Breakthrough to the Second Class
Arpina's foundational elemental magic was structured in five stages, from 1st Star to 5th Star. Each stage handled different elemental spells, and at the final 5th Star, all of them achieved harmony. This corresponded directly to the Apprentice 5th Class rank. It meant that until one became a Secret Magic rank mage—the stage after Apprentice 5th Class—this was the only magic available for training.
The 1st Star Arpina magic that Leon was currently practicing was water magic.
“Clear waves, heed my call and appear before me. Aqua Sentinel.”
Mana coalesced in the air, and from it emerged a blue, slime-like summoned creature. One of Arpina's magical characteristics was summoning beings that resembled elemental animals or spirits. These weren't truly living familiars. They were closer to materialized will. Because of that, once summoned, the next spell could skip the materialization phase entirely. They served as support for the chained spells that followed.
If one had Aqua Sentinel memorized, the incantation for the sentinel itself could be omitted, along with the materialization step of the following spell. This allowed casting at a speed comparable to a Secret Magic rank mage. It was a clear example of just how vital higher-order magic could be.
If even an Apprentice mage benefited this much, it was obvious that high-level magic would grow even more important as one's rank increased.
For the past six months, aside from his hours working at the magic archive, Leon had devoted every spare moment to learning Arpina's magic. Since he'd been given a private room, he no longer had to worry about others seeing him cast spells after work.
Once he reached the latter half of 1st Class, he began converting all his rewards into artifacts instead. He kept only a few elixirs in case of emergencies and consumed the rest.
Rank Advancement
He had determined that elixirs weren't particularly helpful for rank advancement. Advancing in rank was a matter of enlightenment. After the elixirs had already granted him a mana pool far beyond what someone at his level should possess, he made up his mind.
This was his first time receiving an artifact as a reward.
After that, he received artifact rewards more than ten times. Among them, only one wasn't a disposable item.
It was a disk-shaped artifact made of silvery metal. He hadn't yet found a proper use for it.
Besides that, he gradually cleared parts of the forest and leveled the ground to create a small herb garden beside his training area. For now, the only herbs growing there were the three types he'd gathered while running errands for the old man, but their growth rate was extremely satisfying.
Even when Leon was outside the orb, time continued to flow within it. One minute in reality meant an hour had already passed inside the Chrono Orb. No matter how he thought about it, the conditions were perfect for growing herbs. Growth cycles, suitable soil, humidity, sunlight—none of it mattered. Just plant them in the ground, and they grew. The dense mana concentration made it possible.
Take the Planetia Dew Herb listed in the F-rank elixir recipe, for example. As an annual herb, it normally required six to seven months of careful tending to fully mature. Yet after transplanting it into the orb, it grew identically in just one real-world day and began reproducing.
If I can just get my hands on more herbs…
He would be able to mass-produce F-rank elixirs as if copying them.
The contribution points he'd accumulated over the six months totaled 80. That was the 20 he'd started with plus the 10 points he received each month. Leon had already decided exactly where to spend every last point.
1 Day Leave — 5 Contribution Points
If he didn't spend any points for an entire month, he could earn two days of vacation. Leon hadn't used a single contribution point in half a year. He was saving them all to use as leave when he broke through to 2nd Class.
The total number of days he could convert into vacation was sixteen.
Leon immediately went to find the old man at the magic archive.
“I'd like to use my vacation days.”
“Oh, you're finally using them? I've been wondering when you'd get around to it. How many are you thinking?”
“Sixteen days.”
“….”
Leon could understand why the old man was at a loss for words. He had never intended to use all sixteen at once.
It's a modern person's bargaining tactic—throw out the biggest demand first and start negotiating from there…
“Alright.”
“…Pardon?”
Leon, who had been about to say he would use them separately, asked again like an idiot.
“I said it's fine. Use them all. In return, grant me one favor later. I think you did one for me before, didn't you?”
“You mean gathering herbs?”
“This time, you'll go with me.”
“Together…”
Leon pondered for a moment, then nodded while hiding his suspicion.
“Understood.”
“When do you plan to start your leave?”
“Would tomorrow be alright?”
“Do as you wish.”
In truth, Leon hadn't thought it would be difficult to get vacation time since the old man was essentially the only librarian here. Still, he hadn't expected such ready approval for taking sixteen days off in one go. Perhaps the old man had simply been waiting for an excuse to go herb gathering with him. Leon decided it might be an overthought on his part, but he refused to let his guard down.
He resolved to make proper preparations before reaching 2nd Class.
For the next two weeks, he devoted himself entirely to training except for sleeping. He stocked up on simple foods like bread that could be eaten quickly and took all his meals inside the orb. He didn't even leave his room. The moment he received a quest reward in reality, he would take a short nap and immediately return to the Chrono Orb to continue training.
And just as planned, Leon achieved 2nd Class.
Remaining seated in the lotus position, he calmly observed his own condition.
His mana core had grown even harder, and his mana reserves had become far richer. Thanks to the elixirs, Leon already possessed a mana pool that an ordinary Apprentice 1st Class mage could never hope to match. Now he could cast at least ten spells in reality. That was roughly one and a half times more than what a typical Apprentice 2nd Class mage could manage.
He could now memorize one additional spell, and having advanced to the 2nd Star of Arpina's foundational magic, he could summon two creatures at once—water and wind elementals.
A truly mystical aura now seemed to flow around him, the kind that truly marked one as a mage. That was precisely why he needed to be even more cautious. Stronger mages would find it easier to sense that he was a mage now.
Although he made good use of mana concealment magic, he knew he needed something safer. Setting that risk aside, Leon couldn't stop grinning with pure joy at having raised his rank.
Even Lia, who possessed the greatest talent, had yet to reach 2nd Class. Yet in just seven months, he had gone from an ordinary person to an Apprentice 2nd Class mage.
Reward probability increased.
200 hours provided in the Chrono Orb.
Please select an additional rank advancement reward.
Artifact (E+ Mana Detection Pendant) / Elixir (E+ Purified Essence)
Additional reward?
So starting from 2nd Class, additional rewards for rank advancement were given?
Leon thought for a moment before choosing the elixir. While he had been converting general quest rewards into artifacts, an E+ rank elixir was a different story. Especially since it was an essence.
A transparent vial containing a blue liquid appeared in Leon's palm.
While studying elixirs, he had learned that those labeled “essence” increased mana quantity, while those labeled “purified liquid” improved mana quality. Naturally, the latter was far rarer. Even consuming large amounts of essence could improve quality, but it required an enormous quantity.
Leon immediately uncorked the vial and gulped it down on the spot. A warm energy spread throughout his body, as if he were slowly sinking into warm water. Soon, a tingling sensation like faint electric currents flowed beneath his skin, rushing toward his core at the solar plexus. A sharp jolt exploded from his core.
His senses sharpened instantly, and his mind grew crystal clear.
“Haa…”
A languid sigh escaped Leon's lips of its own accord.
Mana Quality: E
The E- mana quality had risen to E. With his mana now purer, even the same spells would be stronger.
After savoring the pleasant sensation for a moment, Leon quickly regained his composure. The other breakthrough rewards were reasonable. The additional 200 hours made sense, since higher ranks required more training time. He didn't feel the increased reward probability yet, but he believed it would prove useful someday.
Oh, I can already feel the difference.
He had completed a general quest right after increasing the reward probability with his breakthrough reward, and a decent scroll had appeared. It was still disposable, though.
Over the remaining two days, Leon stabilized and refined his overflowing mana. Then, concealing his power with mana concealment magic, he headed to the archive for work.
“It's been a while. Your face looks much better.”
“Thanks to the rest, yes.”
“You haven't forgotten our agreement, have you?”
“No. When should we go?”
“How about right now?”
The old man's expression was perfectly casual. Leon nodded with a blank face.
“…Understood.”
Although he was returning to work after a long break, there was no awkwardness. Since there was so little to do, it didn't take long to readjust. Once his duties were finished, he left the archive together with the old man.
They exited through the main gate and headed toward Herb Mountain. Unlike last time, there were no guards at the entrance, but Leon gave no sign that he'd noticed.
“What kind of herbs should I gather today?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, we gathered low-grade herbs last time, didn't we? Today I was thinking we'd go a bit deeper.”
The old man walked without even bothering to look for herbs. After climbing the mountain for quite some time, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Is this where we look?”
“Hmm…”
The old man didn't answer. Instead, he stared intently at Leon. Leon pretended to know nothing and scanned their surroundings. Then the old man spoke in a low voice.
“How did you awaken your mana?”
His tone carried a gloominess that hadn't been there before.
As expected.
Leon had known this moment would come. Hiding the tension that surged through him, he answered calmly.
“You already knew?”
“The fact that you think I wouldn't means you didn't learn it from anyone. That makes it even more fascinating. You awakened your mana all by yourself?”
Leon slowly began activating his core while recalling spell formulas in his mind. Noticing this, the old man curled his lips into a smile. It was a sinister grin that didn't match his kindly face.
“You only noticed now? But thinking you could face me with nothing but 1st Class was already a mistake.”
The old man raised his mana. Leon immediately assessed his opponent's rank.
3rd Class!
He had suspected it, but the man really was 3rd Class. Warning bells rang loudly in his head, yet Leon's eyes grew eerily calm instead.
“I hope you'll make a good test subject.”
The old man raised his hand with leisurely confidence.