Chapter 13: Aspiring Alchemist

The soft orange glow of the setting sun bathed the Eastern Market as Lee-oh closed his final sale for the day. The scent of brewed herbs and sizzling meat still lingered in the air, and Daey-ib was busy organizing the leftover materials in their now-expanded merchant stall. The once-simple booth now had two long wooden tables, several baskets of dried herbs, vials of healing potions, and even a few pieces of crude leather armor—proof of their rapid progress since upgrading to System Level 3.

"Daey-ib, double-check the beast core count. We should have at least ten from today's hunt," Lee-oh said as he swiped through his system window. The new functions still felt fresh, exciting, and overwhelming. His storage was now vast, and the crafting options had broadened, offering the ability to create mid-grade potions and beginner-level weaponry.

"We have eleven, hyung," Daey-ib replied, voice steady. His eyes no longer held the hesitation of a beginner. He, too, had ascended to Beginner III. While Lee-oh had reached Beginner V and was steadily pushing toward Apprentice, Daey-ib was catching up. Their teamwork in the jungle had created synergy both in battle and business.

The real shift, however, was in Lee-oh's decision to choose a profession—Alchemist. It wasn't a decision taken lightly. Becoming an alchemist required focus, patience, and an intuitive understanding of the mystical energies in herbs, minerals, and monster organs. But Lee-oh believed it was the key to setting himself apart not just from the market vendors—but from Kang Joon-oh himself.

Kang Joon-oh.

The name still twisted something cold in Lee-oh's gut. That moment in the past when Kang humiliated him in front of the village martial sect still burned in his memory. But now, Lee-oh didn't just want revenge. He wanted dominance—to show Kang and the entire Eastern Region that he was a force worth respecting.

The next day, Lee-oh spent most of the morning inside his workshop, a space he rented for cheap in the back of an apothecary stall. He had spent $1,500 to purchase high-grade mixing tools, mortars with engraved runes, and two cauldrons designed for controlled elemental infusion. This wasn't alchemy in theory anymore. This was real work. Precise. Demanding. Risky.

"System," Lee-oh said aloud, his fingers moving quickly through the interface, "Access Alchemy Crafting Menu. Show available recipes."

[Basic Healing Potion: 3 Red Herbs, 1 Beast Blood (Novice), 1 Purified Water] [Basic Energy Tonic: 2 Blue Herbs, 2 Monster Saliva, 1 Grain Spirit] [Combustion Flask: 4 Ember Fruits, 2 Beast Horn Dust, 1 Empty Vial]

He selected the healing potion first—a product always in demand. The crafting interface expanded, displaying a real-time alchemy circle. Ingredients floated into position as if magnetized. As he added the last drop of beast blood, the cauldron glowed faintly red.

DING!

[Crafting Success! You have created 1x Basic Healing Potion.]

"Again," Lee-oh said, determination in his voice.

Two hours later, he had crafted fifteen potions, five tonics, and two combustion flasks. The latter had taken precise effort, with failure chances that were no joke. But Lee-oh had succeeded. He carefully wrapped the flasks in thick leather and tied them to a wooden case.

"You actually did it," the alchemist muttered from the corner. Master Yoo, the elderly man who owned the apothecary stall, had been observing him since the beginning.

"Of course I did," Lee-oh replied with a smirk. "Now let's see how much the market is willing to pay."

By midafternoon, Lee-oh's potions had sold out. Merchants from rival districts and wandering cultivators alike were amazed by the quality—especially when they heard it was from a Beginner-rank alchemist.

One cultivator even muttered, "This quality... It rivals an Apprentice-tier potion!"

Lee-oh took mental notes, observing what sold fast and what lingered. He wasn't just crafting for stats anymore. He was creating a brand.

Daey-ib returned from a materials run, breathless. "Hyung! I got wind of something big. The Southern Traders Guild is coming to the Eastern Region to hold a regional merchant exhibition. They're buying high-grade supplies and looking for new talent."

Lee-oh's eyes gleamed. "That's our next step. We'll join it."

"But the entry fee is $5,000," Daey-ib warned. "And we need guild affiliation or a sponsor."

Lee-oh crossed his arms. "Then we get a sponsor."

That night, he used the System to send out anonymous crafting samples and business proposals to three mid-tier guilds in the region. He also paid Master Yoo a visit and offered him 10% of potion sales if he would endorse their entry.

Master Yoo smiled for the first time. "I knew there was fire in you, Lee-oh. Let's light up this region."

A week passed. Orders piled in. Lee-oh worked with Daey-ib in shifts, often sleeping no more than four hours. The stress was punishing, but the results were undeniable.

Lee-oh's bank account hit $18,200.

His cultivation climbed to Beginner V.

And most importantly, a letter arrived. It was stamped with a phoenix sigil—the emblem of the Crimson Veil Trading Guild.

[To: Lee-oh, Alchemist & Merchant, The Crimson Veil Trading Guild hereby offers a provisional sponsorship to enter the Southern Merchant Exhibition in the Eastern Region. A representative will arrive in three days to finalize preparations. Prepare accordingly.]

Lee-oh set the letter down slowly. He looked over at Daey-ib, who stood stunned at the entrance.

"We're not small-timers anymore," Lee-oh said.

He turned back to the cauldron and summoned the crafting interface again. "Let's go. We still have work to do."

The flames beneath the pot roared to life.