Chapter 24

Rain ended his answer, causing Sarete to clap her hands in praise. Rain scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed; after all, he was just cheating. It was all because of Sylphy’s ability, he was just reading it…

“Incredible—to think that you were able to immediately memorize all that was recorded in the book. I can’t say I’m not impressed,”

“Well, I did my best…”

Sylphy did her best…

[Master, I have listed the name of the herbs and plants Sarete had taught you… so, even if you forget about it, you can still view the list.]

That was what she had said, giving him a very pleasant surprise. This made him somewhat able to easily help and support Sarete whenever she was doing her work, making him useful, which also satisfied him very much.

Sylphy is truly one of the most helpful and cheat-skill he had. Though, aside from names of some common monsters, Sylphy didn’t know about many things in this world. When Rain made fun of her about it, she angrily retorted that she wasn’t a dictionary or an encyclopedia.

But for her to do something like this, even Rain didn’t expect that. Now, he indeed possesses an encyclopedia inside his mind. And she was damn useful than any skills he had.

Sarete looked at him with a smile; “Hmm, actually, since you already familiarized yourself with the herbs like I asked you to, I’m planning to make you move to the next step?”

“You mean?! Really?!”

She nodded her head. Rain had become interested in the ways of refining medicines and potions the moment he saw her working for the first time. Since then, he asked her if she could teach how to do it.

Obviously, Sarete didn’t mind at all. Though, she asked him to familiarize himself with the herbs and medicinal plants first. Their characteristics, uses, and even their living conditions. Although Sarete’s books didn’t have all the medicinal herbs and plants in existence, it actually has quite a large number of it. It seems like it was an accumulation of knowledge since the last generations of the Amani Tribe’s Alchemist.

Truthfully, it’s not something that Sarete can just give to anyone, especially to a Human Being. However, Sarete still did as she lends the book to him without any hesitation. She thought it would take him quite a long time to memorize all of it. But to think he was able to do it all of it in just a few days. It seems like Rain has quite a talent for Alchemy.

When Rain stood beside her, with an excited expression, Sarete burst out in a brilliant smile. She started with a simple explanation about alchemy.

“I think you should have already known this but, often an alchemist is known as a profession that mixes two or more reagents or materials together in a pot to make something completely different. Of course, it’s not wrong. This is the basic and simplest method. It’s also quite common… however, in fact, Alchemy has several branches under it and was actually a broad system—hence, Potion Brewing is only another branch of it.”

Potion Brewing… Transmutation…Scribing…Engraving…there are many kinds of methods and jobs existing under Alchemy, that they even reach out to different types of crafting and professions such as Blacksmithing and Tailoring.

Rain was completely absorbed by Sarete’s lessons of Alchemy.

According to her, Alchemy is all about transformation, be those transformations spiritual or material.

Using Alchemy, one can easily transform the more harmful ingredients into something less harmful, while those harmless ingredients can become extremely harmful as well. And vice versa. Potion Brewing is just a small branch of Alchemy as Alchemy itself has a greater effect, known as Item Transformation.

Though, Rain preferred to calling it [Matter Conversion].

Just like the legends of Alchemy back in the previous World; Earth, Alchemy can transform base metals into the gold. This world also follows the same concept, through the use of magic to make things impossible to possible. And this was called [Item Tranformation] or just [Matter Conversion] for Rain.

In simple words, [Alchemy] is an ability that lets anyone convert materials or items upwards or downwards.

In other words, the original material can be made better, and vice versa.

For example, using [Alchemy] one can transform Ore into an Ingot, or herbs into a seed. Though, the success rate is quite low. In most cases, the ore would turn into scrap or herbs into withered leaves, following the rules that state the higher the Material’s grade, the lower the success rate as well.

Listening to Sarete, more or less, Rain somewhat understand them quite easily than imagined. After all, the concept of Alchemy is not an alien even to people back on Earth. From what he knows, before the concept of Science had been widely-known, Alchemy existed already long before History in many cultures and races.

From what he knows about it, just like what Sarete had mentioned, [Alchemy] even in the previous world, is a multifaceted subject and is a blend of what we would call magic and chemistry. In science terms, it is an early form of chemical technology exploring the nature of substances. In fact, it can be viewed as a protoscience, a precursor to modern chemistry, having provided procedures, equipment, and terminology that are still in use.

In some other aspects, it is also a philosophy of the cosmos and of mankind's place in the scheme of things. It had a strong philosophical basis, and many alchemists incorporated religious metaphor and spiritual matters into their alchemical ideas. And even in the modern world, despite the existence of Science, there are still some people that were actually trying and performing alchemical experiments.

Most of these people hope they can make healing remedies, medicines and such, and there were even those who are hoping to find the legendary item; the transmuting philosophers' stone.

In any case, Rain who was quite good and proficient in Science compared to other subjects in academics, he finds Alchemy somewhat alluring.

“…Alchemy has many complicated and still unexplored areas. So, for now, let’s focus on simple and most common branches.” Sarete muttered as he took out a very thick book with pages and covers seemed to be made out from animal fur or leather. “Here, take a look.”

As Rain turned the pages, they all had alchemic reactions written on them.

Umm… Let’s see here.

“…There are three basic types of Potions. They are the normal Magical Potions, Elixirs, and Tonics. A Magical Potion can heal injuries or having magical properties that prevent you from getting them in the first place. Elixirs are Magical Potions that restore or increased Magical Powers, and even grant you magical abilities such as Heat Resistance Potion, Fire Heart Potion that increases Fire-type magical powers, and many more. And lastly, the Tonics. Tonics are Potions that restore physical stamina and energy. And also this is the type of potion that augments and enhanced physical capabilities for a temporary period...”

Rain slowly read the book, engrossed on its topic, definition, and experiences that look like journals made from different people—the previous owners of the book and perhaps even the experiences of the previous alchemists of Amani Lamian Tribe.

Due to the fact that most of the pages are filled with strange and hard to understand symbols and terms, anyone who hated studying would probably don’t like to read something like this, and might even call it boring.

However, to Rain, this was a valuable treasure.

A record of knowledge.

Sarete watched as Rain went on the corner and started reading the book with surprising focus. She smiled brightly—she appreciated people like this. She was one of those types who prefer knowledge over physical power. And the focused Rain reading the book, for some reason, she finds it very attractive. She blushed. Then, once again turned attention to the materials before her.

Aside from weapons, one can even be said that her work is one of the most essential necessities in the Tribe. Weapons can protect you, but her potions can save lives. She crafted almost all the necessary Potions needed by the Hunting party by herself. Although she has three other Apprentice but they can barely refine middle-tier Potions. Hence regarding Lv4 and higher Potions, she was the one who mostly does it.

Sarete started preparing the materials needed. However, from time to time, she can’t help but turned a glance at Rain who was focusing on the book. He looks so cute, so adorable. Every time he opened a book, it was Sarete’s enjoyment.

During these past few days of him working here, Rain would pick up a book to read in his rest time. At first, he was having a hard time understanding the language of the Amani Lamian Tribe, after all, it was completely different from those commonly used by Humans.

It must have extremely difficult for him. However, once again she was surprised as it only took Rain half a day to understand their language.

What Zarda had said of him being a Blessing Holder must be true. And it must have been a blessing that is related to language. This perhaps was also the reason why he can talk using their own tongue. Although that kind of non-combat blessing is quite rare, it’s not uncommon.

It’s only obtained by those with intelligence higher than average people.

And this alone shows how remarkable Rain was.

… …

Sarete looked around the small room with a sigh and a smile while grinding the herbs slowly in the mortar. This was her routine every day, quiet and peaceful. Although she would not complain or anything, after all, her sisters relied on the potions she made every day. In fact, she never thought of anything anyway.

Not until a surprising change came.

A man had come into the Lair.

At first, when she heard about it, she thought nothing of it.

After all, all men are the same, and it would just end the same as before.

No men could ever accept them. Either this man would die in their hands, or become their slave while being scorned by him, it was all the same. Although she didn’t like it, it’s the way of life.

However, she was mistaken. She met him. In her eyes, he was typically wonderful, intelligent, kind, and in all other ways "perfect". Well, perhaps that's a bit exaggeration, and biased due to her own opinion. Nevertheless, he was the type of man; she had never seen or met before. That much is true.

He was so pure, so naïve, so innocent, so sincere…so very gentle. He was like a man that came out from an impossible dream, a fantasy of a desperate Lamian. He was not strong-looking, rather he looked fragile and thin—and compared to any man she had seen before, he was like a sheltered prince that had never been seen the sun.

His skin was so fair, clean, and smooth like a woman that had been doing all their best to take care of it, even reaching to the point of taking a bath of milk every day to stay fair—his face feminine, and if he ever dressed in a female clothes, he would be mistaken as a girl for sure. However, if one looks closely, underneath his clothes, his body was packed with strong muscles that cannot be distinguished by the naked eye.

He was strong…actually. Sarete had realized that when she watched him work every day. Perhaps stronger than even normal men, even with their apparent muscles. He was even comparable to a normal Lamian’s strength, which should be a bit innately stronger than normal humans. Of course, that depends on Rain's current level, which to Sarete and the other's recognition was the lowest even among humans.

Threia, the Tribe's shaman had confirmed Rain's level. Although, she couldn't see anything past it, she was certain of his level.

It was quite surprising. Indeed, not only due to level difference but also just his appearance alone suggest otherwise. Anyone would see his thin and slender build, fragile like glasswork. However, as they say, don't judge the fruit by its own appearance.

It’s as if his body was carefully molded by hand, no expanded muscles and out of shape build, but full of compact power and strength. It was truly an unbelievable fact that overturned all of their cultivated common sense. Though, unbeknownst to her, this was the result of leveling. Unlike normal men, Rain didn’t work out or fight things to level up.

Without even doing anything, as long as he eats monsters, his level steadily rises up.

It works like steroids, his muscles slowly being remolded as soon as his physical attributes increased. But because he was not doing extraneous exercise, his body didn’t expand and instead retain its slender form. However, the muscle within became compact, mutating into the ideal form.

But Sarete didn’t care about such things. No matter how powerful a man becomes, it would not be enough to get her attention. After all, even the most powerful human in the world; they will look at her with hate and disgust. However, Rain was different.

When she saw for the first time, she was shocked and her heart unknowingly trembled. Their eyes met as he walks towards the Chief’s Abode to be judged after Lafetti was found out hiding him from them. That time, she came because she was intrigued. What kind of man had caught Lafetti’s eyes, and even made her turns against their law and hides him?

But when she saw him for the first time, she was bewildered.

There was a strange air about him that she just cannot understand.

He was different.

That was what appeared in her mind as she looks at him.

Eye reminiscent of the sky; vast, deep, but full of life and wonder. It is the color that helps calm one’s mind. If you look at his eyes, no doubt your heart and mind will feel relax. That was the first impression she got when she saw him for the very first time. Yes, he had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. Honest to God – they were this beautiful shade of ocean blue that she could see from miles away.

Alright, so that was an exaggeration. More like just half a room away. Their blueness was still unbelievably striking, though. That, coupled with the way his entire face lit up when he smiled when he looked around with eyes of interest, curiosity, excitement, and wonder, not usual distressing emotion.

The way his face beamed and eyes sparkled when he saw them was almost enough to pull her across the distance space between them.

She was somewhat intrigued as he walked forward with a marionette gait, his magnetic steps sending out soft footsteps but for some strange reason echoing in the entire village. As if the sound was amplified, and he was walking on an even metal ground.

Compared to the men she had seen in her entire life of living, this human youth’s complexion was quite pale, and her skin seemed to shimmer. His beautiful blue eyes, tinted with a hint of purple, especially when he narrowed them were framed by long, dark lashes. His hair shoulder-length, midnight black. He wears strange clothes made from wonderfully created fabric with an image of a strange human face that looked like that of a wolf with three steel-like claws protruding from his knuckles—what kind of werebeast was that?

She had never seen one before. But that image was truly life-like as if the creature's face had truly been pasted into it.

A mysterious man…