Chapter 275: The Disparities of Life
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: The Disparities of Life
Ariel returned to her room.
She opened the door.
It was pitch black inside.
Her expression didn't change in the slightest; she seemed long accustomed to this darkness.
She fumbled around in her robes for a good while before finally pulling out... a candle.
A plain, ordinary candle.
And only half a stub at that.
Ariel flicked her finger, sparking a flame to light it. The crooked candle bore the messy marks of melted wax tears that had been scraped off and pressed back onto it. The flame it produced wasn't particularly bright.
But for Ariel, it was enough.
She could use this opportunity to train her Night Vision skill.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Carefully holding the candle, she walked into the room, approached her desk, and sat down.
She fell into deep thought.
A long time passed.
She felt the still-warm stack of bills in her palm, and a blissful smile graced her lips.
"Liya, you're so good to me."
"That little girl was lying."
A second voice rang out. The dim candlelight flickered as a misty shadow gradually drifted upward. Though her form was hazy, one could faintly discern the silhouette of a beauty.
This was Ariel’s mentor.
A mysterious and powerful soul.
Her silhouette in the candlelight traced the figure of a woman sitting sideways on the desk, looking down at her disciple.
"I know."
Ariel’s expression remained unchanged at her mentor's sudden words. She spoke softly:
"Having lived with her day and night for so long, how could I not recognize her lies? That silly girl doesn't even know how to lie. Church sponsorship... how could that be possible? This money..."
Ariel looked down at the stack of Emiels, her eyes welling with moved tears.
"This money was likely earned through Liya’s own hard work and effort. That little fool... did she really think I wouldn't notice her acting so suspiciously lately?"
As she spoke, Ariel began to imagine Liya clumsily and painstakingly working to earn money.
She’s skilled in Holy Light magic—did she go around healing people? Or perhaps she worked as an assistant to some of the academy's professors?
To earn this much, no matter what she did, it must have been exhausting. Judging by how tired she looked when she returned just now, she must have been worn out.
"...Is this really okay?"
"Of course it’s not."
Ariel took a deep breath. "But since Liya chose not to tell me, pestering her with questions would only make her feel embarrassed."
"Since she wants to help me so sincerely, I cannot let her down!"
"Therefore, the only thing I can do now is work even harder to improve myself!"
"I must become strong—strong enough to truly be of help to Liya!"
"And..."
Ariel looked to the side.
On the other end of the desk sat a small mountain of banknotes.
And in front of that mountain of cash, a newspaper was pinned.
The most prominent section of the paper reported the major news currently sparking heated debate.
[News from the Palace: The son of Duke Campbell and Princess Celicia will hold their engagement ceremony on the Princess's birthday.]
"I won't lose to you, Muen Campbell!"
Looking at the newspaper, a look of fierce determination erupted in Ariel’s eyes.
"...Hmph. It pleases me to see you thinking this way."
Seeing the unparalleled fighting spirit and confidence radiating from her disciple, the phantom smiled with satisfaction.
Despite the massive setbacks Ariel had faced recently, her ambition had not been ground down. Instead, it had forced her heart to become stronger and her will more resolute.
These were the qualities necessary to walk the path of the supreme.
The beautiful phantom felt more certain than ever that her judgment was correct. Ariel Bugard’s future would eventually influence the course of the entire world!
"Rest easy. With your level of effort, that pampered son of a Duke could never hope to catch up to you," the phantom consoled her.
"I know!"
Ariel clenched her fist. "But I still won't slack off!"
"Very well. In that case, let us begin today’s lesson."
"Yes!" Ariel responded loudly, her voice filled with heroic spirit.
"However, before the lesson begins, you need to prepare a few things."
The beautiful phantom rubbed her chin. "Five ounces of Overlord-class Magical Beast scale powder, one ounce of Monell flower pollen, a pure magic crystal, and some supplementary materials. Hmm... I recall those things should be available for purchase within the academy."
"Huh? More... more money?"
Ariel froze. Her heroic expression instantly collapsed, replaced by a look of utter misery.
"Can we... can we switch to a cultivation method that doesn't burn through cash?"
"What nonsense are you talking?"
The beautiful phantom rolled her eyes at her foolish disciple, looking at her with exasperated disappointment.
"Is there any logic in this world that allows one to become strong without spending money?"
"But... but... those things... they're so expensive..."
Ariel lowered her head, looking at the bills in her hand that hadn't even been warmed by her touch yet. She had originally planned to scrape together enough for a chicken leg at lunch tomorrow. Now...
"Master..."
"Yes?"
"Black bread..."
Ariel looked up, tears streaming down her face even as she forced a smile.
"...is delicious."
"..."
*
On the other side, Muen’s dormitory was brilliantly lit.
Though the night was late, he was busy with a slip of paper in hand, standing before a custom-made marble bathtub.
"Five ounces of Overlord-class Magical Beast scale powder... Hmm? How much is an ounce again? Forget it, just pour it all in."
"One ounce of Monell flower pollen. Right, a fifth of what I just used... Ah, I poured too fast. How much was a fifth again? Whatever, toss it all in."
"A pure magic crystal. It doesn't say how many... I have ten on me..."
"And the other supplements... they're all worthless junk anyway. Let's add plenty of those."
After a period of busy work, Muen looked at the liquid in his tub. Because there were so many materials, it had become somewhat viscous. He gave a strange twitch of his lips.
"I’m starting to feel like the recipes Teacher Mela gives me are more like soup recipes."
"But I doubt she’d go out of her way to scam me on something like this."
Muen didn't overthink it. He stripped off his clothes and lay down in the tub.
Instantly.
The violent medicinal power, condensed from a recipe that hadn't been strictly followed, washed over Muen’s body like a tsunami. His expression twisted immediately.
An ordinary person might have exploded and died from such reckless body refining.
But.
"Compared to the torment from Teacher Mela and the Mercury Well, you're nowhere near enough!"
Muen grit his teeth.
The Crimson Flame burned magnificently within him, devouring the violent medicinal power and transforming it into pure life force to nourish his body.
"Phew..."
Muen let out a long breath.
The medicinal power was gradually absorbed bit by bit. Under the promotion of his recent training and various other factors, his physical realm began to climb.
Finally, it came to a halt before a certain barrier.
"Peak of the Second-Tier?"
Muen moved his limbs, feeling the changes in his body with satisfaction. He praised, "As expected of a recipe Teacher Mela said was only for the Third-Tier; the effects are outstanding.
"Only..."
Muen looked down at the liquid in the tub, which had completely lost its medicinal properties, and subconsciously rubbed his chin.
With the Crimson Flame acting as a middleman and taking its cut, he had probably absorbed less than a third of the actual power.
"It feels like a bit of a waste."
"...Oh well."
But that tiny bit of guilt over the waste was quickly tossed to the back of his mind.
"It’s not like it was expensive anyway..."