以下是对对话调整后的版本,让其更符合西方风格,同时保持自然流畅:
"Whew… Thank goodness it's still here!"
Ron finally let out a sigh of relief and carefully stored the Vitality Fruit.
He walked over to the stone table, crouching slightly to bring his eyes level with the surface.
After a moment of close observation, he noticed four narrow slits forming a rectangular shape in the middle.
"A hidden drawer, huh?"
Since there wasn't any visible handle, Ron pulled out a small kitchen knife and carefully inserted it into the gap.
He worked it back and forth, slowly loosening the drawer over the next ten minutes until it finally budged.
Standing back up, Ron grabbed the edge and pulled the drawer open.
Inside was only one item—a mask-like object.
"So this is the alchemical artifact?"
Ron's curiosity was piqued. Knowing it was harmless, he immediately put the mask on.
But nothing happened.
After fiddling with it for a while and finding no way to activate it, he eventually gave up.
"Alright, I'll figure it out later. Time to focus on making that nutrient elixir!"
Taking a short break, Ron then gathered the items he'd bought earlier and began preparing.
First, he grabbed three bottles of juice. He downed two of them in one go, leaving behind two empty glass bottles.
After washing them thoroughly, he used his knife to puncture two holes in each bottle cap, inserted straws into the holes, and bent them slightly to connect the two bottles.
With some adjustments, he had himself a makeshift distillation setup.
Next, he took the last bottle of juice and used it as a stand. With his knife, he carved a straight wooden stick into a balance beam, found its center, and tied it to the bottle with thread.
He then tied two identical teacups to the ends of the beam, creating a crude balance scale.
"Looks… accurate enough, I guess?"
Ron studied the rudimentary tools and fell into thought.
The ingredients for the nutrient elixir needed to be measured with precision. Without access to a proper scale or distiller in this remote town, improvisation was his only option.
"Well, it's not like I have a choice. If it's off, I'll just have to try again!"
Shaking his head, Ron took out two five-pence copper coins and wiped them clean before placing them in one of the teacups.
Each coin weighed ten grams, so two coins made for a reliable twenty-gram weight.
Heading outside, he lit a fire and set a small iron pot over it, filling it halfway with water.
He poured water into one of the connected glass bottles and placed it in the pot.
Soon, steam began to rise from the boiling water, traveling through the straws into the second bottle.
Hours passed, and by the afternoon, Ron had finally distilled 100 grams of water, which he confirmed using his makeshift scale.
He weighed out honey, dried bone powder, and other materials, then harvested 30 grams of fresh blood from the gray-tail rabbit he'd purchased earlier.
Finally, he took a deep breath and placed the Vitality Fruit into the small iron pot, combining it with the other ingredients.
As the fire crackled beneath the pot, Ron stirred the mixture, beginning the process of refining the nutrient elixir.
As the sun dipped lower, the various materials began to blend together under Ron's careful attention. Most of the liquid evaporated, leaving behind a sticky, pale-yellow substance with the consistency of syrup.
"Done!"
Ron's face lit up with joy as he quickly transferred the nutrient elixir into prepared bottles.
Not one to waste anything, he added water to the pot's residue, reheating and stirring until the remnants dissolved. He poured the diluted mixture into two empty juice bottles, leaving a small cup's worth behind.
"Gurgle…"
Only then did Ron realize he hadn't eaten all day.
"Wait a second… Why not try the elixir?"
His eyes brightened. Letting the liquid cool slightly, he took a sip of the concentrated elixir.
At first, nothing happened. But after thirty seconds, warmth spread through his stomach, growing into a faint heat that radiated throughout his limbs.
Ron felt a surge of energy, the fatigue from his day's work melting away.
Though his stomach still growled, the hunger no longer felt as debilitating.
"Time for the Wolf Breath Technique!"
Pulling out Nem's notebook, Ron eagerly flipped to the page detailing the method.
The first step required coordinating breathing with specific punches.
At first, Ron's movements were awkward, resembling a clumsy novice.
But he didn't let it discourage him. He focused on the instructions, gradually finding his rhythm.
Perhaps due to his soul crossing into this world, Ron found his learning speed astonishingly fast. After reviewing the notes just a few times, he had memorized everything.
An hour later, he no longer needed the notebook. His punches grew stronger, each movement seamless and purposeful.
"Huff… huff…"
His breathing deepened, mimicking the growl of a wild beast.
Finally, with one last punch, Ron ended his practice. His body relaxed, drenched in sweat as if he had just stepped out of a shower.
"My body…"
Looking down at his trembling hands, Ron felt a clear improvement in his strength despite the soreness.
"Let's eat something first. Then I'll keep going!"
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ron felt the uncertainty and unease lifting. Strength coursing through his body, he finally had a sense of stability and hope.
After a simple meal, he resumed training.
By the time night fell, Ron completed the final motion of the Wolf Breath Technique.
At that moment, he felt a burst of energy erupt from his heart, spreading through his veins like a thick, red mist.
"I've done it… I've become a Knight's Squire!""Ron clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, and an uncontrollable excitement appeared on his face.