alchemist
Refers to a practitioner of alchemy, often in historical, fantasy, or metaphorical contexts.
中世の錬金術師は、鉛を金に変えようとした。
Medieval alchemists tried to turn lead into gold.
錬金術 is the practice or art of alchemy itself, while 錬金術師 is the person who practices it.
錬金術師 is counted with 人 as it refers to a person, like any other profession or role.
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).
Compound of 錬金 (renkin, 'alchemy') + 術 (jutsu, 'art, technique') + 師 (shi, 'master, practitioner'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning 'alchemist'.