The Novice Alchemist’s Store

It was after noon the next day that such a relaxed journey changed.

The area became dark and the cold strong wind pierced the cheeks.

Looking up at the sky, a black cloud covered it, and white objects began to fall from it.

"This is... let's hurry up and find a place to avoid the wind."

I see. But, Dear Store Manager, do you also have a smelter (artifact) to prevent the wind?

"Yes, but the stronger the wind, the more magic it consumes. Never move over to put tents in as safe a place as possible."

The dome shelter I prepared this time is something that hits at a constant speed - something that can prevent the wind and snow in addition to monsters.

Although it has the advantage of being compact and easy to install because it creates a barrier with magic, it also has the disadvantage that there is no physical wall and the magic consumption is high.

And the more things that block with barriers, the greater the magic consumption.

I have more magic than ordinary people, but I'm not exhausted, so I should save where I can, as long as I don't know when the weather will recover.

"That's right. Do you have eyes somewhere?

"Yes, according to the map, a little earlier..."

That's why we slightly fastened our legs and managed to get to the rocky shade where we could avoid the wind while the sight worked, where we prepared the camp and dragged it into the tent.

The weather, which completely snowed from evening, trapped us in the white darkness.

Although the dome shelter did not allow snow to blow around the tent, the sounds of shit and the surrounding view, which was pure white and invisible even as the sun rose, made Lorea uneasy, but Iris and Kate, who should not be used to it in the same way, were unexpectedly flat.

"It's much safer than when we were in a cave. Whatever you say, the manager is here!

"I see. I just can't move from here, and I'm not worried about eating."

That's two words.

I'm glad you can trust me, but this is the first bad weather I've ever had, and it's definitely not safe.

Well, I think it's probably okay, and unless you can't move from here, it's actually not that inconvenient.

At this temperature, you don't have to worry about rotting raw meat and vegetables.

There is also a small magic stove, so Lorea can cook a delicious meal.

The assembled simple toilet is also installed next to the tent, so there is no problem at the bottom as long as the cold is tolerated.

The biggest concern is that there is nothing to do and nothing to do.

For a few days or so, even if you spend four people in a narrow tent for tens of days, stress accumulates.

If the blizzard persists for a long time, we need to think about something about it.

Thankfully, on the third morning, the clouds began to send the sun, and by noon, the blue sky was spreading.

Unable to withstand the snowstorm again, we quickly evacuated and headed to our destination, but fortunately, it was not stopped afterwards, and we arrived safely at our destination.

◇ ◇ ◇

"You guys did it! Finally arrived! This is the breeding ground of Massanon!

Every day with irreplaceable snow views and just enough excitement to keep walking.

When I made a slight change there, I spread my hands wide open and showed the place.

However, Iris and the others looked back at us somewhat puzzled.

"... Dear store manager, is there nothing?

"That's right. --Is it because it snowed the other day?

It spreads across the silver world.

The snowstorm that came a few days ago drowned a lot of snow in this mountain.

As a result, the area, which should be the breeding ground of Massanon, is neglected and snowy enough to leave no trace of plants behind.

Try sticking a stick, and it's more than a meter deep.

I'm sure it's not in the wrong place... but it's hard to look for snow lightly.

"Fortunately in misfortune, is it salvation that has not become ice?"

If the temperature rises halfway, it may become rough ice, but it's been pretty cold for a while now, so there's a lot of powdered snow.

Looks like we don't need to get ready.

"But there's a lot of snow. I really don't want you to look for it in the dark clouds..."

"It's my job, so if they tell me to do it... it'll take a while. Master, how do you usually find it?

"There are dead stems coming out of the snow, usually. If you fold it and smell it, Masanon will have an exciting, slightly refreshing smell. --Well, as you can see, there's more snow than the grass length."

Based on the documentation, you should see a stem like a thin stick, but no such thing!

In front of you is a very soft, pure white snowflake.

In snowy areas, it's like checking where Massanon grows in the summer and sticking a long stick as a landmark... because I didn't imagine it would be necessary.

Master, can't you melt the snow with magic or blow it up with an explosion?

"I'm not saying I can't..."

"That's Sarasa!

Lorea brightens her eyes, but I shake my head in a hurry.

"No, I won't do it, right? If you do that, there will be an avalanche."

No loud noises in the snowy mountains.

Explosive magic cannot be used, and even at high temperatures without explosion, what happens if the snow melts suddenly?

Not if I'm alone, I can't take such a risk in the present situation with Loreans.

"Well then, we'll have to remove the snow until we can see the stem. Let's do our best, folks."

Lorea grabbed her hands and smiled.

As we nodded face to face.

Snowflakes are troublesome, but the youngest Lorelei is showing her motivation, but she can't complain forever.

That's right.

I see.

Yes, it is.

"Gahhh!

Even walnuts, Lorea stood up on her back and raised her voice with her chest high.

"--That's exactly what walnuts do."

"Gauga!

Ah!

Walnuts shaking their heads to deny it jumped on the snow.

But there's fluffy snow.

Walnuts not wearing snowshoes (snow boots) were buried and disappeared.

"Ku, walnuts? Are you okay?"

The next moment I reached out to the ground, I looked under the snow and said, "Thigh! something moves - no, it's walnuts.

When the walnuts stopped after moving about a few meters, they blew up the snow and jumped out.

But the soft snow at the landing point disappeared again.

"Wally, did you want to play?

Kate smiles bitterly at Iris's strange words.

"That's right... no, when you think about it, the walnut personality also contains Iris ingredients, right? I didn't think it was possible."

Iris bent his mouth in disgruntled manner to Kate, who had a skeptical expression along the way.

"No, that's right, I don't play at work!?"

"I don't think so...."

I go to the hole where the walnut is buried and hold it with my hand.

"So, what's the matter?

When I asked, the walnut showed the hole that first popped out.

"You mean, look at that?

"Er... ah, Sarasa-san, something is growing here!

"Really?

Lorea invites us, and when we peek into that hole, there's something like an elongated stick... ah, maybe this is it!

If you peel off the tip and sniff the smell, there is a characteristic irritating odor from there.

"This is Misanon!

"What the hell! In other words, can walnuts find the Masanon under this snow!?"

"Let's do it!

Iris and the others gaze at the bragging walnuts in my arms.

Manager, did the Alchemy creature have the capability to do that?

"Especially that kind of thing.... Walnuts have a sharper sense of smell than humans, so maybe it's not impossible."

Instead, I am surprised that walnuts acted on their own and searched for Masanon.

Sometimes I see walking around the house, but basically the smelter (Homuncrus) is passive.

I've never heard of acting on my own.

"Wally, can you find anything else?

"Let's do it!

When Iris asked, the walnuts answered and dived from my arm.

Swimming in the snow, swimming again a few meters away. "and pops out.

Kate rushes in and checks into the snow.

"Store manager, there are Masanon growing here too!

"Wow, walnuts! I can't believe you're not just cute, you're capable of this!

Gauu!

Now Lorea picks up the walnuts and hugs them tightly, and the walnuts pat their hands as if they were illuminated.

But, Lorea.

Cute is secondary, and it's the Alchemy (Homuncrus) that has all sorts of abilities, right?

--This ability was unexpected to me.

"But this is going to get us there faster than we expected. Still, digging in the snow is tough... but let's do our best. It's a royal request!

"" "Ooh!