Auric smiled wryly. He might have used a bit too much time creating the gathering technique.
At the same time, he opened the store one hour late, so it was normal for people to be waiting.
Mr. Popo said, "How about this? Since we ended up taking your time, I will help you with the store again."
Auric smiled wryly. 'What help? You just want to keep an eye on me while your daughter tests that technique. But well, this also works. If I'm lucky, I might end up making him my employee.'
Hence, Auric made another proposal. "How about Mr. Grepoepho helping me with the store? Miss Milinda and Professor Vienna should go to the rooftop to test the technique. It's preferable to use it in an open space, so it's best to head there. Just don't complain about the heat."
"Hahaha. That might be a good idea." Mr. Popo laughed.
Professor Vienna and Milinda were both quite speechless at that moment. However, they were indeed curious about the technique.
If it were as good as Auric claimed, Milinda might really evolve.
So, staying here would indeed be a good idea.
Mr. Popo was signaling to his wife to trust him. So, Professor Vienna nodded gracefully. "I understand. Let's do that."
Once they left, Auric cracked his fingers. "All right. It's time to open the store."
Mr. Popo smiled and walked toward the door to open the business.
Meanwhile, Milinda couldn't help but ask, "Mama, can we trust this? This is the first time I've seen a method that can help you gradually increase your element."
"I'm not entirely sure either. However, this kid has been taken by Vice Dean Maya as her student. She might have accepted this kid because of his exceptional talent in this area or the multiple elements he possesses."
"What? He has multiple elements?"
"According to rumors, he has two: plant and wind. So, he might know what we don't know. Either way, with my limited understanding, the concept itself is pretty simple and won't harm you."
"So, even if I try this, I won't be harmed in any way?"
"Yes. I will also be watching you, so I will stop you if anything is about to happen."
"What if this technique can really do it?"
Professor Vienna shook her head helplessly. "There are three things that could happen. First, none of the professors in our college are qualified to teach him, as he will be the first unique element evolution master in history.
"Then, we will be indebted to him. Last but not least, this kid might actually become someone at the very top in the future. He has not only multiple elements but is also a unique element evolution master. Just think about it."
Milinda contemplated. "Mama, What if I said that I would transfer to Grand Magica College as long as this technique could help me evolve—would you approve of it?"
"!!!" Professor Vienna was taken aback. "Milinda, you…"
"This person will be my benefactor. Besides, if I stay around him, wouldn't I be able to evolve again in the future? This way, I can help him while securing my chance to evolve."
Professor Vienna couldn't really refute those reasons.
"Well, I can also help him with his store. Since he's an evolution master, he's probably going to take care of this store and help students on campus, right? Just like how Papa steps in, shouldn't I help him to repay this debt?"
Professor Vienna narrowed her eyes before asking, "Are you sure that's the only reason?"
"…" Milinda looked away, blushing. Now that the fear of her evolution had vanished, she could see other things clearly.
Professor Vienna let out a long sigh. "Well, talk to your father about this. But for now, we will try to see whether he is really a unique element evolution master or not."
"Yes." Milinda nodded solemnly. She began by learning the gathering technique. It was not a complicated technique, considering Auric had removed most of the parts from the original battle technique.
There were some similarities between them, but Milinda didn't think much about it.
Once she began, the air around her changed.
The technique blew Professor Vienna's mind. 'What is this technique? Does such a weird technique exist in this world?'
'The technique claims to be able to absorb the energy from the air to supply one's element. By doing this, the magical energy will stick to the heart and increase one's element…'
Professor Vienna gasped. She didn't need to become a professor in the Element Department to figure out the potential of this technique.
'Won't this method also increase other people's energy? It doesn't necessarily need to be the same element. If all elements can just use this to evolve, won't they just use it to evolve rather than rely on evolution masters for help?'
Professor Vienna had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was amazed by the potential of this technique. It could definitely change the world. On the other hand, wouldn't this kind of technique put evolution masters out of business?
As an evolution master himself, Auric should have known what would happen if this kind of technique were spread throughout the world.
Usually, the evolution masters would stick together so that no one could bully them. With such a technique, Auric might end up getting condemned by the Evolution Association.
There were still a lot of things that she didn't understand about this technique, but she could see that this technique might actually work for her daughter.
She gulped and carefully observed the process. She had to make sure that her daughter didn't pass the limit.
Meanwhile, Auric and Mr. Popo were having a war with the customers. They were rushing to receive treatment from Auric.
Fortunately, they managed to hold on like they did the previous day.
"Haa… We're safe now." Mr. Popo wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Today seems to be busier than yesterday was."
"Yeah. Thank you for the help." Auric nodded.
"What do you want for lunch? Never mind. There is actually a good store not far from here. Since my family is here, I will buy the food from that store. What do you like? I suggest a qoniac."
"I will follow your—" Before Auric could agree, a female voice interrupted him.
"Papa!"
"!!!" Mr. Popo turned around with a shocked face.
Milinda had returned and even summoned her avatar, showing a significant difference from the one in his memory.
The change meant one thing. Milinda's avatar had evolved.
"You…" Mr. Popo gasped. He had hope, but he thought there was a low chance that it would work. He had partially given up, but the result was right before him.
It worked. His daughter could finally advance.
Professor Vienna stood behind her and gave a nod, confirming that she had evolved.
Since Milinda only needed 1%, it didn't take long for her to reach it, especially with an S grade affinity.
Still, the process was faster than Ellia's. Then again, Ellia was also busy with her company, so she might not have trained as effectively as Milinda.
Either way, she succeeded.
"Are you really…" Mr. Popo rushed to her, his body shaking uncontrollably.
"I have evolved, Papa." Milinda smiled from ear to ear, unable to contain her happiness. The long struggle was finally over.
"My Milinda…" Mr. Popo's voice was shaking. Tears started streaming down his face as he dropped to his knees.
Many memories surfaced in his mind.
A memory of the young Milinda puffing her chest and declaring, "Papa, I'm going to make Papa and Mama proud. I will become stronger than Papa and wiser than Mama. This way, I will protect both of you in the future."
It was a kid's goal, but Milinda took it seriously as she did her best to practice.
There were a lot of expectations on her shoulders, but she kept pushing forward, unwavering.
If it were Milinda, she might be able to do it. Mr. Popo had no doubt that Milinda would eventually become stronger than him.
However, that incident occurred.
"Congratulations. You have Grade S affinity and a unique element…" The teacher's tone became lower when he read the second part.
A unique element. All of them knew the struggle a unique-element user had.
She would be lucky to evolve once. She would be extremely lucky to evolve twice. There were not many people in the world that could evolve three times. And only two people on the planet could evolve more than that.
"What…" Milinda's dream shattered in that instant. She had always wanted to become stronger than her parents to make them proud.
And it was impossible to do if she possessed a unique element. A Grade S affinity had lifted her up to the sky, but the element had dragged her back down to the bottom of the earth.
Milinda fell into despair once more.
"Papa… Mama…" Milinda's body was shaking as she couldn't believe the result.
Seeing his daughter in such a state, Mr. Popo just hugged his daughter while crying. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Don't give up. Papa will make sure you can evolve. Believe in Papa."
"Mama is also going to help."
Mr. Popo remembered how hard he had worked. He cut down countless beasts to find the perfect materials for his daughter.
"Dear. We can use this beast to help her. I have carefully calculated the amount of energy it possesses. It should be perfect." Professor Vienna gave a confirmation about the last material required.
Mr. Popo immediately retrieved it. He still remembered how thrilled he was to be able to accomplish his goal.
However, the happiness was short-lived.
"What?" Mr. Popo's jaw dropped. "What do you mean by 99%? Isn't it supposed to be 100%?"
Milinda fell into despair one more time.
"This… the material is damaged. It ends up reducing its efficacy…"
Mr. Popo couldn't speak anymore. He remembered the smiles when they were convinced Milinda could evolve.
When he turned his head around and saw a face full of despair, his heart broke.
"Milinda, I…" Mr. Popo's voice was shaking. He had made the biggest mistake in his life.
Milinda would hate him for the rest of her life. He had just become the worst parent in the world.
He had ruined his daughter's future with his own hands.
Milinda bit her lip. She must have been angry, yet she actually turned her head around and forced the best smile she could.
She said with a cracked voice. "It's fine, Papa. I know the risk beforehand. This is no one's fault. Even if I can't become strong, I can still work in other industries."
Mr. Popo might feel better if Milinda had just lashed out at him. But her kind words were what truly broke him.
Milinda knew he had done his best to help her, so she didn't blame him. And that just made it hurt even more.
"I… I…"
Mr. Popo was screaming in his heart. How many times had he been haunted by this same nightmare?
He often looked at his own hands and found them covered in blood. The blood of the materials that ended up ruining his daughter's future.
He wanted it to stop. It might even be better if he paid for this mistake with his own life if it could really make things right.
"Heaven! Why do you want to take the opportunity away from my daughter?! Just kill me if you want. Just let my daughter… evolve in peace."
However, that nightmare was finally gone. His daughter could finally stand before him with an evolved avatar.
She stood there with a genuine smile.
His hands reached out toward her as if he was trying to convince himself that this was real.
"Papa. Thank you for working so hard for me. I'm fine now."
"Aaahhhh!" Mr. Popo screamed as he hugged his daughter tightly. If this were a dream, he didn't want to wake up from it.
Professor Vienna was smiling in the background, watching them. She knew how much her husband had struggled all this time.
Milinda hugged him back, showing how grateful she was.
"Hehe. This is because of us." Lindwurm crossed his arms, proud of himself.
'Shhh. Just stay quiet and watch it. Isn't it beautiful?'