The Novice Alchemist’s Store

Slightly hurried to our destination, a few days later, in a slightly shorter time than last time, we had reached the area where the lava lizard lived.

Sometimes it hasn't been that long, there hasn't been any change in the surroundings, and Hell Flame Grizzly hasn't come back.

Only lava lizards are moving up or down.

If I were to mention any difference from the last time...

"It's pretty hot and humid around here."

"The ground itself has heat, and it's still hot today."

It's summer now.

In addition to the fact that the temperature itself is higher than last time, the area is also humid due to the heat from the ground and the influence of water vapour and hot water being blown out everywhere.

Even in harsh environments for us, lava lizards and salamanders are more comfortable and active when it's hot.

Clearly, it's not the kind of place to come in the summer.

Conversely, in winter it seems like we can collect warmly, but the Rozze family wallet can't afford to wait for winter... Hard to do together.

"Thanks to this hat, it's pretty easy, but you're going to get jittery from under your feet"

"More if not. Thanks to Lord Sarasa."

"No, because they were properly bought by Mr. Iris and the others."

The hats you two wear are things that Mr. Iris and Mr. Kate usually use.

So anyway, Mr. Caterina, Mr. Adelbert doesn't fit in a bit, because I said, 'Shall I lend you something new?' Even when asked, 'I'm sorry about that,' he said in admonition.

Well, it's a design issue, and it's not a practical problem.

In contrast, I, Mr Iris and Mr Kate have already worn anti-salamander gear.

I mean, gloves on boots, plus coats.

It looks very hot for the purpose I saw it for, but it's pretty comfortable in relation to the heat protection, naturally, and also the cooling effect.

My coat is hooded too, so I'm not even sweating in a place like this.

However, even if the sun and heat from the top are prevented, Adelbert, who has only a cooling hat, has no effect on the heat coming up from under his feet and will still feel quite hot.

"So, Mr. Store Manager. Do you know where Salamander is?

"So far, that's just the general direction. - I've made some predictions."

This time, as I came here, I was investigating this volcanic information in more detail.

- No, saying 'investigated' was a little awkward.

I can't leave the village. I told my master and Mr. Leonora, 'Don't you have any information?' I just heard.

As a result, the master sent me a map describing the terrain around here. Unexpected.

Pretty strange how you got it, but thanks to that you definitely got a star in the place where the salamander seemed to lurk, so it was very helpful.

Mr. Leonora has just no such convenient information, instead of just saying, 'Good luck!' Along with the message, 'Artifacts' was sent via Mr. D'Arna, a smelter to help him crusade the salamander.

For once, I plan to be able to shoot you without having to rely on it, but I have it and it doesn't hurt, so naturally I bring it.

If we were able to kill him successfully, we would have to accommodate some material.

"I mean, you're on your way to where you put that stare on, right?

"Yes, it's just that all the target points are near the fire exit, so if you think it's tough, please don't force the Adelberts, okay?

It's hot in here, too. If we continue to climb the mountains further, the magic of fire will become stronger and the temperatures will rise.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time before 'hot' becomes' hot '.

I thought about it and I advised you that Master Adelbert would shake his head.

"What, the multiboy ate, but daily workouts are not lacking. Don't worry about it."

Uh-huh, I don't think it's something I can handle with my workouts...

What makes Mr. Iris a little stubborn is his father giving in?

If you turn your gaze to Mr. Caterina, she's smiling bitterly and shaking her head slightly, so if it gets really dangerous, I'm sure she'll stop you...... right?

◇ ◇ ◇

Except for the temperature, our climb went well.

The lava lizards we sometimes see will not come under attack unless this one gets his hands on them, and the organisms that are habitable at this geothermal temperature are quite limited.

Katerina said that Kate had bowed the lava lizard and killed it when she heard about the value of its skin, but Kate and the others were working hard to stop it there.

I just shot him, and there's no salamander hunting with that material.

I was convinced by Iris' phrase, 'If you can afford to go home, let's hunt', so if you can really afford it, you'll hunt... but that 'I can afford' time is when you fail to hunt salamanders, right?

If we can successfully kill Salamander, our hands should be buried with Salamander material. There can't be room to bring home a lava lizard.

I've been preparing for it for a while, but I'm anxious that salamanders alone will bring it all back.

By the way, when it fails perfectly, it's just futile to think because I'm not alive before I can afford it.

"Dear Store Manager, I think it's time to get seriously hot... is the destination still there?

The sincerity of Mr. Iris, who asked so, would be Mr. Adelbert's physical condition.

The ambient temperatures have reached considerable temperatures, but we are not feeling the heat wearing anti-salamander gear.

In contrast, Mr. Adelbert has barely spoken for some time now.

Mr. Caterina looks spicy, too, but not as spicy as Master Adelbert, and he looks worried about whether or not he should stop.

Exactly no more, life-threatening.

For once, we have a disposable smelter, Artifact, that can be used to combat heat in a short amount of time, but this one is going to be used to bring out the material when the salamander can be defeated with a good end. There is no point in using it now.

"I think it's time to see it, but could Master Adelbert and Mr. Caterina go back and get ready for the camp, etc? I can't sleep in a place where the ground is hot."

After the battle, it is impossible to go straight home.

Even if I take a day off and then go home, I won't rest until I've used a floating tent and at least the ground isn't hot.

Even the air-conditioning features on the tent don't support hot spots this far.

"... um, right. There's no point in being mean."

You blew it off because I asked you to work, Master Adelbert raised his face and sighed gently, staring firmly at Mr. Iris' face.

"Iris, Non turns back, but keep your mind tight and protect Lord Sarasa!

Mr. Iris nodded back again forcefully to Master Adelbert, who slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"Yes! I'll take care of it, father!

Seeing those two, Katerina turns to Kate too, smiling mixed with a slightly worrying look, and encourages Kate.

"Kate, don't push it too hard, do your best"

"I know, Mom. Expect."

◇ ◇ ◇

"This cave is the closest place. … but unfortunately, you don't seem to be here"

Three caves stared at me with reference to the maps and advice I received from my master.

If Salamander is arrayed on the surface with Den, you can only proceed with magical sensing, but unfortunately Salamander is not that simple.

Common salamander habitats include the bottom of a cave in such a place, beside a fire escape and, in some cases, a river where lava flows.

We're magically moving in the direction we sensed, and we're not sure we can get there.

Unless you can dig straight through the ground, but that's impossible.

"Mmm, well. That's not gonna work."

"Iris, the first place was just different, wasn't it? Isn't it a luxury to say that doesn't work with that?

"But, Kate. Think about transportation..."

Iris with a sinister face is right, it is quite harsh to carry luggage over long distances in the mountains, and with patience for the heat.

There are no trees growing around here because of geothermal heat, but there is never an easy way to walk, and the Adelberts don't have a heat proof coat like ours.

Did Kate also think of the matter? She often meditated and bent her mouth to a letter to her, but she exhaled and shrugged her shoulders.

"You have to work hard there."

Fortunately, you're almost certain that there's a salamander.

Now, there was actually no salamander, when it did, all the preparations would be in vain and my plans would collapse.

"Normally, it's a problem, but this time it helped, didn't it? - If we take him down safely."

"Right. Without Salamander, what would have happened to us... unless the manager was counting on us?"

"You don't have to worry about anything around it. Nothing. I'm not working for free, either. - You'll give me my money back, won't you?

I'm pretty much taking it out on prep, so without repayment, a little pinch?

It depends on how long Salamander sells and how long he stays when he pays off the Rotze family debts.

"Absolutely! I'll pay you back."

"Yeah, naturally.... just for the repayment period, hey, you know, if you could take a big look, I'd appreciate it."

"That won't help, will it? You can go as far as you can, of course."

To Kate, who seems sorry, I nod.

But in fact, how soon can you repay me?

Just the amount of the original debt that normal people can't pay back.

Uh-huh, if you suck, until you retire... no, if you're an average gatherer, could you still be tough?

Because even if the average commoner worked desperately his whole life and didn't spend any of his living expenses, it's an amount he can't repay if he's not reborn a few times.

I don't care how much more money you can make than ordinary people if you are a good collector......

If, in the meantime, you could live with Mr. Iris, I think that would be fun, right?