Master and Apprentices: Rise of the Cheat Potion Maker #2
Master and Apprentices: Chapter 5

“Too slow. Jump back and try again,” Wolverine told Cheetara as he dodged her mana pounce attack. “Focus, Disciple Cheetara Cutie. Become one with the land. Spread the mana throughout your body, like how Best Buddy spreads jam across his bread.” Wolverine’s tongue lolled out a bit as he briefly thought about the delicious treat. Lady Milia made the best jam ever! He sniffed the air again, hoping they were nearby. Unfortunately, they were still hours away. “You must move faster, faster than a rolly-rolly, faster than the neighing giants. Become the river.”

“I will do my best, Big Brother Woofy,” replied the kitten cheerfully. She took her stance again and Wolverine could tell that she evenly spread mana across her body. The sunlight wolf nodded, admiring the fast-learning disciple. Ever since their master brought her, they’d become almost inseparable. Best Buddy called it a partner in crime, whatever that meant.

Wolverine enjoyed having a little sister, but he knew as they grew, things could change. Evolution, for one, could make them competitive. However, they’d never attack each other, as the goal was always the same. Protect their master’s land and all loved ones.

Wolverine was most looking forward to Disciple Beakwing Wingy’s evolution. The griffin felt like a brother from a past life and had a heart of gold. Cheetara loved him too, though often, Wolverine wondered if griffins and cats shared a smidgen of a bloodline.

Book in hand, Harmony glanced over the shop she’d come to know and love. From its neatly labeled, high-quality potions, to the cauldrons used to create the batches, and now in the kitchen, something called cold storage. Or that term Nate often let slip. Refrigerator. Only the highest of nobility could afford something like this, let alone the ice crystals to power them. Hiring adventurers wasn’t the most reliable method to obtaining them due to numerous factors. One was replaceing an adventuring party brave enough to enter an A-ranked dungeon. Two, paying their fees and any taxes involving the trip. Three, and the most obvious, was the adventurers not running off with the loot, uncaring about the contract they signed. Which meant they were likely adventurers that turned to banditry, for whatever reason. Fortunately, that was a rare occasion. Few desired to be banned from every city, tavern, and placed on wanted posters to be hunted down. Also, the noble could start a rumor of one of the adventurers potentially being a witch or even a secret member of the Peace Spawner’s cult. That could possibly drag in the Lord Ruler’s inquisition and the hero’s party, an unfavorable thing for any adventurer or bandit.

Harmony turned her gaze to Lucas. The boy with cherry-red hair was currently meditating, pulling in fire mana from the environment, though there wasn’t much in the air, but as a result of his efforts, the shop felt much cooler than usual. The blue-haired girl couldn’t complain.

They had a great conversation earlier pertaining to magic, mana, and devising ways to help Mandi replace her inheritance. After all, women were normally far more likely to gain the spark from their mothers than men. Harmony did so, before her own mother passed.

Finding herself staring at the younger boy too long, she turned away and sighed. Why did today have to be such a slow day when she finally got to run the shop? The blue-haired girl wanted to punch Nate’s cheek for not advertising to the town before leaving. Perhaps they would’ve jumped at the chance to see the potion maker’s apprentices run things.

Harmony knew the ingredients of making basic health and energy potions by now, but she didn’t have the mana to make them as ridiculously high of quality as Nate did. Not even Milia, a dryad, could do so, which only made her white-haired master even more strange. Did all master magicians have mana so pure it made the land itself fall in love with them?

Harmony pouted and allowed her determination to catch Nate and Milia fill her. These days, she studied and worked almost endlessly. As the mayor’s daughter, a minor noble, she could probably ask her father to get her items useful for cultivation such as pills, special herbs, or even mana stones. Only a few people knew of her secret, and he was one of them. But it’d be unfair to make him shoulder the overbearing cost of progressing a magician.

Currently, Harmony was still stuck in the realm of the beginnings. Sure, it could take years for magicians to progress to the next realm and one shouldn’t rush things, but the blue-haired girl was Nate’s head apprentice, as well as Milia’s. She desperately wanted to make them proud.

Lucas held the same mindset. Nate’s secret would get out eventually and, as his apprentices, they couldn’t embarrass him.

Of course, Nate wasn’t the reason why Harmony desired to improve. Both she and Lucas were years behind. Mandi too, once they figured out a way to activate her spark.

What if they somehow became a clan? Well, that’d be so delightful! The pets would be a part of it too. Maybe a secret clan, since Nate wanted to keep his privacy. Then again, clans, sects, and academies did quite well hiding their secrets, right? Even nobles. Why couldn’t they adapt the same thing?

Harmony couldn’t help but dream big. She looked at the amazing tool at Lucas’s side, a heavenly forge hammer as Nate called it, and just knew that her cute junior held a similar dream. Perhaps even more. The timid boy’s shell only needed time to completely fall off.

Some may call her ambition unladylike. Well, to hell with those people! She was a dreaming magician now.

It took about half an hour or so for Mandi to stuff all of her things in a storage ring. Her mood ranged from overly excited to damn near sailing over the moon. She just about squeezed the air out of Milia and I with her initial hug. Howie, on the other hand, only took a few minutes to absorb everything into his own storage ring. The Wingston family heads emphasized to the man that he would still be paid as their loyal butler. They really didn’t want him to suddenly abandon everything and go off on his own path. Not that the older man had such ambitions. He cared for the young mistress as if she was his own daughter, unlike her own damn father.

The Red Star saw us off and was a bit too touchy feely, but didn’t say a word to Mandi and simply turned around and left. I had to accept the blatant fact that some noble families operated this way, cold, calculating, competitive. At this point, Gwendolyn may end up getting stabbed in the back by one of her own children if she didn’t lighten up a bit. I’d call her a mean old lady if she didn’t look so young, despite having fully adult children. That was the magician’s longevity for you, which reminded me that the only way I’d be dying anytime soon was by an attack. Every realm progressed significantly improved a magician’s lifespan. Even going from Mortal to the Beginnings brought an initial five hundred fucking years. From this perspective, I’d have to become more than just some potion maker, but the potion maker. That was the plan anyway. Damn that system, grading me at an E. And it wasn’t E for excellent but Effing terrible. I glanced at my stat sheet, reconfirming all of my ranks.

Nate

Class: Potion Maker. Secondary class: **Divine Master Magician**

Magician rank: 3rd realm of the Lesser Dragon.

Class rank: Special Rookie Potion Maker.

Ability: Can make up to SSS and divine-grade potions.

Power: Crushing Strong.

Defense: Emboldened Steel.

Perhaps the system was still attempting to discourage me from taking the potion maker’s path? Well, this only served to piss me off, if anything, and also challenged me to do better, as a person, a shopkeeper, and a potion maker.

Otherwise, I’d run myself into a wall being so jealous of the other, higher-ranked potion makers.

As we entered the street that would lead to the exit line of the front gates, I noticed a familiar figure caring a giant bag the size of a car with one hand. It looked incredibly heavy but let me in on a key detail. Anzu the waitress had superstrength. That, or once again, had a skill that enabled this feat. Come to think of it, maybe all high-ranked adventurers could prove that I was no different than them.

Hey, don’t judge me for wanting to fit in. I waved at her. She nodded back, smiling, and kept going.

Mandi was chatty all the way to the gate, until she suddenly grew silent. Soon, I could see why. The blond noble from before stood in front of the gate surrounded by at least fifty armor-wearing guards. Soldiers.

“And where do you think you’re going?” the noble asked, though when he looked at me, well, he went pale.

“What are you doing here, Gaston?” Mandi asked, her voice dark. “Didn’t Mother deliver you the good news?”

“Feeling mouthy today, are we?” Gaston asked, forgetting about me for a second. Maybe he believed that I was simply a passerby. I did move off to the side to let the two have their breakup argument. “Back to my house this instant. I think it’s time I finally fill your mouth with a reason to be mouthy.”

“You’re still slow on the uptake, I see,” Mandi said, shaking her head. I snickered but stayed out of it for now. “You’re getting married to Yani now. The documents were signed by Mother and have been sent to your father.” The redhead shrugged. “But I’m sure that doesn’t matter. You’ll sleep around on her too. But hey, Yani’s a Wingston magician. I hope you enjoy your days living in fear as she wears the pants of the house.”

Mandi spat to the side and walked off, leaving the noble there stunned. He did not wake up that day expecting for the petite redhead to tell him off.

I considered recommending he invest in fire-resistance potions but decided that was a good idea for myself. The God Flame would be for me, Milia, my pets, and apprentices. Customers could buy fire resistance for a bit above market price.

“Yani’s a snaky one,” I told the newly depressed dickhead. “Enjoy being pegged.”

Apparently that word translated well because he paled.

“Guards, retrieve her! I will demand the Red Star fix this insult,” Gaston said.

“Just let it go,” I said. “Unless you feel like facing me.”

Gaston furiously shook his head, trembling. Fuck, I could almost feel the poor guy’s heartbeat, smashing against his chest. Raw fear. There would be no pity from me. However, since I basically helped grant this guy the ultimate ‘fuck you’ all I needed to do was just walk away, smiling.

And that was what I did. Why hit him when Yani was going to do that for me? I chuckled. Karma was really sweet, wasn’t she?

Gaston tripped over a suspicious vine that he didn’t see. Keeping a relaxed smile on my face, because his expression of utter regret was too hilarious, I made my way over to Mandi and Beakwing.

Instead of someone crying, what we were greeted with was a cheerful girl who looked like a ton of weight got lifted from her shoulders. Still, I had to confirm it with simple words.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“Thanks to you,” she said cheerfully. “Standing up for myself without the threat of Mother bringing a fire tornado down on me felt amazing.”

I nodded, leaning on the griffin. Milia rested back-first onto me, and I put my arms around her waist as we waited for Howie.

“I have to say, I was really hoping the first impression I’d get of your family wasn’t the Red Star attempting to turn me into a hot potato.”

“S… sorry about that,” Mandi said softly.

“It’s nothing you should apologize for,” I told her. “I did learn something today.”

“Which is?” Milia inquired.

“Well, I wouldn’t say learn, but confirmed that the hero isn’t the big kid on the block,” I said. “The Red Star’s realm is much higher than the hero’s. Hell, that waitress is stronger than both of them.”

“Waitress?” Mandi asked.

“He’s referring to Anzu of the adventurer’s den,” Milia replied.

“Oh, her,” Mandi said. “Funny thing, there’s a rumor about her receiving an invitation from the Lord Ruler to be a part of the hero’s party, being one of the strongest S-ranked adventurers and all. But she apparently retired, moved all the way out here in the cover of the night. The Lord Ruler didn’t bother with a chase for some reason.”

“Either that rumor’s false or word of her whereabouts haven’t reached the capital yet,” I said.

“Perhaps,” Mandi said, tilting her head a bit.

Howie finally arrived a few minutes later, five storage rings on his hand.

“Pardon me, I hope I didn’t make everyone wait too long,” he said. “Your mother… Never mind, that’d be too embarrassing. Let us depart.”

“Mother? What’d she say?” Mandi asked, curious, but Howie simply shrugged. The redhead pouted adorably.

We boarded Beakwing, took one more look at the city of Wingston and almost like a jet, we launched into the air, homebound.

“Hey Nate,” Mandi said, seeming to fidget a little.

“Yeah?” I replied, deciding not to tease the noble teen.

“Thank you,” the redhead said, blushing. “Thank you too, Milia. I’ll work hard. I owe you a debt.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Milia said before I could open my mouth. “You do not owe us. Mandi, we’re friends. Please remember that. We came for you because we wanted to.”

Mandi suspiciously wiped at her eyes but couldn’t stop herself from hugging the dryad. This served as a grim reminder of just how toxic the redhead’s family was. I actually wondered if I should be prepared for vengeance by either Yani or the other girl, Elise. The thin, snake-like girl didn’t appear to be the fighting type. Elise, on the other hand, had what I could only describe as resting bitch face. Maybe the Red Star should force both of them to marry Gaston, assuming that kind of shit was legal. He’d get to live in double hell.

“I wasn’t kidding when I told your mother we have a book that could help you stand toe to toe with magicians,” I said. “And if your spark ignites, you may one day surpass her.”

Mandi’s eyes widened. “What kind of mystical book is this?”

“It was a prize from a dungeon,” Milia told her. “Honestly, we debated on using it ourselves, but having remembered a certain red-headed girl that utilized plenty of charms, we figured you’d be delighted with making even better ones yourself.”

“Absolutely delighted,” Mandi said, her eyes seeming to shine with stars. “You two are the best! I… really don’t deserve it.”

I waved off her comment. “I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of trinkets and gadgets you come up with. If it requires mana, you’ve got all of us, until I replace the means of purchasing something that could produce it automatically.”

“Something like that exists?” Mandi asked.

“Of course,” Milia replied. “Although…” The dryad tilted her head. “You may have to risk diving the dungeons to replace the more critical stuff.”

I shuddered, gaining a smirk from Milia.

The late afternoon, early evening sky greeted us as we finally made it back to Kyushu. From the look of things, the teenagers had properly cleaned up and closed the shop. I’d reward them later for that.

Stopping at Harmony’s house, I knocked on the door. Moments later, the blue-haired girl emerged.

“We’re back,” I said. “And good job today.”

Harmony’s maid bowed to us from the kitchen. I nodded at her.

“Hi everyone,” Harmony greeted. “You’re probably tired. I hope you’ll like your new house.”

“Thank you, Harmony,” Mandi said to her.

“We appreciate everything you’ve done,” Howie said, bowing. “And I, too, look forward to seeing what the young mistress creates with this mysterious book.”

Harmony manifested the tome with a grin and passed it to Mandi. Even I felt the ambient power it radiated. Howie’s eyes went wide. Milia nodded.

“Oh, you should expect the animals in a few days,” Mandi said when we arrived at their home about half a block later.

When Mandi and Howie were settled in, we checked on Lucas, then headed home for the night. The moment we opened the door, Wolverine dove into my arms, tail wagging as he licked my cheek.

“I missed you too, buddy,” I said, hugging my wolf. Cheetara meowed excitedly, jumping into Milia’s arms, refusing to be denied her love.

“Good evening, Cutie,” Milia said, giggling. “I hope you two are hungry.”

Wolverine barked once in response. Cheetara meowed.

I knew the teenagers fed them as instructed, Harmony giving me the rundown as we walked from Mandi’s residence earlier. The cheeky teenager was actually annoyed with today being a slow day and had the audacity to blame me.

After bathing, dinner, and chatting with Milia and the pets for a good while, I activated the red cube.

[Current options. Buildings. Tools. Garden. Forges. Equipment and Devices.]

[Projects: 1. Farm: Acquire animals and feed from Mandi. In progress.]

Curious, I selected Buildings.

[Buildings. Currently unlocked:

1. F-ranked Shed. Price: 15 spirit coins.

2. F-ranked Special Lookout Tower. Price: 400 spirit coins.

3. F-ranked Spiritual Room. Price: 1500 spirit coins.

4. E-ranked Wine Cellar. Price: 10,000 spirit coins.

5. F-ranked Magic Lab. Price: 150,000 spirit coins.

6. F-ranked Mana Tower. Price: 100,000,000 spirit coins.

7. E-ranked Mana Forge. Price: 300,000 spirit coins.]

I almost shouted but held my tongue as to not awake my dryad fiancée. But holy fuck, these prices. They may as well ask for my goddamn first born! These things were basically impossible to get.

Making the situation worse, I needed them. From the magic lab to a forge for Lucas to go nuts with his heavenly forge hammer, to a spiritual room that Harmony would love to meditate in. Milia would love the wine cellar.

I hung my head in defeat. So, among my many goals, the two most important at this moment were to replace some way to farm spirit coins and rank up my potion shop. Too bad the system left no instructions on how to do said things. Maybe the hero’s party could help.