Seventeen: It’s tough, isn’t it? Trying to explain something only you understand.

"Everyone in the village! We’re starting construction now! We’ve already got the blueprints, so please follow the instructions exactly!"

"Yesss!!"

The villagers get moving.

Adventure hunter Raidock has arrived.

"Hey, Leifan. Our job was just escorting you this far, right?"

"Ah! Yes, thank you so much for your help—even if it was just for a short time!"

"Hey, hey. We finished way ahead of schedule… still gonna get the full pay, right?"

"Of course. I’ll write it down right away. Oh—actually, I’d like to ask you for one more favor."

"What’s that?"

"Please let the production guild in the city of Lord Bairoroad, the Marquis of the Frontier, know we’ve arrived on-site."

"An outpost directly under the Marquis, huh. So that’s why it’s a roundabout route."

"Yeah. But that means we’ll get paid faster, so can you do me a favor?"

"Sure thing. If we find escort duty back to the original town from here, that’s three birds with one stone. Leave it to me."

"Then the reward will be…?"

"Here’s the thing—can you spare just one bottle of that stamina potion? That’s all I’m asking."

"Wait… what?"

"Seriously, you’ve been looking after me the whole trip. I’ve felt that power firsthand. With this, we’ll survive any crisis and make it back."

Raidock’s expression was dead serious.

"Got it. Just one bottle, right?"

"Right. It’s not like other potions—just a spoonful, and it works wonders."

"Hey, Craft. I hate to cut in like this, but there’s one problem."

"Huh?"

"Potions need special bottles to store long-term. Otherwise, they degrade."

"Damn. Forgot about that."

"Yeah, that thing."

It wasn’t me pressing my head—it was Raidock.

Even adventurers know this basic stuff.

You gotta haul back empty potion bottles. Doesn’t help with weight. That’s one of those classic adventurer jokes.

I remember now—I never explained that part.

"Craft, can’t you make special potion bottles?"

"Nope. No need for that."

"Why not?"

"Because this potion doesn’t degrade."

"...Huh?"

"...Wait, what?"

"Turns out, I’ve been checking its stats nonstop for the past few days. Now I can see the details. This stuff? Lasts about a thousand years before it wears off."

"Wha—?!"

"A thousand years?!"

Yeah, that’s shocking.

I was shocked too.

Oh, and apparently, if you put it in a proper bottle, it lasts a billion years.

No idea why that matters. But hey, whatever.

"So just keep it in that waterskin, you'll be fine."

"Wha!? You're telling me to put a potion in a waterskin!?"

"Craft! Is that really true!?"

"If the鉴定 didn't mess up. By the way, I put the potion in that waterskin three days ago, and there's not the slightest sign of it degrading."

The鉴定 had quietly evolved, and I only noticed this fact three days ago.

I'd kept the stamina potion in the waterskin—just to test both the鉴定 and the potion—and never once did the usual rapid degradation kick in.

"Alchemists are scary..."

"Nah, nah, nah! Raidock-san! Craft's alchemy's seriously off the rails, you know!?"

"Yeah, guess you're right."

"Uh-huh!"

Feels like I'm getting scolded for something terrible.

Funny as it sounds, back when I still had that mage’s sigil, it was like I was trying my hardest to keep my magic locked down—like I was pressing my whole damn weight against a lid.

"Uh... what's going on here?"

Can’t put it into words, but it’s like I was just barely holding down the lid of a boiling kettle with all my strength—couldn’t do a damn thing else.

So why the hell didn’t you notice it until now?

I can only smile at Raidock’s jab.

There was nothing to compare it to, what could I do? I only figured out it was weird after I got the new crest myself.

"Is that so?"

"Normally, you don't carve seals that clash. This is some pretty special case."

Hmm, I see.

Two people nodded, faces still unconvinced.

Leifan. If it's about the reward, I can hand over the water skin too, right?

Hmm. Honestly, it feels like Raidock and the others are getting way too much out of this...

"Cost was ridiculously cheap, though."

"Doesn't matter. The final quality is what counts."

"True enough, but it's not really sinking in, y'know?"

"Right... I get it. In that case, hurry up and send word, okay?"

"Of course. Just sharing lunch with you’ll give me full stamina. I’ll contact you by tomorrow, no problem."

"Wait—by tomorrow?"

"Hah! Don’t you dare underestimate a real adventurer! I’m just keeping pace with the pioneers. If my stamina holds, I’ll be there in a single day!"

"Reliable as always. Then I’m counting on you."

"Got it. Deal sealed."

And with that, Raidock and the others vanished in a cloud of dust, having shared only lunch.

"Fast—!"

"That’s what real adventurers look like when they’re serious. So, new guildmaster—what now, eh?"

"Leifan!"

"haha, just kidding."

"Uh, we’ll have a few more people join us, so for now, could you handle setting up the tents and unloading the supplies?"

"What about Leifan?"

"The rest will trace the blueprint onto the ground, then start construction."

"Got it. I’ll get the essential materials out first."

"Yep. Thanks."

Thanks to the stamina potion, my stamina felt endless. The pace of work was nothing short of unbelievable—like someone far beyond ordinary people.

I couldn’t lift heavy logs by myself, nor did my strength or magic increase, but I could push nonstop without a single break. The efficiency was absurd.

The temporary housing came together faster than expected. We finished what was supposed to take half a month in just a few days.

Still just a crude shack, really.

"Guess we’re done with tent living now."

"Naah! This is all thanks to Craft’s stamina potions!"

"Yep! With this, we can do anything!"

"Need wood? Just say the word! I’m a lumberjack—got all the wood you want!"

"We hunters can hit the woods tomorrow, no problem!"

"Guess we’ll need some furniture soon."

"Leave that to the Production Guildmaster, Leifan."

"Uh-huh. Leave it to me."

And so, the frontier village took shape at lightning speed.

◆

"Leifan, Craft. Got a quick word, if I may."

"Sure. What is it?"

The day after the temporary housing for everyone was finished, Kyle showed up at the makeshift Production Guildhall.

Why makeshift? Simple. It’s just my place and Leifan’s.

Of course, we’ve got separate rooms!

"Actually, I’ve been asked if we could build a well."

"Water well? The river’s close, isn’t it?"

"Yeah, not far at all. And thanks to stamina potions, going back and forth isn’t a problem. But we’ll need a lot of water. Don’t want to waste time hauling it all."

"True, that."

Leifan crossed his arms and nodded.

Zero dignity.

"Hmm. A well… yeah, would be handy."

"Yes. Could you… maybe build one?"

"Can water veins just pop up like that? Craft, what do you think?"

"Water… I’ve got two options."

"Two? Really?"

Right, hadn’t really talked about the abilities from the sigil yet.

"Yeah. One’s using water magic. I’ll just conjure what we need."

"Wait—what? You’re gonna make it all?!"

Back when I was just a mage with the sigil, I could only conjure enough water for half a cup—no, even less. But now that I’ve got the alchemist’s sigil, I can make a whole lot more.

I’ve already tested this quietly.

If I really put my mind to it, I could probably make a pond.

“Guess you’re right, Craft.”

“Ah, still reckless as ever.”

“Then—”

“Still fine, but there’s a better way.”

“Better? Really?”

“What’s that? I’m curious now!”

The two of them latch on with weird intensity.

“Let’s try dowsing.”

“Dow—?”

“Jing…?”

Apparently, it’s not something many know about.

Thanks to that, both Rankin and PV are doing great!

Keep the support coming, please!