Chapter 114
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114
Whirrr—.
I stepped into the lab, the low hum of the mana control device fading into the background as I lost myself in thought.
‘My Alchemy level is currently in the final stages of [Beginner Level 9].’
Despite my hectic schedule, I had processed mana orbs imbued with Bell's Extreme Flame every single day. I’d also poured in every alchemy enhancement material I could find to reach this point. Of course, even with such an investment, reaching the late beginner levels in just a few weeks would normally be an impossible feat.
My high mana and intelligence stats were the primary drivers of this rapid growth.
‘After all, skill experience is gained based on the number of times you use a spell.’
I’d used my exceptional stats to spam spells and grind experience at an accelerated rate. I was finally reaping the benefits of my epic trait, [Severed Yin Meridians]. Usually, that trait was a massive headache that hindered me at every turn, so it was about time it showed an upside.
I was now at the very edge of Beginner Alchemy Level 9, on the verge of advancing to Intermediate Alchemy.
‘Class advancements hold significant meaning in Myrillin Saga.’
The beginner level was just a taste, offering only the most basic skills of a profession. The intermediate level was where the real specialization began, allowing you to choose a specific skill tree.
From the intermediate level onward, swordsmen gained [Sword Ki], spirit users could summon [Intermediate Spirits], and mages could learn [Specialized Magic] of the 4th-tier and above rather than just common spells. It was the definitive point where a character experienced a massive power spike.
Accordingly, the requirements for advancement were demanding.
‘You can’t advance just by filling up the experience bar.’
Much like class advancement quests in other games, I had to clear a specific trial to reach the next stage. And the quest I needed to complete to reach [Intermediate Alchemy] was…
‘[Artifact Crafting].’
I smiled as I looked at the materials I had procured from the black market.
While Beginner Alchemy was limited to enchanting existing items with effects like enhancement, amplification, or restriction, Intermediate Alchemy required the ability to craft artifacts from scratch. In a way, this overlapped with the work of the magic engineers at Meister Academy. This similarity existed because the scope of alchemy was simply too broad.
‘Alchemy has a lot in common with pharmacology, chemistry, metallurgy, astrology, astronomy, and mysticism. In a broader sense, it even touches upon the realm of creation, like material generation or homunculus cultivation.’
It was a broad but shallow pursuit of the world’s truths. In the end, an alchemist was fated to be a jack-of-all-trades.
Regardless, the advancement quest for Intermediate Alchemy, [Artifact Crafting], was a major milestone. Completing it meant truly earning one's stripes as an alchemist.
Having organized my thoughts, I laid out the various materials and tools delivered from the black market onto the table.
‘Looks like everything I ordered is here.’
I nodded, cross-referencing my order list with the delivered goods. Not a single item was missing. Alfredo was certainly a man who got things done.
Inside the box, along with the goods, was a letter. Reading it, I found news that Lize had made a friend. Apparently, the Panopticon also ran an orphanage, and they had decided to bring over some talented children her age to be educated alongside her.
‘That’s good news.’
I had been worried Lize would grow up lonely, so this was a relief. It would help her develop social skills and create a better learning environment, which would be a huge help when it came time for her to enroll in the Union.
I folded the letter and began the process of crafting the artifact. Although I called it a "process," this stage was merely preparatory: drawing up the blueprint and processing the materials before the actual assembly.
‘Artifact crafting isn't something that can be finished in one sitting.’
Just as a master blacksmith forges a sword with care in every hammer strike, artifact crafting required immense dedication. It began with processing the materials and creating the magic circuit. Then, one had to delicately connect materials of various properties and attributes, meticulously carving the circuit to ensure every component functioned as intended.
It was a process that demanded extreme concentration. I sighed, looking at the various gears and parts laid out in their cases.
‘It would be nice if an artifact crafting tutorial popped up right about now…’
I had boldly gathered the materials, but now that I was actually starting, I felt a bit lost. The system should have helped, just as it did with the alchemy and spiritology tutorials, but for some reason, it remained silent.
‘Is it telling me to figure it out on my own because it's an intermediate advancement test?’
It seemed the system was teaching me that to break through a wall and reach the next level, one must put in constant, independent effort.
‘I don’t need those kinds of life lessons.’
I just wanted to do it the easy way.
I grumbled to myself and recalled the practical class for Intermediate Introduction to Magic—the class where I had been grouped with Bell, Beatrice, and Yuliana to create a circuit for a magic crystal ball. Although that class was an extremely simplified version of the process, the underlying principles were the same.
‘Process and connect materials with different concepts, attributes, and properties to make them operate as a magic circuit.’
If I stuck to that core principle, I would eventually reach my goal. I steeled my resolve and opened the blueprint recorded in the system.
Ting—.
A translucent blueprint materialized in mid-air. It was the blueprint for the [Star of Tubal-Cain], the artifact I intended to craft.
It was an artifact simple enough for a beginner like me to make, with the function of automatically restoring the durability of a linked item. For someone like me, who was constantly stressing over the durability of Derod's Ring, it was an absolute necessity.
If I linked Derod's Ring to the Star of Tubal-Cain, its durability would be restored instantly even if it wore down. My identity wouldn't be exposed even if I took a direct hit from a powerful divine spell.
‘As long as it's not from someone like Elena, that is.’
Her divine magic possessed a power that far transcended any automatic recovery function.
Since it was a vital artifact that would greatly reduce the risk of my identity being exposed, I had wanted to obtain it sooner, but it hadn't been possible until now. This was because it was a player-bound crafted item. Much like the cola recipe, this blueprint couldn't be transferred, nor could I ask someone else to craft it for me. It was an artifact that only I could craft and use in this world.
‘To the residents of this world, it's an object akin to something from beyond the heavens.’
The name alone—named after Tubal-Cain, the progenitor of blacksmiths—suggested as much.
I looked at the System Encyclopedia floating before my eyes and began the work in earnest.
‘First, I'll start by drawing the circuit.’
The magic circuit that constitutes an artifact is a blueprint in itself. To make anything properly, a solid design is crucial. I put on my work gloves and carefully placed the high-grade mana stone plate I'd bought from the black market onto the workbench.
‘The stats of a crafted item vary wildly depending on the creator's skill and the materials used.’
Even for the same Star of Tubal-Cain, the grade could range from Common to Legendary depending on the result. I gulped, looking at the high-grade mana stone plate that had cost tens of millions of krone.
‘The grade I'm aiming for is [Ancient].’
To achieve a grade that high, I needed both outstanding personal ability and expensive materials. If the plate broke during the process, tens of millions of krone would evaporate instantly. I had to pour my heart and soul into this.
The high-grade mana stone plate emanated a faint black light. With a steadying breath, I picked up the mana pen and brought it to the surface. The nib pressed gently onto the plate. I moved the pen with precision, tracing the magic circuit in the shape of the Tree of Sephiroth onto the alchemy workbench.
‘The circuit I'm drawing is the magic circle that will handle the artifact's durability recovery.’
I had used the magic circle for durability recovery countless times, so I knew its shape and connection sequence by heart. Using the mana pen, I drew ten circles on the plate corresponding to each attribute of the Kabbalah's esoteric arts, connecting them with lines in the correct order.
After that, I drew in the concepts of the various alchemy stones and enhancement stones used in the ‘Durability Recovery’ spell, placing them in their appropriate positions. For this, I referenced the Illustrated Guide to Intermediate Alchemy that I had saved in the System Encyclopedia. It was a book that illustrated the methods of past alchemists in an easy-to-understand format. Even without direct system help, the Union had plenty of resources to guide me.
“Done.”
Only after lifting the mana pen from the plate did I allow myself a deep breath. My hand was trembling from the tension. It had been an exhausting task, requiring immense concentration to inject a steady stream of mana while ensuring I didn't damage the plate.
‘It’s drawn well.’
I smiled, looking at the blueprint on the mana stone plate, which was now emitting a faint blue light. For the next step, I made a small cut on my finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the plate.
Plip—.
A soul-bound crafted item required the creator’s blood. The drop slowly spread along the magic circuit I had drawn, the fresh blood being absorbed like water into paper. This was the process of imprinting my genetic and magical traits onto the circuit.
According to the guide, this absorption process would take about 72 hours. There was nothing else to do until then.
Having finished the circuit, I took out a recovery potion to treat the cut on my hand. The liquid glowed with a brilliant green light.
‘Potions…’
I thought to myself as I dabbed the potion onto a handkerchief and applied it to the wound. Just as the field of alchemy is incredibly broad, there are several different advancement paths. Besides [Artifact Crafting], the other primary skill tree was [Potion Manufacturing].
‘Potion Manufacturing is good for immediate efficiency.’
Even now, I was fighting powerful enemies by chugging strength and agility enhancement stones and potions. Although the effects were temporary, the stat increase was comparable to equipping several decent artifacts.
If you took the [Potion Manufacturing] skill tree, you could expect bonuses to consumable crafting, additional stat bonuses, increased potion duration, and extra effect bonuses from [Alchemy]. You could also delve into the art of elixir crafting (yeondansul), developing unique enhancement potions tailored to your constitution or even artificial panaceas. In the end, you could even craft the legendary Elixir, so its potential was undeniably high.
However…
‘It can't compare to Artifact Crafting.’
The ultimate goal in an RPG is farming and enhancing items. The [Artifact Crafting] skill tree, which provided growth bonuses in that area, boasted the highest potential in alchemy. It was the difference between using +20 gear while everyone else was stuck with +18. Furthermore, the Artifact Crafting tree was said to have a hidden skill that could raise the [Grade] of an item itself. Its value was beyond question.
‘Do I secure a solid early game with growth bonuses, or aim for the late game with a hidden skill?’
Normally, one would have to choose between Artifact Crafting and Potion Manufacturing.
‘Why choose? I'll just do both.’
Since I had already taken the dual classes of Alchemist and Martial Artist, there was nothing stopping me from choosing both skill trees within Alchemy. It was just a guess, but I believed the system would allow it.
‘The materials I procured from the black market aren't just for crafting the artifact, after all.’
I planned to craft the artifact and the potions simultaneously, clearing both advancement quests at once.