Potions and healing medicines have been selling better day by day.
I’ve been heading out to gather ingredients, and occasionally buying materials I’m short on from the shop, working diligently on making magical potions.
That’s not all. Recently, Alesia , who saw me imbue magic into items, suggested that I imbue magic into the accessories she makes. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so of course I agreed right away.
I borrowed ten accessories made with natural stones and have been imbuing them with magic in my room at the inn.
Some of the magic enhances the effects of spells, some reduces damage from enemy magic, others enhance physical abilities, and some help smooth out thinking. I’m carefully imbuing magic into each one, completing them one by one. These are generally known as amulets, with the higher tier being called talismans.
The last one is jade. I decided to imbue it with healing magic. When imbuing magic, I need to be extra careful so the stone doesn’t break from the amount of magic being added. I purify the stone first, infusing it with magic to increase its strength before adding the healing spell. I place the stone on the magic circle I’ve drawn on paper and focus on the stone even more intently than before.
“Gentle wind, gather round. Spirit, swaying in the sun, sing your song. Grant strength to those who are wounded, restore the color to withering flowers…”
It’s a basic healing spell. The stone is held, and I pass a weak amount of magic through it while chanting “Wind Heal” to activate it. I’ve limited it to three uses, based on the stone’s magic capacity. The stone she’s using isn’t of the highest quality for magic imbueing, but for weaker spells, it works fine.
“All done! I’m so happy to see someone using something I imbued. I’ve only given them to people in the Second Knights so far.”
I stand up from my chair, stretching and arching my back.
I think most of the things I’ve done so far were related to combat—imbuing fire magic into gems on swords, magic resistance into armor, and other relatively advanced things for battle. By the way, the sword’s magic was too powerful, and I got told off for that. I got a bit carried away.
With the finished accessories in hand, I head to Alesia and Kiara’s stall. Since there are new items, I want to be there to explain them. I tell them to buy their own food, and of course, Belial follows me.
At the stall, sales have already begun, and customers are checking out the goods. It looks like someone has made a purchase, as I can see them exchanging money.
“Thank you so much! Oh, big sis, it’s Iriya !”
Kiara, who was serving a customer, notices me and waves.
Alesia also looks happy to see me.
“Iriya -san! Thanks to you, our sales have been increasing steadily!”
“That’s great to hear. Here, these are for you. Can I put them here?”
I immediately take out the ten accessories and place them on the empty space. Then I tie labels with the effects written on them.
“Oh, Iriya ! Any new products?”
Just as I finish setting them up, a voice calls out. It’s Leni, the healer from the adventurer party “Isashimu’s Great Tree.” I’ve run into her a few times at the stall now, and it feels like we’ve gotten a bit closer.
“That potion you made the other day was really good. The mana potion helped a lot too.”
She speaks a bit bluntly, the mage woman Esume.
“Iriya -san’s potions almost have the effect of intermediate ones!”
“The antidote worked fast too!”
The leader, Leon the swordsman, and the lighthearted archer, Laures, chime in. The heavy-armored swordsman, Laurof, remains silent, offering only a nod. He’s the quietest member of the group. I give him a small bow in return, then begin enthusiastically explaining the new products.
“Thank you, I’ve just made some new necklaces with magic imbued into them.”
“Magic imbued!?”
Esume, the mage, is the most interested. Magic imbued items are always exciting.
“Yes, Alesia made these necklaces, and I imbued them with magic. The effects are…”
I explain each one, then point to the jade necklace.
“This one has healing magic imbued into it. It can be used three times.”
“Wait, what? This isn’t something you’d sell at a stall…”
Esume stares at the jade, then asks if she can pick it up. I nod, and she handles it with both hands, as though it were a precious treasure. The others gather around to look at it too.
“Seriously… is it really that amazing?”
“Let’s buy it, leader! Since I’m an archer, there are times when I can’t reach with healing from a distance!”
“You’re an idiot, of course it’s expensive!”
Reeni quickly steps in to stop the two of them, who seem interested.
“…Come to think of it, I didn’t consider the price. I only listed the effects, and I don’t know the market price.”
“When magic is added, sometimes the price can increase by a whole zero, depending on the effect, right? What happens when the magic is sealed within it?”
It seems even Alesia doesn’t know. Wait, does the price really go up by that much? Isn’t that too expensive?!
For now, I decided to leave the pricing to Alesia.
The necklace with the healing magic, set at a slightly higher price than other enchanted amulets as a trial offer, was successfully purchased by Laures, who had been wanting it.
While I was teaching them how to use it, the other members were buying potions and the medicines that Alesia and I made. Truly great customers…!
Since I was hoping to get information about material gathering locations, they’re really good people, so I’ll go ahead and ask.
“By the way, if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask something…”
“Sure, ask anything~! We’re having dinner next!”
The bow user is so cheerful I don’t even understand. I’ll just move the conversation forward.
“No, I need more types of medicinal herbs. I heard there’s an Elf Forest somewhere, and if you have any information, I’d like to ask about it…”
“The Elf Forest…”
The five of them lowered their voices.
“I heard it’s where you can find materials for high-level potions, but it’s even more dangerous. You should hire an adventurer, one with a higher rank than us…”
I think this is the first time I’ve seen our leader, Leon, look so serious. Is it really that dangerous?
“Thieves also appear there. It’s part of the city-state of Barren, but there are many cities, each with their own governance, and though they consider themselves one nation, the coordination between them isn’t good. Some cities are even divided by race, so thieves are sneaking around in the gaps.”
“There are also stronger monsters in the forest than here. On the other side of the forest… there’s a big human-centered town called Dolgo, across the river. You could hire experienced adventurers there,” Reeni and Esume explain in detail.
As adventurers who take on extermination requests and constantly gather information, they must be extra sensitive to danger.
“Thank you for your concern. If I feel it’s too dangerous, I’ll hire escorts, and I have Belial-sama as well…”
When I turned around, he was gone.
Eh!? I was about to introduce him, how stupid…
“Belial-san must’ve gotten bored and left,” Kiara says, looking troubled. Let’s change the subject for now.
“Um… yes, do you know anything about that town, Dolgo?”
Esume laughs a little. I won’t let it bother me!
“Hmm… I know! There’s a great craftsman there! It’s a place called the Rajisraf Magic Workshop, and they even distribute high-level potions to other countries. The master, Rajisraf, is said to be able to make high potions as well!”
“I definitely want to visit!” I exclaim eagerly. I used to study magic and discuss new theories with Sebirino-sama, but now there’s no one like that around… Ah… I want to have a magic discussion!
“Though I’ve heard he’s a bit of a grump? He might not even see us if it’s our first time meeting.”
That’s true; someone like that would probably be very busy, and he probably has a lot of apprentices. Laures’ point makes sense.
“Huh? Isn’t that the bunch of country bumpkins from Isashimu who just got to D-rank? Shopping at some kids’ stall like this?”
Three tall, muscular men wearing full leather armor sneered at us from behind. They looked like they were in their 30s to early 40s.
“…Aren’t you guys D-rank too, ‘Power Fighters’?”
Leon glares at them, but all three of the men are much larger than him. I can see everyone is on guard. I pushed Alesia and Kiara back, who seemed anxious, and waited to see what would happen.
“Reeni, Esume, it’s better to team up with us, we’re almost C-rank, instead of with these guys!”
“Of course we don’t want to! We don’t want anything to do with D-rank losers!”
“This woman…!”
Esume, aren’t you provoking them?!
One of the men approaches Esume, but Leon tries to push him away. However, the difference in strength is too much, and Leon is immediately shaken off.
“Don’t get in the way, you weaklings!”
One of them attacks Laurof, who tries to protect us, and kicks him in the stomach, knocking him down. He seems to be the strongest of the group, so they must have targeted him first. Another man stands in front of Laures, knowing he can’t win in close combat.
“Hey, get off!”
A powerful man twists Esume’s thin arm, causing her face to distort in pain. The guy is using his strength to pull her with force.
“Stop, you disgraceful bastard!!”
I reflexively shout and jump forward, but there’s nothing I can do besides magic…!
The man holding Esume turns and swings his other arm at me horizontally. It almost hits my face, but I barely manage to block it with my arm, getting sent flying backward from the force.
“Iriya -san!”
I hear Alesia and Reeni’s worried voices.
