Chapter 225

Chapter 225
Chapter 225: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Flawed genetic samples, incorrect concoction ratios, and even substandard tools for alchemy!

Given such evident conditions for failure, it was entirely expected that a gelatinous blob would emerge even under the talented hands of the genius Lion.

Bubble… Bubble bubble…

The morning mist began to simmer.

To be precise, it was not actually boiling.

The thermal levels had not increased.

Yet unmistakably, bubbles started forming within the previously tranquil water, shifting in a bizarre undulating motion.

Palm-like appendages would briefly appear and vanish, and at times the mass would gape open like a mouth.

‘Ugh.’

It was thoroughly repulsive.

It was enough to make one fully comprehend why alchemists held such deep aversion toward slimes.

As the crystalline dew gradually acquired the sticky density characteristic of a slime, the bubbling noise grew muted.

At first, it resembled simmering stew, then it shifted to the gurgling sound of thick syrup.

Eventually, the faint sound of scattered bubbles popping from deep within the mud-like consistency began to grate on the ears.

Squeak…

It reached a stage where one had to wonder how such a noise was even physically possible, and the morning dew—or rather, the slime birthed from morning dew—displayed its grotesque shape.

『Alchemy failed.』

『※Caution※ Morning Dew Slime is being created.』

The moment it assumed a physical form, the entity attempted an assault on Lion!

Just as a liquid limb lashed out toward Lion!

Thump.

“This ought to be sufficient.”

Lion seized the slime in one hand and inspected it from every angle.

The tactile feedback was soft and squishy, identical to the toy slimes children used to play with prior to his reincarnation.

‘Come to think of it, they share the exact same name.’

The thought had never crossed his mind consciously.

Lion absentmindedly kneaded the slime.

『’Failure is another word for Slime’ achievement unlocked.』

『Received 1,000 Shilling as consolation money.』

“Ah, shillings.”

Regardless of it being labeled as consolation funds, it made little difference.

It was not as though the failure had been intentional, after all.

“I can easily manage a slime of this scale.”

Lion gazed downward at the creature.

The slime, no larger than his fist, struggled desperately to break free from his grip, but to no avail.

That was because Lion possessed a far greater physical stature…

While the slime, born from morning dew, remained minuscule.

Thus, the slime was destined to serve as Lion’s instrument.

“I should make frequent use of this moving forward.”

Well, for the moment, the proper refinement of this South Jade remained the primary objective.

Before that, however.

Squish.

Lion experienced a strange sense of déjà vu from the peculiarly pliable texture that fit so naturally in his palm.

How odd, considering he had never played with a slime toy previously, yet the sensation felt intensely familiar.

‘……Ah!’

He realized why the feel was so recognizable—the consistency mirrored the keyboard gel cleaner he used at his corporate office before his reincarnation!

‘In that case, should I avoid using it immediately?’

Typically, a newly opened container of cleaner should not be applied right away; it requires some manual kneading first.

Initially, it was excessively moist and lacked proper viscosity, causing fragments of the cleaner to break off when attempting to clean between keycaps.

On occasion, the cleaner would wedge itself firmly into tight crevices during the cleaning process, creating a nuisance.

‘Of course, I am polishing the South Jade now…’

Given the matching texture, the slime might simply tear apart under friction.

Particularly since the South Jade, still residing in its unrefined rough stone state, possessed several remarkably sharp edges.

“Let us work the material further.”

Should any onlookers witness him kneading a slime, they would likely be revolted, yet Lion remained indifferent.

Instead, the activity felt akin to sensory play.

‘It is easy to see why hobbyists find appeal in such things.’

He now understood why slimes enjoyed such widespread popularity among children and adults alike prior to his reincarnation.

Following a few more rounds of kneading much like clay, the slime firmed up appropriately, just as anticipated.

Its overall volume had decreased slightly due to moisture evaporation, but it appeared adequate for working on the South Jade.

“Very well, let us commence.”

Lion picked up the resting South Jade and began rubbing the stone against the slime.

Instantly, the grime and earthy residue encrusting the South Jade washed away, ground down by the action of the slime.

‘As expected, monster-derived components are formidable.’

He had wondered if simple kneading would suffice, but its abrasive polishing efficiency proved remarkably high.

It was no wonder Freya consistently scorched items using salamander fire.

Naturally, such methods were unnecessary for Lion.

While the slime was undergoing its transformation, he had already diligently donned his protective gloves.

Scrub, scrub, scrub.

Lion rotated the South Jade, attempting to sculpt its contours.

While precision faceting for optical refraction like a genuine gemstone was unnecessary, achieving a smooth, rounded form was still desirable.

“Though it proves somewhat challenging.”

A grin spread across Lion’s face as he uttered the words.

Despite his claim of difficulty, the procedure was proceeding remarkably smoothly.

Lion derived a distinct satisfaction from this sensation.

The act of concentrating intensely on a precarious situation teetering on failure and guiding it toward a successful outcome.

Indeed, without that very mindset, he never could have endured so many years at his previous company before reincarnation.

Drip, drip.

As Lion became entirely absorbed in the polishing task, the size of the slime steadily dwindled.

The turbid fluid mixed with stone dust and debris dissolved and trickled downward, pooling into muddy water on the ground.

Just as it seemed the morning-dew slime was on the verge of being entirely consumed.

“Whew!”

Resting in Lion’s palm was a translucent, lustrous, cerulean gemstone.

『Aquamarine crafted from Morning Dew (Complete)』

Aquamarine, one of the crucial components, was finished!

Furthermore, its visual quality far surpassed expectations.

It was impeccably spherical, free of any surface dents, and looked thoroughly authentic.

At the very least, it appeared primed for subsequent synthesis and utilization as a colorant.

“Splendid. Next is…”

From this point onward, the procedure was quite straightforward.

He retrieved the diamond that had been placed among the premature sprouts gathered earlier and inspected its condition.

Upon retrieval, it appeared to be an ordinary diamond, but when held up against the rising morning light…

Sparkle!

A scattering of diverse green shades emerged, reminiscent of a forest on a bright, clear day.

『Diamond colored with newly grown tree sprouts (Complete)』

Lion first deposited both gemstones into the alchemy cauldron, then retrieved an item from his storage space sourced from the courtyard outside the cabin.

Rumble!

It was a large cask of pomegranate wine acquired from Buck’s father.

Lion rotated the barrel so the side bung pointed upward and drew his mallet.

“Right, maintain composure.”

He then swung the mallet upward, striking repeatedly around the wooden stopper of the oak cask.

Executing precise blows while regulating his physical force to prevent any structural damage to the timber.

Pop!

The wooden bung, which had tightly sealed the oak barrel, sprang outward, unsealing the vessel.

“Hmm. The bouquet remains exceptional.”

The moment the lid gave way, a delightful fragrance wafted outward from the few spilled droplets of pomegranate wine.

Perhaps the lingering aroma of the oak cask itself contributed, lending the scent greater depth.

After fully appreciating the aroma, Lion thrust a pair of long metal tongs deep into the interior of the oak barrel and withdrew an object.

It was, naturally, the pomegranate petals that had been steeped alongside the pomegranate wine.

The extracted petals were thoroughly saturated with wine, appearing so delicate they seemed on the verge of disintegrating.

Lion proceeded to delicately wrap the ruby within those very petals.

The original formula did not call for such intricate steps…

Yet since he was undertaking the process anyway, he reasoned it would be beneficial to utilize every component associated with the ‘scarlet pomegranate.’

Lion dropped the securely wrapped ruby back into the oak barrel before resealing it with the bung.

Normally, the pickling process for the ruby would demand a minimum of several days.

“My schedule allows no such luxury.”

He intended to visit the Imperial Palace within the next few days. Having arranged to part ways with the Marquis of Byedantis at the Imperial Palace, every phase from preparation to final assembly had to be concluded within a brief window.

Fortunately, Lion possessed a fitting ability.

“Accelerated Fermentation.”

Lion swept his hand across the securely sealed oak cask and activated his skill.

After monitoring the oak barrel for slightly over an hour, Lion removed the wooden stopper just as before, reached into the wine with his long tongs to retrieve the ruby, and smiled.

“Verification is unnecessary.”

『Ruby pickled in Scarlet Pomegranate (Complete)』

The system interface had already announced the completion ahead of time.

Lion peeled away the pomegranate petals to inspect the contents.

The ruby, which previously possessed a vibrant red tone, now radiated a deeper and far more brilliant crimson hue.

“Excellent. Now that all components are finalized…”

The remaining task was simply to synthesize these ingredients.

Lion wiped the plump, wine-drenched ruby clean with a cloth, tossed it into the alchemy cauldron, and secured the lid.

Subsequently, he gripped the lid firmly with both hands.

He anticipated a potent surge of kinetic force as the three gemstones fused and transformed into a dye.

Hummmmm.

The gemstones were already resonating, discharging waves of energy.

A subtle tremor transmitted directly through his fingertips as he held the lid in place.

Periodically, as though attempting to deflect the contained pressure, the lid jerked upward, allowing brilliant beams of light to escape.

‘This energy… it is formidable?’

Lion felt a momentary flicker of surprise.

It exceeded the intensity he had calculated when deducing the formula.

He briefly wondered if his physical strength had diminished recently, but dismissed the thought.

In truth, his stamina had increased rather than declined compared to before.

‘Yet the discharge is this powerful?’

Clang, clang, clang!

Not merely the lid, but the entire cauldron rattled violently under the force.

Internal popping sounds echoed within, resembling small fireworks detonating.

Sharp scraping noises also arose, as though the inner walls of the vessel were being scoured while the three gemstones struggled to amalgamate.

Lion recognized the underlying phenomenon.

This particular occurrence…

‘It appears this might yield an outcome superior to my initial projections?’

On previous occasions when a result exceeding Lion’s original design manifested, this very sequence had occurred.

Was not the fishing bait a prime illustration of that exact outcome?

A smile naturally bloomed across Lion’s features.

Unanticipated favorable results were always something to welcome.

To bring that outcome to full fruition, he needed to exert maximum effort.

Lion bore down upon the lid with all his physical strength, anchoring it in position.

Initially, he merely restrained it with his hands, but he was now leaning his entire weight downward to keep the vessel closed.

Beads of perspiration formed and cascaded down his brow.

At the exact second those droplets of sweat struck the cauldron lid.

BOOM!

Lion, who had been pressing down upon the lid, was launched upward into the air!

Accompanied by the lid itself!

Lion’s field of view captured the azure sky alongside a glowing phenomenon resembling an aurora.

『The value of processed goods greatly increases due to the Artisan’s Touch!』

Alongside the notification confirming the successful activation of the Artisan’s Touch…

Thud!

“Oof!”

He made an ungraceful landing upon the soft turf.

Fortunately, he sustained no major injuries, allowing him to push himself up and approach the cauldron.

Peek.

Lion peered into the interior with extreme caution.

And resting within…

Three gemstones of a configuration he had never witnessed before lay gleaming, casting an aurora-like radiance.

“Hah…?”

Their appearance bore little resemblance to the ‘gemstone dye’ he had originally mapped out.

After all, if the end product were indeed a dye, would it not naturally take the form of a powder?

Yet what lay inside the cauldron was, undeniably…

“A finished jewel?”