Chapter 14: Chapter 14
Faced with Ron’s question, Jason didn’t beat around the bush and stated the reason directly:
“The conditions for using the Ice Breathing Technique are extremely demanding. Don’t be fooled by how easily you could use it in the inheritance chamber. Anywhere else, you’ll need the cooperation of Ignition Potion!”
Hearing the vaguely familiar name 【Ignition Potion】, Ron suddenly recalled that this was the name of a potion that Foss had mentioned back in the inheritance chamber.
At the time, he had assumed it was some kind of tonic, a superior substitute for meat. He never expected to hear such an unforeseen explanation from Jason’s mouth.
“Why? Why do you need Ignition Potion to use the Ice Breathing Technique?” Ron asked urgently.
This was a critical question concerning his future rapid progress and whether this transcendent power carried hidden dangers. If he didn’t understand this thoroughly, he wouldn’t be able to accept it with peace of mind.
Fortunately, Jason also understood the importance of this question for Knights who practiced the Ice Breathing Technique, so he continued to explain:
“When you perform the Ice Breathing, if you’re not near that wondrous ice in the inheritance chamber, you’ll be devoured by the cold, or assimilated, if you will. Ignition Potion exists precisely to mitigate this effect.”
“Devoured or assimilated by the cold? What if I soak in hot water while performing the Ice Breathing? Or use some other method to keep warm?” Ron asked, somewhat unwilling to accept it.
“Do you think none of your predecessors thought of these ideas? Let me tell you, none of those methods work! And absolutely do not experiment on your own in secret! Everyone who tried to bypass the wondrous ice or Ignition Potion to perform the Ice Breathing came to a bad end!”
“Rest assured, Uncle Jason, I won’t do anything reckless!”
Ron silently exclaimed how close a call that was. In truth, he had already considered on the way back trying the Ice Breathing again tonight, then using his Light Orb to see if he could analyze something from it.
Hearing Jason say this now, he genuinely felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn’t expected the Ice Breathing Technique to harbor such a trap!
This was also a consequence of “Ron’s” father dying early. The parents of the other youths were still around and would have more or less received the Ice Breathing Technique inheritance themselves, or at the very least should have known about the function of Ignition Potion.
Unlike “Ron,” who had absolutely no concept of it.
However, the good seeds that “Ron’s” father had sown back then were now repaying Ron in a different form. With that in mind, Ron continued to ask Jason:
“Then how do you obtain Ignition Potion?”
“The territory provides a certain amount each month based on your Knight rank. Then there’s exchange through military merit. Additionally, for apprentices like you who have just come into contact with transcendent power, Lord allows you to use the inheritance chamber three more times.”
“Then how much Ignition Potion can we apprentices receive each month?” Ron asked again.
“Apprentices receive two vials per month, Formal Knights receive five. Don’t be fooled by the fact that I only get three more than you. That’s just the minimum ration. In reality, I can get nearly ten vials.”
Saying that, Jason reached behind him and pulled a small pouch from the waist of the light armor he had taken off earlier. A crisp tinkling sound rang out as he tugged it free.
Ron’s heart stirred, and he suddenly realized what Jason was reaching for!
Sure enough, after pulling off the small pouch, Jason tossed it casually toward Ron. Ron was startled in that moment. Judging by the sound, they were small glass vials. Wasn’t Jason worried about breaking them, tossing them like that?
As if seeing Ron’s concern, Jason said carelessly, “Don’t worry! The vials that hold Ignition Potion are all made by alchemists. Unless you take a hammer and smash them with all your might, they won’t break no matter how much they clank around.”
Hearing Jason say this, Ron finally felt reassured. Compared to him, a newcomer, Jason was obviously far more experienced and authoritative in such matters.
“Open it and take a look. I specifically exchanged for these for you this afternoon.”
At Jason’s gesture, Ron opened the pouch and saw five small, test-tube-shaped vials resting quietly inside. The open ends were sealed with wooden stoppers, and they appeared to contain some kind of liquid.
When peering in through the opening, he could distinctly see a fiery red glow, as though a tongue of flame had been bound within each vial.
Ron picked up one vial of Ignition Potion. The sensation in his hand was warm, even slightly hot to the touch, making him marvel inwardly at how unscientific it was. These Ignition Potions, which appeared to have no insulation mechanism whatsoever, still maintained a considerable temperature from the time Jason exchanged for them until now.
He was willing to bet that even if these Ignition Potions sat for another month, their temperature wouldn’t change noticeably.
This was truly inconceivable, a complete violation of common sense.
Although Ron knew that on Earth there were liquids capable of sustained heat generation, none lasted very long. The simplest example was hot water.
Even hot water boiled using nuclear power would still cool rapidly. This was determined by the fundamental properties of water as a substance.
“I really am not on Earth anymore!” Ron sighed inwardly.
Looking again at the five vials of Ignition Potion in his hand, he suddenly felt a sense of weightiness. After a moment’s thought, he repacked the potions and held the pouch out to Jason, saying solemnly:
“Uncle Jason, you should keep these. Compared to me, you’re the one who needs these potions more!”
“No, your talent far exceeds mine. And I can tell you don’t want to deliberately delay becoming a Formal Knight. In that case, become a Knight as quickly as possible, so you’ll still have time to adapt to real combat.”
With that, Jason placed his hand on Ron’s shoulder, squeezed slightly, and continued, “As your uncle, I have to look out for you. If you truly feel guilty about it, then protect Liya well for me in the future!”
“Father!”
Liya, who had been listening with pricked ears from the side, suddenly heard her father mention her. The implication seemed to be that he was acknowledging her relationship with Ron, and she immediately let out a shy, flustered exclamation.
But she didn’t look away. Instead, she cast an expectant gaze toward the person she held dear.
At such a scene, what more could Ron say? He agreed without the slightest hesitation, taking the five vials of potion from Jason’s hands once more, as though he were also accepting an entirely new life.
“Uncle Jason, rest assured. I will treat Liya well from now on.”
Between Knights, there was no need for elaborate rhetoric. Plain words were enough to carry a Knight’s promise.
…
Afterward, Ron and Jason chatted about experiences regarding the Ice Breathing. Naturally, Jason did most of the talking while Ron listened. Liya also listened to nearly the entire conversation, and this time Jason didn’t avoid his family.
When Ron brought it up, Jason’s answer was: “Knowing is better than not knowing.”
Ron knew that something recent must have changed Jason’s mind. Since it was the man’s private matter, and he himself didn’t agree with Jason’s previous approach anyway, he didn’t press further.
Their conversation lasted until nightfall. After a hearty meal at Liya’s house, Ron finally returned to his own home. Now that he had Ignition Potion in hand, he definitely intended to investigate it using his Light Orb.
Furthermore, regarding the Ice Breathing Technique’s inheritance process, he very much wanted to know what it looked like from the perspective of his Light Orb.