Inside the alchemy laboratory, Lucien massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
He let out a helpless sigh. He had just realized that his previous Year-Loan was about to be fully paid off. Could the System really not stand to see him idle for even a second?
The timing was always just a little too perfect.
Pushing aside the System's apparent "mischief" for the moment, Lucien turned his attention to the semi-transparent interface floating before his eyes to examine the new loan details.
"Youth Apple..."
The name rang a bell. He wondered if it was the same one from Norse mythology.
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[Loan Project: Seed of Idun's Apple (Youth Apple)]
[Repayment Time Limit: 365 Days]
[Loan Description: This is a seed from a Youth Apple, once guarded by the Goddess Idun. When cultivated with a specific irrigation method, it will grow into a mature tree. The fruit it bears can restore youth, extend lifespan indefinitely, and permanently increase magical power.]
[Repayment Task: Successfully cure three different types of "Blood Maledictions."]
---
"The Apple of Idun..."
Lucien murmured the name, sifting through the fragments of myths he remembered.
In Norse mythology, these apples—often called the Golden Apples—were the divine treasures guarded by the Goddess Idun.
Legend had it that the Norse gods relied on eating these apples regularly to maintain their eternal youth and immortality.
As for the goddess herself, Lucien recalled she had a bit of a history with Loki, the God of Mischief. Loki had once tricked her, leading to her abduction by a giant, which nearly caused the downfall of the gods as they began to age rapidly. Later, Loki had to use his wits to rescue her.
Idun was known for her immense kindness and forgiveness. Even after such betrayal and danger, she eventually forgave Loki, believing there was still good in him.
Restore youth... Extend life...
For any creature facing the ravages of age or the shadow of death, this was an irresistible temptation.
At Lucien's current age, the desire for "youth" and "longevity" wasn't exactly pressing.
However, having a renewable source of immortality like Idun's Apples meant he wouldn't need to rely on slaying unicorns or using Qilin blood in the future.
But the part that really caught his eye was the phrase: "Increase magical power."
Lucien's gaze sharpened. He asked the System the critical question in his mind:
"System, does the magical boost from the Youth Apple break through a wizard's inherent magical core limit?"
As wizards aged, their magic grew, but everyone hit a ceiling eventually—a hard cap determined by their natural talent.
[Hah, what do you think? This is a legendary god-tier item, you know! ~]
"Talk properly."
[Hehe, yes, it can! ( ˙ω˙ )]
[The magical growth provided by the Youth Apple is an additional, permanent buff. It is not restricted by the consumer's natural magical potential.]
"Understood."
Lucien nodded slightly. That alone made it immensely valuable.
"So, how do I cultivate this seed? What does it need to bear fruit?"
[It requires a continuous supply of pure magical energy, various rare magical ingredients as fertilizer, and the blood of a mythical creature rich in Life Force.]
"The blood of a mythical creature?"
Lucien frowned. He didn't even need to ask to know where this was going.
The System chimed in before he could speak.
[Luster qualifies as the required mythical creature.]
Lucien's frown deepened. He knew Luster—his Qilin—was a true mythical beast. But if growing this apple tree required draining Luster's blood, that violated his principles.
[It only requires a single drop of blood at the beginning to activate the seed's properties. Subsequent growth relies mainly on magical energy and materials. You won't need to use the mythical creature's blood again.]
"Is that so?"
Lucien's brow smoothed out. If it was just one drop to "kickstart" the seed, that was acceptable.
Finally, his eyes settled on the repayment task: Cure three types of Blood Maledictions.
Blood Maledictions—or Blood Curses—were usually tied to the nastiest kinds of Dark Magic.
Fortunately, Lucien's talent for the Dark Arts was exceptionally high. He had a natural advantage in understanding and unraveling these kinds of curses.
Combined with other magical disciplines, the task would be challenging, but not impossible.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lucien made his decision quickly.
"Apply for the loan: Seed of Idun's Apple."
[Ding! Host has successfully applied for "Seed of Idun's Apple" (Year-Loan). The seed has been deposited into the System Space.]
[System Comment: For the sake of immortality and youth, those old fogeys will do absolutely anything!]