Chapter 13: Contracts and a Gift
“I see, so youâre an elf.”
“Yes⌔
Twenty minutes after it was discovered that the âlower-grade recovery potionâ Lydia had made was actually a âspecial-grade recovery potion.â
The two of them sat facing each other, drinking tea.
Emma let out a relieved expression.
“Wow, that really surprised me, but if youâre an elf, it makes sense.
You really should have told me sooner!”
“Iâm sorry⌠I didnât really want many people to know.”
When Lydia apologized, Emma hurriedly waved her hands.
“No, no, itâs fine.
Elves really stand out, after all.
Iâve never seen one around here myself.
I may not look it, but Iâm very tight-lipped, so I wonât tell anyone.
You can rest easy!”
Incidentally, Emma realized Lydia was an elf because she had asked,
“âŚCould it be that youâre an elf, Lydia?”
Apparently, when she worked in a city before, one of her coworkers had been an elven apothecary, so she had a hunch.
“That coworker was amazing no matter what she made.
Even when she tried to make a middle-grade recovery potion, it ended up becoming upper-grade.”
“I see⌔
Lydia averted her gaze.
There was no way she could say that her lower-grade potion had become special-grade.
When Lydia asked what she should do going forward to avoid standing out, Emma suggested diluting the medicine.
“Itâs incredibly wasteful, but if you supply anything upper-grade or above, youâll definitely stand out.”
“Diluting it?”
“Yes.
Shall we try it here?”
The two began experimenting through trial and error.
They purified water created with magic, added it little by little, and measured the effect each time.
They found that diluting it eight times resulted in something around a middle-grade recovery potion.
“Is it really okay to dilute it this much?”
“Middle-grade sells the best, so the guild would be happy too.
The price is reasonable, so adventurers will be happy as well.”
“I see.”
Lydia nodded.
If everyone would be happy, then that was probably the best choice.
She bowed deeply to Emma.
“Iâll do that.
Thank you so much for teaching me so many things.”
“No, not at all.
Having a skilled apothecary come here helps us a lot!”
Emma scratched her head bashfully.
After discussing things further, they agreed that Lydia would supply one hundred middle-grade recovery potions per week.
They also offered to buy the recovery potions Lydia had brought with her, paying her eight silver coins for the equivalent of eight middle-grade potions.
(I did it.
Money!)
Lydia beamed with delight.
She felt overwhelming joy at earning money by her own efforts for the first time.
After thanking Emma and parting ways, Lydia returned to the reception desk in high spirits.
There, she saw Leohart talking to other adventurers with a slightly stern expression.
(Oh, did he make some friends?)
As she watched, Leohart noticed Lydia.
The severity in his face softened, and he walked over happily.
“How did it go?”
Lydia looked up into Leohartâs red eyes.
“Iâll be supplying medicine once a week from now on.”
“Congratulations.
How was the apothecary?”
“She was a very nice person.
She knew a lot about medicine, and talking with her was fun.”
Seeing Lydia so happy, Leohart smiled.
By the way, Leohart had apparently registered as an adventurer.
Since this town thrived on manufacturing, there was plenty of work like gathering materials.
“Iâd love to stay with you all the time, but being unemployed isnât very good.”
As they passed through the central street and entered the shopping district, Lydia puffed out her chest slightly and spoke.
“Hehe, actually, I have money!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.
The recovery potions I brought sold for eight silver coins!”
“Congratulations.
Thatâs quite a good price.”
Lydia grinned and looked up at Leohart.
“So, I was thinking Iâd like to buy you a present.
Is there anything you want?”
“âŚWhat?”
Leohartâs refined face showed clear surprise.
“A present⌠for me?”
“Of course.”
She could never thank him enough.
She had decided that the first thing she bought with the money she earned herself would be a gift for him.
Leohart pressed his fingers to the corners of his eyes as if overwhelmed.
His shoulders seemed to tremble slightly.
“Whatâs wrong, Leohart?”
“âŚNo, I was trembling with emotion.
I will never forget this moment for the rest of my life.”
Lydia giggled.
She still didnât fully understand Leohartâs way of speaking, but it was obvious he was happy.
When it came time to decide what he wanted, Leohart began to think deeply.
He walked through the shopping district with a serious expression.
Lydia smiled wryly.
“Leohart, you donât have to think that hard.”
“No, this is something I cannot not think hard about.”
He stated firmly, which was rare for him, and after thinking it through, he slowly spoke.
“Iâd like something I can wear.”
“Something to wear, like an accessory?”
“Yes.
Preferably something that wonât get in the way when I swing my sword.”
“I understand.”
Lydia and Leohart browsed stall after stall together.
There were many crafts, but none quite felt right.
Then, in a shop displaying antique-style accessories, Lydiaâs eyes were drawn to a pendant set with a clear stone.
(This is from the Elven Kingdom, isnât it?)
One spell could be stored inside the stone and carried with it.
That said, it was only something minor, like lighting firewood with fire magic, so it was rarely useful, but such items were often given to family members.
It should have been expensive in the Elven Kingdom, but the price was five silver coins.
When she asked the shopkeeper why, she was told that since humans couldnât use this type of magic item, it was sold cheaply.
(This seems perfect.)
It could store a small amount of healing magic, making it ideal for Leohart, who was an adventurer.
She looked up at Leohart beside her and asked, “What do you think?”
He nodded silently.
“Iâll take this.”
“Thank you very much!”
After paying and receiving the pendant, Lydia left the shop.
She stopped by another store to buy metal polishing powder.
“Iâll polish it properly and put magic into it before giving it to you.”
As she said that, Leohart gently took Lydiaâs hand.
He softly kissed the back of it and whispered.
“Thank you.
I will treasure it for the rest of my life.”
Lydia giggled.
She reached out and patted Leohartâs head.
“Youâre jumping the gun.
What if it turns out really strange after I polish it?”
“Itâs fine.
If itâs something from you, Lydia, I could treasure even an ordinary pebble for a lifetime.”
“My, how dramatic.”
Lydia laughed again.
After that, the two stopped by a grocery store to buy food, then walked home side by side in good spirits.