There were many factors that I had to take into account when handling the ongoing Duo
exams.
The heroines, Lucas’s chosen partner, my fellow classmates, my own partner and even the teachers prompting and monitoring the exam all played crucial roles.
However, the most significant aspect I needed to consider was the boss monsters themselves.
That was why preparation was key.
Looking at the four items on my board right now, I pondered for a bit if I should synergize all of them at once:
[Rock Flower] (Common)
[Mandrake] (Rare)
[Two-horned Sky Hog’s Tusk] (Rare)
[Old Gem in the Fountain] (Common)
There were many combinations and many results that could come out once you make use of these items.
Properly utilizing them for your build was something you had to take seriously as it could ruin your run from the get-go.
I turned to my left and looked at the cauldron.
Yesterday, Boseman gave it to me as a gift, saying things like it’s a congratulatory gift for my future with Liyana as well as a personal gift from him.
Honestly, after all the inoperative vibes he gave, I didn’t actually expect to get anything out of him yesterday.
The only reason I went along with his invitation in the first place was because I was curious about his interest in me.
But….
To think that we were more connected than meets the eye was truly surprising.
“Hoho, since we’re acquainted now, you can go ahead and call me Uncle Bose,” Boseman said with a hearty laugh.
“Pardon?”
“Since the duke and I go a long way back to the point where we consider ourselves as sworn brothers, it’s only appropriate for the future husband of my ‘niece’ to call me uncle, right?” “…Yes?”
Although the carriage ride ended rather quickly that night, it was still stressful as Boseman asked a bunch of questions pertaining to Liyana’s overall health.
Additionally, Lady Liany seemed to have an awful lot of questions regarding the duke.
She even made a random apology to me, mid way through the ride but didn’t elaborate making her already mysterious appearance there even more confusing.
It was a rather intense ride, filled with inquiries that made me realize how little I knew about the people around me.
Seo as well was forced to go along with their subtle forceful antics… I’m just glad they weren’t too aggressive on her though.
But anyways….
To think those two…. Boseman and Liany had that kind of relationship with the duke-I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief.
It was surprising to discover that there were still some mysteries left in this world that I didn’t really know about.
My knowledge of the game wasn’t absolute, as there were certain backgrounds and elements pertaining to certain characters that I didn’t know.
It became clear that my understanding of this world was still evolving.
The relationships and histories of the characters were more intricate than I had initially believed.
Boseman’s connection to the duke, Liany’s strange fascination over him, and the mysterious past they had, I knew none of it.
Now I realized that I had to approach future situations with more caution and an open mind. This realization was a humbling reminder that I needed to be careful with assessing situations just based on my knowledge of the game.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The bubbling sounds from the cauldron drew my attention once more. The water was already boiling furiously, steam rising in swirling tendrils.
I realized I didn’t have much time left to ponder the perfect mix, but after thinking about it for a while, I decided to stick to my original plan.
[Item: Cauldron of the skies]
[Rank: (Unique)] → [Potential Rank: [Legendary] (Sealed)]
[Description:]
[The Caldron of the Skies is a legendary artifact forged by the ancient Dwarven King Dilidan, renowned for his unparalleled craftsmanship and mystical prowess. This exquisite cauldron, made from celestial metals and encrusted with rare gemstones, glows with an ethereal blue light that mirrors the endless expanse of the heavens. Its surface is engraved with intricate runes and patterns that tell the story of its creation and the ancient lore of the
dwarves.]
[Effects:]
[The primary power of the Caldron of the Skies lies in its ability to upgrade any item placed within it. However, this potent enhancement comes with a significant cost: for an item to be upgraded, another item of equal or greater value must be sacrificed alongside it.]
[The cauldron’s magic draws from the essence of the sacrificed item, infusing the target item with enhanced attributes, unique abilities, or even transforming it into a legendary
artifact.]
[Usage:]
[Preparation: Place the item you wish to upgrade into the cauldron.]
[Sacrifice: Place a second item or nore of equal or greater value into the cauldron as a sacrifice. Activation: Invoke the ancient incantation inscribed around the rim of the
cauldron, channeling its mystical energies.]
[Limitations:]
[The cauldron can only be used once per day, as the magical energies required for the transformation need time to replenish. The sacrifice must be an item of substantial value; trivial or insignificant items will not suffice and may anger the cauldron’s ancient spirits. The process is irreversible; once an item is sacrificed, it is lost forever.]
[Note: Extreme caution is advised when using the cauldron, as it can cause your items to be
permanently lost!]
[Items in Use:]
-Rock Flower (Common)
-Two-horned Sky Hog’s Tusk (Rare)
-Old Gem in the Fountain (Common)
[Note: All items are applicable for synthesis.]
[Choosing the Item for Synthesis:]
Clicking on the Rock Flower image that popped up on the holographic screens in front of me, I then dragged the Two-horned Sky Hog’s Tusk and the Old Gem down to the sacrificial icons.
[Rock Flower (Common) has been chosen]
[Sacrifice:]
[Two-horned Sky Hog’s Tusk (Rare)
[Old Gem in the Fountain (Common)] [Synergy Boost Rate: (96%)]
[Confirm: Yes/No]
Click…!
[Yes]
[Attempting Synthetization:]
The cauldron began to hum softly as the items settled into its glowing waters.
Making the ethereal light pulse in the brightened atmosphere it created, casting an enchanting glow around the room.
As the ingredients hit the boiling water, a burst of vibrant colors erupted from the cauldron.
The Rock Flower, with its disgusting shit like petals, dissolved almost instantly, infusing the mixture with a soft, earthy brown hue.
The Two-horned Sky Hog’s Tusk, more resilient and robust, took a moment longer to break down, releasing swirling tendrils of silver that danced around the green.
Finally, the Old Gem in the Fountain, a shimmering blue stone, sank to the bottom before melting into the concoction, spreading a deep azure throughout the mixture.
I watched intently as the cauldron’s contents began to change, a magical alchemy unfolding
before my eyes.
The steam grew thicker, and the colors began to merge, forming intricate patterns that
seemed to pulse with a life of their own.
[Synthetization in progress now!]
The process bar then appeared on the screen:
[Synthesis: 26% 47% 79% – 100%]
The cauldron’s glow intensified, and a resonant chime echoed as the transformation reached
its peak.
Due to the strong pulsating dense mana that surrounded the cauldron as it danced alongside
it like a whirlwind, I couldn’t help but take a step back, as I could feel it threatening me to not
come closer.
[Item Synthesis complete!]
[Transformation Result:]
Finally, from the cauldron’s depths, a radiant item emerged, sparkling with newfound
brilliance.
[Item: Crystal Flower (Unique) has been acquired]
[Congratulations! You have made your first unique item!]
[Bonus rewards: 5 status points!]
‘Haha….’
I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle as I looked at the crystalline flowers in my hands. They
had immediately jumped out from the cauldron’s glowing waters.
To think this flower used to smell and look like shit itself; now it looked more beautiful than
the most exquisite gems the world had to offer.
‘I finally did it, my first unique item.’
I even got bonus status points as well, which was a huge plus considering I haven’t been able
to level up lately, so any bonus status points was very much appreciated at this point.
[Item: Crystal Flower (Unique)]
In this romance fantasy world of swords and magic, items were classified into six ranks based
on their rarity and quality:
‘Common, Uncommon, Rare, Unique, Legendary, and Mythical.’
Each rank signified a significant leap in power and potential.
With the common rank as the lowest and the legendary along with the Mythic rank being at
the very top.
Honestly Legendary and Mythical rank item were easily interchangeable with one another, that was why those two were considered as of the same rank… the only difference is that the
Mythic rank has divine properties, but in overall strength and effects they were practically the
same.
Just as somewhat expected the cauldron enhanced the item, but I didn’t think it would reach
this high though, in the game I only ever had Rare(Rank) as the highest I ever got using this
method this early into the story.
‘Is my luck really zero?’
Achieving a Unique item was no small feat.
It placed my creation right in the middle of the hierarchy, something that most craftsmen out
there would life to get their hands on…. If alchemist somehow finds out about the effects of my cauldron, they would surely be gunning for me right now.
Unlike skills, whose effectiveness can sometimes blur between ranks-with some low- ranking spells occasionally outshining their higher-ranking counterparts-item ranks were much more consistent.
The higher the rank of an item, the more powerful and versatile its effects and uses. This
consistency made items a reliable foundation for any strategy or build.
[Item: Crystal Flower (Unique)]
[Description:]
[The Crystal Flower is a rare alchemical creation known for its extraordinary beauty and
potent properties.]
[Once a common plant, it has been transformed through a meticulous process into a unique
artifact.] [Effect 1: Enhanced Healing – When used in potions, the Crystal Flower significantly boosts healing properties, accelerating recovery and restoring vitality.]
[Effect 2: Mana Regeneration – Infusions made with the Crystal Flower enhance mana regeneration, allowing spellcasters to recover their magical energy more rapidly.] [Effect 3: Status Buff – Grants the user increased resistance to status ailments, making them
less susceptible to poisons, paralysis, and other debilitating effects.]
[Effect 4: Aura of Tranquility – Emits a calming aura that can soothe aggressive creatures
and reduce hostility in the immediate vicinity.]
[Note: depending on the option on which you use the flower effects may vary]
[Warning: Item can only be used once!]
Holding the Crystal Flower, I marveled at its potential. This was not just an item; it was a
game-changer. There was a good reason why many considered the Cauldron of the Skies an actual cheat item
once you acquired it, and this was one of them.
Even though its legendary properties were still sealed, the fact that it could synergize my synthesis of a common rank item all the way to the unique rank-something impossible through normal synthetization and crafting means-was incredible.
I should definitely hide this thing somewhere safe.
I don’t think Yui would do anything to the cauldron.
She was a meticulous and smart maid, and she’d probably realize that it was an important
item to me.
But it’s not bad to be too careful, right?
However, practically everywhere in my room was accessible to Yui, as she had rights to clean every corner.
This left me with only one option: a place where she couldn’t enter no matter what. My private training room, located just next to my small living room, was the perfect spot.
It was spacious enough to store the cauldron without it getting in the way, and most
importantly, it was a place where Yui had no reason to enter.
With this decision made, I carefully picked up the cauldron, ensuring that its contents were
secure.
With that done, I focused my attention on the flower again.
Depending on how I used this thing-whether it was through making potions, eating it raw,
or cooking it-various different effects would be guaranteed.
But in order to guarantee the full effects of it, including its hidden ones, there was only one
thing I had to do.
Slowly, my hands grabbed hold of the protruding roots of the Mandrake that was stuck in a
pot.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself for the pain and pulled it out as fast as I could. “KRAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!”
As usual, its loud cries were still too much for me. Before it could finish its anguishing wail,
my hands moved quickly to put the Crystal Flower into its open, screaming mouth. The Mandrake choked as I forced my fingers in there as well. Honestly, the weird noises and the strangely wet sensation on my fingers were creeping me
out, but I endured my discomfort and made sure to lock the flower in place. This thing had to absorb every last bit of this precious flower. I could feel the Mandrake’s
struggles weakening as it began to take in the potent energies of the Crystal Flower.
The magical properties of the flower were being transferred into the Mandrake, initiating a complex alchemical reaction that was essential for unlocking the flower’s full potential. In the game, there was always an option to feed Mandrakes, but here I had to personally do it
myself. Though I didn’t know if I’d ever get used to the sensation, I had to push through.
[DING!]
A sudden noise from the system interrupted my thoughts, and I smiled.
[Congratulations, you have acquired Blue Mandrake (Unique)]
[Note: Item boost only temporary!]
[Time remaining: 00:30:59]
As I stared at the Mandrake, struggling to breathe with its new vibrant sky-blue color
reminiscent of the Crystal Flower, my lips curled into a sinister laugh.
‘KEKEKEKE! Finally!’
‘I can kill (eat) this fucking vegetable!’