Chapter 5: Now, 〈Potion Create〉!

Original: Chapter 5: Now, 〈Potion Create〉!

I decided to store the empty bottles I obtained in my Item Space.

The Item Space is like a personal storage box located in another dimension. Apparently, items stored there don’t degrade at all.

Since the empty bottles were obtained from a Bonus Quest, I figured they were valuable. Keeping them in my backpack would be risky—if they broke, it would be a disaster. So, the Item Space seemed much safer.

I focused intently on the word “Status.” A Status Screen appeared before my eyes. From there, I navigated to the Skill page, scrolled through the list of skills, and selected my Initial Skill, 〈Potion Create〉.

A message appeared: “Execute 〈Potion Create〉? Will consume: Medicinal Herb: 1, Mana Gemstone: 1. Also requires an empty bottle.”

In front of me were the options “Yes” and “No.”

“Of course, ‘Yes.'”

I tapped it.

“Brewing has begun. Time remaining: 30 minutes.”

My eyes went wide. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

“Huh…? Thirty minutes…?”

Seriously, thirty minutes? Does making a Potion really take that long?

“So it’s not instant…”

What should I do? I can’t just stand around blankly for thirty minutes. There’s nothing else to do, really.

Should I head deeper into the Dungeon? Hmm… but… If I go deeper alone, I might get attacked by another strong frog or something.

“What should I do… Maybe I should just go home for today.”

I’ve already enjoyed the Dungeon enough. I should avoid pushing myself and take things at my own pace.

So, I slowly started walking back the way I came.

Just then, I passed a group of students heading deeper into the Dungeon, walking in the opposite direction. Unlike me, going solo, they seemed to be having fun.

Is that what students are supposed to be like…?

I’m all alone. Sigh…

I walked on, hiding my gloomy expression behind my long hair. Right now, my face is probably so dark it looks more ghostly than an actual ghost…

“Ugh… 〈Potion Create〉 really is a Dud Skill, huh.”

Actually using it made me realize that strongly.

This Skill is completely useless. To make just one Potion—a low-performance Recovery Item—it takes way too much effort and time.

If I had a better Skill, maybe I could have been exploring the Dungeon happily with my classmates… Sigh…

“Hello there—”

“Well, with a girl looking this gloomy, even if she had a slightly better Skill, no one would bother talking to her.”

Even if someone did talk to me, it would probably only be those awful classmates who’d abandon me in the depths of the Dungeon… Ugh, life is tough.

“Hello there—”

“Sigh… I wish something good would happen—”

“Wait, huh? Hello there—? Can you hear me—? Miss, hello there—”

“…Hm?”

I thought I saw a child-like hand waving. It was diagonally in front of me. When I looked, there was someone I didn’t recognize.

It was a bit shocking—

Their proportions were quite different from any human I knew. Hmm, maybe about four heads tall? They looked very cute.

This person, about four heads tall, was waving both hands excitedly, as if saying “Yay!” They seemed to want me to notice them.

“Uh, hello…”

“You finally noticed me. Hello there—”

“H-hello.”

They looked like a child. Or rather, like a short-statured 2D character. Their gender appeared to be female, wearing a cute ethnic-style outfit, with her hair in twin tails.

“Wh-what can I do for you?”

“Well, actually, I couldn’t help but overhear your muttering.”

“Ah, the part about me looking gloomy?”

“I heard that too, but… You are exceptionally cute, you know?”

“W-wow, thank you. I’m happy to hear that.”

I never thought I’d be called cute. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? My cheeks grew unusually warm.

The four-head-tall woman smiled warmly at me.

“Actually, what I overheard was you saying that 〈Potion Create〉 is a Dud Skill.”

“Oh, that part? Unfortunately, it is a Dud Skill…”

“That’s it. That perception is completely wrong.”

She said it clearly with a serious expression. But with her child-like appearance, it was somehow adorable.

“Um, before that, can I ask something? I’m really curious… Who are you, exactly…?”

“My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Rilril. I am a member of the Dungeonfolk, a race that lives in this Dungeon. I might not look it to an Earthling, but I am actually an adult.”

“Dungeonfolk! I’ve heard of you. Wow, I’m so happy to meet you!”

“Wow, thank you! I’m happy too~”

We both smiled and shook hands with both hands.

As an Earthling, I hope I managed to communicate without embarrassment. Wow, races that live in Dungeons really do exist. I’m pretty surprised to have met one so soon.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Chiyusaki Sayuki. A student from Japan, a country on Earth. Nice to meet you.”

Miss Rilril bowed politely and said, “Likewise, pleased to meet you.” I bowed back.

Now that the greetings are over, it’s time for the main topic.