Chapter 4 Outrageous Deception

"Oh no, you're hurt! Let me take a look."

"Brother, you've been through so much."

Rosyth and Benson blocked him, cornering him subtly against the wall.

Ivan observed them coldly, not making any rash moves. *With injuries to contend with, he knew better than to pick a fight he'd surely lose.*

After offering those exaggerated words of concern, Rosyth feigned friendliness, leaning closer and murmured, "Listen, Ivan. That day was chaotic; we were panicked and scared, not thinking clearly. It was merely an accidental mistake."

Benson chimed in, "Exactly, just a slip-up. We were more worried for you than anyone else—we really thought of you as a good friend."

Ivan scoffed dismissively and said, "Spare me. I don't deserve friends like you. Why don't you be good friends to each other instead? Maybe next time, when danger strikes, your dear friend will pull you ahead."

Upon hearing his reply, the two exchanged glances.

Rosyth's tone gained a subtle edge of menace as he said, "Listen, you're only dealing with a small injury right now. Let that matter stay buried; don't spread any rumors—just let it go."

Benson added, "There are two of us and only one of you. No one will believe your story anyway, so don't force us to resort to other measures."

They hadn't come to reconcile but to issue a warning, ensuring Ivan wouldn't speak out and jeopardize their reputation in Flying Fish Port. The place wasn't too big; a damaged reputation could spell trouble for their future prospects.

*Upon hearing such audacious threats, even Ivan—who prided himself on his tolerance—saw red. He was the injured party, yet the perpetrators had the gall to threaten him instead. It was outrageous.*

Ivan's face darkened as he stared coldly at the pair.

Rosyth and Benson returned the glare without flinching.

"What are you doing?"

A crisp voice cut through the tension, shattering the heavy atmosphere between the three.

Not far away, a female swordsman dressed in a leather skirt stood with furrowed brows, her long legs striking a commanding and graceful impression.

Ivan immediately called out, "Senior Mellie!"

This girl was a disciple of the Cassia Swordsmanship Hall, a formidable talent who had already reached the level of squire, only one step away from Knight Class. She was also the top student of the hall and the daughter of the hall master.

Seeing someone mistreating a fellow disciple at the Cassia Swordsmanship Hall's doorstep, she wouldn't stand idly by.

"Ivan, don't forget our agreement—we'll be seeing you again."

Rosyth and Benson, who belonged to another swordsmanship hall nearby, knew of Mellie's skills and didn't dare linger. Still, as they left, they threw back one last remark, striding away confidently.

Watching their retreating figures with an icy stare, Ivan finally turned and said, "Senior Mellie, thank you for standing up for me."

Mellie brushed it off with little concern, leaving only one reminder: "Remember to study diligently; don't disgrace Cassia."

In truth, Mellie wasn't close to Ivan and had little to say. After delivering her remark, she headed back to the swordsmanship hall.

*Ivan stood rooted to the spot, pondering silently. Words were useless without strength, and he understood this perfectly. Still, he would remember this incident.*

...

Marichadon family.

Due to his injuries, Ivan stayed home to heal while diving into the books he'd brought back, beginning his study of Herbs Record Vol. 1 with focused determination.

The next afternoon, he made progress.

[Apothecary Skill Experience Point +1]

[Apothecary Skill: lv0 (5/10)]

Besides that, he confirmed another benefit of the Academic Prodigy panel: an enhanced memory and elevated focus.

*In the past, nothing—not even the most compelling reason—could get him to sit still and devour a dense book like this, much less retain its contents cover-to-cover. While his memory wasn't photographic nor his focus immune to distractions, the improvement was undeniably substantial.*

For days on end, Ivan engrossed himself in the study of medical texts, gradually losing track of time.

Outside Ivan's room, two figures peeked inside, whispering quietly.

Aunt Kasey remarked gravely, "It's been several days, and young Ivan's been glued to a book. I don't think I've even seen him blink." A worried expression spread across her face.

Given her years of familiarity with Ivan, she found this highly unusual—so unusual it left her deeply uneasy.

Peggy hesitated before asking, "Could it be—does this mean his injuries are far worse than he let on?" As she spoke, her own nerves also began fraying.

Aunt Kasey considered this seriously for a moment, then shook her head. "It doesn't seem like that—it looks more like—" The following words felt a bit offensive, and she was unsure how to voice them.

Peggy pressed further, "Like what?"

"Like he hit his head, right?"

Sean suddenly popped up, catching the other two off guard with his abrupt entrance.

Peggy clenched her fists against her chest and shot him a fierce glare.

She snapped with irritation, "What kind of nonsense is that?"

This time, Sean didn't back down but instead supported his argument with logic. "Ivan hates reading more than anything. At the sight of a book, he starts getting headaches and feeling sleepy. How could he spend several days glued to one? Ask Madam Kasey if you don't believe me."

His certainty stemmed from the fact that he shared the exact same tendency.

Aunt Kasey nodded in agreement.

Sean shrugged as though offering undeniable proof.

Peggy glanced at the two, muttering, "Maybe… Maybe you're both wrong. Maybe Ivan wants to become a pharmacist, and his passion is driving this transformation. Yes, that's definitely it."

Upon hearing that, Sean nearly rolled his eyes out of his skull. *That explanation was hard enough to buy without needing anyone's belief.*

The trio became engrossed in their speculation, completely unaware that Ivan had left his room and was now watching Sean's exaggerated eye-roll.

"Peggy understands me best—Sean, what's with that look?"

Without hesitation, Ivan smacked Sean on the back of the head, snapping his rolling eyeballs back into place.

Taking the hit without a care, Sean's attention remained fixed on Ivan's earlier comment. "Ivan, you're serious about this?"

Ivan replied, "What do you mean 'serious'? Watch my actions from now on—then you'll see."

Sean scrutinized him, searching his face for signs of jest, only to find unwavering determination. Somehow, it didn't seem like a joke.

"Oh, great. Now I can't use you as my scapegoat anymore. Looks like I'll be taking the heat all on my own from now on!" He lamented aloud, blurting out his inner thoughts without meaning to.

Peggy's tone turned sinister as she growled, "Sean, I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."

Sean laughed nervously. "I was kidding, haha!" He darted off immediately, skillfully dodging his sister's wrath—clearly an experienced escape artist.

"I believe in you, Ivan."

Peggy directed her earnest words toward Ivan before chasing after her mischief-making brother to teach him a lesson.

Aunt Kasey had long since resumed her chores, mentally discounting Ivan's declaration as mere bluff.

*"Academic Prodigy."* Ivan mused silently to himself.

[Apothecary Skill: lv0 (6/10)]

[Linguistics Skill: lv0 (1/10)]

Just moments ago, the Apothecary Skill gained another experience point, pushing him closer to leveling up.

*He felt an intense anticipation; there had to be a surprise waiting once Apothecary Skill reached lv1.*

*Next time, he'd figure out how to linger longer at Old Orio's clinic—that was clearly the ultimate experience hub.*

*And then there was the Breathing Method. Once his injuries healed, it wouldn't take long before he mastered it. Would it be possible for it to appear on his Academic Prodigy panel as a discipline? He hoped so.*