Side Story 1 - Receptionist of Alchemist Guild 1

It's early in the morning for Reito Efsink (26).
She has a home in the living quarters between the Second and First Walls, called the Second City, and even before the sun comes up today, she has been coming to the alchemists' guild, where she works.

A woman walking alone on a dark street with few people still out and about is an extremely dangerous act, but there is no one in this city who would assault her.
Why do you mean? It is because her boss is supernatural Reinrich after all.

To tell a few anecdotes from the past, there was a bandit who attacked the carriage that she was traveling with.
But, according to the wagoner, he suddenly disappeared. What he heard wasn't even a scream, but a small moan of "Ah... ah... ah..." and a small ash-like powder was fluttering in the wind, he said.
Other than that, there are mushrooms in her possession that grow in a strange way.
There are rumors that the dragon has retained its human form, but its entire body has turned green and countless mushrooms have grown out of it.

Whether it's true or not, there are no such people in this city who would mess with the receptionist of the Reinrich's guild.
For some reason, Rieto sat in a daze, lost in thought.

“I wonder if this month's salary is going to be enough.” (Reito’s mind)

One of her recent worries is that a contract with the Adventurer's Guild is about to be taken away by the Pharmaceutical Guild.
The adventurer's guild is a large contract partner, so it's been very useful to us, but our boss, Reinrich, doesn't even seem to care if the number of wholesales is decreasing.
On the contrary, she's happy that her work has been reduced.
I'm the one making the potion in the first place.
I know that Reinrich-sama usually doesn't make a single potion and is absorbed in her own research.

The other alchemists are also useless to say the least, as they are too absorbed in their own research to come out of the alchemy room.
Hah, this makes me wonder if I should have gotten pulled out too.
No matter how long I stay up all night making potions, I'm still employed by the guild, so my salary won't change.
I know that I can be a guild master after the death of Reinrich-sama, but at this rate, I may be dried up by then.

Huh. Maybe I should change job.
I wonder if the salary will go up.
I wonder if freelancing would be more profitable.
Or maybe it's late, but I'm wondering if anyone will take me.

While I'm thinking about that, I arrive at the Alchemists Guild.
I have to do some reception work when the morning sun rises, so I'll start making recovery potions now.

“I wish there was someone who could make at least half of this....” (Reito’s mind)

Fortunately, it's only a few recovery potions (small), so I guess I can make it with <Counterfeit Skill- Multi-copy> that acquired from alchemy level 8.
Even so, I have to start at such a time to prepare, work, and finish cleaning up.

“It's so quiet.......... I envy how healthy it is that even research idiots are sleeping at this hour.” (Reito’s mind)

Place the finished potion in its case and prepare to deliver it to the Adventurer's Guild.
That's about six cases, which is 72 bottles (12 x 6).
What I'm holding is a item bag (medium) that I'm borrowing from Reinrich.
I asked if it would be impossible for a woman to carry such a large amount of potion by herself, and she lent it to me.
“If I take this and run away, I could live a frugal life for the rest of my life.” (Reito’s mind)

I had no intention of doing that, but I couldn't help but think of a work environment that was so black.



It appears that something surprising has happened today.
It's been a long time since Hayato-sama showed up at the Alchemists Guild with a unfamiliar man.
When I came before, I did not talk because I have had an errand for Reinrich-sama, but he had become a earl in the blink of an eye even though he was still a fledgling adventurer.

The newcomer is a "drifter" just like the Earl.
I was expecting him to be a great person, but when I asked Reinrich-sama, his abilities were ordinary.
Well, it seems that he has some alchemy skills, so I'm going to support him behind the scenes.
Finally, a newcomer. I thought to myself, "I'm going to support you carefully so that the pharmaceutical guild that put me through this kind of penance won't take you away."

“Let’s help him!” Just as I was thinking, Reinrich-sama asked me to run an errand for her.
Mu. It was a chance to get in touch with a cute newcomer (a boy of the same generation).
Even though it's an errand, it's a personal errand for Reinrich-sama.
She wants me to go to a floral shop and get Mandrake's Root and Poisonous Flower Zaza Blanca, so what in the world is she going to make again?
Anything that can be made with the paralyzing poisonous mandrake root and the phantom effect and the psychic pollution effect of the poisonous flower Zaza Blanca is a dramatization no matter how I think about it.
Huh, Reinrich-sama, I don't want the result of being too hard on the newcomer and making him quit!

[I’m back] (Reito)
[Welcome home. It appears too late.] (Reinrich)
[If you're going to say something like that, you should go on your own next time. ...........wait?　How's the newcomer?] (Reito)
[He's already making potions in the Alchemy Room.] (Reinrich)
[Wow, that's fast. I can't wait for him to grow up and make a potion to wholesale to the Adventurers Guild on my behalf.] (Reito)
[What is it? Are you not satisfied with that?] (Reinrich)
[Of course, there is, isn't there? Lack of sleep is a maiden's enemy, isn't it?　I feel like my skin has become very rough lately.] (Reito)

I couldn't bear to have my smooth cheeks get dry, after all.

[It can be cured with your specialty cosmetics, can't it?] (Reito)
[I don't even have time to make it!] (Reito)

I am also an alchemist. I have about one or two things I want to make.
Even cosmetics can make a lot of money if I sell them!
Recently, I've been too busy to make it at all.

Although it was before night fell, few people visited the Alchemists Guild.
The receptionist's only job is to deal with peddlers coming in to buy potions and other people who come in to make requests.
Normally, I'm supposed to support young people who want to become alchemists, just like newcomers, but nowadays there are no young people who want to become alchemists at all.

At that time, a dull sound of "gong " could be heard from the Alchemy Room where the newcomer was supposed to be.
I wondered if he had dropped something and thought that, well, it would be okay, but then I heard the sound over and over again.
I peeked into the Alchemy Room when I heard the 4th time, and apparently, he was lying face down on the desk.
But when he got up suddenly, he saw the light of alchemy, and his head slammed against the desk like a threadbare doll again.
“Ah. He's doing forced alchemy.”

This is the action that happens when a lot of disassembling and refining is done even though MP is not enough.
When I was a newcomer, I tended to be lax in my range selection, but from what I could see on the desk, it still seemed to last until the morning.

This is a failure that every newcomer goes through.
I've done it too. I once accidentally made a mistake and crafted all the ingredients and kept making recovery potions.
Compared to the fact that the finished potion had fallen off the table and cracked all over at that time, the iron ore disassembly work was better.
All I could say was "good luck", so I gave him a small cheer on his back, but I pretended that I hadn't seen him and headed back home.



I was late this morning.
I think that if I get less sleep every day and night, I will fall asleep in a hurry some days.
If Reinrich-sama blames me, it's a good opportunity, so I'll quit.
But in this kind of situation, usually Reinrich-sama doesn't get angry with me.
Luckily or not, when I decide to do something like this, she don't say anything.
I hate such things again, but for now let's hurry and aim for the Alchemists Guild.

[I overslept! I'm sorry!] (Reito)
[Oh, Rieto. No problem. I'll take care of the reception today, so make the potions for the Adventurer's Guild. Let me know when you're done.] (Reinrich)

Oh, after all, Reinrich was not angry.
I pretty sure she's reading my mind.
Otherwise, this wouldn't have continued to happen since I started working.
I can't even count the number of times I've thought about quitting.

[Yes, I understand. Hey, where's the newcomer?] (Reito)

The door to the alchemy room, where the newbie was, is opening.
There was no one inside.

[Yeah, I had given him some errand to the Adventurers' Guild for his breakfast.] (Reinrich)
[So, I don't have to make it?] (Reito)
[Don't be ridiculous. He can't make that much in one day, can he?　That's right. I think we should do about 20 of each kind today.] (Reinrich)
[Not much has changed, though.... Well, the newcomers did their best to reduce it, so I'll be happy.] (Reito)

Yes. If I think about it the other way around, it means that he was able to made that much in the first day, so let's be hopeful that this is a promising future.
With that positive thought in mind, I go into my very own alchemy room.

This room, which has been completely transformed into a private room, may have more personal belongings than the room I'm living in.
I shook my head, shaking off the unintentionally useless thoughts of how I could shorten my time at work if I brought my bed here.

Besides, if I oversleep here, somebody is going to come into my room to wake me up.
If people saw the stuffed animals lined up in a row, my character, the mysterious big sister, would be on the verge of collapse.
Only that must be avoided at all costs.

[Well, since the newcomer did his best, I'll do my best too!] (Reito)

It's true that there are fewer numbers to make the effort.
Today, I'm going to be able to work in a different way from my usual depressing work.

When I finished making the potions and went to the reception desk, Reinrich-sama was not there.
I can't believe person who will do receptionist isn't at reception!
For the time being, I sat at the counter in the deserted state and yawned.
Huh? Reinrich-sama, aren't you angry? The newcomer is soaking wet.

[Reito. No wholesale recovery potion to the adventurers' guild from this day forward.] (Reinrich)
[Uh, yeah. But that's okay?] (Reito)
[Of course, I do. If they won't move, there's nothing we can do for them.] (Reinrich)
[Well ...] (Reito)
[Hmm. They must have misunderstood that he was a pharmaceutical guild member and harassed him. I gave them a chance to meet someone who's good at what he does.] (Reinrich)
[Are you sure you want to do this? We're in financial trouble because of the number of people leaving to Pharmaceutical Guild, and all that's left are people who are only interested in their own research...] (Reito)
[Rito, you know about me a long time. You know what I mean? I'm mad at them.] (Reinrich)
[Yes, yes. Starting tomorrow, we'll ...] (Reita)
[It starts today! As long as they don't come to apologize, we'll just have them to keep buying expensive potions from the Pharmaceutical Guild.] (Reinrich)
[I understand.] (Reito)

Oh, I'm scared. If you live in this city, even a five-year-old would know that you shouldn't offend Reinrich-sama.
Anyway, ahhhhh. My potions have gone to waste, haven't they?
But it's nice and easy not to have to make a delivery.
The adventurer's guild has been in a bad mood lately, and I'm feeling kind of down.

Afterwards, the newcomer immediately resumed his work in the Alchemy Room.
Yeah. I think it's great that he's able to switch his mind off so quickly without feeling depressed!
Keep up the good work! This sister will be rooting for you!

[Rieto. Get the rest of this business done ahead of schedule.] (Reinrich)
[Well, after this, I have to do the expenses and taxes, and then I have to go shopping for things that are out of stock since inventory was done yesterday...] (Reito)
[Then I'll do the math for you. I want you to go stock up and do some shopping.] (Reinrich)
[Wow, right away] (Reito)

Ahhhh. Reinrich-sama is furious.
She even started to do the troublesome calculations herself.
I'm going to take every precaution on this one.
My condolences. But I don't give them any sympathy.
I'm angry too. It was the first potion the newcomer had worked so hard to make!
Oh, my God, it's so annoying! I'll mix some numbing pills with the tea I'm serving later on them!

A few moments after returning from shopping, the newcomer is still in the Alchemy Room working on something.
That's where the four of them came to visit the Alchemists Guild.
The corresponding person is, of course, Reinrich-sama.
I was making tea, and the more I listened, the more annoyed I was.
As for the same Receptionist, I didn't think the Adventurer Guild's reception would be so sloppy.

It's just that I wasn't expecting Reinrich-sama to call him a cute and skillful "disciple," so I was very surprised.
I never heard that Reinrich-sama has taken a disciple.
I don't want to be her disciple, although it's probably just out of the mouth.

[.........anyway. Would you mind if I talked to him? I'm hoping we can put this behind us when he's satisfied.] (Adventure Guild master)
[I refuse to do that. Can't you be a bad influence on him anymore? That kid is an excellent alchemist who was able to make a recovery potion (small) in just one day. I don't want adventurers who think they can solve anything with their powers like you to mess with him.] (Reinrich)

Yes! That's exactly what it is!
What I was surprised to hear was that he made a recovery potion (small) in just one day?
He's a good guy who really works hard, even though his potions are usually inferior, good, and even fine quality.
If they treat him poorly and make it impossible for him to recover, I won't help them even if Reinrich-sama starts to be unreasonable!

[The adventurer in question will be expelled from the guild and she will resign from the guild. And for the next three years, we'll trade at a profit margin of 10%.] (Adventure Guild’s Master)

Hmmm. Is it safe to say that it's safe? It would be nice to see the sale price of the potions go up.
Maybe my salary will go up too.
Dismissal would be reasonable.
The receptionist is also the face of the guild, so it's only natural if she made a blunder.

[Okay, I understand. He will receive a million Nord from the Adventurers Guild.] (Adventure Guild’s Master)
[I have a bad ear. Isn't there a difference in digit?] (Reinrich)
[No way, I think 10 million Nord is a step too far.] (Adventure Guild’s Master)

...you are as vicious as ever, Reinrich-sama.
But that's 10 million Nord...... That's nice.
I wish I had that much in my bonus this year......

Well, then, I'll start with the paperwork for this talk, won't I?
Let's see, where is a contract? Ah, here it is.
The way I write............ is the same as the last one.
Let's see, four years of trading with a 10% profit margin, and the penalty is... 100 million Nord in 100 platinum coins.
All right. It completed.

[All right. I'd say it's worth 10 million Nord for the kid.  And... so... the deal between the guilds will be 10% of your profits for 4 years?] (Reinrich)
[All right.... So, I'm looking forward to working with you.] (Adventure Guild’s Master)

Yup. Just as I expected!
How many years do you think I've been working for Reinrich-sama? This is a piece of cake for me!

[Here are the contract documents.] (Reito)

With that, I handed the contract to Reinrich-sama and Adventurer Guild's Master.
In the case of default, it's a whopping 100 million Nord, but it's definitely going to pass now and he doesn't have the strength to read it properly anymore.

Yup. I'm glad that Reinrich-sama is happy with it.
Oh, this will make my life a little easier, won't it?
My salary will rise, right?
If it didn't go up, I will really quit, you know?

[As you may have heard, this time as an apology to you, I am going to be your slave. You can go to the slave traders and ask them for a price and then decide whether you want to keep me or not. And please, will you forgive me with that?] (Aina)
[I'm afraid I refuse!] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

...let's see, what's this newcomer saying?
It's fine, isn't it? He's a boy, so who's to blame if he does what he wants?

[Then it's even better. You can beat her, you can devour her lustfully, you can indulge in the her body, but do what you want.] (Reinrich)

Look! Reinrich-sama also said so, and it's not often that you get the chance to fall in love with that gorgeous body.

[Well, how about you let me take care of the material collection?] (Aina)
[What?] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[That's why it's a medicinal herb or something. You don't have to be with her all the time, and if you ask her to do things like collecting, the cost of materials will be free.  Isn't it ideal that you can get it without having to go somewhere dangerous to get it?] (Reinrich)
[Is that even possible?] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Obviously. It's fine to let her work out of reach.] (Reinrich)
[I see..........] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[And since you're such a weakling, you can use her as your bodyguard.] (Reinrich)
[Well, I don't plan on going out at all, so it' going to need to guard me in the city, but... no, but...] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Yes. Then it's settled. Well, the position remains the same, though.] (Aina)

Wow.
Was it a bad idea after all?

[Oh, right! Please don't punish that adventurer and that receptionist.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

What's more, you still say sweet things.
We, receptionist, take pride in our work..........

[What? yeah. If it's all right with you, but...] (Adventure Guild’s Master)
[Of course. In this case, since Aina-san from the Red Front was responsible for the crime and pursued the responsibility, it's okay to let them off the hook. It's not a good idea to have an adventurer try to killed me in the dark as a revenge for Aina-san. I'm just going to need a firm explanation of the details from all of you.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Ah, dad!] (Philil)
[Oh, Philil!] (Adventure Guild’s Master)

Pride on......
Wait a minute, parents and child?
Are you running a guild as a family business?
Well, that's abuse of authority, isn't it?
Do you feel proud to be a receptionist?　What about you being as the face of the guild?

[Aina, I'm truly sorry...] (Adventure Guild’s Master)
[I'm sorry. The truth is, I should have been a slave....] (Philil)
[No, that's okay. Now I can return the favor to both of you. The wedding is coming up, isn't it?] (Aina)

Wed?
Marriage?
What's that supposed to mean?
Marriage? What? She' s younger than me, isn't she?

[No matter how hard you try to appeal to him, I won't back down.] (Reinrich)

That's exactly what I'm saying.
Yes, I even think this decision is rather sweet.
I can sufficiently sue for damage to property, and I don't think that I would have dropped her into a criminal slave on the eve of the wedding..........
Dangerous, dangerous.
It nearly caused me to fall to the dark side.

Congratulation on your marriage.