After listening to Gerald's explanation, Richard finally understood the benefits of a secret realm.
However, such opportunities were probably more useful to wizards. Wizards possessed vast reserves of knowledge and could tell what was valuable and what was worthless. As for apprentices like them, who had not even finished learning the knowledge their teachers imparted, entering a secret realm would most likely mean walking into a mountain of treasure and leaving empty-handed.
"Set the matter of the secret realm aside for now, Richard. I called you here this time for something else."
Gerald shot Jacques a look. Jacques immediately understood and left the laboratory.
Richard swallowed, his expression somewhat tense.
"Richard, you've been my student for ten years now. You've passed the examination, which proves that you're not merely a bookworm who knows how to read."
As he spoke, Gerald took a Crystal Ball from a drawer.
"It's time to pass certain things on to you."
Richard nervously accepted the Crystal Ball. The instant his mind made contact with it, a vast and tangled stream of information flooded into his brain.
"Everything before this was basic knowledge. Every Alchemist Wizard teaches it to their students; at most, the blueprints for Magic Armor differ.
"But the knowledge this time is different."
Richard emerged from his daze.
This knowledge truly was different from before.
What Gerald had given him this time was a complete set of alchemical techniques.
Unlike Shaping spells, which could be inscribed using only Runes, alchemical techniques could not even really be called spells. Calling them surgery or techniques would be more appropriate.
The alchemical technique Richard had just received was called the Body of Adaptation.
Simply put, it could increase the user's resistance to all kinds of elemental damage, as well as physical damage, while also drawing out