Elsie rolled within the sheets of her bed. A gentle click sounded from the door, which prompted her to sit up with a languid stretch. Her messy hair, along with her twisted and wrinkly mess of clothes, personified her drowsiness.

“Where did you go?”

She asked Sans, who had just staggered into the room.

“I made a new friend at the alchemy shop.”

“Oh? A friend?”

Sitting cross-legged, Elsie rested her cheek on the palm of one hand.

“She’s a wonderful person, very eager to learn more about alchemy. Oh yea, she runs the alchemy shop called Herbs and Cauldrons. Impressive, right?”

“She?”

Sans casually sprawled himself onto the floor.

“I think she likes me too.”

He replied while facedown, concealing a crafty smirk. He knew it was a lie, but the allure of getting a reaction out of Elsie was too compelling.

“Oh, so it’s like that.”

Elsie yawned nonchalantly and flopped back into bed. Sans twisted his mouth into a frown upon seeing his trick had fallen flat.

Did she go back to sleep? After all her talk about dates and romance, and she doesn’t even bat an eye if another girl likes me? This confirms it, she speaks of nonsense.

He snorted and closed his eyes. It was odd, but in his pursuit of toying with Elsie, he was the one who ended up feeling sour.

Why do I feel like this anyway? Who cares what she thinks? I need sleep. I have a big day tomorrow.

Much progress was made last night toward figuring out the toxin, Twilight Fel. However, he would be unable to make further progress until he registered himself at the Alchemist Association. It was a silly rule, that only registered alchemists could purchase materials, but he was a law-abiding citizen after all. Most importantly, he didn’t want Lem to get in trouble if he went back to Herbs and Cauldrons for materials.

I wonder how Lem’s Body Cleansing Elixir will come out?

Sans made a wry smile and slowly drifted off to the world of dreams.

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Elsie’s ears twitched the moment Sans’ breathing became rhythmic and steady. Her eyes flashed open as she stealthily got out of bed.

Hmpf! Just who does that woman think she is?

Her lips formed a small pout while she fumed internally.

She better not have any intentions!

Elsie twirled in place, causing her nightwear to magically change into her grey outfit and white coat. Placing her hands within her pockets, she took a step toward the door and vanished on the spot—mysteriously reappearing outside the inn.

The day was shaping to be both bright and beautiful. Clouds playfully rolled in the skies, while a morning mist clung in the air. Elsie inhaled a deep and refreshing breath of air as she casually mixed in with the early crowd.

Herbs and Cauldrons, huh.

Like a specter of white, each step carried her handfuls of meters ahead as she paved her way through the city. Her eyes briefly scanned each passing market before she finally paused in front of a particular building.

“By decree of the royal court, this building is to be condemned. Additionally, the merchant’s license of Lemma Turst will be revoked.”

Elsie watched with a lazy expression as a troupe of guards marched their way into the building.

This is Herbs and Cauldrons? Why does it look like they’re being shut down?

A woman frantically pushed back against a sturdy suit of armor in protest. Unique from the others, the guard’s armor was trimmed at the edges with lines of gold, signifying a higher rank.

“Wait! Captain! You have no proof of anything! I’ve done nothing wrong!”

“Silence, we have all the proof we need. Who are you to question our judgement? You are being accused of providing materials and assistance to a non-registered alchemist.”

A loud crash escaped through the doorway as the guards ransacked the building.

“N-No! At least let me take away the elixir I’ve been crafting!”

Despite all of the chaos, the woman only had eyes for her ongoing project that was due to finish any moment. The same guard from before squared his shoulders and blockaded the entrance.

“And since I don’t see a buyer, all possessions within the shop will become property of the King.”

He announced with a loud and clear voice. Seeing as he was speaking to no one in particular, it seemed as if he were just going through the motions of making his actions official.

“A lack of a buyer?”

Elsie mysteriously stepped out from behind Lemma.

“How did you…?”

The guard was dumbstruck. He shook his head and rapidly blinking his eyes, unsure whether they were playing tricks on him or not.

“How did I what? I’m here to buy this building and all the possessions within it. Lemma Turst and I were just finalizing the contract when you rudely intervened.”

Elsie’s cold voice cut through the air. The guard could sense a certain threat of death that enshrouded the environment. In contrast to her petite stature, her presence was as suffocating as a tightened noose.

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“M-Miss, of course. Y-You should be aware that-“

“Aware? Her misdeeds are of no concern to me. Take away her license as it were, just get out of my sight.”

The guard took a hasty step back. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck as he gulped back saliva.

“Right away, madam. An officiary will come later today to ensure the transaction has been formalized. Men, we’re leaving!”

His voice cracked as he yelled into the building. Within the next few moments, a handful of guards made their way out with awkward smiles.

“There better not be a single thing missing, or perhaps the royal guard might need to replace a few members overnight.”

Elsie’s words sliced through their thoughts like an ethereal katana. The surrounding area seemed to darken. Was it their imagination? Or could they see the illusionary faces of demons floating through the air? In face of this otherworldly woman, their lives seemed both meaningless and insignificant.

“Well?! Go on men! Return what you’ve taken!”

With panicked expressions, the troupe hastily shuffled back into the room. The next moment, pouches and containers hit the floor one after another in a series of clatters.

“Form up men! We’re leaving…again!”

The guard captain marched off with stiff legs, followed by his men. Once they had traveled a few meters away, they broke all formalities and devolved into a mad dash.

“Miss… you’re terrifying.”

Lemma, who curiously watched the guards fumble over each other, shifted her gaze to Elsie.

“Me? Don’t be silly, I’m just here to buy your business. Remember?”

Elsie’s ice-queen façade melted away in a flash, revealing a gorgeous and carefree smile.

“I… can’t tell which is the real you.”

Lemma let out a sigh and walked into the building. She squatted onto her ankles beside the pile of medicinal ingredients, supplies, and products. Some elixirs and pills were destroyed in the earlier chaos, while others had been mixed and tainted due to the guard’s negligence.

“These were all things my master and I had made.”

Her hand lingered over a certain cauldron. Steam escaped the mouth of the cauldron, which was resting on its side. Lemma hugged her knees as she inspected pile that comprised of her life’s work.

“Don’t cling onto such mortal possessions.”

Elsie stepped forward and stooped down beside her.

“Take a look.”

With a wave of her hand, the lid of the cauldron opened fully and a murky substance floated into the air.

“Hmm, remains of a C grade Body Refinement Elixir. It’s a noble start to a fruitful profession. You should be proud of yourself, young woman.”

Lemma’s eyes perked up once she heard Elsie’s diagnoses.

“You… you’re an alchemist?”

“I once dabbled in alchemy.”

Elsie revealed a faint smile as a multi-colored flame ignited around the failed elixir. Sparks of purple, green, and blue shot outward as the elixir regained its former color. Within a matter of seconds, all signs of contamination had been purged, leaving behind an azure pill that could have been mistaken for a piece of candy.

“Another grandmaster…”

Lemma’s mouth hung open as she witnessed Elsie’s mastery over fire.

“Here, this is yours.”

With a flick of her finger, Elsie shot the pill directly into Lemma’s wide-open mouth.

Lemma’s initial surprise turned into alarm as the pill swiftly dissolved. Her hands shot to her throat as she felt a burning sensation spread throughout her body.

“W-Wha-“

“I improved your elixir to B grade. It’s a pity that the materials weren’t high enough quality for something more superior. Nonetheless, it should suffice—for now.”

Elsie’s words were like a patch of ice being pressed against Lemma’s anxiety.

“Silly girl, focus on your body refinement! Don’t let the pill go to waste. After all, didn’t you work hard to make it?”

Lemma immediately closed her eyes tight and focused on her internals. She can sense the pill’s powerful effects coating her inner organs, leaving them more resilient than ever before.

Seeing this, Elsie made her way to the entrance door with a smirk. She then flipped the shop’s entrance sign from open to closed before sealing the door behind her.

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After a few hours slipped by, Lemma’s eyes shot open with a faint glow. A trace of azure blue coursed through her veins for one last time before her body returned to normalcy.

“You’re done? How is it?”

Elsie was seated before her, the pile of ingredients had long been removed. In fact, everywhere that Lemma looked there was nothing. The entire room was wiped clean as if a hurricane of thieves had just passed through.

“What happened to the store?”

Lemma asked the fairy-like woman before her.

“Hmm? Well, it’s my store now. Or at least, it will be. Since I don’t have a merchant’s license, there is nothing currently for sale.”

Elsie shrugged while Lemma adopted a downcast look.

“It’s really happening, my life’s work. All because I was lost in the moment last night. What will I tell my master? How am I going to-”

A delicate finger pressed onto Lemma’s lips, silencing them.

“First we finalize the contract. With my estimation, the shop’s products are worth at least four peak-grade spirit shards, while the ingredients themselves are worth about six. This comes out to ten peak-grade spirit shards. You should be able to pay back any debts with that. Are you willing?”

Elsie withdrew a pre-signed contract and presented it to Lemma.

“Do I really have a choice? If I don’t sell, then it’ll all get taken away by the king anyway.”

Lemma let out a sigh and glanced over the contract. However, once she got to the end, her brow furrowed.

“…Once the king has passed away, all possessions will be returned to Lemma Turst, including any additional creations. In return, Lemma Turst will continue to work at Herbs and Cauldrons, earning a 20% portion of her sales as salary…”

The woman lowered the contract and gave Elsie a strange look.

“Is this your way of gaining a worker for life? You do understand that the king is a tenth-floor monster, right? His lifespan eclipses mine by thousands of years!”

Elsie laughed and shook her head.

“You can choose to walk away even after signing it. I will not bind you here in any way, shape, or form. However, if you do decide to stay, then the contract will proceed as planned. Should the king pass away during your tenure, then everything this store has to offer will be yours for the taking.”

Lemma’s eyes widened for the briefest of moments before she hastily signed the contract.

“Deal!”

She returned the contract back to Elsie. After all, Elsie was now the current owner and would have to provide proof of the sale later on.

“Will it just be us two? I’m ashamed to admit it, but my master helped me create many of the wares you saw before. It’ll take me some time to replenish some of the stock. I apologize in advance for my incompetence…”

Lemma muttered the last piece in a small voice.

“We will be acquiring some help. In fact, you’ve already met our help.”

“I have?”

Elsie flashed a mysterious smile.

“Wait, you can’t mean… that man from last night?!”

Lemma blurted out loud.

“T-There’s no way! That man is a grandmaster alchemist!”

“Is he?”

Elsie questioned the baseless assumption.

“Of course he is! I saw him researching reverse composition before my vary eyes!”

Lemma pouted her lips, seemingly bothered.

“I seem to remember the guard suggesting that you provided materials to a non-registered alchemist.”

Elsie shrugged her shoulders.

“That…”

Lemma grew quiet, knowing full well that the man before wasn’t officially an alchemist yet.

“But I can show you his work!”

“I have already seen it. It’s good progress for one night’s efforts. Although, he’s missing a key ingredient.”

“You’re able to decipher his work?”

Although Lemma suspected as such due to Elsie’s previous display, it was still an unfathomable moment for her. Last night she met someone who exceeded Elder Holpin in terms of talent, and yet the very next day she has come face to face with another person. Since when did grandmaster alchemists become so common?

Elsie chuckled playfully as she picked herself up off the floor.

“Of course. Although, he still has a long way to go. How about it? Would you like to learn alchemy alongside him?”

Lemma squinted her eyes in confusion.

“Learn… alongside him? Is he not a grandmaster?”

“Maybe in your eyes he might seem profound and experienced, but to me he is like a toddler learning to walk. After all, last night was his first time ever practicing alchemy.”

Elsie walked toward the back room, calling out behind her.

“Come along now, Little Lemmy. We have much work to do!”

A thump echoed throughout the empty room and Elsie let out a sigh.

She passed out. Still, she has an alchemist’s heart, and that alone makes her worthy. Now the only question is… do I watch Sans take his assessment, or let him tackle it alone?