I Reincarnated As A Losing Heroine, The Hero's Childhood Friend Who Lost To The Main Heroine, So I Switched Jobs To Alchemist Volume 1 Chapter 3

I reincarnated as a losing heroine, the hero’s childhood friend who lost to the main heroine, so I switched jobs to alchemist

Chapter 03: I'll become an apprentice of Granny

In front of me now, there's a lonely mountain lodge, there is the house of a Granny very well-known in this village, the house is located at the distance of a short walk from the village.
Now, as to why I came here, the beginning goes back to a few days ago.
In order to abandon this village as fast as possible, I was looking for a part-time job that I could do at my age.
My family is not wealthy enough to leave the village and send me to school, so I was looking for something that I could learn in this village to earn my living in some city in the future.

But in Emme's village there're only three shops: an Armor Shop, a Weapons Shop, and a Tool Shop.
I used to wonder why this small village had a weapons store and armor store, not to mention a tool store, being such rural and small peaceful place but now I know that it's prepared for the game scenario, when the brave hero leaves on his journey.
It is for the convenience of players of the game, for example, you can learn how to sell things if you are hired as an apprentice in any of these stores and you can also learn how to identify different products, that is something will be helpful for you in your future missions.

But for me, that doesn't matter because if I'm going to leave the village in a future, I think it's a better idea to get a little more of "practical" knowledge to survive on this world, that's why, I was frantically digging up the memories of my previous life about this game, for something else that I could do here, when I remembered...

There must have been an old lady, an alchemist that prepares potions, living on the outskirts of the village.

In this world, there is an item called >, as the name implies, it's a potion used to heal wounds for warriors or adventurers.
This medicine is a liquid, a mix of different medicinal herbs prepared using different methods like boiling, settling or maceration.
There are various kinds of medicinal herbs, and when they are mixed together, they become powerful medicines that also give the user's body multiple benefits.

In the game,"The Last Brave", recovery medicine was basically something you could buy at the Tool Store, but after the middle of the game, you were able to prepare your own medicine collecting the items called "medicinal herbs" that you'll find along your journey.

Yes, as I said before, recovery medicines are prepared from a mix of different medicinal herbs.
That is to say, there is a profession in this world called "alchemist".

In the village, it is said that this Granny, who lives in this desolate mountain, was once a famous alchemist who worked in the royal castle. 

After retiring, she moved to this village where there are many high quality medicinal herbs because she really loved collecting medical herbs and creating recovery potions from the bottom of her heart.

I explained earlier that after the middle of "The Last Brave" game, you'll be able to collect your own medical herbs, but you'll have to ask "Granny" to prepare the potion for you.

This Granny is introduced at an event in the middle of the game, when "I" (the player of my previous life, playing as the hero) come back to the village to visit Granny's house on the outskirts for medicine, and was given a magic pot, an item that seemed to be created only for the expediency of the game.

Each time the hero introduced the needed > into this pot, it magically transferred everything to the magic cauldron in the house of Granny, and she would prepare the potions for you.

Later, she'll put the finished potions into the magic cauldron again and it'll be then delivered to the main character through the magic pot.

How it works is never explained in detail - in short, it's just a convenient setup prepared by the producers to save the player the trouble of having to return to the village of Emme every time he run out of recovery potions.

In that stage of the game when you get the magic pot, I was still convinced that Laura was the heroine. 

But-- the rest of the story is as I explained earlier.

After this event of visiting Granny, there weren't any more events of the hero visiting his home again for any motive. 

And so, Laura's existence gradually disappeared from the memories of players who didn't immersed enough in the game to remember every detail of it, like I (of my previous life) did.

I worked hard to discover everything about the story plot, background and know more about every character and item, but now, living as Laura and knowing this world better, I realized, that my story is sadder than I have thought.

--It's a long story, but you've probably figured it out by now. Yes, I'm going to ask Granny if I can work as her apprentice, so I can become an alchemist in the future.

The Medicine is an essential part of this world, in addition, with the revival of the Demon King in the future, the demand for it will swell. 

It's a job very promising and it's a good idea to be able to get out of this village.

Ideally I would like to work as an alchemist for the Royal Castle in the Royal City, as Granny did in the past because I've a question in my mind about the profitability of this profession after the game end.

The question is, after the demon king is killed, are there still demons in this world after?

When I was playing the game, after the END it's not very clear... there's no really mention of that and I went back to the > to check but I couldn't figure it out, so now, I don't know if the demons were also destroyed at the same event or not... But recovery potions do more than just heal wounds after a battle. 

There are recovery medicines that are almost as effective as our modern medicine, and it is not as if they will become unnecessary in peace time, there's always someone that needs medical treatment.

That's why I want to be this Granny's apprentice so desperately.

"Laura, please be very careful when you go"

--with Lucas.

Granny's house is just outside the village, a short walk through the forest. 

When I was speaking of going to such a place with my family, it was easy to imagine that Lucas would follow me. 

So, I tried to be nice and get out of the house without him noticing, but Lucas wasn't so easy to avoid.

I visited Radmila's house the other day, and as I enjoyed chatting with Petra, Yulia and Radmila,  I learned that Lucas and I are already recognized as an official couple. 

I've been playing with them several times since then - without Lucas, of course - and I've been tried steadily to be closer with them, and among one of those intents of making friends with the girls of the village, they finally spoken clearly and frankly to me... It happened the other day, and those words are still echoing in my chest.

"I thought maybe Laura didn't want to get along with us, since she was always with Lucas and you two love each other so much..."

"I thought so too! And there's no way I would want to interfere in the relations.h.i.+p of Lucas and Laura, that's why I preferred to be distant with you."

"Mm-hmm. I understand, I'm so happy to be able to clear this misunderstanding and get along with you like this now."

I was happy to hear that she had confided in me because we had become good friends, but my heart was still complicated. 

I made a firm vow that I would continue to get along well with everyone and try to show that my relations.h.i.+p with Lucas is just good friends.

Lucas, on the other hand, seemed to be playing more with the boys in the village.

The boys stared amazed and said "Cool!" when they notice the pattern in Lucas' left eye, there's when their friends.h.i.+p began.

He said that he was very happy now that he has more friends, they used to bully Lucas a little in the past but now they have a friendly relations.h.i.+p and play together very often.

Lucas and I were able to make friends with other kids more smoothly than I expected, even so, Lucas and I are still being cataloged as "special" friends, that's why I try to keep my distance but...

"Lucas, thanks for accompanying me but I can go alone... it's not so dangerous here, so you can go back home first, okay?"

"It's a good exercise for me, also if I leave you alone I won't be able to sleep at all until you return home safe and sound. Don't worry I won't get in your way I just want to be sure you don't get into any trouble until you reach her house"

"But--"

"I'm staying with you" He gave me a smile that says, you won't be able to change my decision so stop trying.

Because my mental age changed drastically after recovering my memories of my past life, "I" now think of Lucas as a kind of little brother but if things continue like this.... Lucas will probably not be able to fall in love with the future heroine and return home afterward, everybody in the village will oppose to their relations.h.i.+p because they'll pity me.

I don't know what happened to me after the ending of the game - nor to Lucas, if he's going to keep fighting against monsters or having new "events" to overcome - but using the acknowledgment of my previous life and this life, it's how our future looks like right now.

That's why I don't want to be so close with him and try to keep distance from him but, at the same time... I feel guilty because, for me, It's like treating a little boy badly.

It's a feeling that appeared after I remembered my previous "me", and it's something I can't control, I feel like an adult that's handling a clingy little child.

But in a few years, I know Lucas will change and--

I shook my head a few times to shake off the hazy emotions and banged on the wooden door in front of me.

*knock**knock**knock**knock*

"Ohh, I'm sorry! Please give me a minute"

 ....

Behind the door, I could feel someone coming and hear the sound of the cloths sc.r.a.ping against the floor. Before coming, I was wondering if she would be at home, but it seems I didn't have to worry at all.

The door opened with a loud sound, and I was able to see her, she was tall and her hands were clenching her skirt.

Through the gap in the open door, her robed head lazily emerged. 

I swallowed a surprised scream and looked at Granny's face. 

Even in the game graphics, she was always wearing large robes, so her eyes weren't visible at all.

"Oh, come here... Now, tell me, what does this lovely little lady want from this old woman?" - Unexpectedly, her voice was soft. 

I was relieved to hear it, and my tense body relaxed a little.

I opened my mouth with momentum, hoping that this sense of relief wouldn't fade away.

"Please make me your disciple!" 

Her red eyes, wide open, peeked out thorough her robe, it was a very beautiful, jewel-like color.

"Mmmm. Would you like to take a seat first?" 

In spite of my sudden pet.i.tion, Granny opened the door wide and guided me inside the house.

It was a humble lodge seen from the outside, but inside it was a comfortable house, the room was overflowing with flowers and herbs and tools to create the potions. 

But the kitchen and her bed, have been relegated to a corner of the house. 

Well, as you can see from the fact that she chose this rural village to live in because she could find high quality medicinal herbs easily, Granny is a complete "medical herbs' lover" from head to toe, I also learned this from playing the game, though.

"If you want to be my apprentice, you want to be an alchemist, don't you?"

"Yes! You used to be a famous potion maker in the capital, didn't you? So amazing! Please tell me everything!"

My facial expressions and tone of voice portray an innocent child who yearns to be some kind of hero in the future, it's something embarra.s.sing, but if you are embarra.s.sed of something like this, you will lose. 

To begin with, I have the memories of my previous life, but my actual age is only 8 years old, so I have nothing to be ashamed of.

''Money... I don't have much to pay you with, I can offer to pay you a price for the lessons but It's too little to call it compensation, though. 

Even so, I can help you pick medicinal herbs, clean your house, or anything like that!"

--I went to visit her thinking that I would be rejected, but I'm not going to give up easily! I plan to become an apprentice, even if it meant using the dirty trick of crying like a baby.

Becoming an alchemist, as far as I can currently think, it's the best option I've in this world now.

"Young lady, I just want to ask you one thing..."

Granny took off the robe she was wearing over her face, then an old lady with gray hair, who looks much nicer than I imagined, appeared. 

I had no idea there was such a face underneath those heavy robes.

She looked at me with her red eyes and smiled, but there was a strong feeling in those eyes.

"Why does a little girl like you want to be an alchemist?"

It was an unexpected question. What's the point of asking such a question? But more than thinking why she's asking, I've to think what to answer.

To be frank, I want a job that can earn me enough to live without problems with food, clothing and shelter after I leave this village. 

In that respect, making potions and medicines seemed to be a good fit, that's why I want to be an alchemist.

But I don't know if it's right to be so honest, she would think it's some stupid idea of a child with a lot of imagination but that doesn't mean, I can just say something sweet and childish like I want to help all the people over the world.

After hesitating and wavering over the answer I decided to say.

"I want to leave this village and see the world, when I grow up. At that time, I know I'll need a job to earn enough for my living, so my parents don't have to worry about me. 

So, I thought it would be nice to have a job where I could play an important role in people's lives... "

I told the story as honestly as I could while mixing in it in some pretty lies, to make it credible. 

With a grin, the corners of Granny's mouth rose.

"You're an honest young lady.

But ... your idea is good but you can't exactly travel the world being an alchemist, you'll have to stay in a place where you can find the necessary medical herbs and where you have all what you need to prepare them... Some preparation needs a lot of time and dedication.

And the payment is not so wealthy to allow you take vacations very often " 

When I hear those words I felt happy because she was confirming my thoughts were right, I was right to choose the alchemy. 

And more than that, it was very fortunate for me that this Granny lived near the village. 

If I go further back, we are fortunate to live where you can find good quality medicinal herbs every day.

Otherwise, Granny would not have moved to the village of Emme.

I suppressed my impatience and waited for Granny's next words, I can see from her words and facial expressions, I think I had left a good impression of me.

"If it's okay with you being taught by this Old Lady here, you can call me Master. I'll be very happy having a lovely apprentice like you."

Saying that, Granny opened her eyes slightly and laughed like a mischievous child.

You can call me Master...

I'm happy to have a lovely apprentice....

Those words entered my ears but it took a time until my brain processed this information. Finally, I became aware of it...

She allowed me to be her apprentice!!

"Yes, Thank you so much!! I'm Laura!! Nice to meet you!"

I stood up and lowered my head deeply, then Granny laughed happily again.

"You're a very polite young lady."

I think it was much better than I've imagined... Who would have thought that such a young girl, like me, would be accepted as a disciple of a great alchemist like her without any hesitation?

I wasn't able to understand it at the start, but from now on, the rest is up to my efforts. 

I'm not going to study under "Granny" but "Master", and I'll become a great alchemy master!

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