*****

Lord Clein and I, having suddenly been tasked with creating potions, were frantically engaged in the blending work.

There were many alchemists in the royal capital who could make potions, but creating decent ones from poor-quality materials was difficult. Even if the other alchemists had been requested to make Middle Potions, it would be meaningless if they couldn't finish in time.

The problem of the herb shortage, caused by a single alchemist, was now causing a serious situation that was dragging a large number of people into it.

「If only we had good-quality herbs, making a potion would be so easy.」

We had to make even one more bottle for the knights who were protecting the royal capital, despite our growing anxiety. The pressure was disrupting my mana control, making the already difficult task extremely hard.

I wanted to rely on the magic circle for the Formation skill alone, but the mana interference was too great, which would only make it take longer. Therefore, there was no choice but to deal with the unfamiliar creation method and skill.

「Don't push yourself. The multi-layered deployment of Blending and Formation is tough even for me. It's not something an apprentice alchemist should be doing for a long time.」

「You treat me like an apprentice when it suits you, don't you?」

「It's Mia's fault for always acting in ways unbecoming of an apprentice.」

Those were not words I wanted to hear from Lord Clein, who had hired an apprentice alchemist as an advisor. Lord Clein should know that since we had to create them within a limited time, we had no choice but to push ourselves.

「I have a suggestion. Would it be possible to spread this method to other alchemists and have everyone make them?」

「No. Since we don't know what else can be created with this technique, spreading it carelessly is too dangerous. If it's abused, we could be charged with a crime.」

I knew it... In the world of alchemy, where dangerous items can be created, they say you must exercise extreme caution when publishing recipes or techniques. Even in an emergency, that seems to be no exception.

「What about providing the technique just among the Court Alchemists—」

「I've already contacted the ones who would understand. Teaching the rest would just waste time. We have no choice but to overcome this ourselves.」

Saying that, Lord Clein's pace in making potions was overwhelmingly faster than mine. Having finished the herb preparation, he could focus entirely on the blending work. He seemed to be concentrating solely on completing the potions, rather than researching as he usually did.

I tried to increase my pace as well, but it only consumed a lot of mana, and things weren't going well.

I had dealt with emergencies many times as an Adventurers Guild employee. But this was my first time as an alchemist. My spiritual weakness was showing, and my mind was simply racing.

「Don't shoulder the burden unnecessarily. You are creating potions under circumstances where it's normal not to be able to make them. Even if there aren't enough potions, it won't be Mia's fault.」

「I know. I'm just an apprentice.」

Although I tried to sound tough, my body was honest. My hands were starting to tremble due to the unfamiliar work and the excessive mana consumption in a short period.

Since both the Blending and Formation skills were unstable, making another high-quality potion was the absolute limit. The potions Lord Clein and I made together would probably only be enough for one set, barely.

This was far from the four sets Vanessa-san had requested.

But if we didn't make them, it would affect the lives of the Knights’ Order members. The thought that my father or brother, who were in the Order, might be brought back covered in injuries...

I have to do something!

I strongly gripped the potion bottle to suppress the shaking of my hands. I'll compensate for the unstable skills by increasing the mana consumption. If I concentrate the mana more, I should be able to convert even one more bottle into a potion.

Instead of consuming mana wastefully, I must increase the mana density and stabilize the quality. There's no choice but to deploy the mana fields in multiple layers and go for a quick resolution—

「I told you not to push yourself! If you mess up, you might lose conscious—」

Lord Clein's voice dropping and my feeling of something being off must have been at the same time. The potion I had struggled with was suddenly and easily made, as if it were a lie.

If this had been my first time experiencing this, I would have certainly been confused. But I had experienced this sensation just once before.

This must be the original way to use this skill. Not a power that inspires fear in minerals, but a power that makes all materials and mana obey one's will.

I realized that the epithet "Demon" was not attached to the skill itself, but to the alchemists who overused its power.

「Lord Clein, this potion is—」

The moment I spoke, the workshop door opened without a knock.

The person standing there seemed unable to contain their overwhelming feelings, their face twisted into a grin.

「Heeheehee. You two are up to something very interesting.」