Five: It’s nice to be believed in, huh.

The鉴定 skill can tell you, but every object has a quality level.

Most commonly available qualities are either "Low" or "Normal."

"Minimum" isn’t rare if it’s cheap.

From what my skill’s shown me, I’ve just learned that there are actually quite a few quality levels I didn’t even know existed.

Starting from shoddy, up to legendary artifacts—ten tiers in total.

The skill doesn’t lie, but I still can’t help but doubt.

I rechecked the stamina potion I made a moment ago.

・Stamina Potion [Quality: Legendary — One spoonful grants stamina surpassing your race for about half a day. No side effects. Can be mixed into food.]

Just as Leifan said. The quality was legendary. Second highest tier overall.

When I turn the information the crest gives me into words, it’s pretty much like this.

Quality: Legendary.

So damn impressive, it makes you question whether it even exists. Pure legend. Something beyond what any person could make—something that belongs only in stories, a true legend.

Uh…

It’s a legendary quality, and it’s just… finished. Naturally.

“…No way… impossible… that can’t be… huh? Huh?”

Leifan keeps rechecking the鉴定 over and over. I get it.

But what matters is how we use it.

“Leifan. Starting tomorrow morning, we’ll have everyone drink this.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah… I guess… is that okay?”

“This herb’s part of the frontier development supplies, right? I don’t think there’s any issue.”

“Y-yeah… no… that’s right… no issue…”

From what the guildmaster explained, these development supplies are meant to be used freely by settlers and for frontier work.

The settlers are only about a hundred people, really.

Two cups’ worth in a bowl is more than enough.

So, the next morning.

I stirred a stamina potion into the breakfast soup.

"Damn, that’s good!"

"Whoa! Tastes amazing! Just some junk veggies and dried meat in there, and yet—!"

"Hey, Craft was the one who added the seasoning."

"Guess Craft’s got skill, huh?"

Huh?

It actually improves the taste?

I was skeptical, but took a sip—yeah, it was seriously good.

Hard to describe, but it’s like all the natural flavor of the ingredients came through, clean and simple. No frills. Just solid, satisfying taste that doesn’t get old.

Didn’t show up on the鉴定 either.

The cook from the settlement, who was supposed to open a mess hall, kept giving me side-eye, but I ignored him.

Of course. It wasn’t just the taste.

The stamina potion’s true power was fully unleashed—no, far beyond expectations.

“Something’s off today, huh!”

“Yeah! Not tired at all!”

“I could run forever!”

“Wait… I can run too!?”

“Alright! Let’s all run together!”

Ordinary townsfolk, people who’d never even dreamed of adventure, were now pulling off the impossible—running without stopping, a terrifying display of endurance.

Of course, me and Leifan were the same. No matter how much we ran, no fatigue set in.

“Wait! Hold up!”

“What the hell’s going on with you guys!?”

“Leader… I can’t go on anymore…”

“N-no! How’re we supposed to beat regular folks like this!?”

“…Why are you the only one acting calm?”

“Oh… I didn’t secretly get a share of the settler’s soup or anything like that, nope.”

“You damn fool! We agreed to separate the meals for food poisoning prevention, didn’t we!”

“But they were eating like it was heaven! The soup was everywhere! They kept pushing it on me!”

“Ugh—”

The adventurers who’d been eating separately—Raidock’s group—were the first to collapse.

Unusually fast.

“Ah, Raidock. If you’re up for it, share a spoonful with everyone.”

Seeing no choice, I brewed a full cup of stamina potion and handed it to Raidock, the party leader.

“Stamina potion. Appreciate it, but… one spoonful’s all I need?”

“Just one cup’s worth mixed into a hundred servings of soup this morning. That’s what did it.”

The whole party’s eyes turned to the strangely energetic group sprinting off.

“Thanks, I’ll take it.”

“Yeah. It’s support rations—don’t be shy.”

“Really helps.”

So, once every adventurer had taken the stamina potion, the effect hit immediately.

"Shit, this is wild—don’t feel tired at all!"

"I could pull off a hundred “Gale Sword Barrage” strikes right now and still not feel drained."

"No limits on this stamina potion or what?"

"I used to drink the fanciest one back in the day—maxed out at twenty minutes, maybe doubled my usual stamina."

"Man, that’s already pretty premium."

Twice the stamina, twenty minutes of effect—according to what I know, that’s some top-tier potion.

But the one we just drank? It’s like endless stamina. Lasts half a day.

Not even joking.

"Wait—is this one Craft made?"

"Yeah... I rewrote the alchemist’s sigil over the mage’s one."

"That’s insane! I heard alchemist’s sigils are rare, right?"

"Guess so."

"Y-yeah. I’d really like to sell this potion, if you don’t mind?"

"Sure. Let’s talk about that stuff when we get to the planned frontier village, okay?"

"Got it. Hey, can you share the food on the road?"

"Sure. We can just eat together, if you want."

It’s not like we’re breaking any rules—it’s part of the support supplies. No reason a guard adventurer can’t eat it.

"Still, everyone eating the same thing… food poisoning’s a real worry."

True. Long journeys? Food poisoning happens all the time. Scary stuff.

But—

"Relax. I can make a potion to cure food poisoning too."

I haven’t tested it yet, but judging by the stamina potion, it should work. The sigil told me that.

"R-Really? Then I’ll treat myself to a proper meal starting at noon."

"Yeah. That’s good."

"But maybe I shouldn’t say this now… why’d you end up being such a weak adventurer despite having skills like that?"

"The Seal Officer said it was because of the mage’s sigil I had. Apparently, it clashed with me worse than anything."

"Really? That’s possible?"

"Apparently, it’s super rare."

"Ah… good thing you’re not a total mess, Craft."

"Yeah. Took the long way, though."

Raidock lightly bumped fists with me.

The other party members were smirking at us.

I felt a hot flush of embarrassment over what I’d done and hurried back into line.

"Alright, let’s go!"

I called out to the pioneers, and they all answered back with bright energy.

"Ah! Mr. Craft! Let’s go! Let’s go!"

"No kidding! Thanks to your medicine, I’m feelin’ great!"

"Such a nice guy…"

"Let's go! Let's go! We're! Energized!"

"Haha, don't trip over your own feet, now."

"Yessir!"

Having confirmed the effect myself, the next day I recommended it to Kyle, Maina, Alphard, and Persia.

"Putting faith in something so mysterious..."

"Alphard. That kind of talk's a bit rude."

"Wha—?! My apologies, alchemist sir!"

"No, no, don't mind it. I'm barely more than a beginner in alchemy."

"I'll admit the effect is wild. But it's so wild it just feels suspicious."

Alphard wasn't the only one skeptical—Persia seemed uneasy too.

True, the effect was overwhelming.

"From what I've seen, there's no harm in it."

"Lord Kyle. That might be jumping to conclusions."

"I just... want to believe in Craft."

"..."

Alphard couldn't find anything else to say and stepped back, no further.

"Besides, Maina seems to be hitting her limit."

Kyle-sama... no, never mind.

I'm fine. But if that stamina potion really works like that, I'll take it, please.

Understood. Before that, I'll verify it myself.

Without a word, Alphard drank the potion handed to him.

...? W-what?

What’s wrong? Al?

"I-I mean, it’s like the fatigue deep in my bones is just... melting away. I feel so full of energy right now, I could probably keep up with the captain’s hell training all day!"

"Wait, seriously?"

You could probably handle something like that.

That’s actually scary, though.

Kyle-sama. At least half a day… can you let me test it?

Got it. You alright, Maina?

Maina nods once, sharply.

Then let's get going.

After walking for a few hours, Alphard had wiped out an entire group of goblins he'd found along the way—single-handedly.

"This is something special! I swear it! Craft! I should've trusted you sooner!"

"Ah, thanks."

"Then let's get some too, Maina."

"...Mm."

With that, the two of them downed the stamina potions, instantly looking healthier and ready to enjoy the carriage ride.

That’s how we made it to the settlement site—skipping a whole month of planned travel and arriving in just a week.

When we got there, Raidock’s one whispered word said it all.

"…No way."

Yeah. I feel the same.

I’d love to post again today, if possible.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll aim for one update per day.

Timing might be irregular though. (´Д｀)

Thanks for the support!