Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Ignoring Albert's affairs, Isaac turned his gaze to the enormous library in front of him.

"Do you think the people in the Paranormal Department might have hidden the Phantom Book in this library? After all, it's not easy for an average person to find it when it's mixed in with a bunch of other books."

"...That possibility cannot be ruled out, because few students go into the Great Library because of the ghost stories," Ange said.

"Strange tale? You mean that bizarre legend about 'something ominous happening on the thirteenth step of the stairs'?"

"more than."

Anjie shook her head and looked at the very top of the library building.

"The legend of the 'Golden Fairy'."

"what?"

"Young Master! And Miss Anjie, so you're here... Ha..."

Ah Sheng's voice came from afar. The group turned around and saw Ah Sheng running towards them, panting, carrying a stack of papers.

“Ah Sheng, I think exercise might kill you. Why don’t you start with a balanced diet?”

"Thank you... young master..."

Ah Sheng stopped in front of Isaac, panting heavily.

"This is so hard, I have to climb the library building later."

"Huh? Why?"

Ah Sheng picked up the stack of papers in his hand and said with difficulty, "Professor Cecil... asked me to... to deliver the lecture notes to the botanical garden at the very top of the library..."

"Alright, catch your breath first."

"Phew—Professor Cecil asked me to deliver the lecture notes to a student who hadn't been to class, and that student was at the very top of the Great Library."

"At the very top."

Isaac looked up at the library building.

Climbing stairs alone would probably exhaust an ordinary person to death, given the height of over 100 meters. As for Ah Sheng...

We can collect the body ahead of schedule.

"Which student is it? They're skipping class!"

"Professor Cecil seems to have mentioned her name, it should be—Victoria."

Chapter 1065: The Golden Fairy

"Really? So you're sending lecture notes to students who skip class?"

Isaac stepped aside and pointed to the entrance of the Great Library behind him.

"Then go ahead, and come back soon."

"...Young Master."

"Ok?"

"Climbing such a high library would kill you! You'd definitely faint halfway down the stairs, then be too exhausted to go down, and eventually starve to death on the steps..."

"You have quite the imagination; you just need to practice it."

"Young Master, didn't you just say that the first thing to do was to prepare food..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Isaac kicked Ah Sheng in the butt, sending him sprawling into the library.

"Keep exercising."

"Waaah..."

Ah Sheng rubbed his sore bottom and slunk away up the stairs into the library.

Isaac took one last look at the tall library building and followed it inside, with Fran and Ange close behind.

Inside the prismatic library, entire walls are lined with enormous bookshelves, and in the center is a high-ceilinged hall with solemn religious paintings on the high ceiling. The bookshelves are precariously connected by narrow wooden staircases that resemble a giant maze.

Legend has it that this great library was built in the early 17th century by the king, who was also the founder of the academy, who deliberately made it into a maze so that he could meet his mistress in the secret room at the top.

"Looking at the library's collection, there are probably hundreds of thousands of books, which is probably a reading volume that one person could not complete in a lifetime."

Fran: "It's alright. I think I've read more books in my life than this library has."

"You're not human, you're a Du Ji, you can't compare."

Isaac walked up the steps and placed his hand on the bookshelf, stroking the books on it.

"Judging from the information Ange just mentioned, there seem to be many strange tales in this great library, but they are all rather trivial."

As he said this, he casually pulled a book out of the bookshelf.

The book's cover reads "A Collection of Ghost Stories from the Kingdom of Suvar".

"Not bad, it's even been written into a book. I guess it was compiled by some bored person."

Isaac laughed and opened the book.

It contains more than just legends about this school.

"The ghost ship 'Queen Bailey' that appeared on a stormy night, the alchemist who could turn gold out of the intestines of the dead—Leviathan... I think I could do that too. Is it really just a ghost story?" Isaac chuckled to himself.

The human body does contain gold, but in very small amounts. It is estimated that there is only about 0.1 milligrams of gold in the entire body, and even if it were refined, it would not be worth much.

"Hmm, what other stories are there... a talking and intelligent gray wolf, it can talk, so it must be chimera technology."

"I always feel like you've misunderstood these ghost stories," Fran said with a smile.

"There must be a scientific principle behind the so-called ghost stories, and alchemy is a science, so my understanding is not biased."

"I think it's very biased."

Isaac put the book back on the shelf and looked up at the very top of the library.

It's said that the top floor is a huge botanical garden, so it's understandable that the ceiling inside the building is designed as a glass dome that allows direct sunlight.

"Ok?"

As Isaac turned his gaze away, he suddenly noticed the stairs at the front.

Ah Sheng lay on the ground, his right hand holding the lecture notes scattered all over the floor, while his left hand, pressed against the ground, pointed forward.

"She fainted from exhaustion? Her stamina is seriously questionable."

"It's all because someone heartlessly made a frail child climb such a high staircase."

"……never mind."

Isaac stepped forward, picked up the scattered lecture notes, activated the anti-gravity substance in his mechanical right leg, and flew up. Ange followed closely behind, pressing the switch on the C-sphere.

Fran: "...Hey!? You're just going to leave me here?"

-

At the very top of the library was a lush, green greenhouse. Soft light streamed in through the skylight, and the greenery swayed in the breeze. Contrary to the legend of the king's secret rendezvous, it was a bright, empty room.

When Isaac and Angela flew to the top floor, they didn't see anyone.

There was only a large pile of books scattered on the ground and some candy wrappers.

"Angie, do you know that student named Victorique?"

“She was supposed to be in the same class as me, but I’d only ever heard her name and never seen her come to class,” Anjie said. “I heard she was an excellent student, and the teachers never questioned her absences.”

"So that's how it is. A brat who does whatever he wants just because he gets good grades?"

Is the botanical garden empty?

"I think so."

Even when he was downstairs, Isaac could already sense the aura emanating from the top-floor botanical garden.

Walking around the scattered books on the ground and along the railing to the side, the two soon saw the strange sight before them.

A delicate doll, about 140 centimeters tall.

Her jet-black dress, with layers of fiery goose down ruffles spread across the floor like ominous little flowers blooming in the dark night. Beneath a white headdress adorned with ribbons, lace, and rose ornaments, beautiful long golden hair cascaded to the floor like a loosened velvet headscarf.

Her profile reveals a cold, beautiful face that makes it difficult to tell whether she is an adult or a child.

Isaac also recalled one of the strange tales about the Great Library of St. Margaret that Ange had told him before—the golden fairy.

At this moment, the 'doll' is expressionless and lazily smoking a ceramic pipe.

"Kid, smoking is bad for your health."

The 'doll' seemed to have heard Isaac's words, put down its pipe, and calmly turned to look at Isaac.

"You have the nerve to say that to me, you smell like cigarettes."

Her petite figure, wrapped in beautiful, dreamlike ruffles and lace, looked quite young, but her voice was surprisingly mature.

There was no tobacco in the pipe in her hand; she had only pretended to take a couple of puffs. It was unclear whether this was some kind of ritual or habit.

"Victoria?"

Isaac asked, and without waiting for the doll-like girl to answer, he placed the lecture notes in front of her.

"I've left the lecture notes here..."

"It's a little later than I expected."

Victorique suddenly spoke, her eyes fixed on Isaac, her deep green pupils gleaming with wisdom.

"The black reaper who arrives with spring... it seems you're not his friend, but his friend?"

“Sorry, ‘Death’ collapsed halfway there,” Isaac said. “Do you need to see Asen for something?”

"No, I'm not looking for any specific group of people, but... as a piece of my puzzle to relieve my boredom, you're good enough."

Chapter 1066: The Duel Between Death and the Fairy

What are you talking about?

Isaac found Victorique's words completely baffling.

"You said I was 'a little later than expected,' did you already know I would come?"