Novice Alchemist 3-25 part 1

 

Chapter 3-25 : Aiming For The Volcano Ⅰ (part 1)

 

After seeing off Adelbert-san and Katerina-san, I used the Transfer Device to send a note to Master, asking her if I’m able to defeat a Salamander. She then answered, “If that Salamander is not exceptionally strong, then you should be able to defeat it with your abilities”.

I feel a bit relieved but still, I’m a bit nervous because I’m not a fighting expert. I’m an alchemist, and fighting is not my main job.

That’s why, rather than practicing swordsmanship, I decided to do my best in making the Heatproof Coats, the heat-resistant armor that can stand Salamanders’ Fire Breath.

To make a Heatproof Coat, you need processed Lava Lizard leather for the surface and processed Hellfire Grizzly leather for the backing layer. Other than that, you need any materials that can be used as the heat insulator and place it under the Hellfire Grizzly leather, and lastly, you can use any kind of leather for the innermost layer.

The most important part is of course the surface which is made from Lava Lizard leather.

Actually, you don’t have to use Hellfire Grizzly leather for the backing layer. You can use any kind of leather depending on your budget. However, I choose Hellfire Grizzly leather because I think this one can reduce the heat more than any other type of leather. Besides, I still have some Hellfire Grizzly skins in my storage.

As for the material to be used as the heat insulator, I think I will use the same one as when I made a magic stove a while ago, and I think I will add a cooling function, that is similar to a Cooling Hat, on the backing layer.

Now that I have planned everything, all I need to do is to make the coat. However… I don’t know how to…

Actually, even though I know the materials needed, I don’t know how to put them together because the Heatproof Coat is in the Encyclopedia of Alchemy volume 5.

Therefore, I’ve been doing my best these few days to make the remaining artifacts in volume 4 so that I can read volume 5.

I have all the materials needed, so I just need to give it my all!

However, it wasn’t as easy as I thought…

I even had to sacrifice my sleep time to work in my workshop.

Because of that, Lorea-chan started to get worried about me.

「Sarasa-san, are you okay? You look very tired…」(Lorea)

Because I work in my workshop most of the time, I left the shop completely to Lorea-chan.

When she came to my workshop to tell me to have lunch, she looked into my face worriedly.

I’ve been working for three days without any sleep at all, so I probably have dark circles around my eyes now.

I feel bad for making Lorea-chan worry, but I need to complete volume 4 as soon as possible.

「Don’t worry, I’m fine. I can still work like this for a while.」(Sarasa)

「Are you sure…? If there’s anything I can help with, please tell me.」(Lorea)

「Umm, but you’re already helpful enough with your cooking. If you didn’t cook for me, I would have pushed myself even harder.」(Sarasa)

Alchemists often forget to eat when they are absorbed in their research but that won’t last for days at a time. Alchemists are humans after all. They also need to eat.

Luckily, I have Lorea-chan who always cooks delicious food for me. That’s why I can do my best in my work without fainting even though I haven’t slept for a while.

「Is that so? But promise me you will go to sleep as soon as you feel tired. I will make something nutritious for you. Please wait.」(Lorea)

「Okay~ Thank you, Lorea-chan. Your delicious food always gives me strength!」(Sarasa)

When I smiled and thanked her, she blushed shyly and left for the kitchen.

After Adelbert-san and Katerina-san left, we told Lorea-chan everything, so she knows about Iris-san’s family’s circumstances.

She promised to cooperate as much as she could. That’s probably why she didn’t force me to take a rest.

Soon after Lorea-chan left, Iris-san and Kate-san came into my workshop.

「Store Owner-dono, is there anything we can do to help? We can’t cook like Lorea though…」(Iris)

「We can’t help you with alchemy stuff either but we want to help.」(Kate)

「Hmm… Then, can you hunt some deers for me?」(Sarasa)

To be honest, I’d feel sorry for them if I said, “There’s nothing you can help me with”, so I came up with this.

Iris-san and Kate-san looked at each other and tilted their heads.

「Deers? The normal ones?」(Iris)

「Not deer-type monsters or something?」(Kate)

「Yeah, the normal ones. I need their skins.」(Sarasa)

I want to use them to make the innermost layer of the Heatproof Coat.

You don’t need special leather for this part but it’s better to use a kind that is comfortable for your skin, and I think deer leather is a good choice.

Actually, I was planning to buy processed leather for this part, but now that I’m going to process it myself, I can make it with better quality than the ones that are sold in the shop.

「I see. If it can make your job easier, then we’ll gladly do it for you.」(Iris)

「Don’t worry, I’m really good at hunting.」(Kate)

「She’s right. Back when we were living in my father’s mansion, we always ate the meat that Kate and her mom hunted.」(Iris)

「We didn’t have much money after all, so we couldn’t eat if we didn’t hunt something.」(Kate)

Apparently, when Kate-san was in the Lotze Family’s territory, she sometimes went hunting for animals to practice archery and secure food at the same time.

I’m sure she can easily hunt deers without problems.

「Hee, I see. Well then, I’m counting on you!」(Sarasa)

「Ou, leave it to us!」(Iris)

 

◇　　　　◇　　　　◇

 

By the time I finished making the last artifact in the Encyclopedia of Alchemy volume 4, Iris-san and Kate-san returned.

Actually, they went to the neighboring territory, which is Iris-san’s family’s territory, because they couldn’t find any normal deers in the Great Sea of Trees. Therefore, it took a few days for them to return.

They brought five deer skins and five kilograms of venison.

「Store Owner-dono, here’s your deer skins.」(Iris)

「Thank you!」(Sarasa)

「And this is the venison. Lorea-chan, can you put it in the refrigerator?」(Kate)

「Okay! I will use it to make today’s dinner!」(Lorea)

Because all I need is the skins, it seems that they left most of the venison and the horns, that they couldn’t carry, at Adelbert-san’s mansion.

「Now I can start making the coat, and then we can go to the volcano in two weeks. By the way, how are your parents doing?」(Sarasa)

「They’re doing good as always. My mother is a little worried that I might get hurt during our mission but she didn’t stop me.」(Iris)

「On the other hand, my papa encouraged me. He told me to be useful.」(Kate)

「I see. How about Adelbert-san?」(Sarasa)

「He’s good. He said he would be here with Katerina when the time comes.」(Iris)

Looks like everything is going as planned.

「Great. Alright, now can you two line up? I need to measure your body before I can make you a Heatproof Coat.」(Sarasa)

「「Okay~」」(Iris & Kate)

Just like that, the preparation is going smoothly.

Now all we can do is wait for Adelbert-san and Katerina-san and then go to the volcano together.

 

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