Gurgle…
Gurgle…
As Sakeer infused more mana into the alchemy solution, the once clear liquid turned murky again—this time, at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Then—
The solution began to boil violently, bubbling like scalding water over an open flame.
Sakeer's expression shifted, realizing the danger. Without hesitation, he hurled the water bag away from him.
BOOM!
The moment the bag left his grasp, it detonated midair, sending shockwaves rippling through the jungle.
A thunderous explosion echoed outward, shaking the trees and startling a flock of birds. They took off in a chaotic flutter, their distressed cries piercing the stillness of the forest.
Hundreds of meters away…
Agu—accompanied by two large hobgoblins, each carrying oversized baskets—came to an abrupt halt.
His pointed ears twitched.
"W-What was that?" The stammering hobgoblin beside him looked around, his face filled with alarm.
"It came from nearby," another hobgoblin murmured, his gaze locked in the direction of the sound.
Agu glanced skyward, his expression thoughtful.
"That wasn't a monster or a beast. It must've been a human."
His tone carried a hint of excitement.
"Let's move!"
The two hobgoblins behind him exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions riddled with hesitation.
But in the end—
They reluctantly followed.
Elsewhere in the jungle—
Pant…
Pant…
The little Barghest gasped for breath. Its once sleek black fur was now coated with twigs, dirt, and torn leaves. Several small wounds lined its body, cut by the sharp underbrush.
Its trembling limbs barely held its weight.
Yet, despite the exhaustion, its dull gray eyes suddenly brightened.
The dog's ears flicked.
It had heard the explosion.
In this vast jungle—where countless scents mixed and overlapped—it had lost track of Sakeer's scent over time. Even its keen sense of smell had failed to pinpoint his location.
But now—
This loud disturbance had given it a direction.
"Awooo!"
With newfound determination, the small Barghest forced its aching body forward, pushing through the thick jungle.
It didn't know why it was so desperate to follow that terrifying human.
It only knew one thing—
Without its parents, survival in the jungle was impossible.
And in this brutal world—
Seeking the protection of the strong was the most fundamental rule of survival!
Back at the scene—
Shattered water bag fragments and alchemy solution remnants littered the jungle floor.
"Ahhh!!"
Muguo let out a pitiful shriek, instinctively throwing his hands over his head. He curled up into a tight ball in the grass, his knees pulled close to his chest.
Yet—
Despite his obvious terror, the half-eaten roasted hare remained firmly clenched between his teeth.
Sakeer, on the other hand, was completely unfazed by Muguo's overreaction. His eyes were glued to the spot where the water bag had detonated, his brows furrowed in thought.
"So it couldn't withstand the infusion of magic?"
His gaze darkened.
"Does that mean 5 points of mana is the limit?"
No—
That wasn't it.
Sakeer recalled the state of the alchemy solution just before the explosion, analyzing it carefully.
"No… this is the same issue that happened with the iron sword. The problem isn't the mana—it's the material."
The Hanged Spider was a relatively common creature that lurked on the outskirts of the jungle.
Individually, it posed little threat, but due to its large numbers and social behavior, it was still regarded as a dangerous monster.
However, in terms of pure strength, the Hanged Spider wasn't particularly high-level.
Naturally, that meant its poison sac—the key ingredient in the alchemy solution—wasn't a high-quality alchemical material.
Sakeer nodded to himself.
"For pharmacists, the key to potion-making lies in the selection, quantity, and combination of herbs."
"But for an alchemist, it all comes down to materials!"
Alchemy didn't require extensive herbal knowledge like pharmaceuticals did. Instead, it relied on understanding the properties of different materials.
This was precisely why Sakeer had chosen alchemy over traditional potion-making—it was far more straightforward.
And now—
A realization struck him.
"If the poison sac of a Hanged Spider can be used as an alchemy material…"
"Then wouldn't other monster parts also work?"
His heart raced at the thought.
Of course—
Not everything could be used.
For example, the two Barghests he had slain earlier…
Among the loot, he had obtained a bone chain—a magical material.
But they cannot be made into alchemical solutions.
Or maybe it could…
But at this moment, Sakeer lacked the means to make it happen.
He recalled that whether in the game "YGGDRASIL" or in this new world, potions were far more than just healing elixirs. There were also those that granted special abilities and enhanced attributes—such as the "Magic Potion: Lower Strength Increase" and "Magic Potion: Lower Agility Increase."
In "YGGDRASIL", professional players who specialized in the "Pharmacist" class could advance into exclusive high-tier specializations, even crafting potions infused with sixth-tier magic.
Naturally, the "Alchemist" class had similar advanced paths.
Sakeer lowered his gaze, staring at the scattered fragments of the exploded water bag. Not a shred of regret crossed his face.
At first, he had seen the "Magic Swordsman" class as nothing more than a high-tier combat specialization—a simple way to boost his base stats. After all, its built-in magic capabilities had seemed almost unnecessary to him.
Even its class skill, "Magic Slash," was merely an extended form of ranged physical attack.
Yet—
What truly surprised him was a passive skill that most would overlook:
"Magic Infusion."
It had seemed like just a support ability, a minor enhancement for professional techniques—but now, he realized its true potential!
Sakeer pushed aside his thoughts and turned his attention toward Muguo, who sat trembling in the grass, still clutching his half-eaten hare.
His voice was calm, devoid of emotion.
"Have you finished eating?"
The goblin's frightened eyes darted around warily before he let out a sigh of relief, realizing the explosion had been Sakeer's doing.
Of course.
By now, he was used to it.
This powerful human—the one he had been following—was always dabbling in strange things beyond his comprehension.
"E-Eaten! Eaten!"
He hurriedly nodded, his voice quivering.
Then, as if trying to change the subject, he quickly asked:
"G-Great One, are we setting out again?"
By now, it was long past the usual time when they would head out to hunt monsters and gather goblins.
Sakeer nodded.
"Good."
Raising his long sword, he took a slow step toward Muguo.
Yet—
The goblin didn't notice the faint, cold glint in Sakeer's eyes.
Because Muguo's legs were broken.
He couldn't move on his own.
Every time they traveled, Sakeer had been carrying him.
But now—
Just as Sakeer took two steps forward, his movements abruptly halted.
His body turned slightly, his gaze shifting toward the jungle beyond the hill.
Rustle…
Rustle…
The faint sound of leaves crunching underfoot reached his ears.
Branches swayed, bushes trembled—something was moving through the forest.
Sakeer's sharp hearing picked up the details immediately.
Two medium-sized creatures.
No—
Three.
There was a smaller one, its footsteps muted by the larger two beside it.
This jungle life had sharpened his instincts without him even realizing it. Whether it was due to constant battles or simply the growth of his strength, his senses had become far more acute.
A faint smirk curved his lips.
"Interesting."
For weeks now—
Ever since his power had grown, monsters and beasts had begun avoiding him altogether.
Perhaps it was the sheer number of goblins and creatures he had slain.
Or maybe—
His increasing strength had altered his aura, making him appear as a walking disaster to the lesser creatures of the jungle.
At first, when he had just entered the forest, he had constantly been attacked by venomous insects.
Now?
Even they had vanished.
This was the first time in half a month that anything had dared to approach him.
And so—
He waited.
The rustling grew louder.
Then—
A small hobgoblin, roughly the size of a human child, emerged from the underbrush.
Its pale green face peeked out, eyes scanning the clearing.
Then—
It locked eyes with Sakeer.
Instantly, the little hobgoblin's entire body stiffened, an uncontrollable shudder running through him.
His mouth trembled—
"F-F-Foun—"
But before he could finish—
A shocked voice called out from behind him.
"Agu?!"
The hobgoblin child's fearful expression shifted, a wave of emotion flashing across his face.
The one who had spoken—
Was Muguo, his voice filled with a complicated mix of surprise, panic, and relief.
Agu's breathing hitched.
For a moment, he had been frozen in fear at the sight of Sakeer.
But hearing that familiar voice, his body relaxed ever so slightly.
He turned toward Muguo, his voice still trembling.
"B-Big Brother Muguo…!"
(End of Chapter)