Chapter 63
Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: 21: Frustration is What Breaks a Man
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When was that?
The first time I could use Tempest, I too, just like Tolari now, had peeked into the boundaries of Pure Magic and been captivated by it.
Of course, it wasn't the pure curiosity-driven obsession like Tolari's.
What I anticipated was firepower surpassing Tempest.
I imagined a scene where Pure Magic swept away the otherworldly army pouring out from the gate, and dove into new training...
The result, naturally, was failure.
At the time, I couldn't use holy magic at Arch Priest level. So I squeezed my pure brainpower to the limit, but the human brain's structure just didn't allow it.
Thinking back now, it was obvious. If even that Tolari couldn't do it, there's no way I could have succeeded?
But I had another ability.
Elixirs.
My mother's family, Lunenbreath, had gone all-in on elixirs from the start. It was the only innate talent I had, and the first ability I maxed out.
And when you become an elixir master, you can create new elixirs that didn't exist before.
So I developed a special elixir—not only to break through the brain's limit hindering Pure Magic, but also to prevent damage from overload if it succeeded.
Namely, the Brain Acceleration Elixir.
At first, I called it the 'Overclock Elixir,' but I scrapped it because the maids around me didn't understand the term. Well, it's natural if you don't know computers.
The completed Brain Acceleration Elixir boasted perfect effects.
The only issue was the painful side effects during consumption... Anyway, it allowed me to use Pure Magic, if only for a short moment, so I had to endure that much pain. The end justifies the means.
But.
The Pure Magic I finally completed was utterly useless against the otherworldly invasion.
The firepower I expected was near zero against their army, and since they didn't even use magic, there was hardly any way to apply it.
So I erased this route from my memory afterward.
The process was excruciatingly painful, the elixir material costs were enormous, and the results were meaningless on top of that?
Why on earth would I remember something like this?
Moreover, later I could produce the same Pure Magic using holy magic...
"Prince, this is the first time you've come down here in person."
"Uh, yeah?"
My mind snapped back. Rania, leading the way down the stairs, spoke with deep emotion.
"The late Princess Consort was an outstanding elixirist. Surely the Prince, who inherited her blood, possesses talent in elixirs as well."
"I hope so. I need to make something right now."
That elixir I'd erased from my memory.
The place we were heading to now was the elixir production facility in the basement of the mansion.
In previous regressions, I'd come down here often enough, but in this 10th round, I'd skipped direct elixir production altogether, leading to this situation.
"Your first time down here?"
Tolari, beside me, asked in an uneasy voice.
"Prince? You're not planning to make an elixir for the first time in your life and feed it to me, are you?"
"..."
I looked quietly at Tolari, who had followed me from the magic tower to here.
"It's not a complicated elixir to make. I've already completed all the clinical trials."
"Clinical trials?"
"Testing's done. The effects are confirmed, so don't worry."
"What I'm worried about isn't the elixir's effect—it's the person making it. Elixirs' potency depends on the maker's skill..."
Just then, the stairs ended, revealing the full view of the underground elixir production facility.
"Wow."
Tolari marveled, looking around in astonishment.
"This is the elixir production facility? How is it this huge? The basement feels bigger than the ground floor."
"Our Lunenbreath family has been crafting elixirs for centuries. Now, please follow me this way."
Rania spread her hand, guiding us further inside.
"Whenever we had spare time, we expanded the underground facilities instead of the mansion above. I hope it pleases the Arch Wizard."
"I like it. I feel like I could make anything here."
Tolari smiled brightly in response. As we walked, the maids working on elixir-related tasks around us bowed toward me in greeting.
"We greet the Prince."
"We greet the Prince."
"Those maids just now are sorting and roasting elixir materials. It's simple but extremely important work."
At Rania's explanation, Tolari looked around curiously before letting out another cheer.
"Wow! What's this? A warehouse? All of this is elixir materials?"
"Yes. Elixirs are all about the materials, after all. Half of the production facility is dedicated to storage like this."
Inside the iron shelves placed everywhere, meticulously sorted elixir materials were piled up like mountains. No wonder it was shocking at first glance. I was the same back then.
Rania continued leading us until she stopped in front of a large furnace and table deeper inside, then turned back.
"This is my personal production room. I make all sorts of elixirs for the Prince here."
"Good. Thanks for the guidance."
I nodded calmly, took a seat at the table, and drew a deep breath.
"Huu..."
Man, this smell's been a while too.
The scent of hundreds of mixed elixir ingredients burrowed deep into my nostrils. Then Tolari, sticking close beside me, whispered.
"I get it now. This place is the real deal."
"Hm?"
"I see your family is dead serious about elixirs. Well, your maternal side, not paternal."
"If you get it, step back a bit. I need to start making the Brain Acceleration Elixir now."
"Brain Acceleration Elixir, huh."
Rania, standing a little distance away, cleared her throat and asked.
"If I may, that's an elixir I've never heard of. Did the Prince come up with a new one?"
"No, I found the recipe in a secret library in the temple."
Of course, it was a lie. Saying it this way would keep them from doubting the effects.
I pulled a note listing the materials from my pocket and handed it to Rania.
"You have pretty much every elixir material here, right? Bring these, then."
"These are..."
Rania's eyes widened. I pretended not to notice and cleared my throat.
"What's wrong? Missing any materials?"
"No... No, sir. They're just so specialized, it surprised me."
"Specialized how?"
"They're rare materials not normally used. Are you really making an elixir with these?"
"Yeah. That's what the recipe says."
"I see. I'll fetch them right away."
Rania began swiftly circling the nearby warehouses. Watching her, Tolari asked with an uneasy expression.
"What materials are in it to make her react like that? Bad taste? Or expensive?"
"Some are pricey, but not to the point of being unaffordable."
"Then it's the taste. It's gotta taste awful, right? I'm bad with bitter stuff. Can I close my eyes and gulp it down? Without tasting it?"
"Once it hits your mouth, taste doesn't matter anyway."
That much was true. The moment the completed elixir entered the mouth, all choices vanished.
"Well, once swallowed, it's done. How bad can an elixir taste?"
Tolari crossed his arms and started tapping one foot nervously. Just then, Rania returned quickly and set the materials on the table.
"I have them, Prince."
"Thanks. Faster than I thought."
"The rarer the material, the closer I keep them to my workstation. Now, first..."
Rania pointed to a handful of black beans on the far left.
"This is the fruit of the 'Venom Spider Slayer.'"
"Venom Spider Slayer!"
Tolari jumped back in shock. It was certainly a creepy name. One that killed any desire to eat it.
"We shorten it to 'Poison Killer Fruit.' Spiders with deadly venom start seeking this fruit after living a long time, and die soon after, hence the name."
"Ugh..."
"It has almost no effect on its own. But it's used to amplify the hidden properties of other materials. A tiny amount goes into vomiting elixirs, a small amount into consciousness restoration elixirs. It's said to be used in speed reading elixirs too, though those aren't made much anymore."
"Speed reading elixir?"
"An elixir that lets you read books faster. But it causes severe headaches later, so it's rarely used now. And this..."
Rania pointed to the brown tree root next to it.
"Is the fine root of the Golden Tree. The main roots are too toxic to use, so we collect only these fine roots."
"Eek..."
"This is also rarely used unless in special cases. Like sound elixirs, for example."
"Sound elixir? What's that?"
"An elixir that restores hearing for those who can't hear. It's not guaranteed to work, so you take it for about a month and judge based on the response whether to continue."
"My hearing's perfectly fine."
Tolari pointed to his ear while looking at me. I shrugged with a what-do-you-want-me-to-do expression.
"Who said otherwise?"
"But still..."
"They're mixed anyway, so different effects come out. No need to react to each one."
"As the Prince says. And the final material is the spotted stag beetle."
"Beetle!"
Tolari's face went pale instantly. Rania tapped a pile of dried beetles with legs removed, only torsos left.
"Stag beetles are common materials found in any forest. We catch plenty in the Lunenbreath woods too."
"But what's special about this one?"
"These with multiple spots on their backs are extremely rare. You might find one in a hundred caught."
"Then isn't it a different species?"
"It's more about the environment than species, I think. Still, it's used more commonly than the previous two. It's the main ingredient in the large batch of plunder elixirs we made recently."
"Plunder elixir..."
Tolari lifted his sleeve to his nose and sniffed. Finishing the material introduction, Rania leaned toward me and pleaded.
"Prince, all these are high-difficulty materials that are hard to handle."
"Yeah. The recipe noted that too."
"So wouldn't it be better if I made it? Just tell me the method..."
"It's fine. Making it isn't that hard. Let me see, is this mortar clean?"
I pointed to the mortar on the table. Rania bit her lip, smiled, and nodded.
"Good. Then let's begin."
I put all the materials Rania had brought into the mortar and started grinding.
"And bring some hot water? The kind boiled once and slightly cooled."
"We always have that ready in the production room. I'll get it right away."
Rania left promptly. I smiled as I put the finely ground, well-mixed powder into a strainer.
"Alright. Now it's done."
"Huh? That's it?"
"Materials prep is finished. The next step's a bit tedious, though."
"I have the hot water, Prince."
Rania returned quickly with a small kettle. I placed the strainer over a fixed elixir vial and began pouring the hot water on top.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
"...If I may, Prince."
Rania, watching, cleared her throat and interjected.
"Watching from the side... Well, you probably know this already."
"Yeah? What?"
"Even the same elixir can have completely different effects based on the maker's experience. From finely grinding the materials to something as simple as pouring water for infusion like now."
"Obviously. Otherwise anyone could be an elixirist."
I focused meticulously on controlling the water flow as I spoke.
"That's why I'm making it myself at first. If made properly, it's more dangerous."
"What do you mean? Properly made is more dangerous?"
"If a top-grade elixirist like you makes it, the effects become too potent, which is riskier. At first, it needs to brew weakly. Otherwise, it's a bit..."
"A bit what?"
Tolari jumped in quickly. I poured the last drop with utmost care, then let out a sigh.
"A bit agonizing."
"Agonizing? For me?"
"Yeah. For you."
"Hmm..."
"Alright, all done. Whoa, hot."
I grabbed the elixir vial barehanded and blew on it to cool.
"Almost used cooling magic. That would've ruined everything."
"All done? So now I just drink it?"
Tolari, taking the vial with an uneasy face, asked. But Rania, who had been watching, suddenly dashed somewhere, grabbed a new vial, and hurried back.
"Whew, my apologies."
"What's that? Another elixir?"
"Vomiting elixir and detoxification elixir."
"Vomiting? Detox?"
"Yes. I trust the Prince, of course, but just in case."
"Mom, these people keep scaring me..."
Tolari, looking sullen, sighed at the vial. I lightly grabbed his hand and gave the final precautions.
"Tolari. Listen carefully to what I say from now on."
"Prince? You're scaring me more, so don't set the mood."
"Cut the nonsense. First thing to keep in mind: this Brain Acceleration Elixir doesn't take effect right after one dose."
"Then?"
"Twice a day, at least for a fortnight straight."
"A fortnight? Why so long?"
"It's not just about dismantling the brain's limits. You need a process to protect the brain from damage in that state."
"Ah."
"After drinking like that, around the fortnight mark, you'll feel it. That you've gained control of 'that domain.' But once you activate Pure Magic, it reverts, so no consecutive uses. You'll pass out spewing nosebleeds."
"Don't worry. Once is enough. But Prince, you talk like you've definitely drunk it before."
Well, because in the past, I'd drunk it to my heart's content?