Nidhogg didn't rush to take action immediately. Instead, he focused on calming his mind and organizing his thoughts through meditation. For wizards, meditation is a means of converting mental power into equivalent levels of magical energy, as well as a basic practice to enhance mental strength.
This gives rise to the concept of wizard aptitude. Depending on one's innate aptitude, the same meditation could result in a year's worth of mental power growth for some, while for others, it might take a decade.
After an hourglass's worth of meditation, Nidhogg opened his eyes, completing the necessary daily session. Meditation isn't about prolonged duration but rather about maintaining a steady daily routine of an hourglass's worth of time. Exceeding this could lead to mental fatigue, diminishing the benefits.
He exhaled deeply, picking up a crystal ball to assess his current state.
Mental Power: 13, Magic: 125~137.
“Hmm? My magic capacity increased by two points? It seems my recent insights have indeed been impactful.”
Finally able to maintain a calm mood, Nidhogg’s eyes shone with the wisdom of a wizard as he quietly sat before his experiment station.
On the worktable lay a dissected frog in preservative solution, a white mouse squeaking in its cage, and seven or eight jars containing various insects. A sealed container with a yellow liquid held a monkey brain. Additionally, there were several bottles of mysterious liquids, exuding different scents, likely simple aromatic compounds Nidhogg had formulated based on "The Scent Spectrum." There was also a precious low-grade microscope.
Nidhogg took out his experiment notes, which documented his two years of research on "Hunter’s Nose Modification." Over these years, he had developed the ability to identify nearly 4,000 scent profiles—almost ten times beyond the average.
Massaging his temples, Nidhogg began to ponder once more.
“The Hunter’s Nose Modification is not based on bloodline magic. This was confirmed when I bought the microscope six months ago. Bloodline magic involves assimilating the blood of powerful creatures to alter and enhance one's own blood and power system through mysterious means.”
Lighting some tranquil incense—a blend he devised using "The Scent Spectrum" and alchemical knowledge to soothe the mind—Nidhogg continued his reflection.
“Since it’s not bloodline-based, and also doesn't fall within the categories I have access to—elemental, curse, mysticism, mental power, soul, alchemy, or mechanical systems—what exactly is the principle behind Hunter’s Nose Modification? And why doesn’t the magical book bear an author’s name?”
In the library, Nidhogg had tirelessly searched for similar spellbooks to corroborate his experiments. Surprisingly, the vast repository held no parallel to "Hunter’s Nose Modification"—a spell capable of evolving the wizard’s body without belonging to bloodline, alchemical, or mechanical magic.
Pacing alone in his room, Nidhogg felt a flicker of an idea and quickly returned to his worktable, pulling out the restless white mouse from its cage.
“If it’s not bloodline magic, what exactly is altered within the organism to prompt evolution? Perhaps, I should experiment to see what parts of the body the Hunter’s Nose Modification affects through the injected substances.”
With this new line of inquiry, Nidhogg seemed possessed, rummaging under the worktable until he found a bottle of red liquid.
This solution was a synthetic dye that wouldn’t harm an organism if ingested, as its harmful components would be neutralized by stomach mucosa. However, direct injection could cause mild toxicity.
A wizard wouldn't show mercy to their "experimental materials." Nidhogg had some lower-grade ingredients left for the Hunter’s Nose Modification, which only produced substandard injections incapable of granting evolutionary benefits, but sufficient for observation.
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Half a day later, Nidhogg finished producing a rudimentary Hunter’s Nose Modification compound.
Having previously extracted the mouse’s cellular blood for a neutralizing agent, Nidhogg otherwise would have faced weeks of preparation.
Grabbing a fine needle, he injected the compound into the mouse, patiently waiting to observe its effects.
Two days later.
Under the microscope, Nidhogg discovered experimental results that left him astounded.
“How is this possible? The mouse’s cells all exhibit signs of toxicity? Every cell stained red by the dye? How can that be? Only the nose was supposed to ‘evolve,’ so why would every cell undergo a change?”
Nidhogg was incredulous, yet also thrilled.
Perhaps today marked a major breakthrough.
However, Nidhogg couldn’t continue his research in his small lab because the microscope, although an expensive acquisition from Blacksword Tower, was just a beginner's model. Priced at thirty magic stones, it only allowed observation of microscopic cells, a standard tool for apprentice-level knowledge. For detailed cellular changes, a more advanced microscope was needed.
The experiment couldn’t be stopped!
Determined, Nidhogg clutched his equipment and headed directly to Blacksword Tower—the heart of the wizard academy.
The Blacksword Tower spanned a vast area; the ground floor resembled a massive marketplace extending beyond sight. Without delay, Nidhogg rushed to the top seventh floor.
“I need to rent a high-power microscope.”
Holding his gear, Nidhogg spoke urgently.
The apprentice managing the precious equipment rentals glanced at Nidhogg, replying calmly, “One magic stone per day. However, if any equipment is damaged during use, the enforcement team will hold you accountable.”
Shocked by the rental cost of a high-power microscope, Nidhogg gritted his teeth, handed over a magic stone, and hurried into the laboratory.
One day later, Nidhogg exited the lab, his expression grim as he approached the apprentice in charge. “Does the academy have even more advanced microscopes available?”
“More advanced?”
Surprised by Nidhogg’s question, the apprentice replied, “You, a mere wizard apprentice, need such precise data for potion research that not even our high-power microscopes suffice?”
Typically, only alchemical potions required stringent microscope use, and occasionally, certain mechanical studies did too. Other disciplines rarely needed them.
The apprentice shrugged dismissively. “Our academy isn't particularly strong in alchemy, so we don't have anything more advanced… Wait, I remember now.”
Nidhogg expressed hope, “Really, there is one?”
The apprentice gave Nidhogg an odd look before smirking. “My mentor has an even finer microscope, rumored to have been purchased from the Seventh Ring Holy Tower.”
“Your mentor?”
Nidhogg’s face fell; he didn’t need to be told his mentor was a great wizard, making borrowing a microscope from them a daunting prospect.
Despite his dread, Nidhogg asked hesitantly, “May I know who your mentor is?”
“You don’t need to know who my mentor is, but if you can give me twenty magic stones, I’ll let you use it once when they’re away. Deal?”
The apprentice winked at Nidhogg, as if sharing a mischievous secret.
“Twenty magic stones!”
Nidhogg felt like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumping in shock. “Are you crazy? Just for one use, that’s outrageous!”
“Hey, I’m taking a big risk too. If my mentor finds out, I’m in serious trouble. You decide. Not a stone less,” the apprentice said nonchalantly. “Name’s Valo, come find me if you’re interested.”
Nidhogg bit back his frustration and left.
He didn’t even have two magic stones to spare, let alone twenty. His resources amounted to just one and a half stones.
“Think, think, how can I get those damned twenty magic stones!”
Nidhogg paced anxiously.
Borrowing wasn’t an option.
In two years, Nidhogg hadn’t made new friends, and he couldn't bring himself to ask his Bloodsail Alliance friends unless absolutely necessary.
“A great wizard uses their mastery of knowledge to achieve their ideals. I have this knowledge of the Hunter’s Nose Spell. How can I leverage it to get those magic stones?”
Rubbing his head, Nidhogg was near despair when he noticed the array of scent mixtures on his lab table.
“Hmm? Maybe… I could sell these fragrances? Yes! I could create scent compounds based on the Scent Spectrum that naturally attract humans.”
In a flash of inspiration, Nidhogg remembered the Scent Spectrum’s description of an aroma irresistible to humans: the pheromonal scent of sexual attraction!
Most people couldn’t detect this odor, labeled a stench in the spectrum, but when perceived, it triggered subconscious illusions in humans of the opposite sex.
Essentially, it acted as an aphrodisiac.
This spark ignited Nidhogg’s passion. Scent alchemy was his forte, honed through two years of study and previous research on East Coral Island.
Crafting a fragrance required ten scent profiles.
Three short notes to provide an immediate impact.
Three middle notes to linger for several hourglasses’ time.
Three long notes to be detected in the following days, creating a lasting impression.
Finally, a base note, the essence of the fragrance, would suppress the other nine profiles. Once smelled, this would be the scent recalled.
Though simple in practice, it involved calculating scent molecule interactions—knowledge Nidhogg gained through extensive study of the Scent Spectrum.
Most might think to blend natural floral and honey scents instead.
Nidhogg’s method involved altering the base note to resemble human pheromones.
This meant he needed to create separate fragrances for men and women.