NOVEL WEB Chapter 68
68. Preparation And Meticulousness Is Key, Isn’t It?
“Now, let’s distribute these before we depart.”
I retrieve stamina potions in water pouches from the spatial storage and hand them out to everyone.
Eva, who received the leather water pouch, looks puzzled.
“I already have water. I can even create it with magic…”
“That’s not water. It’s a stamina potion.”
“Huh?”
Eva shakes the small water pouch gently.
“Is this all!? How many bottles of potion are in here!?”
“I don’t know? I think there’s about twenty bottles’ worth. Feel free to gulp it down like water.”
“Huh?”
“I can make as much as I want. Just use it as regular hydration. Oh, don’t worry, there’s no addiction.”
“Is this a legendary-quality stamina potion!?”
Why is she so surprised? Adventurers in this town should be using it regularly.
As I ponder, Raidoc chuckles and joins the conversation.
“Eva, when you came to this town’s adventurer guild, there was a mandatory request, right?”
“Yes. It was training within the guild.”
“Yeah. Every newcomer to this town’s adventurer guild is requested to undergo a full-day mandatory training. Without it, they can’t take jobs at the adventurer guild here. And in those jobs, taking stamina potions is also mandatory.”
“They did that kind of thing?”
It’s news to Raidoc as well.
“Yeah. If adventurers regularly use legendary stamina potions, the mortality rate would drop significantly, right? But those who just arrived in town wouldn’t normally buy stamina potions, even if they’re cheaper than the market price, which is why they wouldn’t normally buy emergency-use stamina potions.”
That makes sense.
I’ve been a poor adventurer for a long time. Just hearing about how effective it is wouldn’t make me want to buy stamina potions.
“Yeah. So the guild, as a last resort, decided to give out requests where people could feel the effects of stamina potions firsthand. And it’s a way for people to gauge the level of adventurers in this town, right?”
“I see.”
“Raidoc, what does this have to do with these potions…?”
“All the stamina potions consumed in this town, and all the ones purchased by merchants, are made by a single craftsman.”
“…”
Eva blinks several times before opening her mouth wide.
“What!? All of them… All!? Is that true? Craft-san!”
“Yeah. I had a special alchemical kettle made by Leafan. I wouldn’t have enough hands without it.”
“I’ve seen several merchant caravans in town, but that’s an insane amount, isn’t it!?”
“There’s a little trick to that.”
“A trick?”
Upon hearing that, Eva’s expression seems to relax a bit.
“Stamina potions of legendary quality don’t degrade. But when they’re sold, they’re put into regular potion bottles.”
“Come to think of it… the carts were filled with boxes of potion bottles, right?”
“Yeah. We could sell them packed in water pouches or barrels like this, but everyone would buy them endlessly, right?”
“That’s right. If I were a merchant, I’d buy them in barrels as much as I could fit on a wagon.”
“Yeah. There was a time like that. But then, the production couldn’t keep up.”
That Akindo guy was buying them endlessly.
“So, we stopped selling them in barrels and switched to selling them in bottles. They’re in a common size that’s easy to handle.”
“Then couldn’t people just transfer the contents back into barrels?”
“I thought that too.”
“Huh?”
“Actually, it was Kyle who came up with this idea.”
“Kyle-sama?”
“Yeah, at first, I didn’t know if it made sense, but it was Kyle’s idea. We tried it, and it turned out to be a huge success.”
“Why is that?”
“There’s a merchant named Akindo who comes in and out of town, so I asked him a little. And he said this, ‘I feel safer when the potion is in a bottle.'”
“So even though they know it won’t degrade, they feel uneasy if it’s not in a bottle for degradation prevention?”
“I think so. We’re used to it, but Eva probably feels uneasy when the potions are in water pouches.”
“Yes. Honestly, it’s…”
“That’s it. Kyle saw right through that. The potion bottles are made by craftsmen who come to this town, and Leifan checks the quality, so it’s emotionally difficult to throw them away. Kyle saw through all of that.”
“…He’s amazing despite being so young.”
“Yeah. Kyle is amazing.”
Maybe it’s because he was sick for so long, he understands suffering and can see through others well. He would truly make an ideal lord.
Kyle said he wouldn’t succeed the viscount, but if he did, it would be wonderful.
“So, with stamina potions, even without an alchemical kettle, you can make enough for your journey anytime. Don’t hesitate to drink them.”
“Adventurers are given favorable treatment to purchase this potion, but being told we can drink it instead of water makes me hesitate…”
Then a smiling Leifan comes out and hugs Eva firmly from behind.
Physically, it’s more like jumping on her.
“Eva-san, don’t worry! The cost is ridiculously low! It’s just that due to market reasons, we have to set a certain price, but it’s practically free!”
“Furthermore, it’s like we’re making the potion bottles to raise the prices and ensure a stable income for the craftsmen, right?”
“Yeah, yeah! So don’t worry and use them as much as you want!”
“Yeah! Like this! …Ugh.”
“…Jitaro. I didn’t mean to encourage wasteful spending, you know?”
“T-This is to reassure Eva-san…!”
“Ah, I get it, I get it. But keep it at that level.”
“Okay.”
“Really, it seems fine.”
Seeing the exchange between me and Jitaro, it seems Eva understands.
“But still… he’s even more legendary than the rumors say.”
“He’s not on the same level as Professor Jabir though.”
As I say this, I continue handing out other water pouches and small bottles.
“Huh?”
Eva’s eyes widen again at the various supplies in her arms.
“What are these?”
“These are healing potions, sharpening oil, and mana potions. Since Eva is a magician, you should have them, right?”
“Wha… What!?”
For some reason, Eva seems terribly shocked.
Meanwhile, the second girl, Camille, calmly takes the potions she’s given and wears them, while Marilyn says, “Thank you,” and accepts them obediently, so maybe Eva is just particularly emotional.
These are the basic sets I’m giving to the Kendall siblings.
“Craft-kun, lately your standards seem a bit off?”
As I tilt my head, Leafan makes a weak comment.
I thought they’d be pleased since it’s convenient.
And it’s all included in the budget this time.
I switch gears and resume preparing for the journey.
I hang a belt over my robe.
This belt is for holding potion bottles. The potion bottles I use are different from the ones sold in stores or given out to everyone. They’re designed to be quickly accessible and throwable, shaped like test tubes.
Seeing this, Leafan comes over.
“Craft-kun, how’s the new potion bottle?”
“It’s pretty good. It took some getting used to, but I’ve practiced enough to use it now.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Seeing my conversation with Leafan, Raidoc peers into my potion bottle with a question.
“Is there something different about it from before?”
“Huh? Oh, they look the same, but they’ve been significantly improved.”
“Oh? Alright. Care to explain what changes you made?”
“That’s a surprise for when you use it…”
“Your little innovations often deviate from common sense, so I can’t help but feel anxious.”
“That’s harsh.”
“I think that’s because of Craft-kun’s usual behavior.”
“…I don’t understand.”
“Craft-san sometimes does really crazy things!”
“[Air Raid Blitz]!!!!”
“Gyaaaaa!?”
A compressed mass of air explodes, sending Jitaro flying. Despite being thrown against the nearby wall, he just gets up unharmed, saying, “That hurt.”, and everyone is astonished.
Somehow, Jitaro has been unreasonably sturdy lately!
“Well, let’s focus again. Leafan, is it really safe?”
Hey, Raidoc, why are you asking Leafan!?
“Yeah, it’s safe. I made it, so it’s not dangerous!”
“If Leafan says so… then it must be fine.”
“You guys…”
“Craft-san, what do you usually do?”
I answered Eva’s question, but for some reason, everyone, including the three sisters, gave me suspicious looks.
I don’t get it.