Well, that makes sense why I didn't know what story I was reading. I hate several month-long hiatuses, especially early on when it's easy to forget some stories.I thought it was familiar, then realized I had read the raws lol.
This and the next chapter are "fillers" to show how amazing the MC's potions are and how people's bias towards alchemists is wrong. I don't remember if these people have any direct interactions with the MC, though.
These characters are introduced in this chapter for the first time.Who?
I don't get why he doesn't just tell them he can run away after his team has gotten away safely. It's not like its cowardly to run away when you encounter monsters you have no chance to beat. That's only smart.AUGEN SAN! THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER COWARD LEADING 100 MINATAURS FROM ABOVE AND BELOW!