Chapter 7 - Fishy

"Thanks for your purchase. Have a good day, sir." The deliveryman left after saying those words.

I quickly closed the door, even windows. It may sound like I was being wuss, I didn't want to take any chance.

I had already gotten the ingredients I ordered through Association portal. It took only 4-5 minutes for the delivery. But it was freaking expensive!

'Sigh, even here I am an orphan…' I made a melancholic smile. 

I lost my parents at a young age because of an accident. Fortunately, they had an acquaintance, who was a director of the orphanage. 

It was pretty fun to live there. Most of the people were like family for me. Even when director died of an old age, I started living in the college dorms - I still frequently visited it.

Therefore, I have to return! 

And I will!

*** 

It took only a few minutes to unbox the materials and making preparations.

I assembled the alchemical apparatus, consisting of a specialized distillation chamber and a temperature-regulating setup to ensure precise control. 

I had to be more careful as I just bought and I didn't want to break it.

I placed 5 gram Fulgurite Crystals in the distillation chamber. These glassy beads could absorb the essence of thunder during thunderstorms. With the chamber I could easily release that latent electrical energy. 

While it was under process, I grind Zephyr Blossom Petals into fine powder. It was a beautiful pale silver white petal. You girlfriend definitely like it if you gift this. But it's freaking expensive, so I was only using 3 grams.

Soon, I poured 200 ml pure spring water. Brought from elves' forest, into a container. And started dissolving 8 grams Voltshard Fragments. The crystalline shards with a deep, translucent azure hue, started changing color of pure spring water. 

The shards were a rare mineral which could be found in regions which suffer from lightnings often. 

I carefully regulated the temperature in the distillation chamber. A precise balance of heat and cooling ensures the volatile electrical energies of the materials.

It took around an hour. I had to change the temperature frequently to maintain the reaction.

After the fusion was complete, I let it cool off. This gradual cooling ensures that the elemental properties of the elixir remain stable and unaltered.

After some time, I was staring at an electric blue colored liquid in a flask.

''Finally, it's ready." 

►[Host, congrats.]

"Thanks. But no rewards?" Even though I was grateful, I wanted some rewards. Doesn't protagonist always gets high rewards for every small achievements? 

►[Nope.]

"Tsk. Stingy." 

Still, it was good that it came out well in my first try.

Otherwise, I might had to place another order, and it would make a hole in his pocket.

It is essential to mix the ingredients correctly. Every catalyst recipe is mentioned in the game, including this one. Although it may seem like info dumps, it is crucial to follow the recipe precisely.

I didn't wait anymore and gulped that liquid at once.

*GULP*

It tastes like shit! 

I wanted to vomit it out, but I controlled myself.

I was already sitting on the floor so I didn't collapse.

The sensation I experienced was akin to being struck by an electric shock, but I managed to endure it. 

After a short while, the pain began to subside, and I started to feel a warm energy coursing through my body.

"That Goddess never mentioned how excruciating it would be."

Despite the unexpected pain, I remained optimistic. 

At least I had second attribute now.

I quickly powered up my laptop and started downloading several manuals for the Thunder attribute spell.

It's possible to purchase low-level spell manuals online, while mid-level manuals are obtainable at the Academy. 

However, the majority of high-level manuals are restricted to association members only. Of course, there are pirated versions available and you can use them. 

Only if you want experience tour of the prison. Piracy was strictly banned. Moreover, you can't trust unofficial versions of the spell. 

As I observed the amount of money I had expended that day, my heart ached. "I can't believe I've spent so much money in just one day," I lamented.

My financial situation was already tight; I didn't have much money to spare. 

The funds Kevin had been utilizing were primarily derived from scholarships and the modest earnings he received from his part-time jobs.

Even though Kevin is the protagonist of the game, he doesn't have all perks.

'In the game, Kevin's past was not mentioned much. However, now that I am here. I have to investigate everything about that.' 

I didn't want some weird shit popping out of nowhere and sticking around me. Still, I couldn't do anything about that. 

I got memories of MC after transmigration last night in a dream. And honestly he wasn't that much different from me. His situation was even worse than mine.

Kevin was in the orphanage since childhood. He didn't know who his parents were. In the game, it was not even mentioned.

It was one of the plot hole I didn't like. While it might not be plot hole for some people. It was for me.

Like doesn't it make you curious?

What happened to his parents?

Why did they leave him?

Are they even alive?

There was something fishy in the story. It smells like family drama! I'm 100% sure about that!