"Hey, hey, student! Where are you going?" Rebecca was stopped by the gate guard the moment she reached the entrance.

"I'm not... a student... I'm here to see someone..." Rebecca lied coolly, without a trace of nervousness.

The guard eyed her suspiciously. She wore a nun's habit—though some academy students dressed similarly, he couldn't confirm her status. Normally, students panicked when stopped, but Rebecca met his gaze calmly. Her mature aura didn't match her young age; she hardly seemed like a student.

"Excuse me... may I... leave?"

"Oh... oh?" The guard hesitated, still uncertain. Yet this girl was stunningly beautiful. If she were a student, he should remember her after years on duty. He couldn't forget such a face. Perhaps she truly wasn't one?

Ignoring his thoughts, Rebecca smoothly mimicked Norna Faith etiquette. She raised her palm and lightly tapped her forehead three times before walking away.

"Hmph... is she really from our academy? Probably not. A nun-student wouldn't skip class... Yeah, she's not one..." The guard reasoned it out. It was unlikely for a nun-student to ditch lessons. Poor fool... you met a fake nun...

Rebecca left the academy, strolled leisurely past the city gates, and headed straight south to where Kelan beans grew abundantly. She gathered plenty, then used ice magic to freeze them—these spoiled quickly after picking. Next, she flew through the sky, collecting useful materials and herbs. She returned fully loaded.

This time, she came back early with ample time. So Rebecca visited apothecaries in Rucadan. Today had been tight; she'd missed some herbs. To avoid trouble, she didn't linger outside long. She feared Duke Ruta might fly into a rage.

Though fresh Kelan beans weren't available in Rucadan, other herbs were plentiful—including most for treating Duke Ruta's heart condition. Any missing ones, she'd just gathered outside.

"Oh~~ hello~ hello~~" A voice suddenly called out as Rebecca examined shop herbs.

She looked up. A familiar face—the Witch Maiden from Hobi Library.

Rebecca paused, remembering. This Witch Maiden had claimed to possess many Demon Potion recipes.

"Hey~ you seem well-versed in Demon Potions. My subordinates told me you searched Rucadan for Golden Sand Lizards. What for? I can't recall any potion needing them. Tell me?" The Witch Maiden's hunched figure still looked frightening, but it didn't faze Rebecca.

"Adding Golden Sand Lizard to a Demon Potion... is my... own idea," Rebecca said. This potion held her greatest secret; she couldn't share it.

Though her speech was still halting, it was better than last time. The Witch Maiden understood.

"You can improve Demon Potions? You must have studied for years!" The Witch Maiden was amazed. Demon Potions weren't ordinary medicine—they held magic. Brewing them risked accidents; many alchemists suffered magical backlash from carelessness. Few dared alter existing recipes.

Rebecca nodded.

The Witch Maiden smiled slightly, though it wasn't pleasant. "Then let's discuss Demon Potions. We might have much to share~"

Rebecca thought, glancing at the sky. "Tomorrow... too late today... I'll come tomorrow..."

"Good!" The Witch Maiden didn't doubt she was brushing her off. She asked Rebecca to wait, then returned from the back with an Alchemy Codex. She handed it over as a goodwill gesture.

Rebecca froze. She hadn't expected this scary-looking Witch Maiden to be so generous—offering a treasured handwritten Alchemy Codex, not the printed market versions. It held rare recipes unavailable elsewhere. Her offer at Hobi Library hadn't been a lie.

"For me?" Rebecca asked blankly.

"Yes. We'll exchange much in the future~ hehehe~" The Witch Maiden's laugh was still chilling...

"Thank you..."

"What are you buying these for now?" the Witch Maiden asked curiously.

"To cure illness..."

"Cure? With Demon Potions?" The Witch Maiden was intrigued. Demon Potions had healing effects but often caused bizarre, unpredictable magical side effects—even destruction. That's why they were shunned as lowly craft.

"No... not Demon Potions... I practice medicine... these are herbs..." Rebecca explained.

"I see."

"How much... for these..." Rebecca selected her items and moved to pay.

"Charge her cost price," the Witch Maiden told the clerk.

Rebecca glanced at her, accepting the kindness. She knew they'd interact often. This Witch Maiden, though frightening, seemed fond of her. Rebecca planned to teach her some Demon Race's treasured Demon Potions later as thanks.

"I'm leaving... I'll come tomorrow..." Rebecca said after paying.

"Good~" The Witch Maiden flashed that unsettling smile again.

Just as Rebecca reached the door, the Witch Maiden called out: "The Ruta Family sent people today. They're asking about you at every herb and potion shop in Rucadan..."

Rebecca paused and turned.

"Did you offend them?"

She shook her head. "Too complicated... I'll explain tomorrow... to you..."

Rebecca sighed inwardly. This was Charles's doing—he was suspicious, as expected. He'd already publicly doubted her. She'd need to be careful from now on.

"They had your portrait, asking what herbs you bought. But I control all shops here. I caught it in time and silenced them. Don't worry."

Rebecca was stunned again. This time, she smiled genuinely. "Thank you..."

The Witch Maiden smiled back. "Let's discuss Demon Potions tomorrow~"

Rebecca left. The Witch Maiden turned to her subordinates: "That girl said those herbs are for curing illness, not strange Demon Potions. I believe her. When the Ruta Family comes, tell them what she bought—but not everything. Follow my orders."

"Yes!"