Chapter 20

Seeing the books piled up on the desk makes me sigh.

I thought I could make something like a potion right away, just like when I learned enchantment magic.

– Memorize. You need to know what things exist in the world and what properties they have. That is the beginning of alchemy.

So, I have no choice but to memorize.

The first book I opened was the ‘Plant Encyclopedia.’

The Plant Encyclopedia was full of explanations about countless plants, starting with medicinal herbs, poisonous plants, edible plants, wild grasses, and more.

I wanted to actually see the plants in the book and compare them with the book, but for now, I plan to forcibly imprint them in my mind as the elder said.

I start reading books like the Plant Encyclopedia, Mineral Encyclopedia, and Metal Encyclopedia in order. No matter how good my memory is, I can’t memorize everything by reading a thick book once.

Read, read again, and keep reading.

I forcibly inject knowledge into my mind, thinking of it as reliving my high school days.

The books even have pictures, so I think I will be able to distinguish them to some extent when I see the real thing later.

While I was memorizing the contents of the books without leaving my personal laboratory for a week, I was called by the elder.

*

“Are you memorizing well?”

“I’m doing my best. I’ve memorized the plant encyclopedia, the mineral encyclopedia, the metal encyclopedia, and the monster encyclopedia, and I’m almost done with the other books too.”

The elder looks at me with surprised eyes.

“You’ve memorized all four encyclopedias?”

It seems that the four books I listed, which are the basics of alchemy, are called the Four Encyclopedias.

“Yes, I’ve memorized them all.”

“What are the effects of the Star Tear Flower?”

The contents of the book come to mind as if a chart is unfolding in my head.

“The Star Tear Flower is a plant used to make healing potions, effective for stopping bleeding and treating internal injuries. It should not be used with Blind Mushroom, Giant Spider’s Fluid…”

“What is the use of the Volcano Goblin?”

“If you dissect the stomach of a Volcano Goblin, you can obtain sulfur, which can be used to make explosive potions or refined to make arthritis and skin-related medicines.”

“What are the effects of the Shade Apple?”

The elder randomly asks about the contents of the Four Encyclopedias. Seeing me answer without hesitation, the elder’s mouth drops open.

“You really memorized everything.”

“I told you so.”

“To memorize all that content in just a week… You truly deserve to be called the future of the Magic Tower.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect to be able to memorize this much either. But strangely, after reading it two or three times, the contents of the book naturally engraved themselves in my mind.

I assume it’s the effect of my intelligence greatly increasing upon awakening.

“I actually thought it would take about fifteen days.”

“Haha. You cut the expected time in half.”

“I meant that it would take that long to memorize just one of the Four Encyclopedias. Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for that either.”

The elder speaks seriously.

“The contents of the encyclopedias that contain the knowledge of alchemy are that extensive. You know how many plants are covered just in the plant encyclopedia.”

“There are thirteen thousand seventy-five species of plants described.”

“Haha. As an elder, I keep getting surprised by someone who is just starting to learn alchemy. Follow me.”

I follow the elder into the inner part of the alchemy workshop.

“This is where we gather the materials needed for alchemy. From common materials that are easy to obtain to really rare materials, everything is stored here.”

There are numerous storage cabinets filled with materials used in alchemy.

‘Earthworm fluid, corpse spider eyes, screaming flowers…’

*

Memorizing the names of familiar ingredients from the Four Great Almanacs.

Weaving through the ingredients, I remember their locations. I must not wander aimlessly later when practicing potion-making, unable to find the necessary materials.

Elder Pal stands in front of a door inside and speaks.

“Beyond this door is where we store rare ingredients. Only my disciples and I can access it. Of course, you can enter too.”

“Really?”

“Would the Tower Master remain silent if I barred you? However, you need the proper qualifications to enter here. I will evaluate your alchemical achievements to determine if you can enter.”

*

Thud- Thud-

Using a mortar to grind the ingredients.

Setting aside the finely powdered ingredients, I grind the next one.

In a crystal beaker, mana-infused water is boiling.

Mineral ingredients take a long time to grind. After grinding them into fine powder, the real potion-making begins.

I add the ingredients one by one into the beaker containing mana-infused water.

Using a measuring spoon for alchemy. The crucial aspect of potion-making is the ratio of the ingredients used. Too much or too little, and the potion won’t be properly made.

Sssss-

The transparent mana water turns yellow. Mixing in the next ingredient, it turns transparent again, then soon turns blue.

The potion-making process is ingrained in my mind, so there is no hesitation in my hands as I mix the ingredients.

After adding sixteen ingredients to the mana water, I slowly rotate the beaker. It’s not just about stirring; I must infuse it with mana. The potion must absorb the maker’s mana to function properly.

“Done.”

Finally, I completed the first potion.

“Mana Recovery Potion.”

After contemplating which potion would sell best in the real world, I decided on the Mana Recovery Potion.

Healing potions are made and sold by awakened alchemists. If I made them, their performance would be far superior, but a new potion, never before seen, would revolutionize the world of the awakened.

I divide the completed Mana Recovery Potion into 100mL potion bottles. Since I made about half of the 2-liter beaker, it fills ten 100mL bottles.

Unlike artifacts that can only be made one at a time, potions can be made in multiple bottles at once.

“These will become essential for the awakened, right?”

Mana is not only necessary for wizards.

Those who wield swords, those who use bows, all need mana. Swordsmen and archers transform mana into aura. Even if it becomes aura, its essence as mana does not change.

Unlike healing potions, which are used only when injured, Mana Recovery Potions are consumed to recover mana depleted during battles, making them more versatile.

I put the ten potions into the infinite bag and head to Elder Pal’s laboratory.

“Welcome.”

The laboratory is unusually well-organized for a wizard.

I take out a mana recovery potion from the infinite bag and place it on the desk.

“Oh-! Have you already succeeded in making a potion? This is a mana recovery potion.”

Elder Pal opens the potion lid and takes a sip of the mana recovery potion.

“Hmm-. It’s a well-made potion. The ingredients are well refined, and the mixture is excellent.”

“Thank you.”

“I expected you to make a low-grade potion in one go. After making a few more potions, try making a mid-grade potion.”

“Yes, Elder.”

*

As I step out of the capsule, Seolgi greets me.

“Meow-.”

I mix the formula and feed it to Seolgi, who soon falls asleep.

“Seolgi, we’re moving tomorrow. There’s a room for you in the new house.”

While shopping for furniture and electronics, I also bought a cat tower and a cat wheel for Seolgi. Although Seolgi is still a baby and can’t use them yet, they will soon become a great playground for her.

From noble mtl dot com

I send an email to the Dark Merchant.

Someone from the Dark Merchant will arrive within an hour.

I take out the mana recovery potion I made from the infinite bag, carefully pack it in a box, and write down its effects before placing it at the door.

I prepare to go out.

I put Seolgi in the carrier and leave the house. The reserved taxi takes me to the real estate agency I used when buying the house.

“Hahaha, welcome, sir.”

The real estate agent greets me with a bright smile.

The real estate agent, who negotiated with the previous owner to lower the house price by 500 million won, earned an additional 250 million won in extra income besides the commission.

“What about them?”

“They said they’ll be here soon. Let’s wait with a cup of coffee.”

As I drink the coffee made by the real estate agent, the door opens, and a man and woman in their mid-forties enter.

“Welcome. This is the new owner who bought the house.”

“Hello.”

The man and woman bow their heads in greeting.

“They are a couple. Both of them worked in the house you bought. The husband took care of the garden, and the wife handled cooking and cleaning. You know there’s a room in the basement with a multi-space, right?”

“Yes.”

“The two of you helped with the housework while living there.”

The house I bought is too big.

I can’t clean it alone. Gardening? Of course, I can’t do that. So, I asked the real estate agent for help. If they knew a good staffing agency, I asked for an introduction.

The real estate agent suggested that instead of going to a staffing agency, why not take over the employment of the workers who had been helping with the housework.

“Both of them are diligent people. They have a daughter in the fourth grade, and she’s very kind and pretty.”

“Oh, really?”

I ask the couple.

“Do you want to continue working at the house?”

“If the conditions are right, we would like to continue.”

“What conditions do you want?”

“The previous owner gave us five million won a month combined. Could you raise our salary a little? Raising a child costs a lot of money.”

I nod as if I understand.

Isn’t it a common desire for parents to want to give good things to their children?

“I’ll raise it by one million won for now. And if we get along well while living together, I’ll raise it more. Will that be okay?”

“What?”

“Really?”

The wife asks in a surprised, almost screaming voice.

“I don’t joke about things like that.”

“Boss, we will work really hard.”

“Is there any food you usually enjoy? What food do you like?”

The couple lets out a happy scream at the sudden salary increase.

“Oh, by the way, I have a cat.”

I take Seolgi out of the carrier.

“What a cute baby. Our Songi will like it.”

“Is your daughter’s name Songi?”

“Yes, Baek Songi.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Does Songi like cats?”

“Yes. Before we worked at that house, we had a cat in the house we lived in. Songi brought home a stray kitten she found on her way back from kindergarten. But because of work, we had to send it to a cat café.”

If the workers like cats, there’s nothing better than that.

“Were you three living in the basement room?”

“Yes. The room is bigger than we thought, and it has a bathroom inside, so it’s not inconvenient.”

Even if my husband is not uncomfortable, I can’t stand it.

“A fourth grader is very sensitive. Use the two rooms on the second floor. It would be good if Song-i uses the room with the big window at the very end.”

“Really?”

The wife asks in a trembling voice.

“Should I say it again? I don’t joke about things like this.”

*

Park Dong-hyuk, the head of the Dark Merchant’s Korean branch, is staring at a potion bottle filled with blue liquid on his desk.

“Master of the Tower of Kraksha. I always look forward to your emails. You didn’t disappoint me this time either. A potion that restores mana…”

Park Dong-hyuk grins as he looks at the paper describing the potion’s effects inside the box.

“Are you really a wizard from the magical kingdom of Kraksha in Doomsday?”

He laughs and shakes his head as if he can’t believe his own words.

“Hm-. Restoring mana. The paradigm of attacking the Infinite Tower will change.”

He can already see how the awakened ones will react when they learn about the mana recovery potion.

“What will you surprise me with next time, Master of the Tower of Kraksha?”

Park Dong-hyuk smiles brightly.

“I look forward to it.”

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