Chapter 122
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 122
[Quest Complete: Artifact Crafting]
[Tubal-Cain's Star]
- Classification: Support Item
- Grade: Epic
- An artifact imbued with the power of Tubal-Cain, the god of blacksmiths. For some reason, the people of this world cannot use it.
- Automatically restores the durability of a linked artifact.
- Recovery Rate: 1% of total durability per second.
- Consumes mana when the recovery effect is activated.
- Quick Crafting has been unlocked. Future crafting will follow a simplified process.
[Quest Complete: Potion Manufacturing]
[Fierabras' Blessing]
- Classification: Consumable Item
- Grade: Rare
- A potion said to have been used by a knight who reached the stars long ago. It focuses more on its additional effects than on recovery.
- Upon use, increases the effects of all consumable items by 100% for 500 seconds.
- Magic cannot be cast while the effect is active.
- Quick Crafting has been unlocked. Future crafting will follow a simplified process.
[Congratulations. You have successfully advanced by completing the quest.]
[Intermediate Alchemy Level 1]
- You have achieved the incredible feat of clearing multiple quests simultaneously. All tech trees for Intermediate Alchemy will be unlocked.
Notification windows flooded my vision.
“Hehehe.”
I savored the joy, feeling like a total zombie after pulling several all-nighters in a row.
It had been nearly three days since I’d locked myself in the lab. Aside from a single hour of sleep a day, I’d invested every waking moment into crafting.
And after all that effort, I had finally succeeded in creating Tubal-Cain's Star and brewing Fierabras' Blessing.
I collapsed onto the floor, my head hanging low.
“With this… I can finally rest.”
I’d never worked this hard in my life—not even during my days as a pro gamer, or when I was grinding to park my accounts at rank one in various games after retiring.
Perhaps it was the influence of my high Intellect stat, but I felt I had achieved a level of focus far beyond what I was capable of in reality.
I soaked in the mix of euphoria and exhaustion for a moment before dragging myself back up to inspect the artifacts I had crafted with my own hands.
Tubal-Cain's Star was a pentagram-shaped pendant. I opened the lid and pressed the button in the center to activate it.
Vwoom—
The moment I pressed the button, the mana core at the star's center pulsed like a heartbeat, emitting a blue light that surged through the intricate magic circuits. Soon, the mana core began to flash blue, signaling it was ready to link.
I touched Derod's Ring on my finger to the core.
Ting—
- Would you like to link [Tubal-Cain's Star] and [Derod's Ring]? This cannot be changed for the next 24 hours.
“Yes.”
I proceeded with the link without a second thought.
Charrr—
Mana shimmered out from Tubal-Cain's Star like a heat haze, wrapping around Derod's Ring and binding the two artifacts together.
[Link Successful]
- If the durability of [Derod's Ring] decreases, it will be automatically restored by [Tubal-Cain's Star].
- The link will be severed if the distance between the two artifacts exceeds a certain range.
‘So there's a distance limit.’
I never knew that back in the game because I just kept everything in my inventory. It seemed I had to keep them close to maintain the connection.
I always wore the ring, so I’d just have to wear the pendant as well. I’d need to buy a chain for it later.
I dismissed the notification window and tucked Tubal-Cain's Star into my inner jacket pocket. The pendant made the fabric bulge awkwardly.
I looked down at it and shrugged.
‘I really need to get a Subspace Pouch.’
It would be incredibly expensive since it was enchanted with space-time magic, but at this rate, my jacket pockets weren't going to last. I’d be carrying even more artifacts and consumables from now on.
Creeak—
After finishing my work, I opened the door and stepped out to find Ciel sitting demurely on the sofa, reading a book. She looked up, and upon seeing my haggard appearance, her expression filled with worry.
“Lord Roen, aren't you overworking yourself?”
“I won't deny it. But it was worth the effort.”
I quietly clenched my fist.
‘I've finally reached Intermediate Alchemy.’
Now I could unequivocally call myself an alchemist. In terms of external recognition, this meant I had earned the right to enter the Deiarron Magic Tower as an apprentice mage. I could also officially open a workshop under my own name or sell items.
As for personal growth, my combat power had increased severalfold.
‘Because from Intermediate Alchemy onward, I can use [Transmutation].’
I stared at my clenched fist. [Transmutation] was a branch of alchemy that transformed objects using a magic circle. It was a versatile tool in combat—shaping steel into spikes or making the ground rise beneath an enemy.
I couldn't exactly be like that famous character with the mechanical arm and the brother who was a suit of armor, but I could certainly adopt a similar combat style.
Of course, that fighting style relied heavily on agile movements and martial arts, so it wasn't a perfect fit for me yet. Still, having more options in a fight was a welcome development.
And it wasn't just [Transmutation]; tech trees for strengthening skills in various ways had also been unlocked. For a swordsman, it would be like suddenly gaining mastery over greatswords, daggers, and dual swords all at once.
The thought of grinding experience for all these skills was daunting, but if it meant becoming that much stronger, I would gladly accept the challenge.
“Come to think of it...”
My eyes fell on the meticulously prepared lunchbox in front of me, and I smiled faintly. The reason I could endure with almost no sleep was thanks to a steady supply of nutrition. Ciel’s consistent care had kept me going.
I expressed my gratitude to her.
“Thank you for helping me without complaint. I was able to finish my work because of you.”
“It was only natural.”
“Nothing in this world is 'natural.' Every act of kindness is a favor. This isn't much of a repayment, but… take this.”
I handed her a leather pouch containing a few bottles of Fierabras' Blessing and various other consumables.
“What is this?”
“They're physical enhancement consumables for emergencies. Keep them on you.”
With Gillean, Carmilla, and their minions roaming the Union as if they owned the place, I couldn't be too careful. Things might have gotten a little safer now that the Chairman had started to move, but you never knew. It was best to be prepared.
For Ciel, whose foundation was in martial arts, Fierabras' Blessing was the perfect self-defense item. If she drank the potion and used a Body Enhancement Stone, she should be able to escape almost any situation safely—or even fight on equal footing with a demonkin.
“I've included instructions, so be sure to read them before you take anything.”
“Hmm.”
Bubble—
Ciel narrowed her eyes, staring at the sky-blue liquid bubbling inside the potion bottle.
“Are you sure this is safe to drink?”
“…Probably.”
I could guarantee its effects. After all, I made it myself. But considering the ingredients… someone with a sensitive stomach might end up with an upset. It was an unforeseen side effect.
Still, if it was the price for saving her life, spending a few days on the toilet was a small price to pay.
Though she looked skeptical, Ciel carefully put away the leather pouch.
“Understood.”
*
Monday.
The midterm exam results were posted on the academy's bulletin board. Students crowded the hallway to check their standings.
The reactions were varied—some sighed in relief, others were filled with disappointment, and a few clenched their fists and cheered in triumph.
I had already checked my rank, so instead of joining the crowd, I quietly headed to the lecture hall.
The Intermediate Introduction to Magic hall was also buzzing with students chattering about the results. A few students were gathered around Beatrice in particular.
“Your Highness, would it be possible for me to join?”
“If you let me in, I'll work harder than anyone!”
They were trying to join the 'Gate of Truth,' the academic club led by Beatrice. The requirement for entry was to achieve a top-tier grade within one's year. It seemed several students were using their recent exam results to appeal for membership.
‘…I suppose I could apply to join, too.’
My score on the Introduction to Magic exam was a 90. I just barely met the requirements to join the Gate of Truth.
Of course, since I'd already joined the Alchemy Club and the Monster Purification Club, I had no intention of actually joining. I had so much to do right now that even two bodies wouldn't be enough.
However, the Gate of Truth was where Eredor's most talented individuals gathered, so the 'Magic Olympiad' invitation I held might come in handy. I should use it to negotiate with Beatrice and extract the maximum benefit.
“Hmm.”
Sitting in the back, I scanned the room and saw Bell happily chatting with her friends. At first, she had been targeted by a group of nobles and had a hard time, but since she started hanging out with Beatrice, the pests had been swatted away. No one had the guts to bother a classmate who had caught the eye of the Imperial Princess.
Thanks to that, she was finally getting along well with the other commoner students.
But just as Bell was deep in conversation, her friends pushed her from behind until she was standing right in front of Beatrice.
“Whoa, wait a minute!”
“Come on, just go talk to Her Highness. You two are close!”
It seemed they saw Bell's high score and were pressuring her to join the Gate of Truth.
Just as the students were animatedly discussing their scores and the upcoming competition…
“Alright, everyone, please take your seats~”
Professor Martelzier and Assistant Professor Wayne appeared. Martelzier quieted the students and began to speak.
“You all worked so hard on the exam~ I trust you've checked your grades. The practical exam originally scheduled for the end of this month has been canceled~ I'm sure you all know why, right?~”
“Yeees—.”
The practical exam was held monthly to test combat abilities and provide real-world experience. It wasn't being held this month for one obvious reason: the recent attack by Gillean.
The full details of the incident and the culprit had yet to be revealed, but it was clearly an anomaly. With the Union's security forces being reinforced and vigilance heightened under Beatrice's lead, it would be unreasonable to lead students into a dangerous, unexplored region again.
Martelzier continued.
“However, the competition starting in May will proceed as scheduled. Please prepare for it~ And be sure to check your mailboxes for challenge letters~”
“Yeees—”
Hearing the students' compliant answers, I fell into thought.
‘The competition, held twice a year in place of final exams.’
It was a long-standing tradition that proved the Union was not merely a place of learning, but an institution preparing for war against the demon race.
Of course, these days there were many academies focused purely on academics with no combat focus, proving their research through conferences at school festivals. But that was all secondary. Even those academic achievements were focused on developing better weapons, magic, and increasing crop yields.
We were soaked in this peaceful academy life now, but it was only temporary. If there was one thing I—and everyone here—must never forget…
‘...it's that the humanity of Myrillin Saga is currently at war with the demon race.’
A territorial dispute between humans and demons that had lasted for hundreds of years. This was also why the Devalis family on the western front was still respected by everyone on the continent. They were at the forefront of humanity, blocking the invasion of monsters.
The people of the continent paid tribute to their sacrifice, supporting them with massive amounts of supplies and manpower every year. Although that manpower mostly consisted of death-row criminals, in a situation where every bit of labor was precious, even they were vital to the fighting force.
Professor Martelzier's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Okay~ Since the exams are over, I doubt anyone wants to jump right into a new lesson, so today's class will be about discovering your own origin attributes instead~ Ms. Wayne.”
Wayne pushed a cart to the front of the professor's desk.
Flap—
When Martelzier lifted the cloth covering the cart, a complex mechanical device was revealed. On the surface of the large, engine-like machine, a crystal ball, light bulbs, and mirrors were intricately entangled. The numerous vacuum tubes made it look like a primitive computer.
Professor Martelzier said, “This is a device called a Mana Discriminator. It analyzes an individual's magical attributes~ I borrowed it from the Magic Tower for a bit, and it's super expensive, you know?~ Absolutely! Do not break it~”
For Martelzier, who casually tossed aside an Enhancement Stone worth ten million krone, to emphasize that it was "super expensive," the equipment had to be worth hundreds of billions.
She continued, “After this semester's introductory course is over, you'll have to take practical courses next semester~ This is to prepare for that by checking your own origin attributes in advance~ Since there might be some of you who don't know yours yet~”
Most students from prestigious families already knew their origin attributes, but commoners like Bell were never given such an opportunity. This lecture was for them.
‘Of course… I don't know my origin attribute either.’
Since the information on Roen was extremely limited, I had no idea what his origin attribute was. This would be a good chance to find out. After all, to forge the Azoth Sword, I needed to find materials that matched my origin.
“Alright, then. Let's have Ms. Beatrice come up first~”
At Martelzier's call, Beatrice stood up and walked onto the platform.