Iwas so ready to get back into the lab to not only test a few things, but add new products to the shop. However, the approach of the two newcomers and their pet reminded me of the quest I had almost forgotten. The distant sound of thunder signaled an approaching storm. So much for family night.
[Quest. Host. The opportunity for your shop to increase its ranking to D has arrived. Do not shun Alexander. Be careful of battling the driver. Reward: Shop rank increase quest and 1,000 spirit coins. Do not fail.]
A sudden winking of power drew my eyes to a water bowl just a yard or two away. Why was it outside? The pets were free to enter and leave the house at their own leisure. Most importantly, the power that emitted from it reminded me of… potion making. I looked at the kitten and back at her water bowl, which now only had normal water with its power lost. The laughter burst out of me, and the others looked at me as if I lost my damn mind.
“Cheetara,” I said. The kitten abandoned Harmony instantly, landing on my shoulder. Was my ultimate apprentice this kitten the entire time? What in the world…? She watched me almost daily in the lab; however, I wasn’t sure what fusing her power into the water actually did. It’d require a study! If the kitten was even up for it. Things for later.
The elicrone Milia named Lady Feathers walked over to me, also staring at the bowl as if astonished. For some reason, Wolverine moved away from her. Not that I could blame him. The mana turkey gave me the creeps. However, she radiated no aggression and never attacked anyone. The same went for Sir Bright. Except he didn’t give me the internal shivers.
I wasted no time scanning the newcomers. To my relief, they emitted no hostility whatsoever.
[Analysis.]
Alexander, former owner of Alexander the Magnificent’s Hall of Treasures, and ex-resident of the Kingdom of Cremlin. Reincarnation of Yomi the Pirate King.
Magician rank: sealed. Untrained.
Ripley, son of the Midnight Dragon.
Dragon rank: SS.
“You pierced through most of my S-ranked illusive spell gem like it was nothing,” the cloaked man said, his voice like a top hat wearing nobleman from TV. Eyes full of surprise, he raised his arm to reveal a bracelet. A yellow gem was mounted on a band above it. “This bracelet hides my identity too, creating a second layer of defense, but I’m sure you can see why.”
He gave the boy beside him somewhat of a lazy smile. “I think we’ve found the owner of this nice establishment, and right on time, too. You certainly don’t want to be a child alone in the countryside on the Crimson Moon holiday. The dragnats would waste no time devouring you like a quick midnight snack.” Ripley turned back to me with a sharky smile, deciding not to hide it for some reason. That or I was the only one who could still see through his disguise. “Nice to meet you, master magician. Have we caught you at a bad time?”
The boy probably didn’t enjoy the frown on my face as I took in their appearances.
Ripley was still the same. A black-haired man seeming to be in his late twenties or early thirties with pointy ears, and tinted glasses no doubt hiding eyes that would attract attention. The boy, on the other hand, appeared to be a ten-year-old blond with gray eyes that seemed to stare at me with aged weariness. Not something one should see from a child, right?
Fuck, this world was so confusing.
The confidence that the driver showed in the vision was replaced by uncertainty, despite his monstrous power. Maybe the reason why was because his gem suddenly exploded, its dust launching into my aura before I could so much as react. However, instead of enraging pain that would no doubt make me attack the dragon, I felt… peace? Something within me snapped. Less than a breath later, I felt an overwhelming surge of energy pour through me, threatening to topple me over like a balloon reaching its limits. The entire area lit up as if we were greeting the golden approach of the sun.
Another moment later, all of that aura retreated to surround me. It was at that moment I realized I broke through. Just like that. I actually began to worry that there wasn’t much of a struggle to get through these realms.
Could it be because the mortal core was a joke in comparison to the dense gold core? Maybe, maybe not. Then again, wouldn’t everyone be overpowered demons running around without a care in the world? However, it definitely meant my encounter with these two was important enough to initiate yet another string of coincidences. Like this guy conveniently having just what I needed to power up. Did I have some kind of luck stat or was this the rest of my reward?
[You are entering sainthood…]
[Mana cultivation will be far more difficult from this point on.]
Ah. System throwing a new wrench, but as long as my potion making wasn’t disturbed, I should be fine. If I were going to compete against alchemists one day, then I needed as much of an advantage that I could muster.
Nate Sullivan
Class: Potion Maker. Secondary class: **Divine Master Magician** Third class: Unknown.
Magician rank: 1st realm of the Saint.
Class rank: Established.
Ability: Can make up to SSS, divine-grade potions, and blighted potions.
Power: Low World-breaking Strong.
Defense: Low Absolute Titanium.
Dao of Creation. Rank: Divine. Stage: Awakened. This is a middle stage.
Physique rank: C.
Primary quest: Purpose. Progression: 16%.
Shop Rank: E.
Heavenly attunement rank: E.
What the hell was a blighted potion, holy shit!? Questions for later. My experiments were going to be interesting. Just me, the kitten, and discovery… I guess.
Ripley took a good step back, almost as if he was uncomfortable, though the dark power within didn’t allow me to relax. I didn’t know much about the Midnight Dragon except from the snippets given to me by the hero’s party and what everyone else knew. He had a son that just happened to be the driver of the Alexander within my quest. Not to mention, Alexander and the man killed in the vision were one and the same. Yomi, the pirate king. Or former pirate king, since the other guy stole the title. No wonder why his eyes felt older, almost as if I could have a beer with him.
Concentrating on the two before me felt both difficult and not, as this didn’t feel like a simple realm upgrade. My aura essentially devoured all of the Axem’s presence over the forest, replacing it with mine. Maybe my Divine Master Magician class was behind the drive of the so-called heavens, their messenger, the trials, the vision, and now these two.
“I scanned everything about you,” I finally said. “There’s a hell of a lot to take in. So what do you want from a random potion maker like me? Being a master magician doesn’t mean I’m suddenly everyone’s tool or glimpse into the universe’s secrets.”
Ripley’s grin widened, before he gestured at the kid.
“I’ve heard a lot about your shop from the townspeople,” the kid began. “I’ve traveled a long way and will be living in Kyushu. I may not look it, but I’m quite good at running shops. Or, so I’ve been told.” He took a deep breath then bowed. “Please allow me to be your apprentice! I can help raise the rank of your shop and bring you more customers.”
“Deal,” I said without hesitation, which gained a confused look from everyone around me, especially my soon-to-be wife. But her eyes widened, as if everything dawned on her.
“Be here tomorrow morning, ready to work and train,” Milia said. “Chenzu wouldn’t mind teaching you a thing or two about working on a farm.”
“Are… are you sure?” Alexander asked as if he couldn’t believe my words. “There’s no test I have to pass? You’re like thousands of times more powerful than my mother, who could fight dragons with her bare hands. It can’t be this easy.”
“I… have to agree with the young master,” Ripley said. “I was preparing to fight in his stead. Maybe a test of enduring the strikes of your power, climbing mountains to search for a divine revelation, kowtow to a person in town, endure your killing intent for a set amount of time without passing out. It would’ve been significantly more difficult given that you decided to turn into a… mutated super saint. Now I understand why you were able to easily peek into the lines of my fate. By the way—”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it, don’t make a habit of it, but watch your words,” I said. “I don’t take threats to my life kindly.”
I strained to keep my new aura under control, knowing that allowing my presence to attract even more attention could spell trouble for everyone with me. The system basically made me skip a training arc.
“Why would I threaten a master magician?” Ripley asked, confused. “I don’t have a death wish. Perhaps the shadow guarding my fate was an overconfident man, but I’m a bit more cautious. I’m only here because the kid hired me.”
“I doubt that’s all,” I said. “You could probably take me. But given your identity, you’re in hiding as well.”
Ripley laughed. “Who better to hide behind than the forming mountain himself? Of course, I don’t expect the shielding to be free. I also cannot stay in town right now. There are matters in Wingston I must attend to.”
“You’re a terrible hire,” Alexander said, his voice a deadpan.
“It can’t be helped,” Ripley said. “My gem’s gone. And look at him. He’s certainly going to attract trouble, getting me involved in something that may force me to rely on you humans again. No thank you!”
I glared at him, but the dragon man’s finality to get the hell out of town shone even through his tinted glasses.
“Before you go, how about staying for dinner, Sir Ripley?” I said. “There’s no point of hiding yourself from us.”
Ripley frowned. “At least turn off your saint aura. It’s unsettling, to say the least. Have some manners, will you? Sheesh, barbarians, you humans are.”
I gaped at him, but sure enough, there wasn’t a single mote of fear in this guy. The confidence didn’t return, but he acknowledged me at least as his equal.
The battle between Ripley and I would not happen. Yet. Hopefully never, but I didn’t know what this guy planned. All I could feel was a darkness, perhaps what one would call a sinister aura.
“Welcome to the shop, by the way,” I said to Alexander. I introduced him to the teenagers. He looked surprise at me having three apprentices already, and even nodded appraisingly at their auras. Except Mandi’s. The unorthodox small pressures that her gadgets gave off seemed to make him a little uncomfortable. Opal shown no restraint, flying around him, asking him hundreds of questions on the fly.
I turned to the golden fox.
[Analysis.]
[Mazu. S-ranked spirit beast.]
“All be with the forest, Master Magician,” it suddenly greeted, startling me a bit. I didn’t expect it to talk. Judging by the voice, I assumed the fox was a male. There was definitely cunning and wisdom in that voice, making me wonder of the spirit beast’s age.
Wolverine and Beakwing snorted, as if amused at my reaction. “Thank you for allowing Alexander to apprentice under you. We don’t have much remaining money after that crook overcharged us, forced young master to buy a house, and—”
“Of course this isn’t going to come without a condition,” I said. “Aside from helping me rank up the shop.”
“So it is a test, after all,” Ripley said, perking up.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I think we found the battle maniac,” I said. “Milia, prepare the blueberry pie ingredients.”
“Yes!” Milia cheered so excitedly that everyone, including the beasts, turned to look at her. She blushed. “Oh my, I’d better leave you to your devices. There should be some blueberries in the cold storage.”
“I am not a battle maniac, I’ll have you know,” Ripley said. “I’ve prepared for a master magician’s trial for years.”
Chenzu glared at him. “Then remove your disguise. I can smell you.”
“Enough,” I said. “The test is simple.” I smiled at the worried kid. “Tell us about yourself.”
I introduced him to everyone, from the apprentices, to Milia, and Chenzu. He told us about himself without bringing up his past life. Given what he went through, discovering his loved family were a bunch of fanatical demonic cultists and his big sister trying to tie the knot with him, I let him off.
“Lady Zenna’s a powerful court magician, someone that may turn out to be a bigger thorn than you think some day,” Mazu the fox warned. “Accepting Alexander is also accepting that risk.”
I shrugged. “Unless you left a note telling her exactly where you are, there should be no way she’d find you in this Kingdom in the middle of nowhere.”
Mazu gave me a thoughtful look. “I cannot convince Alexander to return, so I’m willing to watch over him until fate runs its course.”
Wolverine barked twice. Mazu looked at him and then sighed. “You’re wise for a cub. Do pray that you never experience the things I have.” The golden fox laid on the ground and closed his eyes. “Wake me up when you’re ready to go back. It still amuses me how many empty houses this place has for an F-ranked town. It is a pitiful sight.”
“You’re a rude mutt,” Opal said as she flew up to Mazu.
“It is only the truth, fly,” Mazu replied without missing a beat. “Only this farm is worth anything, and even more so now that saint aura has warded off that oppressive aura from before.”
“Ah, the Axem’s aura,” I said. “Or rather, the aura of a certain dungeon. It’s probably going to take over again soon.”
“A dungeon, you say,” Ripley said. “Isn’t that a little too powerful for a dungeon? I’ve never felt energy so strong, yet I sense that it’s hours into the depths of the forest.” He eyed me. “You were cultivating under these terrible conditions, but you should know that comes with a drawback. If your saint aura really does wear off somehow, then you’ll want to clear that dungeon as soon as possible. If you wait one hundred years, it may grow powerful enough to make this place unlivable. The inhabitants inside will be forced to leave their home.”
“We’re working on it,” I told him. “It’s going to take a little more preparation time. I could go along and get myself killed, but who’s going to train Alexander. You?”
Ripley snorted. “There’s no compatibility between me and any humans. Perhaps my father, but that’s not a story I want to get into after coming back here.”
My eyes widened, realizing the hero’s party were in town. His father’s slayers! Oh shit. They wouldn’t stand a chance as this guy could contend with and probably kill me without so much as using his aces.
Even with the likelihood of it coming to a draw, we’d end up destroying everything around us and attracting every magician within hundreds of miles. I think.
“You may want to get going,” I said. “Alexander is in good hands.”
“Right,” Ripley said. “I shall return either in some days or even a week. Wingston is far more interesting than this town.” He turned to Alexander. “Make sure the stable boy doesn’t do anything weird to my horses.”
I stared flatly at the dragon man.
“Hey, you humans are weird,” he said. “Flexible, too flexible and weird. Do you have any idea how many sheep I saved—”
“Just go,” I said, chuckling. “Sheesh, man, and I thought I was unfiltered.”
Ripley let out a laugh before two bat-like wings burst from his back. The others gaped as he launched into the sky.
Beakwing started to charge magic out of surprise, but I held up a hand, calming the griffin.
“Let him go, Beakwing. He’s no threat to us,” I said. After he left, I sighed. “Well, it seems like shit has come back to bite the hero’s party in the ass.” I turned to the apprentices. “Anyone want to hop on Beakwing and summon the hero’s party for me?”
“Weren’t you going to invite that guy to eat blueberry pie?” Mandi asked.
“Things changed,” I told her. “And that’s why we need to warn the hero’s party. Thanks for volunteering, by the way.”
“Wanda’s flailing bubbly butt,” Mandi muttered as she miserably got on Beakwing. “Don’t eat all the pie.”
I laughed, waving as she took off, the wings from Beakwing nearly blasting everything around. I turned to Alexander.
“Alright, how do I upgrade my shop?” I asked. “I’d really like to drop the E-rank. It’s grating my nerves.”
“The number of sellable assets is probably the easiest way to go from an E-rank to a D-rank,” Alexander said. “Simply selling potions won’t do. Perhaps sell materials. Even a few high-ranked plants will help.”
“Do you… have any idea why there’s a random magical ranking system?” I asked, deciding to get the obvious out of the way.
“I believe it’s something the world leaders set up many years ago,” Alexander replied. “It encourages competition, allows them to keep track of shops to tax, so on. This system was formed from a gift of Wanda.”
Just like the cube. I guessed that much, but wanted to confirm with the number two shop owner himself. Or at least former number two. He was more than happy to give that up in exchange for his freedom.
“I can give you some items to quickly rank up, but it won’t get you to C,” Alexander said. “It’s kind of a pain and is different for everyone.”
“We’ll worry about that later,” I told him. “For now, let’s rank up. I’m ready to make special purchases.”
Alexander nodded. “Are you sure… you’re okay with taking me in? Just some strange kid with secrets.”
“You’re fine hiding here, Yomi,” I said. “Or did you think you could hide such a thing from a master magician?” I waved off his hardened expression. “I don’t care about your past life, Alexander. You came all this way. But if you’re going to be my apprentice, put your heart into it like those three. We won’t go easy on you just because you’re a kid.”
Alexander smiled. “I’ve never heard of a generous master magician before. Honestly, I came here expecting to be blown away for daring to intrude on your premises. Ripley insisted on coming along to judge your character and some other cryptic nonsense that I don’t get. I don’t get him.”
I shrugged, turning toward the shop. It was finally time to get the shop rank increase! I planned to dive into the brochure either later or the following morning.
[Quest completed.]
