Chapter 23: System’s User – 2

Chapter 23: System’s User – 2

“Looks like I got an interesting skill?”

*…It’s just treated as an interesting skill now, but it’s a skill that could be the basis of all combat in the future.*

The skill I drew was simple.

Entering a state where I can use some of the potions I made that can be registered.

In other words… it is an effect that creates potions on the spot if I have enough mana, even if I don’t actually have the potions.

It also means that if I have enough mana, I can throw attack potions instead of empty glass bottles while engaging in combat.

However, since it is a kind of awakening state, it has a duration, and it has the disadvantage of using a huge amount of mana when entering this state for the first time.

“But, is it okay to get this now?”

*Well… isn’t the only potion you can register right now a low-grade freezing potion anyway? It’s not a seriously overpowered skill. …Not yet.*

“I guess so. It’s a minor level compared to this ridiculous power. But, how do I use this?”

As if waiting for my words, the system immediately sent a message.

*Shall we go to the forest again to test it?*

“Again? That place is already…”

*There are several areas in that forest. This time, we’re going to a place where fire-type monsters live.

And, honestly… aren’t you curious? The power of the low-grade freezing potion that you didn’t even test properly this time?*

…That was true.

I was in a hurry to go to Christie, so I just roughly looked at the effect and took the potion, but all I actually saw was in Christie’s office.

Honestly, I was very curious.

“…But, are there no side effects to these attack-type potions?”

As I did that, I naturally had such a question.

The potions that I take directly each had crazy side effects, but I was wondering if there were no such attack potions.

Of course, that couldn’t be the case.

*Don’t be silly. Attack-type potions are even worse in the first place. You’ve already experienced it, haven’t you?*

“So what is it? Does it steal my mana later?”

*I’d be happy if that were the case. The side effect of attack-type potions is… ‘no friend or foe identification’.*

“…Huh? ‘No friend or foe identification’?”

Come to think of it… When Christie first broke the potion bottle, not only Christie but also I was hit.

I didn’t know at the time because I was out of my mind… I’m the creator, so it’s okay, but shouldn’t Christie, the user, not be harmed?

In the first place, isn’t it basic that the magic of this world cannot harm the caster himself?

*It’s the same principle as a bomb or missile that doesn’t distinguish between friend and foe and damages everything around it.

The user of the potion, as well as you, the creator, are no exception.*

“…So this is just a magic-filled hand grenade?”

*It’s more dangerous. That has a grace period until it explodes, but this one explodes as soon as it breaks.*

“Wait, then all attack potions have side effects…”

*They’re all the same. In the first place, there’s no simpler and stronger side effect than this.*

Mages are treated well in this world, of course, because of the firepower of the magic itself, but

Unlike other weapons, magic does not harm allies as long as the mage’s ability follows.

…And, my potions have a penalty that the important friend or foe identification is not possible.

Even the person who uses the potion, as well as me, the creator, are harmed if hit, but I didn’t even think that I would distinguish between allies and enemies.

*Don’t be too disappointed. Still, the potions created with the skill you got this time, ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’, don’t harm you, the caster.*

“That’s a very comforting thing to say. Really. …I just have one more reason to test the power of the potion.”

If the potion used harms both the enemy and the ally, it is natural to know its power and range.

Therefore… the fact that I headed to the forest again was an inevitable and natural step.

***

Late at night. Unlike in the morning, I could hear the sound of the forest monsters moving actively.

…It was noisy.

“So, how do I use the skill?”

*Just think you’re going to use it, and it’ll be used on its own. You’ll get used to it naturally later.

Oh, the offline mode system will temporarily come out while you’re using the skill to assist you, so don’t be too surprised.*

…It was a useless explanation, but I was too lazy to ask more, so I just thought about using the skill in my head.

Then, an alien force began to circulate in my body again…

+ Skill, Alchemist’s Treasury activated. We will guide you through the first activation. We will guide you briefly thereafter.

Along with the familiar notification window, the release of that alien power began in my body.

And, my reaction was…

*…? Huh? Aren’t you in pain? Usually, you scream and roll on the floor.*

“Wow… You had such a taste…?”

*No!! You know that’s not what I meant! I’m talking about the universal reaction!*

As the system said, I felt like all the blood vessels in my body were about to burst.

I felt like my whole body was being torn apart, and I felt like something was forcibly pulling me up.

But… this was definitely not painful enough to scream. It wasn’t even enough to complain of extreme pain.

It hurts, but I can just close my eyes and endure it a little.

It was just that kind of throbbing pain.

“…I guess you forgot, I was originally in more pain than this.”

*There’s something more painful than carving a passage for new power into your body…?*

“I guess so. Maybe it’s because my body is stronger now that it hurts less, but at least it’s clear in my memory.

The time when every moment of being alive was painful, so I could feel every second without missing a beat.”

Well, that’s not to say that this is bad at all.

Not hurting even if I get hit, and not hurting even if I get hurt. I’ve been thinking several times that this is actually the most evolved human sense of pain.

*…You might get a ‘characteristic’ on your own soon.*

“Characteristic?”

*It’s literally a characteristic. It will also serve as a kind of passive role. I’ll explain it to you later… Is it already over?*

“Ah, come to think of it, the pain has completely disappeared.”

Unlike before, the power flows through my body very naturally.

…Anyone would think that the power was in this body from the beginning.

“Did you say that mana is consumed every time I use a potion on the spot?”

*That’s right. To be exact, mana is used to summon the potion.*

At that word, I thought about the low-grade freezing potion that was made this morning and caused a proper accident in the afternoon.

And I didn’t bother to block the mana that was trying to escape on its own.

Maybe the expression ‘sure-win formula’ was used to describe this structure where mana is automatically consumed and magic is activated even if I don’t do anything.

As the mana disappeared… I was holding the potion I had in mind in my hand.

“…This is amazing.”

*Are you not dizzy or anything? A large amount of mana has been rapidly drained, so you may be dizzy.*

“Not really? I feel like there’s still a lot of mana left in my body?”

*…I guess so. I gave it to you by accident, but it’s really the best performance body.*

The problem that broke out because I gave myself the highest grade potion on the first day and I ate it without explanation.

…It seems that it was scolded quite a bit because of that.

Because I’m still grumbling about something.

+ Low-grade freezing potion has been created. The quality of the original potion is low, so the power of the potion is reduced.

…And the offline mode system naturally took its place.

It only temporarily assists me during combat, but looking at it like this, it seemed useful in its own way.

“Then shall I throw it?”

Clang!

With a clear sound, fog quickly spread out from the broken potion.

…Freezing everything around it.

From the bottom to the top.

The fog was not fast, but it was definitely freezing things.

“So this is what it feels like? Even if it doesn’t instantly bind the enemy, it would be meaningful just to slow down the action.”

I’ve seen the performance of the potion… Now it’s time for the performance of the skill.

How far can this skill create potions? And will the power always be constant?

“Can I experiment with this a little more?”

*Of course. This whole place is your laboratory!*

In that way, I threw the potion without hesitation, and made the potion again.

And, I repeated throwing and making again.

I was only throwing it in one place, so the surroundings were completely covered in ice fog, so I went around various places in the fire area.

*Now is the time! Throw it!*

“Alright!”

At some point, even the system got excited, and was participating in this ‘freezing the fire area’ with me.

Running through the forest with physical abilities that don’t make sense no matter how you look at it, and throwing potions into the desired places… In an instant, the flames in the fire area began to subside.

The atmosphere, which was warm until just now, felt like it was getting colder and colder.

“…But who’s talking about me? My ears are itchy.”

*Isn’t it because you’re destroying the forest like this that the monsters are cursing at you?*

“Well, is that so? But aren’t these all dangerous creatures anyway?”

Monsters that are beneficial to humans if killed, and even give materials?

It is foolish not to catch this.

I’m definitely not rampaging because I’m excited about getting a new skill.

…Definitely.