Wizard: Grinding from Knight to Primogenitor

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Recruitment Order, Tulip War

After calming himself, Roy poured the pale red Potion into a thumb-sized vial, stoppered it, and set it on the side of the table.

Then, he picked up the last set of ingredients for a Basic Healing Potion and continued his alchemy.

Some twenty minutes later, his alchemy attempt ended in failure.

Although he failed to create a second Basic Healing Potion, the Skill Level for his Alchemy Skill still increased.

[Alchemy Skill Level +38]

[Alchemy: Tier One (91/1000)]

’I still get over 30 points of Skill Level from a failure?’

A satisfied expression appeared on Roy’s face after he saw the system notification about his increased Skill Level.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he could upgrade his Alchemy to Tier Two.

As his Alchemy Level increased, his success rate for creating Basic Potions would also go up.

After clearing away the failed attempt from the table, Roy took out the ingredients for a Basic Vitality Potion.

Without hesitation, he immediately began to create the Basic Vitality Potion.

His Alchemy Skill had already appeared on his Skill Proficiency Panel, and with one success under his belt, he now felt perfectly calm and not the least bit nervous.

Time ticked by.

Three hours later, a translucent Basic Vitality Potion sat before Roy.

He didn’t store the Basic Vitality Potion away. Instead, he took out a few drops and, following the method described in his book, tested its efficacy.

Only after confirming the Potion’s effects matched the book’s description did he pour the translucent liquid into a vial and put it away. He then opened his Skill Proficiency Panel to see how much Skill Level he had gained from each of the five alchemy attempts.

[Alchemy Skill Level +17]

[Alchemy Skill Level +24]

[Alchemy Skill Level +35]

[Alchemy Skill Level +41]

[Alchemy Skill Level +55]

[Alchemy: Tier One (263/1000)]

Just as he’d guessed, the closer he got to a finished product, the more Skill Level he gained.

Roy closed the Skill Proficiency Panel and walked over to a pile of junk on the other side of the square. He found a box that was roughly 60 centimeters long, 40 centimeters wide, and 50 centimeters high, and moved it next to his alchemy table.

Then, he placed the Basic Healing Potion and Basic Vitality Potion he had created inside.

After tidying up the table and cleaning his Alchemy Vessels, Roy glanced at the time.

Seeing that there was still over an hour until dawn, he went to the center of the square, sat down, and began his Meditation with the Purgatory Dragon Meditation Method.

To make up for the Meditation time lost to alchemy and to recover the Spiritual Power he had spent, he meditated until noon before finally leaving Chaos Square.

After washing up, Roy changed his clothes and headed for the dining hall on the castle’s first floor.

Soon, he arrived at the dining hall and saw Tony, Erin, Charles, Kidd, and Allen eating.

The other banquet guests had already left the castle after breakfast.

Charles and the two with him hadn’t left with the others because they were more than just banquet guests—they were Erin’s father and brothers.

Simply put, they were relatives of Tony and Roy.

The moment Roy entered the dining hall, all eyes—Tony’s, and the others’—fell on him.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Roy took a seat to Tony’s right.

”Did you stay up late cultivating last night?”

Tony asked.

”It was all right. Not too late.”

Roy replied.

Although he hadn’t slept all night, his mind felt completely refreshed after five or six hours of Meditation.

Not only that, but his Spiritual Power had also faintly increased, making him look exceptionally alert.

Upon hearing Roy’s reply, Kidd, who sat beside Baron Giant Monster Charles, shot him a disdainful glance and began mocking him in his head.

’No matter how hard he cultivates, it’s useless!’

’It’s bad enough he started late, but he’s also cultivating the Ordinary Level Ice Wolf Breathing Technique!’

’Even if he forgoes food, drink, and sleep, the absolute best he can hope for is to become a High Tier Knight!’

Unlike Kidd, who had already decided that a High Tier Knight was the highest Roy could ever become, Allen held a completely different view.

If last night he had only felt that Roy had a decent chance of becoming a High Tier Knight by age 22...

...then now, he felt Roy could not only reach High Tier Knight by 22 but also had a good chance of becoming a Peak Knight before he turned 30.

Tony, Charles, and Kidd couldn’t see any difference in Roy compared to the previous night.

But he could clearly see that Roy was stronger than he had been.

To everyone else, Allen was just a Middle Tier Knight of average talent.

In reality, however, he had broken through to become a High Tier Knight a year ago.

Not only that, but he had also mastered some unknown Secret Techniques.

That was precisely why he could tell at a glance that Roy was hiding his true strength.

Realizing Roy was even stronger than the night before, a thought unconsciously surfaced in Allen’s mind.

’Should I test him?’

After a moment of thought, Allen dismissed the idea.

Although he was curious about Roy’s current strength, he had no desire to reveal his own.

Or rather, he had no intention of revealing his true strength until Roy became a comrade in the same organization.

Charles, the Baron Giant Monster, wasn’t overthinking things like Kidd and Allen were. He simply looked at Roy with a gratified expression and said,

”It’s good to be diligent in your Cultivation, but don’t push yourself too hard. More importantly, don’t rush things. Steady progress is the true path!”

”Yes, Lord Charles. I will be sure to take your guidance to heart!”

Roy replied quickly.

Even without Charles’s reminder, he knew that steady progress was essential for Cultivation.

However, that didn’t stop him from thanking Charles.

After all, Charles’s intentions were good.

After lunch, just as Roy was about to head back to his bedroom, Tony stopped him.

”Come to the study. I have something to tell you.”

Tony said.

”Alright!”

Roy replied.

After closing the study door, Tony sat down behind his desk. He looked at Roy seriously and said,

”Lord Charles and I spoke about some matters this morning, and I think it’s necessary to tell you.”

”What is it?”

Roy asked quickly.

”Word has come from the Royal Capital. The King plans to declare war on the Kalin Kingdom in six months to reclaim the Tulip Domain.”

The Tulip Domain that Tony mentioned was a Marquis Domain located in Valo Province of the Laine Kingdom.

Valo Province, located in the south of the Laine Kingdom, is one of the kingdom’s most prosperous provinces.

The war between the Kalin and Laine Kingdoms over a decade ago was called the Tulip War precisely because the Kalin Kingdom occupied the Tulip Domain in its aftermath.

Back then, the Kalin Kingdom had mobilized its full national strength to brazenly invade Valo Province, where the Tulip Domain resided, conquering the entire province in a short amount of time.

Of course, the King of the Laine Kingdom did not stand idly by. He quickly assembled his troops and appointed the Eldest Prince as Commander-in-Chief to lead the army to Valo Province.

After more than a year of fighting, the Laine Kingdom still failed to fully reclaim Valo Province.

In the end, the war concluded with both sides signing a peace treaty.

As a condition for the withdrawal of their troops, the Tulip Domain was ceded to the Kalin Kingdom.

Although deeply reluctant, the King of the Laine Kingdom still signed the peace treaty.

He had no other choice.

Given the circumstances at the time, if the war had dragged on, the Laine Kingdom might have lost not only the Tulip Domain but the entire Valo Province.

”Are you worried about a Recruitment Order?”

Roy asked Tony.

”Exactly!”

”If the King issues a Recruitment Order, then one of us must go to war.”

”You only recently started cultivating your Breathing Technique. If the King really declares war on the Kalin Kingdom, then I’ll be the one to...”

Roy cut him off before he could finish.

”You stay here. I’ll take our men and go.”

Roy said quickly.

Hearing this, Tony shook his head and said, ”I’m your older brother, and I’m stronger than you. So if one of us has to go, it will be me.”

”Unless you can defeat me, this is not up for discussion.”

’Defeat you?’

’I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back!’

Roy grumbled to himself before saying aloud, ”Then just you wait. I’ll beat you. Six months is more than enough time for me to surpass you.”

’Surpass me in six months?’

’Such confidence!’

Tony smiled and shook his head, saying slowly, ”If you can really defeat me in six months, I won’t just let you lead the men to war—I’ll even hand over the title of Baron Ice Wolf to you.”

...