Chapter 469 - The Alchemist's Speech
"When should I start making the demon core?"
"..."
All eyes turned in silence to Lito Varslan, whose attitude had suddenly changed.
A hush fell.
Almost immediately, Lito, embarrassed, smacked his lips and scratched his messy hair.
"Tsk, that's why serious folks are no fun at all. At times like this, shouldn't you respond with something like, 'Did you really like this fruit that much? Why?' or, 'What did you see in this fruit that made you suddenly act like that?' Isn't that the normal reaction? Looking at me with such pathetic eyes just because I used some awkward honorifics, that's too much, don't you think?"
For a man well past seventy, who often played pranks on visiting guests, the old man's remark was not without merit.
And yet, the reason Verden and Isabella only stared silently at Lito was simple.
Purely because, this crotchety old alchemist adopting a polite manner was so utterly unfitting.
Only then did Isabella speak.
"What did you see in this fruit?"
"Well, you could say… potential."
Wiping away his dissatisfied expression as if it had never been there, Lito fixed his gaze on the fragment of fruit Isabella had shared.
"Basically, the healing effect a potion produces follows a meticulous process. It stimulates the life force inherent in the body… in other words, stamina, promoting recovery by accelerating natural healing. That's why potions are highly versatile and portable, but, depending on the severity of the wound, handling them requires care."
No one could deny the usefulness of potions in quickly healing critical injuries, and the higher the grade, the stronger their effect.
But they could never be omnipotent.
Commonly used potions could not cure infections or diseases, only treat external wounds.
The more severe the injury, the greater the burden on the body.
There were even cases in which an adventurer, torn open and on the verge of death during subjugation, died instantly when given a potion too hastily, or when the exhausted collapsed mid-treatment.
"To put it simply, a potion's mechanism flows from the inside outward. But the fruit the young lady gave me… is very unusual. Completely the opposite. I inflicted a wound, applied the juice and pulp, and observed the result. The effect flowed from the outside inward."
Lito held out his forearm without hesitation. The knife wound he had inflicted himself was already healed.
Isabella shuddered inwardly.
'To think he would test the fruit's effect directly on his own body…'
Had he gone senile with age… or did he have such overwhelming experience and skill that he could act with absolute confidence in his safety, even in such a short time?
Whatever it was, there was no doubt that Lito Varslan was an exceptionally rare eccentric.
Then, he turned his gaze toward Isabella.
"You said earlier, didn't you? That when you tested it yourself, it acted completely differently from a potion. That must be what you meant, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And that's all you've discovered so far."
"…Yes."
Isabella answered with slight annoyance at his remark, which seemed to belittle her skills in alchemy.
Of course, Lito paid it no mind.
It wasn't that he was disregarding her, his tone was simply coarse.
"To make it easier to understand, what kind of example should I use… Ah, yes. This one will do."
He lifted the hand that had been stroking his beard.
"You both know what an Elixir is, don't you?"
Of course they did.
"Would there be a mage who doesn't know the Elixir, called the legendary potion?"
"Ha, calling it legendary makes it sound so fanciful. Admittedly, it's something an alchemist might spend a lifetime on and still fail to create, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
Isabella's eyes widened.
It sounded as though he had actually seen a real Elixir.
Verden, sensing the truth of it, listened closely.
"The Elixir, as long as one isn't outright dead, can heal any mortal wound, cure any disease. And yet, it's still a potion. Since it's a potion, its healing acts from inside outward. But, there's a decisive difference between it and normal potions. Do you know what that is?"
"That it has no side effects."
"Exactly! Unlike other potions, the Elixir exerts overwhelming healing power, while also covering the stamina cost in full. It demands nothing from the user. The perfect potion, solely for healing. That is why it's the ultimate pursuit of alchemy."
Crossing his arms, Lito continued.
"Now, consider this. The Elixir is perfect as a potion, and thus nearly impossible to craft. But… what if we abandoned that perfection?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you let go of what you grasp, only as much as necessary, then the healing power contained in an Elixir can be reproduced. Restoration of organs? Regeneration of missing body parts? By simultaneously maximizing the action and reaction of a potion and balancing the extremes, it can be achieved."
He snorted.
"But, the user must pay an equal price. Sacrificing fundamental life force, shortening one's lifespan. Selling away the future. What kind of potion is that? Nothing but a failed work."
"...!"
Neither Verden nor Isabella could dismiss so lightly this lecture on Elixirs that had begun in a mere cabin.
For they had once encountered such a failure.
'The second disciple of the Bohemirn tower master, Rayshen Tailroad.'
He had consumed a counterfeit Elixir, regenerating his body again and again, by offering up his lifespan.
Gulp, gulp.
Lito drained the lukewarm water on the desk, catching his breath.
"Whew… back to the main point. The Elixir acts from inside outward──that is, after ingestion, the body responds and healing occurs. This requires a living body. That is why it cannot revive the dead. The process halts midway and cannot proceed."
But then.
"This fruit works in reverse. From outside inward──healing begins the moment it is consumed. Whether the body is alive or dead! Because nothing is required for the process! Do you understand what this means?"
Looking at them both, Lito grinned.
"The dead body can be restored. To how it was in life."
***
As far as Verden knew, there was only one case in which a 'person' could be resurrected.
The Saintess of Luas Church.
When the Bone-Relic Dragon was subjugated, she, as one of the four owners of existing divine relics, had invoked a unique miracle that reached across the continent itself.
This was no secret.
Anyone who knew anything, noble or commoner alike, was aware of this truth.
And now, that the fruit of Lysandro could revive the dead?
'Surely not.'
If that were the case, then Serendia, the administrator of the Great Forest, would have said so long ago.
And certainly, so would Karans.
Verden asked.
"What are the chances of that hypothesis being realized?"
"I've no idea. There's no need to dwell on it either. A hypothesis is only a hypothesis, no matter the odds. More than that, for it to be realized, another hypothesis must be solved first. The matter of the soul."
Isabella tilted her head.
"The soul?"
"If you've read the scriptures of Luas Church, you'd know. They describe the existence of the soul, and the crossroads it meets after leaving the body… the world beyond death. Of course, I've never experienced such things, but I believe it's real. Because divine power exists, plain as day."
Qi came from life itself, mana was an elemental component of the world.
So then, what was the source of divine power?
It was said to be the light wielded only by humans, miracles stemming from Goddess Luas herself. Which meant, it must be true.
Because there was no other explanation.
"So then, what exactly is this thing we call a soul?"
Lito uncrossed his arms and stroked his mouth with his right hand.
"Is death the soul leaving the body when it grows cold? Then, conversely, if a dead body grows warm and the heart beats again, does that mean the soul has returned? If so, does that include the souls who, as the scriptures say, cleansed their sins and went to Goddess Luas? What about the resurrection of non-humans? If we restored an undead body to its living form, what then?"
Muttering, almost to himself, until his words suddenly cut off.
Slowly shaking his head, Lito said.
"As you can see, each question sprouts countless more. But honestly, none of it has much substance. Above all, the notion that this fruit could restore a dead body is nothing more than the faintest possibility."
"..."
"Even the highest-grade potion requires an extremely complex process to create. So how complicated would a potion made from this fruit be? Isn't that right? That's why you should be careful, young lady. Approach it carelessly, and you'll grow sick of alchemy. Take it too seriously, and you'll find yourself aged in an instant."
Lito gave advice born of experience, saying, "Don't get buried in one thing, enjoy the boiling blood of youth".
A heavy silence descended.
Even heavier than when Lito had spoken in honorifics a moment ago.
The question Verden had been holding back in his mind, Isabella voiced aloud.
"Lito Varslan. Who exactly are you?"
"Kehl-kehl-kehl, an alchemist who once spent his youth wandering the world."
Lito rose from his folding chair.
"And an old man, who has found deep interest in the new stimulus brought by welcome guests. Now then, back to the point."
His eyes, full of curiosity, fixed on the sample of Lysandro's fruit.
"In return for manufacturing the demon core as requested, I'll take all of these samples. Well, if possible, I'd prefer the original itself, but…"
"Absolutely not."
"Of course, I had no such intention. Desire is desire, but greed is greed. Instead, payment comes up front. As you once did before."
After confirming Verden's intent with just a glance, Isabella handed over the sample.
Lito stored it carefully.
"It'll take about two days. Though, if you help, it'll be finished sooner."
"If you permit it, I'll assist."
"Oh, you seem to know something of alchemy. The way you sound so confident, you must have talent. Good. One assistant added. Now, then, you, with overwhelming talent in elemental magic, who can also draft magic circles, and even have knowledge of alchemy. What will you do?"
Verden recalled how Lito had often called him a madman, and rose to his feet.
"I'll just watch from afar. But while you're at it, could you teach me the method of making a demon core?"
"To this young lady? Keh-kehl, that depends on her own ability."
Smiling as if to say she could learn if she had the eyes to see, Lito swept his arm wide toward the cluttered space.
Crashhh!
Junk fell away all at once, and atop the now-cleared table he carefully placed high-quality alchemical tools, one after another.
Finally, even the ingredients to be used for the demon core.
"I'll control the pace, so assist me well, if you truly wish to learn."
"I'll keep up on my own, so don't mind me, just do it your way."
"Oh… somehow, I get the scent of a madman here, like Asher. Keh-kehl, birds of a feather flock together, they say. I can't stand those who only flap their lips, so let's see if you can take responsibility for the words you've thrown."
Lito and Isabella each put on gloves coated with insulation and thick masks.
"Let's begin."
The two of them started the manufacture of the demon core.
***
Skillfully, and diligently.
For roughly an hour, the alchemists prepared all the ingredients, each taking their assigned roles.
Lito, with utmost care, separated the components of mandrake extract, extracting only what was needed, then mixed it with a single drop of concentrate squeezed from about half the other ingredients.
Meanwhile, Isabella peeled the shell of Jordan's claw, ground its contents into powder, then mixed it with the decoction of Rootmill's hand and the root of the mana flower.
Even as she boiled and strained the remaining ingredients, including the petals of the mana flower, she constantly stole glances with her right eye at Lito's process.
'Better than me.'
Not to disturb them, Verden waited outside the cabin, evaluating Isabella's alchemy through the window, sitting on the steps.
He rested his chin on the back of his hand.
'Where is Lito from?'
Before settling in the duchy, he had wandered the world, but prior to that, he must have belonged to some group where he could build such skill.
Because of the nature of alchemy, it was extremely difficult to acquire rare ingredients alone.
Since he had been able to make a demon core from the beginning, it meant he was not self-taught. His personal martial ability was negligible, so it wasn't the magic tower…
'No, there are exceptions even in the towers.'
Two towers came to Verden's mind.
First, the Artisan Magic Tower, second in the overall ranking.
This tower, unrivaled in crafting, mass-produced countless magical items, designed and manufactured their own exclusive artifacts, and amassed tremendous wealth.
Moreover, being the only group with the technology to construct large-scale airships, they sold manufacturing licenses to nations through auctions.
Of course, production costs were separate.
Verden himself possessed a license for a large-scale airship, granted to him by Princess Silis.
For these reasons, the influence of the Artisan Magic Tower across the continent was said to be irreplaceable by any other group.
Thus, despite being in the lowest ranks in martial power, they held the second seat, above Bohemirn Tower and Dark Warton Tower.
'I heard that even if you're not a mage, if you have outstanding talent in another para-magical field, they sometimes recruit you specially.'
Of course, since it was a magic tower, mere mediocrity wouldn't even let you cross the threshold. You couldn't just apply for an exam because you wanted to.
In that sense, Lito's skill and thought process were impressive enough. It wouldn't be strange if he had been from the Artisan Tower.
And second, the tower ranked first overall.
As for this tower… truthfully, even Verden knew little.
As a low-ranking researcher, it was nearly impossible to come into contact with its official activities.
What he knew was only fragmented.
They had built their tower atop the highest mountain on the continent, created their own domain of mystery, and claimed seclusion.
Their tower master, an 8th-rank transcendent, led them, making them both the undisputed number one in martial power among towers, and the pinnacle of the magical world.
'Still lacking in information. Well, it is said to be the greatest among the three towers so distant that even rumors seldom reach. So I suppose it's only natural.'
In the first place, Verden had no interest in towers other than Bohemirn.
Not anymore, at least.
Perhaps later, when time allowed, he could ask the Sages of the Society. Though who knew when that leisure would come.
While Verden was lost in thought, the sun sank. Twilight vanished beyond the horizon, and darkness fell.
The Milky Way adorned the night sky.
As it softly lit the land, the cabin door opened.
"Finished the intermediate stage?"
"Just now. Lito went straight to bed right after the work. Asked to be woken in seven hours."
Loosening her shoulders, Isabella plopped down beside Verden.
"At this rate, it'll be finished by morning. It's certainly faster than when I assisted."
"Lito mentioned that too. Said you had more skill than expected. I must be good at something better than the head of house, don't you think?"
Gazing at the starlight, she drew her knees up, rested her cheek on them, and blinked as she looked at Verden's profile.
"But if I take the demon core too, will I get the same eyes as you? The magic eyes?"
"That won't happen. You and I share some similarities, but we also have clear differences. Inevitably, a different power will manifest."
What kind, even Verden didn't know. Two years ago, when he had gained the magic eyes, it had been an entirely unexpected change.
But there was one thing he could say with certainty.
"Whatever it may be, I'll have no regrets."
Isabella Argyle liked that steadfast conviction, that seemed like Verden's very creed.
"I'll look forward to it."
Clatter!
Just then, the second-floor window of the cabin banged open, and Lito stuck out his face.
"Keep it down so I can sleep! If not, then speak even louder! So I can hear too!!"
Both were sincere: the first and the second.
Looking utterly exhausted, Lito shut the window at once and vanished from sight.
"..."
The Transcendent of Ruin shrugged his shoulders, and the woman marked as Otherkind smiled silently, savoring the peace.
And so time passed, until morning came.
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