Chapter 116.1  

Quince, Kyle, Ginny, Emily.

The young children who come to our house have declared they will become adventurers.

After gathering and processing General Grass and exchanging alchemy solutions, they practice swinging in the backyard and have mock battles with Ted and sometimes me.

Quince and Kyle use swords, while Ginny and Emily, as it’s still too early for close combat, practice with bows.

Though their power varies, all four are becoming familiar with handling weapons.

However, no matter how passionate they are, their future is uncertain.

From my perspective, having seen Ted’s desperation, their efforts seem ordinary.

Adventurers can easily lose their lives over trivial matters.

I occasionally worry if Quince and the others can truly make it.

If they lack talent, I would suggest another path, but the problem is quite the opposite.

Quince is a particularly talented boy.

When Elphimia and I assessed his magical aptitude, he had potential in the four elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. Depending on derived attributes, it could increase even more.

Elphimia’s opinion is that he is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, so even with significant training, he might only reach an intermediate level. Still, compared to the other three, who have no magical aptitude, he’s exceptional.

Kyle, on the other hand, was evaluated by Lambert and Felix.

He has thick bones, which is advantageous for physique and strength.

Though still a child, he is calmer than the emotional Quince.

He has good potential for close combat and could grow into an excellent warrior.

Ginny, being nimble, is suited for rear support or as a light warrior.

Her archery skills are also improving.

Compared to the two boys, she may seem less impressive, but her strong-willed nature makes her suitable for being an adventurer.

Emily, however, is an ordinary girl.

Her archery accuracy is slightly higher than Ginny’s, but her power is much lower, and I’ve never seen her arrows stick into the target.

Unless she discovers talent in the three difficult-to-assess special attributes or other skills, she should reconsider being an adventurer.

Anyway, I’m an outsider. I’ll leave Seren in less than a year.

The decision is theirs, and advising is Ted’s job.

What I can do is only a temporary measure until then.

Hearing distant laughter, I shift my gaze to a stain on the table.

It’s mostly dry but still slightly colored.

Since there are deep containers and fine magic stones, they must have gotten their elbows wet while desperately retrieving the stones and materials. Spilling is understandable.

As I smile at the table, I’m suddenly seized by a strange sensation.

Tilting my head, I search for the source of the discomfort.

No way… it can’t be. freewebnσvel.cѳm

I activate [Appraisal] and read it carefully.

Then I knock and stroke it to verify there’s no falsehood in the content.

Is this for real…? Name: Wooden Board (Solution Penetration)

Characteristics: Board cut from chestnut wood.

Properties: Water-resistant, medium hardness.

Wow, it’s chestnut wood.

“No, no, no, why is the board permeated with—”

I stop speaking and look at the stain.

Basically, if the solution isn’t changed daily, the penetration will cease.

Did they spill that much…?

No wonder the consumption is high.

I appraise the containers, tables, chairs, and floor, but only the board was permeated.

Maybe it absorbed well by chance, or it’s a result of fluctuation.

More importantly—what should I do about this?

The scene before me might be a miraculous moment.

It could stop at any time, and to permeate such a large board, a considerable amount of solution is needed.

But it’s just a board…

As I’m pondering, I hear Quince and the others laughing again.

In a way, it could be said this is their achievement.

Encouraging myself, I slap my knee.

“Alright, let’s give it a try! Adding [Durability Enhancement] will reduce the table’s burden!”

Honestly, I’m curious, and if I stop now, I’ll definitely regret it later.

If I waste magic stones, I can just gather more.

Deciding, I lower the container from the board and place it on the floor.

I realize after a long time that since the board didn’t fit the table’s shape, I had cut and combined parts of it to lay it.

I should commend the thoroughness.

Both are properly permeated.

For now, I move the small board aside and activate [Concentration Up] on the large one.

Embedding magic stones is labor-intensive.

Considering ease of acquisition, releasing goblins or nudroks is prudent.

Thinking about this, I look into the container for magic stones and pause.

As my [Magic Item Creation] rank increases, if the solution has permeated, I can somewhat predict the compatibility of materials and magic stones and the outcome.

But this is unexpected.

The board requires magic stones resembling sand grains.

It’s not just the magic stones of Sophrick that are crushed.

They often break when defeated, and some separate while soaking.

Quince and the others have diligently gathered even these sand grain-sized magic stones.

That’s likely the main reason for the frequent spills.

Well, this is convenient.

If such magic stones are sufficient, I can create magic items without hesitation.

I reach into the container and gather the sand grains.

Using [Magic Item Creation], I sense that it’s still insufficient.

Surprised by its unexpected greed, I gather more. Once I have enough, I release the sand grains one after another, and fine magic power permeates the board.

[Durability Enhancement] seems to be attaching smoothly, but—is it still not enough?

Failing would waste Quince and the others’ unintended efforts.

I scoop and release additional grains.

Soon after, I’m holding my head in my hands.

“How did this happen…”

Name: Roof

Characteristics: Board cut from chestnut wood.

Has high defensive capabilities.

Properties: Water-resistant, medium hardness.

Has become a magic item with significantly enhanced durability.

Skills: Durability Enhancement 3, Repair 5, Aerial Flight 4, Danger Detection 4, Automatic Defense

The large board floats gently above the table.

What is this powerful magic item…?

It’s just a board, right? A roof? Did I name it that?

The excitement from the Jumping Rabbit’s breast ornament has completely vanished.

My first powerful magic item is just a board.

Moreover, with its skill set, it moves and defends on its own. Despite being a board.

“It’s wasted potential. It’s too big and obstructive even while flying.”

Larger than a tower shield, it can’t move properly unless in a spacious area.

Watching the floating board with tired eyes, I notice another one in the corner of my vision.

I’m already beyond caring.

Name: Small Roof

Characteristics: Board cut from chestnut wood.

Has high defensive capabilities.

Properties: Water-resistant, medium hardness.

Has become a magic item with significantly enhanced durability.

Skills: Durability Enhancement 2, Repair 4, Aerial Flight 4, Danger Detection 3, Automatic Defense

It’s possible…

It’s almost identical, just slightly less capable.

What’s a small roof? I certainly didn’t name it.

The large roof is a meter and a half long and a meter wide.

The small roof is about a meter long and fifty centimeters wide.

If the roof is a stationary shield, the small roof is a tower shield.

Though it’s just a board and not heavy, its flatness gives it a daunting presence.

Well, weight doesn’t matter since it’s floating.

Descending to the lower floor while holding my head, the two boards follow, floating.

The roof, without hesitation, turns vertical and slips through the narrow door.

These guys… they definitely have intelligence.

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