Chapter 25: I’m bored, so I torture myself

“Ughhh…”

Though awake, my mind and body were so exhausted I didn’t want to leave the cozy warmth of my blankets.

“Ugh… five more minutes… eek!”

But just as I mumbled incoherently, a jolt like an electric shock shot through me, and I sprang up from the bed like a carp.

“…Why am I torturing myself like this?”

Rubbing my eyes, wiping away tears, I stumbled to the bathroom, turned on the cold water, and splashed my face.

The icy water made me shiver, chasing away some of the drowsiness.

To force myself awake, I’d set a brutal “alarm”—a pre-timed magic array that zaps me with a small current when it’s time.

…I’m really making my life miserable.

Exhaling, I returned to the living room. The once-tidy space was now cluttered with fifty or sixty bottles of colorful liquids, dazzling to the eye. Even I, who made them, had to label each one carefully to avoid mix-ups.

I stretched, pulled open the curtains, and squinted as bright sunlight flooded in, raising my hand to shield my eyes.

Once adjusted, I grabbed a simple sandwich, wolfed it down, and dove back into work.

A week had passed since taking Gu Xuanyun’s order, and the potion-making was going smoothly—thanks to my relentless, sleep-deprived grind.

I sleep only five hours a day, split into three sessions: three hours at night, one at noon, one in the afternoon.

It’s the only way. Humans have limits, and after working so hard, I need short, deep naps to recharge.

[Holy High-Tier Revival Potion]… normally a three-week job compressed into two. Besides slashing sleep to five hours in three chunks, I have no choice.

It’s more exhausting than I expected. My old body could handle sleepless nights, but now, after just a week, I’m half-dead.

“…Damn it, if he doesn’t pay me overtime, I’m not handing over the potion.”

Sniffling, I eyed the array of potion bottles, muttering as I worked. I’m slaving away—Gu Xuanyun better pay extra!

I’m such an idiot. Why didn’t I negotiate a higher price? Compressing three weeks into two is killing me!!

But my complaints were just venting—the work still had to be perfect. One slip, and this week’s effort would be wasted, plus I’d owe material costs and penalties.

…I can’t afford that. Selling me wouldn’t cover it.

While toiling over potions, the two egg babies lounged comfortably nearby.

The one-gold-coin crystal turned dull and useless in half a day. The eggs, finally fed, radiated joy before settling to digest the energy.

For now, feeding them once every week or two is enough. Too much might overwhelm them; too little could stunt their growth.

Seeing them content, I sighed in relief, my motivation surging to tackle this grueling potion task.

Even with the tight schedule, I kept every step precise—no sloppiness allowed.

Each used potion bottle was sealed and moved aside immediately. My hands moved steadily, not fast, to avoid knocking anything over.

Over a hundred intricate steps, each one critical, no room for error.

It’s a huge test for my mental energy.

Despite recovery potions, I push my mental limits daily—but there’s a silver lining: each time, my mental capacity grows slightly.

…It’s like hellish training, but maybe I’ll be able to cast three more fireballs by the end.

I consoled myself with that thought, diligently continuing. The [Holy High-Tier Revival Potion] is a Level 8 potion, and as a Level 10 Alchemist, I can handle it—it’s just exhausting.

Though I’ve lost much of my memory, my magical knowledge and skills remain intact, which I’m endlessly grateful for.