The Novice Alchemist’s Store

"But Nord is familiar with the manager?... Oh, speaking of which, you came here with an introduction to Leonora"

"That's the thing. - By the way, as far as I'm concerned, I'm curious about you, too?

Nord's gaze is pointed at Iris' shoulder mouth.

It is the walnut clinging to the bag she carried that is peeking her face from there.

It was only when I left the house that Kate persuaded me that it was Iris, who was happily holding the walnut, that her hands would be blocked when she said she was going to give me an escort, that it was her turn at last, and I moved her over the bag.

"It's alchemy, isn't it?

"That's right. You get it, don't you? The manager was worried about us."

"I'm still a demon researcher. I often work with alchemists, and I know about alchemists (homunculus). I've never seen that shape before."

"There's a lot of cats and stuff, right?

"You're the one who's popular. And then with the birds? Alchemy for reconnaissance around here (homunculus), but do some people use wolves for combat? Unusual, though."

The rarity of large alchemy organisms (homunculus) affects the difficulty of making them, in addition to the fact that alchemists rarely have a chance to fight.

Culture tank first.

I don't necessarily need to let it grow to its actual size in the culture tank, but once it's out there, its growth rate will be close to that of a normal organism, and it will take tens to hundreds of times longer to complete.

In the case of walnuts, this is the finished shape, but if you want to increase it to the size of a normal bear, keep pouring magic on it frequently for a few years. That's all the trouble I need.

That is why it would go without saying that it is difficult to prepare a bear-sized incubator. Not only do I make it, but I also take it as a place to put it.

More magic.

As long as the Alchemy creature (Homunculus) grows larger, the amount of magic required becomes greater, and if it cannot supply the same amount of magic as its size, the body of the Alchemy creature (Homunculus) collapses and fails to make it.

It takes most magic at the time of production, but regular magic refills are necessary even after completion, and if you create too large an alchemy organism (homunculus), it will also affect your daily smelting operations.

Sometimes that happens, the current mainstream is around cats with small birds, mice, and magical alchemists.

"Actually, other than size, it's a little weird."

"Hmm? What? Maybe he's the rare type, but he's cute, isn't he?

Nordrad laughs bitterly at Iris for putting a walnut on his palm to make him look proud.

"I don't deny that, but I don't. That's not what you're manipulating, is it, Sarasa? Normally, they don't let you act on your own, away from the surgeon. I mean, I can't, can I?

As well as being away from the surgeon, making it difficult to share and manipulate senses and consuming more magic, it also increases the magic required to maintain alchemy organisms (homunculus).

The magic consumed at this time is the magic stored in the Alchemy (Homunculus), without which the Alchemy (Homunculus) will disappear.

Nordrad's common sense suggests that if you do poorly, you can't keep the alchemy (homunculus) for a few weeks, even though you know it's quite a distance away.

Do you think it's okay for alchemy organisms (homunculus) to collapse along the way, or do you think it can be maintained even at that distance, period?

"So I'd like to do a little research..."

"Da, no! I'm not giving you the walnuts!

From Nordrad, who has a mad grin no matter how he sees it, he hugs to protect the walnut, Iris pulls himself back, and Kate also steps forward to protect Iris.

"Mr. Nord, the walnut was trusted by the manager to keep us. I can't give it to you as an object of research."

"Right."

I guess you didn't think it was acceptable.

To Kate with a slightly harsh look, Nordrad says so and snorts lightly.

"When I get home, Sarasa, it's your call, isn't it? I'm just thankful to have insurance."

Nordrad nodded ummmm and grinned.

"Well, it's time to leave."

"... right. Then Nord will follow us."

Still, Iris put the walnut back on his back to be slightly more vigilant and walked out looking at Nordrad flickering.

◇ ◇ ◇

Day one of stepping into the woods.

For the Iris and the others, this is the third time we have followed this path.

Given the round trip, the fifth time.

Sometimes this area, where village gatherers usually step in frequently, went well without any particular trouble.

The second day was pretty much the same, but the change was coming from the third day.

Even though demons don't come out, they don't grow any farther than expected.

Speaking of why...

"Ooh! This isn't a sake mushroom! Rare! Uh, three centimetres wide of the rift, the type of tree is Newclight, more humid, and the moss that grows around -"

"Huh! That's a brev career growing here. The thickness of the basement stem... that's pretty thick. Is this soil affecting you?

"Yay!? There's a bunch of meoni ladies by this water! There are no underwater flowers... yet. It's supposed to be about time, but the impact of the place?

Yes, because if Nordrad stops frequently, he starts an investigation.

Once you stop legging, if you're bad, you're on the spot for over an hour.

This can't even earn you a distance.

Still, for the first few days or so, the Iris waited silently for the investigation to be completed as well.

It's not like stopping frequently raids demons, and the reward is paid for the few days it took, so it didn't hurt the Iris guys where the appointments were delayed.

But if that lasted for about three days, and the distance travelled would not have been more than a day's worth, I couldn't just shut up.

Above all, the biggest problem is the existence of demons that strike sometimes.

Now even the Iris are still able to shoot without difficulty, but as they move on, the demons will become stronger, and if they do, they will be killed, and the smell of blood will spread around them, and they need to leave the scene quickly.

Nonetheless, Nordrad hardly tries to move and needs a lot of effort to pull him off the spot.

This would also be an impossible story to tell you not to complain.

"Hey, Nord. Wouldn't you spend too much time on anything? Besides, I heard you were still in the woods investigating during the prep period..."

Still, the other party is the client.

Iris said that somewhat reluctantly, but Nordrad forcefully denied it.

"I've surveyed the area around the village, but the vegetation is different around here again! It's impossible as a researcher not to investigate this!

"Mm... I don't know about research, and I don't want to say much more than I'm hired, but I also have food issues. Given the duration of the investigation on the ground, I don't think we can take it very slowly.

"Right. Thinking about going home."

"That's what they say..."

To the logical objection, Nordrad also mumbles.

No matter how high his research fever is, he hasn't stopped being human enough to continue his research without drinking and eating, and it goes without saying when it comes to the Iris and the others.

The amount of food I have brought is limited and I cannot rely on uncertain local procurement.

Given that, we shouldn't be taking too much time on the road to fully investigate the salamander, which is our original aim......