Chapter 54
Chapter 54
The Unidentified Creature of the Swamp
Idnia taught Milena her vanillin extraction recipe.
“So, if you modify and extract the lignin in plant cell walls, you can produce vanillin.
It’s the raw material for vanilla fragrance.”
As Idnia explained the spell structure and target points, Milena became flustered.
“What? This is modified extraction, isn’t it? And at an extremely high level at that?”
“Yes. Is it strange?”
“You’re a first-year, right? And you can do something like that? I mean, I can do modified extraction, but the target point for this is too small.
Honestly, even I can’t manage something like this.”
“Oh, really?
In any case, with this kind of modified extraction, the lignin structure that makes up the cell wall is completely torn apart, making it easier to extract the core substances within the cell wall. So I performed modified extraction as a preliminary step.
If you want to save mana used for extracting lignin derivatives, it’s probably better to boil it.
Apply heat at around 140 degrees, and as a catalyst add salt, treating the lignin derivatives with chlorine…”
Listening to Idnia’s recipe, Milena felt as though she had become an apprentice.
“I thought I was a fairly competent alchemist myself… and this is the princess of the Duchy of Betelgeuse?”
If anything, she had far more to learn from Idnia.
“Is it that strange?”
Idnia asked, looking at Milena, who was making a peculiar expression while staring at her.
“Well… rather than strange, I’d say it’s genius.”
“Rather than me being a genius, I’m simply standing on the shoulders of giants.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, the reason I can see far isn’t because I’m tall… but because I benefit from the knowledge of my predecessors.”
“I don’t know which predecessors you’re talking about, but I haven’t studied lightly either, so I guess they’re not mine.”
“Oh, actually, I discovered this during the papermaking process. And the Duchy of Betelgeuse has sawmills, you see.”
After Idnia explained that, Milena understood.
She knew well that the Duchy of Betelgeuse mainly traded timber.
“Alright. Then let’s give it a try.”
Following Idnia’s advice, Milena attempted the extraction spell, but encountered a large number of errors.
There was a faint vanilla scent from the mixture, but not enough quantity or purity for commercial use.
There were too many impurities mixed in, requiring additional separation work, which in turn consumed a considerable amount of mana.
“It’s possible, but there are far too many impurities. How can this be? I can’t do something a first-year academy student can?”
“It’s not just any first-year student. Only our master can do this.”
The Black Wolf beside them shrugged proudly.
It wasn’t clear what he, someone unfamiliar with magic, truly understood, but with sheer faith in Idnia, he insisted that this was something only she could achieve.
“First, if you grind the wood structure with a pulverizer into pulp and pre-treat it with chlorine or vinegar before casting the spell, it’ll be much easier.”
Idnia also offered improvements after seeing Milena’s failure.
Milena then made a suggestion to Idnia.
“…Hmm. If it’s alright, could you show me how to make a rapid growth potion using those materials here? I’ll provide all the necessary equipment.”
Milena suggested that Idnia go ahead and craft the potion on the spot.
The Black Wolf, sensing her intentions, issued a warning.
“Ah, master. That woman is trying to learn your technique by watching you work. That’s what this is.”
His words hit the mark, causing Milena to flinch, but Idnia gladly accepted the proposal.
“If I can be of help, I’d be delighted. I also have much to learn from you, Milena.”
“Heh… I wonder if there’s anything I could teach you, but very well. Let’s share our knowledge.”
Milena taught her the potion recipe and prepared the specialized magic tools needed for the intermediate steps.
“I’ll lend these to you, so feel free to use them.”
“I don’t know the spell to enhance potion efficacy. Could you teach me?”
“Oh, you’re a first-year, aren’t you? Hard to believe, but you really are.
You’ll learn it during class anyway… alright.”
Milena taught her the enhancement spell.
She had wondered if this was knowledge appropriate for a first-year academy student, but Idnia seemed to grasp its principles quite easily.
“Oh, I see. You’re casting a spell that targets the potion’s receptors.
But since this kind of magic doesn’t last very long, shouldn’t it be applied after making the potion instead of during?”
“Applying the enhancement spell during potion creation is the most effective. If you’re worried about the duration, you can use a potion base.”
“A potion base… it’s a material always mentioned in alchemy classes. What is it made from?”
“What? You don’t even know that?
Honestly, you know such difficult things, yet lack basic alchemy knowledge?
Your knowledge is oddly skewed.
It’s the mandrake juice we just extracted. That’s the raw material of the potion base.
A potion mixed with mandrake juice can store the enhancement spell for as short as two weeks, or as long as indefinitely, strengthening its effects.”
“I see.”
Idnia was able to learn various practical aspects of potion-making from Milena.
As expected, there was much to learn from an alchemist with her own workshop.
While teaching many things, Milena no longer demanded payment from Idnia.
At first, she had thought she should charge for recipes and such, but upon witnessing Idnia’s remarkable extraction ability and her unusually exceptional knowledge of physical chemistry, she decided that instead of focusing on profit, it would be better to build a friendly relationship with her.
With Milena’s help, Idnia successfully created the rapid growth potion needed for crops.
“What did I just witness?”
“Pardon?”
“No, with this amount of materials, you produced this much potion. Unbelievable.
You clearly showed some immaturity in handling mana, as expected of a first-year, but how is it that the synthesis output is this high?
Your control over spell target points seems almost innate.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Just watching isn’t enough to replicate it.”
Though she had intended to learn Idnia’s technique, it wasn’t something that could be stolen simply by observing.
However, rather than feeling despair, Milena was genuinely in awe of Idnia’s skill.
“Oh, I’ll need to buy additional potion bottles. I’ll pay for them.”
“No, consider it a gift.
Idnia Katze Betelgeuse. Take this as a token of friendship. It’s not often that a merchant gives gifts, so be surprised.”
“Thank you.”
Idnia sincerely expressed her gratitude to Milena, filled the bottles with the rapid growth potion, and left her workshop together with the Black Wolf.
“…Incredible. So geniuses really do exist.”
Milena muttered to herself as she watched Idnia leave her workshop.
Idnia stepped outside Milena’s workshop.
Even after some time had passed, the rain continued to fall steadily.
“It looks like this rain will last all day. Master, you finally got some time outside, what should we do?”
“It’s fine.
We’ll just walk in the rain at this level.
More importantly, you were bored, weren’t you, Black Wolf? While handling work you wouldn’t understand.”
“Well, even if I don’t understand magic or alchemy, there’s one thing I know for sure.
Our master has become a mage.
Even that alchemist seemed quite surprised.
A genius, aren’t you?”
“Calling me a genius is too much.”
“But I’ll call you a genius anyway.
I’ll boast that my master is someone amazing.”
“Please don’t. It’s embarrassing.”
“Then where should we go?
Even though the southern Medici family bought the restaurant here, the quality of the food has improved quite a bit.”
“No, before that, there’s somewhere we need to go.”
“Somewhere?”
“Yes. We should use the potion we made.
Let’s go to the swamp.”
“What? In this rain?
Besides, that swamp is dangerous.
Monsters appear there.”
“That’s exactly why we’re going.”
Idnia and the Black Wolf headed toward the swamp.
At the foot of the mountain where the academy was located, where rainwater seeped underground and flowed out as springs toward the sea, a strange swamp had formed.
Because residues from various magical potions and experiments conducted at the academy had soaked into the area, mana lingered in the air and peculiar monsters appeared, making it a restricted zone under normal circumstances.
Before entering, Idnia released the suppression of her Overlord Arts.
“Black Wolf, draw your weapon as well. It will become dangerous from here.”
“Alright. I’ll take the lead.”
The Black Wolf drew a dagger and stepped forward.
“This is a swamp, but this ground is firm. This way. Be careful not to slip because of the rain.”
“Yes.”
Following the Black Wolf’s guidance, Idnia walked along the solid ground deeper into the swamp.
Inside, fish-like humanoids were wandering about, holding harpoons made of bone and coral.
Slash!
The fish-like humanoids collapsed, becoming corpses, and the Black Wolf stood atop them.
“There are grotesque monsters, but once their nerves are severed, they die instantly.”
“Be careful. These creatures have stronger vitality than humans. If their nervous systems aren’t destroyed like now, they can still move and counterattack even after sustaining fatal injuries.”
“Ah, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
The Black Wolf spoke confidently, then suddenly stiffened.
“Ah… something’s there. Inside the water… this is a very ominous presence.”
“We’ve come to the right place.”
Idnia took out a small potion bottle from her sleeve.
It was the rapid plant growth potion she had just made at Milena’s workshop.
“What are you planning to do?”
As the Black Wolf wondered, Idnia flicked the bottle with her finger.
The bottle, infused with the aura of the Overlord, shot forward like a bullet and struck the surface of the water.
Then, the monstrous entity hidden within the water, the unidentified creature of the swamp, revealed itself.
“Graaah?!”
“This massive swamp monster had absorbed all sorts of magical waste from the academy into its body. It had strong anti-magic resistance, could drag targets underwater to suffocate them, and even had a regeneration gimmick when submerged. Quite a troublesome opponent. But if struck with a rapid plant growth potion…”
Reeds began growing inside the swamp creature’s body.
Plants took root and tore through its body from within.
As the plants rapidly expanded, the swamp creature’s body began to tear apart piece by piece.
“Gwoooaaargh!?”
The swamp creature attempted to attack Idnia, but with each step it took, its body crumbled, while aquatic plants such as reeds, cattails, water hyacinths, and lotuses spilled out of it.
Even so, it approached Idnia and raised its fist…
Bang!
With a single punch from Idnia, the swamp creature was shattered into pieces and sent flying.
“…You made the potion just for this? And how did you even know something like this existed?”
“Because magical waste from the academy keeps giving birth to monsters here. It will probably spawn again in a few months.”
Idnia explained this to the Black Wolf and examined the remains of the fallen swamp creature.
“Hmm, it should be here somewhere… ah, here it is. The ‘Heart of the Swamp Spirit’! And this is… hmm.”
Idnia found a green-glowing obsidian fragment—the heart of the swamp spirit—and a small jewelry box. Opening it revealed a necklace and a cross decorated with gold and gems.
“Wow. What’s this?”
“It doesn’t seem to have any magic. Just ornaments, it seems. I’ll sell it. I was hoping for a magic sword, but as expected, the drop rate for that is too low.”
“A magic sword?”
“Yes. The magic sword ‘Man Eater’ created by academy seniors likely drifted into this swamp. But it doesn’t matter if it’s not here.”
Even without obtaining the magic sword, Idnia showed no disappointment.
In the original game, it was a low drop-rate item, and up to now, most enemies hadn’t been able to withstand a single blow from Idnia.
“Alright, since we’ve earned some money, shall we go get something delicious to eat? We’ve skipped too many meals because we were in such a rush.”
Idnia and the Black Wolf finally headed back to town to eat.