Chapter 3: Prospects
Nith didn't ignore his only friend despite her idiosyncrasies.
The day after their argument in the corridor—one of many, to be honest—he went downstairs to the store's basement and casually turned the knob, walking into Kyouka's workspace.
Of all things, alchemists were famous for their cauldrons, vials, and many items that had nothing to do with one another.
Cauldrons of various sizes hung on the walls, boxes of empty vials huddled in the corner, and various items littered the workbenches, floors, and even the ceiling. None of this surprised Nith as he sneaked up behind Kyouka.
She was focused on her current project, concentrating on the main cauldron in which a dense blue liquid bubbled. Despite sweating bullets, she wore her alchemist's long robes with green accents and overly long sleeves, which she had rolled up to her forearms.
As she focused intently on channeling mana to control the flames beneath the cauldron and the bubbling liquid, Nith observed her side profile.
If an everyday Kyouka could be ignored, the alchemist Kyouka could not. He didn't even know when her red eyes had stolen his attention. When he tried to look anywhere else, he found himself staring at either her plump lips or strands of pink hair peeking out from beneath her favorite witch's hat. He recalled that she bought it because people in a poor village, unaware of the term "alchemist," had called her a witch instead.
Kyouka turned to him then. "Oh, you're here! Thanks for waking up so early for me!"
"You're lucky I'm not a sniper," Nith replied.
"A sniper?" she asked, curious.
"Yeah, those types like to aim only for the head," he smirked.
Kyouka narrowed her eyes at him. "One does not get the head at no cost."
"Hah, I'm not signing any marriage papers," Nith replied as he leaned in closer to the cauldron. "So, where did you hit the wall?"
"At the second floor," Kyouka jested. "Seriously, though!" She put her hands on her hips and looked down at the cauldron like an angry mother. "I want our mana potions' regenerative properties to last longer! For that reason, I'm trying to add Ageless Sapphire Flora, which is known for extending a drug's effects."
Nith added, "For solid drugs, like pills, not potions."
"I know that! But I thought I'd find a way! I have no idea what else to add," Kyouka replied, turning her furious-mom expression toward a man who suddenly wanted to be a sniper even more.
Nith yawned. "It's going to be a process of elimination. I'll share my ideas after you finish this potion. I need to see you hit that wall."
Taking out a pair of glasses from his chest pocket, he put them on. These glasses allowed Nith to see what others with mana could see. He had lost much more because of his passive skill than just the ability to use mana, after all.
Kyouka continued with her alchemy, smiling from ear to ear.
Around ten minutes later, Nith nodded at the black miasma now filling the entire cauldron. He saw what had happened to the blue liquid and offered his insight, then cracked his neck and prepared to work in the store.
"I want a day off on my birthday," he said.
"The store's closed that day anyway," Kyouka replied. "But dinner is late. I need to prepare for it, so I'll visit a few friends here and there. I'll look better than the queen and princesses."
To his friend smugly tossing her pink hair like a fake queen, Nith sneered. "I'll wear my casual clothes for the best contrast possible."
And with those words, he left the exasperated alchemist alone.
—
Rocking in his chair, Nith thought about his future prospects.
'There's a thin line between medicine and poison. An overdose of medicine is no different from poison, but this world hasn't feared overdoses in the last two thousand years,' Nith rolled his eyes, avoiding a certain troublesome customer.
It was for that reason he could think about his future while working. Otherwise, he'd be busy talking to customers.
"You little shit, are you listening to me?!" the peeved customer asked.
'Of course I am, man,' Nith thought, then returned to his musings. 'My knowledge of poisonous ingredients allowed me to become proficient at potion making. I might even create a healing poison if I try hard enough with my venom constitution. Sounds funny, not gonna lie. Healing involves tearing tissues and replacing them with new ones. There's a way, and I'll find it for convenience's sake since healing always comes in handy. My true goal remains the same—fuck up that sanctuary's blessing.'
That blessing hindered Nith's growth. He didn't mind his current life, but even he would hit a wall in potion making sooner or later, all because of his constitution. He also knew much more than ordinary people, so he wanted to go higher and reach answers.
But he wouldn't mind making Kyouka's store his headquarters or a home to return to.
If she were to find someone else to marry, he'd start his own store and compete with her, though he could already see her getting mad at him. Well, it'd be his fault, so he'd have no excuses.
'Once I create a healing poison, I should get a title… How many titles was it to rank up? Seven, I think?' Nith's thoughts stopped when the furious customer slammed his hands on the counter.
Nith hit the floor with the chair's front legs and looked up at the man, his expression turning angry.
The man flinched before finding the courage to talk back. "I told you I have a sick daughter, and I'm poor! I need a discount on the healing potion!"
"Okay, break's over," Nith said. "Let's talk."
"Yeah, finally!" the man replied.
"What did you see before entering the store? Charity? Of course not, you dipshit. It's a potion store called 'Pink Shades of Potions'! 'Shade' comes from my name, and 'Pink' from Kyouka's, forming the store's name. Such a beautiful story, isn't it? Take this back to your daughter so that she feels better. If she exists, that is."
"She exists! And this story won't heal her!"
"And if I were to give you a potion for free, many more would come in to try their luck! Isn't that fucking obvious? Now, fuck off."
"You callous bastard! You'll bear the weight of my daughter's death!"
"Oh, wow… really? It's not like her father is a destitute idiot who can't earn even a minimum wage. Instead of searching for a job, you're here threatening others? If you'd told me you would wipe the floor for a month in exchange for a potion, I'd have given it to you, by the way."
The customer's face fell.
He left the store with his head hanging low.
Once he closed the door with a bang, he stomped on the ground. "That brat is not as naive as I thought!"