Glan Natural Science Academy

Chapter 41

Sokal and Auen both had no intentions of going to the Furnace Mountains with him. For now, he couldn’t think of anybody else that he could invite.

“Travelling alone?”

As he thought of this, he saw the day as getting dark and harried towards Scholar’s Streets.

Because of the Church’s curfew, the usually bustling Scholar’s Street was already desolate at this time of the day.

“Halt!”

The hurrying Ryger was called to a halt by a patrolling knight of the Church.

Clip-clop, clip-clop. The knight, fully clad in metal armour, came over to Ryger. Revealing only his eyes, the knight looked downwards at Ryger.

“Your proof of identity?”

Ever since the Church enforced a curfew at the Academy, they’ve distributed the corresponding proof of identity for ease of keeping order. If somebody forgot to bring their proof of identity with them, they’d be only let off if a mentor of the Academy came and claimed them. It was very complicated and had greatly obstructed the Academy’s freedom.

Compared to the relaxed, free, academic atmosphere of before, the Academy now was somewhat tense and oppressive. Many stalls have already closed.

Those who bought a house would most probably be going to incur a great loss.

Ryger hurriedly took out his proof of identity and handed it over respectfully. The horse’s breath from its nostrils swept over Ryger’s face. It was a bit smelly. Ryger slightly turned his head sideway.

The knight took the proof of identity and after seeing it, tossed it back to Ryger.

“Why were you running?”

“It was getting dark and it’s under curfew here so I wanted to buy a suitable weapon before the stall closes. I’m going out to collect specimens tomorrow.”

The knight looked over Ryger a few more times then left.

“Huff…”

He was really nervous. Only after the knight left did he let out a long breath. He slowed his steps and continued on, looking at both sides of the street.

Clang! Clang…

Drawn by the smithing sound of a shop far in the distance, Ryger walked over. The high heat of the furnace buffeted him. A bare-chested, burly man whose chest was full of hair was hitting a sword at the furnace.

“Sir, I want to buy an iron sword!”

Ryger thought about it, then added, “The cheaper ones!”

The bare-chested, burly man wiped his sweat and after seeing Ryger wearing scholar clothes, smiled. Pointing at the pile of iron swords in a corner behind him, he groaned, “Business is bad, rent is high. How can I live if this goes on! Lord bless those damned sorcerers will get caught soon!”

Ryger silently chose a sword among the pile of it. As a student who had mastered only a level 0 Air Bubble, a handy weapon would most definitely give him more comfort and sense of security than Air Bubble.

Suddenly!

As though he discovered something strange, his eyes remain glued to an inconspicuous black iron sword.

Prompt: 73 grammes of umbral iron detected1

He looked at other iron swords but there were no prompts. Only when he grabbed this iron sword did words appear in front of his eyes.

Recovering from his shock, Ryger thought of something. Pushing down the feeling of surprise in his heart, he turned and asked, “Where is this sword from? How much is it?”

The man turned and glanced at the sword. “Some poor chap’s sword. An old-time customer of mine found it and brought it to me. I haven’t had the chance to reforge it yet. If you want it now, it’ll be 20 silver coins.”

Although umbral irons were a relatively low level magical material, its price was still calculated in terms of grammes. 73 grammes were by no means a small quantity!

“I want it. Here’s the silver coins.”

Ryger took out 20 silver coins, bought the sword he found accidentally then put it into his spacebox excitedly.

As he walked home, Ryger was lost in thought.

Because of unknown reasons, the Starcore merged with him. Perhaps he’ll have some accidental discoveries in the Furnace Mountains using the Starcore just like how he just discovered the umbral irons in the sword.

“Ryger?” came a voice behind him.

Ryger, who was excited, looked back only to see a familiar face — his neighbour that he hadn’t met for quite some time, Merlin.

She was still her idle and languid self. Though, this was the first time Ryger saw her without her being in pajamas. The beautiful widow was looking at Ryger full of surprise. “You’re still alive?”

“Sister Merlin.” Replied Ryger. He knew what she meant. That night, she probably saw him getting assaulted by the sorcerer and being on the verge of death. Seeing his own self standing here all well and fine was quite surprising.

Ryger smiled helplessly and said, “Thanks to my mentor, I managed to live.”

Nodding her head in disbelief, Merlin thought back to the dangerous scene that night and said ponderingly, “That master that saved you then is truly something. I clearly watched you getting impaled through the chest by that scary sorcerer!”

She then smiled. “I thought that another one of my new neighbours died again.”

“Uhh…”

Ryger felt awkward. Most probably, Merlin would receive more ostracization because of him. Raising his head and looking at the shop next to Merlin, an apothecary called the Black Widow, he felt even more awkward.

Sensing Ryger’s abnormal expression, Merlin said, “Even though it says an apothecary, it’s been run into a poison shop by me. All the customers come to buy poison. This time you managed to survive, but do you want to buy a few bottles as remembrance, and to defend yourself in the future?

Poison?

Ryger’s eyes brightened and he asked probingly, “Sister, do you lack any apprentices? I can work for you for free!”

“Work for free?”

Merlin was taken aback. She didn’t expect Ryger to ask for such a thing. He looked him over and said jovially, “So which is it that you fancy? Me, or my property?”

“Ah?”

Ryger’s entire face turned red and he ejaulated, “No! I just want to learn about poison from you. I got a special academic skill.”

Pfft.

Merlin looked at Ryger and couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright. Look at how nervous you are! But just as well, I really am lacking an apprentice here so if you’re interested, you can come over anytime you want. I can pay you 80 silver coins a month as compensation.”

“Deal!”

Be it improving Air Bubble or being able to study 《Self Control》, the knowledge of poisons was a necessary part of study for Ryger. If he wanted to study《A Basic Guide to Poison Brewing》on his own, it would take an indeterminate amount of time and require large quantities of experimental proof. But if he worked for a poison master, he would indubitably get great benefits in it.

Merlin ruffled her hair around her ear. Her voluptuous body emitted an indescribable, mature charm. She turned her eyes and said amorously, “Then, when are you planning to come over?”

The neighbouring barkeep, who was fiddling with his malt, saw this and was left mouth agape. He looked at the ignorant Ryger with eyes full of sympathy, then continued on with his work.

The occasional passer-by would stare at Merlin and Ryger, as though trying to see something from the two’s expressions.

“I’m planning to go out for these few days to the Furnace Mountains to collect specimens. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll come over after I’m back.”

Ryger walked into the shop, taking a look at the various poisons and getting shocked by the price

Merlin thought nothing of it and said, “Keh he he, I’ll say it ahead of time. If you want to learn about poison, my place is fine. But antidotes require professional apothecaries to create and I am not well versed in this.”

Hm?

Good at creating poisons but not the antidotes?

Truly, a black widow!