Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

“Yes, Aruman, put your hand out.”

"Huh? Oh."

swoosh-

"Aaaaaah!!! It's so hot!!!!"

Aruman, with a cigarette butt pressed against his hand, rolled on the ground, disregarding his image, clutching his hand.

Dalian kicked Aruman, who had rolled in front of her, aside like a football, and asked Viola in front of her, "So, what exactly is the purpose of instructing those five fools who proposed to you to demand the Book of Illusions?"

That's because...

Before she could finish speaking, Isaac's brow furrowed.

Hugh noticed something too and immediately shouted, "Get down!!"

"Huh?"

He pulled the stunned Dalian into his arms, drew his pistol, and aimed it at the sky.

Through the window, a dazzling silver light flashed across the sky, its target seemingly the people inside the room.

boom!

As Hugh pulled the trigger, the silver light gradually revealed itself.

Outside the open window, an unidentified creature with a pair of enormous wings flew in. Then, it rushed into the room at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.

Accompanied by the sound of a raptor flapping its wings, the winged intruder landed. The intruder was a richly dressed woman, a slender and petite beauty.

But behind this petite woman are a pair of wings as sharp as blades.

After its first attack failed, the creature quickly flew toward Isaac.

"Isaac!"

"Tsk."

Seeing the unidentified creature flying towards him, Isaac snapped his fingers.

The creature with a woman's face was engulfed in blue flames.

However, the flames did not kill the creature; instead, they covered its surface with a red coating.

After being attacked, the creature immediately turned back and returned to the window, and the flames on its body quickly dissipated.

Upon seeing the creature, Viola suddenly turned pale and retreated step by step towards the wall behind her.

This creature, with silver wings and a face resembling a woman's, made a mechanical, monotone sound without moving its mouth.

"We're almost there, Viola. Your mission is about to end."

"..."

Upon hearing what the silver-winged woman said, Viola took a deep breath, her face growing even paler.

"The Earl is returning here. In order to bring you back once again."

Just then, another silver-winged woman with the same appearance flew over and threw a piece of paper like a throwing knife, aiming at Isaac in the room.

Swish!

Isaac quickly reached out and sandwiched the piece of paper between his two fingers.

"Hurry up and prepare for the return...until the next full moon night..."

After the two silver-winged women finished speaking, they turned around and leaped towards the central courtyard, then glided silently into the night sky.

"..."

Hugh raised his hand to aim at them, but quickly lowered his gun.

He knew he was unlikely to hit a tiny target that had already flown a great distance.

Viola seemed to be experiencing symptoms of anemia; she staggered and looked about to collapse, so Hughie quickly went to support her. Aruman was still sitting on the ground, still reeling from what had just happened.

"What was that just now? A warning? Or a premonition?"

Dalian asked with great interest.

No, I don't know.

Viola's voice was somewhat hoarse, seemingly due to weakness.

"Who is that count?"

"I don't know... but he must be a very scary person."

Viola hugged her shoulders, trembling slightly with fear.

"She just said she was going to take you back, right?"

"Yes, I... I don't have any time left."

"Is the deadline the next full moon?" Hugh muttered to himself.

He had heard what those silver-winged women had said.

"So, you're expecting the suitors to find the Phantom Book? In order to gain the power to fight against that Earl or whatever?" Dalian asked with a slightly annoyed tone.

"That's about right."

Viola composed herself, raised her head, and continued speaking.

"I collected five phantom books in an attempt to find the 'alchemist of the early century,' all so that I could continue living here... That's what my knowledge tells me, though I don't know the reason."

Dalian listened silently, but Aruman had already stood up.

Aruman seemed to finally understand Viola's reason for setting such a strange condition for her suitors. She had been coerced. By that count who controlled inhuman monsters. That statement, simply put, was like a prelude to a kidnapping.

"Don't worry, Viola."

Aruman quickly knelt down in front of Viola.

"I have already invited the Alchemist for you, and I will also find the Book of Illusions. I will do anything to fight against the evil Earl, even if it means being shattered to pieces."

“Aruman, it’s enough that you have the heart.”

Viola smiled weakly, and Aruman couldn't help but hold his breath at that.

Dalian glanced disdainfully at the agitated Aruman and snorted.

"Not to mention that the magic book you want isn't so easy to obtain, even that bastard alchemist wouldn't help you deal with any count."

"Huh? Why?"

“Isn’t that obvious? Your beauty certainly works on men who are as stupid as insects, but unfortunately that bastard alchemist is a blind man who can’t tell the difference between beauty and ugliness.” Dalian shrugged and mocked, “It’s a pity that you’re probably no different from roadside weeds in front of him.”

"That's not quite right!"

Aruman immediately defended Viola.

“No man can resist Miss Viola’s charm, wouldn’t you agree, Your Excellency Alchemist?”

He turned his head and found that Isaac wasn't looking in their direction at all, but was looking down at the piece of paper that the Silverwing woman had thrown at him.

"..."

I told you so.

"Damn it, even if you're unwilling to help, I will find the Book of Illusions for Miss Viola and fight against it..."

"I'll help."

"Huh!?" x4

Everyone looked at Isaac in surprise, since he had seemed uninterested before.

Isaac gave a strange smile and flipped the piece of paper in his hand.

"That count challenged me, seemingly wanting to prove who truly deserves the title of alchemist."

Chapter 993: The Night of the Full Moon

Three nights later, a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Viola's residence was filled with a large number of men.

These people were upper-class individuals who frequented high society, along with their guards and attendants.

Among them were nobles with titles, famous politicians, and important figures in the business world. All of them were captivated by Viola's beauty.

The news that the silver-winged monster had been seen near Viola seemed to have reached the ears of the people. Most of the men who gathered were armed—pistols or shotguns. Some had even somehow acquired an old-fashioned cannon. As a result, an unusual tension permeated the mansion.

"Viola's popularity is really incredible; she's surrounded by people of great status."

Hugh looked around at the scene and marveled.

"They're just a bunch of guys obsessed with beautiful women."

"Well, that's true."

Hugh smiled wryly, his eyes fixed on the weapons in the men's hands, hoping that no bloodshed would occur.

He turned around and saw Isaac playing with the red powder in his hand.

"Isaac, what's that?"

"Don't touch it, this stuff is poisonous."

"what?"

"This is powder left over from burning that silver-winged monster a few days ago. It should be HgO, which shows that those silver-winged monsters are most likely made of mercury."

"Mercury? You mean quicksilver?"

"Pretty much. If these people try to use guns and cannons to deal with someone who can manipulate matter at will, they are just dreaming."

"Rest assured, Alchemist."

Aruman appeared before them at some point, pulling out a red-covered book and boasting, "I've found the Book of the Salamander's Mark."

"You actually found it?" Hugh asked in surprise.

"Yes, we finally found it after searching the study for three days and three nights."

Hugh's grandfather, Wesley, was a book collector. Finding a book in the basement was like finding a needle in a haystack, and his perseverance in finding it was truly admirable.