Chapter 77: Doubt

“…Hold on, no matter how you slice it, claiming you’re a level eight pharmacist is just too weird.”

Emil thought for a moment, then looked at me and spoke up.
“Speaking of which, if you’re really a level eight pharmacist, you should have a certification from the Pharmacist Association, right? And where’s your pass?”

Emil eyed me warily, raising his doubts.
After his words, Carter and Katherine also gave me slightly suspicious looks.

I wasn’t surprised—Emil’s reaction was the most normal.
Given my apparent age and appearance, it’s only natural they’d find my claims strange.

Ugh, I should’ve lowballed my pharmacist level even more…

I thought to myself, then rummaged through the storage bracelet from the Golden Skull Trading Auction House and pulled out my pass.
“While I don’t have a certification, I do have this pass from the Golden Skull Trading Auction House. It should prove my identity.”

I took out a black envelope, opened it, and showed them a document, waving it at the three of them.
It bore the Golden Skull Auction House’s authentication and my portrait, verifying me as a senior pharmacist.

Of course, it didn’t specify my exact level, but senior pharmacist meant level six or higher.
I held the pass up, and Carter and the others could clearly see what was written, so I quickly put it away.

“…You’re actually a senior pharmacist?”

After seeing the document, Emil didn’t ask to inspect it himself.
He fell silent, then spoke with a hint of lingering doubt.
“But… your age doesn’t add up, does it? How old are you, Mengmeng? And if you’re a senior pharmacist, why were you in a backwater like Blackshine City?”

Katherine scratched her head, looking at me with questions.
“…I’m not quite seventeen yet. I learned pharmaceutics from a wandering mage. He kicked me out later, and I ended up in Blackshine City. Now that I’ve saved up some money, I’m heading to a bigger city to make a living.”

I blinked, rattling off my prepared story without hesitation.
Carter, Katherine, and Emil exchanged looks.

“…If… If you’re really a senior pharmacist, Miss Su Mengmeng… would you be willing to take on some potion orders from our family?”

After a long silence, Carter finally spoke, immediately proposing I take on his family’s orders.
“I only take high-tier potion orders.”

“That’s exactly what we need.”
“As long as the price is right and materials are provided, it’s no problem.”
“Great, we’ll discuss details later…”

“Wait, wait, wait!!! Carter, that’s not fair! We all met Mengmeng together—why does your family get to hire her first!?”

Carter and I exchanged a few quick words, but Katherine cut in, shouting.
“Our family needs pharmacists too!”

“…I’m just discussing it with Miss Su Mengmeng.”
“…Actually… never mind.”

Emil looked like he wanted to say something but shook his head, staying silent.
I stared at Carter and Katherine, a bit stunned.

Their attitudes had shifted drastically after I revealed and proved my identity.
It was as if high-tier pharmacists were so rare these days that you could wait forever and still not find one to take specific orders.

I didn’t know much about the current state of society or its people, but over the past few centuries, the world had clearly advanced rapidly.
Things were vastly different from the era I once lived in.

I thought to myself, and as Carter and Katherine kept talking, I was about to say something when a sudden chill ran through me.