Chương 95: A Day Of Potions

Luna and I happily munched on chocolate cake and then chatted until after dinner. When it was time for her to go home, she mentioned that she forgot to bring another thing I left behind—this time a suitcase and said she'd bring it by tomorrow. Her actions were so cute, I couldn't help but be happy. It made me wonder, just what is she thinking? Does she think she's being a sneaky mouse? That I can't see through her actions? Not that I'm complaining, in fact, that in itself would be cute.

Especially since giving her a kiss on the cheek seems to be the way of saying 'goodbye' now. Like yesterday, she had paused in front of the doorway and repeatedly glanced at me, expecting something. And I obviously wasn't going to leave her hanging. Though, that could also be a cute sight… After I kissed her on the cheek, she hurriedly left with a bowed head. Alone again, instead of heading to bed, I decided to work on the recipes a little longer. …

"Hm…" I pondered in silence, tapping the desk with my fingers in a rhythm. I had narrowed down the materials to choose from for my recovery potion. I had created a C grade recipe for it before, but, the materials I chose then were expensive and haphazardly picked for fun.

"Opara grass is a must…" I mumbled, circling the word.

"How much is troll's blood?" I asked myself, looking on the exchange. Expensive…A liter would cost me twenty million points. That's nearly as much as my cauldron was! I mean, it's not like I don't get it. Troll's blood is a known key ingredient in creating high-grade recovery potions; Most B grade and above healing potions use it in their recipe! But! All I'm asking for is just a teensy little drop! Why isn't it sold by the milliliter! This is outrageous!

"Haah…" Sighing, I had to give up on using troll's blood. Instead, I opted for the less effective horned-gecko blood. A liter of this was only ten thousand points on the exchange. I finished up by picking a few more cost-effective materials with good synergy. Checking over the recipe, I nodded with satisfaction before flipping to the next page. Onto… Gluetrap potion—The final recipe I need to update. Now, this one doesn't actually need much change.

I mainly want to remove the denomyl liquid component and replace it with something easier to make. It's also something I plan to do with the dynokali potion if I can. Honestly, it's a real hassle making bombs—Ahem! Dynokali potions. Cauldron mister originally made that recipe with the knowledge that I could barely manipulate mana at the time and knew next to nothing about alchemy. So, a lot of it is way more chemistry and science-y related than I'd like.

Which means, I have to find substitute materials that can create a similar effect. Finding a singular material to do all the things denomyl liquid can do is impossible. So! It's time to get to theorizing. In a way, I'm creating a potion that'll be used to create another potion! Potion-ception!

"Hm…" I tapped my cheek in thought. This is tougher than I thought it'd be. It definitely isn't a one or two day thing, even with my absolute top-tier stellar genius that even the heavens envy. No ideas were coming to mind immediately, so, I put it on the back burner and read through the other recipes I created. Ironskin potion, looks good; Strength potion, good; Calming potion, perfect; And the recovery potion works. Alright! Great. Tomorrow, I'll start brewing and refilling my stockpile.

I also need to create more mana potions to sell… Hm… Wow, there's a lot of work. It's no wonder why alchemists have a basement-dwelling stereotype. With all the potions and recipes we need to make, when would we have time to go outside! This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. But! I'll leave that all to tomorrow me~ Present me is going to sleep like a baby! … Screw you, past me!!! That darned gremlin left me with so much work to do!

"Hehehehe!" I giggled. After my bath, I immediately went to the cauldron. Assuming every batch of 50 potions takes 2 and a half hours to create. Let's see… If I want 300 of each potion, that'll be… 135 hours or just under 6 days of pure alchemy. And that's not counting the dynokali or gluetrap potions. Currently, I need to make: Agility, Ironskin, Strength, Recovery, Calming, Concentration, Reaction Speed, Fatigue, and Mana potions. Wow, I'm screwed, aren't I? What do I need so many potions for, you ask? Well!

I can't simply be an alchemist with 0 potions in their stockpile! All the other alchemists would laugh at me! It's like having a wine cellar, I need to fill a room with potions! Hehe. Well, at least that's the reason I'd tell Luna. Truthfully, I just want a stockpile to brag about—in other words! It's for the aesthetic!

"Welp!" I cracked my fingers, "Let's get to work." … I completely blew past lunch time without rest. By now, I had created 150 agility potions—just halfway to my goal. I'd have continued probably until it was time for bed without eating, but Luna stopped me. Midway through my latest batch, she came by with my suitcase and was staying until after dinner like usual.

"-So, it'll take me about a week of pure potion making to finish my stockpile!" I explained happily. Luna nodded, taking a bite of her food before speaking,"So…You're planning on doing nothing but alchemy all day, every day until you finish this stockpile of yours?" She asked.

"Most likely," I nodded, "I don't know if it's because I took a three month break or something, but, I feel so motivated and energized! Alchemy really is a blast!" I smiled.

"I see…" Luna nodded. A moment of silence passed before she continued, "T-That's not okay!" She exclaimed.

"Mm?" I tilted my head, curious.

"If I didn't stop you earlier, you would've completely skipped lunch! And likely dinner as well if I wasn't here!" She said. I nodded, she does have a point.

"So! You obviously need someone to make sure you don't skip meals! That's why I'll be staying with you until you finish this stockpile!" She exclaimed with a red face. Pfft! I internally laughed, smiling brightly. This silly mouse is such a schemer! I love it! I wasn't anything but happy. I've been feeling reluctant ever since she returned home, honestly, just living together is so much more comfortable.

"W-What?" She said to my silence, "Don't like it?"

"Hehe," I smiled, propping my chin up with both palms, "Okay~ Please take care of me. I'm hopeless living alone." And…When I'm done with this stockpile, I hope you won't be too upset with me. Cause…Then I'll confess.

"Good," Luna nodded, "Please take care of me too." She smiled. … After lunch, I got right back on the potion grind and Luna was playing games on the computer. This…I like this daily life. I like it a lot. Today passed by peacefully, a bit more comfortably than yesterday. When it was time for bed, Luna and I laid next to each other like we used to. Then, we noticed a problem—a big problem that was most noticeable at night.

"I…" Luna started, "I'll bring the silverbin blanket from my house here tomorrow."

"Please do…" I replied. Honestly, I was expecting Luna to use it as an excuse to visit again. But, I guess this sudden cohabitation didn't give her the chance to.

"Hehe," I giggled softly.

"Pfft…" Luna also laughed. It was a little ridiculous, and that's exactly why it's funny. Luna and I lay underneath the boring, plain blankets I bought from the store some months ago. It really is so much more comfortable.

"Goodnight, Mouse." I said.

"Goodnight, Bin." Luna replied. Quiet snoozes followed a short while later. … The next day, I was back to brewing potions! If yesterday I was energized, today I felt like I was in my prime! Well, I am in my prime, but like… Bah! Anyways! I felt like I could brew a thousand potions no problem! By lunch time I completed another 100 agility potions. I could totally have finished the agility potion stockpile today, but, instead, I side-tracked to brewing mana potions for the rest of the day.

I needed to make money after all. … Finally, 300 agility potions sat nicely in boxes in my closet. It was a lot of effort, but, seeing them all complete was extremely satisfying. When I finish the 8 other potions… Hehe! I can't wait. Instead of immediately moving onto the next batch of potions, I decided to bother Luna for a bit. She was at the computer, playing a game with Rumi. We hadn't talked in a while, but it's good to see she's still doing well.

"I have no idea." Luna said. [Well, I'm stumped! How are we supposed to know this!?] Rumi complained. Mm…? What're they doing? I approached Luna from behind,"What're you doing?" I asked.

"Oh," Luna flinched, turning to me, "Rumi and I are playing some puzzle game. We got stuck and the game gave us a clue, but neither of us know what it means." [Huh? Bin! Bin, is that you!? Perfect timing! Please help us!!! We've been stuck on this part for so long!] Rumi's voice came through the speakers.

"Um… Okay, I'll try." I said, "What's the clue?" I asked. [This monster lives within dark and dim caves, only eating hiroki shrooms for sustenance. It has three life stages and is extremely weak to light. During its second stage of life, red markings appear on its back signifying its grade.] Rumi said. [Like! How are we supposed to know what kind of monster this is!? It gives us practically no info! Even rankers wouldn't know this off the top of their-]"Isn't it a Red-Masked Nightcrawler?" I said. [… What?]"…

Um, what? Bin?" Luna looked at me like I just said something crazy.

"Huh? What? Cave-dweller, red markings, three life stages, and hiroki shrooms as its diet. Is it not obvious enough?" I said confused. On the screen, the door they were locked behind suddenly started to open, signifying that they had answered correctly. [WHAT!?] Rumi shouted, [NO! NO! NO! ABSOLUTELY NO WAY! BIN! HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU KNOW THAT!?] Rumi's yelled in disbelief. -? - Bin's back! - Hi, Bin! - Welcome back, Bin! - Wait, how'd she get that so fast? -???

- Rumi and Mouse were stuck on that clue for like 20 minutes?? She comes over and gets it correct in seconds? - Is this the brain of a B-grade alchemist? - No, what the hell? I was still searching through the monster compendium, and she just knows it off the top of her head??

"Um, Bin, I'm curious too, how did you know that?" Luna asked.

"Well, I use hiroki shrooms a lot, so I naturally researched the material. There's quite a bit of monsters that have it in their diet, but, only the red-masked nightcrawler fit all of those requirements." I said. [NO! NO! NO! I get that you researched hiroki shrooms, but why would you possibly look into what monsters eat them!? In what way does that aid you!?] Rumi asked.

"There are multiple reasons, so, I'll just say the one that comes to mind immediately: With the knowledge that hiroki shrooms are a staple food-source for the nightcrawlers, it's safe to assume that they'll naturally inherit some of the shroom's properties. And, in fact, nightcrawler blood can be drunk to help your mana regen. If the blood is extracted from a high-grade nightcrawler, it's even more effective than hiroki shrooms" […] - … - …

"…" Luna stared at me blankly. [Bin's scary] - Agreed. - +1 - So smart and knowledgeable though! - I missed Bin, glad to see her back! - Bin, what do you think of the Little Bomber's floor 5 clear?

"Well, Bin's smart so she'll naturally know the answer." Luna said, nodding proudly as if it was her own achievement. Pfft. I'm surprised that Luna didn't know it, considering that she's the combat class. Though, I guess nightcrawlers are a bit on the rarer side. I smiled,"Alright, I'm going back to making potions." I said.

"Okay, have fun." Luna said. [Talk to you later!] Rumi chimed in. But, before I left, I quickly muted the mic and-"Mwah." Gave Luna a kiss on the cheek. That's for being cute~ Unmuting the mic, I started walking back to the cauldron.

"See you~" I said.