Lotm | COI | Red Preist

The stairs seem to stretch on forever as I slowly trudged my way up to my outside. My mind was still ablaze with the possibilities that lay before me. The power that I could potentially wield was almost overwhelming, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension mixed in with the excitement.

As I reached the tavern door, My hand brushed against the small vial of a red drink, and I felt a surge of anticipation wash over me once more. But I knew that I needed to be careful. I couldn't afford to let this power consume me, or I might end up causing more harm than good.

With a sigh, I pushed the thoughts of power to the back of my mind and unlocked the door to my room. I was greeted by the familiar sight of people drinking, with its bustling, sounds, an annoying, outcries and arguments. I wasted no time in to Fors table, feeling my eyes become serious I begin to think what I should discuss with her in the current moment.

" it seems you're back from the dream"

I gave her a small nod before opening my mouth I didn't wanna tell her too much, but if she really knew the information, there is no point in hiding it from her.

" I found this red thing after I killed one of the monsters"

She blink that she looked at me. Seems like she was surprised that I was able to kill the monster with a Byonder characteristic.

Hell in truth, I didn't know how was able to do it. The only thing I could put my reliance on was the passive boost that I got from the system.

" it seems I miss calculated a bit you're stronger than you look"

So I took a bit of offense to that I didn't I was the show it as I kept as much emotions as I could behind the blank expression.

"I obtained an abnormal dark-red object from that monster. Holding it makes me irritable and filled with hostility.

"I think it involves supernatural powers, but it didn't follow me to reality," he explained.

The woman smiled enigmatically.

"After going in and out so many times, don't you realize that other than your own physical condition, you can't bring anything else over?"

" are you saying I won't be able to bring any of them how can I be a beyonders on?"

Already knowing the answer, but I didn't wanna spoil it waiting for her to give me an answer. I slowly kept my mouth shut, ready to listen to any information I could possibly come out.

"Not a lost cause," she replied nonchalantly, savoring the cream soufflé.

"But won't the corresponding strength weaken because of this?" Lumian pressed, his brow furrowing.

"The conditions brought about by Beyonder characteristics won't change," the woman explained, meeting Lumian's gaze. "This is why I said that extraordinary items are excluded."

Lumian finally asked, regaining his composure, "May I ask how I should use that dark-red blob? Is it the Beyonder characteristic you mentioned?"

At the critical moment, he could not help but address her respectfully.

The lady set down her coffee and looked at him.

"I can give you a potion formula. Just follow it."

Feeling happy inside. Yeah I couldn't throw it out. I will finally get my hands not just on 1 foot three potions so I could use the three different characteristics.

"Why are you helping me?"

The lady laughed.

"Would you believe me if I said it was arranged by fate?"

No... Lumian subconsciously replied inwardly.

The abnormality in the village, the pressure of the impending storm, and the desire for superpowers all swirled around Lumian, threatening to overwhelm him. He pushed his unease down and spoke in a low voice, "I do."

Opportunities like this didn't come around often, and Lumian knew he had to act decisively. He couldn't afford to hesitate or have second thoughts.

The lady's smile grew wider, the unclear emotions he had detected in her eyes earlier intensifying.

She pulled out a stack of post-it notes and a silver fountain pen from her black lady's purse and began writing.

Finally, she stopped and tore off the top note and handed it to him.

Lumian snatched it from her hand and read it quickly.

"Hunter potion formula:

"Main ingredient: One Hunter Beyonder characteristic;

"Supplementary ingredients: 80 milliliters of red wine, one Red Chestnut Flower (can be a specimen or substituted with 10 drops of the corresponding essential oil), 5 grams of poplar tree leaf powder, 10 grams of basil;

"Usage: Drink it directly.

Satisfied with his memorization, Lumian carefully folded the note and slipped it into his brown jacket.

After obtaining the information I wanted I begin to get up from the table as I went to go and acquire these ingredients.

She blink a few times before looking back at me as she opened her mouth as words we going to throw out.

"You do not know much about mysticism, so let me explain. There are 22 common pathways in the world. To access them, you must obtain ingredients with the corresponding Beyonder characteristics and concoct potions. Each pathway has 10 Sequences, numbered from 9 to 0. The lower the number, the higher the level, and the stronger the ability."

' oh, God, please no, I don't need to explain in the entire thing that I know the bases out of'

" I think I wanna go collect the ingredients first"

She looked at me again before, raising her eyebrow than typing her finger on the table, as if requesting me no, demanding me to sit.

I saw it as I went back, sitting obediently on the table. I should begin to explain the rest.

"The Beyonder characteristic you obtained belongs to the Red Priest pathway. It can only be used to concoct the corresponding Sequence 9 Hunter potion."

" is that all"

The woman nodded, but looked at me as of seeing if I had any extra questions, though I did not so I just stood up and left there is no need to stand here. I need to complete the three potions quickly so I could become a Byonder.

" oh, and if you're going to send anything, can you send three extra of every supplementary ingredient if you don't mind"

She blink before nodding.

" but why"

" hee hee. I'm just very bad sometimes in following instructions."

Shortly after, Administrator Béost appeared at a second-story window, looking far more put-together than the padre. His neatly combed brown hair, light blue eyes with black lines, straight nose bridge, thin lips, and well-groomed mustache conveyed his status, accentuated by his double-breasted flannel coat.

He gazed down at the assembled villagers for a moment before speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time. Those who are late will no longer have the right to vote.

"Next, I'll read the list of candidates for the Spring Elf."

"Ava Lizier..."

As Béost read out the list, Ava breathed a sigh of relief.

Unsurprisingly, she received over 80% of the votes.

After the voting, Lumian made an excuse about needing to go home and left without celebrating with his companions.

Upon arriving home, he immediately asked his sister, "Did we receive a reply?"

If they had, the telegrapher would have delivered it and collected a fee.

"Not yet," Aurore replied, shaking her head.

She then said, "The undercurrents have been turbulent lately. You can't let your guard down during combat practice. Speaking of which, we'll spar in the afternoon."

Lumian winced, feeling sore all over.

But then an idea struck him. He put on a pained expression and said,

"I don't know if it's because I've been training too hard, but my whole body hurts today. Aurore, uh, sister, can you give me a massage? You're the most skilled at it."

Aurore nodded. "Sure, I can do that."

Under the skilled hands of his sister, Lumian's body finally began to recover that night.

Before drifting off to sleep, Lumian placed three Red Chestnut Flowers and some powdered poplar leaves in a bottle on the table in front of the window.

He gazed at the bottle for a long moment, his heart beating with anticipation and nervousness, before finally crawling under the covers.

As Lumian awoke in the gray fog, his first instinct was not to check his physical condition. Instead, he sat up abruptly and looked at the table by the window.

There, bathed in the soft light that filtered through the thick fog, were the three Red Chestnut Flowers and the glass bottle of poplar leaf powder.

She really sent the supplementary ingredients in... Relief flooded Lumian. He got out of bed and stretched, delighted to discover that the pain in his neck and back had vanished, along with the general discomfort he had been feeling.

Just as I hoped, I'm fine in the dream when I'm better in reality even though the injuries on both sides aren't equal at all... He quickly walked over to the wardrobe with the full-length mirror, took off his shirt, and examined himself.

The five bloody finger marks, the bruises, and the blood clots were all gone.

This made Lumian wonder if killing the Beyonder monster had been nothing more than a dream.

Thankfully, the crimson object in the cloth bag, the slightly larger sum of money, and the shotgun next to his bed confirmed the reality of his experience.

Lumian's heart eased. With the cloth bag containing the crimson item and a large amount of money, he left the bedroom and went straight to the first floor. Grabbing a bottle of red wine and a beer mug, he headed back up with some basil.

He made sure to bring along a measuring cylinder and miniature scale that his sister Aurore had purchased for his studies.

Looking at the desk filled with all the necessary items, Lumian felt both excited and nervous.

With everything in place, all that remained was to concoct the potion!

Potions were not beverages. They were more dangerous than alcohol, capable of killing or transforming the drinker into a monster with the slightest mistake.

Lumian took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his hands steady as he used the measuring cylinder to pour 240 milliliters of red wine into the beer mug.

Next, he added 30 grams of basil, 15 grams of poplar leaf powder, and a Three Red Chestnut Flower.

The process proceeded without incident. The red liquid in the mug had a few more dregs and a floating flower, but otherwise looked unremarkable.

With the cloth bag of crimson substance at his side, Lumian watched intently as the object slid into the beer mug.

Without a sound, the three dark-red blob seemed to dissolve rapidly, drawing in the surrounding liquid in the process.

Bubbles erupted, and the entire mug turned a deep shade of red. The Red Chestnut Flower had dissolved completely.

This is the Hunter potion? Lumian gulped and picked up his mug.