Bareare Workshop.
A well-established apothecary, run by the Barea family, known for its high-quality healing potions.
However, business had slowed recently.
The Adventurer's Guild had yet to provide any clear updates regarding the situation deep within the Great Forest of Tob. The uncertainty made adventurers hesitant to embark on missions, drastically reducing their numbers.
Stricter entry inspections at the city gates only fueled further suspicion.
Experienced adventurers, with their keen instincts, could sense something was amiss.
With fewer risk-takers venturing out, there were fewer injuries—and thus, less demand for healing potions.
But—
For Grandmother Lizzie, this was hardly a concern.
Having sold potions for many years, she had already accumulated substantial wealth.
"Grandmother, this one matches, doesn't it?"
Nfirea held up an herb, his voice low and uncertain.
"Yes."
Grandmother Lizzie gave a curt nod, her expression impassive.
She was already quite pleased with her grandson's progress. At his age, she hadn't been this skilled herself.
Jingling!
The shop door opened, and the soft chime of the bell echoed through the workshop.
A customer!
Nfirea quickly and carefully set down the herbs, straightened up, and turned toward the entrance.
A figure in priest's robes stepped inside.
Unlike traditional robes that often appeared bulky, this one had been modified—its fitted waistline lending the wearer a more upright, refined posture.
At first glance, Nfirea assumed the visitor was a kind, well-mannered individual.
For most people, appearance was the easiest way to judge character.
But—
When he caught sight of the black hair, Nfirea froze, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
It was rude to stare at a guest, but he couldn't help himself.
Because standing before him was someone completely different from the person he remembered.
If not for the distinctive black hair, he might not have recognized him at all.
The Sakeer he had first met had given off the impression of a mysterious yet unassuming adventurer.
But now—
He radiated the air of an elegant nobleman.
It wasn't just the change in clothing—his entire presence was different.
For a moment, Nfirea struggled to find the right words.
"Long time no see, Nfirea."
Sakeer, noticing the young man's dazed expression, lifted a hand in a casual wave, his tone familiar and lighthearted.
"You've struck it rich, Sakeer!"
Nfirea blurted out the first thought that came to mind.
Sakeer chuckled. "Well, I did make a small fortune."
Nfirea's surprise quickly turned into delight as he strode forward.
"I thought you'd already left E-Rantel, given how long it's been!"
Tread—!
Just as he was about to step closer, his footsteps halted abruptly.
His gaze had fallen upon the small, dark-furred creature peeking out from behind Sakeer.
At the same time, an aged voice drifted through the room.
"A Barghest… So you went into the Great Forest of Tob, after all."
Grandmother Lizzie.
Sakeer turned his attention to the elderly woman seated behind the counter.
She leaned on one hand, while the other held a long, slender pipe, from which wisps of white smoke curled into the air.
"Grandmother Bareare, it's been a while."
His tone was respectful yet relaxed.
Nfirea, however, looked genuinely concerned.
"Was it dangerous?" he asked, his expression tightening.
It almost sounded as if he was worried about Sakeer himself.
But Sakeer, having spent time with Nfirea, knew better.
He wasn't concerned for Sakeer's safety—he was worried about whether having a Barghest around meant lingering danger.
"I found it on the outskirts of the forest—nowhere too deep," Sakeer replied calmly, subtly downplaying the risks.
Grandmother Lizzie took a slow drag from her pipe, then exhaled before turning her gaze to Nfirea.
"Nfirea, go count the healing potions that are beginning to deteriorate."
Hearing this, Nfirea scratched at his short blond hair, flashing Sakeer a slightly apologetic glance before responding.
"Got it, Grandmother."
Then, with a sigh of resignation, he turned and headed toward the storage area.
Once his footsteps faded—
"Have you resolved your trouble?"
Grandmother Lizzie's gaze flicked back to Sakeer, her tone unreadable.
The sudden question caught him off guard for a brief moment.
But then—he understood.
Judging by her sharp mind, she had likely pieced together her own assumptions based on how much he had changed since their last meeting.
"Not entirely," Sakeer admitted, his expression steady. "But I have some ideas now."
"Good."
Grandmother Lizzie nodded, then reached under the counter.
A moment later, she placed a familiar-looking potion bottle on the wooden surface before him.
"You made this, didn't you?"
Sakeer's eyes widened slightly.
It was the alchemy potion he had given Master Belori.
"So that's why you were discussing herbs and alchemy with Nfirea…" Grandmother Lizzie mused, eyeing him with interest.
"I didn't expect you to be hiding such advanced alchemy skills."
Sakeer was momentarily speechless.
He had assumed that potion was long out of sight, out of mind—yet here it was, back before him.
Noticing his surprise, Grandmother Lizzie let out a dry chuckle.
"There are no secrets in this town," she remarked. "If something seems hidden, it's only because no one bothered to look."
"..."
Make sense.
Take the case of Khajiit, from Zurrernorn. He lurked in E-Rantel for ages without detection. If not for the intervention of the Bone King, this city would have been wiped out by two Skeletal Dragons.
And Nfirea… When he was captured, she had to beg the Bone King for help—gave up her entire knowledge in the process.
Hearing the arrogant words of his grandmother Lizzie, Sakeer couldn't help but complain in his heart, but the expression on his face did not change.
A silence settled over the workshop.
"If you have such advanced alchemy skills," she remarked, breaking the silence "you wouldn't be here to buy potions, would you?"
"I'm here to sell herbs."
"I see."
Grandmother Lizzie leaned back slightly, contemplating his words before continuing.
"I can offer you the highest price," she said. "But before we get to that—"
She paused, raising a hand and gently pushing the alchemy potion bottle forward.
Her sharp eyes burned with intensity as she met Sakeer's gaze.
"I want to buy the technique behind this potion."
"Two thousand gold coins."
She stated the price plainly, watching for his reaction.
"If that's not enough, name your price."
Leaning forward, the wrinkles on her face deepened, but her expression was alight with excitement.
This alchemy method—so vastly different from anything she had ever learned—had haunted her mind for far too long.
She had agonized over its composition, desperately wanting to understand how it was made.
"..."
So that's it.
No wonder he had felt something off about Grandmother Lizzie's gaze the moment he stepped into the workshop.
A price of two thousand gold coins!
To be honest, Sakeer was tempted.
But—
He knew very well that this was a technique Lizzie could never master.
Not because of skill or intelligence, but because it relied on the passive abilities of a Magic Swordsman class and the proficiency of a Level 10 Alchemist.
Seeing his silence, Grandmother Lizzie assumed that her offer was too low and was about to increase it.
Before she could, Sakeer spoke first.
"Do you have the materials?"
His words were direct and to the point.
Grandmother Lizzie blinked in surprise, but quickly nodded. Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the back of the workshop.
Moments later, she returned, carrying several intact hanged spider corpses.
Following behind her was Nfirea, his arms full of delicate alchemical instruments, his expression one of confusion.
He stared at Sakeer, clearly wondering what was going on, but said nothing.
"Put that down," Grandmother Lizzie instructed, giving him a firm pat on the back.
"And get back to your work."
"Oh…"
Reluctantly, Nfirea complied, still glancing back at Sakeer as he exited—taking a full three turns before finally disappearing.
Once he was gone, Grandmother Lizzie turned back, her voice filled with anticipation.
"What else do you need? Just tell me."
"No, this will do."
Sakeer waved a hand, his eyes gleaming as they fell upon the hanged spider corpses.
As a former opponent, he knew firsthand how formidable these creatures were.
Yet—these corpses were remarkably well-preserved.
"The venom sac of a hanged spider."
Sakeer barely finished speaking before Grandmother Lizzie swiftly extracted a poison sac and handed it over—completely unfazed by the potential danger.
Her gaze was intense, watching his every move closely.
Sakeer took the poison sac and dropped it into a container of ordinary water.
Then, with a casual flick of his hand, he activated alchemy.
In just two or three breaths—
The venom sac dissolved completely, fusing seamlessly into the liquid.
Almost instantly, the solution's impurities vanished at an incredible speed.
Then—
A soft blue light flashed.
And in its place—
A clear, shimmering blue alchemy potion materialized.
"Done."
Without a second thought, Sakeer tossed the bottle toward Grandmother Lizzie.
She caught it—a little flustered, her fingers tightening around the glass.
Her expression was one of disbelief, but instinctively, she cast a "Item Identification" spell to confirm its authenticity.
Silence.
A long pause followed.
Then—
"Ahem," Grandmother Lizzie coughed, breaking the quiet.
"Can you… make another one?"
Her voice had noticeably softened.
Without hesitation, Sakeer casually repeated the process, producing another potion just as effortlessly.
This time, Grandmother Lizzie said nothing.
She had seen it with her own eyes.
Sakeer had used no complex technique, no mysterious method, nothing that seemed beyond understanding.
It was, in every observable way, the same basic process as crafting a low-grade alchemy potion.
And yet—
She couldn't comprehend it at all.
How?!
She had spent her life mastering alchemy, but compared to this, her knowledge felt insufficient.
At that moment, she realized something.
She had always believed her grandson to be a genius.
But standing before her now—
This young man named Sakeer was the true genius.
For a long while, nobody spoke.
Finally, Grandmother Lizzie exhaled, forcing a strained smile onto her aged face.
"...Let's talk about the herbs."
Her tone was much calmer now.
Sakeer, however, could tell.
She had just reassessed everything she thought she knew.
(End of Chapter)