Though I haven't yet taken them into my hands, I already feel a sense of fulfillment.
'So... there are three top-grade elixirs.'
Two from my senior.
And when combined with the one I received as a reward for winning the Pistinike Competition, it makes three.
'This life is really...'
It's been incredible.
In my previous life, it wasn't easy to come across elixirs, but in this life, they just keep rolling in without me doing anything.
And that's not all.
The biggest gain is this.
The Ilekein Workshop Artifact Creation Rights
Where is the Ilekein Workshop?
One of the three major workshops in the Eastern Continent, a renowned place for crafting high-quality artifacts.
Minimum waiting period: one year.
Not the creation period, but just the wait for your turn to be reached.
'If you include the creation time... it takes even longer.'
Even the noble bloodlines of prestigious families have to wait their turn!
But with this Artifact Creation Right...
'I can have it made without waiting.'
How did my senior manage to get this precious thing?
"Hmm, hmm."
"You look like a lunatic."
"Thank you."
I didn't like being called a lunatic, but I was willing to go mad with him right now.
But then, for a moment.
'Wait a minute.'
I narrowed my eyes and looked at my senior.
"Senior."
"What is it?"
"Something seems off."
"...What's off?"
Think about it logically.
'Is this much compensation just for delivering a letter?'
The Great Forest is dangerous.
It's filled with unknown monsters and all sorts of venomous creatures.
Mages have been trying to conquer the Great Forest for a long time, but they've only managed to reach the outer regions.
But even so...
'It doesn't make sense.'
Elixirs aren't that significant from my senior's perspective.
Top-grade, instant elixirs.
The effects diminish with each use, especially for an alchemist.
At my senior's level, there's nothing to gain from them.
But what about the Ilekein Workshop artifact?
'Too much, way too much.'
And that's not all.
<1kg of Razel Ore>
<1 Twin-Headed Ogre Heart>
<100g of Mutated Wyvern Horn Powder>
...
The list of artifact materials.
The intention was clear.
'They're to be entrusted along with the artifact creation request at the Ilekein Workshop.'
These materials are hard to come by.
Even in my previous life, I only saw a few of them.
They are high-quality items that can only be found in Deculan's archives.
'Too kind, way too kind.'
There's something fishy going on.
Did my senior read my expression?
"You're looking at me with impertinent eyes."
My senior glared at me, looking uncomfortable.
But I didn't back down, and I met his gaze firmly.
"Senior, let's be honest."
"What do you mean by being honest?"
"Isn't this compensation too much for just delivering a letter? And..."
There were a few things that didn't add up.
Or maybe it's the intuition of a former trouble shooter. There's definitely something being hidden.
Was my expression too transparent?
"Ahem."
My senior cleared his throat.
"To be honest, I was going to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Well... in fact, your role isn't just to deliver the letter."
"Then...?"
My question made my senior scratch his head.
The First Breakfast glared fiercely at its owner, but food isn't scary when glared at.
"To be honest, I've already figured out his location. He's holed up in one of the Great Forest base camps."
"Then...?"
"I delivered the letter a few days ago. Mercenaries these days are really fast. They managed to deliver the letter through the Great Forest."
This is because of the development of warp gates.
My senior must have given them a generous amount of money, so they probably took warp gates all the way to the Great Forest.
Reaching the base camp wouldn't have been too difficult.
Mercenaries have their own connections, so they could join a supply convoy.
"Originally, I wanted to call him to the Academy. With the chaos in Makyo and Deculan, I thought some help would be needed. But... he said it would be awkward to come back right away."
"So...?"
"...Are you being too brief, junior?"
"...What?"
My senior's sharp gaze fixed on my face for a moment.
Then he continued.
"Well... it's nothing much. Just go and help your friend tidy up his affairs. He said he has something important to finish."
So...
"Instead of just delivering a letter, you want me to do some labor and come back?"
"...I was going to tell you."
"Old trickster..."
A low curse slipped out without me realizing it.
'Is this life?'
No one to trust.
Feeling like I've been hit on the head by the very person I trusted.
Especially, look at this.
"Ahem! Think about it. Honestly, isn't this a good thing? Instead of searching the Great Forest for someone, you just need to help with a few simple tasks and come back."
I should be the one angry, but he's acting like I'm the unreasonable one.
Grr! Grr!
The First Breakfast puffed up, mirroring its owner, and a sense of murderous intent rose.
I could easily guess my senior's intentions.
'He probably threw the compensation first to avoid me refusing if he told me the details first.'
People are more likely to give up on something if they don't consider it theirs to begin with.
But once they think it's theirs?
'Would I give this up? I'd never give it up, even if it kills me.'
So, I'd have no choice but to follow, even if it means suffering.
"Despicable old man..."
"What, man?"
"Ah, no."
I'm a respectful trouble shooter.
Even if my senior tricked me, I wouldn't curse him.
Absolutely not.
Absolutely.
But then, wait a minute.
'This...'
My mind was working furiously.
"If, if I were to go missing while wandering in the Great Forest, what would you do?"
I asked pitifully, looking at my senior.
Crocodile tears streaming down my eyes.
If it were any other time, he would have scolded me, but maybe he knew he had done something despicable.
"Ah, geez. I was going to tell you! And why would you go and die somewhere? I'd be more worried about the Great Forest's monsters."
He acted like he was angry, but it was more like he was trying to cover up his guilt.
Seeing his reaction, I was certain.
'From the situation...'
There's more I can get out of this.
"Senior... how old am I?"
"...I know you're fourteen."
Yes, I'm fourteen.
And a student.
So, what is my senior?
The principal, the leader of the teachers, responsible for guiding students properly.
I shed tears.
"How can you send a young boy like me to such a dangerous place...?"
Disgusting?
Not at all.
A righteous trouble shooter believes that deceit and trickery are justified.
The acting skills honed from my espionage work were put to good use.
"Y-You despicable...!"
Grr!
My senior and the First Breakfast burst into tears.
But it's okay.
'I'm a student, and my senior is a teacher.'
As long as our roles don't change, this strategy is unbeatable.
* * *
The meeting with my senior was a resounding success.
I immediately obtained access to the Raphite Library...
And an additional Ilekein Workshop Artifact Creation Right...
'A person needs a conscience.'
Those who succeed through deceit will also fail through deceit.
This could be considered lenient.
I wanted to give him a good whack on the head, but I restrained myself.
Absolutely not because I couldn't beat him.
"Then... let's see."
I stepped out of the abandoned warehouse (?) and reviewed my plan.
'Three top-grade elixirs in total...'
Originally, I planned to use the top-grade elixirs to increase my mana.
But with three, I don't need to focus solely on mana.
'And I'll develop a resistance eventually.'
So, what should I do?
'It's time to transform this frail body.'
While physical growth is still in the future, with top-grade elixirs, I can lay the foundation.
Mana Limb
In my previous life, this was a representative technique that helped me break free from the limitations of being a trouble shooter.
'The mana from the top-grade elixirs should be enough.'
Although the entire mana from the elixirs will be used to create the Mana Limb, I've already secured two more from my senior...
'The Mana Limb is worth the investment.'
A technique created by referencing the strong bodies that knights build with aether, it produces similar effects using mana.
No.
'The utility is far superior to that of a strong body.'
While I can't slash enemies with aether like knights, as a mage with knight-like physical abilities and the ability to cast spells...
'Knights would be envious.'
Imagine a mage who can cast spells from a distance and engage in close combat with physical prowess.
And in my case...
'Collision and interference techniques, and many others I haven't used yet.'
It would be overwhelming.
With a refreshed mind, I headed towards the training room in the Academy.
The Academy was already buzzing with the excitement of the Pistinike Competition, making the path to the training room unusually quiet.
Occasionally, diligent students would head to the training room to improve themselves, but their numbers were minimal.
'Let's see, food...'
I had already taken... no, secured enough from the temporary dormitory's cafeteria.
Now, all that's left is to lock myself in the training room and build my Mana Limb.
Arriving at the training room.
'Let's see.'
I closed my eyes.
There are two methods to create a Mana Limb.
The first.
'Extract mana from the core to temper the body.'
However, this method isn't very efficient.
To create a Mana Limb, the body needs to be continuously hammered, but mana has inertia and tends to return to the core.
It's fine for improving the Mana Limb after it's created, but...
'I need to continuously temper the body for about a day.'
At first, it would be easy.
But as time goes on, the inertia of the mana would become stronger.
Most importantly.
'It's less efficient than the second method of infusing the entire body with mana.'
The true Mana Limb is when mana permeates every bone, muscle fiber, and nerve cell.
Extracting mana from the core to temper the body is only a temporary solution.
'It's not bad for a temporary boost in physical ability...'
When I broke through the mist of mana in the Trial Chamber, it was thanks to this.
So, ultimately, what I need to do is...
'Infuse the entire body with the mana from the top-grade elixirs.'
This method is much more efficient.
It would take a considerable amount of time to absorb the top-grade elixirs into the core, but I don't need to go through that process.
"Alright, let's do this."
After reviewing my plan, I closed my eyes.
I focused my mind and observed my internal state.
Click.
I opened the box and threw the top-grade elixir into my mouth.
Swoosh.
As expected, it's a top-grade elixir. The quality is different from the regular ones.
Now...
'Let's begin.'
The usual breathing technique.
But the form is different.
This time, I need to infuse the mana into various parts of my body, not just the circuits.
But why...
"Ugh!"
A sudden pain spread through my mind!
The source...
Crackle. Crackle.
The Fire Seal, which had been dormant for a while.