Chapter 76

The Failure Alchemist of the Royal Capital

Real Alchemist #

A certain amount of zinc oxide has been created through alchemy.

After that, it’s time to think about the “method that anyone can use” and the “testing of the prototype”.

“For the testing, let’s recruit volunteers from among the female staff of the commercial guild. And then… We’ll ask a skilled craftsman among the magical tool makers to make a ‘furnace’ for evaporating zinc. That way, anyone can produce this cosmetic product!”

Ana nods in agreement with Oliver’s words.

Meanwhile, feeling a little disappointed that I had found starch but didn’t use it, I pick up the bottle of starch I brought back home and examine it with [Appraisal]. Underneath the bottle I’m holding, there is a cooled alchemy pot and the zinc oxide that had settled at the bottom.

…It can become medicine!

“Hey, Ana. If you mix starch and zinc oxide in equal amounts, it seems to become medicine for the skin. Can I try using it?”

I asked Ana, who was engrossed in the discussion with Kachua and Oliver about mass production.

“Oh? It can become medicine? Then go ahead and try it.”

“Okay.”

With that, I took out a piece of equipment called a “balance” and placed it on the workbench.

The balance is a device that can confirm that two objects weigh the same by placing them on the left and right pans. I put starch on the left pan and scooped zinc oxide onto the right pan with a spoon. I mixed equal amounts together…

…Yay! I was able to “develop” medicine! This is the first time, isn’t it?

Until now, I had only made potions using the “textbook” as a reference. But that was just reproducing the technology discovered by our predecessors. However, this “zinc oxide starch” is a “medicine that I developed”! Well, I do have Appraisal as a strong ally.

“Amazing, amazing! This is the first time I’ve been able to create medicine using my own power! I’ve achieved the same thing as the predecessors who discovered the chemicals listed in the textbooks! Ana-san, I’ve made a new medicine by myself! By applying it to affected areas such as eczema, dermatitis, sweat rash, chafing, and sunburn, it can gently relieve the symptoms. "

Excitedly, I tightly grip Ana-san’s hand.

“Well done, you found something great,” Ana-san says, smiling and narrowing her eyes at me. Then, she speaks quietly, emphasizing “Listen well.”

“Alchemy is originally about studying the way things in nature exist, and attempting to discover and create things that are beneficial to people. Regardless of the reality of the world, alchemists are not just ’technicians who imitate their masters and make potions as written in books.’ Daisy, you have now discovered something new with a useful function on your own. Finally, you have joined the ranks of ‘real alchemists.’ "

Then, Ana-san squeezes my hand back that I am still holding.

“Welcome, Daisy. Welcome to the world of ‘real alchemists.’”

From deep within me, my heart is filled with excitement at her words, my cheeks flush, and I can’t help but shed a tear.

…I’m so happy! My master has recognized me as a ‘real alchemist’!

While I am still overwhelmed with emotion, Oliver, perhaps because he is a merchant, seems to have already started calculating towards commercialization.

“We don’t need to apply expensive potions for things like sweat rashes or eczema. But with the combination of this starch and zinc oxide powder, we can offer it at a lower price. Even if we sell a generous amount, it would be around 200-300 lire. And to make that possible, we will request the country to increase potato production. We will recruit serfs who don’t own land to help with development projects, and if possible, turn them into land-owning farmers in the future. By having them make starch in addition to potato farming, we can expect an increase in their income and tax revenue. Let’s test this medicine as well and report the results to His Majesty!”

Oliver is very excited.

Kachua comes to me and hugs me, saying, “Amazing, Daisy!” as if to congratulate me.

“Well, I make alloys freely, but this is the first time I’ve made something that is useful for an unspecified number of people, so I decided to take this direction.”

“The White Powder Incident” will be resolved tomorrow. ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)