Chapter 47: Twisted Things (2)

Asking if I’ve ever committed a taboo?

‘As if I would?’

Words that rose to the tip of his throat.

Evan forced them down.

The shrine maiden didn’t know how critically taboos were treated among alchemists.

Nor what happens the moment a taboo is committed.

‘If I had committed a taboo, I’d have died long ago…’

The Alchemy Tower is sensitive about taboos.

If rumors circulate, they immediately dispatch people.

If the taboo is unverifiable, they leave it.

Otherwise, elimination.

Even committing one is problematic.

The ‘price’ that must be paid according to the law of equivalent exchange.

No human can bear it.

‘Asking in front of Aegis isn’t telling me to die, right?’

Evan subtly checked Aegis’s demeanor.

Aegis was staring intently at the shrine maiden with an expressionless face.

No emotion or expression showed.

The usually lively one acting like this was a bit scary…

“I have never committed a taboo.”

“Qualifications?”

“I don’t know. Are there qualifications for taboos?”

“There are conditions like reaching at least a certain realm, right?”

“Alchemists don’t have separate realm divisions. We only roughly estimate.”

There are so few, and since it’s research-oriented, grade distinctions mean little.

“Then how do you classify?”

“Mainly by the potions one can make. I mostly handle golems, so it’s not very meaningful…”

Still, he had a rough sense of his level.

“If roughly divided into lower, middle, upper… I’d estimate around middle.”

“?”

“?”

Lapis and Aegis looked at him as if asking what that meant.

“?”

Evan faced them with a puzzled expression.

Why are they staring like that?

“My specialty in golems means my skill isn’t particularly outstanding.”

True.

If he had overflowing talent, he’d reach upper in half a year?

Playable characters did.

“…R-Right?”

“If Evan says so, then it is. But Evan, you said saying that sounds really smug.”

Felix didn’t show it, but his expression was slightly like he’d bitten into shit.

The face only someone deceived makes.

No, I’m really not that level?

“Ahem. Anyway… The reason I asked is to check if Evan can make what’s needed now.”

The shrine maiden changed the subject.

Fortunately an interesting topic, Aegis showed slight interest.

“What do I need to make?”

“I need a doll that looks like a person. Make it feel like a ‘heart.’”

The shrine maiden took out a small ore from her bosom.

Aegis’s eyes sparkled.

“That’s…”

“Starlight Stone.”

Sparkle.

The stone subtly glimmered under moonlight.

As if containing countless stars like the shrine maiden’s eyes.

“An ore containing the light of stars.”

“Only one or two discovered a year, such a precious ore…!”

Aegis burst in admiration.

The shrine maiden subtly held out the ore to Aegis and Evan.

“If you help me. I’ll give you one of these ores.”

“!”

Aegis’s eyes flashed.

Whoosh! Turning gaze.

‘I’d help even without saying that…’

Starlight Stone is good to have even without immediate use.

Whether as a golem core or reinforcement material, there’s always a use.

‘I was planning to learn a bit about elixir arts before entering anyway…’

Time to spare.

Not bad?

“Will you help me?”

“Yes. I will. But what are you planning to do with it?”

“I’ll draw attention with this, then imbue the heart with star power. With that, I… can maintain my sanity.”

“Is there a problem with your body?”

“It’s the nature of my power.”

The shrine maiden closed her eyes tightly.

A dungeon with twisted space-time.

Mainly called the ‘reverse side.’

Constellations don’t reach there.

Because it’s a different world line, not current space and time.

Naturally dangerous.

Carelessly, the ‘witch’ might awaken again.

But she must go.

The shrine maiden knows what happens to those trapped in space-time.

They fall into an infinite cycle, neither dead nor alive.

‘My mistake.’

She should have known earlier.

Wasn’t that why she gained this power?

Unable to prevent it in advance, she must take responsibility and resolve it.

[Hehehe…] 

A small laughter seeping in.

The shrine maiden tried to shake her head to dispel it.

‘…Originally impossible. Even a star without ego distinguishes doll from person. But with Evan’s skill, it should be possible.’

She was convinced seeing No. 5.

Evan could make a doll that fools a star without ego.

Not a person but a golem?

Doesn’t matter.

Even better.

Can be used freely like an artifact.

Evan is the only suitable one.

‘…I have no choice but to bet everything on Evan.’

Did Evan predict even this?

That a situation needing him would arise?

Well.

Not sure.

Collecting such information secretly from Purity was impossible.

Even if realms are similar, Purity’s martial prowess alone is stronger than the shrine maiden’s.

Impossible unless Duke Alkart came personally.

However.

‘Purity didn’t seem fully sane either.’

Pure white eyes.

Eyes reminiscent of a snow mountain leaving no footprints.

Slightly clouded.

Not simply from age.

For him in the superhuman realm, that age couldn’t be called senescence.

Meaning, a problem in his mind.

His soul was fine, so if a problem, it’s physical.

‘I must find out and fix it this chance.’

If discovered and prevented from going wrong, sufficient achievements would accumulate.

Gradually stacking achievements this way—

‘Someday, I too can escape this fate.’

A small hope.

The shrine maiden gazed at Evan.

As always, expressionless face.

No emotion in golden eyes.

Unreadable, but one fact was clear.

Evan.

He is the only hope.

***

Evan and Aegis began production.

Lapis and Felix, who wouldn’t understand anyway, were temporarily chased out.

“There are puppies, why me!”

“They’re wolves.”

Slam!

Lapis stared at the closed door with lingering eyes.

But perhaps because of Evan’s words not to sneak in, shoulders slumped, trudging away.

Felix hurriedly grabbed her.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t touch my body without permission.”

As if the soft gaze when with Evan was a lie, Lapis sharply opened her eyes.

“I never allowed it.”

“…Sorry.”

“If asked where I went, say gathering vegetables.”

Lapis vanished suddenly.

No time to catch her.

Clenched and opened hand.

A few faint mana threads lay on his palm.

In that short time, she directly blocked with mana threads.

Monstrous reaction speed.

‘A monster.’

Decided to pretend not to see the cactus part with bite marks.

Turned head elsewhere.

Purity’s castle he couldn’t properly see earlier.

Approaching subtly, a knight stepped aside.

As if allowing entry.

The Garden of White Arms unfolded before his eyes again.

Admiration only comes no matter how many times seen.

Indirectly showing the countless paths Purity walked.

How did he obtain and plant so many weapons?

Can’t touch secretly, right?

That was when.

“Enter.”

A low but not small voice came from the castle.

‘…Telling me to enter, right?’

Only Felix the knight here.

Felix looked around briefly, then slowly entered the castle.

The main gate opened, revealing the interior.

A long stretched path.

Armors planted or standing like guards on the sides.

There was a certain regularity.

As it progressed, size grew or thickness increased, the path roughened.

As if showing the path Purity walked.

However, as it went on… everything blurred.

No more ornate weapons, statues, knights visible.

The end of the long path.

Simply a space built of pure white marble.

Looked down at the floor.

[Honorable life.]

[Glorious death.]

Honor and glory.

Words symbolizing knights.

Gulp swallowing dryly, slowly raised head.

A vast cavity.

Purity alone remained in the cavity, sitting on a cloudy gray throne with eyes closed.

Felix slowly knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

Courtesy to a king and outstanding knight.

“Son of Elim, knight walking the pilgrimage. Felix greets the great knight.”

“Pilgrimage, you say.”

Felix’s hand trembled slightly.

He knew how laughable saying he walks the pilgrimage to strong knights is.

Still stuck at mid-tier knight.

However, Felix always attached pilgrimage.

Confidence in himself.

But trembling was unavoidable.

“Excellent.”

“!”

Purity didn’t mock his words.

“I too have walked it.”

Purity gazed far with faintly felt white eyes.

“At the end of that path… I resolved. To devote this body to this nation.”

Purity closed his eyes tightly.

“It was… an exceedingly long path.”

“I grew up always hearing your tales of valor. Purity. I respect you.”

Felix said in a trembling voice.

“I too respect your honorable life… and hope for a glorious death.”

“…Glorious death.”

Purity murmured in a flowing small voice.

“Death is the end… It must not end like that.”

“…?”

The pilgrimage must continue on. 

Only then… can I protect my people… my—

“Yes… The reason I held the sword.”

Felix felt something odd.

A response as if not fully sane.

Unknowingly gripped his sword hilt at waist.

Realm difference overwhelming, so perhaps meaningless, but will not to break.

Perhaps that will reached him.

Purity opened his eyes.

Light briefly returned to the clouding eyes.

“…I misspoke.”

Purity slowly rose from his seat.

Overwhelming aura sharpened, pressing Felix.

“!”

“You said you walk the pilgrimage. I too am still walking. No conclusion has come to me.”

No hostility.

Awe sprouted in Felix’s heart.

Not suppressed on purpose, simply overwhelmed by unavoidable aura release.

This is… a true powerhouse.

“I will aid the path you walk.”

Purity approached Felix and extended one hand.

“Become my knight, Felix. You have potential.”

“!”

Knight offer!

Felix’s heart greatly shook.

Not an ordinary knight, but Purity’s direct proposal.

He personally acknowledged potential and ability.

It would be a lie to say unshaken.

But.

‘…Someone already acknowledged me.’

Evan’s face wouldn’t leave his mind.

First to acknowledge, and presented the path forward—Evan.

Though not said directly, he could tell.

Ultimately realized by landing one hit on the Red Half-Centipede.

-My son. I will always respect your choice.

Brief contemplation.

Felix opened his mouth.

***

Felix suddenly left the cavity.

Purity slowly withdrew his extended hand.

‘…Never expected refusal.’

Why refuse?

Calling it pilgrimage means sincere about strength.

Clearly wandering unsure if the path is right.

Only one guessed reason.

‘Evan Alkart.’

He must have intervened directly.

Too perfect timing to call coincidence.

Once may be coincidence, but from the second, it’s inevitability.

Meet Felix, meet the shrine maiden, finally meet Purity, enter the ‘twisted dungeon.’

Even acquiring ‘elixir arts’ before that.

No technique better than elixir arts for touching the human body.

No longer coincidence.

This is fate.

The rule of three all fulfilled.

‘Did he notice my ideal.’

Purity slowly raised his head.

Ceiling too white and transparent, reflecting like a mirror.

The reflected Purity was closer to gray than white.

‘…He may have predicted this situation.’

Even so, Purity’s task doesn’t change.

So if.

There is another solution, hope it’s quick.

Before he fills with pure madness.

KUWOONG!

A large vibration from below.

Simultaneously, mana emitting from the nearby mansion subsided.

Experiment ended, it seems.

Purity slowly turned.

“…Let’s depart.”

Evan Alkart.

What plan the young one set.

With small, not large, expectation in his bosom.