68. Climbing the Mountain

While we were in the middle of refining the prototypes for the mincer, the blooming period for the Eternal Dream Flower—essential for Spira’s medicine—was drawing near. As a result, we had traveled to Mt. Misarda, located north of Garond. It was the highest peak in the Kingdom of Lievril, and its altitude vied for the top spot on the entire continent. Famous as a sacred peak where many spirits were said to dwell, it was even a site of worship for the Forestfolk.

"The Royal Capital looks so tiny from here!"

"I can see it!"

Halfa and Spira were frolicking as they looked out over the landscape spreading below us.

I estimated we were currently around the fifth station of Mt. Misarda. We had a panoramic view of the Royal Capital in the distance; it was a magnificent sight. The only downside was the cold. Although there was no snow this time of year, it was chilly enough that one couldn't survive in the same clothes worn at the base of the mountain. My black coat, which served as my combat gear, apparently had a temperature regulation function, so I was still comfortable.

"Well then, let's take a break here. These old bones find mountain paths quite taxing."

The speaker was Pearl-yana-san, an apothecary from the capital who had settled onto a convenient rock. Apparently, harvesting the Eternal Dream Flower in peak condition for medicinal use was a delicate task, so we had asked her to accompany us as an expert.

In this world, you couldn't simply say there was no difference between an amateur and a professional when it came to harvesting a plant that only bloomed once every few decades. In fact, Pearl-yana-san had successfully harvested the flower three times in the past.

It went without saying that Pearl-yana-san was a Forestfolk. She was from the same village as Lowell and Spira, and she had been helping them gather materials for the magic potion required for spiritification. She was reportedly close to two hundred years old. In that sense, her comment about "old bones" might not have been an exaggeration. However, since she still looked like a young woman, the sense of incongruity was jarring.

"Granny Paly, does it look like the flower is blooming?"

"How should I know? I won't know until I see it with my own eyes. All I can tell you is that it's been exactly thirty years since the last bloom, so it wouldn't be strange for it to happen any day now."

Lowell asked with an impatient look, only to be brushed off. The fact that Pearl-yana-san looked a bit fed up suggested they had gone through this exact exchange many times already. I understood how Lowell felt, though. It didn't seem like Spira had much time left.

If the flower didn't bloom this year, it might be faster to search for a Pandora Gift. Even if I couldn't pull out materials that didn't originate from a dungeon, surely something like a medicine to forcibly grow plants would be available.

However, Pandora Gifts were notoriously hard to find when you were actually looking for them. I had scouted places like the bargain market in the Royal Capital, but it didn't seem like the kind of place that sold dangerous dungeon-born items. Well, in the worst-case scenario, I felt like I could eventually obtain one if I holed up in that dud dungeon from the other day, but—

"By the way, Tort, was it? You seem to have the Apothecary Talent. How about it? Why don't you become my apprentice?"

"Eh?"

While I was lost in thought about Spira's medicine and Pandora Gifts, Pearl-yana-san had suddenly hit me with an invitation. Even if she mentioned talent... I hadn't even started compounding medicine, so what made her think that?

"You've been harvesting various medicinal materials along the way, haven't you? Some of them were quite rare. That material-gathering ability is a massive advantage when creating magic potions."

"Isn't that just a Gathering Talent rather than an Apothecary Talent? Besides, in my case, a large part of it just comes down to luck..."

"What are you talking about? Being able to harvest your own supplies is a huge advantage for an apothecary! No matter how skilled you are, you can't do a thing without materials. Besides, luck is a perfectly valid talent. In the world of craftsmanship, luck is a vital attribute."

According to Pearl-yana-san, luck was a significant factor even in compounding. Apparently, the influence of the creator's Luck value became impossible to ignore once you started dealing with high-level magic potions. Even veteran apothecaries couldn't produce those consistently, but high Luck tended to stabilize the quality. Of course, sufficient dexterity and—in the case of magic potions—magical aptitude were still prerequisites.

It certainly sounded like it might suit me. My status was specialized in Magic Power and Dexterity, backed by Great Luck. I didn't dislike crafting, and the idea of making use of my Luck value was intriguing. However, I was currently focused on raising my cooking skills. With the cooking contest looming, I wasn't in a position to juggle too many projects.

When I explained this, Pearl-yana-san gave a firm nod.

Had she understood my refusal?

"I see. So you'll become my apprentice after the cooking contest. No, that's not bad at all. The compatibility between cooking and compounding is actually quite good."

...She had reached a conclusion that completely ignored my intent.

But what did she mean by "compatibility"? It was likely exactly what she wanted me to think, but I couldn't help being curious.

"What exactly do you mean by 'compatibility'?"

"Some medicinal materials also serve as food. If you use those, you can make medicinal cuisine. They don't have the immediate punch of a magic potion, but they can regulate the body and temporarily enhance the eater's abilities. Though the effects aren't dramatic."

I-I see!

So I’d be able to make what games call "buff dishes"!

Hearing that, my interest was suddenly piqued. Setting aside the apprenticeship until after the contest, I might actually want her to teach me once we secured Spira's medicine. A long-term apprenticeship might be difficult, though.

As I wrestled with my thoughts, Pearl-yana-san made another intriguing comment in a casual tone.

"Still, a cooking contest for someone like you, huh? Since it's a matter of your own abilities, I suppose it's fine according to the rules. You're not exactly cheating... but it does feel a bit like a foul play."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Ah, well..."

While Luck influenced cooking success rates and quality, Pearl-yana-san explained that wasn't the half of it. When creating something with a crafting skill, one occasionally achieved a result that could be called an "Exceptional Work." Apparently, an "Exceptional Work" was far more likely to occur if the crafter had a high Luck value.

If an "Exceptional Work" occurred in cooking, the appeal and satisfaction of the resulting dish would improve by leaps and bounds. Once someone ate such a dish, they would be unable to stop themselves from wanting it again. It sounded a bit like an addiction, which was scary, but there were apparently no ill effects on the body. It was important, so I'll say it again: it wasn't harmful!

Could it be that the reason Master Zardan so easily agreed to trade the Red Dragon Scale for Teriyaki Burgers was because...

...Yeah, let's not think too deeply about that.