Lᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥, 𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘈𝘳𝘬𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘵
Tɪᴍᴇ: 8:44𝘢𝘮
Ishigami stared at the pile of papers in a state of petrification. What the hell is he seeing? Are these maths or topics associated to the alchemy of this world? Whatever it is, he's bound to fail because he just got to this world like a few days ago and he wasn't even that good at math.
Receptionist: "Our new member must first answer and submit these examination papers to be able to enter the guild. The contents tests your knowledge regarding herbs and raw extracts used for brewing potions and rare metals. After you finish, we will receive all your papers and add the scores together. The passing average grade is 83 out of 100."
Ishigami gulped.
What can he possibly answer to a question about alchemy from another world? He didn't grow up in this place and he may be a Potion Master by class but it wasn't necessary to use any ingredients for his potions thus he never knew the difficulties of how to make one manually.
In this kind of situation, one would seek for salvation. And it just so happens that salvation is always here.
Azathoth: "Don't be scared. Go do it."
And that one person just spoke out of nowhere in Ishigami's head. Ishigami didn't show any signs of shock to not alert the others but a few moments had already passed so the receptionist had to ask again.
Receptionist: "Sir? Will you take the exam or not?"
Due to the effects of nervousness, Ishigami inadvertently reached out his hand to receive the heap of papers.
Ishigami: "I-I'll take it."
The receptionist looked at him in vague confusion. Certainly he can take the test but...
Receptionist: "Sir, if you fail the examination test today, you will not be able to repeat it again until next year— eh?"
While explaining, she stopped midway after seeing something unexpected.
Ishigami was scribblings answers to an examination paper with a balanced composure. As if he's just copying answers from a textbook, his answering was too quick that it didn't seem like he was even reading the questions and blindly writing.
Yumi: "H-Hey! Slow down and take this seriously!"
Adventurer: "Y-Yeah! If you don't get this right, you'll have to wait a whole year!"
However, Ishigami didn't stop there. He continued answering the different kinds of subjects and contents of the exam and even doing two at once. Every 1 minute, he would switch to another pair of papers.
Because of this weird behavior of his, the receptionist must have thought he was confident and thus leered to look at his answers. The moment she laid eyes on atleast 12 questions that she already knew the answers of, her eyes widened from it's accuracy. They were all filled out correctly.
After about twenty minutes has passed since the start.
Ishigami: "Finally finished... My hand hurts."
He had successfully passed the complete set of papers he was to answer to the receptionist. While Ishigami was massaging his hands one by one with the other, he glanced at Yumi and the Adventurer. He could see that they're both having a common interest, they're looking at the examination papers that he had passed.
Receptionist: "This can't be that easy... P-Please wait here! I have to call for our guildmaster!"
The receptionist without delay, trotted off to a door beside her work desk. That door may have lead to the staffroom and after going inside, the receptionist muttered something about her being unable to ignore this.
It was a very rare occurrence which baffled everyone present in the room after watching Ishigami's high speed answering and the girl's reaction.
Yumi: "What happened just now? Did you half-heartedly answer the sheets?"
Ishigami: "No... I just knew the right answers. It was surprisingly easy."
The problem about him not knowing how to make potions without his skills was quickly resolved. It seems his intelligence stats served the purpose of enhancing his intelligence instead of magic, which is very common in RPG. And as his class is the Potion Master, the knowledge given to him is everything about potions in this world.
Yumi's lips slackened a little from Ishigami's remark. How much of a professional can this young man be to answer all that in such a short amount of time?
Adventurer: "Wow, I didn't expect I would meet a skilled alchemist like this... I'll make sure to buy alot of your potions after you register!"
Ishigami made a face that obviously gave out the words, "It was nothing." as he played with the quill he used on the exam by spinning it around.
Then came the sound of a wooden door being opened loudly that it's side had hit the wall. The usual grand entrance of a politically powerful person was played.
"Where is he?"
The receptionist from earlier walked out of the door. But this time accompanied by another tall figure. A dark elf in a cyan and white robe was with her. As her race suggested, her skin was darker than fair and her hair was white while the colors of her eyes were purplish. And ofcourse, the signature of an elf, pointy long ears and a beautiful face.
She looked around to see where her person of interest was. Her eyes slid from an alchemist to Ishigami then another person in the tavern. She didn't realize, who she was looking for, she had already laid eyes on. After not being able to spot him, she looked at the receptionist.
"So where is he?"
She reiterated her question. This time, the receptionist responded and pointed at Ishigami.
"Him?"
The supposed guildmaster walked closer and inspected Ishigami's appearance carefully. He looked at his black hair, his dark blue eyes, then his black cloak which serves as a veil for his school uniform that lies beneath it. The guildmaster felt perplexed as she didn't know this man with his seemingly poor attire and average bored looks.
"His appearance seem to be human."
Ishigami: "..."
"Are you sure he's not from a race that live longer than humans? Isn't he too young to have learned all that?"
Receptionist: "I'm not really sure, Actinic-sama. I only described his appearance as human."
"Can I ask for your name?"
Ishigami: "Ishigami Yu."
Actinic: "Ishigami, yes? My name is Actinic. I'm the current Guild Master of the Alchemist Guild in Blesmund."
Actinic reached out her hand to shake Ishigami's hand, which he received nonchalantly.
Receptionist: "Actinic-sama was once the top alchemist of Arkheist who scored a full 100 on the examination test during her registration. She's also a 13th time winner of Arkheist' Alchemical Challenges."
The receptionist girl proudly informed them like it were her own achievements. Hearing that, Actinic became flustered out of embarrassment and her fist without a shred of mercy, swiftly landed on the receptionist girl's head as if she was hammering a mole.
Receptionist: "Ouchie!"
Actinic: "H-How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to spout such things when introducing me, Elisa?!"
Receptionist: "It's no good. I want to tell everyone how cool our Guild Master is."
She fearlessly oppined. Actinic after seeing her joyful smile relieved a sigh and rubbed her own head. She almost forgot that she was in the middle of a conversation with Ishigami but fortunately, Ishigami spoke to remind her.
Ishigami: "So... when will I get my guild card❓"
Actinic: "O-Oh.. I'm sorry about that. We will issue your guild card right away. So please wait here for a little while. Oh and Elisa? Can you brew us tea while we wait?"
The receptionist bowed and walked out of the conversation, back to her work desk. She's most probably going to start making the tea and the guild card right after.
Yumi: "So this is the Guild Master..."
Adventurer: "It's my first time seeing her in person. I usually see her through big events like image projection magic."
Yumi: "Mhn, same here."
The Guild Master seemed to have noticed them as she faced their direction with a discerning look.
Actinic: "And you fellows are..?"
Taken aback by her sudden attention, the two guests other than Ishigami were alarmed, and straightened their figures to look more presentable to Actinic.
Yumi: "I'm named Yumire Ie Valenzein! It's a pleasure to personally meet you, miss Actinic the Moon Alchemist!"
Greyald: "Nice to meet you, Moon Alchemist-sama! I go by the name Greyald Payne! An adventurer who lives in the South-Western residential parts of Blesmund, I'm currently a C+ Ranked Adventurer!"
Actinic described them as a lively pair and politely asked them including Ishigami to take a seat among the available tables in the tavern.
Greyald: "O-Oh, about that... I'm just a bystander so I can't possibly hope to sit in the same table as you two."
Yumi: "M-Me too. I'll go wait for Mr. Ishigami outside."
Actinic: "Eh? I insist. It's just having tea with me, is there a problem? I do like company too, you know."
Ishigami felt bad that they would leave him alone so urgently out of embarrassment, so he helped Actinic convince them as well. He used to have trouble fitting in with people due to an accident in the past and because of his discontent in the world, but this other world is different, he won't have to fear anything like being thought of as a creep since it's another world where almost everything is weird.
Ishigami: "You guys should join us. I don't mind."
Yumi: "Are you really sure? I'm feeling nervous."
Actinic: "Well don't be. It's just something like a mini-tea party. This won't last an hour."
Greyald: "Th-Thank you for your hospitality."
Actinic smiled at the two after expressing their feelings and saw Elisa.
Elisa came back with the tea she was asked for. She only brought two teacups so she was asked by Actinic to bring an extra two again.
Along with the drink, Elisa made two more trips back to bring a bowl of cookies and four pieces of jellatin. After waiting enough, Elisa poured the tea to fill everyone's cups and hastily trotted away to carry on with creating Ishigami's Guild Card within a separate room.
Ishigami who has been feeling hunger until now, was delighted upon seeing the food prepared for them.
Ishigami: (Thank god! I can finally eat!)
But just after he took a cookie from the bowl, he was interrupted. After one sip of her tea, Actinic opened her mouth to speak.
Actinic: "Ishigami-san, how were you able to answer all those questions in the examination papers which usually take a whole day in only 20 minutes? Can you tell me?"
She asked in a cute and sweet way. Her lips slightly curled into a smile which gave Ishigami a feeling that she's suspecting him of cheating. Ishigami's hunger somehow affected his attitude which made him pop a vein on the left side of his forehead, Greyald noticed because of his seating position.
Ishigami: "I don't know, I just knew the answers after I read the questions. I might have read it in a book in the past."
Actinic: "I see, that is a pretty reasonable response. But the thing is."
Actinic plunged her hand into the pockets of her robe and forked out a piece of paper which she placed on the table in front of Ishigami. After a quick glance, Ishigami saw that it was one of the papers he answered. He scored a full 100.
Actinic: "Not only were you able to finish all of them in only twenty minutes, you were also able to perfect them all... Let me inform you that all the other examination papers were also a full score."
Ishigami blushed a little while drinking his tea, but he wasn't that flattered since he was already used to having high grades at school. But it did feel nice to be praised from time to time.
Ishigami: "There isn't really anything wrong with having a perfect score in an exam."
Taken aback by Ishigami's strong composure towards a compliment and finally eating the cookie, Actinic thought that he must be very used to it already.
Yumi: "Hey, Ishigami-san, how old are you?
The question in Actinic's head was coincidentally spoken out by Yumire. Ishigami looked at her after putting down his teacup and replied.
Ishigami: "Seventeen."
What came next, noone really expected. Because the next moment, Actinic stood up and slammed both her hands on the table while screaming, "Whaaaat!?", making their tea fly airborne for a while, only to land on their owner's faces or clothing. Greyald, Ishigami, and Yumi were bathed in tea.
Actinic: "That's not right! It took me 140 years to fully learn the true essence and perfected form of 15 types of potions! So he must be lying or something, right!?"
Her words were sharply directed at Ishigami who was wiping the tea off his face while the other two stared befuddled at the one titled Moon Alchemist currently almost shedding tears in dismay after receiving Ishigami's next words.
Ishigami: "I'm serious though. I'm human."
He raised his hand in front of him and made a gesture as if to point at her. A blue window appeared in an instant 1 inch away from his finger which contained the following words.
『Race: Superhuman』
Actinic: "That's not human at all! That's obviously a higher species of humans!"
Ishigami: "I think so too. But I'm still seventeen."
Actinic: "Fuaah... Atleast my frustration alleviated a little after finding out you're no ordinary human."
The guildmaster sighed in relief and massaged her head with one hand due to a slight migraine she got after the recent shock.
Meanwhile, Greyald stared at Ishigami's race name and started to mumble something about him seeing it before. Yumi was wondering the same thing, but in the end, they both ended their hypothesis after Actinic sat back down.
Actinic: "So you're a superior race to humans... Hehehe... That's only expected if you managed to do something like that. Yes, it's not that unbelievable at all."
Ishigami: "Well yeah, I guess."
The four of them had an awkward silence right after, Yumi and Greyald couldn't let go the image of a frustrated famous person who earned a title for being the second most impressive Alchemist in their world's history. To end the 1 minute of silence that Ishigami liked, Actinic put it to it's demise and talked about potions for a while to pass the time and forget about what happened earlier.
Actinic: "Ishigami-san, do you have a potion you made with you? I want to take a look at your work. From how splendidly you did, I can tell you're a good alchemist."
Ishigami: "Okay, I see."
He pushed his hand into his pocket.
Ishigami felt nauseous as mana from every part of his body came surging towards one direction, which was the hand he put in his pocket. From inside, the mana from his hands were silently discharged and transmuted into a small and empty potion bottle. Slowly, the remaining mana inside the bottle also changed in nature and became a warm blood-like liquid that could restore vitality.
After the process of making a potion which took 2.7 seconds was over, Ishigami took the potion out of his pocket and handed it over to Actinic. She received it with a little hesitation and stroked the cork. Must be checking how tightly closed it is.
Ishigami: "It's a healing potion."
Ishigami: (What's wrong with her❓ She's the one who asked for the potion but now she's hesitating to open it.)
Actinic: "A healing potion, you say. From it's color I can tell as much."
With a "Plok!", the cork was pulled out
The moment Actinic tried to smell the liquid which was producing reddish fumes, her face turned blue and she quickly shoved the potion away from her head, though it was in a very careful way as to not throw away it's contents.
Not because it smelled bad or anything, but because smelling it already filled her with so much energy.
Actinic: "A-Amazing. Your potion has so much medicinal power. From the thickness of the smell, I can tell it's expiration date is due in more than 10 years. It's actually better than mine."
Ishigami: "Yeah. It can even restore lost limbs."
From Ishigami's bold statement, Actinic's eyes widened and a group of six alchemists listening in on them from a nearby table bursted out in laughter.
Greyald: "What's so funny?"
The adventurer loudly asked the lot of them as he found it rude to just laugh at someone they don't even know.
Alchemist A: "Well you see, a healing potion that can restore lost limbs exist. BUT. The method for making them are rather complex, careful and precise. Mind you, even the materials to make it would cost you your life and ofcourse tons of money. And that young lad over there is claiming the potion he made can restore lost limbs?"
Alchemist B: "He's so skinny that a troll would just squash him flat while he's trying to steal it's heart!"
Ishigami found it immature to retort and just did what he thought is cool.
Actinic: (True. Even I have never seen a potion that can restore lost limbs before.)
While Actinic's head was making a decision whether Ishigami is lying or not, the person in question pulled out a short-sword from inside his cloak.
Greyald: "W-Woah! Calm down Ishigami-san!"
Thinking that Ishigami had lost his cool and decided to hurl knives at the other alchemists, Greyald stood up to stop him but... Instead of lunging at the alchemists, Ishigami used the knife in a different and more bizarre way...
He lifted his sleeves to reveal his bare arms then...
He used it to cut his own left arm off.
*Sounds of blood spraying*
Jets of Ishigami's blood gushed out and spread everywhere on the clean birch wood floor.
*Loud Screaming*
The sight of someone losing an arm and so much blood is enough to make even a man shriek like a girl. The 6 alchemists who didn't expect this outcome screamed the loudest in the room, but it was later bested by the infuriating screech of the janitor who just cleaned the floor seconds ago. Actinic was so shocked she covered her mouth with a piece of her cloth, Yumire fainted while Greyald was trying to rip off a piece of Ishigami's cloak to use it for stopping the bleeding.
Ishigami: (Mind Potion is in effect, this should nullify the pain for a while. I feel like my body is getting heavier which means I'm dying, so I'll make this quick.)
Ishigami snatched the healing potion he gave as a sample to Actinic and without delay, consumed it's liquids.
The moment the potion entered his bloodstream, the blood and organs visible from the part his arm once belonged to, emitted a green glow which expanded outwards into a tentacle shape.
Actinic: "Was he actually serious about the part it can restore lost limbs?!"
Despite being in a situation where they might embarrass themselves, they can't back down due to pride.
Alchemist A: "You call that an arm? That looks more like a lizard's tail!"
Alchemist B: "Y-Yeah, it doesn't look like an arm afterall!"
Alchemist C: "Don't tell me he just cut his arm to replace it with a lizard tail."
Three of the Alchemists continued on with their disparaging scorns, however there was already a lingering feeling in them that they're afraid of being wrong.
A few moments passed by and the bleeding stopped, the green glowing tentacle at this time was already shaped like a real arm.
Slowly, the light faded and Ishigami's new arm came to view. Seeing this, all his fellow potion makers went silent in disbelief as he casually hid back his arm by pulling back down his sleeves.
Actinic: "Y-You actually did it?!"
Ishigami: "Yep."
Ishigami was just twisting his wet cloak to squeeze out the blood stain when Elisa came back with a thin rectangular object clutched on both her hands which were being held up like it was an offering. She came from the office which held a silencing enchantment inside so she didn't hear about the commotion outside.
Elisa: "I've finished making the Guild Card, Ishigami-sama. Please check if all the information provided are correct."
Ishigami took the guild card without checking it and faced Greyald and Actinic, mainly because he was looking for Yumi who was laying there unconscious.
Everyone watched speechless of Ishigami who walked towards Yumi, when she didn't wake up, he probed on her forehead and used a [𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯] through his hands to forcefully wake her up.
Her eyes completely awoken after blinking several times and laying it's sights on Ishigami.
Yumi: "Y-You're alive!"
Ishigami: "Yeah. I got the guild card so let's go."
Yumi: "Eh? Okay, but... What about the Guild Master?"
Ishigami: "It's fine. She just doesn't know what to say."
Yumi bolted up her seat and looked around her while fixing her hair. Everyone present in the guild was so quiet, as if they saw a ghost pass by and couldn't get a move on. Which Elisa realized late.
Elisa: "Eh? Why does everyone look like they saw a ghost? And... ugh.... it looks like someone dropped red wine on the floor again— Janitor!"
Just like that, they both left the Alchemy Guild's building. Ishigami couldn't help but ask about something to Yumire after he came to a realization about something.
Ishigami: "Hey Yumi-san, do you know how I can earn money here❓"
Yumi: "You're seriously asking me that? Even I'm having trouble with all my jobs. But since you're an Alchemist with a guild card, you can sell potions for profit much better than I can earn a living."
It was a good idea. To begin with, it was the most obvious thing since he creates potions. But who would he sell it to?
Greyald: "Wait for meeeee!!"
Someone called out from behind them. And sure enough from the masculinity of his voice, it was Greyald. Ishigami remembered he was supposed to buy his potions so he started creating potions inside his pockets immediately.
Ishigami: "Hello Greyald-san. You're going to buy potions, aren't you❓"
Greyald: "Th-That's right. Thankfully I caught up with you guys."
He pulled out a pouch on his bag and opened it's contents, it was full of silver coins and a couple of gold.
On the way to the Alchemist Guild earlier, Yumi explained to Ishigami the currency of this world. But even if he knows and memorized it now, it was still his first transaction in real life with an unfamiliar currency, as such it made him a considerable bit of nervousness.
Ishigami: "Yumi-san, how much is one healing potion❓"
Yumi: "Hihi, I like it when someone relies on me alot like this. In Blesmund, the price of items like food and potions are a little higher than that in the capital or other cities atop water. That's because, obviously we're underwater where supplies will have a hard time getting through. So in Blesmund, the price for a regular healing potion is 66 copper coins."
Ishigami thanked Yumi for her info and seeing that it's okay to purchase now, Greyald requested.
Greyald: "It's an honor to be your first customer. So, I'm going to buy 8 potions from you today, that fine with you?"
Ishigami: "So that would be 5 silver coins and 28 copper coins."
Ishigami said the total price(He was happy about it) within 5 seconds which surprised Yumi and Greyald.
Yumi: "You're really good in your maths, Ishigami-san. Isn't this your first time selling something?"
Greyald: "The first time I did, I got scammed by buying bread twice the amount it should have been."
Ishigami: "Yes, it is. Where I came from, math is just a common kind of thing."
Ishigami pulled out three vials of healing potions from his pocket. To reduce the effects, he made it smaller by dividing each potion to three pieces. At first, Greyald hesitated, but Ishigami explained that it's only smaller so that the concentration of healing reduces to the point it can only heal a lost finger.
Greyald: "N-No way... This small and it's actually still more effective than a regular healing potion?"
Ishigami: "Just go take it, I won't accept no for an answer."
Greyald: "Well... If you say so. I'll come buy from you again!"
Ishigami received his first earnings in this world. A total of 5 silvers and 28 copper coins.
Yumi: "By the way, earlier did you actually accept me as a guide without having any money on you? Being a guide costs money you know?"
Ishigami: "A-Are you trying to scam me❓"
Yumi: "O-Ofcourse not! I just thought you wouldn't pay me at the end so I was a little mad..."
Ishigami: "Oh. If that's the case, here."
Ishigami took a silver coin from his earnings and gave it to Yumi who was sulking. She received it with an expression that she's clearly pleased and a little confused at the same time while Ishigami continued walking in a direction heading to the residential area.
Yumi: "The payment is actually 1 silver and and 50 copper coins... But I'll let you go, I guess."
She muttered behind his back, enough that he won't hear. But as a superhuman, Ishigami had high enough senses to hear her mumble but not clearly decipher what she said.
Ishigami: "What was that, Yumi-san❓"
Yumi: "It's nothing."
And so they marched forward while having some light conversations and enjoying the unknowns of this place. Though that only applied to Ishigami.
"...Hm, isn't that Ishigoblin? I remember he's in the Coalition group Lord Hitler suspects as the one responsible for the survival of Kuzarach. I might as well eliminate him along with this place."
Along the streets, a girl passed by the two. An SS nazi officer uniform hidden in a black cloak was her attire. Her silver hair swayed as she beamed madly after taking a quick turn to look back at Ishigami.
Feeling the hostile aura that emanated from that girl, he promptly jerked his head backwards to look for where it came from. But it's source was now nowhere to be found.