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The Old Lady and Alchemy 1

Translated by: ME

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*****

After successfully parrying Obaba-sama’s price-gouging tactics, I began meticulously checking the mana stones intended for my Enchantment practice.

「I need something with a clean core and as much residual mana as possible...」

As I picked them up one by one to verify their quality, Obaba-sama suddenly sidled up next to me.

With a creepy grin plastered on her face, she held out a cracked mana stone that was clearly unsellable.

She gave me an expectant look, but she had to know I wasn't going to buy that. Perhaps she was just lonely now that her previous customer was gone and wanted some attention.

I stared straight into her eyes, my gaze pleading "I’m not falling for it," until she finally withdrew her hand with a reluctant huff.

「If you keep running your business like this, you’re going to earn someone’s resentment one day.」

「Hee-hee-hee! I’ve already bought enough resentment to last a lifetime. One more tiny bit of spite at this point isn't going to change a thing.」

「Don't brag about it. Grudges over money can change a person, just like grudges over food.」

「You can only say such naive things because you live in a peaceful era. People with *real* grudges don't say a word; they just show up with poison on their knives.」

Hearing a method that sounded so high in murderous intent, I immediately regretted running my mouth.

Obaba-sama didn't seem bothered, but she is the woman called the "Demon Alchemist" who survived through battlefields. She must have earned countless terrifying grudges from enemy nations in her time.

Even if the wars are over and the years have passed, those things never truly disappear.

It occurred to me that she might even use her price-gouging as a way to test people—to see if a person is a genuine customer or an assassin.

「Oh? Look at this. An excellent mana stone left unsold in a place like this.」

「That’s the cracked one from a moment ago. I saw you move it there, you know?」

(Maybe I’m overthinking things.) No, I’m definitely overthinking it. Obaba-sama just genuinely enjoys ripping people off.

I really wished she’d find a different hobby for her retirement.

「Come to think of it, you really were an alchemist yourself, weren't you, Obaba-sama?」

「What did you think I was until now?」

「I just thought you were a regular shopkeeper running a business.」

「Hee-hee-hee! For someone who loves alchemy so much, your knowledge is still quite shallow. If you don't study more, you're going to embarrass yourself grandly sooner or later.」

(Ugh...) I couldn't deny that. Even if I’d only just stepped into the professional world of alchemy, I was now the assistant to the Court Alchemist.

Being mocked for a lack of knowledge, accidentally disrespecting high-ranking officials, or being unable to answer a client’s questions—all of these things could interfere with my work.

Trust is lost through things like that, so I couldn't afford to just "enjoy" alchemy forever.

However, while Master Clein helps me with the technical side, I can't keep leaning on him for basic general knowledge as well...

「Then, while I’m picking out products, would you mind teaching me? I’m well aware that I lack basic knowledge and common sense regarding alchemy, and I’ve been wanting to study up.」

「What a helpless child you are. You could just ask that Augusta brat.」

Despite her grumbling, the talkative Obaba-sama was clearly in high spirits; she even brought over a chair to sit beside me while I chose my stones.

It seems she really did want someone to talk to. Expecting a long session, she had even brought her own tea.

(I didn't actually plan on staying that long... oh well.) I’m sure Master Clein would forgive me if I told him I got caught in Obaba-sama’s clutches.

「I’d like to start with the basics. The lamps and stoves used in households are a result of alchemical enchantment, right?」

「Of course. You use 【Formation】 to shape the wood or magic ore, and 【Enchantment】 to inherit power from mana stones or monster materials. The finished products are called Magic Tools, and we've reached an age where you can buy them in any town.」

「They’re essential for daily life now. I’ve heard that alchemists who primarily make a living through Formation skills tend to focus on making safe items.」

The reason alchemists choose a specialization is because the field covers such a wide range of items.

They don't necessarily choose a specialty based solely on skills like 【Formation】 or 【Enchantment】. Some specialize in Magic Tools, while others, like Master Clein, specialize in potion research.

And in recent years, the area that has seen the most research and attention is alchemical offensive items—

「Don't be a fool. If you crank up the output on a lamp Magic Tool, you can use it as a flashbang to blind someone. If you crank up the output on a stove, you can make a bomb. There are plenty of folks doing shady deals in the shadows.」

The world of alchemy was apparently taking on a rather unsettling tone.

「Even with the same technology, the finished product and its use can change drastically depending on the creator’s heart...」

「It changes depending on the user, too. If someone puts in a request under the guise of monster extermination, most alchemists will just pass it through and make the item. Even the potions you made might have been purchased for use by some villain.」

「Please don't say such scary things. I only supply to reputable business partners.」

「Hee-hee-hee! You dream too much. In any era, alchemy is something that interferes with the power over life and death.」

As expected of Obaba-sama. She truly lived up to the name "Demon Alchemist."

I got the distinct impression that the world she saw was completely different from the one seen by someone like me, who just wanted to enjoy alchemy.

*****

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