Chapter 61
yCP8aBy“P-please, drink.”68qMA
7qlTEClack, clack. The boy placed the tea in front of Lucian and Raymond with trembling hands.SHGb
fkoLucian didn’t spare the cup a single glance; he kept his eyes fixed on the boy.2Uqn
7UzUAbe‘Is this boy really the developer of the Nectar?’J9Pn8S
7JpiwuJLucian also knew that age and ability didn’t always go hand in hand.MMx
4dwAt times, geniuses comparable to Felicia could emerge even in other fields.o86Cen
XnjLBut swordsmanship, which heavily relied on instinct and perception, and academic disciplines, which demanded vast knowledge, were two different matters.TpH7lvT
1BWOConsidering that, the boy in front of him was far too young to call himself an alchemist.4iW
7uxJpwW“What’s your name?”mgja
yoWmDnL“Huh? I-Ian.”E0LSo
raLP56U“How old are you?”kE9JL
XIVeE“Seventeen…”CuqD
bsnIwf“You’re young.”V3YNi
C3pLucian voiced his impression bluntly. Beside him, Raymond leaned in and whispered.2QZp8XN
sa1Z“Young master, did you forget your own age?”mzqFXd
hsGr“…”cIZLpt
XXlczeALucian discreetly ignored the comment and asked again.xAYl4Up
smlihf9“Are you Haide’s assistant? Or his disciple?”3CaDypP
Ow0TOLtAfter hesitating for a moment, Ian replied with a gloomy expression.uXIF
S1IFtx“I’m… a disciple candidate.”rCA5
ElCyHCL“What? If you’re a disciple, you’re a disciple. What’s with this ‘candidate’ business?”S1f
qVsOBBP“Master said I’m not officially a disciple yet. That if I help him properly, he’ll promote me later.”T0kxbJ
hvQdPUk“Ha…”NwB
J3s5bLucian let out a dry laugh, understanding the situation.Ls8UDlh
19WBVYB‘If he acknowledges him as a disciple right away, he can’t manipulate him freely. That’s why he keeps him in an ambiguous position—to pressure him.’V4Ps8x1
CqjThe more Lucian learned about Haide, the less he liked him.mhP
6yEX5FAfter thinking for a moment, Lucian decided to get straight to the point. If the other wasn’t even a formal alchemist, there was no reason to beat around the bush.msNKK1
dTLJRg“I recently met Haide outside. I was interested in Moonlight Herb and wanted to ask him a few things. But rather than disinterested, he mocked it.”Zlo1
vTJMs“…”4AEs
Liufe“To be honest, I was disappointed. I thought he’d know something, being an alchemist. In the end, I was just going to buy the Moonlight Herb and leave.”F4llQU7
OEDq03vLucian paused and looked at Ian with a meaningful expression.nTTZt
cnDBdUQ“Turns out there are records showing he bought Moonlight Herb on the very day we met.”eR1y
J9m“…”PlZiX
G0kYB“I don’t like interfering in other people’s matters, but using your master’s money for personal use is a problem, no? Especially when that money comes from state subsidies, tied to His Majesty the Emperor.”DZ4ew
dobk9M6At the word “Emperor,” Ian turned pale. Lucian tilted his chin slightly, prompting him to explain, and the boy spoke awkwardly.51sAPM
Oe0Cyqz“A-as I said before, it’s a misunderstanding. Master authorized all of it…”DNvr
ifc“He authorized it? Haide told you to use his money however you wanted?”0BFW
eYb“He said I could use it for alchemy. That as long as there were results, it didn’t matter.”HeYtC
1ZCMMLucian could picture it with the imperial subsidy, the portion Haide couldn’t use for personal expenses was dumped on the apprentice.84eSA
nt2If something decent came out of it, he could just claim it as his own.PnuzG
9z2Cd8aStill, something didn’t add up.xz9oi
hxuyvoF“All that amount?”FZa
eON“…”DEt
27dKCCL“I doubt it. With that quantity, doesn’t it far exceed what he would’ve allowed?”g8V6
TGETwEven allowing a disciple to use part of the funds had limits.FneVvJ3
cAE4Judging by the purchase volume, it was clear even the portion Haide usually skimmed for himself had been spent.DYNaiJ
gnRpEwIan, as if struck in just the right spot, lowered his head with a resigned expression.cddQl
ev90K“Are you going to tell Master what I did?”pniB6
jXso“That depends on your answer. First, I want to know where all that Moonlight Herb went.”HuHW5i
XoUNI“Well…”TT7
isS“Body enhancement through mana amplification.”MYvts
caouL“…!”0zEQl
7f77Hw“From what I see, the ingredients would be Moonlight Herb, Red Thorn, Winged Lantern, among others. Right?”aenBZ
reqHearing the ingredients listed so precisely, Ian began to tremble.XowIx
oJ9p7hQRaymond, not fully grasping it, tilted his head.2I2k6i
fi0V“What are you talking about? Judging by the names, they sound like potion ingredients.”CyOtF
RXwW“More like a medicine capable of changing the world. If successfully completed, even the most mediocre would go down in history as a prodigy.”nK1ttc
gvt“S-someone else already researched this before me?”r36abJ
YJ1Unable to contain himself, Ian took a step toward Lucian.RN1eE9
OZaN05Raymond immediately reacted, pressing the scabbard of his sword against Ian’s chest, but the boy didn’t seem to feel pain and tried to get even closer.I0dF6
FZMLucian nodded and, gently pushing him back, continued.ZCgvCsF
vlM“Yes. It was left incomplete. And among the other ingredients was Stem Flower and…”rTyH
p9w“Stem Flower!”dll
jAN6SAt those words, Ian recoiled as if struck by lightning.F2eq
rs9gYAw“How did I not think of that?! Of course, if I mix in Stem Flower, everything will be resolved! How didn’t I think of that…?!”nJX
PQM6IaIn his frenzy, Ian tripped on the leg of a chair and fell to the floor.2t9y5
7qUHowever, as if he didn’t feel any pain, he got up immediately and ran upstairs, desperate to test what he had just realized.sjus
8rDjXeLucian watched his back in silence and let out a bitter smile.1lSciga
zQ7“Let’s go up too.”7GeI
pPh“Is it okay? This is someone else’s house.”bjKxMR8
l6bEPU“When scholars get like that, there’s no stopping them. If we wait, he won’t come down even after finishing.”6a3H
Y4MYXThe true scholars Lucian had known were always like that—consumed by curiosity and the urge to test their hypotheses, they abandoned everything else to focus solely on research.6byF
Tq1V90Without someone to rein them in, expecting them to show restraint on their own was pointless.pQ7
2BGuqC***qAStcJ9
x0lE“Bah, well.”mk3D
wgxLucian clicked his tongue as he entered the laboratory on the second floor.WyZR
85lJTFuSmall papers covered in notes were stuck everywhere, and large sheets were piled here and there with a thickness comparable to several books.wl9wdWC
vPeOOn top of that were empty ink bottles and quills strewn across the floor, while crumpled and discarded research journals occupied an entire corner.b8jmX
slhenThe absurd part was that, in the middle of all that chaos, the medicinal ingredients and some potions were meticulously categorized.sPh
VxL“This is incredible. Who would believe this is the lab of a seventeen-year-old boy?”isYs
tfiKF9rNot even a formal alchemist would research with such obsession.akk
37XzAs he walked through the lab and flipped through the records, Lucian glanced over at Ian, who was rushing back and forth.Lys
6Snu“Please… please… let it work…”24N8D
s7cJxqWIan murmured as if praying, watching the glass flask that was being heated.GS8Vic7
LGYVsA pungent smell began to rise from the vessel—the same reaction Lucian had seen when he had made the degraded version of the nectar.hkGe
YsvWsI“Yes… when the smell intensifies and the potion turns red…”F82
CaTLucian smiled as he watched the flask, but suddenly his eyes widened. The sharp odor disappeared all at once, and instead, a fresh aroma filled the laboratory.Q5m9tp
zHsx3The liquid, which was supposed to turn red, gradually changed to a deep blue and began to emit a soft glow.vsR
vqx40“What is that? Wasn’t it supposed to turn red?”s7pyaLz
ZJpdz“I-it worked! It really worked!”syl
qSeJUnlike Lucian, who was bewildered by the unexpected reaction, Ian was jumping with joy, tears in his eyes.youa
dkVWpqHe stopped the heating, took the flask out, and stared at the result, dazed.6AGjggZ
OwxEZFmWhile Lucian remained still, overwhelmed by the energy, Raymond approached and whispered.MeW3Z
RkeHrk“Young master, what the hell did he just make?”rwxHm5b
HqVBAx“Why are you asking me?”AHkH
YPYJl“Look closely. The magic is resonating around that liquid.”7lhp
14usAlarmed, Lucian focused on the magical energy. Indeed, around the potion, magic spread in waves, as if it was rippling through the air.kcx
pU9“This makes no sense…”LX5jxp1
s4DlyNo one had even drunk it yet, and the potion’s magic was already palpable. He couldn’t imagine what would happen upon ingestion.mqf
3cN02EAt that moment, Ian tilted the flask toward his mouth, and Lucian was horrified.4W83
8Iq“You’re insane! Stop!”npad0cO
VKYSmack!2I9XD
urL“Kgh!”KU7CU
XAiEYEELucian struck him sharply on the back of the neck and snatched the flask away. Ian looked at him with a hurt expression.R7r
hAVT“W-why would you do that?”hqG1qXP
5mhK“You’re the crazy one! Why would you drink it just like that?”v8Q3pWT
1mS8o“It’s a clinical trial! If the potion is complete, we have to test its effects!”Ng2
sYh“Honestly…”tsL
o1WNHgkAt Ian’s overly confident response, Lucian frowned.xyb2v
0GdsbFor a scholar—not a knight—to swallow such an extreme medicine was far too risky. If he couldn’t endure the effect, it could backfire terribly.kdEh
tYt8“At the very least, someone who’s already opened their mana pathways should take it.”QFw9Y4
I71oRC“Give it back! I have to test it!”lxL8m
U6nQPLucian pushed Ian aside, who tried to leap again, and said.OJBa
4SPO“If a test is needed, I’ll do it. You watch. What if you take it with that weak body and die?”D7kPTi
1HAuqvd“Huh? Really?”aNo
eV0Cy“Young master!?”rzv
CLDHRRaymond looked at him like he might faint. The energy was overwhelming, and yet he was planning to drink it without knowing its effects?fodEe
TcxxhM“Are you out of your mind? Stop! If it needs testing, I’ll do it instead.”0uYBU6
8UG“No, you can’t.”Yb7C
PcShg“Why not?”bpiTB
Eec3K“Because I’ll be fine, but you won’t.”J2vmlMV
aNXnI3I“That makes no sense…!”duuUfA
ChLSsetRaymond glared at him, furious, but Lucian had no better way to explain.5Zd0
zuaaO5lIt was a matter of constitution.LAz3yq
CUtr“In my body, any excess magic will be expelled on its own. But not in yours. No matter how much you’ve trained, your magic paths can’t be as clean as mine.”HmZTG0
HkIMagic overload or rebound happens when excess can’t be properly expelled.yKtb
92Az1ExIn Lucian’s case, that was virtually impossible—his pathways were too wide and pure, and any anomaly would instantly dissipate.2eY
RuYps3p“Maybe it’s arrogant to say… but perhaps this is a potion only I can drink.”4vYUmhn
2mlRRtLucian felt a strange thrill as he gazed at the blue liquid, which might be the prototype of the nectar.ms0s
Ws4E7What would happen if a medicine no human could withstand met the one human capable of enduring it?aV5c
Y6lH9wz“Young master!”MkCis
fiY3w2Raymond, seeing that words weren’t enough, shouted and lunged toward him. But Lucian had already made his decision and let the blue liquid flow into his mouth.Po7
hxMeFWhen Raymond grabbed the flask, only a drop or two remained—the rest had already gone down Lucian’s throat.R1O
IKcM7q“Damn it! Spit it out right now! Do you even know what kind of thing you just drank…!”nV3NwP
uRiPUGBefore Raymond could force his mouth open, a blinding explosion of magical energy burst from Lucian’s body and shook the entire laboratory.fZSVw
kXuBOOOOM!AOuSnC
pvWHOThe violent magical surge turned the lab upside down.0TpTX
lKTevPapers flew into the air, glass bottles shattered, and shelves fell like dominoes.72tiYH
yrNFaced with the storm-like force, Raymond clenched his teeth.CyRo5b
4hI8a“Damn bastard! What the hell did you create?”AH0RMqQ
GEdJVqo“Ghh…!”nB3R
RSZSj7Raymond shouted with fury toward Ian, but the boy could barely stay on his feet, struggling against the magical tide.0gO
SvdAmid the chaos, the only one who remained calm was Lucian.55ZRQYk
rpslQF0“Incredible…”gNkwbUf
VrfL6XLucian barely held back the exclamation threatening to escape.W3aZ
6YFuKIf he opened his mouth carelessly, the magical energy might blow up the entire room.uIDIzg
BQGv“I never imagined it would reach this level.”DnodlF
ktJhZYThe amplified magic boiled like a furnace and rampaged through Lucian’s mana paths uncontrollably.aVXNA2n
U8YppoAny normal person would’ve exploded from the inside, but to Lucian, it merely felt… refreshing.SZTB
ohSkhEvery time he blinked, the magic reacted and stirred the air.S2bATk
fF5S“Just blinking causes this? Then what would happen if I swung a sword?”2St
XSCtA small temptation stirred within him, but he held back.h5N2uJ
qn7JvROIf he did that, Raymond and Ian could die from the shockwave.VxiZ
GdMfYFVBesides, this power wasn’t under control; it was like moving inside lava and causing it to splash with each step.p7JU9zE
djzR0E“If I could fully control it and condense it within my body, I wouldn’t ask for anything more…”qKs0H
ilHgTo the current Lucian, it was like trying to hold back a flood with bare hands. But if he let it go, the magic would leak out and the effect would vanish.LtBFn1
IpUTjP0While searching for a way to retain even a fraction, a mana path leading from the spine to the head reacted to the overflowing power and shuddered.T5G
ggcK7HIt was a route he had avoided because it didn’t strengthen the body and was inefficient for flow.AtWa49
HY7r0KW“Could it be…?”xHLTXE
XClLucian opened the path he usually ignored. As soon as he did, the energy rushed up to his head without rebounding, swirling inside.2j3uz8
Gy7eFor a moment, he was startled, but then he felt a clarity unlike anything before.wAW
hLFAt the same time, something he had never seen appeared in his field of vision.BOKfK0y
Qife4“The magic…?”1hfHj
ljmWithout reinforcing his eyes, he could see the magic with complete clarity. Even the magic inside the human body—something he had never been able to perceive no matter how much he trained.aCYQc
vnuUuCThe movements of Raymond and Ian, struggling against the magical surge, seemed within arm’s reach.VxXq
BPAJtAs Lucian stood dazed by this almost prophetic vision, a name crossed his mind.Keayf8
NeyuwX“Felicia.”Bzqb
ayLXQThe sword genius who saw magic with her own eyes, predicted every opponent’s move, and found the optimal trajectory.POmkGh6
tVuyojsAt that moment, Lucian understood what he had obtained.CQapqZg
crS‘This is how she saw the world.’TtMqsQd
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