that it? Hasn't this been put on by the master? Is it your fault?

◇ ◇ ◇

After returning to the master's shop, the master threw a graduation party for me.

Never pitied me for being a botch, pure generosity...... I want to think what.

Participants are people who work in shops.

The others are not here.

I don't think the sudden things are going to make plans. Pre (...) fixed (...)!

Even to me, there's a little bit of people who might come if I call them!

Some other part-time guy or something!

I didn't ask you out.

Never afraid to be turned down with a subtle look.

"But master. Didn't you have a hard time getting ready for a party all of a sudden?

The venue table is lined with fancy dishes and drinks that I've never eaten before.

I've already gotten a good amount, but they're all so delicious, I feel like I can eat as much as I want.

Of course I can't do that, so I'm pinching all kinds of dishes.

- Eating is basic because it seems expensive!

"It's no big deal this much. He's the one who made it."

That's what the master pointed out to your sister Maria, who is always in charge of customer service at the counter.

When I look you in the eye, Maria laughs nicely and waves.

Huh? You want this fancy dish?

Looks like a professional cook made it.

"So, but, like, expensive ingredients, alcohol..."

"Hmm? I've been using this for a long time, right? Looks like he went somewhat shopping."

Oh, when you're about your master, is this much of a meal normal!

I usually only eat in the dorm, not compared to my meal, but, I guess, it's fancy food!?

"I mean, you, aren't you saving too much? When I was a student, I didn't have that kind of money, but by the time I finished my exams, I was going to eat somewhere like this.

That? Isn't that fancy?

"- Or didn't your master tell you to save money!

"Were you? I thought I said I'd buy you a cheap alchemy masterpiece when I saved up."

"Same thing! If they tell you you should buy it, you decide to save it!

I wonder what you're talking about, this master!

If you say that, I'll desperately save it!

Two and a half million rare is a bargain too!

"No, you didn't have to buy ten volumes together, did you? Like five rolls or something, but if I go, it's cheaper."

"Damn... yes, what is it?

"I don't have a security deposit. By five volumes, it's not that expensive."

I didn't ask. I'm not listening!

"Then tell me so! You worked so hard to save money!

"No, I didn't know how much you were saving. Plus, I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to put ten volumes together, right? If you want to buy only ten volumes, you need a senior alchemist, so the warranty cost is expensive."

True, I ask you to come in the same way, so maybe a warranty of just one book, or a bunch of ten books, won't make that much difference.

Would that have turned out good...?

"Speaking of which, it's a different story, but if you ripen to nine volumes, you're a senior alchemist, right? So what if you ripen all ten volumes?

"Oh, that's stupid."

"... Yes?

That, misheard?

"Stupid. The contents of ten volumes...... you won't be able to read them, remember the thickness? That would have been particularly thick, wouldn't it?

"Speaking of which, I think I did"

When I put the whole thing in my backpack, I remember that only ten rolls were thick enough to be difficult to hold with one hand.

About one person, on a level that seems easy to slaughter.

"The ten volumes also have the advanced smelter Artifacts that deserve it, but most of them don't seem to matter, and putting it under nine volumes is a useless substitute for" Do It. "

So, well, even if it's not hard to make, it's a waste of time and material to make it. It would be stupid to do that on purpose, wouldn't it?

"That's true... ah, but the master is more than advanced in the master class, isn't it? What's that?"

I was wondering if it would be a master class if I mastered all ten volumes.

"Right...... one of the conditions of the master class is to be able to create an important smelter Artifact among the ten volumes. Other than that..."

"Other than that?

Look at me like a lot, the words my master said......

- It's a secret.

"Uh-huh. Why? Tell me."

"The master class is not the same as the advanced class, it has quite an important role to play. If you're going to be advanced and promising, I'll tell you, so be patient."

"Uh-huh. Absolutely, right?

"Worry about whether you can be advanced first. Even an alchemist can only be part of it, right?

"That's right..."

He looked up dissatisfied to me, saying so, and the master laughed, and drank up the wine he had.

"Look, Sarasa didn't even talk to you. Drink. You're an adult, aren't you? You have to enjoy your booze."

"Right. It's my first try!

Not strictly, but it starts with a fifteen-year-old adult being able to drink alcohol.

I was celebrating my fifteenth birthday a while ago, but I had absolutely no connection with luxury alcohol to save money.

But today it's free booze. You don't drink, do you?

And maybe, luxury.

When I poured the liquor just in front of me into the glass, I imitated the master and said, "Oh."

At that moment, the back of my throat became cute and hot, and I could see my master's hasty face......

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day it was on a bed I didn't know I woke up.

Surely yesterday... my master threw me a party to celebrate, didn't he?

I don't remember from the middle of nowhere, but I mean, is this the master's shop?

Get out of bed, out of the room, that's a familiar hallway.

Yeah, I knew you would.

I've never been in before, but it looks like this was a guest room upstairs in the store.

Going straight down the stairs to the living space of a shop with signs of people, there was a master there who was relaxing and drinking tea at the table.

"Good morning, master"

"Whoa. Are you awake? You made me laugh a lot yesterday, didn't you? As soon as I had a sip of booze, I stuck it at my desk - cum, hehe... ahahaha!

You remembered how it was then, a master who laughs out loud when he blows like he can no longer be revealed along the way.

Speaking of which, yesterday was the first time I had a drink... and if my master is right, I lost consciousness as it is, you mean?

- No, isn't it terrible?

Sure, it's a little pitiful to fall in one bite, but you don't laugh that far, do you?

When I get a flashy look, the master laughs once and then laughs niggardly again.

"Besides, you ended up staying at our place while I said, 'Because I'm a jerk'?

"Gu... that's..."

Yes, it was.

Half force majeure, from the first day I decided to become independent, I suddenly took care of my master.

I just made an excuse because I'm not used to alcohol, and if I get back and forth unconscious in a liquor store, no one can help me.

Because it's more self-inflicted than adults.

"That alcohol is too strong..."

"That's a pretty alcoholic liquor indeed. By the way, that's a lot of stuff for the price, right? Sure..."

"Stop! Don't tell me! I won't be able to recover any more..."

I don't want to hear your master say "quite a thing”!

Absolutely, if it's normal, it's not the kind of price that goes into my mouth!?

I don't even remember drinking that liquor flavor, but it only hurts my heart to think of the money I've wasted.

"… no more alcohol for the time being"

"That's good. Make sure you offer me another laugh when you drink!

That's what I said and I laugh at you again, Master.

So you're telling me to drink and smash it down again, right? I understand.

- At least, let's refrain from drinking in public.

I'm a woman, too, so maybe it's not a joke.

"or something, but yesterday, after Mr. Sarasa fell, the manager was in a pretty hurry, wasn't he? It was the manager who brought it to the room, and it was on the side until it calmed down."

"Ah, Maria."

When I was depressed, Maria came from the kitchen space with a glass and exposed such a story.

"Maria! Don't say anything extra!

"Oh, isn't that true? You were in a hurry to find the smelter potion, weren't you?

Maria said that with a laugh, "Go ahead," she gave me a glass of water.

I was thirsty and I gratefully received, tilting the cup and watching softly as the master looked, his mouth bending to the letter to him with a somewhat dazzling look that the master had just laughed at.

"As it were, well, you can't just let people die in our store!

I noticed that I was watching, and the master coughed up with Cohon and said something like that in terms of "only", but Maria smiled bitterly without looking concerned.

"You're really not being honest. Well, that's good. Well, we're ready for breakfast. You can have Mr. Sarasa, too, right?

"Uh..."

"Eat up. Not enough for breakfast, is it?

I was a little hesitant to take care of her any more, and when my master says so, he tells Maria to arrange a meal for three.

"Thank you"

Honestly, considering we're leaving by the end of the day, it's true that it's quite helpful in time.

I thanked him and started having breakfast somewhat hastily.

Having finished breakfast, I immediately began to prepare for my departure.

Having said that, all my personal belongings are in the backpack my master gave me, and when it comes to what I prepare, it's about food.

Even then, you just have to buy it at the store on the way, so if you get familiar and carry your backpack, that's it.

I was just about to leave the store by greeting my master as it was, and he said, "Take this too, it's a farewell" and gave it to me is a booklet that seems to contain a set of alchemy-related tools and advice in management.

Regardless of the booklet, alchemy tools are never cheap.

At least, I know it's an amount that the average common man can't do that.

When I was a little reluctant to receive an expensive backpack and even paid for the store, but on top of that I got a different one, the master said, "I'm still a master class alchemist, aren't I? Don't worry, it's not even a big amount. Though somewhat anomalous, you are an apprentice with your own shop independently of ours. To this extent, it's cheap," he said.

I don't have an "about this" amount of money that ordinary people can't make, that's right, alchemist, hammer.

Further out, Maria told me that the booklet, too, was written up yesterday, after I fell asleep, by my master, who hung me up to the morning.

Hmm, was that the reason you seemed to sleep this morning?

Then can you forgive me for being bombarded?

It gets high all night.

I mean, I rather have a pile of gratitude that I'm unlikely to be able to return to my master...

If you think about all the alchemy, it feels like I'm being assisted millions of rare by my master, right?

... Yeah, we have to work hard and succeed in this. so that I can repay you at all.

With such determination in mind, I traveled through the capital.

I don't even know the reality of waiting in a village on the border...