“For now, I’ll plant them here,” he said after a moment. “Five hectares should be enough.”
Professor Catherine glanced at him with a raised brow. “You’ve got enough money. Why not just buy more land?”
“I will,” Isaac replied, then wiped a bit of sweat from his brow. “But not yet. I want to see Alice’s business plan first. She said she’d have it ready tonight. No point rushing into something without a proper plan.”
“Hm. Sensible,” she said, nodding. “Haste can ruin more than it saves.”
After that, she handed him a small wooden box. Inside it were six neatly sealed pouches, each marked with a different symbol.
“These are the ones,” she said. “Selene sent them directly. Handle them properly.”
Isaac opened each pouch with care, checking the contents one by one.
— Azure Root
— Fireleaf Spinach
— Mallow Bulb
— Whiteshade Radish
— Goldvine Peas
— Nightcap Tomato
Each seed had a subtle glow. They weren’t ordinary by any standard. He got to work right away, preparing the soil in one of his open fields, sectioning off five hectares with careful rows and markers.
While he worked, Professor Catherine remained nearby, mostly quiet, but her eyes wandered.
After a while, she turned toward one of the older patches where Isaac had been cultivating vegetable crops since the beginning.
“How long until these produce Tier 2 seeds?” she asked, gesturing to the cabbage and tomatoes swaying in the wind.
“Soon,” he answered. “These vegetables should evolve in quality over time. Unlike the Vitality Grain seed tree, which can’t be replanted to boost quality, these can.”
Professor Catherine gave a thoughtful hum. “Good. You’ll need that for your Class Advancement.”
Isaac nodded. His Class Advancement Quest had four conditions:
Absorb a Genetic Catalyst. Enhance one of his Talent Skills to Level 10. Find and harvest a Tier 2 seed. Survive an Evolutionary Trial.
He had completed the first. The Genetic Catalyst had been absorbed during his first day in the university.
As for the second—enhancing a Talent Skill to Level 10—he was nearly there.
His [Sovereign of Land] skill had reached Level 9 a few days back. He estimated it would take a few more days before it hit 10.
The third condition—harvesting a Tier 2 seed—was the most complicated.
Right now, the Vitality Grains were exceptional. They could produce Tier 2 crops due to the land quality, but the seeds were still Tier 1.
That was why Isaac focused on the vegetable crops.
He could get better seeds from them every time he harvested them.
Over time, with proper care and infusion from enriched land, the vegetables might produce Tier 2 seeds.
He was betting on that.
The fourth condition was still a mystery.
Professor Catherine had refused to explain anything about the Evolutionary Trial until he completed the other three.
She simply told him that surviving it would be his final test.
After wiping sweat from his neck and arms, Isaac stretched and stepped inside the house.
“By the way,” he asked as he walked past her. “What’s going on with Emily’s Class Advancement?”
Professor Catherine followed him into the kitchen, where Isaac poured himself a cold glass of water. She sat down at the table and spoke clearly.
“She’s already completed the first condition: having three powerful ghosts swear fealty and gain their Beast Bond.”
Isaac nodded.
Professor Catherine hadn’t asked him where Emily received the items that allowed her to create Beast Bonds.
In fact, she didn’t even question him about Emily’s race advancement.
Isaac couldn’t tell if it was because Professor Catherine trusted him, or she was planning something.
She continued. “As for the second and third conditions… well, they’ll be difficult to fulfill inside the city.”
He leaned against the wall, listening intently as she continued.
“She needs to subjugate five different ghost types using Spirit Conductor abilities, and defeat a vengeful spirit that’s killed at least a hundred people. Those types of monsters aren’t common. So, I’ll start taking her out into the wilderness. There, she’ll find stronger monsters and more ghosts.”
Isaac nodded slowly.
“Makes sense. She can also complete her Daily Quest there.”
“Killing ten Champion-rank monsters every day isn’t exactly normal for most people. Are you sure you’re not worried? It’ll be dangerous outside the city. There’s no lack of powerful monsters out there.”
Isaac smiled faintly. “Emily can take care of herself. Besides, I trust you’ll protect her if something goes wrong.”
For a brief second, her expression changed. She looked almost flustered, but it passed quickly.
“You’ve gotten better at sweet-talking,” she teased.
Isaac chuckled lightly. “Not really. I’m just saying what I mean.”
Later, Isaac entered the basement gym.
It was a clean, compact space with weight equipment and sparring dummies. He began lifting slowly, rotating through a few basic strength exercises, but his mind wandered.
After a while, something clicked in his head.
He set the bar down and turned to Professor Catherine, who had followed him down.
“Can I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Emily’s fourth condition… surviving a death trial where she has to face the spirits of those she’s slain… Isn’t that dangerous? The more she kills, the worse that trial becomes, right?”
He hadn’t asked until now. He had trusted Catherine’s judgment. But he would be lying if he said he was not curious.
Why hadn’t she stopped Emily from racking up so many kills?
Professor Catherine’s face darkened. Not much, but enough for Isaac to notice.
She stared at him for a second, then looked away with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’ll tell you… after she completes her first three conditions.”
She didn’t say anything more. Isaac didn’t press.
But something about her answer left a weight in his chest.
It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t doubt. It was a feeling that some piece of the puzzle was still missing, and that it would matter later.
Emily was in the kitchen by eight, still yawning as she rubbed sleep from her eyes.
“Morning,” she mumbled, slumping into a chair.
“Good morning.”
After she freshened up, they had breakfast.
Professor Catherine spoke later, “I hope you’re both ready for the classes. We have not been having classes recently, but you two are still students.”
After breakfast, they moved into the study hall.
The sunlight filtered through the windows, lighting up the rows of books and alchemical charts lining the walls.
After she gave Emily a bit of work, Professor Catherine turned to Isaac.
Today’s topic for him was extraction. Specifically, how certain ingredients could be used in multiple industries depending on how they were handled.
Professor Catherine opened a lockbox and laid out several rare flowers on the table.
“Bloodshade Iris, Thornkiss Bloom, and Frost Lillia,” she said. “All of them are poisonous, and dangerous to extract under normal circumstances.”
Isaac leaned in and gave the answer before Catherine could. He recognized these materials from the book Selene had given him.
“They’re used in potions, poisons… and beauty products.”
“Correct,” Professor Catherine said, satisfied. “When extracted properly, their toxic properties can be neutralized. The essence can then be refined into high-grade stimulants for skin and muscle tissue. Female awakeners pay a fortune for these.”
She looked at Isaac. “That’s where you come in.”
He blinked. “Me?”
“Yes. Normally, the extraction process is long and requires careful handling. But your Reaper’s Bounty skill lets you extract and purify materials efficiently, without complex tools. You’re the best option.”
She slid over several glass vials and tools.
“I need at least a hundred samples.”
Isaac stared at the flowers, then at her. “You’re serious?”
“It’s training for your skill.”
He sighed and got to work.
In the meantime, Professor Catherine taught Emily.
The Reaper’s Bounty skill made things easier, but it wasn’t instant.
Each flower’s extract had to be harvested without damaging the essence, then refined with a touch of mana to stabilize its structure.
The smell wasn’t pleasant, either. A sharp, bitter scent filled the room, like crushed herbs mixed with acid.
Emily took notes the entire time. Professor Catherine supervised closely, occasionally adjusting the angle of a tool or pointing out a change in color that indicated potential failure.
After an hour, Isaac’s motions grew more fluid. His mana control adjusted automatically, almost instinctively adapting to the needs of each flower.
By the time he finished the last one, over a hundred vials were laid out in neat rows on the table.
Reaper’s Bounty has reached Level 7 → Level 8
He stretched his back, rolled his shoulders, and wiped his hands on a cloth.
Professor Catherine smiled and began packing the vials into a reinforced storage case. “Well done. This will save me a lot of money. I appreciate it.”
“Wait,” Isaac said, watching her snap the case shut. “You mean… this was for you?”
She didn’t deny it.
“It’s not just for myself. Some of my friends were trying to buy these, so I will sell a few to them. Ten or so should keep them happy.”
Isaac stared at her, a dull expression on his face.
“If you are going to sell them, then what about my share?”
“Your share?”
“I’m the one who made those.”
“But these were created from materials provided by the university. You can’t use them for personal profit.”
“Aren’t you doing the same?”
Professor Catherine smiled. “I’m the Professor, not you.”
Isaac was exasperated. She was openly saying she would use them for herself, and not give a single dime to Isaac.
He didn’t say anything else. Just narrowed his eyes slightly as she walked away with the entire box.
Emily giggled, seeing their interaction.
It was nearly afternoon by the time the theory class wrapped up. Isaac had barely finished wiping down the last table when Professor Catherine checked her wrist device.
She tapped a few keys, then looked up. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Isaac asked.
“To the living room,” she replied, already walking. “Tyr’s Rank Advancement materials have arrived.”
Isaac blinked, then quickly followed, his earlier annoyance forgotten.
They descended the stairs into the lower floor and went outside, where a sealed crate was kept.
Professor Catherine tapped in a code, and the sealed crate hummed.
A series of locks clicked open.
The crate unfolded, revealing four glowing compartments. Inside, each held a carefully preserved item, individually sealed with mana.
“Finally,” Isaac murmured, stepping closer.
The materials were rare. And necessary. Without them, Tyr’s growth would stagnate.
Professor Catherine gestured at the items. “Check the contents. Make sure nothing’s damaged.”
Isaac nodded and began his inspection.
— Crystallized Embercore
— Ironbark Heart
— Forgevine Husk
— Obsidian Ashroot
Each one pulsed softly, as if responding to the ambient mana around them. No signs of decay. No cracks in the mana seals. They were all in perfect condition.
He exhaled. “Everything looks good.”
“Call Tyr. We will do the advancement now.”
Isaac nodded. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited.
Tyr’s next race was called [Hellbloom Forgewalker]. He wanted to know what it could do.