From Alchemy Apprentice to All-Powerful God King

"Three days, and you expect each of us to refine fifty self-destructing bugs? Even a water buffalo wouldn't dare do that!"

Inside the camp, Luca complained somewhat, showing no intention of making a move. He was already being forced into this situation, and the demands were still so unreasonable.

Matthew, standing to the side, also questioned the amount of work involved.

This is beyond the scope of what an alchemist can accomplish. Dozens a day, even without considering the failure rate, would require not eating, drinking, or sleeping.

Leon leaned against the doorframe, a mocking expression on his face.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures; a crackdown could begin at any moment."

"You can choose not to, but if there are casualties during the raid due to a shortage of exploding bugs, I'll have no choice but to add your names to the report."

Upon hearing this, Luca's face immediately turned ugly.

The report Leon mentioned is an evaluation report that will be sent to the headquarters of the Imperial Hunter Guild.

When their names are written down, it's fine if they've done something meritorious, but if they cause a failure or heavy casualties...

If he wants to go to the Empire for further studies in the future, it will definitely be a major stain on his record.

Leon left after he finished speaking, not caring at all whether they practiced it or not.

"Damn it, what young knight? I think he's just a vengeful little man!" Luca angrily pounded the alchemy table.

Matthew also learned what the report was from Luca, but it didn't hold much sway over him.

However, since things have come to this point, it seems that alchemy is the only option left.

It wasn't because I was afraid of having my name written down by Leon, but because I was thinking about the ability users in those guilds. Preventing casualties was indeed a good thing.

At the same time, it allows you to reinforce your "alchemy maniac" label without spending money on materials, killing two birds with one stone.

As Ma Xiu finished creating a self-destructing bug, a notification from the Otherworld Chronicles also sounded in his mind.

[Do a good deed every day: 60/100 experience points, +6 luck]

A person who cares deeply for the people is a truly virtuous person.

"Hmm? This works too..."

Matthew's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected that just his idea, once put into action, could accomplish his daily tasks.

He felt that his understanding of label development was still too limited.

It can only be completed once a day, which is a bit slow.

As time goes by, the experience points for other tags also increase.

Alchemy Maniac Lv.1: 610/2000 experience points, 15% success rate

Experience points 620/2000...

Experience points: 700/2000.

Half a day later, Matthew put the ten self-destructing bugs he had prepared into a culture tank and took out the food he had bought the night before to eat.

Luca, standing to the side, stared at him in disbelief.

"Ten times... and not a single failure?"

"Hmm, isn't this normal? The dosage and materials are all fixed, can't you do it?"

Looking at Matthew, who seemed completely unfazed, Luca couldn't tell whether he was showing off or genuinely thought so.

He was an alchemist who possessed magical insects and could unleash magical power, yet he failed three out of ten times, and had only managed to refine seven so far.

This comparison immediately evoked a sense of frustration.

"It's okay, you're still young, you can do it with more practice." Matthew patted Luca on the shoulder: "After all, I'm your older brother."

Luca looked up at Matthew, who wasn't much older than him, and the thought of punching him immediately rose in his mind.

They are absolutely infuriating.

After three days of hard work, Matthew completed the task of making fifty exploding bugs half a day ahead of schedule. Seeing that Luca was still short of ten, he offered to help him make them.

The latter was deeply moved, handed the materials to the former, and went to sleep immediately.

Matthew, meanwhile, was completely absorbed in alchemy, and each time he completed it, a notification would jump up.

Alchemy Maniac Lv.1: 1110/2000 experience points, 15% success rate

Experience points 1120/2000...

Experience points: 1200/2000.

[Do a good deed every day: 70/100 experience points, +7 luck]

Looking at the Alchemy Maniac who was just 800 experience points away from leveling up, and the Good Deeds Maniac who was 30 experience points away from leveling up, Matthew almost wanted to thank Leon.

If he relied on himself, he wouldn't have enough money to buy materials, and it would be a long time before he reached his current experience level.

"I still have to rely on the help of a benefactor."

Matthew packed one hundred self-destructing bugs into ten bottles and, just in time, entered the knights' tent.

One to ten cans were neatly arranged in front of them.

"Lord Leon, these are 100 self-destructing bugs that Luca and I crafted over three days. If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving now."

After saying that, Matthew turned and left the tent. To be honest, he was also very sleepy and didn't want to argue with them any further.

After he left, Leon inside the tent had a stiff expression and a furrowed brow. He hadn't expected that the two men would actually complete it.

What he didn't expect was that Matthew would actually dare to walk directly into the knight's tent, embarrassing him.

The middle-aged knight standing to the side, looking at the exploding bug on the table, knew without a doubt that Leon was deliberately making things difficult for others.

But of all people, he had to pick on Matthew. Doesn't he know that the Goddess values ​​his formula highly?

He immediately warned with a serious expression, "Leon, I don't care what you're thinking, Matthew's formula is very important, and we absolutely cannot let him develop a dislike for us."

Leon argued, his expression resentful: "I can also try to improve the formula. I also have excellent alchemical talent, and I have the Ruggs family behind me. I don't need to rely on just one..."

"Stop talking, that's an order."

The middle-aged knight rose, dismissed the other knights, and ended the meeting regarding tomorrow's expedition.

After leaving a message, he shook his head and walked out of the tent.

"Improving the formula is only a minor factor; what's truly important is that the Goddess is interested in him and believes he can help the Empire."

Leon sat alone in the tent, the middle-aged knight's last words echoing in his mind.

His expression gradually turned ferocious, and a hint of malevolence flashed in his eyes.

"Interested... but dead people won't interest her."

......

The moon rises above the branches, casting shadowy shapes in the border forests.

Matthew, who was fast asleep, woke up immediately and became alert when he heard someone pull open the tent flap for him and Luca.

"Matthew, come out here for a second."

Looking up, he saw Leon had changed his attitude and was waving at him.

Matthew was puzzled. Why was he being asked to go out so late at night instead of resting to prepare for tomorrow's attack?

He glanced at Luca, who was still fast asleep, but before he could wake him, Leon dragged him out.

The two continued on their way and soon left the camp's perimeter.

"Alright, where are you going? What do you want to do? If you keep going, we'll really be heading into the mountains."

Matthew stopped walking, deciding not to continue with him.

Seeing this, Leon also turned around, staring intently at Matthew, making the latter feel uneasy.

"Matthew, if you hand over the improved formula for the swarm bugs, I can guarantee you a life of wealth and luxury in Val Town after today."

Even if you want the demonic insects, I can give them to you, but if...

As Leon spoke, he drew his greatsword, revealing his threatening and murderous intent.

He's not going to pretend anymore.

Matthew was surprised, not expecting the other party to actually dare to make a move, but he felt no fear whatsoever.

He had already inquired about the situation from Luca; Leon was only a first-tier magical insect user and had only become a knight because of his family connections.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been sent to a border town like Val to carry out the easiest and most relaxed pacification mission.

Then Matthew looked up at Leon and smiled as he spoke.

"What if I say no?"