Chapter 31
Light novel: Episode 31
Manhwa: Chapter 14
“Both of you are exactly the kind of people I’ve been looking for, so I’d like to work with you. How about it?”
Their skills fit the needs, and the people who introduced them were trustworthy, so I made the offer on the spot.
“I’m in!”
Zenrick replied enthusiastically, as if he didn’t even need to think about it.
Wolfgang, on the other hand, seemed a little hesitant, but soon nodded in agreement.
“Here are the contract documents. Room and board will be provided by the grand temple, and working hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM. If you work overtime, you’ll be paid by the hour, and you will receive a performance bonus each time you achieve your sales target.”
My words dispelled any hesitation they had.
“Really?”
Both of them opened their eyes wide in surprise.
Since alchemy is research-based, work hours are usually vague and irregular, and naturally, there’s no such thing as overtime pay.
It’s basically a job with no work-life balance, so the offer I gave them was bound to be tempting.
“Of course. And for your information, salaries will be raised at the beginning of each year. The percentage increase will vary depending on the previous year’s revenue.”
It’s not begging or sympathy that motivates people.
It’s money that properly values their skills.
See? The change in Wolfgang’s and Zenrick’s eyes.
“I’ll sign! Right now!”
Zenrick shouted, and scribbled his signature down energetically. Wolfgang followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.
Though both of them were extremely talented, due to personal issues, they were unable to join the mainstream and were struggling financially. I guess that really was true.
“Now, shall we register you both as followers according to the contract?”
I placed a massive divine registry book I had prepared onto the table with a loud thunk.
Since I’d mentioned this requirement from the start, neither of them showed any resistance and wrote their names in the registry.
With a heart full of anticipation, I sprinkled divine power over their names.
How much would my divine power rise this time?
【A new follower has been registered under the Sun God.】
【User’s divine power has increased by 0.01%.】
0.01%! That’s a whole million won rolling in just like that!
For someone like me who didn’t even have a hundred thousand won on hand, it was a godsend.
But now I was curious, if both of them combined raised my divine power by only 0.01%, what were their total evaluation scores?
【Both individuals have A-grade abilities, but other categories are E-grade. Their overall evaluation score is D-grade.】
“……”
So basically, they’re saying these two have no wealth and lack fame…
Still, they’re better off than our grand temple’s High Priest and Captain of the Holy Order, who are both F-rank in terms of wealth…
It really hit me again just how amazing Lute Sieri is, with that SS grade overall score.
I should treat him even better from now on.
“Why are you suddenly looking at us like that?”
“That’s just my gaze full of heartfelt welcome.”
I guess it was obvious that I was looking at them with pity.
Zenrick gave me a wary look, so I flashed him a big smile.
“I look forward to working with you both.”
You two precious alchemists, who will bring endless profit to our temple.
Knock, knock.
“Saintess, Priestess Lana has arrived.”
Just then, Monica informed me of a visitor. I immediately invited her in.
“Now then, let me introduce the priestess who’ll be working with you from now on. This is Priestess Lana Ailach.”
Lana was a female priest with long silver hair cascading over her brown skin.
The moment our eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze downward.
“H-Hello, Saintess.”
Her trembling voice was filled with fear.
Hmm. Am I still that terrifying to her?
If I got too close, she might have a panic attack, so I decided it was better to introduce her from a distance.
“Since the divine power of the Sun God is with us, Priestess Lana will be in charge of overall operations. The two of you should follow her lead.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, looking forward to working with you!”
Wolfgang and Zenrick greeted Lana politely.
However, Lana still couldn’t make eye contact with either of them.
It did make me a bit worried whether someone this timid could really handle overseeing the potion production, which was about to become the temple’s main business.
But—
‘Priestess Lana will do just fine. Please trust her and leave it to her.’
Airek had insisted so firmly on her behalf that I chose to trust him.
There must be a good reason why he believed in her so strongly.
“Priestess Lana has strong healing powers and is the most knowledgeable about the potion recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in the grand temple. So I hope the three of you will work together to create a great potion.”
Once the three of them finished developing a potion that combined alchemy and divine power, the next step would be to begin full-scale mass production with the priestesses selected as healing relays.
Now that all the priestesses had been chosen, the moment the potion was ready, the business could start immediately.
“Please deliver any materials needed for potion manufacturing or research through Priestess Lana. I’ll do my best to procure everything you need.”
At the promise of generously supplied materials, Zenrick’s face lit up.
He seemed thrilled at the thought of diving straight into various experiments.
That kind of passion is very welcome.
“However, you must record and report every detail: what materials were used, in what quantity, how they were used, and for what purpose. If I find out anything was used for something unrelated to potion-making, it will be immediately deducted from your salary.”
At the warning that waste would not be tolerated, Zenrick instantly deflated and became gloomy.
What, did he think I wouldn’t have dealt with guys like him before? Don’t take me for a pushover.
“Monica, please take them to the lab.”
“Right this way, please.”
Monica led the three of them to the potion workshop that had been prepared in advance.
It had been quite difficult finding a place that was sturdy and isolated enough, just in case some kind of explosion happened during their research.
I could only hope the three of them would work well together and come up with a formula quickly.
Clasping my hands together, I earnestly prayed to the Sun God who was shining above my head.
If you want to grow stronger, too, you’d better grant my wish.
* * *
But it seemed the Sun God wasn’t particularly interested in getting stronger.
“……”
I stared blankly at the scene unfolding in the potion workshop.
“If you mix that ingredient with this one, it creates a strong toxin. How can you not know the basics?”
“That’s because you mix it like crap. If you get the ratio right, it actually produces the best result, I’m telling you.”
“So what exactly is that perfect ratio?”
“I haven’t figured that part out yet. That’s why we have to experiment! Once we find it, we’ll create a legendary combination that will go down in history!”
“Tell me when you have proof to back up your claim.”
“Why are you so uptight? Is your head stuffed with sweet potatoes or something?”
“Sounds like there are holes in yours.”
Zenrick and Wolfgang were in a full-blown standoff in the middle of the lab.
I had said their images were polar opposites, and as expected, their personalities couldn’t be more different.
With Wolfgang being the epitome of by-the-book stickler, and Zenrick running on gut instinct, the two never saw eye to eye.
“P-please don’t fight. Please, I beg you, stop fighting…”
Even Lana, who was supposed to be the team leader, couldn’t stop them.
Actually, from the looks of it, those two didn’t even seem aware that Lana was standing next to them.
“How many days has it been now?”
“It’s been over five days already.”
Monica answered with a click of her tongue.
It had already been five days since the three of them started working together.
Unfortunately, not a single bit of progress had been made.
This was because Wolfgang and Zenrick, who had completely opposite personalities, clashed over everything, grinding everything to a halt.
Monica, who had been checking in on them twice a day, finally decided this couldn’t go on and came to report it to me.
This is a big problem.
Honestly, I wanted to smack their heads together and boot them out of the lab myself…
But for the sake of the future, it had to be Lana, the team leader, to resolve the situation.
Although judging by how things looked, that didn’t seem likely.
While I was still debating what to do, the conversation between the two alchemists only became more and more heated.
“Creative, my foot. At this point, it seems your only talent is spouting empty bragging without a shred of proof.”
Apparently getting fed up, Wolfgang sneered at Zenrick.
“Y-you didn’t have to say it like that…”
Lana’s face was gradually turning ashen.
“You claim to be a formula genius, yet you can’t even grasp the greatness of this combination? Or maybe by ‘genius,’ you meant the world’s most insufferable prick?”
Zenrick sneered at Wolfgang, completely ignoring Lana’s attempt to intervene.
“P-please don’t use such language…!”
“You were the one going on about being a ‘certified genius.’ Turns out you really are the most insufferable bastard around.”
“I-I said no foul language in the temple…!”
“Hey, you steamed sweet potato. Step outside. I’ll beat the daylights out of you.”
“Don’t fight, please!”
“Not very scary coming from someone with holes in his head.”
Sparks began to fly between the two men.
Lana’s voice could barely be heard anymore, and just as I let out a sigh and was about to step in—
KWAANG!
“I said, quit fighting in the sacred grand temple!”
An explosive shout rang out, followed by a thunderous crash.
It was the sound of Lana—yes, that timid Lana—smashing the marble floor to pieces with her tiny fist.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!