GILF Hunter

’...That’s what happened.’

The reception room for guests at Louise’s Workshop.

Ian, who had rushed over after hearing the news from a workshop employee, sat there and listened to Louise’s full explanation.

’Why do I only get water instead of tea?’

’Because you’re not a guest!’

When the silver-haired alchemist sitting opposite asked, Louise barked back.

In her heart, she wanted to call the guards and kick her out, but she was holding off since Ian said he would listen to the story first.

Ian turned his gaze toward the guest who had suddenly appeared at Louise’s Workshop... Emilia.

’Miss Emilia?’

’Yeah, hi.’

Emilia, with her long silver hair flowing down, gave Ian a light greeting and abruptly threw out a question first.

’I heard you’re the financier of this workshop? I took a quick look around the warehouse, and there were many interesting materials. I’d like to use some of them too.’

’What kind of person is this...’

Louise was at a loss for words as she watched that arrogant attitude.

She had just realized firsthand that when rudeness exceeds a certain level, you don’t even get angry anymore.

Seeing Emilia’s attitude, Louise remembered where she had heard that name before and whispered secretly to Ian.

’I remembered. This person is someone who stays as a wandering alchemist because no alchemist guild anywhere will accept her.’

’Is she that famous?’

’If you’re part of a guild, you’ve probably heard the name at least once. I forgot because there was no reason to meet her, but...’

Wandering Alchemist Emilia.

Her appearance and behavior made her look like a thoughtless young girl, but she was an NPC whose alchemy skills were nearly top-tier.

And by setting, her actual age was unknown.

Since there were more than a few NPCs without clear age settings, it wasn’t particularly special, but in the community, controversy about Emilia’s age constantly arose.

It was because as you progressed through Emilia’s affinity quests, it was revealed that she could create an ’Elixir of Youth’.

’....’

’?’

Ian stole a glance at the face of Emilia sitting in front of him. Emilia met his eyes and smiled broadly.

Louise, standing beside him, asked Ian secretly with a look of disbelief.

’You’re not actually thinking of accepting her, are you? Her skills seem good for sure, but...’

Louise and Ian’s eyes simultaneously turned to the table. Two potion bottles brought by Emilia were placed there.

She said she made them using the small amount of material contained in the letter Louise had sent.

Feeling a bit self-conscious because of that, Louise asked Ian.

’Um... will it be a problem that I sent the materials elsewhere?’

’No, I gave those to you, Louise, so I don’t care how you use them.’

Materials that could only be obtained by entering the Labyrinth anyway. There was no way anyone could do much with such a tiny amount.

...Or so it should have been, but to think the person who actually did something with it would show up in person.

Ian hadn’t expected at all that Emilia would come looking for them because of that.

Ian picked up the potion created from the material Louise had called ’just a single stem’.

They were [Night Vision Potion] and [Vision Enhancement Potion].

’Did you purposely make potions that would be helpful for Labyrinth exploration?’

’Heh. You knew immediately without even hearing an explanation; you have good intuition. Labyrinth exploration has to become easier for the investor’s materials to be supplied in large quantities, right? That’s why I made them.’

’I haven’t decided to invest yet.’

Unfortunately, they were potions that weren’t very useful in the Labyrinth.

Her skills were certain, but since she had likely never entered the Labyrinth herself, her direction seemed slightly off.

The most important problem caused by the Labyrinth’s darkness is the stress level received within it. And the erosion that occurs due to dropped mental strength. Compared to that, not being able to see ahead is a secondary issue.

Since a vision potion couldn’t block that, this could be called a half-baked solution.

Seeing Ian contemplating while looking at the potion bottles, Louise whispered with an anxious expression.

’I’m telling you, she’s an alchemist who has caused massive trouble everywhere.... Benefactors took her in because of her skills, but they eventually kicked her out again.’

’I’ve heard that story. But her skills are certain, right?’

’Why does that conclusion come out when you’ve heard the story!’

Ian didn’t particularly want to take in a troublemaker either.

However, the ’trouble’ Emilia caused mostly related to potion development.

For example, using the budget too excessively to develop a bunch of derivative recipes for potions that weren’t even requested. Those kinds of accidents.

If she could unlock unconfirmed recipes like that, it was a gain for Ian. The problem was that it consumed a massive amount of budget.

Ian decided to pass that problem slightly onto somewhere else.

If he sent such a talented alchemist, there was a place that would be very pleased.

’I’ll write you a recommendation letter. It’s a large merchant group, so you’ll be able to receive sufficient funding there.’

’A merchant group?’

’It’s a place I do business with. Since they primarily produce potions, they’ll like it if you hand over many recipes.’

Ian decided to dump Emilia onto the merchant group he had contracted with for the supply of Crisis Detection Potions.

Even for such a group, the budget consumption would be painful, but since they were a giant firm selling potions, they would be able to cover the loss with the profits from Emilia’s recipes.

It was a good proposal in its own way, but Emilia answered with a face that didn’t look very keen.

’I came because I want to use Labyrinth materials.’

’I can permit that as well, provided you meet certain conditions.’

’What is it? If it’s possible, I’ll think about it.’

Ian looked at Louise and said,

’You must follow the instructions of Louise here regarding material usage and the selection of research topics.’

’Pardon? Me?’

Louise, whose name was suddenly called, looked at Ian in bewilderment.

’Leader, what do you mean! I have no intention of working with a person like that...’

’Still, her skills are certain, right? Louise, you’ll be able to gain some freedom from research and development too....’

’Th-that is....’

Hearing that, Louise also fell into thought for a moment.

Certainly....

The rumors were a bit concerning, but looking at the resulting potions, it was certain she possessed incredible skill.

Developing the recipes Ian requested was something that took quite a while to solve alone, but if this person joined, it would become significantly easier.

She hated to admit it, but the skill was much superior. If she could watch the work from the side, it would be a great study.

Moreover... to be in a position to give orders to such a highly skilled alchemist.

No matter how great the opponent’s skill, if she held the authority over topic selection and material usage, wouldn’t she be able to sufficiently take the lead?

Louise’s heart rapidly tilted in a positive direction.

’I’m really the leader, right? You won’t change it later because she’s more skilled....’

’Do I look like someone who would do that?’

’True... you don’t go back on your word.’

Finishing her brief contemplation, Louise answered.

’Fine! Leave it to me!’

’How about you, Miss Emilia?’

’Fine. It seems this is the only place right now where I can try using Labyrinth materials....’

Emilia, who had been contemplating, eventually accepted the conditions as well.

Thus, Emilia became an assistant alchemist belonging to Louise’s Workshop.

＊　＊　＊

-Clack

Elena carefully set down the tool in her hand.

In a state where she couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she shut herself in the workshop, Elena stared at the jewel in her hand for a long time.

The red light reflected from the gem twinkled and seeped into Elena’s eyes.

The production of magical arrows, the request from Ian she had taken on first, had already been finished long ago.

Ian’s requirements for what kind of performance he wanted were clear, and all the materials were provided.

Aside from the part where the processing difficulty was a bit high, it was a repetitive task with no problems, so Elena had cleared that work as quickly as possible.

The remaining time had been spent entirely on processing this jewel.

’It’s done....’

A small murmur escaped Elena’s lips along with a long sigh.

A brooch made of a red jewel emitted a faint light within Elena’s hand. It was an accessory processed from the [Stone of Charm] that Airi had entrusted for crafting.

A jewel with a brilliance and mana pattern that even Elena, who had handled countless materials, was seeing for the very first time.

Because she was designing how to process this, she hadn’t even touched it with a blade for several days, only contemplating.

The result of that long contemplation was finally in her grasp.

That brooch, wrapped in red brilliance, seemed to emit magic that sucked in people’s gazes.

If one went to a party with this, they would undoubtedly become the protagonist capturing everyone’s attention.

The beauty of the accessory and its owner would drift through high society as a legend through the mouths of all the participants.

Without the need for thought, it could be called the greatest masterpiece Elena had made this year.

It had been quite a while since she had such childish imaginations after making an accessory. It only happened when a truly satisfying work came out.

Thinking so, Elena let out a small chuckle.

Fufu... she will surely be happy.

Imagining the sight of Airi being delighted upon receiving this, Elena carefully packed it into a case.

Airi, who had finished her long magic studies and gone to bed early, felt an unexplainable chill and had nightmares all night long.