Chapter 1: I’ve Become a Potion-Selling Girl. – 2

Chapter 1: I’ve Become a Potion-Selling Girl. – 2

When I first fell into the novel, I really thought I was just hallucinating from taking all the separately prescribed medicine at once.

…It wasn’t long before I realized that I wasn’t hallucinating, but that I had really died and fallen into the novel.

I couldn’t help but know, as a text appeared before my eyes, explaining the situation so kindly, whether it was to tease me or to help me.

After introducing itself as a system, it was so kind in explaining how much of a bug I was when I died that I felt a strong urge to smack it upside the head.

“So, I died because I was too lazy and swallowed all the medicine that shouldn’t be taken together at once, and I fell into a novel?”

*That’s right.*

“…Even though I didn’t have any regrets because I didn’t have much life left, I didn’t expect to go like this…? Anyway, what should I do now?”

*This is essentially a second life and opportunity given to you. Live as you wish.*

“No, but… this is a place where there’s magic, and a war between the Demon King and humans is about to break out? You want me to live here? I don’t have anything?”

The novel I possessed was a typical hero story.

It’s the same up to the point where the hero and the Demon King fight each other, except for the truth that this war itself was a plot by a shadowy group to conquer both the Demon King’s territory and the humans’ territory.

So, in the end, the hero and the Demon King, who were about to kill each other, cooperate to fight against the shadowy group… well, that’s the kind of novel it was.

In any case, the important point is that, like a hero story, there is magic, and there is mana, which is the power needed to use magic, and so on, there are various special abilities.

*As a result of the judgment, the most suitable ability for the user has been identified as ‘Alchemy’. We will provide the Alchemy Encyclopedia and basic materials.*

“Alchemy? Did alchemy exist in this world…?”

*No. Congratulations on becoming the first and only alchemist. You can create various potions with alchemy, and special skills will be unlocked as your proficiency increases.*

“…That’s good, but is there anything that makes me stronger right away? I’ve been bedridden for half my life, so I don’t know how to do anything…?”

The system was silent for a moment at those words.

It seemed to be considering something on its own.

*Okay. We will provide you with one of the highest-grade potions as a special gift.*

“Highest grade? How effective is it?”

*To give the easiest example, if we take the ‘Physical Enhancement Potion’… you will become stronger. Strength and agility will grow at a very fast rate even with a little training, and stamina will be instantly enhanced to superhuman levels.*

“Simple. I’ll take that.”

*…? There are other potions as well. There are also very ‘fantasy’-like effects.*

But I shook my head.

It was because of the part about stamina in the example.

“I’ve never been healthy in my life. That’s why I want physical enhancement.”

*…Okay. It has been provided. Oh, by the way…*

However, I ignored the text that the system was displaying and swallowed the potion that fell into my hand as it was.

…It had a strangely refreshing lime-like taste.

And… a strangely familiar headache and dizziness covered me.

It felt exactly like what I felt right before I died in the hospital.

“Uh… oh?”

That’s how my vision went dark again.

***

*Are you awake?*

“Ugh… My head…”

However, as soon as I heard my voice, I felt my dizzy head return to normal.

To be exact, it felt like the dizziness had disappeared by force due to the shock.

Because… there was no way such a beautiful voice could come out of my throat.

*All potions have side effects, and I was about to say that the higher the grade, the stronger the side effects… and then you swallowed it?*

“……”

*Please pay attention? You’re still in one piece because it was adjusted to the weakest level of side effects, otherwise you would have been blind at the very least?*

“…S-Sorry. But… can I see a mirror?”

At those words, along with the illusion that I heard a sigh from somewhere, my appearance began to be reflected in the system’s window.

A face that generally felt cute, and pretty mint-colored hair and eyes.

It was the kind of face that made you think you could make a living with your looks no matter where you went.

The body… was generally very thin. It gave a strong impression of not being able to eat and not growing properly.

But the parts that should come out did come out.

*The side effects that have already occurred cannot be reversed, but the side effects can be alleviated through various materials, and there are also potions that remove the side effects.*

“…I see? Then why did you give me the highest grade potion in the first place?”

*I gave it to you not to eat. I added that I recommend not eating it because the side effects are strong and one of your body parts may fly away. Of course, I didn’t know you would eat it before you even read it.*

In other words, it was just going to be given as a pie in the sky.

So that you can eat it later when your alchemy proficiency is much higher.

…And I just ate it.

“But, is this really a physical enhancement? I feel weaker…?”

*Try lifting the cup next to you?*

As I was told, I just grabbed the cup… and it cracked.

Of course, it wasn’t like a glass cup, but a cup made of wood and iron.

“Oh my.”

*Did you see? This is the basics, and you can train more. Anyway, you’ll have to catch monsters and go to dangerous areas to get alchemy materials later, so it’s a good thing.*

“…Come to think of it, I don’t have a penny, do I?”

*That’s right. You can earn money by selling potions and live. Still, it would be too much to start as a homeless person, so I’m giving you a house.*

“It’s more like a dilapidated house than a house…”

A house that was just barely not collapsing.

That’s how I could define the space I was standing in.

It was even more funny that there was a bed, a closet, and things that seemed to be alchemy tools…

*Then I’ll get off work now.*

“…? Does the system also get off work?”

*I’m your responsible system. These days, the rights of AIs working in companies are also important, so that’s the company policy.*

“…? It was a company?”

*Of course. We bring people who have a lot of regrets in their lives and revive them in another world. The revival cost will be charged from time to time, but it’s better than dying as it is…*

“Wait, wait a minute. Revival cost??”

I felt like I was seeing a cruel capitalist modern world instead of the fantasy world I had been seeing until just now.

The atmosphere suddenly became serious, but the system continued to speak as if nothing was wrong.

*There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world? Of course, it’s not excessive, and don’t worry, there won’t be a tragedy of killing you again because you can’t pay. It’s just… there will be problems with using the system.*

“No… what is that…?”

*Still, the first week after revival is a free trial period and adaptation period, so nothing will happen. Then, shall we see each other tomorrow? I really have to get off work.*

“Hey, System! Hey!”

But there was no reply.

…It seems like it really got off work.

I suddenly wondered what kind of company was in what world that it could revive dead people, but… I decided to ignore it because it didn’t seem like I would get an answer even if I paid attention to it.

I also had other realistic concerns. …Along with the revival cost, there was a serious concern that I didn’t have anything to eat right now.

“No, of course I was going to earn money because I had to eat and live…”

I felt like I suddenly had a debt out of nowhere.

Of course, I was given basic materials and an electronic alchemy encyclopedia, so there was nothing I couldn’t do…

I was dumbfounded for a while, but I soon came to my senses.

“Okay, let’s set a goal first. It’s a new life, isn’t it?”

A beautiful voice tickled my ears.

…It would have been nice if it wasn’t my voice, but unfortunately, this cute and soft voice was coming from my throat.

I decided to make a plan for the future with a body and voice that I couldn’t get used to at all, and then try alchemy.

I reviewed the contents of the novel and made a simple plan for the future.

“First of all, absolutely no getting involved in the war or with the main characters!”

I have little experience moving my body properly, let alone fighting.

And killing humans or similar beings, let alone monsters…

Honestly, I’m not confident I can do it well.

For that reason, it is right not to get involved with the main characters or the war that will happen later for any reason.

In the first place, it doesn’t seem like I’ll have anything to do with such high-ranking people as the hero, the saintess, the imperial prince of the imperial family, and the grand duchess.

“And, do not contact the shadowy group in any way!”

When I saw it in the novel, it was an ambitious and somewhat cool group, but now they are just crazy people trying to burn and conquer the world.

Of course, it is more dangerous to get involved with them than with the main characters.

Perhaps I could be kidnapped or imprisoned and exploited for having the unique ability of alchemy.

“Finally, buy a safe land and house for me to live in the future!”

As the war between the Demon King and the hero, the demons and the humans, breaks out, most of the areas become a sea of fire.

However, even in the midst of that, there were areas that were less damaged or relatively safe.

Buying land and a house in such an area! That was my ultimate goal.

…The problem is that the place is land designated as a sanctuary by the ‘Order’, which worships the god of this world.

Thanks to that, it was really damn expensive.

Because the Order’s power was strong in a world where God existed, and for the reason that it was a sanctuary, the land and real estate prices in the area soared into the sky.

Of course, it’s a price that ordinary people can’t even dream of… so that’s the ultimate goal for now.

…Of course, the immediate goal is to earn even a penny for now.

“Okay, then… shall we start alchemy?”

That’s how my life in the world of the novel began.