Lerial decided to unpack at a high-end inn where nobles and merchants stayed.
Perhaps because it was a high-end inn, there were guards keeping watch, which was reassuring.
Actually, her uncle and aunt had wanted to come along, saying they couldn't send Lerial alone no matter how she thought about it, but they were too busy to leave their posts easily.
Above all, Duke Superion had agreed to Lerial going alone.
It was because he believed in Lerial's special ability.
Duke Superion had noticed that Lerial possessed some mysterious power beyond her alchemy abilities.
After all, Lerial would produce countless medicines overnight.
Even in the secret alchemy laboratory the Duke had created for Lerial, there were hardly any traces of research.
Once, he had even brought an alchemist he knew.
It was to provide some help to Lerial. However, that alchemist and Lerial could not communicate at all.
Through various processes, Duke Superion would have roughly figured something out.
Yet Duke Superion did not interrogate or press Lerial.
He simply thought she must have inherited magical powers like her mother.
So he had no worries about sending Lerial off alone.
Moreover, she had already said she would return together with Uncle Carius when he visited the capital.
Lerial was well aware of the trust her grandfather placed in her.
'Besides, Grandfather never once asked where I spent all that money I earned...'
Honestly, he must have been curious.
Over the past few years, Lerial had earned a great deal of money. She sold medicines that were most effective yet had absolutely no side effects.
Thanks to this, she had quite high credibility among those who knew her.
Lerial gave a portion of the profits to her grandfather's acquaintance who helped with distribution and kept the rest for herself.
Her grandfather had watched the entire process, but he never asked how Lerial handled the money.
'Even if he asked, I wouldn't be able to answer...'
The majority of the money Lerial earned had been taken by the 'Alchemy Gacha.'
Lerial confirmed the room door was locked, drew the curtains by the window, carefully examined her surroundings, and touched the gemstone of her necklace.
A screen appeared, familiar to the point of being tiresome.
Inside the screen, she could see alchemy tools sleeping soundly.
'That money-devouring hippo...'
Except for a portion, all the money Lerial earned had been sucked into here.
But it couldn't be helped.
Whenever she did anything, it demanded crystals, and even after achieving difficult accomplishments, the rewards that appeared didn't seem like rewards.
[Congratulations on your achievement, Master! So we've prepared a special reward! ✧٩(•́⌄•́๑)و ✧ We're offering 100,000 crystals at a 20% discount price!]
Usually, this was the kind of message that appeared.
Moreover, these rewards came with a two-hour time limit.
So without time to deliberate, she would end up paying like she was possessed.
'Still, it's not a bad result.'
Her inventory still held many special alchemical medicines to sell off, as well as plenty of materials.
Additionally, the residents' relationship favorability was now maxed out for all but one.
'They said once all are maxed out, special favorability, hidden quests, and special recipes would appear...'
That day was not far off.
Moreover, she had completed all quests and achieved all business accomplishments.
That meant she had gathered all the special materials that could be gathered. With one exception.
Anyway, now that she had cleared all regular materials, she just needed to finish that special recipe or whatever, and then she could create the 'Philosopher's Stone.'
Even the newly obtained dragon was a Silver Dragon. It was a very dutiful fellow that brought back the most materials in the shortest time.
'Unlike the other kids who just consume feed.'
Also, having expanded the inventory considerably with crystals, there was now plenty of room.
'Cost a huge amount of money...'
Regardless, it wasn't as if the money was just being sucked away for nothing. There were quite a lot of results to show for it.
It was the outcome of having lived the past years with fierce intensity.
But from now on, she needed to be a bit more cautious.
'Because the Temple might start suppressing alchemy sensitively again.'
Finally, the Mad Dragon was dead. From now on, the Temple's interest would likely be in expanding their influence over the five empires.
And they would diligently manage the heretics they had neglected over the past few years.
That didn't mean they were simply something to fear.
Just as her grandfather trusted Lerial enough to send her to the capital alone, Lerial too had her own sources of confidence.
Lerial quickly closed the screen, afraid the alchemy tools would wake from their slumber.
'I should eat first.'
After unpacking and washing up, Lerial changed into a new robe and went outside.