Chapter 79

Hello from the underground room where the seasons are not felt. Today is December 10th, just an ordinary day. I'm Herman, and I'm currently wrestling with my talent. This is my second attempt today, and the 20th cumulative attempt. ...That's right. I still haven't drawn the River of Stars for the Swordsman's talent. It's supposed to be a normal talent, so why isn't it coming out? Statistically, it should come out once every ten tries. Surely, it can't miss on the 20th try, right?

By today, I've finished all my other classes. The Eimei School's class was about creating the highest-level potion. Both the Light-attribute magic mushrooms and the Moonlight mushrooms were provided. They're quite generous, aren't they? ...Of course, they will be collected later. The fact that they provided three sets of materials shows how serious the Eimei School is. The method wasn't that difficult as long as you could properly manipulate magic. You extract magic from the high-quality materials, transfer it to the next highest-quality material, and then extract it again. Finally, you do the same with the Fast Life Herb, and it's done. If you fail, it means your magic manipulation training is completely insufficient. Students who said they failed were immediately given endless advanced potions. I'm glad I succeeded. It's unfortunate for the students who have to make endless advanced potions, but it's a high price to pay for slacking off.

The Zomei School's class was about creating a covered wagon. Well, anyway, it requires a lot of magic stones. I used attribute magic stones to make the wagon fireproof, heat-resistant, and to reduce the friction of the wheels. Seeing third-year students there, I realized it takes three years to complete. The participation rate for first-year students is low. There are familiar faces, even if I don't know their names. I've seen them in class many times, so I know their faces, even if we haven't interacted. But there weren't many of them. ...Or were there? I saw people from the Raid at the gathering place for the Tetsu School's class. I think it was them, but I only remember the ones with distinctive faces. Anyway, I made the wagon without any special mechanisms. I tried to save a bit on maintenance costs, but that's about it. I used a little extra iron ingots and earth-attribute magic stones. I think it's just a margin of error. A suspension system is out of the question. If I tried to make a leaf spring, I wouldn't have enough iron ingots. I don't plan to carry anyone, so a pillow will be enough.

The Reimei School's class was about creating saplings of the Spirit Tree. Well, the Reimei School's classes are peaceful. I made one sapling for myself, but that's it. The saplings I made will probably be given to the Zomei School students for next year's classes. I don't know if there are enough for everyone, but I only made five, excluding the one for myself. Anyway, all my classes are now finished. From next year, I'll be in seminars. ...I shouldn't be saying this, considering I've already been causing trouble.

While reminiscing, my struggle with my talent ended. It takes about 30 minutes. After that, I don't feel like doing alchemy for about two hours, so I must be quite tired. So, how did the gacha turn out? --- This? Finally, it came. The feeling when the stars are assigned is similar. I could tell that five stars were assigned. It's a mysterious feeling, but it resonated with my talent. Some might think that getting what I wanted in 20 consecutive gacha is fast, but since it's a gacha that can only be drawn twice a day, it took a while. ...But what should I do with the things I've made so far? Should I sell them to the Tetsu School? I don't have any connections. Should I storm a seminar with a large number of people? I want them to buy everything. ...I'll contact Silvio, Glen, and Ed. Even though Ed and I have the same talent, it's fine if he invites me to his seminar. I don't think it's a seminar only for swordsmen, but I'll ask just in case. I'll also ask Ted. He has the talent for scythe users, and five stars should be enough to make it useful. I think Ted has Full Moon Mushrooms, so I can trade. If he has the River of Stars for the scythe user's talent, that would be great.

However, after struggling with my talent many times, I've realized something. The alchemy array and the alchemy array carved on the alchemy cauldron must have some effect to make the talent work. ...So, if I place a device with an alchemy array on the embroidered alchemy array and try to use my talent, something should happen. ...That means I need to think of a device other than the alchemy cauldron. I already have an idea. What if I carve an alchemy array on a distiller? I think many parts are unnecessary. First, the part for water. I don't need that. I can just put the materials directly in. I think the cooling part is also unnecessary. However, since it will become a gas, I need a mechanism to turn it into a liquid and collect it. I think it will look like a hook on the top of a cylindrical padlock, with the hook removed to the outside. I think it should have a lid that attaches, like a storage bottle. The locking mechanism should be the same as a storage bottle. I have an idea, but I need a two-hour break from alchemy. It's really tiring to use my talent.

Now, I've recovered. Let's start right away. I'll need a few storage bottles. I think a larger size would be better. So, I'll make the distiller while throwing magic mushrooms. The locking mechanism was a bit difficult to make with just glass, but it took about 15 minutes to complete. I'll use alchemy cauldron ink to write the alchemy array on the glass distiller. Then, I'll channel magic. I used a magic stone for the alchemy cauldron, but now I have a magic wand, so I'll use that to channel magic. ...It should work, but it doesn't seem to be an alchemy cauldron judgment. The Tears of the Goddess are not filled. This must be something else. I'll use it the next day. For now, I'll place it on the alchemy array.

So, it's December 11th. What should I call this... Alchemy Distiller, I think. It's simple and clear. Now, for the first test run. What should I put in? I need to consider the possibility of waste, but I can't be too stingy. ...I'll use Moonlight Mushrooms. I have a lot, and the damage will be minimal even if I waste them. I have a lot of inventory from three years of diving. Let's start the experiment. I'll stuff as many Moonlight Mushrooms as I can. ...About 300 fit. Now, let's start the test run. I've prepared a larger bottle than the storage bottle to collect the output. I'll use my magic wand to start the talent struggle.

I'll activate the alchemy array in double. I thought it would be a talent struggle, but it feels like I'm digging into something incredibly deep. It doesn't feel wrong. I'll keep digging with my talent. I don't know how far I need to go. I feel like I need to reach a certain point, and there's a time limit. Hurry, hurry. Talent, work hard. Deeper, deeper, as far as possible.

After digging for about 30 minutes, I finally reached the point and was drained of magic. The materials all collapsed and turned into gas, which then turned into liquid and flowed into the bottle through the upper tube. The liquid that flowed in was of three types: white, black, and colorless. ...They don't mix. I think it's best to store them separately. I'll use magic manipulation to separate them into three storage bottles. ...The white liquid fills about half a storage bottle, the black one too. The colorless one fills about a third of a storage bottle. These are the colors of the attributes. Light attribute, dark attribute, and pure magic. Can I extract the magic from the materials and store it as a liquid? I'll try to fill a storage bottle, so I'll do it one more time today. I think I can do it twice a day. It's quite challenging. It feels like my talent is producing adrenaline. I'll take a two-hour break. During that time, I'll write some letters. After sending four letters, I'll do it again. The content is simple. Do you want to buy the River of Stars? If possible, introduce me to your seminar. I won't ask Ted to introduce me to his seminar.

After the second round, I have a storage bottle full of Light-attribute magic water, Dark-attribute magic water, and two-thirds full of Pure magic water. Let's analyze what I've created. I've managed to extract the attributes. ...What can I use them for? I don't even know if this storage method is correct. But I think I can make magic stones. I can extract the attributes and solidify the magic to make attribute magic stones. The extracted materials are in the storage bottles. I think one storage bottle is the limit. If I try to put more, I think a second magic stone will form. I'll make the Light-attribute and Dark-attribute magic water into magic stones and take the Pure magic water to the Fertility Association.

After about two hours, I feel ready to use alchemy again. Since it's a liquid, the alchemy cauldron is better. It would be a waste to fail, but my talent says it will succeed, so it should be fine. I put the liquid in the alchemy cauldron, converged it, and a large magic stone was formed. ...It's a beautiful white Light-attribute magic stone, larger than any I've seen before. The experiment was a success. Now, let's make the Dark-attribute magic stone. It also turned into a large Dark-attribute magic stone. What quality are they? I think they are the highest quality. I can't imagine anything better. If I use this to make the River of Stars, it might be amazing. It could have nine stars. Anyway, I'll submit them to the Fertility Association.

Since I have some time left, let's make the River of Stars into proper accessories. A necklace would be good. The River of Stars is a bit larger, so I'll make a talisman-shaped necklace with silver ingots. A blacksmith can make a high-quality chain, but an alchemist can make it quickly. I'll make the necklace and it's done. I recognize that the talent is also added, so there's no problem. Since I've completed this month's report, I just need to wait for the Fertility Association in a few days. It's exciting.

Whether you found it interesting or not, I'd appreciate your feedback. If you could include your evaluation, that would be great. If you could point out any issues in your comments, I think I can reflect them in my writing, even as a layman reader. ...Probably.