Chapter 58: Novice Elixir - Talent Ascension (D)

"Novice Elixir - Talent Ascension (D)"

"Restricted User: Lan Qingyou"

"Effect: 5% chance to upgrade the talent rank of an E-rank talent user."

"Description: How fascinating — truly fascinating. To think someone would use their own blood as an ingredient in an elixir. This person is either a genius or a lunatic. But there is no doubt that the creator of this elixir is gradually coming to understand the true essence of potioneering."

"Ha!"

The moment she read the Appraisal Glasses' feedback, the corner of Lan Qingyou's mouth curled high. She flung the stirring rod away, threw her arms wide, and erupted into laughter.

"Ahahahaha! I did it! I actually did it! Yours truly is a genius!"

"Ding! Your creation 'Elixir - Talent Ascension' has been recognized by Kalim's World Will. Kalim's World Will bestows the World Title: 'Witch of the High Tower.'"

As the World Will's voice echoed in her ears, Lan Qingyou's laughter cut off abruptly.

World Title — "Witch of the High Tower?"

She had no idea what it meant, but if the World Will itself was acknowledging her work, then this elixir was genuinely a success.

Thud.

On that thought, Lan Qingyou's body suddenly crumpled to the ground. She toppled backward, and just like that — eyes closed, lights out.

"Squee!"

"Squee-squee-squee—"

Steel Wire Ball, which had been playing a "stomp the letters" game on the Magic Desk, startled at the commotion from the alchemy workshop.

Its large eyes brimmed with confusion.

It clumsily leaped off the Magic Desk, landed with a splat and face-planted, then scrambled on its stubby legs into the workshop.

"Squee-squee-squee— squee-squee—"

Finding Lan Qingyou collapsed on the floor, Steel Wire Ball rushed to her side — nuzzling her face, pecking with its beak — but Lan Qingyou showed no signs of waking.

Now truly panicked, the little creature circled her body in frantic loops.

It even hopped onto Lan Qingyou's torso, trying to rouse her.

But once it noticed her stomach rising and falling — still breathing — it figured she was at least alive, and finally calmed down.

It made sense, really.

Over the past few days, Lan Qingyou had barely slept at all. Now that her creation was finally complete, the taut string of tension had finally snapped — and she'd instantly passed out cold.

Just then, a voice echoed in Steel Wire Ball's own ears too.

"Congratulations to individual 'Lan Qingyou' for successfully developing 'Elixir - Talent Ascension.' Kalim's World Will bestows upon her the title 'Witch of the High Tower.'"

"Due to individual 'Lan Qingyou's' achievement, the Blue Star Earthling race has earned recognition from Kalim's World Will. World Title bestowal is now unlocked — any individual who makes an outstanding contribution to the world of Kalim and receives the World Will's recognition shall be granted a title commensurate with their contribution."

Steel Wire Ball, naturally, had no idea what any of that meant.

After confirming Lan Qingyou wasn't dead, it glanced at the still-burning stone slab alchemy pedestal nearby, hopped down from her body, waddled over to the pedestal, stared at it in puzzlement — and then stepped right on it.

Crack!

Instantly, the flame went out and the stone slab split apart.

That gave Steel Wire Ball a fright.

But it forgot about the incident almost immediately.

The little creature turned and tottered out, then clumsily gripped the towel-blanket bedding Lan Qingyou had made for it on the first floor with its beak and laboriously dragged it into the workshop. With great effort, it draped the towel over Lan Qingyou's midsection, then plopped down on top and fell asleep right there.

But just because it didn't understand and didn't care didn't mean no one else did.

While it had been busy putting out fires and tucking in Lan Qingyou, its "toy desk" was already exploding with chatter.

"What did the World Will just say?"

"Talent Ascension? Elixir? What does any of this mean? I'm completely lost."

"You're not the only one — I studied linguistics and even I can't parse it."

"Well, believe it or not, she's from our district. She's some kind of pharmaceutical-dealing alchemist. Real cutthroat with the pricing too."

"Yeah, exactly — you guys have no idea how ruthless this Lan Qingyou is. The prices she charges for mana and healing potions are insane."

"Wait — there are alchemists in this world?!"

"Wait — mana potions and healing potions are a thing?!"

"What's the big fuss? Having an alchemist is perfectly normal. We've got one in our district too. What are you guys paying?"

"One mana point per basic unit, one HP per two basic units, that sort of thing."

"Hss— that IS pricey. That stuff barely costs anything to make. Our district's Miss Alisa is much nicer about it."

"Hold on, how come your districts all have alchemists? We don't have anyone like that."

"Same here."

"+1"

"+1"

"We've got one, but nothing this crazy."

"Hey, wait — isn't the discussion getting way off track? World Will! World Title! Does nobody have anything to say about THAT?"

"What do you want me to say besides 'jealous?'"

"What about the Talent Ascension elixir?"

"I want one."

"If we were still on Blue Star, I'd pay 100 million for that potion without blinking."

"100 million? Dream on."

"Did you not see the 5% success rate? 100 million sounds about right."

"That's a talent upgrade acknowledged by the World Will itself. A 5% success rate is already incredible, thank you very much."

"Fine then, 200 million?"

"...Hate to break it to you, but we're on the Kalim Continent now. You don't have money."

"Acting like this Lan Qingyou person would sell in the first place."

"Looking at the description, it says it's only effective for E-rank users. So it can only upgrade to D-rank."

"What, does E-rank owe you money or something?"

"Don't jump down my throat — let me finish. My point is, doesn't that mean Lan Qingyou herself is only E-rank? Otherwise, why make a D-rank elixir?"

"Now that you put it that way... yeah, actually."

"Jealous. I'm E-rank too. Wonder if she'd sell me some."

"Probably expensive. Especially since this Lan Qingyou apparently has zero chill with pricing."

"Some things you just can't envy. We're all adults here — can we talk about something practical?"

"Honestly, even though Blue Star's Will only sold us to Kalim about a month ago, I'm starting to feel like some people are playing an entirely different game from the rest of us."

"How so?"

"You might not believe this, but there's a girl in our district who sells meat — and she turned her shelter into a full-blown farm. A farm!"

"Oh yeah, I totally get that. Same energy in our district. My next-door neighbor literally does nothing but farm inside his shelter all day and sells the harvest. Never sets foot outside."

"SO?"

"We're playing an action-adventure survival game. They're playing a farming simulation."

"Pffft — that's actually a perfect way to put it."

"Alright, shut it everyone. One more hour and this godforsaken Mana Tide is over."

...

At the mention of that, the banter died down. One by one, everyone fell silent, waiting for the Mana Tide to finally end.