Chapter 37: A Royal Invitation

Lu Yuan affectionately ruffled little Merlin’s hair. “You did well, even faster than I expected.”

Little Merlin was delighted, her face beaming with an expression that clearly begged for more praise.

Then… Lu Yuan said nothing further.

Little Merlin couldn’t help but make a wry face.

Lu Yuan turned to look at Risdo on the examiner’s platform. “Is this farce going to continue, Pharmacist Risdo?”

Risdo sighed softly, his face appearing to age even more in that moment.

“The young are truly formidable, truly formidable, indeed… Lei Yin, when you were thirteen, I was the one who presided over your apprentice qualification exam. Today, I also officiate your first qualification review since you stepped out of the shadows. What a twist of fate.”

“This farce truly should end.” Risdo gave a bitter smile before continuing, “Seven newcomer pharmacists participated in this qualification review. Pharmacist Ruolin’s abilities already qualify her to become a core pharmacist of our guild. Therefore, I announce that, starting today, Pharmacist Ruolin officially becomes the eighteenth core pharmacist of our guild.”

Upon hearing Risdo announce her new status as a core pharmacist, Ruolin’s face, however, showed little surprise or joy.

Had it been before, she might have rejoiced at becoming a core pharmacist of the guild at such a young age. However, after witnessing Lu Yuan’s profound path of medicine, she knew her own was still very, very far behind. Consequently, she now had little interest in this honorary title of core pharmacist.

Risdo looked at Lu Yuan. “Pharmacist Lei Yin, may I ask, are you satisfied?”

****

And so, the farce concluded.

The positions of the seventeen veteran core pharmacists remained unchanged, with Ruolin newly promoted to become the eighteenth.

Even after the crowd dispersed, their enthusiasm remained undiminished. Lu Yuan’s imposing figure, as he explained pharmacology moments ago, seemed still vivid in their minds. Numerous pharmacists gathered in groups of two or three, eagerly discussing their insights and gains from the event.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, led Merlin to the top-floor office of the Pharmacists’ Guild.

A young, radiant woman sat at a desk, watching Lu Yuan, who was holding Merlin’s small hand, with keen interest.

“I thought you’d never return here, my dear little apprentice, Lei Yin.” She gazed with a gentle smile at little Merlin, who was hiding behind Lu Yuan. “And you’ve brought such a lovely little apprentice with you.”

Little Merlin seemed uncomfortable under the woman’s gaze, instinctively hiding further behind Lu Yuan.

“Long time no see, Mentor Stella,” Lu Yuan said calmly.

Stella, the branch president of Usutal City’s Northern Pharmacists’ Guild and one of the seven Royal Pharmacists of the Sollefer Kingdom, was also Lei Yin’s mentor in the path of medicine.

Logically speaking, her status warranted Lu Yuan using a respectful address.

After all, Lu Yuan was currently impersonating Lei Yin, the pharmacist Stella had raised since childhood.

Seeing Lu Yuan’s respectful demeanor towards this woman, Merlin pouted unhappily.

“Your little apprentice is quite remarkable.” Stella made no attempt to conceal her admiration for little Merlin. “Out of the thousand herbal illustrations used for the assessment, she identified seven hundred and fifty-six types within the time limit. How many did you identify when you were thirteen?”

A thoughtful look in her eyes, Stella then realized and said, “You identified six hundred and sixty-nine types. In the main guild records, only Princess Daelothys, with seven hundred and seventy-two types, has surpassed you.”

Princess Daelothys? This was not the first time Lu Yuan had heard that name.

Just after returning to the Pharmacists’ Guild, Dutaine had mentioned the name once before.

Princess Daelothys, the kingdom’s foremost genius pharmacist, began studying medicine at seven. At nine, she passed the Pharmacist Headquarters’ most rigorous apprentice examination, and by eleven, she had become a full-fledged pharmacist.

Now twelve years old, it was said she already possessed the potential to challenge the Grand Pharmacist assessment.

She left countless others unable to even glimpse her dust.

Lu Yuan, on the other hand, was twenty when he became a Grand Pharmacist.

Little Merlin, at twelve, passed the apprentice assessment, identifying over seven hundred and fifty types out of a thousand herbs. Her talent already far surpassed Lu Yuan’s at that age.

Yet, when compared to Daelothys, she still paled in comparison.

Having been praised by Stella just moments before, little Merlin had been somewhat pleased with herself. Now, being compared to the kingdom’s foremost genius, she immediately became a little unhappy again.

Seeing Merlin’s slightly deflated expression, Stella could clearly tell what she was thinking. “Don’t be disheartened. Daelothys is a princess born with a silver spoon in her mouth, apprenticed to the kingdom’s foremost pharmacist. The resources she possesses are unimaginable to others. She’s not on the same starting line as ordinary people, so it’s only natural for her to be ahead.”

Lu Yuan also reassuringly ruffled little Merlin’s hair.

“I’ve already heard about what happened during the qualification review.” Stella smiled with relief. “Lei Yin, it seems you’ve successfully overcome that hurdle in your heart. Your performance this time has truly made me look at you in a new light.”

“Just a stroke of luck,” Lu Yuan replied.

‘Luck?’ Stella’s smile stiffened slightly. The version she had heard was far beyond mere luck.

“So, what are your plans now?”

Lu Yuan pondered for a moment. ‘Plans?’ He hadn’t truly considered it. He was merely temporarily playing the role of Lei Yin.

Stella then added, “Lei Yin, would you like to become a Royal Pharmacist?”