Witch, don't be so lazy

Catro's face flushed red. "I mean, I thought you were already at the three-star level, but you just hadn't taken the test yet."

"Oh, you thought wrong."

The topic died again.

Castro looked at Anke with an expression so complicated that it seemed to convey the meaning of "You are right, you are indeed different from ordinary people."

Finally, An Ke pursed her lips.

"...Why does the test require truth serum?"

"It saves time and effort. Otherwise, Momo will have to spend time following you. Momo has other things to do."

"Is that the reason?"

An Ke expressed her confusion, "Are we going to waste a bottle of precious potion just for this?"

How can people be so arrogant?

"Hmm? Just use it when you need it, otherwise why keep it?"

Momo blinked her eyes. "Your name is Anke, right? Anke~ Anke~, come with me to the small room. I'll feed you some potion. It will be done in a short time."

"No, I refuse."

　 :Underworld objects; Shan Ba ​​Ni Yi Umbrella An Ke shook her head like a rattle.

She has so many secrets, how could she drink the truth potion casually? It would be terrible if it was exposed.

"Well—then return the box of hazelnut balls to Momo."

"Why?"

"Because Momo wants to eat, and Xiaohui wants to eat too."

An Ke was stunned for a moment, subconsciously opened the lid, and planned to hand over the snack box, and then suddenly ask a question when the other party was not prepared, but she changed her mind and asked tentatively,

"Is this potion of no use to you?"

"correct."

Momo reached out and picked up the hazelnut ball. She glanced at it first, then smelled it. It looked okay. Then she fed one to the little gecko and took another one for herself. She ate it, then the second one, and then the third one...

"Snapped!"

"Why did you hit Momo's hand?!"

"I won't feed you."

"Why?!"

"Because it's mine now. I can't give it to you unless... you exchange it for truth serum."

Anke closed the box and said casually.

then.

She earned shocked looks from Matika and Catro, as well as a word.

"Anke~Are you stupid? Twelve copper coins a box of hazelnut balls can't even be exchanged for the worst potion, and you ate half of it!"

Momo puffed up her cheeks, squinted her eyes, and then attacked again.

Seeing that his evil deception plan had failed, An Ke became angry and humiliated, and with a "snap" he stopped the other person's restless little hand.

"I didn't eat it. Mr. Cattrall took some, and you ate all the rest. How dare you blame me for it?"

"You actually hit Momo again!"

"Change the subject, I'm going to hit you!"

"Hmm - that Momo is getting serious, watch out - tickle!"

"Tsk, you're too slow, really lame."

Looking at the two guys making a fuss.

Castro next to him turned his head to look at Matika, his eyes seemed to ask "Why did they make such a fuss so naturally", and the old woman mouthed "Because one is stupid and the other is naughty".

……

Not a moment.

The carriage stopped in front of the building where Abbasid Rally was held.

This place is even quieter than the Iris Workshop.

After all, the enchantments in the workshop have to be customized, but the potions in the gathering are different. The retail has been handed over to the Winter Magic Chamber of Commerce, and large orders do not need to be negotiated frequently. Apart from the members, only individuals seeking advanced or special potions will come to them.

Matika and Catro accompanied Momo in.

I didn't go to the encore.

Because she doesn't have a potions badge and isn't considered a big shot at the moment.

Speaking of potions, she could take some time to study them in the future. Not to mention further studies, at least she should be able to identify common potions.

Potions are different from runes and alchemy in that they are not so strongly linked to rank, at least before the fourth rank.

In other words, it is entirely possible for some apprentices with great talent in potions to obtain a one-star badge. They don't necessarily have to be formal mages. Of course, a two-star badge is unlikely, unless they are a potion genius that appears once in a thousand years. But for such a guy, becoming a mage should be easy.

I don’t know what level Momo is at, but she seems to be using special means to hide her magic power.

Anke picked up a hazelnut ball and looked at the light-colored potion remaining on it.

Truth serum.

When An Ke realized that the other party did not intend to poison her, she changed her opinion of Momo.

As a two-star pharmacist, Momo's behavior was eccentric and her background was secretive, but she was indeed sensible.

Since he could even easily pull out the truth serum, it meant that he was most likely a wealthy man and must have other powerful potions and items. But even so, she was just following him, uh, and trying to trick him into eating...

Maybe it can’t be said to be coaxing, after all, the other party answered truthfully.

Looking back now, An Ke realized that Momo really didn't seem to have told any lies. She didn't know if she was setting a big trap or if she was just that naive.

After sniffing the hazelnut ball, Anke hesitated for a long time, wondering whether to eat one.

It's not that she's crazy.

Because she had heard Cattrall's introduction in the guild, she understood another use of the truth serum potion - it could soothe the mind and regulate emotions, and increase the speed of practicing spells.

As mentioned before, the truth serum can be seen as a "hypnotic spell" that only involves questions and answers. The "hypnotic spell" can be used on others, and of course it can also be used on yourself, thereby achieving a certain degree of self-suggestion and reinforcement.

Of course, the truth serum potion is not as powerful and flexible as the "hypnotic spell". After all, a proper hypnotic potion is of four-star standard, but it also has the effect of helping the user to let down their guard, soothe their emotions, and calm their heart.

I even heard that some mages would use it to question their inner selves and help themselves make some difficult decisions.

There were fewer hazelnut balls in the box because Cutter had already eaten several of them and taken them away for careful study.

I just saw Momo eating it again, and I feel it should not be poisonous.

Anke thought for a long time, waiting until Momo and the others appeared, indicating that the verification was completed and there was no problem. She finally tried to lick it.

It was not to relieve his emotions, but to see if his [Moon Snow Owl] could work.

No feeling, just swallowed it completely.

Finally, strange fluctuations appeared on the spiritual level.

The snowy owl in the soul began to flicker.

It works, good news.

Perhaps due to the length of time and the small amount of dosage, the efficacy of the medicine had diminished. Although it did consume a certain amount of mental and magical power, Anke was still perfectly immune in the end.

…I’ll see how it helps me practice the mantra when I get back to my room.

The moment the lid was closed, Anke suddenly realized something and his face turned serious.

……

When Momo walked out of the building, there was a short and fat old man next to her with a two-star badge on his clothes.

This is none other than Duolun, the president of the Abbasid Assembly in the city, a second-level mage and pharmacist.

"Anke, this is President Duolun, come over and meet him... Um, what's wrong with you?"

Matikka noticed that Anko looked a little strange and asked.

"Hello."

An Ke greeted Master Duolun a few times, then spoke hesitantly.

"Well, I want to ask, if I take one of these now, how much of the truth serum potion is left? What level of spell is it equivalent to? Intermediate or low level?"

"Why do you ask this suddenly?"

The people in front of him were stunned.

Momo tilted her head, picked up a pill, glanced at it, and sniffed it. "There are only four or five levels of efficacy left. Hmm, it's barely equivalent to mid-level Sweet Talk, what's wrong?"

She gobbled it up in one gulp, staring at Encore.

Duolun, who was standing next to him, looked around curiously, then picked up a hazelnut ball, sniffed it carefully, ate it, savored it, and exclaimed in admiration:

"Indeed, Miss Momo is really amazing."

"..."

An Ke shook his head and said nothing more.

But after saying goodbye to Duolun and returning to the carriage, she asked again, "Can you tell me more about the sweet talk?"

"Hmm? Why are you curious about this?"

The person who answered was Matika. She said casually, "It's a powerful mid-level spell, quite famous. After all, it's a precursor to the hypnotic spell."

"Sweet talk is just mental suggestion. Combined with some auxiliary props, if it takes a long enough time, it can barely be equivalent to a low-level hypnosis spell."

Momo added.

“…What’s the prerequisite?”

An Ke asked.

"Mainly cast a friendly spell, and either a calming spell or a fear spell will do."

Momo smacked her lips, wondering, "Your expression is so serious."

Anko pursed her lips and turned to Matika.

"President, do you remember what I told you? She probably didn't use the Friendly Spell, but rather the Sweet Talk Spell, and she was quite skilled at it... Is it because this spell is so famous that she deliberately concealed it?"

Anke didn't mention Esther's name, after all, there were two other people in the carriage who didn't know about this.

Just as necromancers are easily disliked, so are mind mages - especially those who develop towards the direction of "hypnotic spells". Although they are not strong in direct combat, they are very disgusting, especially in an orderly society.

Most mages are reluctant to make friends with them because they feel insecure and no one wants to be hypnotized or assassinated accidentally.

"……possible."

Matika frowned and said, "Don't tell anyone about this for now."

If it wasn't because An Ke was recommended by Luya, and she also felt that An Ke was a good child after observing him herself, if it was someone else, she would be sure that the other person was talking nonsense and making up stories about the big shots in the city.

But even if she trusted Anke, even if what Anke said was correct, she didn't think there was anything wrong with Estherine. After all, they had known each other for many years and had once fought side by side.

Daily communication and cooperation are also very smooth.

Although the other party may have secretly practiced "sweet talk", there is nothing wrong with it. At most, you can be more careful in the future...

and many more.

In this way, Estherin has mastered four intermediate spells, and two of them are powerful spells. When did she become so powerful?

Matika recalls the past carefully.

Estherin is indeed talented, otherwise she would not have been able to be promoted to the second level. But she is not a genius either. After all, she completed the promotion when she was nearly fifty years old. Her cultivation speed is relatively slow, and the spells she mastered are also mediocre.

Why is it that people become smarter as they get older?

Or some special opportunity?

Matika was thoughtful.

Abnormal things always make people alert.