Chapter 109

Chapter 109
Chapter 109: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

This was the main reason I favoured the Moonstone, given its remarkably low durability.

After all, Lion intended to smash this very Moonstone into fragments!

The Fish Pill served as the exact catalyst for Lion achieving the rank of a 1st Circle Master right here.

It functioned as a specialized medicinal pill crafted by blending the inner essence of labyrinth-dwelling fish alongside a Fish Eye.

Lion recalled a specific formula that properly combined nutritional supplements with that Fish Pill.

“That will suffice.”

The lunar radiance harbored within the Magic Stone would adequately replace the fish’s core essence.

After striking the Moonstone a few times using the mortar, it rapidly broke apart.

The external layer of the Magic Stone, which held the concentrated radiance, was pulverized into a texture resembling stardust, and the trapped energy was transferred directly into the pot, quickly spilling over the edges.

The volume was so immense that the Alchemy Pot filled completely to the brim, teetering on the verge of overflowing.

It mirrored the exact appearance of the moonlit lake I had gazed upon mere moments ago.

The star-like Magic Stone, accompanied by its luminous power, drifted through the air, creating the illusion of a night sky densely sown with constellations, while its confinement inside the rounded Alchemy Pot made it resemble the moon itself.

Lion lifted the pestle from the vessel, generating ripples in the mixture, and began to stir at a leisurely pace with a rod.

Even though the Alchemy Pot remained unheated, the liquid level on the surface gradually descended.

Instead, a peculiar resistance manifested within the stirring rod.

The contents were beginning to congeal.

“This is…”

It felt akin to the process of setting jelly.

Lion diligently continued to churn the pot, inspecting every single corner to ensure the mixture avoided hardening prematurely.

Once the surface level had dropped by half, substances other than the Moon’s Energy started clumping together on one side like impurities, solidifying and floating to the top.

Lion skimmed out the clumped crystals and cast them onto the floor; they vanished instantly as if absorbed into the ground.

Having thoroughly purged all remaining impurities, the original liquid was transferred to a distiller to isolate the pure Moon’s Energy, then poured back into the pot.

Swish.

He drew the Lesser Moon’s Essence, crafted by Barg, from his pocket.

“Lesser Moon’s Essence.”

This component would act as the substitute for the Fish Eye.

Lion dropped Barg’s Lesser Moon’s Essence directly into the heart of the thickened mixture with a plop.

The Moon’s Essence appeared remarkably diminutive and lightweight when contrasted against the massive pot…

Swish.

Astonishingly, the moment it made contact with the surface, it plummeted straight to the very bottom with a soft plop.

A faint ripple formed. The sight made me feel as though I were gazing upon the moon reflected in water.

“Very well, what remains now is…”

Lion raised his gaze.

The moon, which had previously set, was ascending once more.

During the creation of the standard Fish Pill, the contained power had to be firmly suppressed and condensed within the Fish Eye.

Consequently, to counteract the escaping energy, one was required to press down upon the pot using absolute force, but…

The situation was completely reversed now.

This was due to their contrasting natures.

Fish leap upward with vigorous energy.

They swim about freely and dart through the aquatic realm in search of sustenance.

Conversely, the moon possesses a tranquil and serene essence.

Therefore, permitting it to simmer slowly would allow its natural properties to properly permeate the mixture.

Lion withdrew his hand from the pot and retreated a few paces.

This positioning ensured that Barg’s Lesser Moon and the large, luminous moon suspended over the labyrinth could align.

“I trust this turns out successfully.”

Lion stretched out flat upon the ground and looked upward at the sky.

The pale moon seemed to gaze right back down at Lion.

“Peep.”

Meanwhile, Nature filled the immediate space in front of him.

Boasting yellowish fur and a round physique, the creature bore a striking resemblance to the moon, bringing a chuckle to Lion’s lips.

“Indeed. It will turn out fine.”

Lion scooped up Nature, rested the small creature against his chest, and waited.

It was not until the deep hours of dawn that…

“…”

Lion bolted upright by sheer instinct.

Nature fluttered into the air and settled upon his shoulder.

Lion inspected the pot and promptly broke into a smile, his eyes narrowing into crescent shapes.

“Finished!”

Inside the vessel…

『Lion’s Moonlight Pill (★★★)』

-Created an unprecedented item utilizing a unique recipe!

-Processed lunar energy through alchemy into a pill form. Its therapeutic effects surpass the Moon’s Essence produced by the Beastfolk!

-When consumed by Beastfolk, it permanently boosts their internal energy. (However, it proves counterproductive if the individual suffers from Eclipse Symptoms.)

-If ground into a fine powder and applied, it appears it would serve as an exceptional fertilizer for flora.

『’Lost Puzzle (2)’ Achievement Progress: 2/5』

The pot was brimming with pills that mirrored round, miniature moonstones!

“It yielded quite a quantity.”

If handled correctly, the yield would prove sufficient to plant every single Evening Primrose.

“That reminds me…”

Gasp.

Lion hastily glanced back up at the sky.

“It happens to be a full moon tonight, doesn’t it?”

“Peep!”

There was one detail Lion had completely pushed aside while preoccupied with brewing the nutritional supplements.

Evening Primroses needed to finalize their growth cycle specifically on the day of a full moon to unlock even more potent special properties!

Fortunately, the moon continued to beam brilliantly.

“We must move immediately.”

Lion marched in the direction of the lake.

The earth had already been churned and aerated by the Magic Stones, rendering it ideal for cultivation.

“When I planted Banana Sweet Potato sprouts here previously, they flourished remarkably well.”

The optimal growth was likely attributable to the labyrinth’s mana being thoroughly integrated into the soil.

If I were to sprinkle the nutrient-dense supplement infused with Moon’s Energy directly over that earth…

They were bound to thrive.

Perhaps they would even sprout as rapidly as Flame Herbs.

Lion pulverized a Moonlight Pill within his palm and scattered it evenly across the dirt.

Next, he retrieved the Evening Primrose seeds handed to him by Rikschel.

“The seeds themselves are quite small and require ample exposure to moonlight, so I must avoid burying them too deeply.”

Lion excavated a shallow trench, deposited the seeds, and carefully covered them over.

He also made certain to leave adequate spacing between each individual plant.

Following that came the task of watering.

“Wait a moment, rather than plain water…”

Lion paused in thought, then channeled the internal mana of his body, focusing it directly into his hands.

He cupped his palms as though scooping liquid to gather the concentrated mana…

Swish.

He sprinkled the energy directly over the spot where the Evening Primrose seeds rested.

Immediately, a soft radiance radiated upward from beneath the soil as if the earth had absorbed the mana.

Then, a pale, whitish sprout slowly forced its way through the dirt.

It began to expand at a staggering pace, mimicking the effect of fast-forwarding through time.

The growth velocity was…

Far superior to that of Flame Herbs!

“Huh? What?”

Was it genuinely supposed to develop at this speed?

Could this phenomenon be linked to the high rank of the Moonlight Pill?

“Shouldn’t I supply it with additional mana if it accelerates like this?”

At this rate of growth, the plants would exhaust the available mana in no time.

As anticipated, the stems of the Evening Primroses shot upward aggressively before the momentum gradually tapered off.

The surrounding soil also appeared somewhat dry.

Lion supplied another handful of mana, crushed several more Moonlight Pills, and distributed them across the surrounding plot.

Then, right before the moon dipped below the horizon and the sun broke through…

Transparent petals, as though woven entirely from captured moonlight, unfurled wide open!

『Labyrinth Evening Primrose (★★★)』

-A prized blossom that matured by absorbing abundant magical energy from the labyrinth’s master. It completed its maturation during the full moon phase, heightening its overall potency!

-Every single component holds value! Even the stem! Even modest quantities yield monumental effects.

『Uses: Alchemy, Cooking, Beast Taming』

『☞ Click to view the recipe.』

Lion tapped the recipe interface to review the details.

The contents aligned with his expectations.

“Splendid.”

Lion casually tapped the Evening Primroses into his Alchemy Bottle.

In response, fine floral dust reminiscent of stardust or moonlight drifted downward, though not in massive quantities.

Even so.

“It was a fortunate decision to plant such a quantity.”

Lion had utilized roughly half of the flower seeds gifted by Rikschel.

This meant he could secure the requisite volume of floral dust without issue!

Lion put the plan into motion instantly and succeeded in gathering a substantial reserve of the dust.

Next, he plucked a few blossoms, squeezed the base where the nectar glands were situated, and watched golden honey drip forth.

The yield was surprisingly generous, filling a slender Alchemy Bottle to the brim.

Lion smiled broadly as he lifted the viscous, golden fluid.

By morning, the sun shone brightly, casting glints off the surface of the Potion Bottle.

Lion shook the harvested honey vigorously much like a bartender mixing a drink.

After a considerable duration.

Once the honey developed a frothy texture and shifted to an opaque pale yellow, he unscrewed the lid and dumped the entire collection of floral dust inside.

Then…

Ssssh.

Upon touching the flower dust, the honey reverted to a transparent state, and the froth vanished entirely.

In place of the bubbles, golden specks of floral dust lingered, shimmering magnificently.

『Evening Primrose Honey Potion (★★★)』

-A specialized relief and treatment agent for ‘Eclipse Symptoms’ derived from Evening Primroses.

-While the production method remains straightforward, utilizing ‘Evening Primroses that bloomed under a full moon’ is an absolute requirement.

『Precautions for Use.』

-Ensure application is directed at a berserk Beastman, making certain it seeps deeply into an open wound.

-Oral administration is restricted exclusively to Bear Beastmen. Assuming they manage to survive the ordeal, that is.

-The substance may provoke heightened violence in the Beastman due to intense agony, so deployment should occur in an area populated by many individuals.

“…”

That final warning sounded rather ominous!

I suppose I should be thankful that Barg happens to be a Werewolf.

Or perhaps grateful that numerous people would be available to assist.

“Regardless, we need to depart quickly.”

A considerable amount of time had already elapsed.

“Even so, this timeframe should prove acceptable.”

He had deliberately bypassed sleep to concentrate on cultivating the Evening Primroses and brewing the specialized potion.

Consequently, he would undoubtedly be equipped to take immediate action the moment they lapsed into a berserk state.

Lion stepped out of the labyrinth with a notably light stride.

And in that moment, realization struck him.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

“Surely not…”

Lion deduced the unfolding situation instantly upon observing the expression Elvia wore as she came forward to greet him.

“Where is Barg?”

“He is currently being restrained by Rikson and Young Master Rikschel within Mimir Forest.”

“How much time has elapsed?”

“Less than a full day. There is still a window.”

Lion nodded curtly and broke into a run toward Mimir Forest.

—

CRUNCH!

A thick timber crashed downward with a thunderous roar.

Dust billowed with a heavy thud, causing the earth to shudder beneath the impact.

Amidst the debris, a beast’s eyes flared with a predatory light as a deep growl escaped its throat.

Grrr…

A chilling resonance, entirely unnatural for a human vocal tract, echoed through the clearing.

Rikson knitted his brows.

While he understood that berserking amplified physical prowess, he had not anticipated it reaching a level where a single sweep of a claw could fell such a sturdy tree with absolute ease.

“Barg.”

Rikson voiced the name of the one who had forfeited his rationality, his tone tinged with sorrow.

The timber was slashed to pieces, and incoming strikes from magic and blades were deflected by claws or intercepted by teeth.

The beast lashed out indiscriminately, tearing in all directions.

Even with a reinforced physique, however, physical backlash remained inevitable.

In truth, Barg’s claws were already slick with blood, and crimson droplets spattered across the terrain.

“At this rate, he will succumb to blood loss before anything else.”

Rikschel, who was restricting the creature’s movements through spellcasting, spoke in an even voice.

“Can you narrow his range of motion any further?”

“I am capable of doing so, but executing it will place you in significantly greater jeopardy.”

“That is of no consequence. We must minimize collateral damage.”

“Understood.”

Without wasting breath on further dialogue, Rikschel tightened the boundaries of his magic, matching the exact moment Rikson pressed the assault against Barg.

Fwoosh!

Barg’s silhouette vanished instantly from sight.

It was a terrifying display of speed, one that even Rikson, seasoned Captain of the Knights, failed to track for a fraction of a second.

‘Where did he maneuver to?’

Yet Rikson was a veteran of countless battles.

His expertise extended beyond human combat to include fierce encounters with monsters.

‘Fighting him feels identical to facing a high-rank monster right now.’

Even amid that assessment, Rikson’s eyes darted across the surroundings.

From above.

He moves purely on primal instinct.

Therefore, he will invariably target the most vulnerable individual present.

That would naturally be the Mage.

The Young Master.

Rikson calculated the trajectory of the disturbed dust, threw himself directly in front of Rikschel, and intercepted the incoming strike with the flat of his blade head-on.

CLANG!

Two sharp, dense objects collided, generating a sharp ring.

Followed instantly by a heavy Thud.

Rikson’s sword was pierced clean through by a razor-sharp claw and shattered against the earth.

‘Damn it.’

—

*Do you have any specific plans for Lion’s next move regarding the potion’s application on Barg?*