Picking up Girls With My System

"And who are you?" Arthur said.

He would not let someone appear and talk shit, especially to his friend, who had done nothing wrong.

"Don't you know who I am? Well, you three are new around here, so I will forgive you this time. Look at the top of these two stones." Leonard said, pointing toward two of the nearby stones.

One was the ranking of the best magical blacksmith, and the other one the best enchanter, both only to those below the rank 1. The name at the top of both stones was Leonard, and that was exactly the person they were talking to.

Arthur quickly picked up the entire situation, and he respected the prowess of the youth in front of him, but could not understand the reason for such words.

Why would he talk shit about others who wished to walk the same path as him? Was he so insecure that someone would surpass him? It made little sense. No matter how good you are at something, there is always someone better.

"I see. You are the best at both things. But why are you diminishing others? Are you afraid of losing your spot?"

"Lose my spot? Impossible. No matter how hard he tries, he will never surpass me."

"So, are you willing to let us in peace, then? If he does not pose any threat to you, then everything should be fine. I don't think someone as grand as you would go back with your words." Arthur said.

The way he spoke in a melodic voice convinced not only Leonard, but everyone around it as well. Arthur was way more experienced, especially with words, and that his charm was so high, convincing these weaklings was not a problem to him at all.

"You are right. There is no reason for me to bother with him. I will take my leave now. Always remember, Leonard is the greatest!"

Leonard said those words and then left, leaving the people nearby astonished. He was well-known for picking up fights, and usually his targets gave up because of how influential he was.

For the first time, Leonard acknowledge a defeat, and one without a fight. Defeated by the words of a new student. How surprising was that? Arthur wanted fame to get to the peak of the school, and that was exactly what he got after that event.

Everyone inside the school knew Leonard, so when both socialized, everyone got to know Arthur, too.

"Isn't he a new student? But he is already in the third circle in just one month. How monstrous is that?"

"Right! I never thought about it, but when you put it this way…"

These were the things the students talked about, but Arthur had more things to worry about, such as increasing his shadow essence conversion, and also read a lot about alchemy.

After the encounter with Leonard, Arthur had the goal of reaching the top ranking of alchemy. So, to achieve such a thing, Arthur had to first return his studies, and also start his own garden again!

There was no one around his cabin on the surface, so he started his garden at that location. Lucas and Liz did not oppose to it, and even promised to help him by watering the plants.

"Dragon Tongue, Blueberry, Red Mountain Flower…"

​ Arthur got a few useful plants from one store inside the school and cultivated them. Most of the herbs a student could get in one of these stores were the core of almost all the recipes their textbooks had.

"I should place a few formations to make it a secret."

It was a deserted place, but that did not mean no one could walk around the school and come across with his garden. Arthur did not trust those he did not know, and someone stealing his plants could happen.

"Time as well!"

He spent an entire week placing lots of formations around his garden, and around his cabin as well. Arthur also noticed someone watching him from afar once again.

At first, he thought the youth who was following Liz finally appeared again, but it turned out it was an Official Mage! Instead of getting anxious, Arthur got excited!

"This can only mean one thing, the leader of the school put someone to watch me! They are impressed by my accomplishments, and I want to keep it that way!"

If they knew he was a spy, then the school president itself would go there and kill him in public, so that was that made Arthur realize it was not the case. So, when he noticed that person watching his every move, Arthur showcased his talent with magical formations as well!

It was a field of study that did not require one to have extraordinary strength to be good at, just like most of the other diverge paths, like alchemy, smithing, and enchanting.

So, even though Arthur had a meager strength, it was not impossible for him to be good at those things. He kept placing lots of formations throughout an entire week, and the more the mysterious person saw it, the more excited it was.

"He is not only talented at cultivating mana but also in magical formations? And what is this garden about? Is he also a genius in alchemy? No way, that would be too much. He is already defying heavens!"

The mysterious cloaked person left when Arthur stopped putting the formations, going directly to the school leader to tell him about it.

Arthur smirked, happy to see that his plans had the desired effect. Not only that, but his garden and cabin were now protected, and all he had to do was wait for his herbs to grow.

Obviously, he was not willing to wait all that time and not practice in the meantime. Arthur wanted more ingredients to brew potions, but for that, he needed more money!

So, the three of them, Arthur, Liz and Lucas, took a few quests to earn the money, and also get more experience.

The quests not only gave mana stones but also contribution points that could buy less expensive things, like the normal alchemy ingredients Arthur wanted.

A magical weapon like the one Lucas wanted was unique, so it was not possible to buy with the contribution points, but mana stones, and a lot of them.

They had talked with Lucas and aimed for a weaker weapon, and not the top one he first wanted. The weaker ones still cost mana stones, but it was a realistic amount.

"Now that I think of, even weaker mages came in contact with mana stones on the central continent. Back then, I did not even know these things existed!"

The more Arthur explored the central continent, the more he realized how weaker his own continent was.

"The first mission wants us to talk with the mayor of a nearby village, and identify what is behind the mysterious disappearing's in the village."

That type of quest was something Arthur enjoyed, and it seemed Liz was the same person.

"Maybe a monster? Or a killer? A vampire? Ahh, I cannot wait to uncover this mystery. You two bird heads, let's go!"