Chapter 158: The Brew

    Im an Alchemist. Roman said.

    Wait. What? That didnt make any sense to Derek. Why would an Alchemist own a bar that caters to high-level adventurers? He asked.

    Roman put the now clean mug away under the bar counter. He laughed. Easy. By complete accident. He answered.

    Accident? Derek asked.

    Yup. Back in the day, we Roman pointed between Shae and himself. Used to run together. Came up together, actually. While Shae was busy sticking his spear in everything that moved, and not in the fun way, I made the potions that kept him and his team alive.

    You see, I was never much of a fighter, so I was happy when the Great System gave me the choice of a crafting class. Of course, Shae was disappointed with me because he always wanted us to join the Adventurers Guild together and move up the ranks, but it was a relief to me. That asshole was is a battle maniac, so he provided all the resources I needed early on, which let me supply him with potions at cost. Roman continued.

    Seems like a pretty good deal. Derek said.

    Its a great dead when it works. I know a ton of crafters who make the same deal with adventurers. The problem is that either their craft stalls and falls behind the adventurers, or the adventurers either die or quit after some losses. Not everyone has a friend as talented as Shae. The halfling said. Dont tell him I called him talented, by the way.

    Derek snorted. I wont. He said. That still doesnt explain how you ended up here and not at an alchemy shop.

    No need to be impatient. Im getting there. Roman said. You know about his story? He asked. He usually doesnt take that last shot to knock him out unless hes reminiscing about the past.

    Yeah. Basically, he outgrew his team, and they used him up until they lost a member. Then he went at it solo. Derek said.

    Roman nodded. Thats pretty much the gist of it. He said. Well, once he reached a certain level, he became the perfect test subject. Roman grinned. Its nice to have someone with a Vitality and Endurance on your side when youre an Alchemist.

    Derek shuddered at the halflings grin. What do you mean?

    Well, the Great System is very helpful when it comes to identifying most concoctions, but sometimes, you either make one that it has never seen or the Great System chooses to limit the information it gives, I havent figured out which one it is yet. You get back information like Unknown Health Potion or Unknown Poison, stuff like that. Sometimes you get even less information than that. Roman explained.

    Interesting. Derek said.

    It is, but it also creates a problem. Sometimes, you create an Unknown Health Potion and you end up killing somebody. Like, its technically a healing potion, but if the user happens to have a certain constitution, it ends up being fatal. Well, the Great System doesnt give the creator the full information until the potion is tested by an intelligent user of the system. Roman explained.

    Thats harsh. Derek said.

    Thats great. Derek said.

    Roman seemed to be really excited when talking about process. Even when theres an ingredient that money cant buy, I can usually trade for it with some of my brew. Or, I can do a three-way trade with it. The seller of the ingredient may not want my brew, but they may want something that Shae or some other customer has.

    Derek nodded. So, getting a drink with a new Onyx Adventurer is basically a scheme to get you more business?

    Roman waved Derek off. Its nothing so sinister like that. I mean well, that might happen, but its in everybodys favor. I get a new customer, the customer gets a free drink, Shae gets a referral fee its a win-win-win.

    Well, its usually a win-win-win. Roman sighed. Sometimes, people dont like to drink. Twice now, the brew hasnt affected a person, and neither you nor the other person like it enough to justify the price of me upgrading my formula.

    Oh. There was someone other than me that didnt get drunk? Derek asked.

    Yeah, the leader of the Adventurers Guild. You two are monsters. Shae is going to be terribly disappointed when he wakes up. Hes not going to be getting his referral fee to help pay for that jug of brew he bought this time. Roman snickered. Judys going to kill him. I wish I could see it.

    Well, Im sorry about my monster-like constitution. Derek said. But, I may be interested in some of your other alchemy products. I wouldnt mind having a look.

    Thats fine with me. Its called Romans Potions and Brews. The halfling smiled.

    You really like using that word. Derek said.

    Well, it made me who I am today. Its my good luck charm. Liquid Courage may sell and sound better, but its always going to be my brew.

    Derek laughed. No sense trying to fix what aint broken.

    Damn straight. Roman said.

    Derek looked over at the snoring Shae. You think he would be mad if I cut his nap short?

    Roman snorted. Probably. What do you have in mind?

    Well, you said your brew was a toxin. Right? Derek raised his hand and prepared Cure Toxin. Shae had tried to trick him into becoming a customer in his little scheme. Sure, he was going to be hurting after the price of that jug, but he might as well take it a small step further.

    Roman laughed. Go ahead.