Chapter 19: Let's Think About Opening A Shop

After we finish chatting with Gerritt and Meldine, we leave the guild and go to a clothing store to buy some clothes for Chantal. Just like Hazewynn, I buy her many types of clothing for casual and daily wear. Not only that, but I also buy her many pairs of sexy underwear to spice up our nights. However, I buy Hazewynn some new clothes too.

After we finish shopping, we go to a jewelry store to make accessories for Hazewynn and Chantal.

"May I help you, sir?"

"I'm sorry. Can you make necklaces from this?"

I took out the Quartz Golem's rough diamond from the storage and gave it to the female employee who greeted us. Of course, she is shocked when she sees the rough diamonds in front of her eyes.

"Is this from Quartz Golem?"

"Yes."

"Unbelievable. I've never seen rough a diamond from that monster before. Alright, let me introduce you to our craftsman, so wait a second."

"Okay."

Not long after that, a man with silver hair and a short beard comes to us. Judging from his look, he looks like a man in his early 40s.

"Hi, I'm Henri, the craftsman of this store. I heard that you had a rough diamond, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, let me see it."

"Here."

I show the rough diamond to Henri and he examines it with a very serious expression on his face while his hand holding his chin.

"Hmm...it's truly a rough diamond from Quartz Golem. It's still beautiful as ever."

"Have you ever crafted this before?"

"Yes, once in the past. I still remember how nervous I was when I handled this for the first time."

Henri told me when he was young, he got an order from a noble family to make accessories for them with the Quartz Golem's rough diamond. Because he was still a newbie back then, he was so nervous and very careful when he crafted such a beautiful item that he had never seen before. But, throughout the years, he says his skill has improved a lot and he is confident that he can execute that rough diamond.

"So, what do you want to make from this?"

"A necklace. Just a simple one."

"Alright. For these girls?"

"Yes."

When I said I wanted to make a necklace, Henri instantly knew my purpose as he asked me if the necklaces were for Hazewynn and Chantal while pointing his finger at them, to which I answered yes.

"So, it's two necklaces, right? Well, give me two days to make them. Is that fine?"

"Understood. I'll come back in two days, then."

"Okay. I'm looking forward to it."

Henri said he needed two days to finish my order and I nodded in understanding.

After finishing the business with Henri, we leave the jewelry store and go to the market to buy groceries. The sun is almost setting as we walk along the way. Then suddenly, I remember something.

"Hey, Haze, Chantal. Can you go shopping without me? I need to go somewhere, but it won't take long."

"Yes, Motegi-san."

"Sure, Motegi-sama."

When we had this morning, Hazewynn and Chantal asked me about what I would do with the store area in my house. Their questions made me realize since I bought that house two days ago, I still hadn't thought about what kind of store I wanted to open.

However, when I was in the guild I remembered that I still had a lot of potion ingredients from the monsters. Then, I recollected my memories about the otherworldly stories I've ever read which most of the protagonists were opening a potion shop and could make money from it, so I started to think since I was also in a fantasy world maybe I should do the same.

Because I also read books about potion making, I already know what kind of stuff I need and I decide to buy them immediately.

"Hello, what can I help you, sir?"

"I need potion brewing equipment. Do you have them?"

"Yes, please follow me."

I went to a general store to buy the equipment for brewing. The female store clerk then shows me a wide variety of things that I need. I pick each of them and return to the counter.

"Okay. A brewing stand is 1300 ginks, a small cauldron is 1000 ginks, and a mini stove is 750 ginks. A ladle and a funnel are 5 ginks, a mortar and pestle are 50 ginks, and a small filtration set is 150 ginks. Five beakers are 220 ginks in total and five glass bottles are 60 ginks in total. So, it's 3535 ginks for all of these."

"Alright. I'll pay with the card."

"Yes, please."

I take my guild card from my pocket then I put my card on top of the transactional magic tool on the table and transfer the amount to it. After the payment is complete, I put all of the equipment inside my storage.

"Well, I receive your payment. Thank you very much."

"Yes. See you!"

As I leave the store, I think maybe the two women have already finished shopping and they are already at home now, so I need to quickly return to my house if I don't want to worry them. Also, there is something that makes me want to go home quickly, it's because I can't wait to try brewing a potion for the first time in my life.

**********

"I'm home!"

"Welcome back, Motegi-sama."

"Welcome back, Motegi-san."

When Motegi returns home, Hazewynn and Chantal have already arrived there and quickly walk downstairs to greet him. They also have changed their clothes into the new ones that we buy today.

"You look pretty, Chantal."

"Ah...thank you, Motegi-san."

"Of course, you're pretty too, Haze."

"Ah...thank you, Motegi-sama."

Chantal was blushed when Motegi praised her beauty. Even though Chantal is a beastwoman and has a muscular body, she is still a beautiful woman in Motegi's eyes and she also looks charming when she wears a feminine outfit. Hazewynn also gets a compliment for her beauty from Motegi and her cheeks turn red too. As an elf, Motegi thinks she will also look beautiful with every kind of clothes she wears.

"We're still preparing for the dinner. So, please wait, Motegi-sama."

"Yes, it's okay. I'll be in the storage room, so please call me when dinner is ready."

"What are you doing there, Motegi-san?"

"There is something I want to do."

As Hazewynn and Chantal are about to cook dinner, Motegi goes to the storage room to start his potion brewing time.

He takes out all the equipment from the storage then he assembles them one by one. Because he forgets to bring water, he uses the "Water Stream" spell to fill the cauldron. Then, he uses "Fire Sparks" to turn the stove on and heat the cauldron. As he waits for the water to boil, he prepares the potion ingredients and grinds them in a mortar.

"Alright, so it's like this...and like this..."

There are various types and functions of potions in this world, from potions for healing, detox, recovery, abnormal conditions, strength enhancement, etc. Every potion is imbued with elements to give the effect, like water element for detox and recovery, light element for healing and anti-abnormality, and fire for strengthening.

Potions are also ranked based on the amount of the ingredients and magic contained inside. For example, in a G rank potion, the lowest one, there is more water inside and little magical power while in an S rank potion, the highest one, there are more herbs and a high concentration of magic inside. The A and B rank potions are considered rare because the crafters who can make them only can be found in noble families or governments, also there are only a few people in this world who can make S rank potions, so it's considered as a luxury item. If there is somebody who owns an S rank potion, that person must have a high social status or own a huge sum of funds.

The one that Motegi tries to make this time is G rank power enhancement potions. However, even though he had read books about potion making, he knows it wouldn't be easy to do and he was also afraid that he would forget the steps of it, so he maxed out his intelligence with [Temporary Boost]. However, his maximum intelligence not only prevents him from forgetting, but it also fills his mind with all knowledge of potion making.

"Okay, the water is ready. Now let's put it inside and stir this up."

When the water in the cauldron boiled, Motegi poured the ground ingredients into the cauldron. Then, he quickly takes a ladle and stirs the mixture until it dissolves with the water.

"Hmm...I think it's done now."

After a moment, Motegi saw the bubbles didn't come out, indicating to him that the potion was ready and he turned off the stove. Then, he puts a little strength enhancement magic from the fire element into the potion mixture. He prepares a beaker and puts it under the filtering tool. Then, he pours a ladle of potion into the filtering tool and waits for the potion to flow into the beaker.

The filtration tool not only just separates the remaining solid matter from the potion mixture, but also acts as a cooler so the potion temperature can set down quickly.

"Alright, let's try it. Gulp...hmm!?"

When Motegi sipped the potion, he was surprised because it tasted sweet.

He ever bought a potion once because of his curiosity and it tasted very bitter when he tried it. When Motegi asked the stall owner why it tasted bitter, he answered every potion tasted like that no matter the rank.

So that's why he didn't expect the potion to be so flavorful.

"Motegi-sama, dinner is ready!"

"Motegi-san, let's eat!"

"Haze, Chantal, come here!"

Hazewynn and Chantal went to the storage room to inform Motegi the dinner was done. However, Motegi who was still amazed by his work, told them to come inside because he wanted to show what he had just done.

"Do you make a potion, Motegi-sama?"

"Yes. Wait, I'll pour it for you two."

"Do you want us to drink it, Motegi-san?"

"Yes. Just try it a bit."

Motegi pours another ladles of his handmade potion into two beakers and he gives them to Hazewynn and Chantal. They drink the potions like Motegi has requested and their reactions are just the same as Motegi when it reaches their tongues.

"Whoa...it's sweet! Is this really a potion?"

"Amazing...I've never know if a potion can taste like this!"

"Do you like it?"

""Yes!""

As adventurers, Hazewynn and Chantal are also familiar with potions. They drank it several times in the past but they never liked it because the bitter taste was irritating for them when they were on an adventure or a labyrinth quest.

When they know Motegi can turn an irritating potion into a flavorful one, they are amazed and also curious how he's able to do that.

"How can you make this potion, Motegi-san?"

"Umm...just like usual I guess. I'm just grinding the ingredients and putting it inside the boiling water then filter it."

"Impossible. Even though it's only like that, why are there no impurities inside?"

"Impurities?"

The word impurities from Hazewynn confused Motegi for a moment. Chantal who also knows about potion, answers his question.

"Yes, Motegi-san. The plants for potion ingredients gradually produce a kind of toxic compounds to survive in their environment, that's what we call impurities. If these are not removed, the bitterness of the toxic will remain and it will create an awful potion to drink. Pouring some magic into it will help decrease its bitterness, but it won't change the taste. However, if the magic amount doesn't match the amount of ingredients used, the potion will be even more bitter."

"Ah, I got it."

"So, it's a new case for us seeing someone can make flavorful potions like you do, Motegi-sama."

"Hmm...is that so."

Unfortunately, their explanation doesn't erase Motegi's confusion. He still has no idea why his potion has a sweet taste inside.

Little does he know, he unconsciously boosts his strength which makes his magic powerful. His high magical power not only gives the effect of the potion, but it also helps in removing all the abnormalities of the ingredients and returns the original taste of those ingredients, so that's why the potion becomes flavorful.

"Why are you making potion, Motegi-sama?"

"I'm planning to sell this in our store."

"Whoa! That's great, Motegi-san. I'm sure people will buy this a lot."

"Yes, you're right. I think it will be a good store for adventurers too."

"Exactly."

"Well, it's settled. We'll be opening a potion store!"

""Hooray!!!""

The testimonies from Hazewynn and Chantal bring Motegi a huge confidence to open his own potion shop. His brain then starts to think about what he wants to prepare for his shop later. Knowing it will cost a lot of time, he also wants to take another day break from adventuring for tomorrow.

However, he has to put that aside for a moment because dinner is waiting for him and the three of them go upstairs to eat their dinner.