Chapter 210

<Chapter 210>

Villain in the Newspaper Company

“…Hassan, what should we do? It seems like the Alchemist Guild has misunderstood me….”

Luna, who had just escaped from the Red Potion Association, seemed restless and couldn’t calm down.

So when I gently pressed the pressure point on Luna’s wrist, the characters “Mild Panic Alleviated” appeared along with the task value.

“How are you feeling? Are you calmer now?”

“No! The Alchemist Guild seems to have misunderstood me! Now that my head is clearer, I realize this is a serious issue!”

Though her state of mild panic had undoubtedly been alleviated, Luna’s anxious symptoms only grew stronger. Perhaps because she was in a panic before, she hadn’t been fully able to assess the situation and was less alarmed.

Now that her mind had become clearer, she was assessing the situation more clearly and thus worrying even more.

It wasn’t that simply alleviating her condition would solve everything.

I suddenly understood why people drink alcohol to forget fatigue. Sometimes, it feels like people want to obscure their rationality to escape from reality.

“Hassan, the Alchemist Guild is one of the successful manufacturers, right? I don’t understand why they would target me!”

“Is there anything that comes to mind? Like having clashed with any alchemists before?”

“Absolutely not!”

Luna seemed to have no idea why this was happening.

But in my opinion, this couldn’t have happened for no reason.

The cause of most issues was usually material in nature.

Money, in other words.

I know very well that Luna’s potions are effective. No one has drunk more of her potions than I have in this world.

If they latch onto something trivial like the taste being bad, then I wouldn’t object. But claiming “the potions don’t work” and disparaging them is undoubtedly a slander by someone.

Though I might not know a lot about this world, I understand how human society operates.

To prove innocence, one would have to go to the Alchemist Guild and present the ingredients’ details and manufacturing processes—this clearly seemed like an attempt to steal Luna’s recipe.

“If the alchemists dislike me, then selling potions in the city might end. That’s why I’ve been trying to be close to Bynas, sister!”

Luna could only mutter with a tone of regret.

If I were to liken this situation to my own, it would be like me, a successful Adventurer, suddenly earning the enmity of Gold Tier Adventurers Actaeon and Hippolyte, making my position precarious. Indeed, it feels quite bleak when I think about it this way.

As I was pondering on how to help Luna, she suddenly said something as if she’d made a decision.

“I should go see Bynas Sister. Perhaps she’ll have some solution!”

“Bynas? You mean the wealthy Alchemist, correct?”

“Yes! She will definitely help me! She even said she feels like I am her little sister!”

Bynas.

She was apparently a successful alchemist of our age who already owned her own personal lab, if I remember correctly. It was said that Bynas purchased the majority of Luna’s potions. She had shown affection for Luna because she found her similar to her younger sister back in her hometown.

I’ve never met her, but knowing that Luna has someone she can count on in a giant corporation made me feel slightly more assured too.

This is why people should extend their reach in various directions, it seems.

“Do you know where she lives?”

“I’ve been there a few times delivering potions with Paranoi! I’m not sure if arriving suddenly like this is okay, but let’s go anyway!”

We moved like a boat finding an anchor in a flowing river.

There we headed, toward the bustling market area near the South Gate of Sodomora, where somewhere amidst the chaotic market lay an alleyway filled with Alchemists who wield considerable influence in the city.

Boil-boil.

Sizzle-sizzle.

From everywhere, the sounds of boiling, along with white fumes rising from every chimney, were visible.

“Ah, this isn’t it either!”

WHOOSH!

Here and there, unknown liquids were occasionally splashed out of windows by some reckless people, wetting the stones and making the ground slippery and shiny.

Broken beakers and empty potion bottles rolled about on the streets. This place, full of alchemists boasting considerable influence in Sodomora, was where the potion workshops were located.

The white smoke rising from the chimneys was obviously from various materials being heated and boiled. As a result, the street was somewhat humid and unpleasant, with a strong smell clinging to your body.

It reminded me of the Health Center days, which made me feel nostalgic in a way but also rather uneasy.

“Over there, we need to head to building number five on the Blue Bird Alley.”

To my eyes, everything looked the same, but Luna moved through the area without hesitation. As we followed her,

I saw Luna finally stop in front of what seemed like a small cottage nestled between two large buildings.

Pointy roof, colorful paint, and clouds decorating the windows and entrance reminded me of a wizard’s house from a fairy tale.

When I thought of an alchemist’s private workshop, I imagined someone in a gas mask, heating fluorescent substances in a sinister basement. This made me realize that I probably had some preconceived notions about alchemists.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes.”

“Then give it a knock.”

“But what if I drop in without an appointment? What if she’s mad? What if she refuses to help because I’m rude?”

Luna was extremely worried. Too worried, given how much this business mattered to her. It was clear she couldn’t keep her cool. But standing here forever wasn’t a solution either.

So I was about to knock on her door instead when—

“Ah, this isn’t it either.”

The brown wooden door opened suddenly, and from inside, a white hand flung some yellowish liquid my way.

WHOOSH!

“Kyaaah, it’s hot! Ughhh!”

It was much hotter than I expected, leaving me no choice but to scream in surprise. A sudden boiling shower—what the heck?

“Ugh, what’s this smell? It smells gross!”

“Hassan, Hassan! Are you okay!? I’ll blow on you to cool it down! Hooohooohoo!”

As I hurriedly tried to cool my body, the door in front of us burst open, and someone stepped out.

It was a short woman.

She was covered in a gray robe, and both her chest and hips seemed small, making her look like a child, though she was clearly not.

Just a stunted growth kind of vibe.

Her rather neat, navy blue bob haircut along with the glasses gave her an appearance akin to a nerdy girl from elementary school.

“Sister!”

Given Luna’s reaction, this woman was likely the Alchemist Bynas.

*

“Goodness gracious, I am so sorry!”

Bynas’s workshop had everything — from heating instruments to a personal shower.

While Luna’s hut was comparable to a cheap inn, this place felt more like a suburban hotel.

Thus, I was able to wash off the horrible liquid and clean my clothes.

The place wasn’t excessively tidy. Stacked here and there were books and materials with unidentifiable substances, and broken glass pieces. This person didn’t seem to be an excellent organizer, much like Luna.

Is tidiness not a characteristic trait of potion-makers?

“I didn’t expect anyone to be there. That’s why I even posted a notice saying not to stand in front of the door.”

Bynas apologized while adjusting her glasses. I hadn’t paid attention to the words on the notice, but it was evident this wasn’t done intentionally.

What was the stuff she splashed on me, though?

“That stuff had a terrible smell. What was it?”

“It’s a prototype I’m making. Just, something to scare off monsters. Lately, adventurers are facing more goblin attacks, so it’s in demand.”

Indeed, it was meant to drive away monsters.

It had smelled like socks that hadn’t been washed in ages, so it was clear that any monster with sensitive noses would flee instantly.

“And why are you here?”

“Sister, disaster has struck! The Alchemist Guild — Alchemists—!”

“Alchemists?”

Sitting on the couch in the reception room, Luna was babbling on excitedly about the reason we’d come. Although she stumbled over her words mid-rant due to excitement, this Alchemist quickly grasped what Luna was trying to say.

“So, someone is slandering your potion?”

“Yes! How could this happen? You must also know my potions work, right?”

“Of course, I do. They might have a peculiar taste, but their effectiveness is unmatched compared to the traditional vitality potions.”

“That’s true!”

Luna relaxed visibly at having someone validate her side of the story. Then Bynas added one more sentence.

“But, it’s quite a common occurrence in this industry. Alchemists need to promote their products and increase sales, so undercutting others is not unusual.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but if you’re part of the Alchemist Guild, you don’t have to reveal your recipe. You can simply prove your innocence based on the internal ingredient analysis. However, since Luna isn’t part of the Guild…”

“What should I do then? Can I also enter the Alchemist Guild?”

“Well, it’s probably difficult. You’d need to have completed a five-year regular course at the city’s Pharmacy Academy, or have been recognized with a five-year apprenticeship under a professional pharmacist to join the Guild.”

“Hmm, then what should I do?”

Luna made a face as if something truly dire had happened. For a brief moment, silence settled over the room. Then, just as it did, Bynas quietly added one more sentence.

“But, there is a solution. Luna, you could be my apprentice. Then, you can relabel your potions as my product.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just a label swap. This way, Luna, you can continue making potions happily. I can help you too. Moreover, all the profits will still be yours. We can continue like this until you eventually open your own workshop as an Alchemist after five years.”

Something about this plan seemed extremely suspicious, didn’t it?

Is this the only way?

A sudden ill thought crossed my mind.

It felt like a graduate student having their hard work on a thesis stolen by their professor.

Or the graduate student, crying, agreeing to add the professor’s name or the professor’s child’s name as co-authors.

For some reason, I had the feeling this woman was subtly trying to put her own fork into Luna’s potion business.

After all, my long-held belief was that there was no such thing as selfless kindness.

This woman must be helping Luna, making a proposal, for her own gain.

I wasn’t sure if Luna noticed, but given how she was hesitating and stuttering, it seemed she too found the proposal unsettling.

At that moment,

A somewhat impure thought struck me.

So I broke the brief silence and spoke.

“Jealousy and slander against successful people are bound to arise. Luna’s potion is effective, so envious people are concocting stories about it. The person who started these rumors, this Potion Master person, is surely a loser. Someone who can’t succeed, I imagine.”

“Potion Master?”

Interested by my words, Bynas adjusted her glasses while leisurely sitting on the sofa. Seeing this as a chance, I took out a pre-cut clipping from the table.

“I checked various newspapers. This guy was the first to start it. Potion Master. I also reviewed other articles he’s written before, and all of them consist of defaming potions and elixirs made by others.”

I recalled a YouTube video I’d watched a long time ago.

People sometimes envy and hate others who succeed. The mere existence of such individuals acts as evidence of their own failure, so there’s a desire to bring them down, criticize them, or remove them from sight.

“Clearly, this guy must be an Alchemist. One with poor skills. He’s probably trying to boost his self-esteem by criticizing others. That way, he can prove that he isn’t wrong. Let’s find this person and make him apologize.”

I ended my explanation there. My heart raced slightly as I waited to see what would happen.

Then, pushing her glasses with a glint in her eyes, Bynas said,

“Should we? I subscribe to the Red Potion Daily, so I’ve read something about Potion Master. He doesn’t seem that bad at first glance. He actually seems quite knowledgeable and his articles sell well—”

Bynas continued to defend this so-called Potion Master. Luna watched her with a perplexed expression.

Having spent a long time on internet forums and being familiar with anonymity, including usernames, I felt as if I had uncovered the true identity of the person behind the written articles.

Gotcha, you—

[Author’s Note]

I have no idea anymore… Today’s a 4-day streak… Tomorrow, I need to write all day ㅠㅠ… The content of part 2 felt too boring, so I just wrote it off…!!!

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