A Rising Name (Part 2)

Just as his thoughts ran wild, several people came in from outside with cheerful laughter. The moment they entered, one of them called out loudly, "Romon, that new potion from last time really worked! Do you have any left? I want ten bottles!"

The speaker was the very adventurer who had been the first to receive a free potion. As he spoke, he walked up to Romon, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed a faint scar on his arm.

"That potion was quite effective—far better than the one I bought from you last time. Thanks to it, my wound healed much faster."

"Really? That's wonderful." Romon smiled.

As if they had arranged it beforehand, on that very same day, seven or eight people who had received the new potion came to buy more after using it. Those who had not tried it also quickly learned of its excellent effects through their companions' introductions.

"It really is better than that kind of potion," the adventurers said after trying it. For a time, adventurers flocked over to buy it.

Romon's Potion Shop, which had been neglected for so long, was rejuvenated by the popularity of this new potion.

Romon's new potion was welcomed by countless adventurers. This month, as his new potion continued to sell, his shop had reached the point of raking in money by the day.

The silver coins piling up in his spatial space continued to multiply, making him unable to resist taking a look whenever he checked it.

Yet money had not gone to his head. Instead, he continued to carry out the plan he had formed from the beginning.

Before the potion shop had even opened, he had already considered how future profits would be divided. According to his plan, twenty percent of the shop's monthly net profit would go to Nick, twenty percent to Fafier, and only the remainder would be his own income.

After all, as the manager of the potion shop, Nick had always worked diligently and responsibly. He absolutely deserved twenty percent of the profits.

Although Fafier did not come often, he and Romon were brothers who had fought through life-and-death battles together. Fafier needed money right now, so giving him twenty percent of the income was also necessary.

When Nick first heard that he would actually receive twenty percent of the profits, his shock was quickly followed by overwhelming joy.

After all, aside from the nobles, no one in Rika Town was truly wealthy. A sum of money might change a person's fate. Sometimes, money really was important.

Nick was not one to stand on ceremony. Once he learned that Romon was offering him such generous treatment, he did not refuse. Instead, he threw himself into work with a hundredfold enthusiasm.

Since becoming the shop manager, he had brought home quite a few silver coins every month, along with his twenty-percent profit share. Nick's family circumstances had now improved greatly—the house had been repaired, and they had savings as well.

Nick had even spent his own money on several books about arithmetic, reading them in his spare time. It was worth mentioning that, unlike on Earth, every kind of book in this world was extremely expensive.

Knowledge represented wealth. The hardships and price a child from a poor family had to pay just to become literate were beyond the imagination of children from noble households.

The price of a single book was roughly equal to the price of a sheep. And in the eyes of an ordinary farming family, a sheep was a considerable fortune.

No one would spend so much money buying books when they were poor enough to haggle over every meal. Therefore, most children from poor families were illiterate. Even if they learned a little from others, it was pitifully little.

Romon had reaped a rich harvest from the Thieves' Guild last time. Not only had he obtained a great deal of coin, but he had also acquired some books collected by the thieves.

Those books came in every variety imaginable. There were even several of the most expensive magic books among the Thieves' Guild's possessions. Though they were only the most basic introductory texts, they were still things ordinary people would find difficult to buy even if they had the money.

Moreover, Romon had made a tidy sum recently, so he bought several simple law books and books on financial arithmetic, placing them in the shop.

Everyone in the shop could read those books for free.

Nick had known some words before and had barely managed to read a few law books, but without enough knowledge, he understood many things only halfway.

This had led to his defeat in several clashes with the tax officer. To keep Romon's potion shop running better, Nick, as its manager, felt the lack of knowledge keenly. Thus, ever since the reading materials had been placed in the shop, he had begun studying ravenously. Since financial books were lacking in the shop, he had even spent a considerable sum buying them himself.

Because Fafier had received a share of the spoils taken from the thieves, his life had also improved greatly lately. He now had money to study martial techniques. And as someone who had always dreamed of becoming a powerful warrior, he kept practicing without interruption even through the coldest winter days.

Romon often practiced with him in a clearing in the forest during his free time. Yet even Romon had to admit that when it came to training in martial techniques, Fafier—whose ancestors had included mercenaries—was much more diligent than he was.

It was already February. The weather was warming, winter was about to pass, and spring was about to arrive.

Hard work did not betray those with determination. After five months of constant training, Romon's martial techniques had become more refined, and the data within the Shennong Horn had begun edging toward Third-Level Swordsmanship and Third-Level Footwork.

Of course, Third-Level Swordsmanship and Third-Level Footwork alone did not equal a Third-Level Warrior. But through repeated practice, he had gradually begun to develop that sense of rhythm unique to warriors, a clear sign of reaching a certain warrior rank.

Still, to formally gain strength equivalent to a true warrior, he had to wait until that state stabilized. Fafier's results, however, were even more remarkable than Romon's because of his more rigorous training.

Romon even had the illusion that this youth, who had never before had the opportunity to encounter orthodox martial techniques, might perhaps leap in one bound to become a Second-Level Warrior when spring arrived.

"Romon, I suddenly realized that you brat are getting more and more handsome. You've been exposed to wind and sun, yet you're still so fair and clean. It makes no sense. Are all Druids like this?" One day, after they finished training, the two close friends bathed together in a small forest lake. Looking at Romon's increasingly sturdy body, Fafier actually wore a rather jealous expression.

A tall, sturdy body would have been one thing, but Romon had somehow retained a gentle and refined appearance. His bearing had also become more poised and carefree. Even Fafier, his friend, felt a little sour about it.

Romon laughed. "No way. Haven't you always prided yourself on being exceptionally brave and fierce? Why are you envying others now?" As he spoke, he got out of the water, went ashore, and put on his clothes.

"Isn't it because of Miss Eileen? I heard even Miss Eileen likes you. I really am envious. When will some girl like me too?" Fafier deliberately put on an exaggerated expression and said with a hearty laugh.

"Heard?" Romon frowned slightly. "Who did you hear that from?"

Fafier climbed out of the lake as well and said with a grin, "Lots of people are saying it. I heard it from a warrior teaching me. They say that because Miss Eileen likes you, you might become the lord's son-in-law someday. Now they're all desperately trying to get close to me, hoping to build connections early with a friend of the lord's future son-in-law."

Romon's frown deepened. How had something so utterly groundless spread until everyone knew about it?

"What, don't you like Miss Eileen?" After dressing, Fafier saw Romon still standing there in a daze and gave him a laughing pat.

"They're talking nonsense, and you believe it too?" Romon said thoughtfully.

"Hey! It's still broad daylight. You're going back already?" Seeing Romon turn and walk out of the forest, Fafier hurried after him. They said nothing along the way. At the town entrance, a townsman who encountered Romon suddenly showed an expression of understanding.

"Romon, someone is looking for you. Hurry back." With that, he ran off with a snicker, his face full of suggestive meaning.

"What's going on?" Romon watched him leave in confusion, then quickened his pace even more.

At last, he returned to the potion shop, only to see several townspeople curiously peering in from outside. A sense of foreboding rose in Romon's heart.

Had something happened to the potion shop?

He hurried inside and saw a young girl speaking quietly with Nick. Hearing his footsteps, the girl turned lightly around.

"Miss Eileen?" Not only Romon, but even Fafier, who had returned with him, froze. The beautiful girl before them was none other than the second daughter of Rika Town's lord, the Second-Level Priest Miss Eileen.

Priests of the Earth Goddess generally stayed at the Temple. Eileen, as a Second-Level Priest, gave people a tranquil feeling whenever she appeared. Unless something major happened, Miss Eileen rarely showed herself in town.

Romon, and you still deny it. Fafier grumbled inwardly. After giving Romon a suggestive look, he greeted Eileen first, then, putting on an understanding expression, pulled Nick aside.

On this side, only Romon and Eileen remained standing face to face.

"Romon, I didn't expect your business to be so good, yet you never invited me over to have a look." Eileen was the first to break the awkward silence. She glanced at the crowded shop. "What, won't you even show me around?"

"Heh heh." Romon gave a foolish laugh, but inwardly he thought, What office do I even have?

Still, Romon felt that simply standing there to talk was inappropriate, so he hurriedly led Eileen into the small room set aside in the shop as a reading room.

There was a table and several chairs inside, and the two sat down facing each other.

Eileen smiled as she looked around, then casually flipped through a magic book lying on the table. Curious, she asked, "You actually have magic books here? Who is reading them?"

Romon looked at the book and was somewhat curious as well. But when he thought of how Luo Laike had been constantly coming here lately, it had to be him.

After hearing his explanation, Eileen shook her head and said, "If someone has no magical talent, then reading books will not be of much use. I never expected you to be willing to spend money on such expensive introductory magic books. That truly surprises me."

Romon chuckled. He had obtained those books for free, so naturally he did not mind letting people read them. Unfortunately, he could not tell Eileen that.

After the two chatted idly for a while, Eileen finally revealed why she had come.

It turned out that she had been drawn here by Romon's new potion. As a priest, potion-making was also something she needed to study, and she was interested in such matters. When she heard that Romon's new potion was even more effective than the old one, she was immediately attracted.

Naturally, Romon could not tell Eileen the secret of the new potion. However, the two discussed and exchanged ideas about potion-making.

Not only did Romon, this half-baked Druid, benefit greatly, but some of the knowledge Romon had acquired through other means also broadened Eileen's horizons.

The two talked merrily.

Across from Romon's Potion Shop, a tense atmosphere filled the shop manager's office.

"Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?" the tax officer sneered.

Across from him, a teenage girl was staring through the window. Over there, a young man was sending Eileen off with a beaming smile.

"I never expected Romon to be such a despicable person!" The girl withdrew her gaze and said viciously.

The tax officer added fuel to the fire. "Exactly. How could a pure and innocent girl like Miss Eileen possibly see through his true face? How pitiful. She's being used and still doesn't know it."

"I knew it! How could a Second-Level Druid like him possibly develop some new potion? So he tricked it out of Eileen! This... this is simply too despicable! Passing off an earlier generation's potion formula as his own achievement! Too despicable!"

"Yes. Even Master Jefa, with all his ability, could not develop a new potion, yet Romon did. Anyone who sees that would think Master Jefa is inferior to him... Still, Miss Weiwan, Romon's talent truly is high. Even after leaving Master Jefa's guidance, he advanced to Second-Level Druid so quickly. Tsk tsk, what a genius. Miss Weiwan, you're only First-Level now, aren't you?" the tax officer said with a smile.

Weiwan huffed angrily. "He's just a liar. What's so great about him?"

"But you know, and I know—others don't." The tax officer clicked his tongue. "I think that before long, Romon's shop will surely become Rika Town's largest potion shop, Miss Weiwan..."

As he watched the angry girl turn around and begin fiddling with potions, a smile appeared on the tax officer's face.