*****

While Mia, the apprentice alchemist, was continuing to make potions with surprising ease, the exact opposite phenomenon was occurring in a certain workshop in the royal capital.

「Damn it! Why can’t I make a potion?!」

Zeel, a C-Rank Alchemist, was unable to create a potion no matter how many times he tried.

He instinctively slammed his fist onto the desk in anger, but reality remained unchanged. The anxiety of being unable to make a potion, combined with the frustration of failing, caused him to become severely distraught.

「There's no way a genius like me could fail to make a simple item like a potion. This must be a mistake. I am a genius. I am a genius!」

Even as he desperately tried to convince himself he was a genius, his heart only grew more anxious. The sight of the failed potions rolling on the desk filled him with misery.

Zeel was already irritable from having to perform the tedious tasks he used to push onto Mia. He was working several times his usual workload: buying supplies, processing herbs, and preparing for potions.

It was understandable that he was frustrated when, despite all that effort, he couldn't successfully compound a single potion—even if that was the proper work of an alchemist.

「Why isn’t there any reaction! I’m doing the exact same thing I always did...!」

Zeel had been involved in alchemy for many years, but this was the first time he had been completely unable to create anything. Because of this, he didn't know how to handle the situation.

No matter how many times he channeled mana into the potion bottle, it remained completely inert. The steps should be correct, yet there was no sign of an alchemical reaction.

Grinding the pre-processed herbs and mixing them appropriately with magical water should result in a potion. That was Zeel's alchemy, the common sense within his own mind.

He failed to notice that his rough preparation was destroying the herbs' components and magical power. Since he was a "genius," he believed it was impossible for him to make a mistake.

「I’m an alchemy genius! I could make potions without putting in any effort, so what does this thing have against me?!」

He hurled the inert potion bottle against the wall, where it shattered with a Pareeeng!, sending shards flying everywhere.

The thought of having to redo the troublesome preparation only heightened Zeel's irritation. However, since Mia, whom he had pushed the chores onto, was gone, he had no choice but to do it himself.

He ripped the herbs apart, washed them with his fingernails until the leaves were bruised, and ground them in a fit of rage.

His work became rough, mirroring his agitated state, but he showed no concern.

Eventually, he touched the boiling magical water—

「Hot!!!」

Bashaang! He spilled the scalding water and ended up burning his hand. Looking at the workshop, which had become a mess in just a single day, Zeel couldn't comprehend what was happening, except for the reality that he could no longer make potions.

It was then that he heard the sound of light, quick footsteps approaching. The one who poked her head into Zeel's workshop was Catarina, who was helping out at the store in Mia's place.

「Lord Zeel~, Duke Wolfwood, our business partner, has arrived~... but what happened to you?」

Comparing the confident figure of Zeel from a few hours ago with his current haggard appearance, the smile vanished from Catarina’s face.

「...It’s a slump. I’ve fallen into an alchemy slump.」

「Huh? But you said you were going to make them seriously~?」

「I can’t help it! The sensation is different from before, and I can't perform alchemy! I can't make potions!!」

Though he hated to admit it, he had to face reality. Zeel realized he had become incapable of alchemy.

「Is that, perhaps~... an effect of Senpai helping you~?」

「Don't be ridiculous. There’s no way that could be true.」

「R-right~. T-there’s no way...」

There was only one thing that was different from before: Mia, the one he had pushed all the work onto, was gone. However, admitting that would mean admitting that his many actions and words had been wrong.

There was no way he could become helpless just because Mia had left. That simply couldn't happen.

All Zeel could do now was try to convince himself of that.

「But~, what are you going to do~? Duke Wolfwood is waiting.」

「What happened to the leftover potions?」

「You threw them all away, saying you didn't need the potions that Senpai helped with~. You said you could make them in half a day when you got serious...」

Zeel clutched his head at this development, where everything was backfiring.

In his own calculations, he should have been able to make them without issue. But the vast difference between his ideal and reality forced a deep sigh from him.

「It's like Mia's curse. Damn it! Of all times, to have a problem with the Duke Wolfwood's major transaction!」

「Are you going to be okay~? That family is known for being quite strict, aren’t they~?」

「Whether they will wait for me is unknown. It's the first time I've met with him in a long time, but the only option is to somehow persuade him.」

「Huh? You transact every month, yet it's the first time in a while? Then~, who was handling the transactions until now...?」

Seeing Catarina’s astonished expression, Zeel bit his lower lip. He couldn't hide his irritation at her implication that he hadn't been doing anything.

Because he had pushed all the troublesome chores onto Mia.