Chapter 9

After we returned to the town, we immediately decided to start brewing magic potions.

However, there was one oversight.

While it wasn’t a problem to brew some healing salves or simple potions, we couldn’t brew potions in the inn. Even though we had gathered the ingredients for a beginner potion, I was so careless…

Despite everything, the research facility and experimental equipment at the palace were quite comfortable. After all, I could just request the materials I needed, and they were provided. I also had access to as many books as I wanted. Especially since I wasn’t a mage in the knight order, but an apprentice court magician, I had quite a bit of authority. I could even read forbidden books.

However, since most mages were nobles, I was treated quite poorly…

“Ugh… I want to make potions…”

I decided to try making a healing salve by borrowing the kitchen, then returned to my room and collapsed onto the desk.

“Shall I offer you my palace?”

“That would be a problem… The mana from the demon realm would seep in, and things could get really out of hand, wouldn’t it?”

“Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what happens?”

“Can humans even go there?”

There was only one chair in the room, so Belial sat elegantly on my bed, drinking tea.

It was clear that I was being teased…

No, perhaps he was genuinely enjoying himself. Belial was that kind of person… or rather, a demon.

“I want to play a game where I brew ten elixirs and see how many succeed.”

“…What on earth were you doing in your country?”

Belial quipped, but I didn’t have the energy to answer. I had misspoken this morning… I had the feeling that I was being suspected of something, which made me irritated. I was sure he had overheard me mentioning the word “elixir.” I decided to be cautious and avoid the captain for a while.

Knock, knock.

A knock broke the tense silence in the room.

“It’s Alesia , Iriya . I’ve secured a place to make the potions.”

“What?! Wait, I’m opening it now!”

I quickly sprang to my feet and unlocked the door.

According to Alesia , the commercial guild sometimes held potion-making workshops, and when those weren’t taking place, they rented out the venue to guild members for a fee. The building had fully equipped laboratories, lecture halls for workshops, and rooms with kitchens for gatherings, all of which could be rented for various purposes, including potion and item crafting, improving techniques, or for temporary sales space.

Of course, it was only available to guild members, so Alesia  had secured it for us.

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t signed up for membership yet. They also had a craftsman registration, and if I could reliably secure potion ingredients, it might be worth joining as a craftsman. I could focus on making items and leave the selling to others.

It turned out we had a reservation for the afternoon, so we had lunch before heading out.

This time, it was just the three of us: me, Belial, and Alesia . Since it was easy to become distracted while crafting, Belial would serve as our guard. Chiara was preparing for a street market with her sister starting tomorrow.

The place was right next to the commercial guild, a two-story building that didn’t look very large from the outside. However, once we entered, we found it to be surprisingly spacious. Alesia  showed her guild membership and reservation slip at the reception, and we were led to the potion-making laboratory in the basement. The staff unlocked the door and explained the rules for first-time use.

“This is the magic item laboratory. A simple barrier is set up, so minor explosions should be fine, but if you break any equipment or cause any damage to the barrier, please report it immediately. We recommend you lock the door. There’s a spare key, so we may unlock it if necessary. In case of emergency, please channel your mana into the emergency contact crystal next to the whiteboard and chant ‘Emergency connection start.’ It won’t allow conversation, but the receiver crystal will blink, and staff will come to check immediately.”

They also explained that we must write on the whiteboard with the special pen and erase it afterward, that we could use the equipment for the workshops but needed to wash and return them, and that we should not touch any magical circles on the shelves that we didn’t understand.

The lab was quite compact with six tables, each seating six people. The equipment was better than I expected, so we could start brewing immediately. I quickly prepared ten bottles and began by burning incense. Alesia  set out a pot to boil herbs.

I explained that burning incense not only helped with the atmosphere but also served to purify the room.

Then, I filled the pot with water for purification and added the mashed herbs to simmer. Infusing the potion with magic while stirring it for an hour is the essence of potion-making, and the most important step.

After an hour of stirring, I strained the mixture and let it cool before pouring it into the bottles.

“Here it is, done.”

Alesia  leaned in to observe the freshly made potion.

“So this is how you make it… I want to be able to do this too.”

“Beginner potions are something anyone can make. But you need patience because you have to carefully infuse the right amount of mana while stirring for an hour.”

“The mana adjustment seems difficult…”

Before I knew it, Alesia  had been taking notes in a notebook, writing down the materials, the incense-burning process, the simmering time, and how to infuse mana. She also added notes about the color and smell of the completed potion.

“It’s okay. When you make it, I’ll teach you,” I said.

“Really!? I’m so happy, thank you! I need to practice magic so I can infuse the perfect amount of mana!”

As the two of us were excitedly talking, Belial’s cool voice came from the shelf.

“…Aren’t we still ahead of schedule?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right… Shall we try making a mana potion this time?”

“A mana potion!? Really!?”

Alesia ’s face lit up again with excitement. I was glad she hadn’t gotten bored.

I cleaned the pot and mortar, then started making the mana potion. This one required more mana to be infused than a regular potion, and it needed to simmer for about an hour and a half.

This time, I made two types of potions, ten bottles each, and finished the task.

Afterward, I parted ways with Alesia , and we went to the commercial guild to register the potions.

We approached the receptionist with the same light blue hair from last time, informing her that we had made the potions and handing over both types.

The receptionist took the potions and said, “I’ll test these, so please wait a moment,” before disappearing behind the door with them.

We waited nervously, and a few minutes later, the receptionist hurried back, looking surprised.

“Did you make these…!? “

“Yes, of course… Was there a problem?”

Although the potions contained slightly different ingredients, I had already tried combining them in the lab and was confident the effects would be the same.

“No, these are surprisingly high quality potions with excellent purity. The mana potion is also of very high quality.”

Ah, so that’s what surprised her. I’m glad to hear that.

“Then, there’s no problem selling them, right?”

“Of course! Is there anything else you’ve made?”

“Well, for now, just this healing salve and antidote.”

I placed the potions in a case on the counter. While they were called “magic potions,” these didn’t require me to infuse mana; instead, they relied on the natural magical properties of the herbs. While the effects were considered weaker than regular potions, they were actually easier to add side effects to, which was their advantage. For these, I had added a spell to improve their potency.

The receptionist seemed pleased as she took the potions and quickly disappeared behind the door again.

“…Belial, what do you think is going on? I wasn’t asked to submit those…”

“…Do you not realize what’s happening?”

“…Huh? I haven’t made anything strange, though?”

“It means the teacher you were assigned to was quite capable.”

Potion-making originally started with Belial’s subordinates teaching me. I think he said he’d leave such details to me.

I had learned to make the finest potions, like the elixir, the highest-tier mana potions known as nectar, and how to imbue magic into tools and weapons. I had also been taught how to make talismans and amulets, but after continuing my research in the court, I felt I had become proficient.

For summoning magic and other spells, I had mainly been taught by Belial. Looking back, he was rather harsh, especially since I was a child… Summoning magic, often called ritual magic, required precise steps to perform correctly. This was the first thing I was made to learn, and it allowed me to summon his subordinates. Of course, there were mental and magical factors involved, so I couldn’t summon multiple beings at once.

By the way, Belial’s specialty was fire magic. He even had the title of “King of Flames.”

“Thank you for waiting!”

It took a bit longer this time. In addition to the two cases of potions I made, the receptionist was holding some documents.

“These turned out wonderfully! If you don’t mind, how about registering as a craftsman!? With the items you can make, you won’t need workshops, and you can register right away.”

“Really? Then, please do! I’d be happy to.”

I took the documents and picked up the pen.

Name, origin, contact information, and types of items made.

“I’m currently staying at an inn, so I don’t have a permanent contact address…”

“That’s fine! Just give me the name of the inn. You’ll be staying there for a while, right? Please contact us once you move. Also, please mark the box for potion-making under the craftsman category.”

Under the craftsman category, there were other options like weapon crafting, auxiliary item crafting, accessory crafting, daily item crafting, and magic imbued items.

I marked “magic potions,” “magic imbued items,” and “talisman crafting” on the items I make. I figured that would cover it.

A guild membership card and a certification for selling potions, mana potions, healing salves, and antidotes would be issued, and they’d be delivered to my inn tomorrow morning. I should be able to make it to Alesia  and Chiara’s street market tomorrow afternoon. I hope everything sells.

With that, we left the commercial guild, feeling great, and started looking for a place for dinner. I was thinking of eating somewhere tonight.

Inside the guild later, I overheard the women gossiping about who the handsome guy was.

Of course, they were talking about Belial.