The Cornflower Witch Chapter 153

After listening to the staff member’s description, Hylial took the booklet handed to her and browsed through it. It listed several resource points near ‘Fir Black Forest’ and three Secret Realms.

The first Secret Realm, “Gravel Riverbank,” follows the small river south. Among the shrubs along the way, ‘Fruit-Eating Rats,’ ‘Astringent Honeycombs,’ and ‘Green-Red Berries’ occasionally appear.

Among them, the ‘Fruit-Eating Rats’ are somewhat aggressive. Their incisors can bite powerfully 1-3 times, crushing steel each time, but they lose their effectiveness after three bites and only recover about a week later.

The ‘Astringent Honeycomb’ nurtures Astringent Poison Bees. Their stingers can easily poison ordinary creatures, but against Transcendent beings, the effect is not as strong. If handled properly, they are not dangerous.

‘Green-Red Berries’ are special berries with Emerald Honey Aspect. If given to locals, they can be combined with other ingredients to make ‘Secret Recipe Jam’ of ‘Tier 1 Emerald Honey.’

The second Secret Realm, “Deep Forest Path,” starts from the west of the town, travels 20 kilometers, gradually enters the gray shadow world, and then passes through an impenetrable forest. This area is more dangerous, with ‘Night Cry Crows,’ ‘Ghost Shadow Owls,’ ‘Twisted Dead Trees,’ ‘Blood Coil Pythons,’ and ‘Ash-Wrought Fruits.’

The third Secret Realm, “Gate of Distant Mountains,” starts from the north of the town, travels 50 kilometers, and reaches the depths of continuous mountains. It is surrounded by dense fog and is dangerous. If one can find the right direction and travel 100 kilometers, they can reach a natural stone gate between two mountains. Behind the gate, there is a clear spring pool, and the ‘Stone Mist Spring Water’ within is very precious, a special resource for learning ‘Petrification’ secret arts, and can also be used for refining potions of the ‘Mist Shadow’ Aspect.

…

The first Secret Realm, “Gravel Riverbank,” is the safest, but also the most frequented, so sometimes a trip yields little. “Deep Forest Path” is the choice of many Tier 2 students. As for the third Secret Realm, “Gate of Distant Mountains,” few students go there. It is said that a team that set out to explore it previously never returned.

“Is there a team going to ‘Deep Forest Path’? I’d like to join one,” Hylial asked.

“No problem, please register here. If a team travels there, I’ll ask for you.”

“Okay.” Afterward, the girl took the form handed to her, which required her information.

Class, Aspect, specialties, abilities, and skills—anything she thought would be valued could be written down.

A few minutes later, Hylial filled out the form and handed it to the staff member.

“There’s sleeping accommodation upstairs in the tavern. As a Tier 2 student, you get a discount. Will you be resting here tonight?”

“Of course,” Hylial nodded.

“Alright, please also note your room number. If a team departs, I’ll have the tavern’s server notify you.”

“Thank you.”

Afterward, Hylial took the key and walked up to the third floor. There were nearly sixteen rooms along both sides of the corridor, half of which were currently vacant.

She arrived at a room, opened the door, and stepped inside.

Two tidy wooden beds were placed by the window, and there was also a small table and chairs in the room. The overall style was simple and cozy.

She put down her composite bow and unfastened her longsword, placing it by the bed. Hylial took off her boots, her feet, clad in black long socks, directly touching the floor, relieving tension.

After lying down for a short while, she got up and went to the bathroom on the other side of the room. It had brass shower fixtures and a stone basin below, suitable for showering or bathing.

The hot water was probably heated by the boiler system behind the tavern. The technology in this world was not as backward as she imagined, it was just that ordinary people couldn’t afford expensive steam equipment.

After bathing, Hylial changed into a lighter purple dress, leaned against the headboard, and read a book she had brought with her. Outside the window, the sky slowly transitioned from evening glow to night.

That night, she wrapped herself in the quilt and had a good night’s sleep.

The next morning, Hylial woke up early. After washing up, she put on her light armor and set out again. Today, she planned to explore the town and see some of its local characteristics.

Perhaps because of the ‘Orchid Fragrance Elixir’ stationed there, there were many herb shops, and many Tier 1 herbal apprentices, students about her age, could be seen in them.

Drying herbs, grinding them into powder for extraction, preparing potion bases, boiling medicinal liquids, and filtering for purification, this was the daily routine for many students. While assisting professional apothecaries, they gradually learned the techniques of potion making and trained various abilities until they reached Tier 2, where they could try to concoct some simple potions themselves. These could then be sold in their teachers’ shops, earning them some extra income.

The ‘Orchid Fragrance Healing Potion’ can stop bleeding, heal wounds, and slowly adjust internal injuries, selling for 2-4 gold coins per bottle.

Compared to the common ‘Blood-Healing Potion,’ its effect is much better, and its price is double. A common ‘Blood-Healing Potion’ sells for 1-2 gold coins.

If one could sell 10 bottles of ‘Orchid Fragrance Healing Potion,’ they could earn nearly 30 gold coins, which is roughly the annual income of an ordinary Tier 2 student. This shows how profitable the apothecary profession is. Of course, if the cost of raw materials and failed attempts were deducted, an average apprentice would often earn only 8-10 gold coins for selling 10 potions.

After observing the daily lives of these herb shop apprentices, Hylial’s gaze shifted to the other side, to shops selling various furs and animal horns and teeth. The apprentices working and maintaining these shops were mostly combat professionals.

“How much for this ram horn?” Hylial asked curiously.

[Spiral Ram Horn] (Tier 1 Beast Fang): A twisted horn taken from a strange goat monster, sturdy and densely patterned, suitable for crafting implements.

The man across the counter, wearing a deerskin vest, looked up from inside the shop when he heard her and simply glanced at the ram horn.

“This horn is 3 gold coins.” The price wasn’t expensive, probably because it hadn’t sold.

“May I pick it up and look?” Hylial asked again.

“Go ahead, but if you’re planning any mischief, I advise you to be careful,” he said casually, glancing at the girl whose face was mostly hidden by her hood.

“Thank you.” Hylial picked up the ram horn, feeling its delicate calloused texture. It was cool and felt exceptionally sturdy in her grip, more reliable than stone.

(Solid texture, can withstand powerful attacks, but has no other effects. Overall quality rating: good.)

3 gold coins was indeed its price, and it would be difficult to sell it for more. If it were made into a small ram horn hoe for gardening, it would be quite useful; it’s lighter than iron and durable and wear-resistant.

“I’ll buy it.” Hylial took out three gold coins and placed them on the counter.

“Oh.” Hearing the clink of the gold coins, the man was quite surprised. He stood up, examined the coins repeatedly, and then handed the horn to the girl.

“If you don’t mind, I have some dried mutton here. I can give you a pack. It’s a good choice as provisions for an adventure.” Perhaps feeling he had gotten a good deal, he was generous and gave the girl a pack of dried mutton.

[Dried Mutton] (Good): Meat from a goat monster, smoked to slowly dissipate the twisted Aspect’s pollution. Edible and very filling, but still not recommended to consume in excess.

Afterward, the girl walked along the street, touring the shops, looking at the fur garments, longbows, short blades, and various combat equipment for sale.

Because the town was small, she essentially covered the entire town that day, getting a general sense of the area.

That night, back at the tavern, Hylial was about to eat when several members dressed as adventurers approached her. The leader was short, clad in light leather armor, with two daggers tucked into his waist.

“You’re Hylial, right?”

“I’m the leader of the ‘Shaking Gold Coin’ team, nicknamed ‘Bad Apple.’ I was wondering if you’d be interested in joining us for our next exploration mission.”

The short leader sat down, revealing his other teammates behind him: a golden-haired Greatsword Wielder in full iron armor, a cold-faced Wizard in a black robe, and a short-haired girl with chestnut-red hair, wearing a leather apron and carrying an iron pot on her back, looking like a Cook.