Episode 46
Episode 46
Huff... huff...
"You want to rest?"
Lee Han stopped walking when the white horse made tired sounds.
Though it had been fiercely aggressive earlier, he felt pleased that it was now attempting to communicate.
'We're getting closer!'
"Alright. Here, drink some water. I'll give you sugar too."
Huff...
The white horse reluctantly admitted—though it hated to—that it was gradually yielding to this boy.
Huff!
Suddenly, the white horse's eyes shot wide open.
The ancient wild blood flowing through its veins awakened its pride.
It couldn't surrender like this!
Watching this, Lee Han muttered seriously,
"How do I increase the amount of mana absorption?"
...Huff.
The white horse lowered its eyes again and bowed its head.
Even though he woke up early to tend to the horse, the academy wouldn't wait for him.
Whether he was sleepy or hungry, he had to jump up and head to his next class.
After finishing his chores, Lee Han handed each of his friends returning to the Black Turtle Tower a can of beef and a can of pickled cucumbers.
Nilia, who received the cans, was genuinely happy...
...or rather, she wore a flustered expression as she rummaged through her pockets.
"??"
"I... don't have any money..."
"...I'm just giving them to you."
Lee Han reflected slightly on his own actions.
'Was that too much?'
"Really?? Are you serious? Really?"
"Think calmly about whether this is really a situation that warrants asking again."
Nilia perked up her long ears and accepted the cans.
However, Ratford refused firmly.
"I cannot accept this."
"......"
Nilia subtly glanced around.
'Do... do I have to give mine back too?'
"It's an order."
"Understood, then."
Ratford took the cans. Nilia sighed in relief.
'Thank goodness!'
After the two left, Lee Han turned to Yoner and asked,
"I didn't expect that kind of reaction. Yoner, was I too harsh?"
"No? Why?"
"I see. That's a relief."
For a brief moment, Lee Han thought, 'Maybe I should ask someone else for an objective opinion,' but he decided to let it go.
"Let's have breakfast, Yoner. The early risers will be in the lounge, so we should share some. Can you help me record it in the ledger?"
"Of course."
The two happily prepared to treat their friends to a hearty breakfast.
...Of course, it wasn't entirely free, but they were still happy about it.
Lee Han spread mustard on small pieces of bread and placed them on a plate.
The fireplace in the freshman lounge was always a good friend to the students. Lee Han cracked an egg next to the sizzling bacon on the frying pan.
The fried egg cooked instantly with a sizzling sound.
'What is it about bloodlines that makes people go this far?'
Right now, Lee Han wasn't preparing a meal for himself. Nor was he making food for the friends in the lounge.
This meal was for the Princess, who was in her private room.
—Wardanaz. We'll pay you silver coins like last time—can you deliver a meal to Her Highness the Princess?
—Please, Wardanaz!
Though he was doing it for the extra money, Lee Han still couldn't understand it no matter how much he thought about it.
Power was supposed to be delegated by the majority of the populace, not derived from some mysterious ancient bloodline.
What was it about royalty that made people go to such lengths?
'Gainando is managing just fine on his own.'
Gainando was waking up on his own, coming down to the lounge, and diligently eating breakfast without anyone's help.
It was admirable adaptability.
In that sense, the students' excessive care might actually be harmful to the Princess.
Knock knock knock—
"?"
The door opened, and Adenart appeared just like last time.
Lee Han shrugged and held out the plate.
"I cooked downstairs."
He thought he saw Adenart's expression brighten ever so slightly.
Or perhaps it was just the morning sunlight streaming in through the side window.
Adelnard carefully accepted the plate and picked up a fork before pausing abruptly.
Then, he bowed his head slightly, closed the door, and retreated inside.
'He ate outside last time, but he's grown since then.'
Lee Han mused as he descended the stairs.
Come to think of it, it seemed the other towers besides the Blue Dragon Tower also had their own followers...
If he played his cards right with these followers, couldn't he earn separate silver coins from each of them?
'Good heavens. I came up with it myself, but this is truly a devilish method.'
Lee Han shuddered at his own potential.
By the time he graduated from the academy, the funds he'd accumulated might even be enough to open a small workshop.
"Huh? Why aren't we outside today?"
"Don't be fooled. They might have hidden monsters inside the classroom."
The <Understanding Basic Alchemy> class was held not outside or in the main building, but in one of the annexes—the Alchemy Hall.
Thanks to the greenhouses attached to it, the interior was warmer than outside.
But by now, even the freshmen had developed some wariness.
Just because it's indoors doesn't mean it's good!
"Everyone, gather up! Be ready for monsters to appear!"
"Your Highness, please come this way. We'll protect you."
"......"
Lee Han was dumbfounded as he watched the students from other towers.
The Princess was also a student of the Blue Dragon Tower!
"Don't worry, Wardanaz. We won't lose to them either."
Ashan Dalkard grinned confidently as he spoke.
Lee Han's group had grown considerably in number by now.
Lee Han, Joner, Ashan, and Nilia.
In terms of member quality alone, they absolutely wouldn't lose to any other group.
"Everyone, take your seats."
Thunderstep entered while yawning. For some reason, his face looked utterly exhausted.
"Professor, why aren't we holding class outside today?"
"What? Because it's an alchemy class, so we're doing it inside."
The dwarf professor stared at the questioning student as if he were an idiot.
Flustered, the student pressed further.
"But last time, you said alchemy is about gathering ingredients, so we should do it outside..."
"That was for ingredient gathering, you iron-headed fool. Do you plan to brew potions outside too? Such an inflexible brat."
Finishing his remark, Thunderstep swiftly scanned the room.
"I suppose you all had similar thoughts? But don't worry. Unlike outdoor alchemy classes, indoor alchemy classes are very safe and comfortable."
'That's a lie.'
'Total lie.'
'Only a complete fool would believe that.'
The students weren't fooled. Thunderstep seemed to notice their skeptical looks and grinned.
"Alright! Everyone, pour water into the cauldrons in front of you. Alchemy is a comprehensive art. From gathering ingredients to extinguishing flames, no step is unimportant. But among them, the process of brewing magical potions is especially critical. Those who waste the ingredients they painstakingly gathered will never become outstanding alchemists! Open your books! Now, let's attempt to brew a <Lesser Mana Recovery Potion>!"
Flippity-flap—
The only sounds that followed were the quiet rustling of pages being turned.
'This is going to be tough.'
At first glance, alchemy might seem far easier than other forms of magic.
After all, wasn't it just about adding ingredients in a set order without needing to learn complex and difficult spells?
But the moment Lee Han actually tried it, he immediately understood why alchemy was so challenging.
Alchemy was like preparing an extremely difficult dish nonstop within a short timeframe.
—Cut off the base of the Galamaldu, then slice the remaining part into segments the size of two finger joints. Simultaneously, the Snowscent Herb must be shredded thinly by hand, and this must be done swiftly before the Galamaldu dries out. The sliced Galamaldu must be blanched in boiling water for three minutes, while the Snowscent Herb requires two minutes and thirty seconds. Meanwhile, powdered red magic crystal must be prepared and added precisely when the boiling water turns green. Once the liquid shifts to orange, stir three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, then five times from north to south...
You had to prepare all the ingredients on the spot (most of them couldn't be prepared in advance), memorize exactly when and how to add them (there was no time to check the book while actually working), and execute every single overly detailed motion without missing a single step.
It would've been strange if your brain didn't cramp up.
Boom! Pfft-boom!
Sure enough, explosions and all kinds of smoke started rising from here and there. Thunderstep watched with a delighted laugh.
As an alchemist, nothing was more entertaining than watching greenhorns cough and wheeze in the acrid smoke.
If you couldn't enjoy this, when else would you get the chance?
"...?"
Thunderstep, who had been laughing merrily, suddenly paused as his gaze landed on one side.
It was because he had spotted Lee Han's cauldron.
'Why the hell is that kid doing so well?'
Thunderstep' eyes widened in shock.
Of course, he already knew that the boy from the Wardanaz family was talented.
Not just intelligent, but also patient enough to quietly handle all sorts of miscellaneous tasks.
There was no doubt he had the makings of an alchemist.
...But even students with alchemical talent were supposed to make a few mistakes and go through trial and error when first learning alchemy.
Wasn't that just basic courtesy and tradition?
Otherwise, wouldn't the senior alchemists feel embarrassed and bored?
But Lee Han moved without pause, like an alchemist who had worked in a workshop for over a decade.
Like a machine, he swiftly cut the herbs into precise sizes and tossed them into the cauldron, flipped several hourglasses in sequence, then lifted a glass bottle to pour its contents into the cauldron. Every motion flowed seamlessly, like a dance.
Thunderstep had no choice but to admit it.
True geniuses really did exist.
Otherwise, how could a student just starting alchemy display such flawless movements?
'By my ancestors' damned beards, no one would believe me if I told them what I just saw!'
In truth, this wasn't innate genius.
Just the sad result of being ground under a professor's heel for so long!
The inside of Lee Han's cauldron turned blue—a deep, rich blue. The moment Thunderstep saw the color, he knew the potion had been brewed perfectly.
But then Lee Han took a small sip, tilted his head in confusion, and dumped the potion out.
"???"
Thunderstep didn't understand.
Why throw it away?
Lee Han started brewing again.
As if to prove that his earlier display wasn't a fluke, his movements were just as flawless.
And once again, a potion with the same perfect blue hue was completed.
Lee Han tasted it again, tilted his head once more, and dumped it out.
"......"
Thunderstep couldn't take it anymore.
Normally, he would leave students to figure things out on their own no matter what questions they had, but this was just too baffling.
He quietly approached Lee Han and asked,
"Why do you keep throwing the potion away?"
"It doesn't restore mana."
"What?"
Thunderstep was startled.
He quickly checked the book again, wondering if he had written the recipe wrong—but there were no mistakes.
"????"
It was brewed correctly, and he clearly drank it, so why wasn't it restoring mana?
"Make it again."
"Yes."
Lee Han brewed it again.
Thunderstep, waiting with an impatient expression, immediately scooped up the potion with a ladle and drank it.
As the blue liquid slid down his throat, it instantly transformed into mana, surging through his entire body.
Even if Thunderstep had brewed it himself, he couldn't have made it any more perfect.
"It's fine?"
"Really?"
Lee Han drank it with a doubtful expression, then tilted his head just like before and said,
"It's not working for me?"
"......"
Thunderstep was stunned.
Was this kid implying he could produce a better recipe than the one Thunderstep had confidently provided? This genius from the Wardanaz family?
'No! My pride...!'
"Ah. It's because your mana is already full."
"......"