The Novice Alchemist’s Store

"I was a little concerned about that, but what Mr. Nord is investigating, it's all plants, right? Weren't you a demon researcher?

That's what Kate points out, and Nordrad sighs like a little trouble.

"No, actually, I really wanted to do more research on insects and plants than I did on demons."

"Hmm? Wouldn't it be nice if I did?

"If I can do that, I won't have a hard time. Because I have to eat to the point where I don't die, and the cost of research is not a normal cost of living. You think there's someone out there who can give me money to research bugs?

"... you don't seem to be"

To Kate, who thinks a little and shakes her head, Nordrad also smiles bitterly and shrugs her shoulders.

"Right? Plant research is almost impossible to get ahead of an alchemist, so it's hard to get food over here. So in the meantime, between demonic studies, I can only look into it on a hobby basis."

Kate didn't have to think, 'You can't spend too much time in between,' but she has to snort at Nordrad's words.

A practical study of whether it is not available as an alchemy material, be it worms, plant - that is, money making research is a lot of work done by alchemists.

In contrast, when it comes to the insignificant ecology of research, for example, it is not immediately linked to profit when examined.

There are prizes out for research into demons because the state decides that it will help the country's security, and there is unlimited chance that prizes will be attached to research into worms and plants.

"Money-making research... what about research on plant cultivation?

"That's the same thing. There's no point in cultivating a worthy herb because the alchemist has already succeeded."

"No, you can't even say that? Did Nord see the field next to our shop?

"Fields? Speaking of which, you had a field surrounded by a pretty sturdy fence. Is that it?"

"It's the manager's field, but it's actually a regular farmer who grows it. So far, we seem to be choosing and cultivating herbs that we can grow even if we're not alchemists, but if Nord can establish a way to cultivate herbs that are difficult to cultivate, wouldn't it make a big profit?

"Herbal cultivation... that's also what you can't grow...?

To Iris' words, Nordrad stopped and thought.

For him, who was only thinking about selling his research paper, that was a bit of a paradigm shift.

"No, but it's for a lot of money to raise yourself... oh, no, is that why 'establishing a cultivation method'"

I put my arms together and saw Nordrad start whining with the bumps, and the Iris stopped, too, but wait on the spot without saying anything if this makes the future easier.

"I mean, if you hire people to raise them, I can do nothing, get into research? Not just at the time you wrote your paper, but continuously funded? - Yeah, I am! I didn't think of that! Thank you, Mr. Iris! You're a genius!

Nordrad looked up pampered and grabbed Iris' hand gassily, shaking that hand up and down with a full grin.

To that seemingly overly happy appearance, Iris adds the words, as a little troubled.

"Oh, no, that's what I said, but I don't think we're gonna succeed that easily, do we? No one is doing it - not sure if it is, but it is more than common..."

"Of course I know that! But I have the research I've been looking into. So far, it's been a complete hobby, but if this Salamander survey is accepted, I think we can expect quite a reward. I'll see what I can do with that!

To Nordrad, who held his hand and sparkled his eyes, Iris gently removed his hand slightly puzzled and pulled himself away.

"Oh well. Good luck with that. We have to work hard on the salamander investigation for that, right?

"Right! Now let's hurry!

◇ ◇ ◇

Iris deflected the spearhead of Nordrad's interest, speeding up their movement at once.

Nordrad, with more forged flesh than a poorer gatherer, has no anxiety whatsoever in his footsteps, even if he is in charge of a large quantity of luggage, rather enough to rush the Iris.

By the time we reached the mountain where the lava lizards lived, we had been rewinding to such an extent that it was almost unchanged from the Iris' original plans.

But when that happens, the surrounding temperatures go up.

"Time to get dressed for heat protection gear"

"Right. Kate, let's set up a tent."

I can't do that to the Iris exactly, against Nordrad, who unloaded his stuff and started dressing on the spot, changing in turn in the tent.

Of course, Iris and the others change their clothes with a set of heatproof coats and other gear made by Sarasa.

The quality is clearly better than what Nordrad wore, and Nordrad, who saw it, asks with interest.

"Heh... Iris, how much of your gear can you stand?

"According to the manager, if you stick your foot in the lava, it'll be all right for a few seconds."

"Uhm. Just not the uncovered part, so be careful, was it?

"That's... even more amazing than I imagined, huh?

Assuming confrontation with Salamander in the first place, the equipment prepared by Salasa is a safety priority, a substitute made with out-of-the-box attention to costs.

Thought to survive eating salamander braces, the quality is completely different from normal heat proof coats, heat proof boots, etc.

Its heat protection is totally over-spec if you don't do the kind of unscrupulous fighting next to lava.

Naturally, it's not as pricey as it should be for the Iris and the others, but Sarasa didn't go into detail about the area, handing it to Pong instead of the reward.

"But we're going to investigate Salamander. Is that what Nord's wearing?

"What the hell is that? Normally it's a store item, so he said he can manage to enjoy it beside the lava. Stick your foot in the lava and you'll die."

Initially, store-selling "heat resistant coats” and “heat resistant boots” can only perform to the extent that they can normally operate even in areas where lava lizards and the like live.

Long-term activities and combat actions are quite demanding at the level of 'survival is possible for now' when it comes to hot environments like those in which salamanders live.

The equipment Nordrad has is also a substitute made by a high level alchemist, but the difference between regular and custom made products was historical.

"I'm not planning on going into the lava, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"Really? Even our gear was a little hard when we went to Salamander's nest..."

"Really? In my case, the sweat came out a little like a waterfall, and I was blinded by occasional dehydration, about once a day, about to lose consciousness?

It is a fact.

Without the gatherer he was escorting, Nordrad would have died of dehydration or heat stroke at his last investigation site.

But there can't be anyone who wants to escort such a troublesome researcher.

As his oddity became known, there was no gatherer to take on the escort.

"That's why I'm fine. I'm working out."

"No, you wouldn't say that's ok!?"

Nordrad showing off his good, stunning muscles, but Iris and the others can't be convinced of that either.

"Sure, Mr. Nord is more trained than a researcher, but what can be done about it..."

"Uh-huh, I managed last time."

That was just luck.

Dehydration and heat stroke are not sweet enough to be manageable with muscles.

What is needed is not faith in the muscles, but hydration and salinity.

"Fortunately, there's plenty of room for water..."

"Earlier, you supplied it."

The location of the water field was confirmed the last time we arrived, and before climbing this mountain, Iris and the others are filling up their handheld water bags.

The place sees some room in the amount of water just for the place, but in a situation where Nordrad is like that, the water will also consume more.

Still, there's only a relatively nearby replenishable place, so I feel safe.

"You don't have a water field after this, do you?

"There are many places where hot water is out, but it's unclear if you can drink it. Can Nord check around?

"It's possible, if it's impossible, it's possible. I can't really expect that."

As can also be seen from the high mud caused by hot water, there are many out-of-the-box places where water is gushing into this mountain, but even if we ignore the fact that it is hot, it is quite harsh when it comes to whether we can use them as drinking water.

In most places, Nordrad knew that even seemingly clean water, unlikely to be very drinkable from the looks of it, could not be alarmed by water gushing out in places like this.

If you drink a small amount, you should still avoid using it as regular drinking water or water for cooking for a long period of time, if possible.

Incidentally, Nordrad survived successfully at the last survey site, according to the fact that, in addition to the efforts of the gatherers of escorts, he was lucky enough to have a drinkable cold spring springing up in the immediate vicinity.

"Ma, I'm probably fine. I've been able to figure it out last time."

Iris and Kate sigh face-to-face at Nordrad for saying easy-going things on a basis they can't guess.

Even though I had a bad feeling about it, I followed him through his work and after he walked out.