Chapter 28
My name is Hannah, and I live in the 〈Nameless Village of Beginnings〉.
It's a fun village, even if it doesn't have a name.
There are lots of shops: a weapon shop, an armor shop, an apothecary, a general store, a clothing shop, a music shop, and an alchemy shop.
There aren't many villagers, but they're all cheerful, good people.
My family runs the alchemy shop. I grew up watching my father make things and my mother sell them in the shop.
I naturally assumed that I'd become an 【Alchemist】 someday and take over the shop.
I remember being so happy when Dad gave me a 〈'Alchemy LV1' Bracelet〉 when I was ten. He said, "You can't become an 【Alchemist】 without training," so I've been practicing 'Alchemy' ever since.
Still, I was told that whether I could become an 【Alchemist】 depended on my talent. Dad had only managed to become an 【Alchemist Apprentice】, and it seemed he regretted not training harder as a child instead of playing.
I'll train hard and become a proper 【Alchemist】!
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I grew up happily in that village for sixteen years. Then, in accordance with the country's policy, I was sent to attend an academy with lots of dungeons.
I don't really understand how, but the village chief apparently put in a good word with an acquaintance somewhere, and now I'm going to attend the main campus—or whatever it's called.
At last, I'd find out whether I could become an 【Alchemist】.
But the day before I left for the academy, something terrifying happened.
I went into the forest to gather ingredients for Potions to take to the academy, and a Slime attacked me. Monsters were only supposed to be deep in the forest.
For children under sixteen who haven't received the benefits of a Job, encountering a monster is practically a death sentence.
I was so terrified that my legs gave out and I couldn't move. I thought it was all over for me.
But just before the Slime attacked, someone came to my rescue.
It was my childhood friend, Zephyrus-kun. He was from the same village, and after his parents died when he was little, the village chief became his guardian and raised him. I don't remember seeing him play freely around the village very often. We were only close enough to exchange greetings.
Zephyrus-kun dashed over and defeated the Slime in an instant, without even having the benefits of a Job.
"Are you all right? That was close. I took care of the Slime, so you're safe now."
When he said that, all my worries vanished as if they'd never existed, and I felt my face suddenly grow hot.
My heart was pounding so hard. I'd never felt anything like it before, and I couldn't speak for a while.
Zephyrus-kun was a strange boy.
When I invited him into my house, feeling a little flustered, he suddenly handed me 〈Muddy Water〉 and 〈Slime Jelly〉 and asked me to use 'Alchemy' on them.
I warned him that it was bound to be a complete failure, but Zephyrus-kun seemed to welcome the idea. I had no idea what he was thinking. My heart stopped racing pretty quickly, too.
But I understood why after Zephyrus-kun taught me the Slime Respawn Marathon.
He showed me a way to easily defeat monsters without even having the benefits of a Job. It felt like I'd discovered a whole new world.
I was so amazed that I couldn't even bring myself to wonder how Zephyrus-kun knew about a method like that...
Once I started the Slime Respawn Marathon, I couldn't stop.
My family ran an alchemy shop, but we were always short on ingredients. Even when I wanted to practice, they wouldn't let me use the ingredients we had in stock.
Maybe that was why I got so hooked on the Slime Respawn Marathon, where Slimes dropped 〈Magic Stone (Tiny)〉.
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On the day we left for the academy, I visited Zephyrus-kun's house, since we were going to travel there together. I wanted to walk with him to the village chief's house.
But, unbelievably, Zephyrus-kun didn't know how old I was.
What's more, he even called me short! There's nothing wrong with being short, you know?
It's true that I haven't grown much taller over the past few years. But I have plenty of confidence in my chest and hips. I think I'm a proper lady, but I'm too embarrassed to say so out loud.
When we arrived at the academy, they gave us uniforms, student IDs, and weapons for use in dungeons.
I chose a two-handed mace because it looked like it would be easy to hit Slimes with.
It felt so good that I got even more hooked on the Slime Respawn Marathon.
I'm nothing but grateful to Zephyrus-kun.
The academy was enormous.
It seemed that Zephyrus-kun and I, who'd been together for the past few days, would be assigned to different dormitories and school buildings.
My heart felt strangely heavy, so I found ways to spend more time with Zephyrus-kun.
Whenever I did, the tightness in my chest went away.
At the Job assessment, I managed to acquire the 【Alchemist】 Job I'd always wanted.
I was so happy that my longtime dream had come true. Maybe it was because Zephyrus-kun encouraged me, saying I could do it?
But Zephyrus-kun was amazing, too. The whole school was abuzz with the news that he'd acquired the legendary 【Hero】 Job.
That same day, people came by constantly to recruit him for dungeon parties, and I couldn't even get close to him.
My heart feels all muddled.
Zephyrus-kun was so popular that he was going to move dorms.
He was moving to the noble residence instead of the boys' dormitory.
M-Maybe this is actually a chance, I thought. The noble residence doesn't have separate dorm buildings for boys and girls. The floors are separated, apparently, but it seems it's not a problem for someone of the opposite sex to visit your room.
I offered to help Phyllis-sensei, who'd come to collect Zephyrus-kun's things, and went along to the noble residence. There, I managed to talk things over with the dorm matron. From now on, I'm allowed into the noble residence, but only when I'm visiting Zephyrus-kun.
Now I'll have more chances to be with Zephyrus-kun. Besides, recruiters can't exactly come to the noble residence.
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Today, Zephyrus-kun invited me to go to a dungeon.
I know Phyllis-sensei is very beautiful, but isn't Zephyrus-kun being a little too smitten with her?
All right, I've decided. Tonight, I'll march right into his room.
After selling some of the dungeon materials and resources, I went back to my room, took a shower, then headed to Zephyrus-kun's room to make dinner. I was going to use the ingredients we'd gotten in the dungeon today.
My mother is a wonderful cook, and she taught me, so I'm confident in my cooking.
Just as I'd expected, Zephyrus-kun was practically melting as he ate.
Hehe, seeing him enjoy it so much makes all the effort worthwhile.
After that, Zephyrus-kun gave me some hands-on instruction in 'Alchemy LV10' and 'Synthesis LV5'.
How does he know all these recipes? Well, it's Zephyrus-kun, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore.
What surprised me most was that using 'Alchemy LV10' on two 〈Magic Stone (Tiny)〉 produced a 〈Magic Stone (Small)〉. I had no idea! You can make all kinds of Potions with a 〈Magic Stone (Small)〉.
〈Magic Stone (Small)〉 is an incredibly versatile ingredient, but it doesn't have a very high drop rate.
I was amazed that there was a way to get them so easily.
Starting tomorrow, I'll work even harder at the Slime Respawn Marathon and help Zephyrus-kun.
That was what I resolved to do.