Wizard: I'm leveling up by AFK in another world

Claire kicked a stone from the roadside, feeling somewhat annoyed.

Even though he was far from the classroom, the stench from the Ghost Crab seemed to still linger on him.

"I shouldn't have gotten so engrossed in reading..." he said, somewhat annoyed.

If you spend some time practicing seriously, even if you can't outshine Julian, at least you won't be so embarrassed.

But it's nothing special.

"Claire, don't take it too seriously." Rhodes, noticing his friend's unease, quickly comforted her. "Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, you've been too tired lately, it's normal for you to be in a bad mood..."

"I'm fine," Claire interrupted him.

"Where are you going? Back to your dorm to rest? You haven't been to the meditation room Miss Elena gave you yet, why don't you go take a look now?"

Claire wanted to refuse, but seeing her friend's worried expression, she swallowed her words.

"...Alright, let's go take a look first."

"Alright!" Rod exclaimed with delight. "Come with me!"

……

……

"And then, here you are?"

Claire put down her book, looked at Rhodes in front of her, and looked embarrassed.

This was the third time Rod had come to see him this week, and each time his expression was worse than the last.

"Listen to me..."

"What are you thinking?" Rhodes snatched Claire's book and tossed it aside. "Everyone outside is laughing at you! I don't know who's so bored, staring at someone else's meditation room the whole time..."

Last week after class, Claire promised to visit Elena's meditation room, and she did indeed meditate there diligently for the next two days.

Starting on the third day, the guy began to disappear from time to time, and Rod always managed to find him on the same bookshelf in the library.

Claire picked up the book and dusted it off. "Rhodes, calm down."

"I can't stay calm!" Rhodes almost shouted. "I don't want to see you ruin yourself like this!"

"Since you aspire to Potions, and know your talent is far inferior to Julian's, why did you make that foolish bet with him?"

Claire scratched her head; it was indeed a bit difficult to explain.

If he answered that it was just a whim, he was afraid the red-haired youth in front of him would go crazy with anger.

After much deliberation, he had no choice but to agree to his worried friend's request, promising to spend the rest of his time diligently practicing meditation in the meditation room.

The real reason, of course, is that I'm almost finished reading the books on the panel.

[Knowledge of Sea Clan Potions (6/7)]

Although the progress slowed down as time went on, there were indeed only a few books left on the bookshelf that were still glowing.

As for the bet with Julian, he was initially a bit emotional, but now he doesn't care at all.

His thoughts had already drifted to the distant blue ocean.

There are giant shovel turtles, giant mouth fish, and sea monster potions...

……

……

Two weeks later.

The college was shrouded in a thick drizzle in the early morning.

Rain dripped down the eaves of the Gothic spires, splashing up chilly droplets on the black stone pavement.

The atmosphere in the introductory Potions lecture hall was even more oppressive than the weather outside.

On the podium, Professor Heller is demonstrating how to peel the spores of a broccoli mushroom with bare hands.

His thin fingers were as nimble as a scalpel, every movement precise and accurate, but his voice remained as unpleasant as ever.

"...Pay attention to the frequency of your mental energy. If it's too high, the spores will wither instantly. If it's too low, they'll crawl into your nostrils and grow a forest in your lungs."

Most of the apprentices in the audience were distracted.

Their gazes kept drifting towards the empty seat in the first row.

That's Julian's spot.

Even the apprentices who were usually the most late arrived early today, except for that arrogant blond figure who was absent.

"He took leave."

Rod's voice was low, but he couldn't hide his worry: "I've inquired, he's going into seclusion for a week to fully prepare for the intermediate apprentice level."

Claire was taking notes with her head down, the quill rustling on the parchment.

"Claire! Did you hear me?" Rhodes reached out and tugged at his sleeve anxiously. "Once he gets promoted, you'll really..."

"But I can't exactly stop him, can I?"

"...That's what you say, but aren't you worried at all?"

"I'm actually fine."

The two men fell silent when Hele's cold gaze fell upon them from the podium.

"Why doesn't Claire seem anxious at all?"

"I guess they completely gave up after hearing the news that Julian was going to be promoted."

"The situation is now clear; he's just a clown still putting on an act."

A low murmur of conversation washed over her like a tide, but Claire pretended not to hear it.

……

……

Blue Ocean Boundary, Giant Whale City.

Claire navigated the intricate steam pipes with practiced ease, arriving at that familiar place—the External Circulation Maintenance and Waste Disposal Department.

The metal office door was half-open, and the smell of cheap tobacco wafted out.

Claire pushed open the door and entered.

Seeing someone enter, the new supervisor frowned impatiently: "Didn't I say we weren't hiring temporary workers today... Oh! Isn't this Mr. Lewis?"

Upon seeing who it was, the new supervisor sprang up from his chair like a spring-loaded doll, flashing a fawning smile.

"A rare guest indeed! What brings you to a small place like ours?"

"Some research samples were left downstairs, and my supervisor asked me to retrieve them," Claire casually lied, her eyes sweeping over the familiar office.

Everything has changed.

Borg's ever-shiny ashtray was gone, and the old diving suits hanging on the wall had been replaced with brand-new promotional posters.

"Samples? Oh, no problem! That's important, please make yourself at home!" The new supervisor quickly took out a breathing stone from the drawer and handed it over with both hands. "Do you need me to send someone to help you? The water flow downstairs hasn't been very stable lately."

"No need, I can go down myself."

Claire took the breathing stone and was about to turn around when she paused slightly.

"By the way, any news about the previous supervisor, Borg?"

The new manager paused for a moment, then lowered his voice, a mysterious expression on his face:

"You don't know yet? The news has spread all over the place. That old stubborn man has really messed up this time."

"The military police found a token of the sea creature resistance in his private locker, as well as a diary that detailed how he used his position to help those alien monsters transport supplies."

"I heard they're going to court in a month. This kind of serious crime of treason probably carries a death sentence or exile to the Void Rift; in any case, he's not coming back."

"What about old Jack?"

"That old drunkard?" The new supervisor curled his lip. "He's quite shrewd. He disappeared the day the incident happened, and the military police searched the entire lower district but couldn't find him."

"They probably heard the news a long time ago and hid in some black market den, or... they might already be dead and rotting in some sewer."

"Understood. Thank you."

Claire nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the locker room.