Capítulo 7: Chapter 7: Lucia Everlast, Collaboration, and Success
Magicians, unless they dream of becoming court magicians, mostly desired to enter renowned towers or prestigious magical families.
The biggest reason was none other than money.
As with many magical lineages, their research and experiments required a substantial amount of wealth.
Moreover, the higher the tower's reputation, the more they received immense sponsorships and donations not only from the country but also from various nobles.
One might think of it as pouring water into a broken pitcher, but if done properly, it could significantly elevate the country as a whole.
A prime example was the Mana Ascension Trains installed throughout the empire.
Thanks to them, travel time was drastically reduced, leading to a logistics revolution.
Furthermore, the role of towers was significant in various aspects of daily life, such as illuminating the streets at night with inferior mana to extend people's activity hours or developing fertilizers from the remains of Porphyus to address the food problem.
However, in the end, what I wanted to say was this:
While magical research could yield substantial expected profits upon success, until then, it devoured money like a glutton.
"Damn it."
I muttered in frustration in Korean as I looked at another failed potion.
Glancing to the side, the remaining ingredients for the next attempt were pitifully laid out.
Once I used them all, there would be barely any money left to restock.
"I received quite a lot of money. I underestimated the cost."
I thought making a stamina-boosting potion would be a piece of cake.
But what is this?
"The mixing ratios of each ingredient were not implemented in the game."
In the game, you simply put the items listed in the recipe and press the combine button to get the result.
However, in reality, the quantity and proportion of each ingredient were crucial.
Although I had been trying for two days, I was on a losing streak.
Checking the time, I realized it was time to close the laboratory.
Packing the ingredients in my backpack, I finished tidying up.
"Have you been researching until now?"
"Oh, you too?"
"Yes."
Lucia, with her short pink hair that seemed to emit a glow, greeted me with a wave as she came out of the adjacent laboratory.
"What kind of experiment were you conducting?"
"It's a secret."
"I'm curious, so I'll share my experiment with you. Can't you tell me?"
"No, I can't."
Especially not to you.
I couldn't give even a hint to these geniuses.
If I told them one thing, they would figure out ten things on their own, and I could end up being completely robbed.
"Senior, were you always like this?"
"Don't change the subject suddenly. Anyway, I won't tell you."
"No, really. I mean, beautiful girls like me usually make guys go weak in the knees and offer them everything, right?"
"You say that with your mouth?"
"It's true that I'm beautiful. What can you do? Senior, you showed interest in me before, and now you're pretending not to know?"
I could see a hint of impudence in her cornered expression. She acted tough in these situations.
Speaking of which, it reminded me of the time when I was the one who fell into her trap.
That damn Adrias. Even though he claimed to have no money, he wasted it recklessly in strange places.
"He used to fool around with the freshmen."
One of them was standing right in front of me.
With the money I spent on this kid alone, I could have done at least five more experiments!
"Since you have nothing to say, I'm leaving."
"Just a moment! You really won't tell me?"
"I have nothing to say."
"Phenrina Mushroom!"
My steps, which were about to ignore her, came to a halt.
I suppressed my emotions as deeply as possible and turned around.
"That's right, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Well, it's obvious. You stopped."
"So, what about it?"
"Hehe, if you want to know, tell me what experiment you were conducting."
It wasn't like Horpish or Mataratata telling me back then.
Life is truly unfair.
How did only those two manage to guess the most important secret ingredient at once?
In the game, I didn't realize it since they were simply talented and their skill proficiency increased rapidly.
But in reality, geniuses were truly monstrous beings.
"At this rate, I'll be easily taken advantage of."
Of course, I had many other recipes.
The problem was that I had very little money left to experiment with other recipes.
I never imagined that research would require such a huge amount of money.
After contemplating and agonizing over it, I realized that it was meaningless not to reveal what experiment I was conducting.
It would be better to honestly admit it and try to gain some sympathy.
"Sigh. I was researching stamina-boosting potions."
"Hehe, I knew it would be something like that."
"Are you researching the same thing?"
"Yes."
Lucia nodded her head as I looked at her note.
"What kind of experiment are you conducting?"
"It's a secret."
"I'm curious, though. Since you're telling me about my experiment, can't you tell me about yours?"
"No, I can't."
Especially not to you.
I couldn't give even a hint to these geniuses.
If I told them one thing, they would figure out ten things on their own, and I could end up being completely robbed.
"Senior, were you always like this?"
"Don't change the subject suddenly. Anyway, I won't tell you."
"No, really. I mean, beautiful girls like me usually make guys go weak in the knees and offer them everything, right?"
"You say that with your mouth?"
"It's true that I'm beautiful. What can you do? Senior, you showed interest in me before, and now you're pretending not to know?"
I could see a hint of impudence in her cornered expression. She acted tough in these situations.
Speaking of which, it reminded me of the time when I was the one who fell into her trap.
That damn Adrias. Even though he claimed to have no money, he wasted it recklessly in strange places.
"He used to fool around with the freshmen."
One of them was standing right in front of me.
With the money I spent on this kid alone, I could have done at least five more experiments!
"Is that how it was with you, too?"
"Well, it's not just me, right? You found everything on your own."
"Well, it's true, but why?"
Why did she want to share with me?
If someone like her had already tried, it was clear that she would discover the mixing ratios before me.
It was unnecessary to share when I could work alone.
"Why don't we work together?"
Her sudden proposal caught me off guard, and I blinked twice.
Together? Me? With Lucia Everlast?
"I mean, it's nice if it's me, but why?"
Why did she want to share with me?
Even though she was a genius, it was evident that she would find the mixing ratios before me.
There was no need for her to share when I could work alone.
"I'm currently searching for a certain remedy. It hasn't been discovered yet, so I have to research it entirely on my own."
"And?"
"Well, I didn't know you had the talent to figure things out just by giving hints. Maybe someday, you'll be able to develop the remedy I'm looking for. It's about building goodwill in advance."
Do you think you can beat me?
It's absolutely impossible right now.
It's nonsense.
"So, shall we work together from tomorrow?"
"Sure, let's meet tomorrow."
It's good that things ended like this.
If I hadn't run into her today, I would have lost the patent for the stamina potion, completely unaware.
"I got lucky."
Yes, it was luck.
If I always had luck like this, it wouldn't matter.
But life doesn't work that way.
There's nothing as foolish as relying on luck alone.
So, as a form of self-reflection, I'll run twice the usual 6 kilometers today.
It has been a regular exercise since I started going to the cemetery, but my miserable stamina hasn't improved in just a few days.
"But for a brighter tomorrow."
I will run today as well.
"Another failure."
"Senior, take a little break!"
Lucia's voice slurred from the side.
I thought that having Lucia by my side meant that I was done making stamina potions, but I was greatly mistaken.
I had already used up all the remaining ingredients I had, and even the ones Lucia had were running out.
"This time, the narcotic component came out too strong. It wasn't because of a lack of Mataratata, though."
"It doesn't always mean you need Mataratata when a narcotic component comes out. It's about synergy. Instead of using too much Mataratata, try reducing it and adding a bit more Tree of Todor and Phenrina Mushroom."
Hmm, her words made sense.
But I had been feeling it since earlier...
"Lucia."
"Yes?"
"Why does it feel like you've been doing nothing but talking while I do all the experimenting?"
"It's just my mood, my mood."
It was hard to believe her when she was lying on the experimental desk, eating snacks.
But still, her occasional advice helped me orient the experiment.
"Someone thirsty should dig a well."
It wasn't Lucia who needed money; it was me.
Lucia was far from being short of money, as she was from a merchant noble family.
Doing the experiment right away seemed like a waste of ingredients, so I opened the herbalism textbook that Lucia had brought.
"Tree of Todor, Tree of Todor... Here it is."
Contrary to the item description in the game, there was a long passage.
Of course, most of it had nothing to do with my current research, but there were definitely things I could learn from it.
It was a bit ridiculous that I jumped into it without knowing any of this.
"Senior, I'm bored."
"I know. Just wait."
After reading the book and considering the results of the previous experiments and Lucia's advice, I started the production once again.
My hands felt a heightened sense of touch as I handled the ingredients.
"Oh, this one feels good, doesn't it?"
"Really?"
I hadn't said anything, but somehow it did feel good.
I silently thought to myself, suppressing any negative thoughts.
As I brewed the 702nd potion...
-Ding!
[You have created a Potion of Stamina Boost (Intermediate).]
"Ah!"
The notification that had never appeared before blocked my vision.
Is this for real? Did I really make it?
I was trembling, unable to move my body.
"Why? What is it? Is it done? Then let's try it now."
Unlike me, who didn't know the outcome, Lucia, who had no knowledge of the result, put the newly created potion into the testing device.
The result displayed naturally indicated success.
"Huh, huh? There's no side effect at all? What's going on?"
"I did it. I made it."
"Yeah...?"
Lucia, who had been momentarily dazed, turned to look at me again after seeing the result. A smile, like a blooming flower, appeared on her face.
"Wow! I did it! I did it!"
It should be "we," not "I," you idiot.
I understand.
Even for someone like me who knew the recipe from the game, it was difficult to succeed like this, starting from scratch.
Before fully enjoying the joy, the notification appeared in front of me once again.
-Ding!
[You have acquired the talent "Potion Brewing Buff (Universal)."]
[The condition has been fulfilled.]
[A potential candidate for evolution has been discovered.]
What's going on all of a sudden?
[Adrias Cromwell's Talent: Potion Brewing Buff (Universal), evolution possibility 32%.]
[Would you like to proceed with evolution?]
It said that the talent I just acquired has the potential to evolve.
It was surprising enough to gain the talent, but to evolve it immediately was beyond my comprehension.
"32%?"
In truth, I hadn't experienced acquiring an evolved trait in the game, so I didn't understand the mechanics yet.
For now, I decided to set it aside.
After all, there was Angela's case. I had to endure for now.
And the fact that it was only 32% didn't sit well with me.
"Senior, hurry! Let's go register this!"
Yes, for now, setting everything else aside, registering it was a priority.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder