As people took to the streets of Glaucen as day broke, I was acutely aware of how one of their upper arms was almost always wrapped up and concealed. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, all that wondering about how these common workers saw their sacrifice to the church disappeared. It was just how things were, and I could do nothing about it now. Let the matter rest until a later date.
Day may have broken, but I still had time before meeting back up with Theodore. He wouldn't object to an early return, but that left four hours or so to use. Starting to feel a bit hungry, I figured I should rustle up some grub. It really did seem like I would be able to go quite a while without food, but there could always be hidden benefits to eating more frequently in the new world.
Taking money into account, that wasn't a good choice though. Better to just eat when hungry until I accumulated more resources.
Deciding that I wanted a taste of whatever passed for cuisine in the city, I tried recalling taverns passed during my walks. Again meager funds limited the options, but it would be nice to taste at least a decent meal. Between traveling on the road and the village’s simple meals of porridge and fish, I'd had not one good or even decent dining experience.
I had 46 cupra remaining from what Pan gave me for the trip. Thinking of the prices of reagents that Theodore went over, that couldn't purchase any quality materials for Ria’s condition, even if I did know what was needed.
No 46 cupra wasn't actually the limit of my budget. My
The design of the aurum may have been artisanal, but they must have been produced in large quantities, because one could see where the work had been rushed. A rose with long thorns dripping water, or rather blood, onto its leaves; the imagery may have had rough edges, but was well done for a piece of currency. Dirt had caught in the various flaws, and I slowly rubbed away at them with my thumb. There was an especially long scratch extending from one of the thorns, where the craftsman was probably trying to sharpen up the edges, and part of the rim had been somewhat flattened towards the bottom.
It felt more like a keepsake than just a large sum of money. Those simple woodsmen should have just kept it. You couldn't start a friendship by giving this kind of thing, I'll never be able to bring myself to spend it. Ahh~, hanging out with those two peasants, remembering it really gets me fired up to help Salt Village.
To do something, you can't just sit around! Feeling a spring come back in my step, Iron Underdog, a tavern of moderate standing became the choice for breakfast. I was building up momentum for an intensive day, and that was where my stride took me. Built in classic fantasy medieval European style, it had two floors, the higher for those regular patrons who reserved spots.
A smoky scent and tables surrounded by the city dwellers, with several more unique patrons wandering in. Of course the man with a sword as tall as he didn't escape my sight, and there would be no way for me to not notice the hooded girl and her stoic bodyguard. But I only felt a slight twinge within myself to interact with them, before the volition was quickly cast aside. Right now I was the Wizard of Salt Village, eating my 5 cupra meal of mutton stew mixed with carrots and fruit preserve salad.
An exorbitant sweetness spread from the fruit; though lacking in the sour taste I was fond of, it brought me a new sense of energy. The mutton stew was savory as well, but constantly cracking my neck and rolling my shoulders, this definitely felt like a good day to do things. Wolfing down the food, I left an additional cupra for the serving girl before shooting out of the establishment.
There were so many ways that dinky village could improve, but as many probably realize, there was one thing that paved the way to every solution. Japtem, jingshi, impels, spiritstones; no matter what world it is, money universally supports civilized life. Even if there could never be enough, the situation progresses forward as more wealth is amassed.
And I had acquired the class that always seemed to produce wealth, the Alchemist. My idols included the ruthless conman of the heavens and that Weed which would bleed for a single won more. Nothing could stop the recovery of Salt Village.
Given my arbitrary body, I ignored the typical city markets and headed towards the northern gate. Making sure I could return to the city without documentation, the guards gave me an odd look before I took off down the road. Not wanting to take too long, I let my Stamina burn quickly as I ran.
Even though I was a caster-type, with my abnormally long stride and untiring endurance the road flew by, traversed by a bipedal giraffe. Plants on either side in various stages of growth. A patchwork lacking fallow fields, with larger walled sections containing several plots. Farmers’ cottages didn't look like anything special, but even so seemed to be enviably idyllic. The farmers themselves were already out in the fields, and my pace suddenly slowed as my Stamina hit the critical level.
Moving a bit farther, I pushed myself to reach the next established settlement. Even moving at my absurd pace, I could only sustain a pace of moving twice as fast as normal people for a short while, meaning this area was still only a day travel from Glaucen.
Rule one of getting a good deal, make sure there is a scarcity of what you are selling. The village was close to Glaucen, but not so much so that a trip could be made just any day. From the way people worked in the fields, taking a day off to go to town was not something that could be done frequently. I wasn't planning on price gouging them, but every bit would help.
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“Selling Callus ointment, and looking for rhuvines, rock nuts, and shade bean leaves!” Calling out at the center of a village of a few dozen huts, I didn't need to pause to catch my breath (A curious aside; my Stamina system only left me gasping for air after rapid expenditures) Most of the villagers were off in the fields, but there were still village craftsmen, housewives and the occasional house husband.
There was a slight hesitation in the movements of those in view, but no one stopped. Why would you purchase something from a strange foreigner like myself after all? Because the goods were convenient and cheap! Surekill sale,50% off, engage!
“Limited stock of Callus ointment, one argent! Guaranteed by Master Theodore of Glaucen, only five available! Good for 15 uses, toughen your hands and remove those weeds, the crops will thank you with a bountiful harvest!”
Shamelessly shouting, an argent was a low price and perked up the ears of those in the area. Making the risk low made it more likely for villagers to take it with their low funds. Overall, it would be better for me to sell what I had quickly for a lower price per piece than take up all my time getting the same amount for two or three containers. Time was money, so doing things quickly was a way of saving money too.
“You look like a hardworking *dame*, I can tell from your hands. However with Callus ointment, you'll get twice the results with half the effort! Though this product has been approved by my master, I am but an apprentice and the price has been accordingly lowered to a single argent.” Speaking boldly, I approached a woman who was returning from the fields, likely having heard the commotion I began stirring up. Despite the overly enthusiastic sales pitch, she didn't seem too fazed and retained an interest in the jar I held in my hand.
“An argent for Callus ointment? The deal looks good, but is the paste good?” Folding her arms, she looked at the jar suspiciously. It seems I'd not convinced her yet, but with her initial presence, others also began to show their interest more easily.
“The production of this ointment was overseen by Master Theodore himself, a supplier of alchemical reagents to the church itself! Though only a standard rendition of the product, its effectiveness is guaranteed. If you have shade bean leaves, rock nuts, or rhuvines, I would happily make the deal even better as well.”
“Just giving us a name doesn't mean we can get anything back if you're lying.”
“I’m here to sell my wares, not debate their effectiveness. If you won't buy, you won't buy. The prices are already low, I won't haggle any further.”
“Wait a second, I'll buy one.” The woman stopped me as I was about to turn away. Happily, I made the exchange, taking an argent from her and handing over the jar. She poked at the contents, inspecting them, but having received payment, I moved on to hawking towards the others in the area.
The aggressive style worked well, particularly after the first sale. It seemed since one person was willing to take the risk, none of the others wanted to be left behind. Not all the customers were in that one spot, but it only took half an hour or so before I sold all but one as planned. Finishing my business, I didn't carry and headed right back to Glaucen.
Resting for a few minutes was more optimal than moving and regaining Stamina more slowly, so another 15 minutes likely passed before actually setting out. As I ran back, I tried calculating what I could accomplish before noon. My goal was to use the money just acquired to purchase some alchemy equipment of my own. If it didn't take too much time, I could even begin a batch of Callus ointment before even going to Theodore’s for my lessons.
In this era, glassworking was naturally underdeveloped. Even with alchemists who used it for productive purposes, like many other things in Derriad, the technique seemed to have solidified and failed to improve over the course of time. The traders in the eastern district sold a few flasks and vials of good quality, but a single frosty cylinder was worth seven argents. Searching for cheaper goods, the southern area of Glaucen was a better market to trawl.
The pseudo industrialism helped keep me going, despite an initial lack of findings. Hammers echoed, and the heat of the scattered forges permeated everywhere. Sounds and sights of people producing, I couldn't wait when I eventually located a shop that sold glassware.
Two argents for a half liter beaker. That was only an estimate of the volume, and it visibly slumped to one side, on top of not resting flat. What I hesitate to refer to as an Erlenmeyer flask cost two and a half, and shared a similar foggy look and defects. However in accordance with Theodore’s lecture on tools they felt smooth, though uneven, and unmarred, though unsightly.
My resources dropped like a stone back to slightly under an argent, and I still needed to purchase the actual reagents. Not that I hesitated in my purchase, the tools were necessary to craft. After all, the remaining argent would be enough for the ingredients. If just one try met with success, I would be on my way to an abundance of wealth.
There were several hours before midday for me to work. Moving swiftly, I could complete a batch of Livewood oil and sell it in town. No point stepping on the break when moving top speed; I headed to the southeast of town to find what was needed.
A/N:AHHHHHHHHHH!!