Chapter 53: Repeatable Mission & Alchemist Level Up
Aurelius had left the Sol mansion empty-handed. When he returned, however, he was carrying a large bag filled with extraordinary materials.
As he sneakily moved into the underground room and placed it down, his gaze subconsciously lingered on the metal chains that had once shackled Selene.
’I should really move out of the mansion. Or at least, find a more suitable place to conduct such... activities in the future.’
’I can’t possibly sneak into my own home every time I want to do something...’
Aurelius shook his head. Sneaking into his own house like a thief was becoming a little too common for comfort.
Thankfully, his noble status meant he lacked nothing but money.
Purchasing another residence was easy for him.
Had he been born in an ordinary family, such a thing would have been impossible.
Organizing his thoughts, Aurelius didn’t rush to exit the room.
He opened the bag, coming face to face with the materials inside.
Besides the rare Potion ingredients, there were also some vials, glass containers for when the Potions were refined.
The number of both was enormous.
’Is Professor Anna planning to form an Awakener army? What does she need so many Potions for?’
’More importantly, how can she trust an ordinary student she just met to refine them?’
Aurelius was full of doubts.
He strongly suspected that Anna might belong to some secret Awakener force similar to the Blood Temple.
This was none of his business, however.
Pushing that thought to the back of his mind, a smile crept up on his face.
He glanced at the text before him.
"Ding! Mission Issued!"
"Mission—Potion Maker (Repeatable): Refine ten of the Potions requested by Anna."
"Rewards: 100 EXP. Professor Anna’s Favorability."
The promised rewards were pitiful. Professor Anna’s Favorability had yet to show any effect, while the Experience was minimal.
The word "Repeatable", however, completely made up for it.
This Mission was not a one-time event like the ones that had been issued before.
Aurelius could complete it repeatedly, claiming the same reward multiple times.
Whether it was until he completed Anna’s assignment, or the number was truly indefinite, was a matter that needed further investigation.
Aurelius retained his composure.
Reaching into the bag, he retrieved several materials while a recipe surfaced in his mind.
Ironblood Potion.
A Rank 1 combat Potion that temporarily increased an Awakener’s defense while accelerating the recovery of minor injuries.
Its duration was relatively short, lasting for only two minutes, but it was quite popular among Awakeners, especially among brawler-based Classes.
The relevant information instinctively emerged.
Having already learned its recipe while on the way, Aurelius swiftly sprang into action.
Transmutation was activated!
A golden light erupted from his palms.
It rapidly flowed toward the materials and enveloped them, reducing them to their purest essence.
Then, the purified essences began to merge.
The process was quick.
Only a couple of minutes later, the Potion materials were nowhere to be found.
In their place now floated a silver liquid. Aurelius grabbed a vial and carefully stored it inside.
As he watched it settle into the glass, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew he had succeeded!
The Ironblood Potion had been refined!
This rare Potion, whose recipe would require ordinary people weeks to master, had been refined by Aurelius in the span of a few minutes.
Having assisted Anna earlier, he knew this was unusual. Impossible even.
There was an underlying reason behind his swift success.
Level 5 Transmutation.
This ability, which was exclusive to the Alchemist Sub-Class, was only now beginning to reveal its true potential—besides bringing an enhancement to his Base Stats, of course.
Watching the experience bar above Transmutation slowly progress, Aurelius was filled with joy.
He grabbed another set of ingredients and activated Transmutation once more.
Soon, vial after vial was filled with Ironblood Potions.
Once, twice, thrice.
In less than half an hour, nearly a dozen had appeared.
When the tenth silver potion was refined and put aside, a bell’s chime echoed in Aurelius’ mind.
The Mission had been completed.
The Experience column on the Player Panel changed accordingly.
Despite receiving the rewards, though, the Mission remained active.
’Sure enough,’ Aurelius muttered inwardly, his smile widening.
He checked his current state.
Even though he had refined so many Potions, the consumption had been minimal. He had consumed less than five percent of his total Spirit.
More importantly...
’There was no failure! Every single refinement was successful!’
One hundred percent success rate.
Even if his high proficiency had certainly played a role in it, this fact was more than enough to showcase the skill’s own power.
Sensing his ample remaining Spirit, Aurelius did not stop.
He started refining another type of Potion.
Stamina Recovering Potion. As its name suggested, it could help Awakeners recover after prolonged combat.
This recipe was slightly more complicated than that of the Ironblood Potion.
Even so, the results were the same.
Shortly afterward, Aurelius placed the ten containers aside and moved on to the next type.
Again and again.
Potion after Potion.
Aurelius did not stop until several hours later, when his Spirit was almost depleted.
Despite the physical and mental exhaustion, however, he was still smiling.
He had all but confirmed it.
The Potion Maker Mission could be completed an indefinite number of times, giving Experience every single time.
This realization made his heart speed up.
He had finally found a way to consistently harvest Experience without the need to hunt monsters.
For a moment, Aurelius had the urge to rush back to the Academy, find Anna, and kiss her.
Thankfully, he quickly restrained that impulse upon remembering the stunning Level 46 interface.
Without Spirit to support him, refining any more Potions was impossible for the time being.
However, that didn’t mean that Aurelius could do nothing in the meantime.
The Player Panel was pulled up.
His gaze briefly hovered over the various columns before finally settling on two.
[Sub-Class: Alchemist — Level 15/25 (0/160)]
[EXP: 2200]
Seeing how much Experience he had accumulated, Aurelius didn’t choose to keep it. He spent it without hesitation.
Notifications flooded his field of vision.
[You’ve Leveled Up. Your Sub-Class has reached Level 16.]
[You’ve gained: INT +2, AGI +1]
[...17.]
[...]
The same notification flashed, as though stuck in a bug. But all this changed when the Sub-Class reached Level 20.
[You’ve reached Level 20.]
"Congratulations! Your Alchemist Sub-Class has advanced to Rank 2."
"Gained: ..."