After acknowledging the reality, they started chasing their husbands to the crematorium

Faced with Lyle’s questioning gaze, Emiliya’s watery eyes drifted aimlessly.

“Don’t come to find me anymore.”

Lyle patted her shoulder gently.

“Just consider it for your own good. If you don’t want to create conflicts with Xiyaa, you have a long way ahead.”

“Lyle, you…”

“Goodbye.”

Lyle adjusted his hat and walked away.

Emiliya’s pupils slowly contracted.

Your dream? Depending on brewing alone? What a joke.

…

…

“Teacher, wait for me!”

Lilyss caught up with him, her elven eyes carrying a hopeful look as she peered at Lyle, whose face was hidden under his hat.

“Are you also trying to squeeze value out of me?”

“Huh?”

Lilyssss tilted her head. “Meeting someone really skilled and wanting to learn from them… does that count as squeezing? I can even serve tea and water, you know!”

Lyle glanced at her ears, which weren’t red. The hostility on his face dissipated somewhat.

“You’re practically radiating naiveté,” remarked Lyle.

After a moment of contemplation, he continued, “I do have some knowledge about the ways of the elven folk, which is why I’m somewhat hesitant. I’ve heard rumors that your kind is inclined toward rather unconventional pursuits.”

“What? That’s pure slander!” protested Lilyss.

“But your ears turned crimson all of a sudden,” Lyle pointed out.

“I’m not lying!” Lilyss retorted.

“Well, when it comes to unconventional pursuits, why are you getting bashful?” inquired Lyle.

Lilyss promptly responded, “I have an aversion to matters of gambling and vice.”

“What about… ‘unconventional’ matters?” Lyle asked with a smile.

Lilyss raised her hand earnestly and declared, “I, for one, abhor gambling and vice.”

Lyle smirked and added, “Teacher, I must admit, I’m quite capable.”

Lilyss grew anxious, exclaiming, “You see, the elven folk possess unique floral scents about them. Before bedtime, we employ them to warm our bedding, creating an exceptionally fragrant and beneficial experience!”

“Oh, is that so?” Lyle inquired, intrigued. “Even a form of ‘slumber-inducing red tea’?”

With a hint of desperation, Lilyss pinched her pointed ears. “That’s the extent of my abilities… You see, Teacher, you are undoubtedly a consummate master of the Life Arts.”

Lyle observed her for a moment and then uttered, “Kneel and become my disciple.”

“Right here?”

“Right here.”

With so many people watching?

As a noble elf, kneeling to her own teacher in the middle of the street…

Ah…

A look of enchantment graced the elf maiden’s face. “So, shall I kiss your fingers, dear teacher? Or perhaps your shoes…”

Lyle, observing her enthusiastically excited expression, turned beet red.

Could this be a malfunction of the XP system?

“Never mind…”

Lyle retrieved a key from his pocket. “I happen to need an assistant right now. If you’re willing to join me, you’re welcome, but please don’t touch anything.”

Lilyss felt a bit disappointed—or rather, somewhat elated. It seemed that after experiencing the charismatic charm of the elf maiden Lilyss, her teacher was gradually starting to approve of her!

After all, she was the most charming member of the entire elf clan!

And also the most awkward one!

Lyle led her through several streets, finally stopping beside an odd stone building that lacked even a single window.

“Is this a prison…”

Lilyss was about to start again.

But Lyle interrupted her spellcasting as he opened the door. “It’s a laboratory.”

Upon entering, Lilyss let out a soft cough.

The odor was far from pleasant.

On the table lay numerous tiny glass tubes.

A jumbled pile of cardboard boxes cluttered the floor. On the adjacent wall hung sheets of paper covered in strange symbols.

“Teacher… is this some sort of sacrificial site for dark deities?”

“Well, feel free to explore for a while,” Lyle casually responded while rummaging through various cardboard boxes, searching for something.

I remember it was here…

Lilyss picked up a small, slightly bulging ball from the table, seemingly containing something inside. She tossed it casually, finding it rather amusing.

“Be careful with that little thing in your hand. If it accidentally hits something…”

“What?”

The ball traced an arc in the air.

Lyle: “It might blow both of us to bits, and we won’t even recognize our mothers.”

Lilyss froze, clutching the spherical object tightly, her face turning pale.

“Something so dangerous should be properly stored!”

Lyle retrieved a low-temperature furnace from one of the cardboard boxes, a distillation container he had made himself.

In this world, he could somehow utilize the knowledge in his mind, which, surprisingly, encompassed the fundamentals of alchemy, essentially chemistry with a mystical twist.

However, he couldn’t access the inner workings of scholar skills because the Iofov Higher Academy guarded its advanced knowledge closely, preventing textbook information from leaking out. Hence, he remained ignorant of the underlying logic behind scholar abilities.

Lyle had relied solely on his intellect to reach the forty-fourth level alongside Luna’s Radiance.

With the mind of an ordinary mortal, Lyle had nearly crossed half of the stairway to divinity. This method of playing the truancy card bug, even though it might be looked down upon by most, deserved at least some respect, didn’t it?

In the following days, Lyle went to the Oak Tavern. He requested two barrels of pre-brewed fruit wine from Wilson and was ready to start.

Most of the current wines weren’t quite up to par. Fruit wines, spirits, and the like had low alcohol content, tasted both bitter and sweet, and were somewhat nauseating.

He had actually been dabbling in the art of winemaking for some time.

By blending alcohol and fragrances, combined with aging techniques, he had produced batches of wine, such as mulberry and grape, that could be considered good.

So far, only the young ladies of Luna’s Radiance had the privilege of sampling these creations.

“Teacher, teacher! Have some cake!”

Lilyss bounced into the room from outside.

To be honest, in recent days, Lyle was starting to lose himself amid a chorus of “teacher.”

This elf maiden was extraordinarily enthusiastic, always eager to assist, as if she considered herself an apprentice. Occasionally, she made some low-level, laughable mistakes and would then look up, wearing a pitiable expression.

Is the teacher going to think I’m dumb and spank me?

However, Lyle thought she was intentionally fishing for a reaction and refrained from doing so.

Lilyss squatted on the ground, propped up her cheeks with her hands, and curiously watched the low-temperature furnace burning within. Her cheeks turned rosy from the heat.

Lyle sat beside her and took a bite of the cake.

The ingredients are certainly abundant, but it’s not exactly delicious.”

“Is it tasty? I had to run quite a few streets to buy this cake!”

Lyle chuckled and broke off half, handing it to Lilyss.

“Want to know the secret to life skills?”

While eating the cake, Lilyss nodded eagerly.

“I’ve mentioned it before: breaking through level six isn’t about craftsmanship,” Lyle explained.

“Take baking this cake, for instance. The key is to start from its fundamental logic, making improvements and innovations, rather than simply enhancing baking skills or improving the cake’s appearance.”

“What do you mean by fundamental logic?” Lilyss blinked.

“I think this cake tastes really good, though.”

“Think about people who make cakes that taste good compared to you,” Lyle began.

“Where’s the difference?”

Lilyss hesitated for a moment. “The texture of the cake, um… the amount of firewood and time added, which varies for different cakes.”

“That’s experience, and it’s why some people have higher levels than you,” Lyle smiled.

“But my approach involves creating an oven that can precisely control temperature and time, and an improved yeast, which you probably won’t understand right now.”

“The intuitive result is that the person who makes this cake has much better craftsmanship than me, but the one who reaches level six is me.”

Lyle clapped his hands. “Think about it for yourself.”

Lilyss was briefly stunned. She turned to look at the low-temperature furnace, her mind buzzing. It was the thought process of a researcher, a conceptual revelation.

The elf maiden’s face displayed a hint of confusion, as if she had grasped something profound.

Teacher… is it about adapting to the environment through tool improvements?