Chapter 1539 Naming Practice <TOC> Chapter 1541 Who Is the Protagonist
Translator: SumTLMan
It was destined to be a bustling midsummer night.
With the kickoff of the Novastar Competition, excitement radiated from the main city area all the way to the usually quieter, academically-oriented opposite city district. Conversations about the day’s matches could be heard even here.
As Van Nathan walked through the streets, the chatter surrounding him was almost entirely about the Novastar Competition. Even though Van Nathan had not been to Infinite Battle Tower to watch the games, he gleaned a fairly comprehensive understanding of the day’s events from the whispers carried by the night wind.
For instance, the Cat Lantern Witch from House of Lilith had advanced, Miss Monica made a stunning debut, a prodigy from Sky Mechanical City was defeated by a porcelain doll, and two dark horses emerged from the Summer Dew Ridge upon their first foray onto the Feran Continent: the Shadow Goose Silkvine and the enigmatic, always hat-wearing, grinning Wintertime Antler…
While most of the competitors Van Nathan heard about were witches, the actual number of female contestants in the Novastar Competition was relatively small. Therefore, the focal point of conversations naturally gravitated towards these few female witches.
Of course, male contestants were discussed as well, but Van Nathan dismissed such talk as mere background noise.
Apart from fervent discussions about the Novastar Competition, the other hot topic Van Nathan heard as he moved through the city concerned Angel’s upcoming lecture. After all, people in the opposite city district mainly attended Achillea Comprehensive College, so their interest in Angel’s lecture was to be expected.
However, as Van Nathan listened to the discussions carried by the wind, he occasionally shook his head. Only fifty people could attend Angel’s lecture, and a significant portion of these seats was already reserved due to high-level connections, leaving scant opportunities for ordinary students.
Yet the people talking most passionately about the lecture were all alchemy apprentices. They had only heard fragments and tidbits about the lecture, from which they had fabricated a tapestry of “captivating tales.” This, naturally, elicited head-shaking and sighs from Van Nathan, who had actually attended Angel’s lecture.
These people were missing the mark, and due to human nature’s love for schadenfreude — reveling in the downfall of those once exalted — the spread of negative information was even more rampant.
However, these individuals have never considered that in the Wizarding World, climbing to the heights with false power is an impossibility. Therefore, the overnight stardom they anticipate is difficult to achieve.
Of course, those who admire Angel are not in short supply. However, their discussions often diverge from the actual circumstances.
Throughout his journey, Van Nathan has not corrected these discussions, which border on hearsay. In a transcendent world, facts are facts, and the cost of spreading rumors far exceeds that of uncovering the truth. In a matter of days, the reality presented in Angel’s lessons will disseminate, naturally dispelling the rumors.
After roughly half an hour, having been forced to listen to most of the day’s gossip, Van Nathan finally reached his destination: a seemingly unassuming wooden cabin.
The term “unassuming” is a gloss. “Rugged” might be a more apt descriptor.
From the cabin’s windows, a faint light is visible, and wisps of blue smoke rise from the chimney. Though the cabin is humble, there’s an inexplicable warmth to it, especially when surrounded by an enclave of steel skyscrapers.
At this moment, the cabin’s front door swings open, and a young boy draped in animal hides slowly steps out and approaches Van Nathan.
“Master Van Nathan, Grandpa Midora invites you in.”
Van Nathan nods; he has arrived at Midora’s dwelling——The Magic Potion Hut.
The child standing before him is Tujo, who lives with Midora. However, today Tujo seems rather downcast, his head low and lips curled, as if weighed down by a sea of grievances.
Curious, Van Nathan inquires about Tujo’s apparent melancholy.
Tujo sniffled, picked up the stuffed toy at his feet, and without a word, walked to a corner of the room to squat down, mimicking a gloomy mushroom.
“Pay him no mind,” said Midora, sitting on the sofa. “He’s been sulking for nearly two days just because Princess Coral got eliminated — it’s like his grandfather died or something.”
Upon hearing this, Tujo gave Midora a silent glance and softly called out, “Grandfather.”
Midora was momentarily taken aback. At first, he didn’t understand, but when he saw Van Nathan stifling a laugh, Midora, irate, stood up, ready to discipline the increasingly cheeky boy.
Just then, the kitchen door swung open, and a plump woman wielding a long spoon glared coldly at Midora. Deflated, he sat back down.
“Madam Adelia,” Van Nathan greeted the newcomer respectfully, not just because Adelia was Midora’s wife but also because she was a highly esteemed witch in her own right.
Turning her gaze towards Van Nathan, Adelia’s expression transformed from the chill of a bitter winter to the warmth of a sunny summer day. She smiled gently and kindly, “Ah, Van Nathan, your timing is perfect. We’re preparing dinner with some extraordinary ingredients. Do stay and try some.”
Van Nathan nodded appreciatively. Adelia turned back and shot another silent warning at Midora before heading back into the kitchen. As she left, she took Tujo with her. Soon after, the sound of Tujo’s soft sobs could be heard coming from the kitchen…
Van Nathan caught that Midora had said ‘we’ are making dinner, suggesting that someone else might be in the Magic Potion Hut as well. When the kitchen door had opened, he’d also noticed a shadow bustling about inside.
Who could it be?
Although curious, Van Nathan knew better than to probe recklessly while in Midora’s home. He suppressed his lingering doubts and focused his attention on Midora, who was seated across from him.
“I called you over to inquire about the progress of your alchemy,” Midora asked.
At that time, Midora had encountered Van Nathan, who had just emerged from seclusion. Van Nathan had enthusiastically presented his philosophy on potions, only to face a discouraging reality. He had gone astray from the very inception of his alchemical endeavors. Midora had offered some advice but was unsure whether Van Nathan had taken it to heart.
“I’ve already begun making improvements,” Van Nathan said somewhat sheepishly when discussing a bloodline moderation potion. “Replacing Lady Ceylon’s Witch Soup was not a good idea. I am now focused on enhancing its inherent effects…”
Once Van Nathan started talking about potions, he became quite eloquent.
Although many of his views still verged on the obsessive, heavily favoring the innovative school and neglecting the strengths of other alchemical traditions, Midora was generally pleased.
After all, Van Nathan was a steadfast pioneer of the innovative school. Changing his mindset in the blink of an eye would not be an easy feat.
For this promising junior, Midora was not stingy with guidance and also shared his own opinions.
“… After using the rainbow reed straw as a filtration channel, you must then consider the ‘tranquil reaction’ within the filtrate,” Midora continued. “If you want to enhance this potion and have opted for a lightweight filter, then resolving the ‘tranquil reaction’ is imperative. Do you have any thoughts on that?”
When discussing the final steps of improving the potion, Midora touched upon a critical factor——the ‘tranquil reaction.’ In other potions, this could be brushed aside as negligible, but for this experimental modification, any deviation caused by the ‘tranquil reaction’ became highly significant.
At the mention of the ‘tranquil reaction,’ Van Nathan instinctively nodded. “Coincidentally, today’s lesson with Master Pat was precisely about the tranquil reaction.”
Midora paused briefly. The fact that Van Nathan was willing to use the term ‘Master’ to refer to Angel implied a meaning that Midora was keenly aware of.
Angel managed to make Van Nathan submit so quickly; even Midora was a bit surprised.
“How did Angel explain it?” Midora curiously inquired.
Van Nathan recounted the complete plan that Angel had provided. After listening, Midora nodded repeatedly, “Indeed, the plan he offered is accurate, and he’s considered all aspects; it’s very comprehensive.”
In other words, Van Nathan could fully adhere to Angel’s guidance to handle the tranquil reactions resulting from the improved potion.
This made Van Nathan feel that seizing Angel’s class was the luckiest thing he’d done in recent years.
After discussing Van Nathan’s potion, Midora inquisitively asked, “By the way, what exactly did Angel cover in his class today that he mentioned tranquil reactions?”
Midora had invited Van Nathan over today not only to discuss the potion but also to gain insights into Angel’s teaching style through this protegé he highly valued.
Since Van Nathan had brought up Angel’s class, Midora seized the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.
Chapter 1539 Naming Practice <TOC> Chapter 1541 Who Is the Protagonist