The Frontier Alchemist ~ I Can't Go Back to That Job After You Made My Budget Zero

"Here they come," said Loa.

For some reason, Karin told me to wait at the entrance to the encampment with Ary and the others, while I relaxed on Hippopo's body and basked in the sun.

"I saw you, too. "There is one strong man here," Ary said.

Today is the first time I have traded magic stones with a neighboring territory. I don't know the details of the deal, as I leave the negotiations with the next lord completely up to Kalin. Still, according to Kalene, the deal was too easy and boring, as if she had many trump cards in her hand.

The procurement of the material, the Kagero nut, its transportation to the encampment, the subsequent transportation of the magical crystal stone, and the putting it on the domestic distribution route were all left to the other side. The troublesome part is completely outsourced, and in effect, it seems that I can make a lot of money just by smelting Kagero nuts into magic crystal stones.

Moreover, there is no minimum or maximum limit to the amount of magical crystal stones I can smelt. Basically, I can decide the amount at my convenience. Although Kalene did remind me to tell her in advance when there will be a big increase or decrease in the production.

We were all impressed by the fact that we had managed to get such a good deal.

I stretched out on top of the hippopotamus and jumped down. As we wait, we see a group of mules in a line. They do not seem to be pulling any carts. The mules have large baskets on both sides of their bodies.

There is not a bad road in the middle of nowhere, so it is difficult to go forward on wheels. It would be the best way.

This may be a high priority for the maintenance of the road in the future. It depends on Kalin's decision.

In a frontier settlement project with limited resources, prioritization requires a very high level of judgment. Political and economic factors are also important. I decided to leave the difficult decisions to my supervisor and manager, Kalene, and concentrate on the task at hand.

Someone is injured. Something attacked him. But the damage seems to be minimal. Maybe they fought it off.

The leader of the pack of mules removes his hood to protect him from the dust. It was a mature man, Zahle from Toma village.

"Mr. Zahle!　It's been a long time.

"You are!　No, excuse me. Master Rust. Zahle greets me again and says, "Thank you for accepting my offer...

"You don't have to do anything, you can talk to me as before. You can talk to me as you did before. I tell him with a wry smile, "I can treat him if you like.

"You're such a softy!　No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm counting on you," said Zahle.

By the looks of it, no one is badly hurt. I take out from my backpack some moderately effective but highly versatile potions that I have been making in my spare time, and heal them one by one.

I don't see any wounded mules, despite the fact that they are wounded.

Ah, the mules are loaded to overflowing with Kagero nuts. They must have had to dispose of some of them.

I guess they had to dispose of some of them... and finally the last of the group arrives. In the last row is a silver-haired woman wearing a blue priest's uniform that I have seen somewhere. In the last row is a silver-haired woman in a blue priest's uniform that I have seen somewhere before, and Taura, whom I had saved from poisoning.