Magic Tools Are Selling Too Well

After that day, Morphine and Delia came to observe the alchemy shop several more times.

Actually, I wondered if these two, who were mere freshmen, could even interpret the principles and theories of magic circuits embedded in magic tools just by examining them.

Magic circuits are integrated into the entire continent and human life, including the human body that handles magic, various parts of nature filled with mystery, and magic tools that handle special powers.
It was one of the major branches studied by scholars studying magic, which is why it was selected as a required liberal arts subject for first-year students.

Therefore, I thought that this assignment given by Professor Bluecliff was too difficult for freshmen.
They probably know that too.
These quite smart kids couldn’t not know this.
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like they were just using the assignment as an excuse to come hang out.

“Don’t you have classes? It seems like you come every day.”
“With all due respect, freshmen are not allowed to take evening classes after 6 PM, Senior. We would like you to understand that we are coming purely to observe the magic tools made by you, Senior, and various senior researchers, and to understand the profundity of the magic circuits contained within them, with purely innocent intentions, Senior.”
“That’s right… it’s pure observation…”

You’re agreeing with that sophistry?
It seemed like Delia was becoming a bit strange after hanging out with Morphine.
Her tolerance had also increased, and now she hardly reacted when I called her Foxtail.

“Sigh… If there were customers, I’d chase you out right away.”

Today, the alchemy shop wasn’t very crowded.

I guess business really is seasonal.
The lines of customers at the alchemy shop that once seemed eternal were now rarely seen.
When the practice season for other departments returns, there will be demand for certain items, but now, as the exam period approaches, the alchemy shop was quite quiet.
I was also adjusting my strategy accordingly, shifting from selling large quantities of a single item to selling small quantities of various items.
Thanks to this strategic move, my magic tools were fortunately always sold out, but the phenomenon where other magic tools also sold well as a chain reaction was now almost non-existent these days.
Well, it was a natural progression since the alchemy shop itself wasn’t as popular as specialized shops like weapon shops or armor shops in the first place.

“Senior. What are you doing after your shop work today? We’re very free. Hahaha.”

Morphine suddenly came behind me and started massaging my shoulders.
It was a transparent act.
But I didn’t dislike it that much.
Maybe because he always showed the same attitude, or maybe because I had gotten used to it.

Whatever the case, I knew that this guy and Delia’s intentions were purely out of curiosity.
Just like when I first sold magic tools to the alchemy shop.
Until now, I had sharply rejected such flattery, but considering their commendable efforts, I thought it might be okay to take them along just for today.
It’s hard to ignore when the only two juniors I have are so desperate.

“Want to go to the workshop?”

I said, taking the pipe tobacco out of my mouth for a moment.

At those words, Morphine and Delia’s pupils dilated like statues.
As if afraid my mind might change, Morphine reacted at the speed of light.

“I want to go! Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely want to go, Senior! We’ll just quietly observe without causing any trouble! Please let us come!”
“‘Absolutely’ is used in negative sentences, you fool. Foxtail, do you want to go too?”

Delia, showing a rare expression of joy, nodded her head vigorously instead of answering.

I think it’s the first time I’ve seen such an expression from her.
Is visiting a workshop that exciting?
Well, thinking about how I felt when I was first assigned to the research institute’s workshop, I could fully understand the juniors’ joy.

I put my pipe tobacco away and lightly packed my things, getting ready to leave.
I had already finished the closing preparations, and now I just needed to move.

“Follow me. Since it’s a workshop used at night, just quietly observe.”
“……!”
“It’s an honor, Senior! Sob. There’s no one like you, Senior. I really respect you, Senior. Indeed, the rising star of the Alchemy Department, the hope of the Alchemy Department, the future of the Alchemy Department! Thanks to you, Senior, today too…”
“Please shut that mouth, Morphine.”

The research institute building was alternately painted in pure white and red colors.
Most of the design was similar from the entrance stairs to the rooftop.
It was a strange exterior that seemed to express purity and blood.

When I once asked about this out of curiosity, Professor Melaine answered that it expressed the spirit of alchemists who create something from nothing.

I think there’s a big contradiction in that statement.
Because alchemists are not people who create something from nothing.
Alchemists are technicians who transform existing substances into other substances.
Although supernatural phenomena and magic may manifest in the process, the essence was transformation.
Because of the aspect of inventing magic tools, it seemed that established alchemists had developed some kind of misplaced self-esteem.

“This is the workshop assigned to me. Don’t touch anything and come in carefully.”

I opened the door to the workshop located on the outermost part of the third floor.
Morphine and Delia looked around with curious eyes and slowly entered the workshop.

The research institute’s workshop basically provides basic materials for making magic tools.

First is the [Low-grade Mana Stone].
Mana stones are special rocks containing a certain amount of mana, and they are the primary core material for making stone-type items like [Explosion Stone].
Mana stones could be mined from special terrains containing mana or obtained through monster hunting.

“Additionally, you can get them from dungeons. Not from hunting monsters inside dungeons, but when there are mana stones in the master room. There are places where mana stones are piled up like mountains, and places where just a few are placed.”
“Gasp. Senior, have you been to dungeons? Isn’t there no combat practice in the second year?”
“When I was young, I went briefly with my father.”

At the end of dungeons created through special gates, there is a special room called the ‘master room’.
When you break through a newly discovered dungeon and reach this place, there were often treasures hidden by its owner.
From gems to weapons or armor, even magic tools.
Mana stones were one of the rewards you could find among them.

That’s why among wandering heroes, there were quite a few who only searched for such undiscovered dungeons, aiming for sudden wealth.

“The second basic material provided is purified water.”
“Purified water?”
“Yeah. It’s the basic core material for potion making that you’re so curious about.”

When making potions, [Purified Water] is basically used.
This is because only when ingredients are added to clean water without impurities can you create water (potion) with special effects.

Not all potions use only purified water.
In the case of health potions, using [Holy Water] makes the production much easier and more effective.
Especially from intermediate health potions, the ingredients don’t react well unless [Holy Water] is used.

“Generally, when making low-grade health potions with purified water, you use ‘Flandre leaves’, ‘Terrapozium’, a handful of soil, and a bit of mana stone powder. With holy water, ‘Flandre leaves’ aren’t used. This is a manufacturing method that’s in the books, so you’ve probably seen it vaguely.”

Morphine and Delia nodded as if agreeing.

The flower of magic tool production is undoubtedly potions.
Any alchemist recognized as a proper hero knew how to make potions, and students in the Alchemy Department yearned to be able to make potions as soon as possible.

Therefore, even though they were freshmen, they also knew the basic manufacturing method for potions.

“Senior… why does the performance differ for each manufacturer if the recipe is the same…?”

Delia raised her hand carefully and asked.

For some reason, that sight made me laugh.
The first reason was that it was Delia, not Morphine, who asked this, and the second reason was that I was explaining to the kids as if giving a lecture after bringing them here.
It felt like I had become a professor in charge of the ‘Understanding Potion Making’ lecture.

“Because the ratios are different. Even if you use the same ingredients, the amount used in the combination process differs. Even if you put in Flandre leaves the same way, some makers put in large leaves, while others cut the leaves in half before putting them in. It’s the same with soil. Don’t you think ‘a handful of soil’ is too abstract? The amount each person can hold will be different.”
“Ah…”

Delia nodded as if she finally understood.

Alchemists didn’t tend to reveal the detailed and specific manufacturing methods of magic tools.
This is because they believe that any magic tool only becomes a meaningful result when they make it alone.

The realm of theory is common, but practice is one’s own domain.
Unlike the Swordsmanship Department or Magic Department, the Alchemy Department had a particularly strong tendency in this regard.
Regardless of the outcome, the process of reaching it had to be entirely one’s own.

That’s why they took great pride in the magic tools they made, and as a result, everyone had different manufacturing methods and ratios.

As I was explaining, I started to feel something was missing.
Morphine’s talkativeness had drastically decreased.
When I turned my head to look at him, he was deeply thinking about something with a serious expression.

I burst out laughing at that ridiculous sight.

“What are you doing, Morphine? Getting dizzy now that difficult content is coming out?”

I teased Morphine while chuckling.
It wasn’t a common sight to see Morphine with such a serious expression.
I had to tease him as much as I could while I had the chance.

But even though I spoke to him laughingly, Morphine’s expression still showed no signs of relaxing.
He seemed to be pondering for a long time.

And then, as if he had made up his mind, he suddenly knelt before me.

“Senior. I’m going to ask you shamelessly. I want to know the manufacturing ratio of your low-grade health potion. I know it’s an unreasonable request. But I desperately need your low-grade health potion. Please give me a chance to learn. I’m begging you like this.”

I couldn’t understand it for a moment.
Because I heard a request that didn’t make sense from a junior I had trusted.

‘What is he saying now?’

Magic tool production is an alchemist’s pride.
If you develop appraisal magic, the name of the creator clearly appears.
That’s how much magic tools were proof that a single alchemist, a hero handling alchemy, had created their own work.
Even if the basic manufacturing method was disclosed through patents, it was a kind of unwritten rule not to ask about the specific manufacturing method and ratio, even between master and disciple.

I looked at Morphine’s expression as he knelt.
There was no sign of him trying to joke around as usual.
And when I confirmed that, suddenly heat started rushing to my head.
The guy had been serious all along from before until now.

Although Morphine was someone I had been friendly with, exchanging jokes all the time, this time he was clearly crossing the line.