“Really, I’m sorry! I got too excited analyzing the data. I’ll be more careful next time!” Timaeus apologized sincerely. “I’ll continue refining my findings. If you’re curious, feel free to ask me anytime!”
As Timaeus’s enthusiastic apology drew to a close, Albedo approached with the potions he had prepared.
He took a small sip from one vial, paused to evaluate its effects, and nodded in satisfaction. “As expected, it’s safe for consumption.”
Handing over two vials to Jia Changjiang and one to Lumine, Albedo offered a word of advice: “Drink slowly, and if you feel any discomfort, take deep breaths.”
Jia Changjiang stared at the two vials before him. “I’m drinking both? Are you sure they won’t, I don’t know… explode in my stomach?”
Albedo considered the question with a thoughtful expression. “Highly unlikely. Based on general principles, even consuming two different elemental potions would only cause minor reactions, as the elements would simply dissipate harmlessly within your body.”
He gestured to the vials. “To minimize risks, I’ve selected the milder elements—water and ice. At worst, you might feel a slight chill in your stomach.”
Pointing to the first vial, Albedo instructed, “Drink this one first. Once the elemental energy is absorbed, follow it with the second.”
“Alright, here goes nothing.”
Jia Changjiang picked up the first vial and downed it in one go.
To his surprise, it tasted sweet—pleasant, even. “Huh. Not bad.”
Albedo nodded. “The first potion is meant to saturate your body with elemental energy. It sets the stage for observing any subsequent reactions when the second potion is introduced.”
After waiting a moment, Albedo gestured toward the second vial. “You can drink the second one now.”
Jia Changjiang complied, this time noticing a cool sensation as the liquid went down. Once both potions were in his system, he gave his stomach a thoughtful pat. “So… am I supposed to feel anything? Because I don’t.”
He stood there, waiting for something dramatic to happen, but there was nothing. Just a faint urge to burp from drinking too quickly.
“No discomfort? Not even a stomachache?” Albedo asked.
“Nope,” Jia Changjiang replied, shaking his head. Then, suddenly, he burped—releasing a few small shards of ice from his mouth.
“Well…” Albedo observed the icy fragments with interest. “It seems the potions did react, but the effects were so mild that you didn’t notice them. Your natural resistance must have mitigated the impact.”
“Guess it’s my turn now!” Lumine said eagerly, taking her potion and drinking it.
The moment it hit her stomach, her expression twisted in discomfort.
“It burns!” she gasped, clutching her stomach. “How did you two drink this stuff so easily?!”
Jia Changjiang licked his lips and shrugged. “Sweet and refreshing. Honestly, it tasted great to me.”
Albedo offered an explanation. “Experiencing some discomfort is normal—it indicates that elemental energy is flowing smoothly within your body. The stronger the reaction, the more dynamic the elemental flow.”
“Wait, you knew it would feel awful, and you still drank it yourself?” Paimon asked, incredulous.
Albedo nodded, smiling faintly. “Of course. As the one who prepared the potions, it’s my responsibility to test them first and ensure your safety.”
“What if something had gone wrong?” Lumine demanded. “What if you got hurt? Who would pay us then?”
Albedo chuckled. “Perhaps this is the confidence of a scholar. It prevents unnecessary trouble.”
After reviewing his notes, Albedo presented his findings. “To summarize: Lumine shows no abnormalities. As for Jia Changjiang, the primary distinction lies in his heightened resistance to elemental energy.”
Lumine mulled over the results before turning to Jia Changjiang with a teasing smile. “So I’m perfectly normal, but you’re basically just a tough-skinned hilichurl berserker, huh?”
Before she could react, Jia Changjiang clamped a hand over her face, his fingers pressing against her temples. “I can’t let you live after saying that.”
“Ow, stop! That hurts!” Lumine flailed, smacking his hand away after a brief struggle.
Paimon pouted as the dust settled. “The results feel… kind of underwhelming. I thought it’d be something special.”
Albedo offered a small, enigmatic smile. “Special isn’t always ideal. There’s a certain beauty in being ordinary.”
He elaborated, “The advantage of being ordinary is that the world around you becomes a mirror—full of people who can understand, relate to, and support you.
“When you’re sick, doctors who share your humanity can diagnose and treat you. When you make mistakes, you can turn to others who’ve stumbled in the same way for guidance.
“But those who are truly unique… they can’t enjoy these simple comforts. Their very nature sets them apart.”
Albedo paused, then continued, “For instance, humans cannot comprehend the lives of Pyro Regisvines or Stormterror. Do you understand what I mean?”
Jia Changjiang considered this thoughtfully. “That may be true, but no matter the world, there are countless people who spend their lives fighting to escape ordinariness—to carve out a place in the extraordinary.”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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