Extra's Rise: I Stole All The Women In The Hero's Party-Chapter 29: Alchemist’s Shop

The adventurers, now completely defeated, slunk away, their expressions filled with resentment but knowing they couldn't do a damn thing.

Zayn watched them go, his smirk never fading.

'Try something again,' he thought. 'I dare you.'

Once they were gone, the representative turned to Zayn. "Thank you again for what you did last night," she said sincerely. "You have House Rose's gratitude."

Zayn gave her a lazy grin. "No problem. I wasn't about to let them get away with that."

She smiled warmly before turning and exiting the GUILD.

The moment she left, Kara elbowed him.

"Nice job, hero," she teased.

Zayn chuckled. "Please, don't start calling me that. Tobias is the hero after all."

Elisse, however, gave him a more serious look. "You did the right thing, but be careful. Those guys might be cowards, but resentment makes people reckless. If they decide to get revenge in a more underhanded way..."

Zayn stretched his arms, unfazed. "If they try anything, I'll handle it."

Bran clapped him on the back. "Damn right you will. But in the meantime, let's get paid, shall we?"

Zayn smirked. "Now that sounds like a plan."

Tobias adjusted his glasses, his sharp gaze scanning the various missions posted on the board.

While their last few quests had been combat-heavy, he knew they couldn't just keep jumping into dungeons without building a foundation in town first.

Social reputation mattered.

Even if everybody was ridiculously strong, they needed to be recognized as more than just wandering adventurers who only showed up for the rewards.

His eyes landed on a particular mission — one that was, admittedly, mundane but strategic. An old alchemist in town needed help sorting through his stock of medicines, herbs, and elixirs.

In exchange, he would reward them with some potions and pay them a fair amount for their work.

Tobias nodded slightly to himself.

'Not bad.'

A good alchemist's favor could be worth more than gold in the long run. Plus, it was an easy way to increase their standing in Timberstead.

"This one," he said, pulling the paper from the board.

Zayn glanced over, eyebrows raising. "Helping an old man clean his shop? That's the mission?"

Bran let out a laugh. "What, you thought we'd be slaying a dragon again?"

Zayn sighed dramatically. "At least give me something to swing a sword at."

Tobias ignored the complaints, already heading toward the GUILD counter to register the mission. "If you want to be well-connected in this city, we need to build a reputation outside of combat. So unless you want to be treated like a thug with a sword, shut up and deal with it."

Zayn groaned. "Fine. But if I get stuck dusting shelves all day, I'm never letting you pick a mission again."

Kara crossed her arms. "Oh, please. I'd like to see you dust anything properly."

Zayn smirked. "Oh, you'll see."

The alchemist's shop was old. That was the first thing Zayn noticed when they arrived.

The wooden building had clearly been around for decades, with vines creeping along the stone foundation and an ancient-looking sign swinging above the entrance.

Inside, the scent of dried herbs and bitter medicine filled the air, mixing with the unmistakable scent of dust.

So.

Much.

Dust.

Zayn wrinkled his nose as they stepped in. "Alright, Tobias. I take it back. This is worse than I imagined."

Behind the counter stood an elderly man with a long white beard, thick spectacles resting on his crooked nose.

His robe was slightly too big for him, sleeves hanging past his frail wrists, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that told Zayn he wasn't just some ordinary old man.

"You're the adventurers, I assume?" the alchemist said, his voice raspy but steady.

Tobias nodded. "That's us."

The old man snorted. "You look like warriors, not cleaners."

"We are warriors," Zayn muttered under his breath.

The alchemist waved a wrinkled hand. "Well, today you're my helpers. The shop is a mess, and I need my stock sorted. Herbs in labeled jars, potions categorized by effect, and those dusty shelves need a good wiping."

Zayn resisted the urge to groan.

'This is my life now, huh?'

They split up, taking different sections of the shop. Tobias went to categorize the herbs, Bran handled the potions, while Zayn and Kara were stuck cleaning.

Zayn held a rag in his hand, staring at the thick layer of dust coating the wooden shelves. "You've got to be kidding me."

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

Kara smirked. "What's wrong, Mr. 'You'll see'? Afraid of a little dust?"

He scowled at her before swiping the rag across the shelf. A cloud of dust immediately burst into the air, making him cough.

Kara laughed. "Wow. Graceful."

Zayn shot her a glare. "You're enjoying this too much."

She leaned against the shelf, smirking. "Maybe a little."

Despite the annoyance, they worked together, moving through the shelves one by one. The more they cleaned, the more they realized just how much stuff the alchemist hoarded.

There were ancient scrolls, bottles filled with oddly colored liquids, and jars of herbs with labels in languages Zayn didn't recognize.

"What even is this stuff?" Zayn muttered, picking up a particularly suspicious-looking vial. The liquid inside was a murky green, bubbling every few seconds.

Kara peered over his shoulder. "I have no idea. You should drink it and find out."

"Yeah, no thanks."