Exiled Alchemist’s Frontier Life: A Former Elite’s Fresh Start in the Backcountry After Failing Again - Chapter 9: Easy job
As I climbed the stairs, I arrived at the third-floor storage room.
The layout was the same as the second-floor area, with an identical amount of space. However, aside from three wooden crates containing potions, bricks, and some branches near the entrance, the room was otherwise completely empty.
Well, given that there’s no one around, it’s understandable that the storage is mostly empty, but still, it felt somewhat desolate.
Even I, who usually enjoys solitude, felt this way, so I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for Erika.
I stored the wooden crate filled with branches using spatial magic and headed back down to the second floor.
When I returned to my desk, there was a cup of coffee waiting for me.
“Did Erika make this?”
“Yes, I did! Please enjoy.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem!”
She’s thoughtful too, huh…
“It’s good…”
Honestly, I’m the kind of guy who can’t really tell the difference in taste, so I couldn’t distinguish it from the usual coffee. But seeing Erika’s expectant smile, I felt like I had to say something.
“I’m glad! I’m actually pretty good at making coffee!”
Phew, that was close…
But this girl is nice. She makes it easy to figure out what kind of response she’s looking for, which is helpful for someone like me who isn’t great with people.
“Hey, Erika, you don’t have to use formal language with me. We’re coworkers now, and besides, you’re the senior here.”
I’m not the type to be picky about hierarchy, and in this world, things are pretty laid-back. Even when I was back in school or at work, I’d speak casually, even with nobles.
“Well, you’re still my senior, and you’re a Grade 3 alchemist. Plus, this is just the way I am.”
Well, if she’s comfortable with it, then I guess that’s fine.
“Got it. Alright, let’s get to making the graph paper.”
“Um, do you mind if I watch? I’ve never done it before, so I’d like to learn.”
She’s got ambition too…
This girl’s going to go far.
“Sure thing.”
“Thank you so much!”
I retrieved the wooden crate of branches from my spatial magic and placed it by my feet. Then I took one branch out and laid it on the desk.
“Uh, so we don’t have any equipment to make paper, right?”
“I don’t think so, except for maybe some at a specialised workshop.”
I really wanted to ask why they didn’t just outsource this to a specialist, but that’s not the point here. This task was given to us specifically for a reason.
“Making paper isn’t that difficult. Let me show you how it’s done.”
I touched the branch and channelled magic into it. The branch began to glow, and in an instant, it transformed into several sheets of graph paper.
“Huh? It’s done already?”
“Yeah, that’s about it.”
“That was so fast! And it’s already got the grid lines on it too…”
“Well, it’s graph paper, so of course it has grid lines.”
What’s she talking about?
“In class, we were taught to first make paper with alchemy, then use alchemy again to draw the grid lines…”
Yeah, that’s how I was taught too. Even back then, I thought it was an incredibly inefficient method, but I understood they couldn’t just start us off with advanced techniques.
“That’s fine for a beginner, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to do it all in one go.”
I could do it from the start, though.
“You’re amazing… as expected of a Grade 3 alchemist.”
Rank doesn’t matter. Some people are naturally skilled, and others aren’t.
“I’ve been doing this for three years. You’ll be able to do it too, Erika. But for now, it’s better to focus on doing one thing carefully and gradually get used to it.”
“Got it! I’ll do my best!”
“Good.”
I nodded, then glanced over at Helen-chan.
“Very impressive. Conversations where you show consideration like that are important.”
So that was the right approach. Good thing I didn’t say what I was really thinking.
“Compared to those stuck-up folks at headquarters, Erika is honest and not competitive, which makes her easier to work with.”
She’s only a Grade 10 after all.
“You shouldn’t say things like that. Speaking the truth too much has already gotten you into trouble before.”
Did I say something wrong?
“Erika, sorry.”
“Huh? What for?”
Erika tilted her head with a smile.
“I don’t know.”
I apologised because it seemed like I said something wrong, but I wasn’t sure what.
“Good thing she’s such a kind person…”
I feel the same way.
“More importantly, could you show me how you do it again?”
Erika touched my arm, looking eager.
“Alright, I’ll show you step by step this time.”
I took another branch and turned it into paper again. Then I transformed the paper into graph paper with lines.
“Wow, that was really quick. It’s amazing how fast you can do it.”
“I used to be in a hurry to finish, but now we don’t have too many requests, so take your time and do it carefully.”
“Got it. I’ll start making potions now.”
With Erika focused on her potion-making, I continued turning the remaining branches into graph paper. By lunchtime, all the branches had been converted, and just as the lunch bell rang, Erika finished making the potions as well.
“Looks like we’re done with the requests?”
“Yep. I’ll check them after lunch and deliver them tomorrow.”
I hope we get more work… otherwise, there won’t be much to do…
“Alright, let’s eat.”
“Sounds good.”
Erika nodded and took a lunchbox out of her bag, setting it on her desk. I used spatial magic to retrieve the bread and water I had from breakfast along with a supplement, then I began eating.
“Um… Is that all you’re having for lunch?”
Holding a sandwich from her lunchbox, Erika asked hesitantly.
“Yeah, I had a supplement too.”
“A supplement? What’s that?”
Ah, right. This world doesn’t have that concept yet.