Detesting The System: Sundering Fate

Beyond happy when Ryuu finally brought over my food, I devoured the contents on the plate before me at a rate that must have terrified the people around me. Sad to see my plate empty just under a minute after I received it, I thought about ordering more, but quickly decided against it; lest I overeat and feel sick later.

However, I hadn't forgotten what had driven me to this point. So, before leaving I ordered several boxes of cold sandwich lunches that would not spoil for the next couple days.

Just as I was about to leave, I felt someone grab my hand. But before lashing out with discontent, I realized it was Ryuu who looked a bit confused. "Keter… You forgot to pick up this change," She extended the pile of coins I'd left on the table, my way.

"Mhmm, this is for you… As thanks for serving me so quickly despite my outburst and the potential damage it might have caused for your establishment." Opening her hand with the normal deadpan expression I carried around, I put the coins in her hand and closed it before waving goodbye and saying, "I don't like owing people, especially people I'm fond of. Goodnight."

Seeing her paralyzed, I nodded and left. Though for some reason, as I started walking back towards the church, I heard loud banging noises along with the laughter of several of the other waitresses in the pub. "It's about time you found a lover, Miss 'Always Serious Elf-san,'" I heard whilst traversing the road. After that, it became eerily quiet within the pub and a solemn air plagued the atmosphere within a hundred feet.

Hurrying along, I shook my head of distracting thoughts and quickly returned back to the ruined church. I was just about to resume my potion-making frenzy, when Hestia woke up and called me over to her side, "Keter, come over for a second. I need to discuss something with you..."

Happy this interruption occurred before I restarted the alchemical process, I walked over to her side by her bed and whispered, "Yes?" Bell was still sleeping as it was between 3 AM and 4 AM.

"Later today, at noon, there is a Congregation of the Gods..." She seemed conflicted even as she whispered these neutral words.

"Ok? Is something the matter?" As much as wanted to quickly return to money-making to meet the deadline for buying a Level 4 companion, if Hestia was in trouble or needed my help, she would come first. I could always meet the deadline for the Side Mission by hiring a random supporter or even asking Bell to form a party with me once again.

"Well, before you came… I had been planning on asking one of my best friends to make Bell a weapon, since he was the only one who willingly entered my Familia. But now… I'm not sure that's the right thing to d-"

"NONONO, YOU HAVE TO DO IT!" I barely contained myself to "scream-whisper" as I recalled that this was supposed to be a plot point in the original story.

"B-but he doesn't really need it now that you're here… I mean, you've taught him how to develop and increase his Magic. You've even imparted a Lightning Magic Skill and helped him with training, even giving him some of your potions so he can dive deeper into the dungeon." Tears started forming on Hestia's eyes as she pulled me into a hug.

"You've done so much for us… It just doesn't feel righ-"

Again I cut her off, saying, "Just remember that I'm the alchemist and he's the adventurer. He'll need that weapon more than I will in the not so distant future. Besides..." I wiped the tears out of her eyes while smiling, "Soon I'll be so rich, I could buy any weapon by myself. Remember I said I was a petty guy? Well, that extends to stubbornness about my independence, too!"

"..." For a couple seconds longer, she kept me in a tight embrace before leaving me to continue concocting potions. As I stood up to return to my workstation, I paused, tucked Hestia with her blanket so she could sleep a while longer, before moving along. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, this little encounter redoubled the bond I had with Hestia as her goodwill towards me couldn't be any clearer.

The next couple of days were a blur. Only the sight of my various potion-making tools passing my hands in a perpetual cycle along with the textures and scent of herbs remained. Even the joy of eating and taking breaks was robbed as my body seemed to have learned how to move completely on autopilot; locking me in that hellish boredom until I finally woke up because I'd run out of food.

Going over to pay Ryuu and girls of the Hostess of Fertility became my only saving grace for the week-long nightmare that was this potion-concocting frenzy. They were a delight to chat with as I waited for my food packages to be prepared, but for some reason, Ryuu was more quiet than normal; there was also a tone shift in the way she spoke to me that I couldn't quite pin down.

In any case, I spent roughly a week and ten-odd hours trapped making potions around the clock, but with my Delusional Inclination activating every time, it felt like I had only spent a single day working. That was still way too intense for me — a relatively normal person — but at least the payout was worth the grueling hours at work.

While my Alchemy and Light Flameling Skills had yet to increase in Level, my proficiency in potion-making certainly did increase; just not at the level of Adept Alchemist, unfortunately. Still, Making Good Quality Potions was much less of a gamble as I had a success rate of 60%, while my success rate at making Mediocre Quality Potions was all but guaranteed at 99%.

Now, I was off to the Loki Familia's Twilight Manor to cash out. I had already paid a visit to Miach and Naaza and judging by their reactions, I was in for quite the shit show to go down at the Loki Familia Estate; my progress was… startling to say the least.