By the time evening approached, Sakeer had already consumed seven Hot Grass plants in his attempts to refine a stable potion.
At last, the alchemical solution had taken on a consistent, wood-yellow hue — a sign that the concoction had finally stabilized.
To test its effectiveness, Sakeer inflicted another shallow cut on his arm and applied the solution.
This time, the results were noticeably better. The healing effect far exceeded that of simply applying powdered herbs.
Yet, despite this improvement, Sakeer's expression remained grim.
Instead of feeling satisfied, he furrowed his brow in thought.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Sakeer used the small amount of mana he had recovered to activate Item Identification, directing it toward the solution he had created.
Ding!
Item: Inferior Alchemy Solution
Effect: A solution made from the herb "Hot Grass". Stops bleeding, disinfects wounds, and restores 1 HP when consumed.
(Cannot be stored for long; its effects will completely dissipate within an hour.)
Reading the item's description, Sakeer's frown deepened.
"Inferior…?"
Despite having an Alchemy skill level likely surpassing that of Nfirea, his creation was still classified as inferior.
Sakeer had originally pursued the Pharmacist profession with the intent of crafting his own potions — a means to extend his endurance during battles.
But now, it was clear he'd underestimated the complexities of potion-making.
Herbal knowledge, understanding medicinal properties, compatibility between ingredients, proper dosages — these weren't things that could be mastered overnight.
Skills alone weren't enough. Experience, study, and practice were essential.
And time — the one thing Sakeer lacked most — was vital for that.
The so-called "alchemy solution" he'd produced was nothing more than a crude attempt to maximize the herb's effects.
It wasn't even close to a proper low-tier potion.
In truth, potions in this world were vastly different from those in the game YGGDRASIL.
According to Sakeer's understanding, potion creation followed three distinct methods:
Herbal-Based Potions — Made solely from herbs. These were common in this world, affordable, and widely used by civilians and low-level adventurers.
Hybrid Potions — Crafted using a combination of herbs and magic. These potions were far more potent and valuable, often relied upon by experienced adventurers.
Purely Magical Potions — Created entirely through magic alone. Such potions didn't exist in this world.
In YGGDRASIL, the second and third methods were the most common. However, the apothecaries of this world had deviated from those methods entirely, forging a distinct path in potion-making.
Sakeer recalled a critical point — in this world, healing potions akin to YGGDRASIL's were referred to as "God's Blood".
The inability of apothecaries in this world to recreate such potions had long puzzled researchers, including the Bone King.
Theories surrounding this mystery typically pointed to three possible explanations:
Lost Knowledge: Techniques brought by players who crossed into this world may have been forgotten or never properly passed down.
Geographic Isolation: Apothecaries like Nfirea may simply be unaware that these advanced techniques exist in distant regions or other countries.
Material Limitations: The most likely explanation — the ingredients required for YGGDRASIL-style potions simply don't exist in this world.
Given the circumstances, Sakeer believed the third theory was the most plausible.
Even if Nfirea eventually managed to replicate a red potion, Sakeer suspected it would rely heavily on resources provided by the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Perhaps through Nfirea's ingenuity, less material would be required to achieve similar results — but even that seemed uncertain.
"Otherwise…"
Sakeer muttered to himself.
"How could Nfirea achieve in less than a year what took the Slane Theocracy centuries to accomplish?"
It simply didn't add up.
Returning to the present, Sakeer faced a sobering truth.
He had no teacher to guide him through the complexities of potion-making.
He lacked the luxury of time to dedicate himself to mastering herbal knowledge.
And unlike in YGGDRASIL, he couldn't simply level up and unlock advanced skills to bypass the learning process.
In this world, success would require patience, experimentation, and no small amount of luck.
Even if he possessed the ability to create potions simply by rubbing his hands together, it wouldn't make a difference—he still wouldn't be able to learn it.
"So it seems," Sakeer sighed helplessly. "The idea of crafting my own potions to enhance my foundation is rather unrealistic."
As for the profession of an alchemist?
From what he had learned in Nfirea, most apothecaries viewed alchemy as nothing more than a secondary profession, primarily used for making healing potions. However, in YGGDRASIL, the status of alchemists was far more significant.
When combined with certain other professions—such as Craftsman, Puppeteer, Blacksmith, or Graeme Craftsman—alchemy could unlock powerful class synergies. High-ranking professions like Alchemist Master or Gunsmith could even elevate alchemy to a combat-effective craft, surpassing most other production-based professions.
Unfortunately, Sakeer couldn't afford to squander his limited margin for error by pursuing a high-level alchemist class or any complementary profession. Without specialization leading to advanced classes, basic life skills held little value in a game setting.
Thus, alchemy—much like pharmacy—seemed of little practical use to him.
Hmm…
Sakeer lowered his head in thought. The mechanics of the game couldn't be applied directly to reality, and vice versa.
"Alchemy," he mused, "is fundamentally about creating alchemical solutions—simpler, cruder substances that may not necessarily serve as a supporting process for potion-making."
A contemplative expression settled on his face as he reflected. In theory, one could concoct alchemical solutions with various effects on the spot. The main drawback was that these solutions deteriorated quickly, losing their potency over time.
But that wasn't an insurmountable problem.
Lizzie Bareare possessed a magic known as Preservation, which could keep a potion's efficacy intact for up to a year. After all, in this otherworldly setting, potions naturally degraded over time, gradually losing their effectiveness. It was precisely for this reason that mastering Preservation magic was considered essential for pharmacists from different worlds.
With this realization, Sakeer's mood lightened. He glanced up at the darkening sky and decided to set up camp by the small riverbank.
Not far from him, Muguo lay motionless on the ground. Every so often, he would steal cautious glances at Sakeer, his eyes filled with both fear and awe—proof that he was still very much alive.
And so, beneath the silent witness of time itself, Muguo observed one mind-boggling sight after another. Among them, the most unbelievable was this: with a mere wave of Sakeer's hand, the goblin corpses scattered across the ground vanished without a trace.