ALL NOVEL Chapter 156.1
156.1. Trouble Always Comes From Afar, Isn’t It?
Time rewinds before the teleportation gate is completed.
Leafan and I were caught in an inferno of work.
It was like a storm, really.
First, I rushed into the Adventurers’ Guild, slapped down express fees, and requested rare material collections.
Until the materials were ready, I sped up the production of potions we had planned to stockpile.
Since I would be heading to the small nation-states, I had to prepare enough potions for sale in my absence.
But even with our already-tight schedule, the sudden change in plans left no room for sleep.
If only Leafan could help, we’d have some breathing space, but she was caught in the same storm.
“This is bad. We might run short on stock.”
“Hmm… That would be troublesome, but we cannot refuse His Majesty’s orders.”
Jabil-sensei, who had been helping us, wiped the sweat pouring down her face with her sleeve.
Honestly, I’m not sure if Sensei’s stamina will hold.
Even after drinking a legendary-grade stamina potion, she’s still sweating buckets—she’s really pushing herself.
Stamina potions can cancel out about 80% of fatigue, but if you keep going beyond that, exhaustion will inevitably catch up.
“We’re used to His Majesty’s wild ideas, but this is a bit much.”
Erla Ruira, Sensei’s former apprentice, remarked with exasperation.
After Van abandoned her, she ended up helping us out.
“Still, I’m lucky to have you two—two of the best alchemists in the world—helping me. Leafan’s having a tougher time.”
“Indeed. Although this town boasts many skilled artisans, they can’t compare to Leafan.”
“Without the Guild Master, I’d be stuck with paperwork too. I guess this is still better.”
Well, rather than Guild Master Grim, his assistant Sindelly might deserve the credit.
“Oh Lord! Send us a super-skilled blacksmith right now!”
“Stop saying nonsense!”
Sensei pressed her forehead and shook her head in disbelief.
Just as he was muttering ridiculous things, stirring the alchemical cauldron, a loud voice boomed from the Production Guild’s reception.
“What the!?”
We scrambled up the stairs (the alchemy lab is in the basement).
There, a brawny dwarf was shouting, shaking the room with his voice.
“I said, bring out Leafan!”
Wow. His voice hits you right in the gut!
Plum Frutia, the eternally-new recruit at the guild for some reason, was struggling to handle him.
“As I mentioned, Guild Master Leafan is extremely busy right now and not accepting non-urgent meetings…”
“But I’m here! That makes it urgent!”
The dwarf spread his strange logic with reckless abandon.
Though short in stature, his presence was as overwhelming as a dragon.
This is beyond poor Plum’s capabilities.
“Hey, excuse me. Do you need something from Leafan?”
“Hm? Yes! I heard that girl’s here, so I came personally! Bring out the mithril!”
His words made no sense.
“Uh… So, do you want to meet Leafan, or are you here to buy mithril? Make it clear.”
“The mithril! I’ll get it from Leafan! Just bring her out already!”
What’s with this guy? He’s calling her “girl”—is he an enemy? Should I take him down?
“Patience is a virtue.”
“…I won’t attack him.”
I must’ve made it obvious, because Sensei immediately cut in.
“Anyway, the Guild Master is out. Come back later.”
“No! I need to forge hard mithril now!”
“Could you at least have a conversation!?”
What’s with this selfish dwarf!?
Sensei, the impatient one is this guy, not me!
We should just kick him out of the Production Guild.
“You’re disturbing others. If you keep acting out, we’ll have to force you to leave.”
“Oh? You think you can?”
The dwarf hefted a massive hammer, as big as the one Leafan carries.
The atmosphere at the reception desk shifted instantly.
“Wah! W-Wah!”
Calm down, Plum.
I slipped a test-tube-shaped potion bottle between my fingers.
If I used this sticky alchemical mixture to immobilize him, it’d end without trouble.
We were on the verge of a fight.
Then, a shocked voice rang out from the guild entrance.
“Wait! What are you doing, Craft-kun!?”
It was Leafan, rushing in, clearly panicked.
“Fighting in the guild…? Wait, what?”
She stepped between us, turning toward the dwarf to see who I was about to face, then froze on the spot.
“Master…?”
“Hey! Kid! You’re looking good! Now, bring out the mithril!”
The dwarf shouted nonsense without rhyme or reason.
This is how we met Leafan’s mentor, Velund Alvit.
Yeah, it was the worst possible meeting.
◆