I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy
Chapter 99: The Meaning Of Faith (2)

Infinite Stamina.

I briefly lost myself in thought.

Stamina.

While commonly associated with male sexual function, in everyday language, it often refers to vitality or energy.

In other words, it could also be interpreted as infinite vitality.

‘Hmm.’

However, in “Epic World,” infinite Stamina carried a dual meaning. Literally, it signified endless vigor and limitless sexual function.

I weighed whether this was a disadvantage or an advantage and concluded it was more of an advantage.

‘Not bad.’

The downside of Infinite Stamina was being in a constant state of arousal, but I possessed the Talent True Heart.

With True Heart, which enhanced mental strength and brought calmness to the mind, this was definitely a benefit for me.

‘I should keep it for now.’

I decided to retain Infinite Stamina.

Sitting on the bed, I meditated. Observing my body, I could feel everything that composed my physique – blood, bones, even the minutest parts of my muscles.

It was said that at the pinnacle of Black God Martial Arts, one could even control cellular movements, but it seemed that I was far from that state.

Anyway, I began to interfere with the energy located in my dantian.

Special stat: Faith.

This power was very special. It responded to pure will, blending its strength with the laws of the world.

How did I know this? Because there were those who, like prophets in this world, awakened to this power before me.

Those who resided in the Hundred Temple, using faith as a conceptual stat.

Thanks to the gods who descended to earth.

Whoosh!

Faith stirred. This power of belief, when materialized, was tricky to handle. The Energy of Defying Heaven moved. As if finding faith distasteful, it stirred.

As I channeled faith, it infused vitality into my body. The power of belief, now tangible, enveloped me.

And as faith touched the Energy of Defying Heaven, the movement of the latter intensified.

And gradually, they merged.

Whoooosh──.

The Energy of Defying Heaven and faith vanished.

‘…Still a bit tricky to handle.’

My control over the Energy of Defying Heaven, now grown as a conceptual stat, was beyond imagination. Comparable to the previous Heavenly Demon, they said.

But not for faith. The only enhancements I have for faith are ‘Advanced Spirit Energy Strengthening of the Hero (B)’ and ‘Dexterity (B+).’

I got up.

Just before meeting Ershil, I realized the practice session had taken up more time than expected.

I quickly washed up and prepared to go out.

I was going to wear a hoodie, but since I had to meet Sung Han-byul, I chose a clean look, matching a shirt with slacks.

-It’s complicated.

-Is this what it feels like to be a mother with a son? The owner who insisted on wearing hoodies despite everything…

Eternal Heaven and Black Heaven muttered as they looked at me. Who were they calling a son? Ridiculous.

When I went outside, I drew a lot of attention. More than usual.

I recently asked the emperor to create a workshop.

‘An alchemist needs a workshop.’

Setting up a workshop was easy.

The Emperor provided the manpower, and I provided the money. Seo Ye-bin wanted to pay for everything, but that was too much for me, so I refused.

‘It’s not like I’m short on money.’

Manpower to quickly set up a branch and workshop, and connections to acquire top-grade alchemy kits and related items.

I sorted that out quickly.

It really, really was so because I said it myself, but as the head of the Veritas Sect, just a casual mention made the members of the Alchemy Guild equip everything with the highest quality.

Was this power?

Faith might not be too bad…

It was a dark room.

A group dressed in white uniforms, with black suns drawn on their chests, stood neatly in a row. There were many wearing pristine white uniform caps.

They were aligned, holding weapons like guns.

In this world, everything collapsed and merged starting from the year 1999.

At a place known as the branching point of the world, they moved endlessly forward, bringing myths to life.

As the worlds overlapped, firearms lost much of their effectiveness.

It’s not that firearms were useless. Beings below medium grade could still be defeated with firearms.

But once you reached medium grade, upper grade, and the highest grade, those things really became of no use.

Transcendent beings had ways to survive even nuclear bombs.

Even monsters were the same. Monsters with some defensive power didn’t even flinch when hit by ordinary firearms and threatened humanity. And that was just the lower-grade monsters.

Although the gap could be narrowed by modifying bullets and guns, most of modern society was capitalist.

They gave up many of the advantages of firearms because it didn’t make money.

However, there were those on this Earth who primarily used firearms. They were considered the most evil single force, not regarding other humans as humans.

There were a few evil groups that could stand on equal footing with the monsters called the Seven Evils, who united the Mines.

“So, the reason you called me?”

A grey-haired man spoke in an arrogant tone. A cigarette hung from his lips. He wore a unique uniform with a pistol at his left waist.

“Kill this boy.”

“…Such a mission for me?”

The grey-haired man laughed as if it were ridiculous.

“Grey Wolf. It’s a mission for you because you’re the one. He might be a threat to our ‘Empire’.”

Beep.

A middle-aged man turned on a remote towards the air. A screen appeared in the air, showing a video.

“What’s this?”

“Top-secret footage.” Sᴇaʀᴄh the NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

It was a very blurry video.

A boy fighting a mermaid monster. The grey-haired man watched silently.

“He’s quite capable?”

“The problem isn’t that. The problem is the power the boy used. Some say they have awakened magic with anti-magic properties, but there are rumors that even the Seven Evils are most wary of.”

“That being of the prophecy?”

The grey-haired man pondered for a moment.

The being of the prophecy was said to possess the power to eradicate all evil, a power akin to something beyond even the gods.

But he didn’t feel that power in the boy.

However, the black mana was bothersome. It wasn’t from a Mine, but black mana.

“It doesn’t seem like that… Well, I’ll take care of it.”

“Then I will give the order, Grey Wolf. From now on, join the Brigade of Eternal Heaven at this location.”

“What, the Brigade of Eternal Heaven is moving too?”

“Yes. They want to capture the boy and trade with the Overlord.”

“So, there’s a way to subdue him?”

“They said they’ll handle it. Probably using a device that disrupts the magic used by the Brigade of Eternal Heaven.”

“And me?”

“Observe the boy. If he is the being of the prophecy, or possesses a danger level equivalent to it.”

The middle-aged man turned his gaze. A blazing black sun shape. Above it, a floating swastika.

“If he is deemed a threat to our Nazi Empire, kill him or extract information.”

The middle-aged man said with a cold laugh.

I entered the workshop.

A neat building revealed itself. Inside was a workshop about 100 pyeong in size. Building this had cost more than expected.

‘About 20 billion won.’

20 billion won for a workshop. I had poured in the money crazily, but the regret… the regret…

‘My 20 billion won…’

My heart ached, but I sighed inwardly and shook it off. After all, in this world, money didn’t bind me as it used to.

Upon entering the workshop, I was greeted by various materials. Materials obtained from the Electronic Witch and in exchange for supplying potions to the Emperor welcomed me.

I put a glucose candy in my mouth and started working.

Wearing a mask, I recorded a video and wrote data on my phone.

Because this workshop would be used by Lab Escape as well as myself.

‘Externally, she’s my disciple.’

Lab Escape necessitated the nurturing of alchemists. While it wasn’t a problem for me to undertake this task, for survival in this world and to avoid a predetermined bad ending, enhancing my own martial prowess was equally important.

I couldn’t solely focus on nurturing alchemists.

[[Lee Seo-ha's Visionary Alchemy (A+)] proficiency increased.]

After busying myself with various tasks for a while, I sensed a familiar presence. At the same moment, the doorbell chimed - Ding Dong. I made my way to the front door.

Upon opening it, there stood Ershil, wearing a broad smile. She was dressed in black knitwear and a checkered skirt with a brown background and black stripes, a coat draped over her knit.

“Hello. Ershil, partner of Veritas, has arrived.”

Bang.

Without realizing it, I had closed the door.

‘……’

Sigh.

I inwardly took a deep breath and reopened the door. Ershil was giving me a sulky look.

“Do you dislike that term so much?”

“If you encountered people you don’t even know, trying to authenticate faith and calling you Veritas, you’d react the same way.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? Watching those inferior to me struggle to gain even a little knowledge from me?”

“…You’re wicked.”

“Hehe.”

Ershil slightly stuck out her tongue and winked at me, attempting to look cute. It was forgivable because she was indeed cute.

I allowed Ershil inside.

“This is Seo-ha’s workshop?”

“Yes.”

“…Wait, isn’t that the item that Zermaine from the Alchemy Guild treasures? It’s valued at more than 2 billion won, and even major magic towers struggle to obtain it…”

“Oh, really?”

“It makes sense, I suppose. Nowadays, Veritas is revered as a new deity.”

Ershil glanced at me and then said.

“Want to see a potion?”

“No, it’s fine. If it’s a potion from Seo-ha.”

Ershil stated this and placed the potion I had taken out, without inspecting it, into her spatial storage.

“And this is an elixir. The ability it enhances varies by color, so be careful when using it. Here’s the manual.”

Ershil briefly looked at the manual and then back at me.

“Being the person who brought a turning point in alchemy, you really are amazing. If you sold this elixir for 1 billion each, there would be a surplus of buyers.”

“Then would you buy it at that price?”

“Yes, an elixir of this quality is worth that.”

“No need to give it. It’s like a service for customers.”

“Offering this as a service might cause some misunderstandings.”

“……”

Ershil looked at me with a suggestive expression.

“May I misunderstand? I want to keep misunderstanding.”

With one corner of her mouth raised, Ershil looked up at me with a seductive expression.

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