Chapter Twenty-Six: Change in Attitude

"Processing materials can raise proficiency too?"

Ian was both startled and delighted.

As he processed the materials, he saw the proficiency for Minor Hemostatic Potion on the panel slowly rising.

But how was that possible?

"No, processing materials was part of brewing potions to begin with."

Ian suddenly understood.

Brewing potions did not only count the compounding process toward proficiency; the preliminary preparations counted as well.

He had truly come to the right place.

Ian was not the only one whose oddity had been noticed by the two apprentices.

Victor had noticed as well.

Hemostatic potions were far too familiar to him—so familiar that he knew perfectly well what effects materials of different qualities would produce.

And precisely because of that, during the compounding process, he discovered that some of the originally mediocre materials were gradually disappearing.

There was no doubt that the relatively inferior ones had come from Ian. After all, he knew Martin and the other far too well.

But...

"This rate of improvement?"

Victor blinked.

Why did it feel as though the quality of the processed materials rose by a tiny margin every so often?

Was it an illusion?

The facts told him it did not seem to be.

"I'll observe for a few days first."

Victor decided to wait and see.

It could simply be that Ian was gradually becoming familiar with the process, or perhaps this was his actual standard all along.

"In just three hours, my proficiency rose by ten points!"

Ian stared at the panel, feeling dazed.

Normally, one round of practice could raise his proficiency by four or five points, but that required a cost of at least 0.5 to 0.7 Magic Stones.

Yet now, merely processing potion ingredients could raise it.

For a poor wizard like him, this was simply too friendly.

"If I could brew potions, it would only be faster, right?"

Ian watched Victor compounding potions in large batches ahead of him. If it were him, perhaps he could reach Proficient in two or three days.

"So this is the advantage of the Potions Department!"

Ian sighed.

The Potions Department produced potions for the Academy, so naturally there was no need to prepare materials themselves. They only needed to compound them.

Ordinary wizards simply could not compare to that.

Even those wizard families could not compare. That was why the finest potion masters within the territory of Horton Wizard School were certainly in the Potions Department.

Moreover, potions themselves counted as a skill and could be raised through the panel.

He did not even dare imagine how much wealth it would bring him if he could raise every potion to Master Level—not even counting the talent improvements.

"So I must enter the Potions Department."

Ian's gaze gradually grew resolute.

That afternoon.

Ian dusted off his clothes and slowly walked out of the Potions Department.

He passed the Wizard Tower, entered the Residential Area, and returned to his house.

Just then, he saw a maid waiting at the door.

"Lily?"

Ian was somewhat surprised when he saw her.

Lily was the maid Chris had sent to find him last time.

"My lord, you're finally back. My lady wishes to see you." The maid Lily hurried over as soon as she saw Ian.

"Looking for me? What is it?"

Ian asked doubtfully.

Since their last meeting, Ian had never seen Chris again. He had thought she had forgotten about him.

"Of course it's a good thing. I don't know the specifics either." Lily shook her head.

Since it was a good thing, Ian naturally had no reason to refuse.

Following the maid, he soon arrived at Chris's room.

He knocked on the door.

Chris pulled the door open.

Today, she wore a purple high-slit gown that exposed one smooth, pale thigh, making her look exceptionally bewitching.

"Little Ian, you really gave me a shock this time. If my family hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have known you were this outstanding."

Chris smiled as she pulled Ian into the room.

That was indeed the truth.

Every family paid close attention to the rankings for advancement into the learning stage, especially those they had invested in.

But because of Victor, she had not paid Ian much attention.

If her family had not reminded her, she would have nearly forgotten.

So that was it.

Only after Ian was pulled inside did he understand the reason.

Sure enough, a person needed value before they would be valued!

Entering the reception room, Chris sat on the sofa. Her purple gauze skirt slid along her calves, displaying her charm to the fullest.

Ian's gaze drifted.

Chris seemed to notice. The corners of her eyes hooked slightly as she casually tugged her skirt a little, revealing even more of her creamy-white thigh.

"What? Doesn't it look good?"

"It looks good. Cough, cough!"

Ian's mouth twitched. Who could withstand this?

His instincts told him he was only thirteen.

But in this world—

Wizards were nourished by magic power, and their bodies developed much faster than those of ordinary youths.

Even otherwise, among the nobles of mortal kingdoms, most began sexual enlightenment at thirteen.

In other words, he really was capable.

"Senior Chris, please stop teasing me. What exactly did you call me here for?"

Ian calmed himself down.

Chris seemed amused by Ian's frankness and said with a smile, "It's like this. Your progress has surprised both my family and me, so we've decided to raise the support we provide you to eight Magic Stones."

An increase in support?

Ian's eyes lit up.

He would never complain about having too few Magic Stones.

Whether he was preparing for the future, practicing all kinds of things, or even training at the Training Ground, all of it demanded a large number of Magic Stones.

Delighted, Ian accepted another contract from Chris.

The other terms remained unchanged; only the Magic Stone section had been altered.

Ian quickly signed it.

"It happens to be time for dinner. Stay and have a meal."

Chris invited him.

Ian nodded.

Thinking back to last time, he seemed to have left right after signing.

Sure enough, every bit of progress had meaning.

Dinner was lavish: a perfectly seared steak, pan-fried foie gras drizzled with blueberry sauce, butter-baked mashed potatoes, and salad.

Ian's usual dinners were delivered by the Academy—bread and the like. They were all right, but they were worlds apart from this meal.

It seemed that in every respect, there was an enormous gap between a Second-class Apprentice Witch and a First-class Apprentice Witch.

After dinner, Chris saw Ian out.

"When you enter the Potions Department, I'll let you stay the night."

Chris's gemlike eyes shimmered with captivating light as she smiled and teased him.

"Certainly."

Ian murmured inwardly.

Of course, he wasn't talking about staying the night, but about entering the Potions Department.

Leaving Maple Leaf Avenue.

Ian went home to rest.

Early the next morning, before heading to the Potions Department, Ian first made a trip to the Library.

Seeing Lord Mickey squinting as he slept, Ian quickly went inside.

Before long, he collected this month's reward.

A total of 23 Magic Stones.

There was no Wizardry, because Wizardry had been canceled for the final three months, replaced by access time to the Training Ground.

Ten days of access, with first place receiving three additional sparring opportunities.

When he left, Lord Mickey still had his eyes closed, which actually left Ian somewhat disappointed.

Only after Ian had gone.

Did Mickey open his eyes suspiciously.

"Feels like he's only just gotten started?"

From Ian, he sensed the aura of the Wind Blade Spell, but it was very faint, indicating that Ian had only just begun.

That was completely different from the heaven-blessed prodigy he had imagined.

Mickey puzzled over it, utterly unable to make sense of it.

"Forget it. I'll keep watching."

Closing his eyes, Mickey continued resting.