Excess Potions

As it turns out, magic bags are really expensive to recreate. It cost the entire 50 points of mana that Violet had from Theodore's visit to recreate the 50KG brown leather satchel style of magic bag that she had the dungeon absorb. She was just used to absorbing everything that was given to her to add new [Base Resources] and [Items] to her list in case she ever needed them. Besides that, there had never been any items she couldn't either split the cost up into small increments or that weren't under 25MP before this. Manipulating land or applying grass to a room could, potentially, cost hundreds of mana points, but they cost less than 10MP for the smallest increment available. However, there was no summoning part of a magic bag and then paying for the rest later.

Violet sighed, figuring that it was fine since everything had ended well enough as it was. She'd just have to remember such information for the future in case it was ever relevant again. Besides, she now had more information about the bag now, which was quite valuable. For instance, the magic bag functioned the way it did because of a special enchantment. It was some combination of space and time magic that made it so anything put inside the bag wouldn't spoil nor would the weight of the item be reflected. The bag could have an entire 50 kg or, roughly, 100 lbs. in it while still having the same weight as an empty leather satchel.

Violet only got 35DP for the bag because the enchantment counted as a single enchantment that was specialized for creating magic bags. Other than that, there was just the matter of a new [Item] being added, which gave her 10DP. She could now create as many 50KG brown leather satchel-style magic bags as she wanted and had the mana to afford them. That was likely to give her a unique opportunity in the future since Violet was sure that many adventurers were likely to want such an item.

However, the more interesting thing was that the enchantment suggested she might be able to create new [Items] with it. Maybe she could try making stylish handbags that even the rich and well-to-do ladies of this world might enjoy carrying around. Otherwise, perhaps there was the possibility to apply it in some other way? Violet wasn't sure, but her mind was certainly racing with the possibilities.

However, Violet set this matter aside when she felt the familiar presence of her friend. She immediately set off to greet Elivyre and was surprised to find her friend looked different from usual. The druid tended to wear pretty cotton dresses with cotton shoes and a long robe while carrying around a basket that she would fill with various herbs and flowers. However, today she was wearing cotton pants, a long-sleeved cotton shirt, and boots while carrying a leather satchel. It felt strange to see her friend dressed up in such a manner when she was used to her rather cute and feminine appearance.

However, Violet didn't say anything about it as she didn't want to appear rude. Had she asked Elivyre would have easily explained that she needed to dress warmer due to the cold weather and snow on the ground. Besides that, she had needed to purchase a magic satchel for her business since it wasn't ideal to leave her shop empty and risk someone stealing the valuable potions and herbs held within it. Of course, it also made for a good place to store her fur winter coat while she was in the dungeon since the difference in temperature between the outside of the dungeon and the inside of it was considerable.

Elivyre smiled happily and greeted

"Good afternoon, Violet. How have you been?"

Violet returned her friend's enthusiasm as she answered

"I've been pretty good! I've been trying some new things around the dungeon lately."

"Oh?"

Elivyre prompted her to continue and so she explained

"I've been trying my hand at being a merchant. I'm almost ready to unlock a new floor for the dungeon, so I needed to increase the number of tributes I was earning to do so. It's been going pretty well so far and I'll likely be ready to add the next floor either tomorrow or the next day."

Elivyre pursed her lips, feeling a bit unsure of herself. She almost felt like she should warn Violet against giving out such information to others. Talking about when the dungeon might unlock its next floor was not exactly a smart move for a dungeon master. However, this might have been merely because they were friends. Maybe Violet was a good judge of character and knew she wouldn't purposely harm her or the dungeon. Deciding to move on from the subject, she replied

"I could let some of the people who visit my store know about it, if you'd like. I don't mind drumming up some business for you. A lot of locals and adventurers alike visit in the wintertime since they need cold remedies or even health potions in more serious cases."

Violet smiled gratefully and nodded as she said

"That would be great! Thank you!"

The two continued to talk for some time while Elivyre gathered the herbs and flowers she had come for. There hadn't been very many new plants added to the most recently added rooms, but there was still a lot of variety. This made the first floor of the dungeon feel like a treasure trove for someone who runs an alchemist's shop like Elivyre. After thinking it over for some time, Violet asked

"Hey, Elivyre? I was wondering if there is any demand for potions around here yet. I kind of invested in some health, mana, and stamina potions to sell to adventurers, thinking they'd be useful, but they haven't been showing any interest in them, thus far."

Elivyre looked thoughtful as she replied

"I feel like that might have more to do with the lack of danger and thus the lack of need for such potions in your dungeon right now. Many adventurers also stock up on such supplies before they enter the dungeon, so they wouldn't need them unless they used most of their potions up and had already climbed a few floors up. From what I've heard, it's common for potions to be offered as challenge rewards in dungeons, so that might also affect it.

However, in general, there is plenty of demand for potions outside of the dungeon. Even those without a class or with a craftsmanship class purchase potions. A blacksmith who gets third-degree burns can buy a healing potion while a mother with a sick child might buy a lesser healing potion. A knight in training who has to do a lot of physical work or a farmer might have an interest in stamina potions while wizards and alchemists might need mana potions to continue their work.

Depending on how many you have and how much you want for them, I might be able to purchase them from you. Since I don't have someone with the alchemist class working for me at my shop quite yet, it could be a mutually beneficial deal for both of us. However, it would be better for you to wait for me to make an advanced order rather than creating them ahead of time."

Violet felt a bit silly while listening to her friend's explanation. A lot of it sounded like things that should have been common sense. Of course, there was very little use for potions in her dungeon, her slimes weren't likely to hurt anyone. Well, except for her boss slime, perhaps.

"Alright, well I appreciate you helping me out like this. I still want to hang on to a few health potions in case of an emergency. I'd hate for outsiders to harm someone in my dungeon and then not be able to have a health potion on hand. Heck, I had a bunch of crazy elderly men come into my dungeon the other day and they barely left my dungeon, even despite my slimes normally being rather weak monsters.

I've got four lesser health potions, two health potions, six lesser mana potions, two mana potions, and two stamina potions. As for what I'd charge for them, that's where it gets complicated. Items don't hold the same value in dungeons as they do in the outside world. Variety or quantity is the important thing, not the rarity of items or anything like that. A diamond and an acorn could have the same value in here. In general, I'd need 440 points worth of value where something I've already had before, like an acorn, would be equal to one point, and new items could be worth anywhere from ten points to a hundred plus points."

Elivyre frowned, not quite understanding due to the vagueness of the explanation. However, she felt like she understood the gist of what was being said, so replied

"Alright, I can just bring you some herbs or something and you can let me know which ones you want in exchange for your potions. If it doesn't matter what I bring, then it isn't like you need super rare expensive herbs or anything, right? Also, how come lesser stamina potions are the only ones you don't have?"

Violet chuckled as she easily explained

"Ah, yeah, I have no control over what I get as tributes. I've only received those types of potions before, so I don't have lesser stamina potions or anything else unlocked quite yet. You don't have to, but I'm pretty sure the first of each potion type is worth 35 points each, if you wanted to trade me some lesser versions of potions you have."

Elivyre wasn't entirely against the idea, so she just told Violet she would see what she had before she visited next. For Violet, it only cost 20MP for a healing potion, so she was charging 40DP for one. While she didn't know much about the value of the potions outside of the dungeon, she was still certain that the value of a lesser potion was likely to be less than that of the next tier up. So, she didn't feel bad for suggesting that her friend could give her some new potion types, if she was willing to. It was likely to be a win for both of them, after all.