Chapter 97: The Young Proprietor

“Simone, is that you!” Rollin looked in surprise at the tall, curly-haired youth walking toward him. So this was Simone, the same classmate in the Dark Magic division, who had taken Rollin's place as class representative during their first year. They had met in the finals of the annual grade competition, engaged in a fierce duel, and Rollin had only narrowly emerged victorious. Rollin had always admired Simone for his unwavering character and exceptional talent.

Since that competition, Rollin, Simone, and Tracy had collectively earned the title “The Three Stars of the Academy” due to their remarkable gifts. Rollin, guided in Dark Magic primarily by Kuss, seldom attended the regular Dark Magic classes, so his encounters with Simone were rare. He hadn’t expected to run into him today at the Imperial City’s Cervantes Alchemy Shop.

“Rollin, I heard you went to the Maya Mountains recently. When did you return?” Simone asked warmly.

Rollin smiled, “Oh, it’s been a little over half a month since I got back.”

“You really are something,” Simone said admiringly. “So quickly advancing to a third-level mage, and venturing to the continent’s most dangerous place, the Maya Mountains! I was astonished when I heard. If it were me, I wouldn’t have dared to go there for training until I’d reached the fifth or sixth level!”

“Simone, you’re a third-level mage now yourself!” Rollin had heard from his dormitory mates that, during his absence of over three months, both Tracy and Simone had broken through to third-level mage. He smiled wryly; if not for seeking ancient relics to cure his brother’s leg, he wouldn’t have ventured to the Maya Mountains so early. In truth, the journey was perilous, with survival barely assured.

Simone shook his head, “I still advanced much later than you. I doubt I’ll ever catch up to your breakthroughs. By the way, I noticed you were asking about ingredients for crafting three-star potions earlier; do you also practice alchemy? Oh, right, you possess both dark and fire attributes—the best combination for an alchemist.”

To become an alchemist, the requirements were stringent. One must first be a mage, and, crucially, possess the fire attribute essential for alchemy. Other attributes, such as wind, could aid in detection—like the investigative winds—but the best detection attribute was darkness. Thus, fire and darkness together were considered the optimal combination for alchemists.

Rollin did not conceal it and nodded, “Indeed, I’ve studied potion alchemy. I came here today to buy materials for practice at the academy. By the way, you mentioned you also practice alchemy; do you have the fire attribute besides darkness?” Fire was indispensable for alchemy, yet Rollin had never seen Simone in the Fire Magic class.

“My affinity for fire is merely high-grade, so I never studied fire magic, but that doesn’t stop me from learning potion alchemy!” Simone replied.

Rollin couldn’t help but sigh. Due to Professor Monroe’s popularity, nearly every male student with a fire affinity flocked to her Fire Magic class. Even those with intermediate or low-grade affinity squeezed into the class, but Simone hadn’t joined the crowd.

As if sensing Rollin’s thoughts, Simone smirked, “I don’t have time to waste in the Fire Magic class. All my spare time beyond practicing Dark Magic goes into studying potion alchemy. After three years of diligent effort, starting from the most basic potions, I can now craft three-star potions.” A hint of pride flickered across Simone’s face.

“Simone, were your early potions sold here as well? Before I went to the Maya Mountains, I bought some from this shop,” Rollin exclaimed.

“Many of the low-grade potions on sale here are indeed my handiwork. You may have bought some. Since we can both craft three-star potions now, why don’t we have a competition?” Simone suggested.

Rollin rubbed his nose, “A competition sounds fine, but what about the alchemy materials…?” He had limited gold coins and had just been worrying about buying enough supplies.

Simone waved his hand dismissively, “Alchemy materials are no problem!” He turned to a nearby female attendant, “Prepare three sets of potion ingredients for healing in my usual alchemy chamber. Go now!”

“Yes, young master!” The attendant replied and left to arrange everything.

Rollin was startled, “Young master? Are you…?”

Simone smiled, “That’s right. Cervantes is my father. I learned potion alchemy from him.”

Rollin was astonished—Simone was the son of Cervantes, the master alchemist! The world truly was small.

Seeing Rollin’s shock, Simone rolled his eyes, “Rollin, don’t tell me you learned alchemy without a teacher. In our field, especially potion alchemy, knowledge and recipes are never spread outside the bonds of master and apprentice or family. I’m guessing your alchemy mentor is the same person who taught you necromancy, right?”

Since the grade competition, Simone had been deeply curious about the one who instructed Rollin in necromancy. Now, learning Rollin was skilled in alchemy as well, he couldn’t help but connect the two.

Simone’s guess was close to the mark. Although Uncle Kuss, who taught Rollin necromancy, hadn’t directly instructed him in alchemy, it was under his guidance that Rollin entered the Mishus Sanctuary and acquired the craft. Both of Rollin’s talents were directly linked to Kuss.

But whether Mishus or Kuss, Rollin had no intention of telling Simone, so he simply nodded in tacit agreement.

Seeing Rollin’s expression, Simone assumed consent and his eyes brightened, “Rollin, a proper alchemy contest should have stakes, or else it’s too dull. Don’t you agree?”

Rollin nodded, “What do you suggest as a wager?”

Simone rubbed his hands, grinning, “Heh, if I win, could you teach me your method for condensing the undead space? If you win, you can select any three rare items from the third floor of Cervantes’ shop.”

Simone’s offer was generous—the third floor housed only the finest wares, each worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins. Today, he was willing to stake them for the condensation method.

But Kuss had long told Rollin never to share the method for condensing undead spaces, so Rollin shook his head, “Sorry, Simone, I can’t accept that wager. However, if you wish, I can share some ideas on condensing undead space, which I’ve recorded in the academy archives.”

Simone knew the archives well; he had once entered with Professor Harvey to examine Thomas’ notes. He nodded, “Good, let’s do that. If you win, I’ll provide you with one hundred sets of three-star potion ingredients free of charge.”

Rollin considered briefly and agreed. The two proceeded to a spacious chamber furnished with several stone platforms, each taller than a person. On two platforms lay three sets of alchemy materials.

Seeing the young master about to compete in potion alchemy, all the idle attendants of Cervantes’ shop gathered to watch, eager to witness his skill.

“Rollin, please,” Simone gestured to a platform. Rollin answered and stepped forward, determined to see how his alchemy skills measured against his first true rival.