Early the next morning, on the second floor of the Wizard Tower.
Roy casually wiped down the public corridor, behaving just like his predecessor.
Low-level apprentices not only had to study but also had to take on menial tasks as part of their duties.
During this time, several low-level apprentices gathered together to slack off and chat.
"The Forbidden Experiment is truly terrifying…"
"The entire Small World was completely destroyed!"
"When I heard that loud bang, I thought the Wizard Tower was going to collapse!"
Forbidden Experiment? Small World?
Roy recalled last night.
At the moment he crossed over, a Small World within the Wizard Tower had experienced a severe explosion, resulting in multiple deaths.
This incident sparked widespread discussion throughout the Wizard Tower and even the entire Wizard World.
"Could it be that there's something more to this?"
However, he couldn't afford to think too much about it for now.
Roy patiently waited for their supervisor, Modo, to come by for inspection and called out to him: "Lord Modo, Tower Cleaning Day is approaching, and I want to make a deal!"
Modo looked surprised: "What kind of deal do you want to make?"
Roy replied, "Starting today, I'll pay to have someone else do my work."
Modo was pleased: "Alright, 30 silver coins, and I'll arrange everything for you!"
This amount of money was not insignificant in the mundane world; it was enough to support a family for over a month.
His predecessor viewed it as a means of survival upon returning to the Old Continent, but Roy, wanting to have more time and energy to strive for success, agreed without hesitation.
After successfully resolving this crucial matter, he took the day off and headed to the commercial district's Doreas Workshop.
This was an Alchemy Workshop available for rent, featuring multiple Alchemy Rooms and a full array of alchemical equipment and experimental tools.
Low-level apprentices without private Alchemy Rooms often came here to rent space or tools.
Roy approached the front desk, pulled out a pouch, and laid out a few silver coins: "I'd like to rent a room and get the full set of tools and materials to make Puwu Water Fragrance."
His predecessor had scrimped and saved for years to have some money when returning home.
This was considered a fallback plan.
But Roy had no intention of retreating; he was determined to give it his all to stay.
Even with enough determination, Roy had little capital.
However, now, Alchemy Talent granted him a special advantage in success rates for crafting.
[When performing apprentice-level alchemical operations, gain a proficiency boost equivalent to skilled level, and the success rate is doubled.]
This might bring him hope! "Puwu Water Fragrance?" The apprentice at the front desk chuckled lightly, "A nice natural perfume."
Before long, he led Roy inside and set up the room.
Roy eagerly closed the door and began experimenting.
Sure enough, as soon as he started the alchemical process, a sense of confidence, as if he were a seasoned expert, surged within him.
Using alcohol as a solvent, citric acid to adjust the pH, and adding Nectar Fruit Oil, abundant in Moonshadow Forest, as a fixative…
The series of operations flowed smoothly.
Despite having hardly practiced this before, he astonishingly possessed a strong muscle memory, leading to effortless success.
In the end, Roy carefully placed all the finished products into a perfume bottle produced by the workshop.
The bottle was made of transparent glass, with a light green hue, designed simply yet elegantly.
The perfume liquid was clear, as pure as a mountain spring.
"This potion has a slight calming effect; although it's not a true Magical Potion, its value is quite limited.
But it's enough to achieve my goal!"
Guided by his predecessor's memories, Roy spoke with the attendant at the front desk and sold the bottle of Puwu Water Fragrance for the price of one Magic Stone.
This was part of Doreas Workshop's business strategy, relying on purchasing these low-level products and reselling them in the commercial streets or even in the mundane world of the Old Continent, making substantial profits.
However, for now, it made it convenient for him to convert his skills into cash.
With newfound hope, Roy worked tirelessly until dark, earning two more Magic Stones before reluctantly returning to eat and rest.
...
In the following days, Roy continued to work hard, while also trying out other materials and formulas.
However, many materials were too expensive, or the knowledge required was too vast and complex.
With no capital to spare, he could only dabble lightly.
During this time, he also experienced several common failures in alchemy.
These were due to scaling up production, which caused the base success rate to drop, even beyond what a [Skilled Worker] could recover.
Fortunately, he was cautious enough to keep the losses within a manageable risk.
After nearly a month, Tower Cleaning Day gradually approached, and he finally gathered 120 Magic Stones, enough to buy a bottle of Mental Enhancement Potion.
In his residence.
Roy carefully took out the coveted Mental Enhancement Potion from the wooden box, a faint mysterious aura wafting towards him.
The thumb-sized vial contained a potion of a deep blue color, which, under the light, emitted a subtle, glowing quality.
It was not an illusion.
Roy held his hand above the vial to block the light, and he truly saw it glowing faintly.
"Could it really have a fluorescent agent added?" Roy couldn't help but smirk.
However, according to the knowledge his predecessor possessed, this was actually the light radiated by magical energy, not a fluorescent agent.
This potion was crafted using some kind of biological brain matter, preservatives, and unknown additives, and it could help spellcasters enhance their mental attributes.
Taking this opportunity, he could sketch and manifest a new Willpower Rune in one go, potentially meeting the conditions for becoming a mid-level apprentice! After watching for a while, Roy uncorked the vial and decisively drank the entire potion.
"What a strange taste…"
Roy savored the potion as it slid down his throat, detecting a hint of shrimp-like flavor, along with notes of almond and cheese.
At the same time, it also had a slight minty spiciness.
Immediately after, his mind felt clear.
It was as if a cold current surged into his forehead, condensing his thoughts and sharpening his focus.
"Success or failure hinges on this!"
With the potion's effects coursing through him, Roy sat cross-legged and activated the Meditation Technique, entering a flow state he could rarely achieve.
Fehu ()! Uruz ()!
Thurisaz ()! Ansuz ()!
Raido ()!
Kenaz ()!
...
In the dark space of his mind, one Willpower Rune after another began to appear.
Soon, he reached the seventh rune, which he had previously been unable to manifest.
Gebo ()! This was essentially a process of guiding mental power for magical refinement.
However, human mental power does not manifest like muscles, so ordinary methods cannot reach it.
With the help of the potion, Roy successfully manifested the seventh Willpower Rune, marking a growth in his mental power.
When it came to the eighth rune, the potion's effects began to wane, and it became increasingly difficult.
Nevertheless, Roy continued to push forward.
After spending the entire night, just as his spirit began to wane.
The eighth Willpower Rune—Uruz ()…
Finally, he succeeded in manifesting it!