Chapter 828: Slightly Unexpected

The feeling these two gave Nikolai was very strange.

How should he put it.

Their discussion gave him a 'very wild' feeling.

It was something that an academic type like him could absolutely never say or think of.

Or rather, something that he would highly likely overlook even if he saw it.

"Just how did you two learn alchemy?"

Thinking of this, Nikolai couldn't suppress himself and spat out this sentence.

"A small part self-study, mostly discussion."

"Indeed, it's roughly like that."

Although they did indeed spend most of their time self-studying, in reality, on crucial issues, many conclusions were reached through discussion.

In the beginning, she truly couldn't understand why this Tower Witch, Lan Qingyou, would want to create something like a race.

After all, in her view, although the Tower Witch appeared to be someone who just did things for fun on the surface.

And acted like she enjoyed seeking amusement.

In reality, she was very likely someone who liked quiet even more than herself.

Yet it was exactly this kind of person who unexpectedly created a Witch Race and even arranged a 'Witch Queen' title for herself.

At that time, after she learned the news, she even thought the Tower Witch had gone crazy.

But when her own homunculus technology matured and even reached mass production, she finally realized that there were indeed benefits to having many people.

Even if she didn't deliberately guide them.

After gaining sentience, due to the characteristics of the Witch Race, they would gradually start pursuing the true meaning of magic.

It was only then that Elisa discovered the ingenuity behind it.

To the point where she later began discussing things with the Tower Witch, a person whose 'ideologies clashed' with hers.

The feeling at that time was very smooth, without the slightest bit of resistance.

"You guys... self-taught?"

Lan Qingyou said it very easily, and Elisa agreed very quickly.

But listening to it, it changed flavor in Nikolai's ears.

Had current alchemy been downgraded to the level of a roadside stall?

One had to know that true alchemy was extremely systematic.

It required a massive foundation of basic disciplines as support to truly learn it and become a capable alchemist who could hold their own.

This was also the main reason why so many people entered the Alchemy Department of the Imperial Academy every year.

Yet in the end, only a few could actually graduate.

Leaving everything else aside.

Just herbology alone, from identification to memorizing pharmacology, was enough to drive someone away.

Not to mention the subsequent identification of monster materials and potionology.

And in the end, you're telling me both of you are self-taught?

And the key point is that you both succeeded?

Nikolai fell into silence.

He did not doubt their knowledge and abilities.

Rather, just the blue orb of light hanging on that black-robed girl's magic broom, which was used to dispel monsters, was enough to prove that they had practical ability.

Not to mention that Arthur had even secretly slipped him a bottle of milky-white Healing Potion.

Healing Potion.

Milky-white.

What a niche combination of words.

Right now, if they were to pull out some green Healing Potion, he wouldn't even find it strange.

However... geniuses did exist in this world.

At least before they appeared, he and Albert were the geniuses in the mouths of others.

But today, he had finally witnessed what it meant to have 'always a bigger fish'.

However, this was perhaps a good thing.

Their appearance was definitely a good thing for them.

Just their discussion moments ago had given him no small amount of inspiration and insight, the kind where he could immediately start experimenting once he got back.

"Listening to your discussion just now, I discovered a problem."

After slightly calming his somewhat fluctuating emotions, Nikolai spoke.

He very tactfully did not ask how the two of them were self-taught.

After all, for people like them, the process was often not as important as the result.

Because once the result was wrong, then the process would inevitably be completely overturned.

Therefore.

Nikolai only looked at their results.

With results, one was a good alchemist.

Without results, one was garbage that couldn't even be considered an apprentice alchemist.

In reality, there were many people who wanted to sneak in and get themselves the title of an alchemist.

After all, the status of an alchemist itself could earn a lot of money.

So genuine alchemists basically tormented such people to death whenever they encountered them, one by one.

They wouldn't show any mercy.

It wasn't that they looked down on these people.

But purely because they were full of pride and honor for their profession itself.

This was also why the saying 'don't mess with an alchemist' appeared in the markets.

Because they would truly take action, and they wouldn't show any mercy.

"What problem?"

The two stopped their exchange and looked at Nikolai.

This could be considered the greatest respect for this 'mentor' of Elisa.

Nikolai himself could also see this point.

"From the discussion just now, it can be seen that you both possess real knowledge and genuine talent, so what are your views on the schools of alchemy?"

Although the two were self-taught.

As long as it was an academic discipline, a foundation existed.

And when this foundation diverged, it would definitely form schools of thought.

So he wasn't worried that these two 'mountain dwellers' wouldn't know about the two major schools of alchemy.

"She is from the Mana Alchemy School, and I am from the Materialism School."

Lan Qingyou pointed her thumb at Elisa and introduced her to Nikolai.

As expected.

Nikolai nodded in understanding.

Just listening to the discussion moments ago, even without knowing the words, one could still hear that the two belonged to different schools.

It was just that he didn't expect the one from the Mana Alchemy School like him would actually be the white-robed little girl.

Originally, he thought the black-robed little girl, whose mana capacity was even larger and whose expression of mana was even more thorough, would be from the Mana Alchemy School.

"I didn't expect Miss Elisa to actually be a member of the Mana Alchemy School, how truly rude of me."

Nikolai remarked.

"Very unexpected?"

"Slightly."

"Hehe."

Facing Nikolai's directness, Lan Qingyou smiled.

If this guy knew that in order not to use materials, Elisa had actually refined her entire person into a crucible, she wondered how he would feel.

Of course.

Lan Qingyou wouldn't say this kind of thing.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, this kind of thing was Elisa's own business.

If she were to run her mouth and continue speaking, that would be impolite.

"Alright, it's about time. Rest early tonight. At our normal speed, we'll be able to reach the Imperial Capital the day after tomorrow."

Right now, there were no longer any important emergency matters.

So there was no need to run for a whole day and night like yesterday.

Resting well and traveling slowly was the most comfortable thing for Nikolai.

After all, he himself couldn't quite hold on just a moment ago.

If the caravan hadn't descended from the sky, and if the people on it didn't happen to be those who could resolve the 'meteor shower incident'.

Then he might have had to suffer even more.

So after gaining a general understanding of the two, Nikolai checked the time and then impatiently stood up to announce tomorrow's itinerary to everyone.

However, because he really wanted to rest quickly, he forgot one thing.

Someone... could fly...