Chapter 20: Primary Strengthening Potion
Pulling my thoughts back from external worries, I began preparing potions.
Since I didn’t need to pay the hundred silver coins, I wasn’t in a rush to make potions for sale. Instead, I focused on crafting some for personal use.
This body is just too frail. Proper recovery would take months.
But I don’t have that kind of time.
I could live a slow, quiet life, but as a lone woman in this world, it feels unsafe. I urgently need to boost my strength.
Plus, I’m not alone—I’ve got two egg babies to care for. Without strength, I’m uneasy.
So, I plan to use potions to quickly enhance my abilities.
Overusing potions to boost strength can harm future potential, but as a master mage with expertise in alchemy, I know which potions suit me without damaging my foundation—and I’ll make them myself.
It’s way cheaper than buying…
Three hundred silver coins seem like a lot, but it’s less than half a gold coin. Fine for daily life, but for bigger plans—especially with the kids’ needs—it won’t last.
“Sigh… money, money, money… I’m practically drowning in it.”
I thought while working on the potions.
My mental energy’s much stronger now, so unlike a week ago, I don’t need to focus entirely on potion-making. I can think about other things too.
Three hours later, after much effort, I finished three potions. Looking at the glowing blue bottles, I felt satisfied.
[Basic Fortification Potion], a common strength-enhancing potion, safe even for five- or six-year-olds… with supervision.
It’s pricey—fifteen silver coins to make, sells for fifty! But the complex herb ratios and crafting process, plus diminishing effects after a few uses, make it unpopular to produce.
I started these yesterday, planning to finish tomorrow, but since I’m free, I’ll complete them now to boost my strength.
Looking at the three potions, I didn’t hesitate. I stored two safely, then grabbed the third, tilted my head back, and downed it.
The moment it hit my stomach, a warm sensation spread.
The warmth flowed to my limbs, so cozy it made me want to sleep—but I knew what was coming, so I stuffed a towel in my mouth and lay flat on the bed.
As the warmth spread, a sharp pain erupted from my stomach, radiating through my body!
“Guh—!”
Even prepared, the sudden pain made me bite the towel hard.
It felt like tiny needles stabbing everywhere—not bone-deep, but my muscles and tendons screamed in agony.
Strength comes at a cost. The [Basic Fortification Potion] strengthens the body, and for a frail frame like mine, it maximizes muscle and tendon improvement on first use.
It hurt like hell, but it wasn’t unbearable.
The pain lasted a few minutes before fading. By then, I was drenched in sweat, and moving a finger triggered more pain, so I lay still, waiting for the effects to subside.
It’s just a basic potion, not some miraculous treasure. The intense pain came from using it on an unconditioned body. The next two doses should hurt less.
Still, even a basic potion drained my stamina.
I wanted to pass out, but for safety, I gritted my teeth, waited until the effects mostly wore off, then shakily got up from the sweat-soaked bed. I forced down half a black bread in the kitchen before collapsing back onto the bed.
“…Sigh, getting stronger… it’s a long road.”
I lay there, feeling a bit melancholic.
Short-term, I need to reach [Bronze Forged Body] level—barely stronger than an average person. I’m not aiming for [Silver Honed Skill] anytime soon; that’s a pipe dream.
While training my body, I won’t neglect my old trade…
As I closed my eyes, letting my body sink into sleep, my mental energy stayed active, meditating and growing stronger—
My knowledge and mental energy are my greatest weapons and shields.