Chapter 63. Demon Core (2)
White, graying hair and a bushy beard. Eyes twisted with stubborn wrinkles.
An old man in a shabby brown robe stared at Verden's face from side to side.
"So, you're that fellow called Asher?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Handsome, aren't you. Reminds me of my younger days. First impression, not too bad."
The old man nodded, stroking his beard.
"As you've probably already heard, my name is Lito Varslan. A Genius alchemist who escaped the prison called society. Come inside."
His tone seemed frivolous yet weighty, his gestures light yet dignified.
It was the first time Verden had met someone who displayed such contradictions at once. They had exchanged only a few words, yet he could feel that this was a man unlike anyone else he had ever met.
'Certainly eccentric.'
Verden stepped into the hut.
He followed Lito into the living room. From the finest distillers to mortars, cauldrons, and all sorts of alchemical apparatuses—including magic water—were piled up everywhere.
It was so disorganized it felt like seeing a child scatter toys all over the floor.
"It looks a bit messy, but it's organized in my own way, so don't touch anything. Well, as a Mage yourself, you must understand."
Crashhh.
Lito swept all the junk off the desk onto the floor, then dragged a chair over and sat down.
"Did you hear about me from Pale?"
"I heard briefly. That you're the greatest alchemist in the duchy."
"Keuk keuk, that's right. And I'm sure Pale also told you I'm a cranky old man. Yet you came looking for me instead of another alchemist, which must mean you've got something special to request, right? Well then, show me. Take it out from that little spatial bag of yours."
Verden took out the materials he had purchased from Pale, pulling them from the spatial bag at his waist.
Top-grade magic stone, Jordan's nail, Rutemil's hand, the root and petals of the mana blossom—Lito glanced over the collection and let out a hollow laugh.
"Hah, been a long time since I've seen a set like this. Which means you must've gotten that too?"
"Here it is."
Mandrake extract.
As soon as Verden placed it on the desk, Lito snatched it up swiftly. He opened the lid and inhaled deeply.
"Oh, the real thing. Even I can hardly get my hands on this—where in the world did you find it? Some duke's heir or royalty, perhaps?"
"Do I have to say?"
"No, no need. What matters is that the Mandrake extract is right here in front of me. A Demon Core, huh! To think I'd be making one again at this age, the world truly is full of surprises."
Lito hummed a tune, grinning, clearly delighted.
'Good thing he's interested.'
That meant he wouldn't demand some outrageous price instead of production costs. If Verden had to refuse, the chance to manufacture the Demon Core would vanish.
"And, I have one more thing."
"Oh? Another one?"
This time, he placed the Salamander's heart on the table.
Even though a long time had passed since it was pulled out, it was still faintly throbbing.
"A Salamander too? My, my, rare things keep pouring out. So, what do you want to make with that?"
"I intend to make a potion."
The heart's original owner was Gluttony.
He had slain the Giant and erased all traces to cut off pursuit, but he couldn't recklessly show this to anyone. If he made a weapon from it and it was seen, the risk of exposure would rise.
'So I'll eat it.'
That way it would be neatly erased.
No matter who came looking, something already digested inside the stomach could never be found.
"A potion, you say. Seems a waste to make some second-rate recovery potion weaker than holy power… I'd say a tonic would be far better."
"Then I'd like you to make that."
"You don't have anything else, do you? Ho, a vitality tonic made from a Demon Core and a Salamander's heart. It's been a while since I had a chance to show my skills. But before that!"
Lito pointed at Verden.
"The production fee is upfront."
"How much?"
"I don't want money. Even living as frugally as I do, I've amassed plenty of wealth. As Pale probably already told you."
"Then, what should I pay you with?"
Now, what would he ask for?
Lito stroked his beard slyly.
"Asher, Pale kept insisting that even though you're a 4th-tier Mage, your skill surpasses that. Is that true?"
"It is true."
There was no need to be modest.
It was the truth, after all. He had easily defeated multiple 4th-tier Mages of Black Hour.
At Verden's calm, confident reply, Lito grinned crookedly.
"Quite the confidence. Arrogance? Conceit? Or pride?"
"None of the three."
"I see. Hm hm, I've got a rough idea of what sort of Mage you are. A Mage who has absolute faith in his ability. Unlike the youngsters these days, you might actually amount to something."
Slurp.
Lito wet his throat with some unknown tea nearby, then looked at Verden and spoke.
"My request is simple. Accompany me."
Accompany him?
"There's a place called Spider Forest in the back. Beyond it lies a rare material I barely managed to locate, but I can't possibly retrieve it on my own. And Spider Forest is too dangerous to frequent. I was going to ask Pale to find me someone reliable, but you showed up at the perfect time."
"So all I need to do is escort you there and back?"
"And keep me company with conversation along the way."
If that was all, it was hardly a bad deal. In fact, it was good.
He would be saving production costs worth at least several hundred million Elk. On top of that, since it was about eliminating outside threats, it meant Verden could put his specialty—magic—to full use.
There was no way to refuse such favorable terms.
"Understood. I'll accompany you."
"Excellent! Then let's set off at once. There's still plenty of time before nightfall."
Lito busily packed his gear.
All sorts of potions hung from his waist—protective brews for his own safety. Carrying a spatial bag even larger than Verden's on his back, Lito smiled brightly.
"Well then, let's hurry there and hurry back."
***
Spider Forest
Just as its name suggested, the Spider Forest was covered in webs. Since it was morning, the dew clinging to the webs glistened in the sunlight.
"Contrary to how it looks, it's a forest good for the occasional outing. Though, the fact that huge spiders swarm all over is a bit much even for me. Do you like insects, by any chance?"
"Spiders aren't insects."
Spiders are arthropods.
Broadly speaking they could be called bugs, but they are by no means insects.
Lito frowned.
"Tsk, that's a joke I often use, but you turned it back on me. There are plenty of fools out there who don't know whether spiders are insects or bugs. Knowing it doesn't serve much purpose anyway. So when someone calls spiders insects, I usually mock their ignorance… but you've snatched that away from me."
"Not knowing that doesn't exactly make one ignorant…"
"True, that was a bit harsh. That's why most people who hear this joke usually get offended."
Lito chuckled as he walked ahead.
The conversation jumped around with no rhyme or reason, but Verden felt something else in it.
'He's free.'
His gestures and tone brimmed with ease.
Just as Pale had said, detached. A man moved by nothing but his own enjoyment, uninterested in money or anything else. The kind of person Verden had never seen in the magic tower, nor in the duchy.
"But Asher, why do you want to create a Demon Core? Is it to enhance your magical ability like other Mages?"
"…Do I have to answer?"
"Don't, if you don't want to. But in that case, you'd be breaking your promise to keep me company, and then I'd have no reason to make the Demon Core for you. I could even toss in something strange during the process. Why? Because you didn't keep your word."
"…"
Verden was at a loss for words at Lito's reasoning. At length, he opened his mouth.
"You're right. It's for my growth."
"Why? Because becoming a great Mage is your dream?"
Of course, that too.
To be recognized by the world as a Mage had been his dream since childhood.
But now, it was only a stepping stone toward his real goal.
To crush, in front of everyone, Bohemirn's tower master Balrog Bessias in a pure magical duel, without any trickery, and drag down the prestige of the magic tower built on blood.
For that, Verden needed to become stronger.
Of course, he had no intention of revealing that hatred and thirst for revenge to Lito. With a smile, Verden answered.
"Yes."
"Is that so?"
Lito stared straight into Verden's eyes. Stroking his beard, he spoke in a low voice.
"Then let me ask one more thing. When you become a great Mage, what do you plan to do? Have you ever thought about what dream you'll pursue once you've achieved that one?"
"That is…"
If the day came when he achieved revenge, if he succeeded—
'…What should I do then?'
Come to think of it, he had never considered it. Or rather, he hadn't had the luxury to.
The goal was too high, and he had focused solely on climbing the staircase toward the sky. He could not imagine the sky beyond the sky.
Verden fell silent.
At that silence, Lito clicked his tongue.
"Just as I thought. People in the past and now alike, all dream their own ideals. Most fail and compromise with reality, but the very few who do achieve their dream, do you know what they do next?"
"…"
"All different. Some seduce women and live a lustful life, some raise disciples to teach the next generation. Some wield their great power in greed, some live altruistically, helping others. Many build families and raise children. You know what the common point is? They all had new dreams."
But if one cannot dream anew—
"They lose the will to live. They just keep breathing until death, or grow devoid of desire and emotion, or despair and take their own lives. Humans are creatures who must always have a dream. Asher, do you know why I'm suddenly telling you this?"
"I do not."
"When you spoke of your dream, your eyes, they burned fiercely. So fiercely that coming too close would be enough to burn alive. Clearly you carry an intense desire to achieve it."
But—
"When the bonfire burns too bright, you can't see what's around you. And it burns everything, even what you don't want to, until nothing remains but ashes… Hrrm, talking this much has parched my throat."
Lito pulled out a cool water flask and drank.
He smiled at Verden, who remained silent.
"Keuk keuk keuk, you've become like a chick with honey in its beak. Did my words strike that deeply?"
"They did make me think a little."
"That's a good sign. There's no need to rush. You're still young, you've got time to think. Take it a bit easier. That way you can enjoy a free old age like mine, eh?"
Lito ended his words in jest.
Verden thought.
What Lito had just said… it had certainly struck at the heart. A side of him completely different from their first meeting. Perhaps this was the true essence of Lito Varslan, the alchemist.
Just then, Lito stopped in his tracks.
"Ah, did I mention this?"
"…?"
"The Spider Forest has a master. A colossal spider, as big as a house, rules this forest. Its offspring are about the size of a person. Best to avoid them whenever possible."
"…And why are you suddenly telling me this?"
"I made a mistake. While talking, we wandered into its territory."
What?
Ssshhhkk. Countless sounds brushed against Verden's senses.