Chapter 8: Selling Potions

Looking at the two bottles of vibrant green healing potions, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of relief.

“Looks like my potion-making skills haven’t slipped much.”

I thought to myself, then carefully packed the potions, ready to head out and sell them.

These two potions should fetch six silver coins. After paying back three for the tools, I’d have three left to buy three sets of herbs. Tomorrow, I could sell nine silver coins’ worth, the next day twenty-seven, and the day after that, eighty-one…

At my pace, I can make up to twenty potions a day, which could sell for sixty silver coins.

In just a week, I could earn the hundred silver coins for rent, with extra to buy more herbs and keep making money.

But… making twenty potions a day is brutal for me right now. A normal apprentice mage would struggle with ten.

Can my frail mental energy handle such a heavy workload? I’m skeptical, but I’ve got to try.

While resting last night, I meditated in my sleep to train my mental energy—so I feel better today than yesterday.

If I keep this up, I might just pull it off.

I calculated quietly, then sighed in relief—money should be manageable, but it’ll be grueling.

With that, I packed the potions into my bag, ready to sell them and buy more herbs.

The two egg babies, like yesterday, went into the backpack.

I glanced at them, paused, and gently touched their shells.

“Bear with it a little longer… Once Mommy makes enough money and regains some strength, I’ll get you two some magic crystals.”

I said to the eggs, but this time they didn’t react—maybe they’re tired or just calmly waiting to hatch.

They should be fine short-term, but within a month, I need to find decent magic crystals to feed them, or they could become dead eggs.

As for their father… hmph. I’ve been in this mess for over a year, so he’s irrelevant. Probably some deadbeat who’s better off gone.

If he shows up… I might just blast a fireball in his face, whoever he is!

“Sigh… first, pay rent. Then, earn money for crystals, and train myself… This is gonna be rough.”

I muttered, brushing off thoughts of the father. I pulled on my cloak, tugged the hood low, and headed out with the eggs and potions.

It’s just past eleven in the morning. The streets aren’t too crowded, with fewer loiterers around.

Yesterday, it was late, so the streets were full of shady types. Now, with fewer people, I felt relieved.

I adjusted my hood and quickened my pace toward the herb shop.

“Welcome.”

The shopkeeper’s lifeless greeting hit me as I pushed open the door.

But the moment he saw me, his eyes turned cold.

“What do you want?”

He asked warily, clearly aware I’d charmed him yesterday.

I felt a pang of embarrassment but kept my head low, trying not to trigger my charm ability again, and placed the two potions on the counter. I hadn’t studied my charm ability last night, but my eyes returned to normal after some time at home… Still, to be safe, I avoided eye contact.

“As we discussed, I brought the potions… Two perfect basic healing potions. You quoted three silver coins each—half to pay my debt, and the rest for three sets of healing potion herbs.”

I spoke timidly to the middle-aged man. He glanced at the potions, clearly surprised I was actually here to sell and pay him back.

“…Hold on, let me check.”

He gave me a complex look, and just when I thought he’d refuse, he spoke slowly, opening the potions to inspect them.

“…Confirmed. These are top-quality basic healing potions. At three silver coins each, that’s six total. After deducting three for the tools, you get three silver coins’ worth of herbs.”

He nodded, left the counter, and returned in under half a minute with three sets of herbs.

“…Thank you… Oh, and… I didn’t mean to do that yesterday…”

I took the herbs, stuffing them into my bag, and apologized softly.

“…It’s fine.”

He just shook his head in response.

I nodded, then left the shop with my head down, ready to head home and make more potions.

“Phew… dealing with people isn’t that hard.”

Relieved by his forgiveness, I sighed.

I felt a bit guilty about the charm… Though I also charmed that patrol captain yesterday, it shouldn’t be a big deal since I didn’t make him do anything.

“Alright, back home to make potions~”

I hummed, ready to head back, but just then, a girl cloaked as heavily as me passed by with an unsettling smile.

Since we crossed paths, I caught a glimpse of brilliant blonde hair and faintly glowing red eyes.

“Hm? That person…”

I paused, turning to look at the girl.

But when I did, the heavily cloaked figure had vanished without a trace.

“Uh… probably some powerful person? Whatever, I shouldn’t meddle. Money comes first, money comes first…”

I blinked, confused, then shook my head, refocusing, and hurried home to make potions.