Everyoneās surprised to see me walking normally, but Chris and the others who know my secret quickly realize why. Leila is just surprised.
We go to Caseyās room, and the maid looking after her tells us she fell asleep.
I try using Appraisal, and see her condition really has changed. It went from ćpetrification ā stoppedć back to ćpetrification in progressć.
I say Iām going to raise a sleeve of her pajamas, and see the petrification is spreading.
āMia, have you been casting Recovery every day?ā
As I get ready, I ask whatās been going on since we got here.
She says sheās been casting Recovery every day, but it hasnāt shown any changes or effect in particular.
First, I make four full potions using potions Iāve made. That goes without a hitch, but what surprises me is that I barely spend any MP doing it. I guess it really was that environment that complicated this process.
Then I move on to making a petrification cure, and⦠I finish one.
āTry using this.ā
I say to Leila, although Casey is sleeping right now. But the pain wakes her up soon after.
āLadyā¦ā
āDrink this, Casey. Sora made it.ā
Casey notices us standing behind Leila, and bows while saying thank you. Even those small movements look difficult for her.
Leila helps her drink the petrification cure, and I guess that helps her calm down, because she falls asleep again. I cast Appraisal, and see her condition is back to petrification ā stopped.
It looks like when her petrification is in progress, it starts hurting from time to time, so she hasnāt been sleeping a lot, even though theyāve been looking for ways to alleviate that.
But why is she the only one who hasnāt been fully cured?
The only difference between her and the others is that her petrification spread further.
Leila told me she protected her and took the breath for a little longer than the others. That might be related, but I donāt have any way of checking.
The only thing I do know is that her petrification isnāt being fully cured.
āThank you Sora. You really helped us.ā
āIāll give you three more. Theyāll probably stop working after fifteen days, so weāll have to check that again.ā
āI see. Iāll tell that to the people looking after her.ā
Also, can I make full potions with ready-made potions?
āI want to use Alchemy to make more potions, is that all right?ā
āā¦You should probably do it here, rather than in another room. Iāll look after Casey, so tell me when youāre done.ā
And so, I get to work right away. First I use Appraisal on every potion, and see that some are good, and the rest average.
Iāll start by putting the three good ones aside, and try mixing the others.
I end up with one low quality full potion, and three failures.
What if I mix the good quality ones⦠That gives me an average quality full potion.
Thereās no doubt that the quality of the potions Iām using matters, but are there any other conditions involved? I donāt have enough potions to go by trial and error.
What I do know is that it doesnāt fail if I use the potions I made. My potions are generally all good quality, but so are the full potions.
āDid you learn anything?ā
āIām not an expert, but I think the quality of the potions has to do with itā¦ā
That said, it canāt be that simple. It doesnāt explain why the good quality ready-made potions create average full potions.
But then we hear a knock on the door, and Alto comes in, still dressed like a maidā¦
āMish Leila. Masther is calling. You too sir.ā
Altoās voice is trembling, but thatās because of Leila, right? Iām not scary, am I?
āAre the rest of you going to be all right?ā
āYesā¦ā
But they still come along, although they stop before I enter the room, and apparently theyāre going to clean the mansion. Wait, does that mean they havenāt been doing that? I donāt know. Maybe I should ask about that.
āThank you for coming. We have a troublesome fellow here.ā
He says while letting out a purposefully big sigh and peeking over at the man sitting next to him.
I donāt know who the middle-aged man with the big beard is, but Jake, the leader of Guardian Sword, is here too.
āYes, nice to meet you. Sora, correct? I am called Bozen, and I am the guildmaster of this cityās alchemist guild. Do I need a requirement? Do I?ā
Another guy that comes off really strong. I guess my feelings are showing on my face, because Will and Jake are smiling awkwardly at me.
āSo you want to know how to make potions?ā
āPrecisely. Those ones. Full potions, correct? And I want to know about the petrification cures you made! Ah, of course, you will be compensated, and you can refuse if you want. Technique and skills are a personās biggest treasures.ā
I thought he was going to be unreasonable, but it sounds like heās pretty sensible.
āAh⦠Bozen isnāt too high-handed, but he is stubborn.ā
Leila whispers to me.
The man himself is just sipping tea with an unconcerned look on his face. Like he feels he said everything he wanted to say.
āYes. If itās not too much to ask, I want to ask the same. Not to mention how useful it is to have that man owe me one. He is competent despite everything.ā
āWhat are you talking about? I am nothing but competent. Thatās why youāre no good, Will.ā
Apparently these two are friends. Incidentally, Leila heard from their senior butler that they along with Jakeās father used to be pretty reckless when they were younger.
āHn⦠Honestly, there are things I donāt understand either, so if you investigate them yourselves, I donāt mind. Depending on the reward, of course.ā
āI see, I see. I like young people who get straight to the point. Well then⦠We should silence the merchants quickly. And⦠What do we need? Hn⦠I can offer you free membership to the alchemist guild. We will even waive the annual fee!ā
He says with a happy look on his face. And⦠I get the feeling that he was looking into my problems with the merchant guild in the Holy Kingdom.
āI seeā¦ā
Then Iāll add a few more conditions and see if he bites. Iām sure he has his limits too.