Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Something more ordinary..."

----------

"ordinary……"

"Isaac, you seem to have a lot of free time."

In the Elric home in Risenberg, a city in the eastern part of the world, Isaac was drinking milk and muttering to himself, while Hohenheim, sitting opposite him, looked puzzled.

Since the events of World War I, Isaac has held an important position and rarely appears in their small town, having been busy with national reconstruction.

I never expected to come to my little place today.

"Oh, I've been quite free lately."

Isaac, who plans to simply give up, said this.

He glanced at the milk in the glass.

"By the way, why do you keep so much milk at home? Don't you have any alcohol?"

"I drank all the alcohol, and the milk was Edward's. Didn't he want to grow taller?"

"That's true."

Edward wasn't here at the moment; he was a guest lecturer at the Alchemist Academy in Central City.

After all, he was an active-duty state alchemist and did not hold a position in the military. Since he had so much free time, he was directly assigned to teach at a school.

After finishing his milk, Isaac suddenly asked.

"By the way, Hohenheim, how did you propose when you got married?"

"Huh? Me?"

Upon hearing Isaac's question, Hohenheim, the middle-aged man with a full beard, became a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head with a smile.

"Oh... I was attracted to her back then, and then we naturally got together."

"Naturally... It's quite ordinary indeed."

"I'm not suited for that kind of dramatic, passionate love. You know I've spent the first half of my life searching for a way to defeat the man in the bottle, so being able to get married is truly a blessing from heaven."

At this point, Hohenheim glanced at Isaac and asked.

"You're suddenly asking me this question because you want to propose to your adjutant?"

"Ah."

"Oh, it really is time."

Hohenheim nodded.

“Edward is already engaged to Winry, and you are indeed about the right age.”

"what?"

Isaac looked at Hohenheim with some surprise.

"That kid is that fast?"

"Yes, he and Winry started dating after the battle with the man in the bottle, and they've been engaged for all these years."

"Hohenheim laughed."

“I think you’re a bit slow. It’s said that Violet was brought back to Amestris when she was twelve years old, and seven years have passed since then.”

"...Never mind, do you know how Edward proposed?"

"I just said it casually, in a very ordinary way."

"I see..."

Isaac discovered that alchemists' marriage proposals seemed pretty ordinary.

No wonder the State Alchemists have such a low marriage rate.

"What? Isaac, are you planning to ask someone else?"

"never mind……"

Isaac smiled and shook his head.

"I'll try to be more ordinary too. I don't want to do things that aren't like me in front of Violet."

Chapter 1659: The Proposal

"I've kept you waiting, Isaac."

"No, I just arrived too."

At the entrance of the newly built amusement park in Central City, Isaac, dressed in sportswear, waited for Violet, who was wearing a pure white dress.

Neither of them was wearing their usual blue military uniforms today; they were both in civilian clothes. This was a rare instance where Isaac had taken the initiative to invite Violet out on a date.

Isaac considered many places, but ultimately decided on an amusement park.

Follow the flow of people who come here to play, get your ticket checked, and enter the amusement park.

The amusement park was bustling with activity, with colorful rides and cheerful music filling the air.

As it's a newly opened amusement park, it's a popular spot for dates, and also attracts many parents with young children.

Isaac walked ahead, while Violet followed closely beside him.

During this time, Isaac would occasionally glance at Violet beside him; in the sunlight, her skin appeared even whiter and brighter than before.

Neither of them said a word. Violet wasn't particularly talkative, while Isaac was unsure what to talk about and pondered as they walked.

After a long pause, Isaac suddenly asked, "Um... is there anything you'd like to play?"

"Hmm, that one will do."

Violet thought for two seconds, then pointed to a building in front of her.

The building is shaped like a monster with its mouth wide open, and visitors enter the building through the monster's mouth. Judging from its shape, it should be a haunted house.

"A haunted house...you're interested in that?"

"Ah."

Violet nodded slightly.

Actually, she didn't know what to do at amusement parks.

After Isaac invited her to the amusement park, she spent the night researching things related to dating at the amusement park and eventually discovered that the haunted house was a popular date spot for couples.

So she made that choice.

However, this presents a slightly more challenge for amusement park staff.

The staff member, who had already frightened several couples and was feeling quite accomplished, then saw Isaac and Violet staring at him expressionlessly the whole time.

Although Violet was clinging to Isaac's arm and pressed close to him as if she were scared, her cold expression, which revealed no emotion, was completely at odds with her actions.

Being stared at by two pairs of emotionless eyes in the dim light made the staff member dressed as a ghost tremble all over.

After leaving the haunted house, the sunlight was a little dazzling.

Violet pulled on Isaac's sleeve and pointed to the huge roller coaster in front of them.

"Oh, you want to try that... You really like thrilling activities."

Isaac said with a smile.

"Let's go."

Although Violet chose relatively exciting activities, her expression remained largely unchanged.

As a result, when the roller coaster is moving at high speed, all the tourists reach out and scream loudly, while the two people in the first two seats have their hair swaying in the wind and their facial expressions are completely calm.

After getting off the roller coaster, everyone else reacted enthusiastically, while Violet quietly helped Isaac straighten his slightly disheveled clothes.

The rest of the time, Isaac and Violet enjoyed the various rides and attractions at the amusement park.

I've tried almost all the basic amusement park rides that are available.

One of the most thrilling attractions is the 'Flying Trampoline'.

As for what a "flying acrobat" is... it's actually someone who uses a 3D Maneuver Gear to launch themselves into a 3D maneuvering device and perform highly maneuverable maneuvers inside it.

This weapon was also introduced to Paradis after the islands of Paradis and Amestoris were merged.

The military found that this thing didn't seem to have much military value and was extremely difficult to train with, so they made some minor modifications and sold it as a patent to an amusement park, which led to this project.

Of course, since it's an amusement park ride, its safety is fully guaranteed.

……

As evening fell and the sun set, the visitors to the amusement park gradually dispersed.

Isaac and Violet walked through the amusement park at dusk, each holding an ice cream cone.

Isaac took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. He said to Violet, "It's getting late. How about you come with me there this time?"

As he spoke, Isaac pointed to the Ferris wheel in front of him.

This is considered a standard facility in every amusement park.

"Ah."

Violet naturally agreed and nodded slightly.

The two entered one of the carriages, and as the doors closed, the Ferris wheel continued to turn, and the two slowly rose into the air.

As you ascend, the entire Central City unfolds beneath your feet, the setting sun sinking into the concrete canyon, the glass curtain walls seeming to be splashed with orange-red paint, flowing with a molten gold-like light.

"We've known each other for quite a while now, haven't we?"

“Yes, it’s been seven years and three months in total,” Violet said.

"Seven years have passed... Back then, you were just a twelve-year-old kid, and I was just a seventeen-year-old boy who had just gone out on a mission."

Looking at the sky that was dyed golden on the horizon, Isaac chuckled softly.

"I remember when we first met, we even had a fight, and you almost beat me."

"Ah."