chapter 158
This was the fourth time the Awakener System rewarded me for raising someone to be an outstanding Awakener as a Grandmaster.
“The first was when I taught martial arts to Yeon Mirae, who couldn’t use Aura.”
At that time, the Awakener System said that Yeon Mirae had become an excellent martial artist, and as a reward, it enhanced the Eye of the Grandmaster that I possessed and also granted a bonus where her abilities and growth speed increased whenever she was near me.
“The second was when I taught Ryu A-Young how to utilize her manifestation ability.”
Not only Ryu A-Young, who heard it directly from me, but also Ryu A-Min, whose transformation ability was essential for using manifestation abilities, was recognized as an outstanding psychic, and I received points as a reward.
“The third was when I showed Alex the summoning magic circle he had created before his regression, helping him to form a contract with Fafnir.”
Through Alex, who became a great summoner, the paradigm of familiars changed, and I was rewarded for it. Oh, and Yeon Mirae, who had also taken on the roles of Sigurd and Siegfried, grew stronger through the story’s power. Moreover, the Awakener System combined the points I had accumulated with the points earned at that time to provide me with the Harmonious Divine Sword.
And now, this was the fourth time.
“No… I just mentioned turning a potion into a solid form…”
I could excuse the first three cases because I had intended to help them grow. But this time, I just casually mentioned it, and somehow, they grew.
“Well, if you carry a potion in pill form instead of a bottle, it’s more convenient to transport and quicker to consume… as long as the effects are guaranteed, the survival rate of Awakeners in dungeons would definitely increase.”
Unlike a potion, you can take it even during battle. Thinking of it that way, it made sense why humanity’s survival expectancy had increased.
Wait a minute. Does this mean that no alchemist had ever thought of turning a potion into a solid form before? Well, the word “potion” itself implies a drinkable liquid, but…
“Still… you can’t just use any excipient… the balance of ingredients… it would collapse… and the preparation process would need to be slightly altered… it’s complicated, but I think it can be done…”
As I was thinking this, Kim Eun-Yeon seriously contemplated how to turn a potion into a pill.
“…Unnie… the excipients… by type… ah… pills often work slower than potions… if needed, we can refer to related papers…”
“Got it. Prepare the excipients by type and figure out how to make the pill act faster, right?”
An association staff member who had been quietly listening seemed to realize the impact of Eun-Yeon’s research and immediately started contacting someone.
Watching this, Elena approached me and whispered:
“Turning potions into pills… it’s unprecedented.”
“…Is that all?”
“Now that I think about it, I understand why no one thought of it until now.”
Elena seemed to have an idea why no alchemist had ever made a potion into a pill. When given a chance to explain, she began speaking her thoughts:
“Dungeon Awakeners might have wished for pills instead of bulky potions, but since alchemists don’t know the potion-making process, they couldn’t say anything. Meanwhile, alchemists themselves don’t enter dungeons, so they didn’t feel the need to convert well-selling potions into pills.”
However, Kim Eun-Yeon had the thought of making potions into pills. She probably didn’t specifically think about efficiency or necessity, but the Awakener System reacted the moment she thought of it. That suggests she will likely succeed in refining potions into pill form in the near future.
“By the way…”
I took out my smartphone and checked the time.
“We should probably head back to class soon.”
Break time was almost over. But everyone except Elena was completely absorbed in watching the mouse, and Kim Eun-Yeon was still asking something of the association staff.
“How about we all skip going back to class?”
“…Is that okay? And our next class is math with our homeroom teacher.”
“Isn’t that better? At least it’s our homeroom teacher, not someone we don’t know.”
The teacher would cry. Of course, it was just a joke. Elena approached the kids watching the mouse and suggested returning to class. I also told Kim Eun-Yeon:
“Let’s go back to class. Save the rest for lunch or later.”
“Okay… see you later, unnie…”
So we left her lab and returned to the classroom before the bell rang.
By lunchtime, Kim Eun-Yeon went straight to the lab instead of the cafeteria. She would probably grab a quick lunch via the association staff.
“Hurry! If we don’t, we’ll be waiting in line forever!”
“Really?! Then let’s go quickly!”
“I’m going first!”
Meanwhile, some impatient students ran to the cafeteria. Even if there were a line, considering the school size, it would take only about three minutes at most. It was easier to go later after the crowd cleared.
“I’ll take a short break for about ten minutes.”
I checked who was left in the classroom—just Gang Garam and Elena.
Thud!
“?”
Gang Garam pulled something from her bag—a lunchbox, presumably prepared at her home.
“…Our school doesn’t forbid packed lunches…”
Most students ate in the cafeteria or went outside, yet she had brought a lunchbox.
“Garam? Why did you bring a packed lunch?”
Elena also seemed curious. Gang Garam opened it and showed the contents.
“A diet recommended by a professional trainer.”
Indeed, it had all the necessary nutrients.
“School meals are fine too, though. A nutritionist plans them.”
The school meals were well-balanced, and the lunchbox had likely cooled down over time, so eating the school meal might’ve been better.
“…Really?”
After a moment’s thought, Gang Garam just began eating her lunch. She probably thought it rude to waste the food. She would likely eat school meals from tomorrow.
I then looked at Elena.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“How about you, Geon-woo?”
“I was going to go when the line shortened.”
“Me too.”
…Did she want to say something, or did she just not want to eat alone and intended to join me?
“Okay, we’ll go together later.”
Elena pulled a chair next to me and asked:
“By the way, how is the Dungeon Qualification Exam in Korea? Is it easy?”
She was concerned about the exam after lunch. Gang Garam seemed curious too, glancing at me. I explained:
“I’m not sure about the UK version, but it should be similar. I heard the exam problems are standardized globally.”
I recalled my pre-regression experience. I had been nervous before the exam, but it was so easy that I felt underwhelmed.
“Don’t worry about the written test. It just asks basic common-sense things like what you must or mustn’t do in a dungeon. The practical exam is just using your abilities on a target.”
I turned to Gang Garam:
“However, you might find the practical exam a bit tricky.”
She gave me a slightly annoyed look, but it couldn’t be helped. She hadn’t been awakened for long, so her mana pool was small and she knew only a few spells.
“What about me?”
“Unless you deliberately fail as a joke, you’ll probably pass.”
I said this while facing Gang Garam.
“…Don’t glare at me. There’s no way around the fact that you’re currently weak.”
Still, she would quickly become strong. She had always ranked top in school and academy before regression.
“…Got it.”
Acknowledging my point, she answered and continued eating her lunch. She then asked:
“Where’s the training ground?”
“The training ground? If you mean the magic training area, it’s probably…”
She might want to train before the exam since I had mentioned her weakness. I was concerned that the mana spent on training might affect her exam performance.
Elena smiled oddly at me.
“Why?”
“I like seeing you quietly caring for those around you.”
“…”
“You’ll care for me too, right?”
I checked the time and said:
“Let’s go get lunch. By now, the cafeteria line should’ve shortened.”
“Yes, let’s.”
After lunch, we headed to take the Dungeon Qualification Exam in the faculty office, and it was just like before my regression.
‘As expected, the written test is easy. The practical is easy too.’
I passed easily. As expected, Elliot, Elena, Lee Ha-Eun, and Lee Doo-Min also passed. For them, failing would’ve been harder.
However…
“Fail. Not enough power. Try again next time.”
“You failed too. Prepare proper attack methods.”
“So close, but fail. Just below the standard.”
Ryu A-Min, Ryu A-Young, and Gang Garam failed.
Finally…
“…Ambiguous, but… okay. Pass.”
“Thank you!”
Self-proclaimed Taoist Jin Cheon-Ha passed the qualification exam.
