CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: FIRST MISSION

Chapter 57 – First Mission

Vivette stared at her two disciples in silence.

First, she looked at Meris, whose face was practically glowing—clearly delighted by something. Then she turned to Kenan, who looked like a man that hadn’t slept a wink. He kept glancing at Meris every few seconds, as if wanting to speak... but not daring to.

Vivette sighed silently.

Yesterday, she had deliberately given them time off—hoping they would center themselves, perhaps even learn from one another. After all, disciples who bonded, shared, and sparred often grew faster together.

But it looked like her goodwill had backfired. One was lovesick. The other? On cloud nine.

"Are you ready for your first class?" Vivette asked at last, her gaze sweeping across both of them.

"Yes, Master!"

"...Yes."

The responses came in unison—but the tone, the fire behind the words, couldn’t have been more different.

Vivette didn’t linger on it. Their personal lives weren’t her concern.

But their focus was.

And if they didn’t focus, they’d make mistakes. Dangerous ones. And if there was one thing Vivette would not allow—it was being shamed by underperforming disciples. Her reputation mattered to her. Greatly.

"Before we start with actual potion crafting, you first need to understand the theoretical process. We’ll begin with something very basic—the kind of potion even merchants stock by the dozens: a common-grade health potion."

She paused, then looked at the two of them again.

"Which of you knows the ingredients required?"

Silence.

Meris tilted her head, a finger on her chin.

"Crimsonleaf herb... glowroot vine..." she offered, clearly trying to recall more—but that was all she managed.

Vivette nodded slightly—those were correct—but her eyes narrowed when neither of them continued.

"Crimsonleaf herb. Glowroot vine. Clearwater. And bonepetal dust," Vivette said sharply, her gaze cutting through them. "Four ingredients. That’s the formula for a common-rank health potion."

Meris gave a sheepish chuckle, then started taking notes. Kenan quietly did the same.

"Now, learn the process," Vivette continued, handing each of them a runic plate. "Study this. Know it like the back of your hand."

"When you’ve memorized it, you’ll try concocting a potion yourself. And once you succeed in doing so five times, you’ll officially reach the rank of Apprentice Alchemist."

She gave them a moment to digest that.

"It’s not a title to boast about, but it carries some weight. Enough to be taken seriously within most circles."

At her words, both Meris and Kenan immediately straightened up. They had been interested before—but now they were invested.

This wasn’t a game.

Viviette may have downplayed it, but they both knew that becoming even an Apprentice was no easy feat. Alchemical talent wasn’t something every random peasant possessed—it was rare.

And it was valuable.

So they took their runic plates and began studying with intensity.

But then Viviette smiled—and added one final touch:

"The first one of you to reach Apprentice rank... will receive a set of rare-rank health potions from me."

And just like that, the atmosphere changed again.

They were fired up now.

Except one of them had another kind of motivation—

’If I win... will she come to me and ask for guidance?’ Kenan thought to himself.

And the more he imagined it, the more it made sense.

The more it made him want to win.

Truly, what a devoted man.

...

Meanwhile, Kaden stood before a familiar guard—the same one as before.

"Oh? Little Warborn again?" the man asked, grinning. "Tired of the capital already?"

"I’ve got a mission outside," Kaden replied, handing him the confirmation scroll.

The guard—Ray—took the scroll seriously. It wasn’t just a formality. If he failed to verify a document properly, and something went wrong...

Well. He didn’t want to imagine what the higher-ups would do.

After reviewing it, Ray handed it back with a nod and his usual grin.

"You’re good to go. But if you’re not back within a month, like it says in the mission conditions—we’ll consider you dead."

"Time limits account for all known variables. You have more than enough time to finish and return."

Kaden tilted his head.

"And what if I come back after the time limit?" he asked, his blood-red eyes locking onto Ray’s black ones.

"After all you just said known variables. Maybe I will meet something you didn’t account for causing me to go back after one month."

Ray smiled wider.

’What a curious Warborn...’ he thought.

"Well, once we confirm it’s really you, we’ll just be happy to learn about a new possibility, won’t we?"

Kaden nodded slowly and turned to leave. Not willing to waste any rune this guard.

Ray called after him, "Just don’t die on us, little Warborn. Wouldn’t want your family to make a mess."

He chuckled to himself, then whispered, "Not that they’d dare... they know better than to cross us."

At this words, Kaden smirked.

"Please, sir. Don’t jinx me."

’After all... I plan to die.’

He left the capital quietly, walking toward the same forest where the princess had once teleported him—the Forest of Asterion.

Behind him, Ray blinked.

"...Jinx?"

He shook his head and went back to work.

...

Kaden walked calmly down the path toward the forest.

It would take him two or three days to get there.

He could have taken a carriage—but he chose to walk. He wanted the time to think, to let the information of the mission settle in.

His target was the Dreadthorn Bear.

A venomous beast that resided deep within an infested area of the of the forest, surrounded by some poisonous mists.

Which meant he wouldn’t just be fighting the beast—

He’d be fighting the very land around it.

"That explains the difficulty rating... close to Master-rank," Kaden muttered.

But that only made it better.

He had 1000 Death Coins, and by his estimation, the strength gap between him and the bear wasn’t too massive.

That meant—

"I can die four times or so," he murmured, calculating.

"But just in case, I’ll hold one death in reserve. Never know what unexpected shit might happen."

With his plan set, Kaden picked up his pace.

"I might as well train Slothful Steps along the way."

And so he did.

Before long, a strange figure could be seen walking down the road—a young man moving with infuriating laziness, yet somehow traveling faster than a galloping horse.

A curious, ridiculous sight indeed.

—End of Chapter 57—