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~Chapter 36~
After reading the system message, I was left speechless.
This is a potion, but shouldn’t it not taste bad enough to kill someone?
‘Well… medicine is usually bitter anyway….’
For reference, the effects of this Low-Grade Recovery Potion were as follows:
- When applied to the skin, it can heal shallow wounds. It also has a slight effect on dermatitis.
- When consumed, it slightly restores stamina.
I was already feeling low on stamina, so I figured I could test it myself by drinking it.
First, I transferred the finished potion into small crystal bottles, 10 ml each. A lot of ingredients went in, but the final result was fewer than ten bottles.
It was another moment of realization about alchemy.
This was incredibly inefficient….
‘If you make even a small mistake, the result becomes unusable and everything has to be thrown away….’
Alchemists were known to make good money, but now I understood why so few people chose the job.
“Murier… are you going to drink that?”
I hadn’t put a cork into the crystal bottle I set aside for myself. When I picked it up and brought it to my mouth, Lysian quietly came over and asked.
Lowering the bottle slightly, I smiled awkwardly.
“Yeah… why?”
“If you’re testing the effect, I’ll drink it.”
He was worrying about me again. Lysian seemed to worry about me out of habit.
“Are you worried it might be dangerous? Don’t worry, I made it properly.”
“Still…”
“It’s really fine. What could possibly happen?”
At most, it was just a low-grade potion. And the system had certified that it was made correctly.
Tilting my head back, I poured the potion into my mouth.
The instant it touched my tongue, an overwhelming taste that felt like it would numb my senses slammed into me.
“…!”
I staggered without realizing it, and Lysian hurriedly rushed over to support me.
“Murier!”
Coughing lightly, I gagged a few times. My head felt fuzzy, and my tongue tingled painfully.
What kind of taste is this…?
I’ve never eaten anything like this in my life….
“Murier, are you okay? Maybe the potion was made wrong—”
“N-No. The potion itself is fine. It’s just the taste…”
“Master! Water! Please drink some water!”
I gulped down the water Ninabel hurriedly handed me, let out a breath, and continued.
“It tastes horrifyingly bad.”
“…….”
“I’m serious… I’ve never tasted anything like this. Want to try it?”
Curiosity got the better of me. I wondered what Lysian’s reaction would be.
He smiled awkwardly and shook his head, but I didn’t give up.
“Just try it once! Please? I really want to know what you think.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’ll pass.”
“How can you leave me to suffer alone? If you have loyalty, you’re supposed to share things like this!”
“…….”
Lysian looked at me with solemn eyes as I spouted nonsense.
When I kept insisting that he had to drink it too, he finally gave in and took the crystal bottle.
“Haah….”
“Why are you sighing? If you’re going to drink it anyway, enjoy it.”
“…….”
Lysian glanced at me sideways, then let out a small laugh.
Before I could even react, he drank the potion in one go.
“…!”
I flinched and widened my eyes.
Gulp—
The potion, not even a full mouthful, slid down his throat.
There was no immediate reaction. I watched him nervously and asked,
“S-So? How is it?”
“…….”
Lysian carefully placed the crystal bottle on the table.
Then he tilted sideways.
“Lysian!”
He collapsed to the floor with a thud, his eyes closing weakly.
Horrified, I hurriedly knelt beside him to check his condition.
He seemed to have fainted.
No way.
Was it really bad enough to make him pass out?
‘F-First, let’s get him some water!’
Just as I was about to scold Ninabel, who was watching as if it were entertainment, my arm was suddenly grabbed.
Startled, I widened my eyes.
My body was yanked forward and crashed into a solid chest.
And then—
“What, hic, ugh—ahahaha—w-what is this?!”
Relentless hands attacked my sides and lower stomach, tickling me mercilessly.
Lysian was absolutely relentless.
I struggled to escape while laughing so hard I could barely breathe. My lungs felt like they were going to burst.
“S-S-Stop, ahahaha…!”
“…….”
“W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden?!”
He finally stopped, then pulled me tightly into his arms and whispered into my ear.
“I don’t know. Maybe I went crazy from drinking such a terrible potion.”
“So you’re saying it’s my fault?”
“You’re the one who made me drink it.”
“Ah, seriously… hahahaha….”
I was dumbfounded, but I wasn’t angry.
After all, I had brought this on myself.
After catching my breath in his arms for a while, I finally calmed down and spoke.
“I won’t make you drink it next time. Let go. I need to make more potions.”
“Rest for a bit. I’m worried you’ll overdo it.”
“I’m not even pushing myself that hard—”
Suddenly, he stood up and lifted me into his arms.
He walked out of the storage room and gently seated me on a bench under the eaves.
“I’ll make you a snack, so rest here for a moment.”
“Okay….”
I blankly watched his back as he headed toward the kitchen, wearing a gentle smile.
…Somehow, I felt a little strange.
Without realizing it, I clutched the left side of my chest and curled inward.
The tactless water droplet spirit came over and asked,
“What’s wrong, Master? Are you unwell? Gasp—don’t tell me it’s arrhythmia again?!”
“…It’s not that.”
Letting out a deep sigh, I curled up completely and buried my face in my knees.
I had a feeling this could really become dangerous.
No—maybe it was already too late to turn back….
* * *
Two days later.
“YESSS!!”
As always, I was holed up in the storage room when I threw my hands into the air and shouted.
I finally filled the proficiency to 100!
〈Let’s Become a Beginner Alchemist!〉 Quest Complete!
Alchemy Proficiency 100 Achieved!
5,000 coins have been awarded as a success reward.
New Job Title Acquired: 「Beginner Alchemist」
Alchemy Skill Level Up!
Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
– Potion success rate increases.
– You can create potions with better effects.
Proficiency required for next level: 0 / 200
One mountain after another….
I still needed another 200 proficiency to raise the skill to level 3, but at least I succeeded in becoming a “Beginner Alchemist.”
‘And most importantly—this!’
5,000 coins as a reward!
Remaining Coins: 8,368
You have enough coins to open the Hidden Shop.
Would you like to open the Hidden Shop?
YES / NO
‘Of course I’m opening it!’
I hurriedly tapped YES.
In an instant, a massive door appeared in midair, accompanied by dazzling light.
The white arched doors, opening to both sides, were decorated with intricate gold patterns, looking almost like the gates of heaven.
‘Wow… what is this?’
As I stared blankly, 5,000 coins were deducted in an instant, and a golden key appeared before me, radiating light.
The key moved on its own, fitting perfectly into the keyhole.
With a click, the doors slowly opened.
The inside was hidden by blinding light.
Would you like to enter the Hidden Shop?
‘Obviously!’
My heart pounded wildly.
Just as I took a step forward with excitement, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze and froze, turning around.
“…….”
Lysian and Ninabel were staring at me with confused expressions.
I immediately understood.
‘They can’t see it.’
The door to the Hidden Shop radiated an overwhelming presence—but only to my eyes.
Smiling calmly at Lysian and Ninabel, who clearly wanted an explanation, I said,
“I think… I need to go somewhere for a bit.”
Lysian stepped forward and grabbed my arm.
“Where?”
His voice sounded anxious—unlike his usual relaxed self.
