The Greatest Genius Alchemist Of All Time Wants To Retire - Chapter 25 Labyrinth Investigation
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- The Greatest Genius Alchemist Of All Time Wants To Retire
- Chapter 25 Labyrinth Investigation
Translator: Xean
Editor: SevenTails
I was dreaming.
I was happily growing and shipping crops out to the world. I was surrounded by friends, friends who had always supported me, and then it all came crashing down. It all quickly returned to nothingness.
“…”
It was blinding. It was the first thing I noticed. The moment I opened my eyes, the midday sunlight shone on my face.
“Ugh… Speaking of which, where am I?”
I looked around and saw a familiar place. I was at Monica’s house. So… we’re safe. When I looked down at my body, I was covered with bandages. Probably done by those two. There were also traces of healing alchemy.
The door opened. It was Fii.
“… Elle! You’re awake!”
“Aah… I just woke up. How many days have passed since then?”
“A whole day. It was pretty close. You used up all of the Philosopher’s Stone, haven’t you?”
“It was the only solution at the time.”
“Don’t be so reckless next time… You worry me.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Fii started crying. I’m really sorry for making you worry.
“Where’s Monica?”
“She said she was going to look at the crops, but she should be back soon. So, how are you feeling?”
I opened my hands wide. I sat up and felt no pain. I was also able to use alchemy, I could feel the First Quality Primamateria around me. Everything was okay.
“No problem, I can use alchemy just as well as before.”
I tried creating ice roses on my fingertips. Yeah, my control seems to be fine.
“Th-That’s a relief… I was worried about what to do if there were any aftereffects.”
“Thanks. I’m really grateful. What happened after I fell unconscious?”
“After that…”
It seems that as soon as the variant was frozen, the door opened and the transfer points reconnected. Then, Fii and Monica brought me straight back here, after which they explained the situation to the village chief.
“… Is that good?”
“Ah… yeah, I got it. For now, we should go back to the Kingdom for a bit.”
“Really? Weren’t we going back into the labyrinth or something?”
“I’ve got classes at the academy twice a week, and I also have to take care of my vegetables. Also, there are some books I want to check out…”
“Sure. Let’s go back then. But still, normal adventurers are amazing for being holed up in the labyrinths like that. It’s unthinkable.”
“Ah, you’re right. Well, the difference between us is that we can capture the labyrinth under favourable conditions, but we should still be cautious. You know, like that gigantic Giant Spider?”
I really think it was a variant, but the ecosystem in the labyrinth… changes as we go deeper. It seems as if the labyrinth has a different sense of time.”
“… I thought that Elle was only an agricultural idiot, but you’re surprisingly interested in things like this.”
“Ha~a? Everything I think of is directly connected to my project. Look at it in this way, there must be something in the labyrinth that will bring me close to the truth of alchemy. So if we conquer the labyrinth, I can learn more about alchemy. Then, growing crops will be even easier. So, for the success of my project, it is necessary to conquer the labyrinth. I can also do more experiments with prototypes like <<Usabakagero>>.”
“Ah, that cucumber sword. It has an unusual sharpness comparable to a magic sword; but at any rate, I’m relieved to see that you’re as good as ever.”
While we were talking, Monica returned.
“Wah! Elle-san! You’re awake! A-Are you okay?”
“Thank you for worrying about me, Monica. I’m perfectly fine now and there are no side effects. My body and brain seem to be functioning normally. I’m going to the hospital when I get back to the Kingdom, just as a precaution.”
“Ah, you’re going back? How long will it take this time?”
“Maybe a week or two. I have some things to prepare to capture the labyrinth, and I have classes to take care of since I’m a teacher at the academy.”
“He~h, is that so? Can I come along? Last time, I didn’t have enough time to explore…”
“Won’t you have problems if you suddenly left the village?”
“I think there will be no problems. Everyone knows that I want to go to the kingdom, and they’ve always told me to go there to study. My father is also okay with it.”
“So then… do you want to go with us?”
“Yes!”
And so the three of us returned to the Kingdom.
-
- §
“Is that all you have to report?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
A variant or… a demon subspecies that hasn’t been identified, but it was a subspecies of Giant Spiders that could also use alchemy. Hmmm… moreover, it’s over 10 meters (EN: 30.8ft) long. Just as expected of a labyrinth. It’s like a different world.
“And the use of the Philosopher’s Stone was unavoidable. It’s a shame, but…”
“That’s just the way it is. I was finally able to defeat it by using <<Absolute Zero>> beyond its limits.”
After returning to the Kingdom, we visited the Alchemist Society. Fii and Monica didn’t come with me this time. It seemed that they went out shopping together. “I’m so stressed! I need to vent and go shopping!” Fii said.
Well, it was better if I were to report it since I was the one who actually defeated it. I also learned a bit more about the labyrinth.
“I think that the labyrinth is a Lost Technology.”
“Ho~u… why do you think so?”
“The labyrinth has been known to exist for centuries, yet the things inside of it are beyond our current era. This mystery is still unsolved. We have been focused on what’s inside, but I thought it was necessary to ask about the reason for the labyrinth itself. And then I thought that the labyrinth itself is a piece of technology, a product of magic.”
“Magic… that’s a very old-fashioned word, a fairy tale by now. The mysterious and obscure phenomena of magic have been exposed by alchemy, along with solid theories, but… was it really magic?”
“Yes. Magic. The labyrinth has something to do with magic, and that magic is part of a different technological system than modern alchemy. It’s only similar. Results may be the same, but the processes may differ.”
“Fumu… Did you include it in the report?”
“Yes.”
Some of my reports mentioned magic. A perpetually burning fire, that continues to illuminate the labyrinth, and the gimmick on the tenth floor, a room that couldn’t be left until the target was defeated. In addition to them, a special wall that inhibits alchemy. These were things that couldn’t be explained by modern alchemy and were theoretically impossible. Perhaps alchemy was a byproduct of magic, and as magic progressed, it diverged and alchemy was born.
It was hard to say, but the Seven Labyrinths held the secrets to alchemy. I was convinced that it did.
“… It is worth considering. No, there is so much to do. Should this be a full-scale labyrinth conquest for the Society to embark on…?”
“I’ll leave that to you, but leave the Sixth Labyrinth to us. An ordinary alchemist will be killed instantly there.”
“I get it. I know that you have a lot on your plate, but I wish you the best.”
“It’s okay. The labyrinth’s conquest is also connected to my goal.”
After finishing my talk with the Chairman, I strolled outside. There was a nice breeze and some sunshine. Today was a great day for growing crops. While I was on my way home, I bumped into Serena.
“Ara, Elle. What’s wrong? You seem to be quite busy these days. … Is the rumour that you are conquering a labyrinth true? Well, it’s probably just a rumour anyway.”
“It’s true. We’re conquering the Sixth Labyrinth at the request of the Society. Fii, me and an elf called Monica. We recently broke through the tenth floor.”
“Waah! T-the sp-spider’s labyrinth…? It is true that there are many Giant Spiders fluttering around…?”
“Yes. We’ve killed hundreds of Giant Spiders. All of the demons in there are spiders. It truly stands up for its name, haha.”
“Ha~a… Really, what are you doing…? You’re growing crops, aren’t you? And a teacher at the academy?”
“Un, it’s a long story… Let’s talk about it in a café. Are you able to spare some time now?”
“Ah, yes, but…”
“It’s my treat. Let’s go.”
“Ha~a… Well, okay. I don’t have much to do anyway.”
Thus, we both walked side-by-side and headed to the café.