Chapter 38

Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing
Lion unsealed the Shilling Shop interface wearing a victorious grin.

『Would you like to sell an item?』

『Target Item: Mire Wood Flower Pot (★)』

『Offered Price: 800 Shillings (Commission separate)』

“Hey, hey. You’re doing it again. Check it again.”

Unlike last time, he bantered and held the pot up in the air.

『Although it is a beautiful pot, it is judged to have no particular value as it is made of wood.』

『The rank is also the lowest (★).』

『Adjusting』

『Offered Price: 650 Shillings (Commission separate.)』

Huh? The price went down this time.

‘This guy is fun to bargain with.’

Lion sighed and started to talk as if he didn’t know anything.

“Now. Look carefully. This isn’t just any wood, it’s Mire Wood that only grows in the labyrinth. And the characteristic of this Mire Wood is that it’s waterproof! And its durability is good too. It’s a wooden pot, so it looks pretty, and its performance is also perfect? I can’t sell this for just that price.”

『…….』

Whether it was due to his eloquent speech, the Shilling Shop fell silent for a moment before reactivating.

『Re-adjusting price…….』

『Offered Price: 1,500 Shillings』

『The price has been adjusted based on the condition ‘price increase and commission reduction due to new information about the item.’』

‘1,500? Nice.’

I can sell it for more shillings than I expected.

Lion managed his expression with effort and slowly nodded.

“Well… yes. That seems about right. I’ll sell it.”

『The item has been sold for 1,500 Shillings.』

『Collecting the item.』

『Acquired 1,500 Shillings.』

It sold!

Confirming the shillings filling his inventory, Lion asked a question.

“By the way, can I keep selling the same item?”

『It is possible.』

『However, if supply exceeds demand, the price will be lowered.』

Hmm, it’s probably best not to sell the same item too much.

And there will be more sales commission.

‘Then it would be beneficial to sell various items.’

Fortunately, he had many things to sell.

Because Lion’s talents were endless.

Also, since he made items out of necessity and sold them, his experience points would increase significantly.

‘If that’s the case, going from apprentice to skilled in the apprentice stage would be….’

Much easier.

—

Thus, time flowed on, and three weeks passed.

Lion leisurely lifted his fishing rod.

『Mire Snow Trout (★★)』

-A trout that lives only in the labyrinth, with a color like freshly fallen snow.

-Its eyes sparkle like moonstones. It might be quite valuable…

『Fishing Proficiency has reached Apprentice Lv.3.』

『The durability of the fishing rod has been used over 95 percent. Repair is needed.』

『Caught 10 types of rare fish 10/10』

『Achievement ‘The Path of the Fisherman Doctor’ obtained』

『Acquired 3,000 Shillings.』

Several notifications popped up at once.

Except for the issue with the fishing rod’s durability, they were quite good news.

“Good.”

With this, the preparations were complete.

Lion had made tremendous progress during that time.

『Fishing – Apprentice Lv.3』

『Gathering – Apprentice Lv.7』

『Cooking – Apprentice Lv.6』

『Sewing – Apprentice Lv.4』

『Woodworking – Apprentice Lv.3』

He couldn’t level up blacksmithing due to lack of equipment, but even this alone could be called great progress.

That wasn’t all.

There was something that had made such incredible progress that his other talents couldn’t even compare…

It was.

『Alchemy – Apprentice Lv.9』

A whopping level 9, the last stage of apprenticeship!

In fact, the reason Lion had been consistently fishing was because of his specialization in potion crafting and his alchemy talent.

To advance from apprentice to skilled, certain conditions were required.

It was that more than 5 talents, excluding the one in question, had to exceed apprentice level 3.

And through the fishing just now, as his apprentice level increased, the condition was unlocked.

That wasn’t the only plan.

“Fish Essence.”

He had stored as much Fish Essence as possible in case he failed the recipe unlocked at Skilled Lv.1.

Lion dismantled the fish and threw the entrails into a pot.

And if there was anything noteworthy among the fish byproducts.

『Mire Trout’s Fish Eye (★★)』

-Harvested from fish, but treated as a jewel.

-Despite not being a magic stone, it has high magic conductivity.

『Usage: Alchemy』

『☞Click to view the recipe.』

-Selling Price: 10,000 Shillings

……10,000?

The price was surprisingly high.

Was it because it was a jewel?

The Fish Eyes he had dismantled were indeed beautiful. He could earn a large sum of 10,000 Shillings if he sold them now, but…

Lion looked at the blocked recipe and gave up on selling it.

Yes. If it has value, it means Lion also needs it.

Besides, isn’t it coincidental?

Both Fish Essence and Fish Eye require reaching Skilled Lv.1 to see the recipe.

“Let’s not sell it.”

Since there was nothing he absolutely needed to buy, he decided to keep it instead of selling it at the Shilling Shop.

And more importantly, there was something more important right now.

It was leveling up his alchemy.

“Hoo.”

Lion went to the alchemy device and took a deep breath.

Nine non-perishable essences were gathered in his inventory.

And now, as the nearly finished Trout Essence, bubbling with alchemy, was completed…

“This makes ten.”

*Poof!*

A dazzling light enveloped Lion!

『The Potion Crafting Specialization talent has broken through its limits!』

『Congratulations! You have achieved tremendous growth in a short period through brilliant talent and unceasing effort!』

『The ‘Potion Crafting Specialization’ talent evolves into ‘Alchemy Specialization’.』

『Alchemy has reached Skilled Lv.1.』

『New recipes have been unlocked.』

As the locked recipes opened, various knowledge and information flooded into his mind.

It was a bit different from previous level-ups.

“This….”

Until now, Lion’s mind only contained recipes related to potions.

But now, it was different.

First, there was quite a lot of incoming information.

And they floated in his mind as if they were knowledge he already knew.

The sensation was quite strange, making his head feel a little dizzy.

『Phoenix’s Phoenix Tear』

『Scroll made with Flowing Tears』

『Elixir made with World Tree Sap.』

『Curse Doll』

『Curse Rebounding Doll』

…….

Information about things he couldn’t yet comprehend also entered his mind.

“Ugh.”

He experienced a momentary headache, but it subsided instantly.

He didn’t need to make such grand things, but it wouldn’t hurt to know about them.

Lion pushed the other knowledge to a corner of his mind and selected the recipe attached to the Fish Essence.

“……Ah, so that’s why it was blocked.”

-Always swallow the pill whole. The strong fishy smell can be difficult for those with sensitive stomachs.

‘So this was the hint.’

Lion realized then.

Up to the apprentice level, knowledge was limited to potions, and from skilled, one comprehends alchemy in general.

And this Fish Essence was not a potion, but a pill.

-Required Ingredients: 5x Special Fish Essence, 2x Fish Eye

And, as expected, the Fish Eye he had just obtained was also included.

But…

“It takes five essences at once?”

This is a bit problematic.

He had enough Fish Essence, but the Fish Eye was all he had just obtained.

There was only one chance.

Although he could definitely make it now that he was at the skilled level, he couldn’t help but feel nervous for no reason.

However, that tension gradually subsided after a while.

It wasn’t that he became calm because of the Mana Circle.

This was somewhat…

‘Should I say it’s adrenaline?’

It was a rather pleasant thrumming.

Lion realized then that he was smiling.

Perhaps because of his specialty trait, he found alchemy to be the most fun.

Indeed, alchemy was like a dopamine set for Lion, combining the skillful touch of fishing, the persistence of grinding, and extraordinary results.

It was a field that never got boring, especially with its rapid growth.

“Hahaha……”

Lion laughed alone like a madman for the first time in a while.

‘What is there to be afraid of.’

What if I fail?

What if I make a mistake?

All that is unnecessary.

Why worry about something I haven’t even tried!

It’s okay to fail! Just have fun and ignore all that!

“Let’s go.”

Lion immediately threw five Fish Essences into the alchemy pot and stirred them without heating.

The Fish Essences, which were like royal jelly, broke apart as they collided when mixed together.

A form that looked like bone powder or sand.

Lion continued to stir without stopping.

Then…

*Whoosh.*

A hot thermal energy began to rise.

Even though the alchemy pot wasn’t heated!

*Swish. Swish.*

As the temperature rose, the essences melted back into a liquid state and slowly clumped together.

The five colors mixed, but strangely, they didn’t become murky. Instead, they maintained their colorfulness like unmixed clay.

“In this state…”

He had to shape the hot lump with his hands.

This was the most difficult part, but it had no effect on Lion.

Because he had the Suit Set!

Without hesitation, Lion put his hand into the pot and kneaded it to shape it.

Clumping them together with his palms.

Finally…

‘Throw in the Fish Eye at once and close the lid!’

Lion threw in the Fish Eye according to the recipe and immediately closed the lid.

Then…

*Bubble, bubble!*

*BOOM! Clang! Clang!*

“Whoa, this is no joke.”

The pot began to shake so violently that it seemed like the lid would fly off.

Lion pressed down on the pot lid with both hands.

If the lid opened even by mistake here, it would be a failure.

*Clatter! Clatter!*

After a prolonged struggle, the lid became quiet as if nothing had happened.

Sensing completion, Lion immediately opened the lid.

Then.

*BOOM!*

Cloud-like steam billowed up, and a subtle rainbow appeared amidst it.

『Alchemist’s Fish Pill (★★)』

-The first pill made by a skilled alchemist.

-It is made with ingredients that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, so it has considerable value. Consuming it permanently increases a certain amount of mana.

-It smells like shrimp, but has a foul fishy odor when chewed, so swallow it whole in one go.

-Selling Price: 15,000 Shillings

-Usage: Fishing

『☞Click to view the recipe.』

“Hmm……”

The rank was not as high as he expected, so he was a little disappointed.

‘There was definitely a skillful touch involved.’

Well, the ingredients’ ranks were a bit low. It seemed even more so because it was for the skilled stage, not apprentice.

The fact that the special traits didn’t activate also played a part.

Still, it was fortunate that he didn’t fail, but…

“The usage is… fishing?”

Lion checked the recipe.

Although the detailed recipe wasn’t shown, likely because it was for fishing…

-It seems a particular fish would like it.

“You don’t mean…”

He suddenly remembered when the lake was first activated.

‘Rare’ grade fish.

“It’s bait?”