Chapter 185

Chapter 185
Chapter 185: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“Where did you acquire such a rare treasure?”

“It was presented to me as a token of gratitude upon ascending to the position of Tower Master. I simply brought along one that happened to be exhibited in my private residence.”

Hoffman elaborated.

His underlying thought was that since he required a magical implement anyway, she might as well have something engaging to occupy herself with during her time at home.

*No…*

Indeed, viewed strictly from a factual standpoint, his assertion was not incorrect.

After all, the gesture stemmed from an inquiry into whether a superior artifact existed.

Nevertheless…

*Flowing Tears is by no means an article to be regarded as a mere plaything.*

Even ordinary apparatuses retailed within magical emporiums were rarely valued on par with playthings.

Yet, I had posed the question simply because being favored by fortune from birth seemed advantageous!

I could never have anticipated that the resulting reward would surpass all monetary estimation.

“Is it truly acceptable for you to bestow such a precious artifact upon me?”

“Ha-ha.”

Hoffman merely chuckled heartily in response to Lion’s inquiry.

Though he had anticipated this exact reaction, he found genuine satisfaction in it.

His intent was devoid of any desire to boast; rather, it served to reaffirm Lion’s inherently generous and noble disposition.

Such an ungreedy response was entirely beyond his expectations.

*Indeed, where upon this earth might one find an individual entirely devoid of avarice?*

It is merely that certain people possess the discernment to place the welfare of others above their personal ambitions.

In truth, Flowing Tears possessed astronomical value.

Externally, it was recognized as one of the three supreme treasures of the Empire, whereas internally…

Consequently, from the viewpoint of scholars and arcane practitioners alike…

*It serves as an invaluable catalyst capable of neutralizing any manner of physical collision.*

Investigating the properties of Flowing Tears would likely represent the ultimate aspiration for numerous mages.

Despite this, experiments involving Flowing Tears remained stalled.

The rationale was straightforward.

The remaining reserves were exceedingly scarce, precluding any careless experimentation.

Should even a single unit be inadvertently lost, replacement was an utter impossibility!

The extraordinary catalytic properties of Flowing Tears had already been firmly established through theoretical models.

*Therefore, upon coming into possession of Flowing Tears…*

Even Hoffman experienced a powerful impulse to thoroughly examine its intrinsic qualities.

Unidentified phenomena invariably provoke boundless curiosity.

However.

The existence of a Tower Master afforded little leisure.

The realm’s demand for arcane arts was boundless, and the workload scaled accordingly.

As the days passed, Flowing Tears inevitably transitioned into a decorative ornament.

Eventually, Hoffman even slipped into forgetting its very existence.

Lately, however, a sudden realization had struck him.

*That youth, Lion, would likely undertake research upon this substance.*

Even setting that aside, he maintained a profound intuition that something extraordinary could be forged from it.

*Naturally, were I to voice this thought aloud…*

Lion would undoubtedly feel a sense of obligation, hence I shall keep the thought to myself.

“Regardless of an object’s worth, prolonged observation inevitably reduces it to the likeness of a common stone.”

Thus, Hoffman elected to adjust his phrasing slightly.

“It no longer holds any particular significance for me, so you may accept it with an easy conscience.”

To an outside observer, it might have sounded as though he were discarding something worthless, yet the entire context shifted dramatically given that the artifact in question was *Flowing Tears*.

Lion, fully grasping the underlying sentiment, graciously received the exquisitely fashioned glass vial.

“My sincerest gratitude.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Hoffman moved to prolong their casual dialogue before halting himself.

He observed Lion’s gaze drifting repeatedly toward the Flowing Tears.

The sight stirred no displeasure within him.

On the contrary, a comforting sense of propriety washed over him, as though the artifact had finally returned to its rightful sanctuary.

*Ahem, it is past time for my departure.*

Clearing his throat softly, Hoffman rose from his seat.

“I shall take my leave now. I will reach out once I acquire intelligence concerning that mage’s whereabouts.”

“Understood. Please travel safely.”

Declining any offer of an escort, Hoffman departed the chamber.

Whereupon Lion…

*…Whoa.*

Instantly cradling the Flowing Tears in his palm, he scrutinized it from every possible angle.

*Flowing Tears*

-Tears shed by a siren, secured within a vessel prior to evaporation or dilution within the ocean tides.

-Possesses a saline flavor, though ingestion is strongly discouraged.

-Subject to rapid evaporation; exercise caution.

*Applications – Alchemy, Pigmentation, Angling*

*☞ Select to inspect the formula.*

A shimmering liquid reminiscent of the ocean depths, composed of mother-of-pearl and luminous pearls, gently shifted within the confines of the vial.

Captivated by its antique elegance, many had historically treated it as an ornament rather than a functional catalyst.

Nevertheless, the true brilliance of Flowing Tears lay in its practical application.

A prime illustration of this was the production of scrolls utilizing Flowing Tears.

*Its efficacy is such that…*

While the precise mechanics were intricate, in essence, it enabled the creation of an elixir potent enough to rescue an individual standing at Death’s very threshold.

Historically, this exact property rendered siren abduction a rampant societal issue.

Consequently, sirens had been driven to extinction, and formulas incorporating Flowing Tears had largely fallen into obsolescence, relegating the substance to mere decorative use.

*Well, given its exorbitant cost, who would dare treat it as a consumable resource?*

Even if one attempted its use, failure meant total loss coupled with devastating financial ruin.

*Naturally, I am well aware of that fact.*

At any rate, acquiring such an item with such remarkable ease could only be considered a profound stroke of fortune.

A broad grin spread across Lion’s face as he carefully deposited the Flowing Tears into a secure compartment of his inventory.

“So it has utility in other fields as well.”

Pigmentation was unusual yet comprehensible as a dye source, but what of angling?

Precisely what manner of catch might one secure with it?

*Regardless, since my intended application is crafting, the rest is inconsequential.*

Shrugging lightly, Lion stood up.

Having undergone his secondary examination, his lingering internal injuries were now fully eradicated.

“Grandfather mentioned I might move about freely once recovery was complete…”

While conscience dictated remaining within the quarters, visiting the kitchens should certainly be permissible.

A wide smile illuminated Lion’s face as he flung open the door, marching toward the kitchen with an upbeat gait.

Only to find…

“Scarcely a week has elapsed, therefore I must request your return, Young Master.”

It was the Knight Captain himself stationed at the threshold as a sentinel…!

“Surely not, I merely sought a glass of water.”

“The dining hall lies in the opposite direction.”

“……Tch.”

“Even so, passage is denied.”

Ultimately, Lion was restricted from entering the culinary quarters until the remaining two days of confinement had lapsed.

—

And upon the morning two days thereafter!

“At last!”

Lion strode into the kitchen with an expression brimming with profound emotion.

The duration since his last presence in this sanctuary felt immense!

“I have missed you dearly!”

Granted, prior to his convalescence, he had frequented Easter’s kitchen as though it were his personal dining room, yet this carried an entirely distinct significance.

The cookware, so familiar to his sight. The culinary instruments that rested effortlessly within his grasp.

Most importantly, a hearth offering far greater precision than Easter’s!

“This is it! This is precisely it!”

It felt akin to reclaiming one’s normal existence after arising from a prolonged sickbed.

Above all else…

The moment had finally arrived.

*Jang.*

The soy sauce, gochujang, and doenjang that Lion had yearned for with such intensity!

Accompanied by the meju, which served as their foundational base!

*Gulp.*

The mere contemplation of it caused saliva to pool within his mouth.

A multitude of traditional dishes achievable through these condiments instantly danced across his imagination.

Foremost among his desires was…

Doenjang stew laden with generously sliced beef…

Should he mash morsels of tofu into the bubbling broth and consume a generous spoonful alongside steamed rice…!

Ah. The very thought bordered on the divine.

“Phew, just a fraction longer of restraint.”

Lion pivoted toward the basin where premium soybeans had been left to steep.

In truth, he had secretly dispatched a message to Alex the preceding day to initiate the bean-soaking phase.

“Splendid. They have absorbed moisture thoroughly…”

Inspecting the condition of the legumes, Lion transferred them from the basin into a spacious cauldron.

The spherical beans, echoing the organic perfection of nature, cascaded into the vessel as an ample volume of water was poured over them.

The critical caveat here involved avoiding an excess of liquid within the pot.

Prolonged simmering was required, and any lapse in attention could lead to violent boiling over.

Such an occurrence would diminish the water level, placing the beans at risk of scorching.

“Hmph.”

Positioning the hefty cauldron upon the stove, Lion secured the lid and modulated the flame.

Standard protocol dictated a gentle simmer over subdued heat, yet initiating the process with high temperature accelerated the softening of the outer hulls, ensuring thermal energy penetrated the core evenly.

*Of course, I could easily have delegated this stage to Alex.*

Alex stood as an esteemed culinary artist throughout the Empire.

While boiling legumes on such a massive scale might have been novel to him, grasping the technique would have allowed him to achieve properly cooked beans with ease.

Nevertheless.

Does not the essence of crafting meju lie in the personal touch?

Since the endeavor was his own, executing every conceivable phase with his bare hands was paramount.

Besides, when else might such an experience present itself?

Lion chuckled softly as he monitored the simmering legumes.

Before long, the liquid reached a rolling boil, and true to expectation, frothing bubbles began to crest the brim.

*Now!*

Swiftly lifting the lid, Lion adjusted the heat downward to subdue the foam.

With the initial boil concluded, the remaining requirement was a steady, low-heat reduction.

The duration would span approximately… two hours.

Employing accelerated maturation techniques could drastically shorten this, yet perhaps owing to the conclusion of his week-long confinement, even this routine task felt akin to an engaging pursuit.

*The boredom had been genuine…*

Previously, the prospect of spending an entire month lounging abed might have appealed to him.

This realization highlighted how profoundly his perspective had shifted.

Lion dragged a stool that Alex had thoughtfully provided toward the hearth and seated himself before the flames.

Periodically stirring the legumes, he drifted into a state of tranquil culinary rumination after a prolonged hiatus.

The crisp chill of the kitchen juxtaposed against the warmth radiating from the stove induced a deep sense of serenity, causing the hours to slip away unnoticed.

Augmented by the rich, savory aroma emanating from the pot.

Thus, a little over two hours elapsed.

“Ah.”

The firm, lustrous beans had transformed into a pleasing yellowish-brown hue, cooked to absolute perfection.

Carefully extracting a single legume, Lion pressed it gently between his fingers.

True to expectation, the bean yielded softly without resistance.

“Peep.”

Nature, which had remained entirely docile until this juncture, fluttered through the air and hovered near Lion’s hand.

*Well, being an avian creature, such offerings naturally appeal.*

Cooling the freshly boiled bean with a gentle breath, Lion presented it before Nature.

“Would you care for a taste?”

Pecking at the tender legume with its beak to verify its texture, Nature swallowed the morsel whole.

“Peep!”

Seemingly overcome with satisfaction, it immediately pecked at the remaining beans resting upon Lion’s palm.

Judging by Nature’s enthusiastic response, the legumes had indeed been boiled to an ideal standard.

“Splendid. Next…”

Transferring the contents of the cauldron into a porous basket, Lion strained the liquid to allow the beans to drain and cool.

As the steaming legumes cooled to a comfortable temperature…

The threshold of the long-awaited primary undertaking drew near, prompting Lion to retrieve the implements he had meticulously prepared over the preceding week from his inventory.

Behold!

*Waterproof Cloth Wrapper*

-A textile wrap guaranteeing simultaneous moisture resistance and hygiene!

*Culinary Lined Socks*

-The era of traditional kitchen sanitation gloves has drawn to a close! Behold the arrival of the specialized lined sock.

These constituted the specialized equipment designated for the trampling of the meju.