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Chapter : 9 The Alchemist of Florin (5)
[This place… it’s basically a full workshop.]
The Black Spirit’s voice sounded dry, as if he was already tired of it, even though he was smiling.
That was understandable. For the past month, the shadow had been used like a factory machine in this cave, continuously “washing” herbs and mushrooms.
“Then rest if it’s hard.”
Rotem spoke while pouring another pile of herbs onto a rock already covered with mushrooms and plant matter.
But the Black Spirit spun lightly in the air, showing off that he was fine.
[No, it’s not like I’m really using much energy.]
He said it casually, but Rotem looked surprised.
“Oh? You’re not the one doing it?”
[More accurately, I’m just a channel and converter that reshapes the life force and magic already inside this cave. My own power is only used slightly in the process.]
“So you are still using your power after all.”
Watching the Black Spirit now directly enhancing the materials without dramatic movements, Rotem thought for a moment and then asked:
“Hey, I have a question.”
[What.]
“Why do you keep helping me?”
The shadow stopped the flow of magic and turned toward him, confused.
[…Why are you suddenly asking this now?]
“I told you when we first met. I didn’t intend to break your seal, so I said I didn’t need repayment.
But you still said you would stay and help me get rich.”
[Even if the intention was different, I just want to repay the favor. What’s wrong with that?]
The Black Spirit could not understand why this giant suddenly brought this up.
But Rotem continued, unfazed.
“No, it’s not that it’s wrong. It’s just that there’s no benefit for you.
I already told you it’s fine, but you’ve been stuck here for months basically washing herbs for me.
What’s your real reason for helping me so devotedly?
If it really is just repayment for breaking your seal, I’ll accept that too.”
[…]
It was not suspicion. Rotem’s eyes made that clear.
He was simply curious.
[If I said it really is just repayment… would you believe that?]
“Well, I’d accept it. Whether it’s true or not is another matter.”
[Then just accept it as it is. And like I said before, I will never take over your body or anything like that. You can be at ease.]
Rotem nodded as if remembering something.
“Ah, right. You said that before. You’re different from the others. Do your kind normally take over bodies in exchange for wishes?”
[Normally, yes.]
“Then why aren’t you like that?”
A simple, logical question.
But the answer was vague.
[There are circumstances. That’s also why I’m staying by your side and helping you.]
“Hm.”
The voice clearly did not want to explain further, so Rotem did not press.
It was both respect and timing—because a child’s voice suddenly echoed from the cave entrance.
“Hey! Rotem! Are you there?”
“I’m coming out.”
When he stepped outside, the clear sun washed over his face, which had been soaked in cave darkness for a long time.
Standing at a distance near the entrance was Juno, waving at him.
After the attack inside the cave, she had refused to come close to it again, so this was already her coming as close as she could manage.
“Were you working?”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“The Cyan Merchant Guild is here.”
Already?
Rotem’s face brightened.
“Oh, already? Is Uncle Tulcas with them?”
“I met him. But you should come and talk to them yourself.”
Juno’s tone was blunt as always, but something in her expression told Rotem something had gone wrong.
“Ah, Rotem! Sorry about this!”
Tulcas greeted him loudly with both relief and apology as soon as he saw him.
“Sorry without explanation makes me more nervous, uncle.”
Rotem shook his hand and quickly checked if anyone was listening nearby.
“There’s a problem?”
“Yeah. Let’s go inside first.”
Inside the workshop—
“I heard something at the guild headquarters before submitting the bid.
A newly formed workshop has entered the Imperial Delivery bid—especially for the healing potion category we were targeting.”
“A new workshop?”
Rotem handed him a beer to wet his throat.
“You said large workshops don’t usually bother with low-profit items like healing potions.”
“I said it—new workshop. They’re the same as us. They’re not chasing profit, they’re trying to build reputation through Imperial Delivery.”
“…I see. So what’s the problem?”
Tulcas finished the beer quickly.
“In these low-margin competitive bids, when large workshops enter, individual alchemists get less share.
Most of them drop out.”
Rotem slowly realized the issue.
“…So our workload increases.”
Imperial Delivery was about fulfilling a fixed required quantity.
If a large workshop takes a big portion of the bid, smaller participants have only two options:
Quit because the profit isn’t worth it, or
Take over the remaining supply gap.
“…How much more do we need to make?”
Tulcas sighed deeply.
“…At least 150 boxes to be safe.”
“150 boxes…”
For the past month, Rotem and Juno had barely managed 50 boxes by sacrificing all their free time and sleep.
And now they needed 100 more within a week.
“Even with the workshop involved, 50 boxes still isn’t impossible to win the bid. But the problem is—we’re unknown.”
“So we have to win with quantity.”
Exactly.
That was the rule of Imperial Delivery.
To beat ten experienced craftsmen making 10 boxes each, an unknown newcomer must show production capability exceeding 100 boxes.
“…Can you really do it? 100 more boxes by next week?”
Tulcas expected a negative answer.
But—
“We can do it.”
It was Juno who answered calmly.
“…What?”
“We’re not short on materials. We’re short on hands, right?”
Rotem nodded slowly after thinking.
“…Right. If materials are lacking, we can just buy cheap herbs and refine them.”
“And healing potions aren’t complicated. Quality depends mostly on materials. So it’s just manpower and alchemy tools.”
Tulcas blinked.
“…You got a plan?”
Juno looked at them both with a slightly arrogant expression.
“You two… haven’t forgotten where you are, right?”
The village chief of Florin, Valentain, looked at the unusual group in front of him.
A giant, a dwarf, and a Shai.
“A strange combination indeed.”
“Forget the combination. Can you do it, chief?”
Juno ignored the tea and stared directly at him.
“You want villagers to make healing potions after work and submit them as part-time work?”
“Yes.”
“No limit on quantity?”
“Yes. We provide materials. They make as many as they want, and we pay per potion.”
“Hm.”
Florin Village.
This was a village where almost every household had an alchemy tool.
A village of alchemy.
Especially healing potions—simple enough that anyone with basic knowledge and tools could produce them.
So Juno’s idea was to distribute production across the entire village.
Tulcas and Rotem both agreed it was the only solution.
But—
“This is interesting. Imperial Delivery for healing potions, huh.”
The chief smiled while looking at Rotem.
Rotem smiled back awkwardly, but inside he felt a slight unease.
The man was getting closer to his secret.
