Episode 401
Episode 401
"Come to think of it, that's not what's important right now."
"Then what is important...?"
Professor Thunderstep muttered discontentedly, having been about to listen further.
He had wanted to hear exactly what had happened from his student's own mouth.
"When we heard Lady Yoanen Maykin's words, we had this discussion. We wondered if we should attempt to manufacture the <Paragranum's Veil> with this person's help. But we didn't know they were a first-year student."
"Is that so?"
"Of course it is."
Professor Thunderstep grumbled.
Who in their right mind would hear that and assume it was a first-year student?
"Would you be willing to help us?"
"Of course."
Lee Han had come here intending to flatter them anyway. There was no reason to refuse.
"Professor, may I borrow the workshop for a while?"
"Do as you please."
The alchemists bowed their heads with deeply grateful expressions.
Then, they rose from their seats and headed toward the workshop with Lee Han.
"...?!"
Professor Thunderstep realized belatedly.
'Wait, isn't that how secret techniques are taught?!'
Just like that, as naturally as flowing water?!
"Though, I don't have much experience in alchemy myself."
"Is that so? We assumed you had plenty of experience, given that you worked in Lady Yoanen Maykin's workshop."
"About half a year..."
At Lee Han's answer, the Paragranum alchemists stared at him in shock, as though they had just heard something unbelievable.
Seeing these alchemists, who had shown little emotion until now, react like this, Lee Han felt a slight pressure and added:
"...Actually, it might have been a bit longer than that."
"Ah, as we thought! How much longer?"
"About one more month?"
"......"
The alchemists suddenly began whispering among themselves. Lee Han regretted speaking carelessly.
"Lee Han, might you be interested in the Paragranum Guild?"
Fortunately, the alchemists didn't press further and instead made a genuine offer. Relieved, Lee Han answered:
"I've always admired the Paragranum Guild. Among the Empire's alchemist guilds, isn't it the one most dedicated to new discoveries? I still remember when they developed the cure for Blue Blood Disease two years ago."
"You flatter us too much."
Though these alchemists weren't the type to be swayed by mere compliments, they highly valued the fact that Lee Han held goodwill toward the Paragranum Guild.
If he had a favorable impression of the guild, there was a good chance he might consider joining after graduation.
"However, it's hard to deny that our guild possesses certain advantages that other alchemist guilds lack."
"Is that so?"
Lee Han suddenly grew interested.
After all, wasn't the most accurate information not the rumors from outside, but the evaluations of those working within?
What advantages did these alchemists consider most important?
The Paragranum alchemists spoke with faint pride.
"First, once we begin a research project, we don't stop for excuses like rest."
"...?"
Lee Han sensed something odd, but the alchemists continued.
"And our guild conducts dangerous research that other guilds avoid."
"Oh... By any chance, do the alchemists here receive lower compensation than those in other guilds?"
"You're quite perceptive. Yes, that's correct. Instead of wasting gold coins, we reinvest them into research."
"What a truly wonderful guild."
"Indeed."
As the conversation ended, Lee Han smiled and nodded.
And inwardly, he thought:
'I should never go anywhere near the Paragranum Guild building.'
It was even crazier than he had imagined.
"So, what kind of potion is the <Paragranum's Veil>? I don't recall hearing about it before..."
If it were a potion publicly available on the market, Lee Han would likely have heard of it. But strangely, this was the first time he had encountered the name.
"It's never been made public, so of course you wouldn't have heard of it."
"I see... Wait. Then isn't that a secret formula?"
Lee Han was taken aback.
If it was a potion not released to the public, it must be the guild's secret technique—was it really okay to share it like this?
"Yes. That's correct."
"Is it alright for me to know?"
"Isn't it necessary for the research?"
The alchemists looked at Lee Han as if wondering why he'd ask such an obvious question.
Lee Han couldn't help but feel like he'd become the strange one here.
'Hmm. Maybe I should've brought Professor Thunderstep along after all.'
"...I understand."
"We knew you would. <Paragranum's Veil> is a type of stealth potion."
"A stealth... potion?"
Lee Han was surprised.
Stealth-type potions were generally considered to have rather limited effects.
'Is there some principle beyond Transformation Magic or Enchantment Magic involved? Improvements are possible, but...'
While you could change the method and principles to extend duration or enhance effects, for something the Paragranum Guild was researching, this seemed like a surprisingly minor potion.
"Yes. But it's somewhat different from what you're imagining. What we aim to conceal isn't physical form or appearance, but specific emanations."
"!"
The emanations released by a presence.
That could be the oppressive pressure from mana, the elemental aura emitted by spirits, or even the killing intent radiating from a knight.
Selectively blocking only such specific emanations was an approach Lee Han had never even considered.
"Is that really possible?"
"Theoretically, it's nearly complete. All that remains is experimentation. There are two areas where we'd like your assistance. First is mana. We've heard you input abnormal levels of magical energy when processing materials."
"...I wouldn't say it's abnormal levels..."
Lee Han muttered, but the alchemists ignored him.
"Normally, this isn't a method commonly used in alchemy."
Alchemy was a discipline of meticulous, error-free calculations.
If the calculations were precise, there was no need to forcibly input mana at abnormal levels like Lee Han did.
Moreover, attempting such methods might cause the alchemist to collapse before the potion was even completed.
"But <Paragranum's Veil> is a special case. We anticipate that excessive mana input might be key to perfecting this potion's effects."
"I see... Wait. You said two things—what's the other?"
"We've heard you emit such intense mana pressure that it frightens spirits. Once the potion is complete, we'd like to test whether it can suppress that pressure. Would you permit this?"
Among various emanations, those detectable by sensitive beings like spirits were the hardest to conceal.
If the potion worked successfully on someone who intimidated spirits, it would essentially prove its success.
"...I don't mind, but where did you hear about that?"
"Lady Yoanen Maykin mentioned it."
'Lady Yoanen!'
Lee Han inwardly cursed Yoner's older sister.
Why did she have to share even that kind of information...
"Again." "Again." "Again." "You really do have tremendous mana reserves." "Again." "Again." "Again." "Again." "Again."
Professor Thunderstep, who had come to observe, marveled at Lee Han's patience.
Back in Thunderstep' student days, teaching like this would have made five out of ten students quit, three would have run away, one would have punched the teacher in the face, and one would have persevered to the end.
Lee Han clearly belonged to the last category.
Though the Paragranum Guild alchemists kept shouting "Again" like madmen, Lee Han showed no change in expression as he measured ingredients, swung his staff, and adjusted flame intensity.
"Is everything proceeding well?"
"Yes. Thanks to Lee Han's exceptional talent. Wait. Do it once more."
Professor Thunderstep glanced sideways at Lee Han. Fortunately, his fists weren't clenched.
Professor Thunderstep couldn't help but feel concerned, as he'd heard about Lee Han's swordsmanship skills from Professor Ingoldel.
"Still, it's the weekend. Wouldn't it be better to take a short break?"
Though he always told his students to work hard and learn, even Professor Thunderstep had a conscience.
It was impossible not to pity a disciple who had been standing in front of a cauldron for about 12 hours straight, repeating tasks while hearing "Again" over and over.
"Professor. Do you know one of the reasons Lord Lee Han holds the Paragranum Guild in such high regard?"
"...Uh... Because they set fire to the capital?"
"No. It's because once they begin a research project, they never stop under the excuse of taking breaks."
"......"
Professor Thunderstep could see Lee Han, who had been stirring the cauldron with an expressionless face, clenching his fist for the first time.
...He wasn't about to get punched, was he?
"W-well. I clearly tried to stop him. You understand, right? I definitely tried to stop him."
"??"
The alchemists, unsure who the professor was talking to, tilted their heads in confusion.
Just then—
"Ahhh!!"
When one of the alchemists screamed, Professor Thunderstep whipped his head around in alarm.
He was worried that Lee Han, unable to bear it any longer, had shoved the alchemist into the cauldron. Such incidents had happened frequently in the past.
Fortunately, that wasn't the case this time. Silver smoke was rising from the cauldron.
"Is it complete?"
"Yes! Finally!"
With the intuition of a skilled alchemist, Professor Thunderstep could sense that the potion before them had been successfully completed.
Though he hadn't yet figured out what kind of potion it was, this was still cause for celebration.
"Congratulations. After all that hard work."
"No. We wouldn't have been able to complete it on our own."
"Who would've thought the correct answer was to overload it with mana to this extent? Everyone would be shocked if they heard. Isn't that right, Lord Lee Han?"
It was only natural for the alchemists to be astonished.
The potion had kept failing right before completion, and the solution turned out to be pumping in an insane amount of magical mana into the ingredients.
It wasn't just a slight increase—it was pouring in so much that one would think, 'Do we really need to pour in this much mana?' That had been the hidden answer all along.
"You must be exhausted from expending so much mana."
"That doesn't seem to be the...?"
Though Professor Thunderstep denied it, Lee Han said nothing. He just stood there silently with a weary expression.
'Yeah, I am tired.'
After continuously repeating such an immensely long potion-making process without rest, it was impossible not to be exhausted.
No matter how much the alchemists did their best to assist, the burden inevitably piled up.
Still, it was definitely a good opportunity. Lee Han understood why Professor Thunderstep had invited outside alchemists.
'From the way they handle ingredients to the spells they use—it was different from Einrogard's methods.'
Just watching other alchemists work made him feel like the boundaries of his thinking had expanded.
Even for potion recipes he already knew, mixing in a few of the Paragranum Guild's secret techniques might yield better results than before.
Maybe this was why guilds guarded their expertise so tightly as hidden knowledge.
'Right. I should definitely be grateful for learning something like this—'
"Lord Lee Han. Are you alright?"
"Yes."
"Your mana too?"
"Yes."
"See, what did I tell you?"
Professor Thunderstep replied as if to say, I told you so.
"Then we'll summon a spirit to test the potion."
"......"
While Lee Han was left speechless in disbelief, the alchemists made the decision among themselves and headed outside.
They needed a wide space to summon a spirit and have it face Lee Han.
Left alone with him, Professor Thunderstep found himself making excuses again without realizing it.
"...Next time, I won't invite the Paragranum Guild alchemists for sure."
"No. Please do invite them whenever possible."
"Really?"
"Yes. How could I deprive my juniors of a learning opportunity?"
"......"
For some reason, the word "learning" sounded more like "suffering" to Professor Thunderstep's ears.