I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Following their idea, Julius entered various alchemy workshops to propose his services. However, he and Adam forgot to consider a small but glaring detail. Because of this detail, most shop owners gave the same answer.

"Pah, I would be damned if I let a kid like you around my precious materials."

"Get the hell out of here if you aren't buying anything."

"Haha, are you even attending the college? Do you even have an alchemist certification?"

Despite Julius' height and well-developed muscles, his youthful face betrayed his true age, making the alchemists laugh or snap at him for his daring joke.

Frustrated after being rejected for the third time, Adam couldn't hold back his annoyance. "I have a certification from the system. Here, it's written in the job column! Old bastards. I'm sure I can brew potions much better than you lot."

As Adam vented his frustration, Julius's attention shifted to the ghost. It was the first time he heard of the system.

"Mhh, it's alright, big bro. I'll ask my friends to lend me the money. We'll slowly pay them back after obtaining an alchemist certification from the school." Julius proposed. He couldn't think of another alternative.

"know how I hate to be in debt... But you are right," Adam conceded with mixed feelings. They had already received considerable help from the couple. After all, Julius was fed and lodged without spending a single bronze coin.

Silently pondering how to adapt his plan under the rising sun, Adam scratched his head. Meanwhile, Julius made his way back home. He didn't want his friends to worry about his sudden absence.

*****

Accompanied by the glowing light of the morning sun, Julius heard Asha's resounding screams as he approached the house.

"He noticed because you fell asleep directly after returning yesterday."

"If you kept your promise, I wouldn't have been so tired! Why did you have to drag me into dozens of shops!" Arun yelled back before opening the door and dashing out to escape his fiancé's fury.

Julius watched this scene in puzzlement as his friend ran towards him, screaming in panic, "You're here, great! Quickly run before she catches us!"

Not entirely sure what was happening, Julius ran with his friend, trusting Arun when concerned about matters related to his fiancé's temper.

At the same time, Asha breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two boys running in the distance. She had feared Julius left for good. After all, they had indeed borrowed his wooden box without consulting him. She assumed he might have believed they stole it.

However, contrary to Asha's fears, Julius didn't mind. He had long noticed the missing box. He trusted Arun that much.

After running for a while, the two boys slowed down. They looked at each other with a smile before Arun said. "Wanna drink tea?"

"Sure!" Julius nodded before stopping in a café. Next, Arun ordered two cups of wormwood (absinthe) tea to let Julius taste something new.

"I didn't know that many different varieties of delicious tea existed," Arun said, enjoying his cup with glistening eyes.

"That's only the tip of the iceberg. There are many more varieties around the world. My father even drinks tea infused with magical herbs." Arun explained before hesitation clouded his face for a moment.

"Hum, don't ask me why, but I have your wooden box," Arun revealed after steeling his resolve. He chose not to lie.

"Oh! I didn't notice I lost it. Thank you for finding it, Arun." Julius said in surprise. He behaved as though he hadn't noticed Arun taking it from his pocket the day before. Still, he wondered what he did with it.

"He? Why did you leave the house alone if you didn't notice it was missing?" Arun asked, astonished. He had shared Asha's fear and thought he left because of them.

"I... I just took an early stroll. I didn't want to disturb your sleep, so I went alone." Julius said through gritted teeth. He couldn't reveal Adam's existence. Thus, he had no other choice but to lie.

Adam noticed the conflicted expression on Julius's face, his own brow furrowing in response. A pang of guilt washed over him as he began to feel like a burden on Julius's friendship.

However, he quickly shook his head. 'Since when did I think like that?' He thought, his frown deepening. He still didn't realise how much his subconscious had been affected four years ago.

'Humph, he is the one dragging me down. I would have already reached tier six if I was in my body. Or maybe five... four?' He thought in consolation with a bitter smile.

Arun sighed in relief, happy to learn that his friend wasn't angry with them. Then, he asked, his smile warm and inviting. "Speaking of new experiences, have you ever been to a hamam? It's an incredible way to wash and relax."

"Accept, I'm tired of using my mana to clean you," Adam said with a shrug to the puzzled Julius.

Julius shook his head, intrigued. "Can't say I have. What's it like?"

"It's fantastic. Trust me, you'll love it," Arun replied, excitement evident in his voice.

After paying twenty bronze coins for their order, he stood up and headed to the hamam his father liked to visit.

With newfound curiosity, Julius followed Arun as they made their way through the bustling streets.

Soon, Julius stepped into the grand hamam, greeted by the opulent sight of intricately patterned floor tiles that stretched across the expansive interior.

The air was warm and heavy with the scent of exotic oils and fragrant steam. Marble columns rose majestically, supporting a domed ceiling adorned with delicate mosaic designs. Soft, ambient lighting danced off the walls, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Sounds of running water echoed gently through the space, inviting Julius to embark on a journey of relaxation and rejuvenation.

While Julius stood at the entrance, captivated by the strangely beautiful building, Arun went to the counter and paid thirty-six bronze coins for their entry.

Then, he added fifteen bronze coins to purchase a strange, brown, elastic substance and a sturdy wash-glove.

"Let's go. We have the whole place to ourselves since it's still early." Arun turned to Julius and commented.