Chapter 115
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115
After finishing the circuit, I carefully stored the mana stone circuit board in a protective case.
Click.
The heat, steam, and volatile mana reactions from the potion-making process could easily damage the board. It was as delicate as a modern semiconductor; even a single speck of dust could ruin the entire thing.
With the board safely tucked away, I immediately moved on to the next phase.
‘Let’s see.’
On the opposite workbench, I lined up the glass vials containing the raw ingredients.
‘Troll Oil, Malbec Wine, Moon Salt, Void Mugwort, Green Turtle Shell, Pearl Wart Droplet, Purified Blood Foam, Slumber Moss, Arte’s Leaf, Lightning Firefly, Fly Agaric…’
In addition to those, there were seventeen other types of fresh, rare ingredients sourced from across the continent. The sheer number of components far surpassed what I had used when processing Bell's Extreme Flame. This was going to be a complex operation requiring absolute precision.
I arranged the vials in the exact order they needed to be added, then hauled a large mana furnace into the center of the lab.
Thud.
Next came the massive cast-iron cauldron. It was so large it reached my hip, and so heavy I nearly threw my back out lifting it. I rubbed my aching lower back as I stared at the iron beast.
According to Paracelsus, alchemical operations involve various stages: distillation, dissolution, calcination, sublimation, coagulation, and reduction. The process I was about to perform was the dissolution of various ingredients.
Simply put, I was going to dump everything in and boil it vigorously.
Once the furnace and cauldron were ready, I opened the System Encyclopedia.
Ting.
I flipped through the digital pages, stopping at a bookmarked entry. The potion I was brewing for my promotion quest was none other than…
[Fierabras' Blessing]
This was a high-tier enhancement potion. While active, it increased the effectiveness and duration of all consumable items by 100 percent.
For example, if I drank this and then used a Strength Enhancement Stone, both the power of the buff and its duration would double. Even the bonus defense penetration granted by my [Alchemy] trait would be doubled.
And it didn't stop there. If I used multiple consumables at once, the 100 percent boost applied to every single one of them. It wasn't an exaggeration to say it could temporarily more than double my combat power.
‘An absolutely incredible effect.’
However, it was impossible to create a potion with such insane performance at the Intermediate Alchemy level without a catch. Everything in the world operated on the principle of equivalent exchange.
Fierabras' Blessing, for all its tremendous power, carried a fatal flaw.
‘After drinking it… you can’t use magic.’
Literally. For the duration of the potion’s effect, the user's magic was sealed. The lore explained that the potion’s method of over-activating the body’s mana functions interfered with the delicate control required for spellcasting, but in reality, it was clearly a penalty added to balance an overpowered item.
Because of this massive drawback, the potion had been completely abandoned by the market. Knights, who would benefit most, refused to use it out of pride and honor. Mages, obviously, had no reason to seal their own primary weapon. The only people who ever touched it were wealthy mercenaries, and even then, it was so rare that almost no one produced it anymore. It simply wasn't profitable.
But for me?
‘…Having my magic sealed isn’t much of a penalty.’
It was no different from my current state. Although I was slowly gaining the ability to use magic by assimilating Bell's Magic Orb, my current efficiency was so poor that it was practically the same as having no magic at all. For someone in my position, Fierabras' Blessing was the ultimate trump card.
‘This will be perfect for facing enemies I can't overpower normally, or for situations where I can't risk using my demonic power in public.’
Hiss—
I activated the lab’s climate control, mana circulation system, and ventilation fans to maintain a perfect environment. Potion-making was extremely sensitive to external conditions. Since I wouldn't have any system assistance for this promotion quest, I had to be meticulous.
Once the lab was stabilized, I prepped the ingredients in one swift motion. Then, following the encyclopedia’s instructions to the letter, I added them in the precise amounts and the exact sequence required.
Bubble, bubble—
The contents of the cauldron began to churn, emitting a strange aroma.
Sniff.
It smelled exactly as the encyclopedia described—like melting candle wax, but strangely heavy and suffocating. I watched the mixture for a moment before sealing the cauldron with its heavy lid.
‘The instructions say it needs to simmer like this for 48 hours.’
With that, the preparation stage was complete. It was time to finish my morning routine and head out. I had the midterm for Easy-to-learn Understanding of Spiritology today.
After double-checking that the ventilation and temperature systems were functioning normally, I left the lab.
*
Arriving in the Voltimir Territory, I headed straight to the lecture hall. I was skimming through my textbook for a final review when Kiriel and her friends entered.
“Hi~”
“Hello~”
Lina and Silphy cheerfully greeted the other students before spotting me and offering a polite nod. Since I had rescued them recently, we were on relatively good terms.
On the other hand…
“Oh.”
Kiriel, who had been smiling a moment ago, flinched and froze the moment our eyes met. She pointedly looked away, avoiding my gaze as she scurried to a seat much farther away from me than usual.
It was clear she was uncomfortable, but I wasn't about to let her hide.
“Where are you going? Sit over here.”
“Wh-why?”
“What do you mean, why? Why are you sitting somewhere different?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“…”
When I simply stared at her in silence, Kiriel began to stammer.
“Th-thanks for saving me last time, but I don’t owe you anything anymore! I handled that favor you asked for.”
In exchange for saving her and her friends, I had arranged for Yuriel Silverwalker—one of the few artisans capable of cutting a Stone of Truth—to work on mine. Essentially, I had tasked Kiriel with delivering the Stone of Truth and a letter to the Sea of Trees.
The Stone of Truth I had entrusted to her was a [Unique] grade item. It was a one-of-a-kind treasure; if it were lost, it could never be replaced.
“You handled it properly, right? That stone is worth more than your life.”
When I warned her sternly, Kiriel clicked her tongue. “Tsk, why is a stupid pebble like that so important? Anyway, I took care of it, so stop worrying. I even sent a letter I wrote myself to my sister, telling her to do a good job.”
“Hmm…”
I doubted the letter actually said that. I’d be lucky if she hadn't just filled it with insults about me.
Despite her assurances, I didn't quite trust her, so I looked toward Silphy and Lina. The two of them smiled and nodded reassuringly.
“We entrusted it to someone reliable. You don’t need to worry.”
“We’ll take responsibility for it~”
I might not trust the clumsy Kiriel, but I could trust these two.
“Alright, I’ll take your word for it.”
“What’s with that reaction? Are you saying you don’t trust me?”
“It’s a matter of track records.”
You trust those who are trustworthy. It was a simple rule of thumb.
As we bickered, Professor Isley entered the lecture hall. The chatter died down instantly, and every eye in the room fixed on him.
“Well then, it’s time for our fun midterm exam. I trust you all studied hard?”
Fun, my ass.
“…”
The students, who usually responded enthusiastically to the professor, offered nothing but grim silence today. The midterm accounted for 30 percent of the semester grade. It wasn't something anyone could take lightly.
Professor Isley saw the fire in their eyes and smiled faintly.
“Excellent. Such enthusiasm is inspiring. I will now distribute the papers. You may begin as soon as you receive yours.”
Fwoosh—
At his nod, the exam papers were carried to each desk by wind spirits. Professor Isley glanced at the grandfather clock at the front of the room.
“The time limit is 120 minutes. Good luck to you all.”
*
Two suffocating hours later.
“Good work, everyone.”
Professor Isley rang the bell on his desk and began collecting the papers.
“Ah, I totally bombed it.”
“Ugh, finally…”
“It’s over. It’s finally over.”
The moment the exam ended, the room filled with a chorus of groans and sighs. Some spoke out of relief, others out of pure academic despair.
I sat back and reflected on the questions I had just answered.
‘Objectively speaking, that wasn't easy.’
The difficulty was a step up from the previous pop quiz. However, because I had prepared so thoroughly, it felt much smoother than last time. I wouldn't know for sure until the grades were posted, but I had a feeling I’d scored near the top.
‘Now all that’s left is Introduction to Intermediate Magic.’
The end of midterms was finally in sight. No matter how prepared you are, exams are a massive drain on mental and physical energy. I was looking forward to finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Feeling satisfied, I turned to the person next to me with a smile.
“…”
Unlike me, Kiriel looked like a hollow shell. Seeing her dazed, thousand-yard stare, I didn't need to ask how she’d done. Her score was definitely going to be lower than mine.
Silphy and Lina were patting her back, trying to offer some comfort.
“It’s okay, Lady Kiriel. You can just do better on the final.”
“That’s right~ Besides, it’s not like this is the first time you’ve failed a test, so what’s the big deal?~”
“…Hey.”
“Hehe, sorry~”
I wasn't sure if Lina was actually helping. I approached Kiriel, who was currently glaring at Lina, and spoke up.
“How was it? Manageable?”
“…Can’t you tell just by looking at me?”
I ignored her irritability and replied calmly.
“I can. I was just being polite. You remember our bet, right?”
“I know, I know! But the grades aren't out yet. Talk to me when they are.”
Kiriel glared at me with enough intensity to burn holes in my clothes. I shrugged and backed off.
“Fair enough.”
She clearly wasn't in the mood for teasing. She had likely studied hard in her own way, and there was nothing more bitter than effort that didn't yield results. Pushing the bet now would just be tactless.
“However, if you ever want to learn how to actually study, you’re welcome to find me.”
Kiriel’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “What? Why would I learn from you?”
“Until last winter break, my grades were just like yours. Yet, I managed to hit the top of the class in a very short time. Doesn't that tell you something?”
“…!”
The look in her eyes shifted. After a moment of hesitation, she asked cautiously, “…Is there some kind of secret method?”
“They say there’s no royal road to learning, but there are definitely shortcuts. I can teach you those tricks.”
“…”
Kiriel clenched her fists, lost in thought. I gave her space to process it.
“You can refuse if you want. The choice is yours. But if you’re even slightly interested, come to the Student Council President’s office anytime.”
Originally, Kiriel had zero interest in academics. Normally, an offer like this would have gone in one ear and out the other. But between Professor Isley’s pressure and her bet with me, she had likely started to find the process—or at least the competition—a little bit engaging.
And today, she had tasted the bitterness of failure.
‘You only feel disappointed by failure if you actually cared about succeeding.’
The look on her face gave me hope. It meant she had a spark of passion for improvement. Furthermore, her perspective had likely shifted after the encounter with the half-demon at the athletic festival. Realizing her own powerlessness often breeds a desire for growth.
‘If her natural intuition for Spiritology is paired with systematic knowledge, Kiriel will grow at an explosive rate.’
Strengthening an ally was a benefit to me as well. My enemies were moving faster than I had anticipated, spreading their influence across the continent. Helping Kiriel—the future Contractor of the Spirit King—reach her full potential was a necessity.
“Well, think it over.”
With those final words, I turned and left the lecture hall.