My name is Keke, the Alchemist.
I was once, or rather, not forgotten the memories from my past life as the one nicknamed the “Alchemy King.”
I mostly recovered my memories after reading a hero’s tale I found in a bookstore.
It is now time for my past self’s deeds. To restore the capital of alchemy.
To take revenge on the gods and the country that sent assassins calling themselves heroes.
For that purpose.
To obtain precious materials and poisonous herbs.
In the labyrinth called the “Labyrinth of Medicinal Herbs.”
In a village where a young man who tamed a legendary giant ant resides.
I temporarily formed a party for labyrinth exploration with him, but…
The ant I thought was a princess ant was actually a Queen Ant.
A Higher Species.
It killed its master, Torupa, inside the labyrinth.
And then it attacked the explorers.
I was thinking of taking all their funds and materials at once.
But my preliminary research was insufficient.
I encountered one party on the 21st floor.
The result was that I couldn’t achieve it all at once.
But when I woke up this morning.
The inn’s staff came to deliver a message from Torupa.
“I would never mate with a Queen Ant (monster)!”
Well, anyway. I finally have time to do my preliminary research.
After having breakfast at the inn, I went around the town’s apothecaries.
I subtly asked the shopkeepers and staff about the demand for medicinal herbs from treasure chests in the labyrinth.
To increase the number of explorers.
And bought up specific medicinal herbs.
“Welcome back!”
I responded to the shopkeepers’ smiles.
Then, I went to the Labyrinth Management Bureau, which was built at the labyrinth’s entrance.
I submitted an order request.
And further gathered explorers on specific floors.
I have plenty of money.
What I desire are the expensive equipment and precious healing potions that explorers carry with them.
There’s a possibility they have items that aren’t sold in this town.
The labyrinth draws people from all over, no matter the town.
It’s always been like this, both in the past and now.
“It’s about this much.”
At the inn, while wondering if Torupa had any more messages, I ordered lunch.
“A missed connection, huh…”
I drank the meat soup for lunch.
And munched on black bread.
What should I do this afternoon?
Tomorrow, the floors where I’ll hunt explorers will mostly be the same.
After that, we’ll go there, kill Torupa, and while the Queen Ant, who was dominated, is rampaging.
I’ll weaken the explorers with my sleeping incense or magic-sealing incense.
And scavenge the corpses of the explorers killed by the Queen Ant.
At some point, we’ll retreat from that floor.
Then, I’ll leave town with a completely nonchalant expression and contact a person who’s become a bit of a rumor.
I’ll deceive them successfully and kill them in the labyrinth as well.
“Yep, as always, a perfect plan.”
By dinner, I made spare sleeping incense, paralysis powder, intermediate healing potions, intermediate antidote potions, and beginner magic recovery potions.
Magic recovery is necessary to use my skills.
However, the variety of medicinal herbs sold at the apothecary is limited.
In addition, the quality of medicinal herbs has declined compared to the past.
Grind.
Chop.
I crushed the medicinal herbs and materials in a mortar, then added the pre-powdered ingredients. I was conscious of mixing them evenly.
Grind.
At this time, I also poured magic power into it.
By doing so, the concentration of the resulting medicine increases.
It’s the same for making poisons. I pour my magic power into it.
This allows me to weaken the efficacy of the appropriate antidote.
“Customer, would you like dinner?”
Is it that time already?
“I’ll have it.”
I stopped making medicine at a good point.
And received dinner on the wagon.
After finishing dinner, I placed the wagon outside the door.
If Torupa returns and his mood is disturbed, I can only make beginner-level potions.
That would be a waste of materials.
After cleaning up.
I waited for Torupa to return, but.
“Mating with monsters again tonight? You don’t mean to take tomorrow off too, do you?”
I finished everything in one day. Both preparations and plans were perfect.
To waste time and mess up the plan.
“No matter what, I’m going to the labyrinth tomorrow.”
Tomorrow will be your death anniversary, Torupa!
“Good morning, Keke-san♪”
“Good morning, Torupa-san.”
It seems like we can go explore the labyrinth without any problems today.
“Shall we go to the labyrinth immediately after breakfast?”
“Yes, I’m sorry about yesterday. Thanks to that, I’ll work hard today.”
When I asked Torupa about today’s schedule, I received an even better response.
Heading to the 23rd floor.
Torupa, in conjunction with the Queen Ant, defeated the monsters appearing in the passage one after another as declared.
I finished off the stragglers and those barely alive with my dagger.
While slaughtering mantises, bug-type monsters.
We moved to the 25th floor.
The passages within the cave became narrower.
A large room.
It was a mantis nest.
Swarms of mantises that were positioned before we arrived at the entrance attacked us.
“Nice♪ Good job, you praying mantises♪”
“Kishaaaaa!”
“…”
Torupa and the Queen Ant rushed out to fight them off.
I scattered insect repellent powder around.
And supported Torupa from the entrance.
Well, it didn’t seem necessary.
“Jiji… shh!”
“Consecutive scythe attacks, tail sweeps. Too slow, too slow♪”
“Fushh!”
“Kisha!”
The fierce battle with the mantises near the entrance was over quite quickly. Normally, one person and one familiar wouldn’t be able to handle such a number.
“Good work.”
“Not at all♪ With me and the Queen Ant (this girl), it’s easy, easy♪”
“Kisha♡ KishaShaaa///”
Well, ignoring Torupa, who was trying to create a strange space and atmosphere.
I opened the treasure chest that appeared.
Hmm, the quality has improved.
I also harvested materials.
We quickly left the nest and proceeded to the 26th floor.
“Bumoh.”
On the 26th floor were boar magical beasts.
The passage was narrow.
We couldn’t avoid receiving the boar’s charge.
“Go!”
“Kisha!”
The Queen Ant intercepted the charging boar magical beast.
While that was happening, we approached the boar magical beast.
And stabbed its perhaps soft neck or belly.
We made it bleed, and the Queen Ant smashed the weakened boar magical beast against the bumpy ground, defeating it.
Pop.
“A treasure chest!”
“Kisha♪”
The appearance rate of treasure chests on this floor is high.
Thanks to that and my strategy, on the floors below this one, there are multiple explorer parties.
Now, you will die for me, Torupa-san(,,)♪
