Volume 1, Chapter 27 – Taking on an Apprenticeship

Well, I went to the library first thing in the morning, and I was easily able to get my hands on the books I was looking for.

One was the Skill Compendium.

It contains all sorts of Skills from across the ages.

The other was the Holy Magic Compendium.

It contains all sorts of information about holy attribute magic. Incidentally, there was also a book about Dark Magic.

However, it only gave simple explanations like “it uses mental attacks and status ailments” or “it manipulates the souls of the dead,” and there wasn’t a single book that properly explained it.

I mean, they’re supposedly preparing to fight opponents who use Dark Magic, but they haven’t accumulated any knowledge about what those opponents can actually do? Isn’t that stupid?

Now, about the Skill Compendium I was looking forward to—it didn’t have any of the information I wanted. I had a bad feeling from how strangely thin it was, but it only contained commonly used human Skills, and things like Lightning weren’t included.

Actually, none of the Unique Skills I have were listed there at all.

Completely useless.

Next, the Holy Magic Compendium was actually quite helpful.

First, it seems that to purify Zombies, it’s better to use a specialized magic called Turn Undead rather than Purification Magic.

I guess you could call it Ascension Magic or something?

It seems it can be done with Purification Magic too, but for some reason, it’s inefficient.

Apparently, the proper method is to purify the corpse before it becomes a Zombie, and if it’s already turned, use Turn Undead to send it on to the afterlife.

Also, what was interesting is that so-called Cleansing Magic is apparently holy attribute.

Apparently, they gather several holy attribute magic users who’d be considered high-level by normal standards and use it to purify clothes and bodies before rituals.

I see, now that you mention it, my robe has an automatic cleaning function too.

I’ll have to try that out sometime.

Besides that, holy attribute magic seems to include things like curse removal, calming mental status ailments, temporarily increasing allies’ resistance, and so on.

Reaԁ οո ΚatRеαⅾingCαfе

Incidentally, detoxification and disease treatment seem to fall under the scope of Healing Magic.

It also seems you can create barriers and such.

All of these are defensive or supportive, and unfortunately, there was nothing written about offensive methods. Maybe such magic doesn’t exist.

Dark attribute magic is probably the opposite of whatever holy attribute magic can do, so I’ll think of something easy to use and experiment with it a bit.

Having finished my research at the library, I decided on my future plans.

First, I’ll use Dark Magic even if it’s not particularly necessary to accumulate EXP.

However, I won’t allocate any Skill Points to it.

The main reason I’m not allocating Skill Points yet is because I don’t see it becoming immediately useful anytime soon.

As for Lightning, I’ll leave it alone until I learn more about it.

It feels kind of wasteful to dump points into something I don’t really understand yet.

So, I’ll allocate all my Skill Points to the Apothecary’s Alchemy.

One of the conditions for the Class Change to Magic Apothecary is having Alchemy at Skill Level 3, so I’ll prioritize getting it to Skill Level 3 first.

After all, if I continue living like this, if I can’t break even in about half a year, bankruptcy will be on the horizon.

Healing work is bleeding money, and Zombie extermination jobs aren’t always available either.

I need to find a way to earn income while I still can.

Also, I’d like to quietly expand my Dimensional Storage.

It’s convenient, but the capacity is just a little too small to be truly useful, so if possible, I’d like to expand it a bit more.

Even though I’ve been constantly using Dimensional Storage to store things, it barely gives any EXP at all.

So, depending on the situation, I might allocate Skill Points to it.

Rеаd оո KatRеαⅾіոɡCαfe

Well, now that I’ve decided on my plans going forward, I should go buy the tools I need for Alchemy right away.

“Chris-san. Let’s go buy the tools needed for potion-making. Since I received the Apothecary Sub-Class yesterday, I can now make potions.”

“Congratulations! Then, let me arrange an apprenticeship with an Apothecary right away.”

Huh? Were you even listening?

“Then, let’s return to the hotel room. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”

“Eh? Ah, no. That’s not it.”

“Eh?”

“I have the knowledge, so I was planning to do the Alchemy myself…”

“Eh? Is that so? I thought for sure you’d be apprenticing under some Apothecary.”

Well, that would probably be faster to become proficient, but…

“But, we also have Zombie and ghost extermination.”

“G-ghosts… No, understood. Fiene-sama. I’ll find an Apothecary who understands Zombie and ghost extermination!”

“Sigh.”

Would someone that conveniently perfect even exist?

Hmm, whatever. If they do exist, that’s just lucky.

◇ ◇ ◇

And that night, Chris-san came to report to me with a beaming smile.

“Fiene-sama. I found one. A veteran with 30 years dedicated to being an Apothecary. Although he doesn’t hold a position in the Apothecary Association, he’s highly respected for his skill, and he’s also a devout follower of the Temple.”

Wow, impressive, to find such a person in just a few hours.

Rеad oո ΚаtRеаⅾіոɡСαfе

“However, the condition for the apprenticeship was that he’d have to meet Fiene-sama and take a liking to you first. He’s never taken an apprentice before, but with Fiene-sama, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Huh? Never taken an apprentice?”

“That seems to be the case. But considering Fiene-sama’s character and talent, I’m sure he’ll be the one begging to take you in as an apprentice.”

“Sigh.”

Is this muscle-brain kukkoro onee-san okay? Normally, I’d be turned away at the door.

Well, I’ll go meet him without expecting much.

◇ ◇ ◇

And the next day, I arrived at the workshop of the rumored Apothecary. A man who looked every bit the craftsman sat with an unfriendly expression.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Fiene Argentata . Pleased to meet you.”

“I’m Jez. So you’re the rumored Saint. An expert in Healing Magic who can heal injuries, illnesses, and poison alike—what would someone like you need potions for?”

“Wh-! What insolence to Fiene-sama! In that case—”

“Chris-san, stop. I’m here for an interview, so please wait outside.”

“But!”

“Just do as I say and wait outside. It’s rude to Jez-san!”

“…Understood.”

Though displeased, Chris-san said that and went outside.

“My knight was rude.”

“…It’s fine. So, why potions?”

“Well… it just sort of happened, you could say—”

Reαd oո КatReαⅾіոɡСafе

“Huh? Sort of happened?”

Ah, oops. I accidentally let the truth slip.

“Yes. That’s basically what happened. I was trying to Level Up, and somehow I ended up studying everything from potions and medicine to Magical Pharmacology.”

“Hah? Why would you study that stuff just to Level Up?”

“So really, it was more of a chain of events than anything.”

“I don’t get it. So, you want to study potions instead of magic?”

“That’s right. At the very least, I want to be able to make basic Potions.”

“Hah? Potions are the bare minimum? Do you have any idea how long that takes? Just raising the Apothecary Skills alone takes about 10 years before you even qualify as a Magic Apothecary.”

“So I figured I’d make up the missing EXP through Zombie and ghost extermination.”

Ah, he’s completely giving me a dumbfounded look.

“Hah, I get it. I lose. I’ll accept you as an apprentice. Hurry up and raise your Skill Level and graduate, okay?”

“Huh?”

“I said I’ll hire you. You’re the first person to say something as crazy as that.”

Umm? How did it come to this?

“Most people who come knocking at my door talk about mastering the art of potion-making to save lives, or just honestly wanting to get rich. But you’re the first person who’s ever said potion-making is just a stepping stone toward something even higher. And the one saying it is the Saint herself, someone who shouldn’t even need potions in the first place.”

Somehow, it feels like I’m being praised and insulted at the same time.

“But even if you’re the Saint, in this workshop you’re just another apprentice. I’ll allow time off for Zombie extermination and such, but otherwise, you’ll basically be working here.”

“Y-yes.”

And so, I became an apprentice to the Apothecary, Jez-san.