"Welcome to the Potion Division of the Life Guild. Would you like to register as a Apprentice Potion Brewer?"
"Yes," Kaito said, pulling out his coin pouch.
"Registration is 80 silver."
He handed it over wordlessly.
[System Notification]
You are now registered as a Apprentice Potion Brewer
Guild: Life Guild – Potion Division
Access Unlocked: Basic Recipe Board, Brewing Interface, Resource Board
Brewing Interface Added to System Menu
The clerk nodded again. "Would you like to rent a private brewing room ?"
A menu appeared in front of him:
[Potion Brewing Room Rental – 1 Hour]
Basic Tier: 50 copper
Intermediate Tier: 1 silver
Advanced Tier: 5 silver
Kaito selected Intermediate Tier.
[1 silver deducted]
"Room 4B is yours for the next hour," she said. "You may begin preparation at your convenience."
Following the softly glowing path down a side corridor, Kaito entered a clean chamber. The walls were quiet and insulated, with a brewing bench fitted with an adjustable flame grid, a temperature-controlled cauldron, and a display shelf for herb calibration.
It was perfect for a Potion Maker.
He looked over the tools briefly, then exited the room—saving it for later.
His next destination: the auction house.
South Glade's Auction Pavilion loomed just beyond the plaza, its hexagonal spire gleaming under the soft morning light. Most players would never see it this empty again.
Kaito stepped through the automated entry arch. Inside, the air was cool and quiet. Rows of crystalline terminals hovered silently, each awaiting activation. Only a single NPC clerk staffed the counter.
No player chatter. No bidding wars.
He walked up to one of the terminals and activated the search interface.
Filter Category: Herbs, Materials
Dozens of listings appeared immediately—Leafroot, Whisperleaf, Bittergrass, Flamevine, Hollow Thorns, Moonpetal Dust, Spiritroot Bark. The prices were laughably low. Most were listed for 5 to 30 copper a bundle, dumped by foragers who hadn't yet realized their value.
Kaito's eyes flicked through the rows.
These were the materials that the NPC's have gathered,
He didn't hesitate.
[Purchased: Flamevine ×200 – 12 copper]
[Purchased: Whisperleaf ×150 – 18 copper]
[Purchased: Bittergrass ×500 – 28 copper]
[Purchased: Hollow Thorn ×100 – 24 copper]
[Purchased: Moonpetal Dust ×120 – 30 copper]
[Purchased: Ironbloom Residue ×80 – 22 copper]
[Purchased: Frostscale Flake ×50 – 19 copper]
[Purchased: Spiritroot Bark ×60 – 27 copper]
Transaction after transaction.
He wasn't buying just for potion recipes. He was buying for the future—certain combinations of these reagents could later be crafted into buffs, throwables, and props that trivialized entire dungeon phases.
Most players wouldn't even realize it until they were dying in boss rooms.
He knew that these prices would increase tenfold as soon as the players arrive.
When his purchase queue hit its limit, Kaito selected Vault Storage and linked it to his South Glade bank token.
[System Notification]
Items transferred to Vault Inventory – South Glade Branch
Access: Secured
Satisfied, Kaito closed the terminal and stepped away.
The sun over South Glade had shifted its position slightly by the time Kaito exited the auction pavilion.
The streets were no longer silent.
Here and there, the first wave of players had started arriving—some marveling at the pristine buildings, others running straight toward the quest boards with wide eyes and open mouths. None of them recognized him yet. No one approached.
But the calm was over.
Two hours. The window's closed.
He turned toward the Potion Division once more. Time to make use of everything he had bought.
Inside Room 4B, the brewing chamber was exactly as he'd left it—sterile, sealed, and ready.
Kaito stepped up to the central workstation and summoned his Brewing Interface, then pulled up his Inventory tab.
Stacks of ingredients scrolled into view:
Flamevine ×200Whisperleaf ×150Bittergrass ×500Hollow Thorn ×100Moonpetal Dust ×120Spiritroot Bark ×60Frostscale Flake ×50Ironbloom Residue ×80
He tapped the recipe.
[Minor Regeneration Potion – Recipe]
Which was considered a rare one and rare potion recipes are not available from NPCs or Life Guild exchanges. Normally dropped from high-level monsters in dungeons.
But Kaito had obtained it from Barkjaw, the village boss, perhaps because the creature's first skill had been based on this very regeneration technique.
No one else will have this for weeks… or longer.
He counted his supply again.
Based on these ingredients… I can attempt roughly 85 brews.
He smiled faintly.
Before beginning, he opened his Character Panel and flipped to a tab labeled:
[Experience Pool – Overflow Storage]
Max Capacity: 10,000 EXP
Current Stored:
Total: 9,400 / 10,000 EXP
Next, his brewing rank panel:
Apprentice Potion Brewer
Current Level: Apprentice
Proficiency: 0 / 1,000
Let's see how far I get with just this batch.
Kaito ignited the flame grid and began.
The first batch fizzled violently.
[Brewing Failed – +1 Proficiency]
The second scorched slightly at the end.
[Brewing Failed – +2 Proficiency]
By the fifth attempt, he adjusted the ratios—added Moonpetal Dust three seconds earlier than the guide instructed. A soft pulse rippled from the cauldron.
[Brewing Successful – +10 Proficiency]
[Item Created: Minor Regeneration Potion ]
[EXP Gained: 80]
[Overflow Pool Filled: 9,480 / 10,000]
He kept going.
Another success. Another potion stored. Then three failures. Then a faint blue-tinted potion with an unexpected stability bonus.
By the twentieth brew, his rhythm was steady.
The workstation smelled of herb oil and heated bark. Steam coiled up from the cauldron with every pulse of light.
His panel updated again:
Proficiency: 112 / 1,000
Stored EXP: 10,000 / 10,000 (MAX)
No more room in overflow. I'll need to level up soon.
But for now, he continued. Focused. Efficient. Silent.
And outside the guild building, the town of South Glade was no longer empty.
After an hour, the soft scent of crushed herbs still lingered on Kaito's sleeves as he stepped out of Room 4B. Behind him, the door sealed with a soft hiss, signaling the end of his rental.
The hallway outside was no longer quiet.
The Potion Division had started to stir with life. New players moved uncertainly down the halls, examining recipe boards or watching NPCs from a distance. Kaito passed them without a word.
He had no intention of being noticed.
At least not yet.
Back in the central plaza, he took a seat beside the quiet fountain and opened his interface. His Group Call Scheduler blinked to life—just as expected.
Incoming Group Call: Mei Rin, Aika, Kaede, Suzune, Daichi, Hiroto
He tapped to accept.
Six windows shimmered open, each displaying the tired but eager face of someone he trusted.
"Yo, bro!" Daichi grinned. "We all hit Level 10."
Aika popped in next, slightly out of breath. "The quests took forever."
Mei Rin beamed. "We're heading to our bosses now. Ready for battle!"
"Good," Kaito said, folding his arms. "Your advancement NPCs should've summoned you by now."
Kaede nodded. "Mine's waiting near the forest temple."
"Mine's in a cave behind the river," Suzune added.
"Listen up," Kaito said sharply. "Your bosses, Each has quirks. I'll break it down one by one."
"Kaede," he said, "yours is the Vinejaw Colossus. Don't stand still. It throws roots to entangle you. Use fire attacks, or burn your movement skill cooldown to dodge the spike phase."
"Got it."
"Suzune, you're facing the Fogclaw Warden. It cloaks itself mid-battle. Ignore the mist—track its footsteps. When the mist phase starts, drop your AoE and keep moving."
"Understood."
"Daichi, you'll be up against Ridgefang Tyrant. It's a brute. Aggro it from a distance and lead it into the corner pillars. Bait its charge—when it hits the wall, you get five seconds of free hits."
"Easy," Daichi smirked. "I'll make it cry."
"Aika," Kaito said, "your boss is Ashfire Matron. Use resistance potions—she uses DOTs and burns the whole field mid-fight. There's a breakable water urn in the corner—use it when she enrages."
"Okay! That's weirdly specific…"
"Hiroto," he added, "the Boulder Maw is your fight. Avoid staying directly in front. It has a vertical slam that triggers rockfall. Wait for it to lift both arms, then sidestep and strike its ankles."
"And me?" Mei Rin asked.
"Mirrorfiend Lysel," Kaito replied immediately. "It copies your skills. Don't use your ultimate until the last 10%. Keep it focused with basic combos and bait the clone into a miscast. You'll win."
She gave a confident nod. "Thanks."
"If any of you get stuck, call me immediately," Kaito said. "And remember—ask your NPCs to transfer you to South Glade once you have started the transfer."
"Right," they echoed.
The call ended.