Chapter 101: Hubblewick's Gift (Please Recommend)

Inside the wizard tower of Giles Academy.

Borne found the Count once again sitting there, enjoying his tea, and couldn’t help but feel a touch of curiosity; lately, it seemed Grandfather had a lot of free time, coming here to drink tea at the slightest provocation.

“Hmm? Your mental strength seems damaged—was this the result of casting spells above your level?”

With a single glance, the Count could see the wounds in Borne’s spiritual power. He reached out and lightly pressed his hand against Borne’s head. “That’s backlash from the spellcraft, but fortunately, it’s nothing serious.”

“And I sense spatial fluctuations—what have you done?”

Damn…

He’d been found out the moment he entered. He was nearly a high-level wizard now; how was it that he was still seen through so easily…?

“Grandfather’s gotten even stronger!” Borne thought with a wry smile.

In the past, standing near the Count, he could vaguely sense the overwhelming magic surging from him. But now, standing beside him, he couldn’t sense even the faintest hint of magical energy.

This defied the logic of magic! Wasn’t it supposed to be harder to advance the higher you went? Did Grandfather have some kind of cheat?

Faced with the Count’s questioning, Borne could only honestly and succinctly recount how he had forcibly cast the “Spatial Expansion Spell.”

After listening, the Count simply parted his lips slightly, saying nothing, just giving Borne’s shoulder a gentle pat.

Borne thought the Count was worried for him, and a warmth rose in his heart. He quickly pulled the Ranger over to divert his grandfather’s attention.

The Ranger started in surprise.

“Why drag me into this…”

After entering the Academy, Lisper had taken Blake and Lilith to the Arcane Society for fun. Because they wore “Transformation Amulets,” outwardly they looked almost indistinguishable from ordinary humans! With Lisper around, even if someone saw through their disguise, nothing serious would happen.

Meanwhile, the Ranger had done his best to blend into the background after entering the wizard tower, but hadn’t expected Borne to drag him out.

Count Iolum!

Now, this was a true heavyweight! To him, Count Iolum was nothing short of a legendary figure, and he’d never expected to meet him in person today.

Under the scrutiny of such a luminary, the Ranger grew extremely nervous, not knowing where to put his hands, and ended up bowing at a full ninety degrees.

Smack!

Borne covered his face, unable to bear the sight, thinking to himself, “Looks like I’ll have to give this guy a crash course in basic etiquette when we get back—he’s such an embarrassment!”

Borne then took out a vial of alchemical potion and placed it in front of the Count. The Ranger sat ramrod straight, not daring to move, but he recognized it as the alchemical potion he’d experimented with previously.

“This potion was made by him.”

Although the Count didn’t have a chip to analyze it in detail, Borne was sure his grandfather would notice the difference.

“Oh?” the Count inquired with interest. He picked up the vial, examined it for a moment, and then turned to ask, “You made this?”

As Borne had expected, the Count, after only a brief look, had already spotted the distinction. This kind of basic alchemical potion was something he himself had taught Borne to make.

“Yes, I did… I mean, the boss told me to make it…” Habwick stammered nervously, his tongue almost tied in knots.

Borne’s brow twitched.

“It’s all right, relax.” The Count waved his hand gently, and a faint green light washed over Habwick, instantly soothing his nerves—though what followed was utter shock.

“This… this is [Calm]?!”

Habwick nearly cried out in surprise. [Calm] was a unique ability of druids. Druids, who spent their lives in the forests communing with nature and animals, all had the [Animal Companion] trait, and [Calm] worked not only on beasts but on humanoids as well.

“Druid” was the human term. In ancient elven (actually Greek), it meant “oak-knower”—one who is familiar with oaks. Druids were known as the children of nature, devoted to the Mother of Earth, Ganas. Their spells were, in fact, divine magic.

(Later, as the Mother of Earth, Ganas, became increasingly biased in favor of humans—burning forests, felling trees—the druids felt betrayed, and eventually rose up to “dismiss” her. Deprived of druidic faith, Ganas accepted countless human followers and later changed her name to Chantea.)

“Could it be that Count Iolum is also a follower of the Mother Goddess?”

Sensing Habwick’s confusion, the Count smiled. “When you reach my level, you’ll understand—divine magic, sorcery, in some ways, the principles are the same.”

Habwick didn’t understand, but Borne, standing to the side, not only understood but knew the feeling well.

He’d heard enough in his previous life about “the Way follows nature, and all methods return to one.” Even if he didn’t fully grasp it, he realized the Count wasn’t actually a druid. Still, it was frustrating—he himself couldn’t use even the basics of druidic magic, yet here was someone who wasn’t even a druid wielding it with ease…

The Count didn’t elaborate but instead walked over to the alchemy bench, took out some materials, and laid them out.

Borne recognized them instantly—they were ingredients for alchemical potions.

“Make one for me right here, let me see.”

“Yes, sir!”

Habwick nodded and stepped forward. He wasn’t sure what was special about the potion he’d made, but it was clear that both Borne and this esteemed Count considered it a matter of importance.

With over ten years’ experience in the black market, he knew very well that only those with value were esteemed. Clearly, what happened next would determine his future standing.

Habwick drew a deep breath, quickly banished all distracting thoughts, then began to wash his hands and prepare the ingredients—his movements deft and practiced.

The Count’s eyes lit up. “He’s got the makings of an alchemist. A bit old, perhaps, but in his thirties he’s still marginally acceptable!”

“System! Start recording data!”

Borne had recorded several times before, but had never found anything particularly noteworthy. Still, more data never hurt.

Burning, liquefying, separating, combining… As the process unfolded, Habwick immersed himself completely, his movements as smooth and natural as flowing water—something Borne simply couldn’t replicate. With the chip’s assistance, Borne’s own methods seemed mechanical by comparison, while Habwick’s actions were suffused with a certain soul.

Borne glanced sideways at his grandfather. The Count’s eyes shone with excitement—his mental power was surging. Clearly, Habwick had captured his attention.

“It’s in the bag!” Borne thought.

Half an hour later.

As Habwick carefully dripped a single drop into the vial, the once cloudy liquid instantly became crystal clear. If one looked closely, faint elemental glimmers flickered within!

He’d done it!

Habwick exhaled softly, then capped the bottle and set it before the Count, standing to the side a little nervously.

The Count didn’t so much as move. He simply said, “Well done,” then turned and left.

Habwick didn’t know how “well” was meant, but at least it was an affirmation. He finally let out a breath of relief, and an expression of joy crept across his face.

Borne, on the other hand, was utterly bewildered.

What was happening? Hey, director, the script’s not right…

By all usual logic, shouldn’t this be the moment for a recruitment scene? Even if he wasn’t taken in as a disciple, surely being kept on as an assistant would be good—Habwick obviously had a unique talent for alchemy.

In game terms, he’d be a rare talent with a special alchemy specialty—a living auxiliary device! His gift for alchemy was obvious, and though a bit old, that shouldn’t matter—so why did the Count just walk away?

…

Elsewhere, Viscount Gordon arrived by carriage at the new headquarters of the Lehman Trading Company.

He was nearly blinded by the dazzling red glow shining from the brick walls. In just a few days, the exterior had been completely redone.

With his keen eye, the Viscount instantly recognized that this was an alchemical finish.

“That brat!”

He knew the kid had money, but this was just showing off.

Still…

With this new “skin,” the building did look much better…

(More coming later—please recommend!)