Chapter 49: Safe Haven

My previous identity? The daughter of a northern grand duke!

Even if I rarely left home, I attended major banquets—meaning my face, while not well-known, was seen by nobles.

The original Su Mengmeng was just a decorative figure, bluntly put, a tool for future marriage alliances. How could someone like that vanish for a year and return as a Level 10 Alchemist?

That’s suspicious as hell. If someone who knew “me” spots me, what excuse could I possibly give?

So, unless absolutely necessary, I’d better stay far from the capital or noble circles to avoid trouble.

Where should I go, then? Claim I’m just an errand runner, not the real Su Mengmeng?

Who’d buy that…

“…How about… Academy City?”

The thought struck me after some pondering.

Alchemy commissions aren’t easy to come by. There are tons of alchemists with workshops, all scrambling for orders—I can’t compete with them alone.

Right now, Gu Xuanyun’s high-complexity, high-reward commissions are my main income.

But after these, there aren’t many high-value commissions left, even in a border city like this.

Though a third-tier border city, Black Obsidian is prosperous due to war and hunting profits, driving demand for potions.

I could keep earning here, but it circles back to the issue… safety isn’t guaranteed.

Academy City is different.

The human empire has five major academies, each with seventy to eighty thousand students—a massive income source. The facilities, staff, and services are top-notch, offering great opportunities, environments, and safety.

I’d just focus on high-end potions—ones those workshops can’t easily make.

The students are rich kids; they won’t skimp on payments. Plus, Academy City’s environment would be great for my egg babies’ growth.

“…Yes! I’ll open a potion shop there, taking high-tier orders. Stable income, great environment, and much safer… perfect!”

Imagining a stable, happy future, I giggled in bed, hugging my egg babies.

It’s decided! Once I save enough here, I’ll take them to Academy City to settle down.

But… doesn’t that mean the armor and weapons I bought were a waste?

“…Ugh, that stings. Shouldn’t have bought them, such a waste…”

I grumbled, feeling the loss—but I’d bought them already, and no way was I returning them to Golden Skull now.

“Whatever, I’ll keep them for self-defense.”

Optimistic again, I figured they might come in handy. Better than agonizing over it when I could be sleeping soundly.

With that, I curled up lazily, hugging my egg babies, ready to nap.

Since waking up, I haven’t had a single day to truly rest. Today’s a rare chance to slack off.

From the moment I awoke, I’ve been running around for my and my egg babies’ survival, squeezing in training for my body and mental energy whenever possible.

But today, with my body aching and begging to stay in bed, I let my mental energy relax, skipping meditation.

Outside, the city guard patrolled noisily, interrogating people.

But right now, curled up with my egg babies in this warm blanket, it felt like my only safe haven, cozy and comforting.

“Phew… if only we could live like this every day…”

Murmuring drowsily, I hugged them tighter and drifted back to sleep.