Slime simulator

#405 - Chapter 405: The Mysterious Pharmacy Shop Owner

"Day 4, you search for a human town."

"Day 5, you continue searching."

"Day 6, you finally see what appears to be a small town in the distance. You head towards it.

You discover that the town is not as small as it seemed from afar. You enter the town and find that it is similar in size to a small city.

Through conversations with the people in the town, you learn that it is a town about to be upgraded to a city and is the largest town in the vicinity."

"Day 7, you find the town's apothecary, who runs the only apothecary shop in town.

You tell him you want to be an apprentice. He looks you up and down, noticing that you are completely covered, and then examines you closely for a while.

He doesn't say anything, but asks you to recite a simple passage of basic apothecary knowledge.

You recite it, and he takes you in."

"Day 8, you start working at the apothecary shop.

The apothecary, Karla, gives you simple tasks, such as grinding medicinal herbs. You do a good job.

You don't reveal the fact that you can concoct Tier 2 potions; you deliberately conceal it."

"Day 9, in order to gain Karla's attention,

you subtly reveal some of your potion-making skills, and Karla questions you about it.

You tell him that you learned by secretly watching him concoct potions."

"Day 10, Karla starts letting you practice.

He teaches you how to concoct some simple Tier 1 potions, and you 'display' amazing talent."

"……"

"Day 120.

You are already able to successfully concoct Tier 1 potions, a talent that shocks Karla.

He also accepts you as his disciple, and you can feel that he is starting to teach you some real knowledge."

"……"

"Day 1,340, you are now able to successfully concoct Tier 2 potions.

During this time in the human town,

you realize that becoming a Tier 2 apothecary in just over a thousand days is an incredibly impressive feat.

But it is still far from your true potion-making level."

"Day 2,480.

You have already displayed all of your potion-making skills, and you find it extremely difficult to continue improving in this field.

Karla notices that your potion-making level has stagnated.

In order to help you continue to grow, he often teaches you late into the night, for which you are very grateful.

You can tell that

he truly treats you as a disciple, and it is at this time that you truly come into contact with his inner self.

You begin to truly understand him, and you realize that he is not as simple as he seems on the surface, merely the owner of an ordinary apothecary shop.

You vaguely realize that he is doing other things behind the scenes and has other identities.

But he hides it very deeply.

He clearly doesn't want you to know.

You also have no intention of causing trouble, and you pretend not to know anything.

You continue to follow him and learn how to concoct potions."

"Day 2,674, you notice that Karla starts leaving early and returning late.

And he comes back later and later, sometimes you don't even see him until the next day."

"……"

"Day 2,821.

Karla returns even later, and when he comes back, you smell a strong scent of blood.

You look at him, and blood is dripping from his fingers.

Karla looks at you, and after a long silence, he speaks.

"Leave here, go as far as you can, and never tell anyone that you are my disciple."

You look at him, not saying a word.

You also don't move.

After a moment of silence, Karla says, "I have never seen such a peculiar magical beast as you.

It is my honor to take you as my disciple.

All my life's experience in the art of apothecary is written in a manuscript.

It's in the second hidden compartment of the bedside table on the left side of my room.

Take it and go as far as you can."

In these days of getting along,

you know that Karla is a good person, at least to you.

You also know that he has long known your identity as a magical beast.

But he has never said it directly, and you have always wrapped yourself in thick clothes.

Neither of you has ever revealed it.

You stare at Karla's face and ask calmly, "Teacher, who is the opponent?"

Karla doesn't answer your question and returns to his room without saying a word.

You watch his back, silently wash the bloodstains on the ground with water, and cover up all traces.

You return to your room and look at the ceiling.

You don't know whether you should leave or not. You clearly understand one thing: Karla is very strong.

So strong that in your perception, he can easily kill you.

To be able to injure such an existence,

it is not difficult to imagine how strong the opponent is."

"Day 2,822, life returns to normal.

Every day, many customers still come to the shop to buy potions because Karla's apothecary shop is of good quality and inexpensive.

Moreover, Karla is kind and friendly, and you learn to be the same.

Therefore, in the town, you have a high reputation and are admired.

You look at his face as if nothing has happened.

You fall silent, knowing that life has not truly returned to peace.

The current peace is only a brief calm before the storm."

"……"

"Day 3,126, you still haven't concocted a Tier 3 potion.

Karla patiently teaches you. Now you shed all pretense in front of him and use your true form.

Karla looks at another failed potion you concocted, thinks for a while, and says, "Don't worry, I can feel that you are not far from being able to concoct a Tier 3 potion."

"……"

"Day 3,221, you thought this would be another peaceful day, doing business during the day and Karla teaching you how to concoct potions at night.

A huge explosion shattered your assumptions, and dozens of knights riding huge unicorns descended.

They have a strong, rich aura, and even in your eyes, they themselves are like huge orbs of magical power.

They land above the apothecary shop, and Karla calmly goes out.

Looking at the unicorn knights above, he slowly says, "You've finally come."

The battle breaks out instantly, catching you off guard.

You activate the Guardian of the Ocean God, but it has no effect.

The unicorn knights' attacks easily pierce through your skills.

Karla stands in front of you.

He throws out several vials of potion exuding a powerful, evil aura, and a large amount of mist emanates from the potions.

From within, a dozen ugly demons are born.