Child, may the abundance of stars in the sky light your way forward.
That vast, boundless ocean of exploration, and our shared desire for knowledge, brought us together in the blacksmith shop. I cannot remember whether you were eight or nine at the time; I only remember your exceptional perceptiveness.
At such a young age, you were able to effortlessly separate the impurities from the iron ores in the blacksmith shop, and that surprised me. I judged then that you were a rare genius.
Child, your excellent ability to perceive quality is the envy of many Alchemists.
I am honored to have led you into the hall of alchemy and watched you grow rapidly.
Those days in the Alchemy Workshop were indeed joyful!
However, child, you seem a bit impatient for success.
The exploration of the unknown is encouraged, but making exchanges under unknown circumstances can lead to great risks.
I know you have excellent control abilities, but remember, even sages lose control sometimes.
I had hoped you could rein in your ambition...
But the smell of the Alchemy Workshop seemed to tell me that what was fated to happen would happen.
I'm an old fool now, and no one wants to listen to what I have to say...
Child, I have seen your exchange equation.
What you enlisted for the king is not an army, but demons.
What is the point of exchange subjects existing without differentiation or personality, if they are merely to be used as tools for killing and plundering?
There would be Hell to pay.
I don't want to see Hell, child, so I changed your exchange equation. I don't know if you'll notice the clues, but even if you do, it doesn't matter, because I have sealed that equation. It won't result in an equivalent exchange anymore.
I hope when you see me again, you will sincerely call me Master.
But of course, I hope we never have to meet again.
May the stars in the sky bless you!
Your affectionate Guzan
「At the foot of Guru Mountain, Lubin Tavern.」
A handsome young man sat quietly in the corner of the tavern, holding a letter he read and reread.
The tavern owner Lubin, a native of Guru Village, had never seen such a strange and generous group of customers in the four years since he started his business.
When this group first arrived at the foot of Guru Mountain, Lubin knew they were not to be trifled with.
He had seen many strange Treasure Hunters in his day, but none with such an imposing presence.
The attire of this group was completely uniform: all wore black clothes with purple cloaks. Their various mounts disappeared without a trace the instant they dismounted, requiring no one to arrange stables or cattle pens for them.
Lubin was impressed right away. Wow, these people possess incredible abilities!
The group's first act upon entering Lubin Tavern was baffling. They actually drove everyone else out.
There were fewer than ten of them, yet they managed to drive out more than twenty patrons from the tavern.
Naturally, a few audacious Treasure Hunters wanted to stay and drink. They sat there, cursing and refusing to leave, but it wasn't long before those daring individuals were so frightened they wet their pants on the spot!
Lubin still couldn't understand how these uninvited guests had managed to create such horrifying scenes.
The strange group did not attack. They only stared, motionless, at those who refused to leave.
After a while, strange things happened to the Treasure Hunters who dared to stay. Some found themselves suddenly entwined with various venomous snakes. Others turned pale, clutching their chests and convulsing. The one who had cursed the loudest suddenly had his mouth transformed into a duck's beak...
Lubin was so scared that he almost swallowed the wooden spoon he was eating with...
What happened next was a sight Lubin would never forget. The handsome young man casually produced five gold bars, worth far more than what Lubin earned in an entire year of running his tavern...
The young man said to Lubin, "We've rented the tavern. No one else is allowed in!"
This strange group had now been staying there for three or four days, and Lubin rarely saw anyone except for the young man.
The young man would look at the letter in his hand a few times every day, then drink alone, lost in thought.
But all of this was not Lubin's concern, just like whether they had climbed the mountain, or whether they had found the White Cloud Fruit. Those were matters for the village elders to worry about; Lubin only cared about when he might earn a few more gold bars...
Every time after reading the letter, the corners of the young man's mouth would curl up slightly, and Lubin couldn't tell if the expression was one of relief or sarcasm.
The young man took another sip of wine. He couldn't taste the mellow flavor of alcohol; instead, a sour, impure taste prickled his tongue and sent a pang to his heart.
The fruit wine here is still not as pure as that in the Imperial Capital Xinbal (Capital City of Kayne Empire), the young man thought. It's no wonder, really. This is just a remote backwater of the Empire, and further south of Guru Mountain lies the Wilderness. How could a village next to the Wilderness produce pure apple wine?
Although he could remove the fruit peels and impurities in the wine with a mere flick of his fingers, he preferred to experience this primitive sensation.
That sensation, although imperfect, was incredibly fascinating.
This might indeed be one of the few pleasures Master Guzan instilled in my memories, the young man mused, his mind drifting again.
Master, you truly are getting old. The world has been changing gradually, yet you haven't even noticed. The principles you believe in are outdated. Nowadays, people only care about the outcome of an exchange, not the process. I know all this seems absurd, even disheartening, but the truth is, the world is just this eager for quick gains. You were right; before long, this world will be left with nothing but tools for slaughter and plunder. As for Hell... who knows? Perhaps overwhelming power will ensure Hell forever remains beneath our feet.
In this age, power is eternal. Individuality only reduces efficiency and creates internal dissent. Dissent leads to destruction... Therefore, a truly strong power must eradicate individuality. So you see, Master, you were truly wrong. What I intend to offer His Majesty the King isn't merely an army; it's an invincible power!
I, Kuyi Tulan, have always been your pride. In the future, I will be the pride not only of you but of the entire Empire! But why did you have to stop me, my dear Master Guzan? You sealed my equation... the equation I spent years researching! That was the culmination of all my painstaking work!
So, Master, even if I have to scour the entire Empire—no, the entire continent—I will find you! Even if I only find your bones in the end, I will not give up. Ah, Master, you don't realize... you only sealed an equation. What you've unleashed, however, will be a true demon!
However, I won't blame you, Master. Our disagreement is merely one of philosophy; I've always regarded you as a father. May the myriad stars protect you, Master! We are both on our own quests. For that, I toast you with this impure fruit wine!