62 Episode 61 Guilds and Drugs

After completing the experiments on the human body with the new potion and confirming the usefulness of the Zunana grass extract, I decided to work towards its mass production.

Even though the potency of the potion was high, it would not be a viable business if I had to refine it myself.

It is only when you build a system that brings in money even if you leave it alone that you can say you are a truly competent businessman.

...... is no longer a businessman, but an investor or an entrepreneur.

"So I'm going to build a device that can efficiently mass produce the extract.

"But you need permission before you can mass produce it and sell it, right?　I don't think permission will be easy to get.

That's right.

If you want to sell potions on a large scale as an apothecary, you'll need permission from the Apothecary Guild.

It is highly unlikely that a merchant guild with the potency and production power to wipe out the existing apothecaries would be allowed to enter the market.

So, here goes.

I'm thinking of selling it as a material, not a medicine.

Ingredients, huh, ......?

Yeah, the extract is not a drug, so you don't need a permit to sell it.

But you do need a permit to sell medicine made from the extracts. 　What pharmacist would buy it?

I could sell it to adventurers in combination with other ingredients, since the mixture would be effective enough, but I'm thinking of asking for permission without doing that.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try to get permission.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out a way to get permission to sell the new drug in exchange for the right to process it.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

If we dilute it, we will have an existing drug that can be used in large quantities, so the demand is likely to increase.

This will create a win-win situation, which is not possible when people are competing for the limited demand (pie).

Adventurers will be able to take on more dangerous and lucrative enemies, and everyone will be happy.

In addition, if you get a little injured or use magic and consume some medicine, that would be great.

I might be able to do that. 　Shall we go to the Medicine Man's Guild right away?

No, my presence won't change the outcome anyway, I'll leave that to you. 　We don't have much time before the battle of Brokens.

I don't have a lot of time before the Brokens.

Huh. ...... So where are you going, Kaede?

"I'm going to Herrera for a while. 　I'm going to Herrera. 　I have an appointment.

I'll go to the apothecary's guild. 　Can I take the potion you just gave me to prove its effectiveness?

Yes, you'd better take it with you.

I'll also give you the extract before mixing it with the other ingredients.

Mercia left for the Apothecary's Guild with them.

I left for Herrera.

It took me about two hours to reach Herrera, which is still a long way.

It took me about two hours to get to Herrera, which is a long way.

Hello Mr. Gainta, I'm here today to get some tools that have nothing to do with coke or mithril, is that okay?

"...... I'll do my best to help, but the Mining Society is not a blacksmith shop. 　Is it something that can be obtained at the Coal Mining Association?

I don't know. ...... It's a kind of tool used for distillation. Do you have any recommendations on where to get it?

If you want distillation equipment for liquor, the blacksmith shop behind the guild does it.

Thank you, I'll go there.

Thinking about it, it's wrong to ask for a distillation unit in a coal mine.

When I was working on the coke, the prototype was completed so quickly that I forgot about it.

So I went to the store to order it.

I didn't even have to order it, there was a device in the store that looked like the one I wanted.

It was made by Mithril.

"Oh, excuse me, ......, is this a distillation device?

You ask the dwarf who seems to be the owner of the store.

If what you bought thinking it was a distillation device was actually a washing machine, you would be blind.

Hmm?　Oh, yes, it's used for distilling alcohol.

The shopkeeper replied in a very friendly manner for a dwarf.

"Can I buy this?

You can buy one if you have the money, because we don't take reservations. You can buy one if you have the money. 5.3 million ter a unit, so it's not something you can easily buy on your own.

...... You're going to keep making something that expensive?

It takes a long time to make one. 　If you can afford it, you should make it.

I'd like to buy it. Can you show me how to use it?

Do you have the money?

The shopkeeper looks at me quizzically.

If a young man who looks like an adventurer wants to buy a device that can build a house, anyone would do so.

In such cases, it is best to prove it.

"Yes. 　If it has the performance you want, you can buy it right now.

Then you take out 53 large gold coins from the item box.

Can I check?

"Yes.

You hand over the gold coins.

I'm surprised. 　A young man from a noble family or a large trading house?

The owner takes a quick look at the large gold coin and hands it back to me.

There is no need to check the details.

If you make something that can't be understood otherwise, you'll be a bandit immediately for counterfeiting money.

"Can you explain how to use it?

Yes, I'll do it.

The usage was not so difficult.

All you have to do is build a fire, put the distillation target inside, and it will do its job.

It is said that a human being has to judge where to stop distilling.

Incidentally, there is no particular reason why it is made of mithril, but because it is cheap and strong.

It seems to me that mithril is about to take over the position that iron used to hold on Earth.

It's so eroded that it wouldn't be surprising if the age of mithril reinforced concrete came.

All right, I'll buy this.

I declare, and hand over a large gold coin.

"Thank you. 　I'll have to disassemble it to carry it. When will you take it out?

"Oh, I can carry it myself. 　I have an item box.

I don't think you can do this. 　Even though mithril is light, it's still a piece of metal.

No, I can do it. 　Do you mind if I try?

I don't care if it's yours now. ......

Permission granted.

I touch the distillation device and try to put it in the item box.

And sure enough, it works.

There you go.

"Is the ...... item box that useful?

Yes, they are. 　It's very convenient.

It can keep your lunch hot, or carry tons of iron ore easily.

Depending on the object, it can also be used in combat by simply dropping it from the sky.

I'll leave you to it. 　I have more business to attend to.

Oh, yeah, ......, you can come by if you need me again.

It was surprisingly easy to get it.

I'll be free for a whole day tomorrow.

Well, there are plenty of things to do, such as mass-producing the extraction fluid.

There's also the possibility that I'll consume a lot of it during the Brokens battle, and there's a ton of zunana grass in the item box.

It's enough for me to start working on it without waiting for the ship to be completed.

When I returned to Photoren, Mercia had already returned to the store.

We can start tomorrow. 　What about Mercia?

"It's not going to happen today or tomorrow, but it's going to happen this week. 　The effects have already been confirmed by the other side.

I see. 　I won't be here for a while, starting the day after tomorrow, so you'll have to handle all the pricing and negotiations.

All right. 　If you're ready to start tomorrow, does that mean you've already got the tools?

Yes. 　Do you have room at ......?

It's a manufacturing facility, right?　If so, the warehouse would be better.

Okay.

Then we put the distillation equipment in the warehouse and worked hard to produce the Zunana grass extract.

We couldn't increase the efficiency per hour, so we mobilized the clerks and worked day and night in shifts.

The next day at noon, when about five liters of extract had accumulated, a man who looked like a researcher came to the warehouse.

Perhaps he hadn't slept enough, but he had a big smile on his unhealthy face and was calling out for Mercia.

Who is this guy?

Before you can ask any questions, the man opens his mouth with a ghastly smile.

"Mr. Mercia!　That potion you brought with you is a horrible adulteration!　Please stop manufacturing it now, it's a waste of extract.

Who the hell are you?

Don't just show up out of nowhere and say whatever you want.

Mercia, who is this guy?

...... Mr. Dimec, researcher for the Chemists' Guild. 　By the way, what's a shoddy product?

A researcher.

Well, think of him as a dwarf with a penchant for blacksmithing.

Here. 　We made a potion from yesterday's extract, but it was nearly four times as effective in such a short time using the same amount of extract. 　The composition of that potion is that poor.

With that, Mr. Dimec took out the medicine.

Upon examination, it does indeed say that it restores about 350 HP.

I guess it's almost the same as the one we made, in that it'll save you if you're not dead.

Don't worry, we've only made the extract.

That's good to know. 　I'd rather you sell it to us than make something like that. 　I'll return it to you with double the effect.

You're taking half of it?

Anyway, I'm making this for use in Brokens.

If a professional can medicate you, there's no reason to refuse, so I'll ask.

I'm maple, the owner. 　I'm leaving for Brokens tomorrow morning, and I need as much medicine as I can make before then.

"Are you Kaede? 　Of course I can, it's going to revolutionize potionology. 　I'll show you how to find the best formula for this dimek, even if it takes two nights.

I was slightly pressured by the unusually high level of tension.

Perhaps this tension is due to the fact that I've already been here all night.

Shouldn't you take your medicine?

"Oh, yeah. 　I'll take care of it.

Like this, the potion production plan was set.

By the next morning, 150 potions (400 HP recovery per potion) were ready (I had to pay the processing fee in cash this time to secure the quantity).

Dimec collapsed as soon as I handed him the finished potion, but he seemed to be just sleeping, so I had the shopkeepers carry him away.

Now, it's time to go to the guild for the battle against Brokens.

Let's bring in a large amount of healing potions and show the demons how scary it is to be an adventurer who keeps fighting even after getting an arrow in the knee.