Volume 1 - CH 14.2

Chapter 1-14 : Coming From Afar Ⅱ (part 2)

「Okay, I understand.」(Sarasa)

「Nice! So, where can I set it up?」(Ophelia)

「Umm… I’m not sure but… is the corner of my workshop good?」(Sarasa)

「As long as this device won’t get in your way. Ah, but since setting it up on the second floor is a little hard, I recommend you to choose any place on the first floor.」(Ophelia)

「’A little hard’, huh…? Normally, it’ll be impossible, right…?」(Sarasa)

The best condition to install a transfer device is to set it up directly on the ground.

The farther from the ground, the harder it is to install.

In the end, I went with my first choice, the corner of my workshop.

I guided Master to my workshop and pointed at one of the corners.

「How about right here?」(Sarasa)

「Umu. No problem.」(Ophelia)

It only took a few minutes for Master to set up the device.

She managed to finish the supposedly difficult job with ease.

「Alright. Now, it’s time to put it to the test.」(Ophelia)

Master took out a small empty bottle from her bag and put it on the device.

When she poured her magical power to the device, the bottle disappeared in an instant.

「Yosh. Looks like there’s no problem. Sarasa, from now on, send me materials you get here. I’ll buy them at the prevailing price in the royal capital market. Also, if you want materials from me, write them down on a piece of paper and send it to me. I’ll send them as soon as I get them.」(Ophelia)

「Whooaaー Thank you very much, Master! But, is it okay if I send you materials randomly? Won’t they pile up in your storage?」(Sarasa)

「Don’t worry. I can make use of them immediately since I get a lot of orders in the royal capital. However, if you send me a lot of the same things, I will lower the purchase price accordingly.」(Ophelia)

「Understood.」(Sarasa)

Even if she lowered the price, I would still get a high profit because the price was according to market standards in the royal capital.

Basically, there’s not much material available around the royal capital, so most of the materials are brought from different places.

The reason why the market price in the royal capital is kinda high is because of the transportation cost.

In other words, the price of most materials are significantly higher than the South Strugg market price.

Actually, Master could just buy my materials at her price since she was the one who set up the transfer device.

However, she wants to buy my materials at the royal capital market price which is higher.

That means, she really wants to support me.

「Alright, with this, my business here is over. It’s too early to go to bed so… Sarasa, would you like to tell me about your life in this village?」(Ophelia)

「Okay. Umm… I wonder what should I start with…?」(Sarasa)

That night, I ended up chatting with Master until late.

The next day, Master bought the materials stored in my warehouse, and she even gave me a large amount of money as payment in advance.

After that, she returned to the royal capital.

Thanks to her giving me money, my concern about my cash shortage was resolved.

I wanted to stroll around this village with her, though.

But she can’t leave her store for too long.

By the way, she said, “Show me how good you are at using a sword when I come here next time”, before going.

……….I think she should have told me to show my alchemy skill, not sword skill, though…

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「Eh? Sarasa-san’s mentor was here yesterday?」(Lorea)

「Yeah… She came to train me… That’s why my muscles are in pain now…」(Sarasa)

The next day, when I was resting my upper body on the counter, Lorea-chan came.

Because I normally don’t move much, I suffer muscle pain after a day of sword practice.

「Hee… Practicing alchemy skills must be tough…」(Lorea)

「Well, yeah… but it’s not the reason why my muscles hurt right now, though…」(Sarasa)

Looks like Lorea-chan misunderstood.

「She trained me how to use a sword for almost an entire day.」(Sarasa)

「…..Eh? Ahh, so she was your sword mentor, huh?」(Lorea)

Lorea-chan tilted her head as she said that.

「No, of course she’s my alchemy mentor.」(Sarasa)

「….Hm? I don’t understand. So why did she teach you how to use a sword, then?」(Lorea)

「Umm, simply said, my master told me to train my body as well, that’s why she taught me how to use a sword.」(Sarasa)

「Hee… so alchemists can also use swords, huh?」(Lorea)

「Yup. Well, not just a sword, you can use the weapon you like. Because there was a class to collect materials by yourself at school, so you have to at least be able to use a weapon.」(Sarasa)

Most people think that alchemists are brainworkers or white-collar workers, but actually, they don’t just work with their brain.

「By the way, even though she’s my alchemy mentor, she’s very good at using a sword.」(Sarasa)

「Is that so? She must be a great person.」(Lorea)

「Yeah, she is. Actually, I’m confident in my sword skill, but… I couldn’t even graze her…」(Sarasa)

「I can’t imagine Sarasa-san fighting using a sword…」(Lorea)

「Haha. I might look like this, but I was the best student in the fighting class at school, you know? Well, I don’t think there are many alchemists who actually bring weapons and go to a forest to get materials themselves, though.」(Sarasa)

If you happen to get an order from a customer that requires you to use materials you couldn’t get unless you go get them yourself, you can just decline it after all.

You still can earn enough money even if you keep declining such troublesome orders.

「But, since I got a sword from my master, I guess I have to use it…」(Sarasa)

I took out the sword Master gave to me, and showed it to Lorea-chan.

「Wow, it’s a beautiful sword!」(Lorea)

There were no unnecessary modifications, and the shape of the sword was great and easy to use.

The brilliance of the blade has not changed at all even after yesterday’s training.

It shone beautifully without even the slightest scratch.

This is definitely a very expensive sword.

「I can’t let this beautiful sword be covered in dust, so I guess I’ll use it to practice my sword skill from now on.」(Sarasa)

「Even though you’re an alchemist?」(Lorea)

「Yup. Well, I haven’t trained my body enough since I came to this village, so I think it’s a good opportunity to start training.」(Sarasa)

When I was at school I had been training to build some stamina because it would be fatal if I got sick on exam days.

Besides, I didn’t want to spend money on medical expenses.

But after I graduated, I think I’ve been spending my days too leisurely.

「Is that so…? I have never seen Sarasa-san lazing around, though.」(Lorea)

「No, no. There are times when I’m not doing anything, you know? Like when I have to keep an eye on my store, I just sit here, waiting for customers.」(Sarasa)

Sometimes I did simple work while waiting for customers at the counter, but most of my work could only be done in my workshop after all.

When I was at school, I always read books I borrowed from the school library to kill time.

However, there’s no place in this village where I can borrow books, and books I have now are only the ten volumes of the Encyclopedia of Alchemy.

Anyway, there are only a few things that can be done while waiting for customers.

Well, I can do physical training, but it’s a little risky because I don’t know when the customers will come.

It would be awkward if a customer saw me doing push-ups on the floor of the store, right?

If I were that customer, I would turn back and move away from such a suspicious store as quickly as possible.

「But, I wish I could at least hire a storekeeper….. Lorea-chan, would you likeー….No, never mind. You don’t have time to work in my store, do you?」(Sarasa)

「No, I think I have enough time. Well, I don’t know if I can be of any use, though.」(Lorea)

I asked without expecting Lorea-chan to have enough time to work in my store, but her answer was different from what I expected.