"Little one, you're reading, why are you taking so long on this page? Is there something you don't understand?" ヾ（′▽｀*）ゝ
Jon's voice rang out, his tone as friendly as possible.
Little Ron was engrossed in the book's description of the elemental realms when he finally noticed someone approaching.
"There are so many things I don't understand, sir, can you tell me?"
Ron remarked that Jon looked much older than he was.
With a child's innocent yet polite words, Jon completely forgot what Bolton had said earlier.
Does this seem like a genius boy who disrespects his elders?
Bolton is becoming increasingly unreliable, taking advantage of his trust in others!
Jon, who secretly planned to give Bolton a good scolding when he got back, said kindly to little Ron, "Okay, little guy, feel free to ask!"
Taking advantage of the opportunity to have someone answer his questions, Ron asked questions such as: How was the Thunder Domain Elemental Secret Realm formed? Do people in this world have an affinity for thunder elements? How can some people enter and leave the Thunder Domain?
What causes the elemental tides, and is the beast tide they cause real? In the book, when Anthony was weaker, he even escaped a beast tide...
One question after another.
At first, Jon didn't think anything of it, but after several questions, not one of them was about potions.
What happened? (′｀;) ?
Is there anything that Ron, the little genius, doesn't understand when reading Anthony's Pharmacology Made Easy?
Or is it that this little guy simply isn't interested in the pharmacology of potions?
Thinking about this, any guess would only make Jon unhappy.
Jon Lawson suddenly stopped explaining and said, as if persuading, "Little one, do you have any questions about potions in this book?"
"Yes, of course! This is it: an analysis of the causes of elemental mutations in the Mercury Flower Demon Plant as it grows in different regions!"
Why does mercury flower exhibit only one characteristic whether it's grown in scorching heat or freezing cold?
"Other magical potions have changed over the past hundred years, but only a few magical potions, including the Mercury Flower magical plant, have remained unchanged..."
"..."
"The speculations and reasoning about this in the book always seemed to be missing something..."
Finally, a smile reappeared on Jon's aged face.
The little guy really does research potions, that's enough. However, his previous curiosity about the world should keep him on guard against the little guy having the idea of becoming an adventurer.
Old Jon quickly said, "Little fellow, you don't know, do you? This book is a basic introduction to pharmacology. I've seen another explanation in other masters' books. Listen to it..."
"..."
There are countless pharmacological terms in this other world. Ron extracted information from Old Jon's long speech, namely that the mercury flower was transplanted from the Holy Land of Light.
Miracles occurred there more than a thousand years ago!
God, under certain conditions, transcends all the common sense of the material world!
These magical plants transplanted from the Holy Land of Light exhibit only one characteristic: they are utterly unreasonable regardless of changes in the elemental environment.
Ron asked again about the miracle.
Ron seemed much more interested in this than he had been in the Elemental Realm.
Old Jon was very skilled at rhetoric. When answering Ron's question, he consciously added information about potion-making, intending to guide Ron's ambition towards an elemental profession.
After a long while, Ron pondered old Jon's words, and his childish voice fell silent for a moment.
After a moment of silence, old Jon finally spoke up: "Young man, why did you ask a question from the back of the book? Did you understand all the ones from before?"
Ron, having absorbed the lessons taught by old Jon, replied without hesitation, "The beginning of the book? I think I understand it now! I'll try it out sometime in the future."
The genetics of magical plants seems to have truly piqued Ron's interest!
Upon hearing this, Old Jon asked, "What do you mean by 'almost'? Are you sure the earlier parts of the book are correct?"
Unconvinced, Old Jon asked in a test-like manner, "Why does the Ice Soul Lotus exhibit water and fire properties in the Fire Domain Monster Forest, while its ice attribute is hidden?"
"It's simple. The book says it was influenced by another kind of magical plant. I guess this magical plant should be a fire-type ancient tree. There are rumors that fire-type druids appear there. I really wonder if that kind of ancient tree can really transform into a fire tree spirit? A humanoid fire tree spirit!"
"..."
"Okay, let's leave that question at that. Now, another question: Guang Shen grass... this kind of grass..."
"..."
"..."
One question after another.
Finally, the composure on old Jon's face disappeared, replaced by excitement.
"Little Ron, is it? Would you like to become my apprentice?"
"No, thank you Grandpa Jon, but Ron doesn't want to become an apprentice!"
Old Jon's face immediately fell.
"Why?"
"No reason?"
"..."
After a few more words, Ron had no choice but to say helplessly, "My ambition is to become a magic swordsman, and the main profession of potion master is not suitable for me."
"A magic swordsman? Isn't that just an adventurer? What's so great about being an adventurer? A potion master is much better—respected and safe!"
"No, not a magic sword adventurer, but a magic sword lord!"
"The little guy is right, wouldn't the Potions Master Lord be even better!"
"A powerful lord is best..."
"..."
After much back and forth, Ron refused to budge, and eventually all he could manage were "oh oh oh" and similar refrains.
It's clearly just a perfunctory response, just like it was with Bolton back then...
However, old Jon still didn't want to give up...
Ron finally felt bad and blurted out, "Actually, Grandpa Jon, my potion-making talent is just average, but my talent in the other four elements—water, earth, wind, and fire—is alright."
"The theory in this book is just so coincidentally clear."
"..."
However, at this moment, it was clear that old Jon didn't quite believe it.
Ron added, "Look, I sometimes can't even tell the difference between fire potions and wind potions, those dozen or so chickens are proof of that!"
As he spoke, Ron solemnly recounted the invention process of the magic potion feast, though he couldn't go into the specifics, except for the part about the free-range chicken used in the tasting.
Finally, after testing young Ron on a few more basic potion-related questions, old Jon finally believed him.
Ron breathed a sigh of relief and said, "See, grandpa, I'm really not a potions genius!"
After a moment of silence, old Jon suddenly laughed, finally able to laugh heartily at young Ron's ignorance.
"Little one, don't you know? There are geniuses in the world when it comes to potion theory!"
"Potion theory is sometimes superior to potion practice..."
"..." Once again, the old man launched into a long speech.
Well, Ron has learned something new. In his previous life, theoretical physicists, experimental physicists... specialized fields of civilization really existed.
Magical civilization has developed to this point.
"I'm not a genius!"
"No, it's not!"
"..."
"No!"
"You are it."
"You're a genius in potion theory!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com