"Tired, huh?" Yi Han stopped walking when he heard the white horse let out a weary sound.
He was pleased that the once fiercely aggressive creature was now trying to communicate with him.
They were getting closer!
"Alright. Here, drink some water. I'll give you some sugar too."
-Huff huff...
The white horse didn’t want to admit it, but it could feel itself gradually yielding to this boy.
-Huff huff!
The horse suddenly opened its eyes wide.
The ancient wild blood flowing through its veins awakened its pride.
It couldn’t just surrender like this!
Seeing this, Yi Han muttered seriously, "How do I increase the amount of mana I absorb?"
-...Huff huff.
The horse lowered its head and closed its eyes again.
Even though Yi Han woke up early to take care of the horse, school didn’t wait for him.
Whether he was sleepy or hungry, he had to jump up and head to the next class.
After finishing his chores, Yi Han handed out canned beef and pickled cucumbers to his friends who were heading back to the Black Turtle Tower.
Nylia, who received the canned food, was genuinely happy... but then she looked flustered and started rummaging through her pockets.
"??"
"I... I don’t have any money..."
"... It’s a gift."
Yi Han slightly regretted his actions.
Was it too much?
"Really?? Are you serious? Really?"
"Think calmly about whether this is a situation worth making a fuss over."
Nylia’s long ears twitched as she accepted the canned food.
However, Ratford firmly refused.
"I can’t accept this."
"......"
Nylia glanced around nervously.
‘Should... should I give it back too?’
"It’s an order."
"Understood."
Ratford accepted it.
Nylia sighed in relief.
‘Thank goodness!’
After the two left, Yi Han turned to Yonell and asked, "I didn’t expect that kind of reaction. Yonell, was I too harsh?"
"No? Why?"
"I see. That’s a relief."
Yi Han briefly thought, ‘Maybe I should ask someone else for a more objective opinion,’ but decided to let it go.
"Let’s have breakfast, Yonell. 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 were happy at the thought of treating their friends to a hearty breakfast.
...
Of course, it wasn’t free, but it was still a joyful thing.
Yi 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.
Yi Han cracked an egg next to the sizzling bacon on the frying pan.
The fried egg sizzled and cooked in an instant.
‘What is it about bloodlines that makes people go this far?’
Yi Han wasn’t preparing this meal for himself.
Nor was it for the students in the lounge.
This was a meal for the princess in her private room.
-*Wodanaz.
We’ll pay you in silver coins, so can you deliver the princess’s meal like last time?*
-Please, Wodanaz!
Though he was getting paid more, Yi Han 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 would wake up on his own and come down to the lounge to eat breakfast without anyone needing to remind him.
It was impressive adaptability.
In that sense, the students’ pampering might actually be harmful to the princess.
Knock knock knock
"?"
The door opened, and Adenarth appeared just like last time.
Yi Han shrugged and handed over the plate.
"I cooked this downstairs."
Yi Han thought he saw Adenarth’s expression brighten ever so slightly.
Or maybe it was just the morning sunlight streaming through the window.
Adenarth carefully took the plate, picked up a fork, then paused.
He bowed his head slightly, closed the door, and went back inside.
‘He’s grown since last time when he ate outside.’
Yi Han thought as he walked downstairs.
Come to think of it, it seemed like there were followers in other towers besides the Blue Dragon Tower...
If he could talk to these followers, maybe he could get extra silver coins from each of them?
‘Good heavens.
I just thought of something truly devilish.’
Yi Han shuddered at his own potential.
By the time he graduated, he might have enough funds to open a small workshop.
"Huh? Why aren’t we outside today?"
"Don’t be fooled. There might be monsters hidden in the classroom."
The Understanding Basic Alchemy class was held in one of the annex buildings, the Horned Mansion, not outside or in the main school building.
Thanks to the greenhouses, the inside of the building was warmer than outside.
But by now, the freshmen had developed some sense.
Just because it’s indoors doesn’t mean it’s good!
"Everyone, gather up! Be ready for when the monsters come out!"
"Princess, come this way. We’ll protect you."
"......"
Yi Han was speechless as he watched the students from other towers.
The princess was a student of the Blue Dragon Tower too!
"Don’t worry, Wodanaz. We won’t lose to them either."
Asan Dalkard said confidently with a smile.
Yi Han’s group had grown quite a bit by now.
Yi Han, Yonell, Asan, and Nylia.
In terms of quality, they were definitely not inferior to any other group.
"Everyone, take your seats."
Thunderfoot entered, yawning.
For some reason, he looked utterly exhausted.
"Professor, why aren’t we outside today?"
"What? It’s an alchemy class, so we’re doing it inside."
The dwarf professor looked at the student as if he were an idiot.
The student, flustered, asked again,
"But last time, you said alchemy is about gathering ingredients, so we should do it outside..."
"That was for gathering ingredients, you iron-headed fool. Do you plan to make potions outside too? You’re so inflexible."
After finishing, Thunderfoot glanced around.
"Probably everyone was thinking the same thing, right? But don’t worry. Unlike outdoor alchemy classes, indoor alchemy classes are very safe and comfortable."
‘That’s a lie.’
‘It’s a lie.’
‘If you believe that, you’re 100% an idiot.’
The students weren’t fooled.
Thunderfoot seemed to notice their skeptical looks and grinned.
"Alright! Everyone, pour water into the cauldron in front of you. Alchemy is a comprehensive art. From gathering ingredients to extinguishing the fire, every step is important. But among them, the process of making this magic potion is especially crucial. Anyone who wastes the ingredients they’ve gathered will never become a great alchemist! Open your books! And try making a Low-Grade Mana Recovery Potion!"
Rustle rustle
The sound of pages turning quietly filled the room.
‘This is going to be tough.’
At first glance, alchemy seemed much easier than other forms of magic.
You didn’t need to learn complex and difficult spells—just follow a set procedure and add the ingredients, right?
But as soon as Yi Han started, he realized why alchemy was so hard.
Alchemy was like making an extremely complicated dish in a short amount of time without stopping.
-Cut off the base of the Galamaldu, then slice the remaining part into pieces the size of two finger joints.
At the same time, tear the Seolyangcho herb into thin strips by hand, but you have to do it quickly before the Galamaldu dries out.
Boil the sliced Galamaldu for 3 minutes and the Seolyangcho for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, prepare powdered Red Majestic Stone and add it precisely when the boiling water turns green.
When the water turns orange, stir it three times clockwise, three times counterclockwise, and five times from north to south...
You had to prepare all the ingredients on the spot (most couldn’t be prepared in advance), remember when and how to add them (there was no time to look at the book while working), and execute every tiny detail without missing a single step.
It was enough to give you a brain cramp.
Boom! Poof poof!
Sure enough, explosions and smoke started rising from various places.
Thunderfoot laughed merrily.
As an alchemist, there was nothing more enjoyable than watching greenhorns cough in the smoky haze.
If you didn’t enjoy this, when would you?
"...?"
Thunderfoot, who had been laughing happily, suddenly paused as he looked in one direction.
He had seen Yi Han’s cauldron.
‘Why is that kid doing so well?’
Thunderfoot’s eyes widened.
Of course, he knew that this boy from the Wodanaz family was talented.
Not just intelligent, but also diligent in handling various tasks.
He definitely had the talent to be an alchemist.
...
But even students with alchemical talent usually made a few mistakes when first learning.
Wasn’t it customary for beginners to stumble a bit? Otherwise, wouldn’t the senior alchemists feel embarrassed and bored?
But Yi Han moved like an alchemist who had worked in a workshop for over a decade.
Like a machine, he quickly and precisely cut the herbs to the right size, tossed them into the cauldron, flipped a few hourglasses, and poured the liquid from a vial into the cauldron.
Every movement flowed seamlessly, like a dance.
Thunderfoot had to admit it.
Geniuses really did exist.
Otherwise, how could a student just starting alchemy perform so flawlessly?
‘I swear on my ancestors’ beards, no one will believe me if I tell them what I just saw!’
In truth, this wasn’t genius.
It was just the sad result of being ground under the professor’s heel for so long!
The liquid in Yi Han’s cauldron turned a deep, rich blue.
Seeing the color, Thunderfoot knew the potion was perfectly made.
But Yi Han tasted it, tilted his head, and then dumped it out.
"???"
Thunderfoot was baffled.
Why did he throw it away?
Yi Han started making it again.
As if to prove that his previous performance wasn’t a fluke, his movements were just as flawless.
And once again, a potion with the same perfect blue color was completed.
Yi Han tasted it, tilted his head again, and dumped it out once more.
"......"
Thunderfoot couldn’t take it anymore.
Normally, he would let students figure things out on their own, but this was too curious to ignore.
Thunderfoot quietly approached Yi Han and asked,
"Why do you keep throwing the potion away?"
"It doesn’t restore mana."
"What?"
Thunderfoot was shocked.
He quickly reread the instructions.
Had he written the recipe wrong? But there were no mistakes.
"????"
He made it correctly and clearly drank it, so why wasn’t it restoring mana?
"Make it again."
"Yes."
Yi Han made it again.
Thunderfoot, waiting anxiously, immediately scooped up the potion and drank it.
The blue liquid flowed down his throat and instantly turned into mana, filling his entire body.
Even if Thunderfoot had made it himself, it couldn’t have been more perfect.
"It’s fine?"
"Really?"
Yi Han drank it, looking puzzled, and tilted his head again.
"It’s not great, is it?"
"......"
Thunderfoot was horrified.
Was this Wodanaz family genius suggesting he had a better recipe than the one Thunderfoot had confidently provided?
‘No! My pride...!’
"Ah, it’s because your mana is already full."
"......"