Chapter 44: What An Intriguing Suggestion
As expected, when Baiyis blacksmith workshop opened the next day, he finally received his first official payment.
“This is the Everfrost Crystal from The Land of Extreme Ice,” A male student whose collar was pinned with a golden tulip emblem, explained as he placed a tiny bottle that was carved with fine Magical Runes in front of Baiyi. Even though the guy was quite young, he was extremely mature and he behaved in a grown-up and composed manner, completely different from the rest of the students who behaved in a child-like demeanour. Looking at the adept manner of how he conducted himself, one could say that he really did live up to the expectation of an elite student.
Just a day before, Baiyi had helped re-attached a few broken finger joints for his Soul Armature whose armor was rather expensive. Although it was nowhere near as superior as the black gold mountain of the Dole family, the armor could still be considered as a very good one. The soul inside was even more impressive, it was actually the soul of an Immortal Level Fighter. The Soul Armature was undoubtedly very powerful. It was just that as he just got summoned not too long ago, he was still not used to controlling his power yet. In the course of trying to get used to his armor, he had accidentally over-exerted himself and broke a few fingers in the process…
Obviously, it was a task that no ordinary blacksmith could perform. Yet, Baiyi had managed to weld his fingers back easily in just a short duration of time. Because his consciousness was still in the broken fingers, the Soul Armature was able to use them as agilely as before except for the traces of welding that looked slightly unsightly.
Throughout the whole process, the male student stood by and watched quietly. Unlike the other students who gasped in amazement while they watched Baiyi’s exquisite skills, there were no changes at all on his face other than the astonished look in his eyes. After Baiyi was done, he politely thanked him and left with his Soul Armature without another word. However, early this morning, he was the first to arrive to present the bottle of the Everfrost Crystal to Baiyi.
Truthfully, although it was a high-grade magical ingredient, the Everfrost Crystal was not as valuable as the items that was stolen from Undine. But, the price could still fetch at least more or less the same price as the high-grade armor his Soul Armature was wearing. Such a gesture no doubt showed his sincerity.
The most important thing was, after he had given the present to Baiyi, he took his leave without saying another word— not even to tell his name. It was, without a doubt, Baiyi’s most favorite style when it came to handling matters. Even the Archmage could not help but exclaimed, “Whoa, why are these youngsters so experienced and sophisticated now?”
Compared to him, the presents that the other students gave— some delicious homemade sausages, hand-weaved garland and a pot of flower— did not seem as appealing anymore
However, even though those items would not fetch a dime in the market, Baiyi actually liked them more as he could feel the goodwill and the sincerity of those childrens in the small items. To some degree, those were probably the most valuable gifts he could received.
Baiyi had his reasons to feel that way. It was because eventually, the students would grow up and become more powerful, at the same time they would know more people and have better networks. And there will come a day when the Voidwalkers would finally be able to see the sun again as well. The small good deed that he did today would most likely help him gain support and understanding in the future, an aid for the Voidwalkers to walk in the world again.
To truly liberate the Voidwalkers, it was not something as easy as releasing them all and then killing whoever that stood against them nor was it as simple as putting up a facade as a good man. That would be just like transferring them from one prison to another. What Baiyi really wanted to do was to actually let the world accommodate and accept the real them. And only then, it could truly be called a liberation.
But of course, that was a complex and distant goal, far beyond the imagination of the Voidwalkers. All Baiyi could do was to quietly sow the seeds first, just like that pot of flower that he placed on Mia’s dormitory windowsill, which he did not forget to water every morning.
Naturally, his teacher, the Archmage, supported his idea but still, feeling slightly regretful, he asked, “The magic that you’ve learnt from me is just so-so but you actually thought of this kind of thing as well?”
Well, isn’t this good? I’ve now managed to earn both money and the hearts of the people. Playing with the bottle of Everfrost Crystal, Baiyi changed the topic, What should we do with this by the way? This thing would be hard for us to sell. Hmmm… I guess, I’ll just feed it to that plus.h.i.+e again.
“OH YES! My Aurora’s Mercy can finally use Ice Offense spells now and not those lame watergun or hydromissiles techniques!” The Explorer cheered excitedly. Using a doll to cast his specially designed spell did not fit his sense of aesthetic at all.
But I think it would be better if we cast an Ice Protection Spell instead, like Iceguard or Frosts.h.i.+eld, wouldn’t it? These spells can protect Mia anytime when there’s a critical situation, Baiyi suggested.
“Well, if we’re to consider it from an offense point of view, how about we use this as a summoning medium and summon a strong powerful Ice-type Beast? You know, like Glaceon, Articuno, Blastoise, and Metapod 1 these sort of beasts?” The Nine-Walker suddenly chimed in. As a summoner who had successfully invented the one and only Soul Armature Technique, he suggested.
Hmm… This idea is not bad, it seems pretty viable. But then, what’s with the examples that you just gave? Are those creatures even from this world? For G.o.d’s sake, you’re a summoner not a freaking Pokemon trainer! The last two examples that you gave aren’t even Ice-type!
Instead, the Soul Armature Pract.i.tioner retorted defensively, “You don’t have to mind these particulars! I’m just stating a few examples! The examples are just to help you understand what I am trying to say better!”
Just as Baiyi received a rare piece of feasible idea, the Astrologer,who was unconvinced, decided to put forward his views, “I think all of you have been overthinking too much! Just this small amount of Everfrost Crystal and with no other extra ingredients, the spell will not be effective. This is a very wasteful act.”
Oh? It’s rare for this guy to not show his hentai side. Is he planning to start honoring his professional standing as a supernatural being now? As expected, I can only rely on them when they get serious! Baiyi secretly thought to himself, looking forward to the Astrologer’s follow-up statement.
“Okay. So, my advice is to use this material to create a formation that has a similar function and concept like the refrigerators on Earth. Then, we collect juices, sugar, milk and so on and make frozen desserts with them. Now that June is coming soon, the weather will slowly become hotter as well. These delicious desserts will definitely be popular among the students.” The Astrologer continued to explain.
Wait a minute! Are you trying to ask me to sell ice popsicles now? Even if we put aside the matter of how troublesome the manufacturing process can be, what would happen if things don’t go as we plan? How are we supposed to earn any money then? Sigh, I should have known better than to ask you in the first place… Baiyi said in disappointment.
Facing with the doubts from Baiyi and the other Voidwalkers, the Astrologer still maintained his imposing manner and said sternly with confidence, “Everyone, please! Don’t jump to any conclusion first. I’m not that kind of shallow person that you guys think I am, okay? This is only the first step of my plan, please let me continue.”
Ah, okay? Could this be the start for some cold beverage brand or something? If we are really going in this direction, then I suppose it could be an excellent method for us to earn a lot of gold as well… Although the process is a little too long but it still sounds feasible. Hmmm, did I really misunderstood this guy? As expected from somebody who watches the stars, his foresight is indeed very good.
Hearing this, the Astrologer suddenly said in a surprised tone, “Oh? I did not think that far ahead. I was just planning to charge the boys and give the desserts for free to all the girls.”
Eh? I don’t get it. What a strange plan! Is there any meaning in doing all that?
“Well of course! Just think about it! Be it Mia-chan or some other cute girl, imagine their hands holding the white milk popsicle and their rosebud mouth opened to suck and lick on the popsicle or even their pink tongues sticking out to slowly lick the popsicle from bottom to top… Ahhhh what a beautiful fantasy! Everyone! I’m so excited… Urghhh- !”
Before he could finish his hentai speech, a Silence Spell was already placed on him by Baiyi.Hmmm… I knew it! How stupid am I for trusting this guy in the first place!
Seeing their partner had his rights taken away from him, the Paladin or more aptly called the Saint Hentai immediately tried to defend him, “Well, even though his last few sentences were a little out-of-topic but it’s still quite a feasible idea, isn’t it? Let us think about it from a different perspective, the hot summer will soon arrive and what does this mean? Well, this means that the girls clothing will become more sheer and their skirts shorter, exposing their physique. Then, we could…URGHHHH -!”
Instantly, Baiyi banned him from speaking as well. Well, there’s no point in continuing to listen to what he plans to say anyway! After all, these weebos’ mindsets are not on the same wavelength as us…
At any rate, the discussion was over for the time being. In the end, Baiyi had not made his mind up on how to use the high-grade material yet so he decided to keep it back in his stomach and attended to the patients. Just as he thought, ever since the visits from the upper division students who had brought their Soul Armatures along with them, the number of patients who had turned up had increased by a lot. Among them were a number of outsiders with their Soul Armatures who had some scars or wounds that were inflicted by magic too.
It seemed like Baiyi’s fame had started to spread outside of the academy in a very short time, which was a very good sign. Better yet, those people would bring along some sort of rewards with them as well.
Baiyi did not speak much during the repairing process nor did he bring up any monetary matter. Yet, those students and the outsiders would still place their rewards— be it gold or presents— on the empty table next to him. In just a short amount of time, the table was already covered with a small mountain of s.h.i.+ning gold coins.
None of them— including the unsophisticated students— dared to do such a foolish thing like taking advantage of a repair master. Indeed, the situation turned out exactly as predicted by the Merchant. Even if Baiyi did not ask for any payment, the people who showed up would still automatically give him some kind of reward as a repayment.