Chapter 45: Letter, Association of Potion Masters

In the cave, Lias slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling above, but quickly remembered what had happened.

“My eyes are so itchy.”

Lias could clearly feel a wave of itchiness from her right eye, so she reached out and untied the bandage wrapped around it, slowly opening her eye.

“Huh? There’s nothing wrong…”

She muttered softly, but soon noticed something different, her eyes widening in surprise.

It seemed… her field of vision had expanded.

She could see with her right eye?!

Excitement instantly surged in the girl.

“Leon, my eyes…”

Her cheerful voice echoed through the empty cave, but she couldn’t find any trace of Leon.

Lias jumped out of bed and ran all the way outside, but still didn’t see Leon.

Her initial excitement faded into a hint of disappointment.

She had really wanted to show Leon her eyes as soon as possible.

She also wondered what she looked like now.

Carefully, Lias reached out and covered her right eye with her hand.

“I really can see…”

Leon really hadn’t lied to her.

The only thing that left her a little down was that among the things Leon had brought, there hadn’t been a mirror.

But it was fine; once Leon came tomorrow, he would see for himself.

Lias walked back into the cave, soon noticing the Letter that Leon had left behind earlier.

She opened the envelope and slipped out the Letter with her fair, delicate hands.

“To the little kitten succubus.”

Lias bristled at the very first line.

Who’s a little kitten?!

Puffing her cheeks in anger, she kept reading.

“I may not be able to visit you for a while.”

“Eh?!”

Reading this, Lias felt as if struck by lightning, her fingertips squeezing the Letter so tightly they turned pale.

Why?

She hurriedly continued reading.

“I’ve accepted an invitation from the Empire’s Association of Potion Masters and am preparing to present my work there. If my results are recognized, I might be offered a seat in the Association of Potion Masters.”

“By then, I’ll be able to get lots of rare materials and make even stronger potions for you. Oh, and the potion next to you is a Potion of Enhanced Mana Absorption that I made—the effects are excellent.”

“Don’t worry. As soon as things are done there, I’ll come back right away.”

Finishing the Letter, Lias pouted, feeling a bit wronged.

She really wished Leon could stay with her.

Still, she didn’t want to let Leon down.

She picked up the other potion and, without hesitation, drank it in one gulp.

Very soon, a rush of heat spread through her body.

With every breath she took, she could feel a flood of mana pouring into her.

Lias’s eyes widened.

She had thought Leon’s “enhanced absorption” would only be a little bit faster, but this was a dozen times stronger!

She quickly closed her eyes and fully immersed herself in absorbing mana.

***

Meanwhile, Leon had already packed his things, ready to head to the capital for the Association of Potion Masters’ gathering.

Though it was called a gathering, it was actually more like a product launch.

The Empire had only just been founded, and potion studies were only just beginning. Most people’s research was still at a basic stage.

The potions they’d developed all had wildly different effects.

For example, the old man’s Healing Potion could only bring out about seventy percent of its full effect, but after Leon’s improvements, it had reached a staggering ninety percent.

That’s why the Duke had been so desperate to get his formula.

And, thanks to this, when the Demon Race launched their war, humanity had been able to repel them with minimal casualties.

Leon’s potions played a crucial role in that victory, though naturally, the credit didn’t go to him.

After all, the Duke had bought the rights to his potions outright.

Without paying a single coin, of course.

If his guess was right, he would soon be transferred out of Frosthold.

Leon’s main concern was the simulated Main Quest.

If he wanted to make an impact, he needed the official promotion of a big organization.

A few days passed.

After arriving at the capital, Leon first went to take the Test at the Association of Potion Masters, since he didn’t even have an official identity yet.

The Test was simple: two basic potions—a mana Restorative Potion and a Healing Potion.

The materials were all low-level and a bit different from what Leon usually used, but he managed to succeed by matching similar properties.

Having smoothly gained the title of Potion Master, Leon still had a few days before the Association’s gathering, so he wandered the capital for a while.

By his estimation, this was still several centuries before the present day.

He wandered about, buying a few local specialties to bring back for Lias.

Three days later, the Association of Potion Masters held their gathering as scheduled.

With his Invitation Letter, Leon entered the venue.

He quickly realized that this was less an academic exchange and more a pure social affair.

During the event, quite a few noble ladies were attracted by his youth and tried to strike up a conversation, but Leon declined them all.

His cold demeanor soon left him isolated from the lively crowd.

After a brief stay, Leon noticed there was no real discussion of potion studies, so he handed his potion over to the staff and quietly slipped away.

***

Association of Potion Masters, Review Division.

All the potions submitted by Potion Masters at the gathering were brought here, to be re-evaluated by the Empire’s most experienced Potion Masters.

Any potion that gained approval from more than half the judges would win its creator an invitation to join the Association of Potion Masters—a powerful organization backed by the Empire, offering endless rare materials and a place for Potion Masters to unleash their creativity.

“The standard of potions this year is pretty ordinary. Look at this—what is it supposed to be? A potion to enhance a man’s bedroom performance?”

“Isn’t this just an aphrodisiac?!”

An elderly man with snowy white hair slammed the table and roared in anger.

The others in the room all shook their heads in resignation.

This angry old man was none other than President Pace—the legendary founder of mana Restorative Potions and Healing Potions.

Everyone else’s work was just tinkering with his foundation.

“Hey, Pace, you’re getting too old to get so worked up. Come take a look at this one.”

The Vice President waved him over.

“What strange thing is it this time?”

Pace grumbled as he walked over.

But as his gaze swept over the potion’s description, his breath suddenly caught, his white beard trembling violently.

“This… How is this possible?!”

Pace’s startled exclamation drew the attention of every judge in the room.

“What kind of potion could shock the President like this?”

“Let me see too!”

Everyone put down their potions and crowded around.

As their eyes fell on the label, gasps of shock filled the room:

“A Potion of Enhanced Mana Absorption?! That’s impossible!”

Pace and the Vice President exchanged a long, grave look.

If this potion’s effects were real…

It would rewrite human history!

“Test it at once! Find a professional!”

Pace’s voice was firm as steel.

“Yes! Right away!”

The Vice President was just as urgent.