Husayn traversed the academy grounds the following morning. His inspection revealed no structural damage or visible signs of conflict. The academy buildings stood intact, the manicured lawns undisturbed. Professor Elara intercepted him near the obsidian obelisk marking the entrance to the dimensional dungeon complex. She relayed a concise account of the previous day's events.
Following the students' entry into the dungeon, a sudden, unforeseen alteration in the dungeon's parameters had occurred. The objective shifted, and the difficulty spiked dramatically. The usual escape mechanism – scrolls of teleportation – proved ineffective. Consequently, almost all professors had been compelled to enter the dungeon to retrieve the students. The supplies provided by Husayn, however, proved sufficient to ensure the safe return of all participants; there were no reported casualties. Professor Elara concluded her report by mentioning a further complication. A simultaneous demon incursion targeted the city while the academy's dimensional dungeon raid was in progress.
The Dean, bound by the knowledge that entering the dimensional dungeon to aid the students would render the academy vulnerable, remained at the academy. His presence was essential to maintain the magical wards shielding the school, thus, he was unable to assist the city's defense efforts. The precise scale of the city's damages remained to be assessed. Professor Elara offered no further comment and continued her day. Husayn continued his patrol, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the obsidian obelisk, a silent testament to the day's near-catastrophic events.
As Husayn continued his patrol, his mind remained alert, processing the information relayed by Professor Elara. The near disaster at the academy and the demon incursion on the city weighed heavily on his thoughts. Later that day, Husayn received correspondence from two influential parties. The guild master of the adventurer's guild and his superior, the Dean of the academy. The requests from both parties were similar, they required a large supply of various potions. Husayn faced a dilemma.
He understood that fulfilling the requests would be challenging, given the recent demon attack that had left the city's stores in ruins. Obtaining the necessary raw materials would be a time-consuming endeavor, and he was reluctant to venture too far beyond the city, aware that invoking suspicion was not an option. After careful consideration, he decided to inform the guild master that he could only provide them with twenty percent of their requested potions due to limited resources.
Meanwhile, the Dean requested a meeting with Husayn and offered a proposition. In the letter he assured Husayn that as long as the academy received a minimum supply of potions each month, he would not question Husayn's decision to accept requests from other organizations. Husayn found amusement in the Dean's apparent awareness of his intentions, grateful that he was not being restricted to solely supplying the academy.
With his enslaved workforce absent, Husayn shouldered the grueling toil himself. A faint, joyful tremor from Sara's chamber, a ripple of excitement emanating from her alchemical endeavors, drew a weary but contented smile to his lips. The timid Sara, a fervent devotee of potion-making, infused the quiet house with her vibrant, albeit hushed, passion.
'Fortunately, the store wasn't destroyed. Otherwise, I would have to start all over once more.' Husayn said to himself before rubbing the dust out from his clothes.
*Knock
A woman's voice, hushed and urgent, filtered through the barely ajar door, as a cautious eye appeared in the crack.
"Is it open?" The woman asks.
"Yeah, how may I..." Slyvia's entrance abruptly halted Husayn's unspoken words, a sudden interruption that left his intended phrase hanging, incomplete and heavy with unspoken significance.
'What is she doing here?'
Sylvia, the S-rank adventurer, locked eyes with Husayn. A chillingly pleasant smile graced her lips as she offered a curt wave, her entrance into the store a deliberate, almost predatory movement. Only then, once inside, did she greet him with a biting, sarcastic remark, the words laced with unspoken challenge.
"Our paths converge once more, unexpectedly." Sylvia settled heavily into a sturdy oak chair, her gaze unwavering as it met Husayn's across the expanse of polished wood.
"Unexpected huh? I never anticipated the city's champion gracing my modest establishment. What momentous task brings you to my humble abode?" Husayn replies while scratching his head
"I believe someone had caused a huge firework in my house. I don't blame the person though, he or she was trying so hard to survive from the demons. The sheer ingenuity and resourcefulness required to conjure such a devastating blast leaves me profoundly unsettled. What arcane components, what perilous alchemy, did they employ to unleash enough for a cataclysmic explosion" Sylvia rested her hands on the polished table, a restless energy manifesting in the staccato rhythm of her fingertips against the wood. The rhythmic tapping betrayed a profound unease, a palpable tension underlying her outwardly composed demeanor.
"A combination of a couple of explosive potions and the scroll of a fireball. Truthfully didn't expect the city's champion would be staying in an abandoned house. Nevertheless, it's my fault." A weary resignation settled over Husayn. He understood the futility of deception.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Unconvinced by Husayn's assertions, Sylvia demanded a tangible proof. The unfamiliar concoction sparked her skepticism. She required a concise, irrefutable demonstration of its purported capabilities before she would lend credence to his claims.
Bringing Slyvia outside the store Husayn gestured to a small, unassuming vial filled with a shimmering, opalescent liquid. “This is the crux of the matter. Ten percent of this potion, properly catalyzed, can produce a surprisingly potent reaction.”
Slyvia scoffed. “A potent reaction? It looks like watered-down moonlight.”
“The potency stems not from the visible components, but the subtle alchemical bonds within,” Husayn explained, carefully measuring a minuscule amount of the liquid into a small crucible. “The catalyst, a pinch of powdered moonstone and a drop of phoenix tear, is the key.”
He directed her to place the crucible on the ground, Slyvia, skeptical, followed his instructions. After the moonstone and phoenix tear were added, a faint blue glow emanated from the crucible. Husayn then directed her to cast a small fireball towards the leaves. A small flame flickered, then rapidly intensified into a surprisingly powerful explosion. The leaves together with the crucible vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving a small crater in the ground
Slyvia’s eyes widened. She stared at the crater for a moment, then let out a short, sharp giggle. She grabbed a heavy leather bag out from her interdimensional storage bag, the bag which is a substantial pile of gold coins towards Husayn.
“Give me as much of that potion as you can make,” Slyvia stated. “And you’ll provide a discount, naturally. Consider it partial compensation for the… regrettable incident involving my former residence. Your… enthusiastic demonstration of your alchemical prowess.”
A silent nod, the only response from Husayn as Slyvia delivered her commission. His taciturn demeanor belied the explosive implications of her request. He would craft nineteen explosive potions, using the gold she'd entrusted him with, a process requiring a fortnight's meticulous labor. Unquestioning, Slyvia accepted his assessment. With a decisive stride, she departed, leaving behind the weighty expectation of her return in two weeks' time to claim her lethal acquisition.
A grin stretched across Husayn's face as he stepped into his shop. Fortunately, he finally will have additional funds to purchase anything in case of emergency. Truly the amount of gold that Slyvia passes to him is enough to purchase at least sixty explosive potions in the central market. The irony, however, was a bitter pill. These potent concoctions didn't yet exist. The original creator was Sara. Upon passing the explosive potion recipe he bought to Sara, she experienced a momentous day. Her current project was instantly shelved upon receiving the coveted formula for a volatile potion. The acquisition of this explosive recipe filled Sara with a thrill, igniting her creativity and ambition.
Husayn locked the store, his mind momentarily drifting back to his encounter with Sylvia, the enigmatic adventurer. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and set out to meet with the Dean. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the academy grounds as he made his way to the administrative building.
With the conquest concluded, the first chapter draws to a close. The protagonist, having decisively demonstrated his prowess and protective capabilities to the school, must now fully embody his potential. His command of sacred energies, coupled with his remarkable healing abilities, solidifies his role as a beacon of hope. This strategic shift, orchestrated by Husayn earlier in the game, repositioned the protagonist as a paladin—a bulwark capable of both absorbing devastating blows and restoring life to the wounded. Consequently, Husayn's focus now shifts to recruiting a formidable warrior and a powerful spellcaster to complete his team. Husayn devoutly wishes the protagonist in this reality adheres rigorously to the established rules of engagement.
Upon arriving, Husayn was ushered into the Dean's office. The room was filled with the warm glow of late afternoon sunlight, lending a soft ambiance to the otherwise austere space. The Dean, seated behind a large oak desk, greeted Husayn with a measured smile.
Unexpectedly, a second encounter with the dean remained elusive following their initial meeting. Within the game's narrative, the protagonist only glimpsed the dean from a distance, a face-to-face interaction forever denied. In Chapter Two ending, Husayn learned of the dean's tragic demise, a victim of assassination. The mystery, however, gnawed at him. The precise method of the dean's ensnarement remained unknown. A compelling hypothesis suggested a selfless act of sacrifice, the dean laying down his life to shield his students. Crucially, the protagonist was absent from the academy during this calamitous event, summoned instead to an urgent rendezvous with the Saintess at the capital's sacred edifice.
"I appreciate your promptness, Husayn. I trust you received my letter?"
"Yes, Dean," Husayn replied, his gaze steady.
"I understand your proposal, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue supplying the academy while also fulfilling requests from other organizations." A brief pause hung in the air as Husayn considered his next words carefully.
"I wanted to discuss the recent demon incursion and the impact it has had on our operations." The Dean nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Indeed, the city has endured a trying time. I am relieved that the academy remained unscathed, but we must be vigilant. I propose we work together to ensure we have the resources necessary to face any future threats." A moment of silent understanding passed between them.
Dean sat across a large oak desk from Husayn, a single flickering candle casting long shadows. He pushed a neatly rolled parchment across the table towards Husayn.
"All the merchants didn't survive the invasion except for you. A curious thing, considering the dwindling supply of raw materials within the city walls." The dean delivered crucial news.
Husayn sighs to himself as he picks up the parchment, his fingers tracing the edge.
"The initial supplies I provided were significant. Yet, the demand for potions...it’s… unsustainable given the city’s current resources." Aware that the Dean suspected his access to supplementary resources extended beyond the obvious, Husayn responded with calculated ambiguity.
"Precisely. Your output has been remarkably consistent. Consistent enough to raise a question. My own initial stock was substantial, but insufficient to account for your continued production. It seems unlikely that you've managed to source further materials from within the city." Smiling warmly, Dean locked eyes with Husayn, a meaningful connection passing between them.
Husayn remained silent, studying the list on the parchment.
"This list details the components required for the next three months' supply, at your current production rate. Do you have alternative suppliers outside the city walls? If not, we will need to secure other merchants to handle procurement." Dean proposed a compelling solution.
Husayn unfolded the parchment fully, scanning the detailed list of books, equipment, herbs, minerals, and rare reagents. All of the things that the other merchants were in charge of. He ran a thumb over his chin.
"The...logistics of such an undertaking are complex." Husayn wrestled with a suitable response for the dean, his thoughts a turbulent sea of anxieties and potential retorts.
"Indeed. However, the alternative is a significant shortfall. A shortfall that could impact the academy capabilities, which wouldn't be ideal. Consider the options carefully." Dean leaned back. His expression unchanged. He tapped a finger against the table. "Your skill in procurement is undeniable. Perhaps there are other skills you possess that have gone unnoticed thus far."
Husayn looked at the list again, then back at Dean. He didn’t speak, but a faint, almost imperceptible flicker crossed his eyes before he carefully re-rolled the parchment.
"I am sufficient enough." Though unprepared to reveal his latent potential so soon, Husayn felt a crushing weight of guilt for the merchants' demise, compelling him to accept the daunting assignment.
