Chapter 38: There is a system, but not enough

After returning to the Duke’s Mansion, Helos hopped into her workshop like a cheerful little rabbit, even the embroidery on her skirt shimmering with light.

Julius watched her figure disappear around the corner before turning toward Eleanor’s chamber.

“Why are you here?”

Eleanor was leaning against the soft couch by the window, flipping through a tome. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

Sunlight filtered through her golden hair, casting a patch of light and shadow on the parchment pages.

“Didn’t you say you were going shopping with that girl?”

“We already went, Miss Eleanor.”

Julius stood by the door, saluting. The cuffs of his black uniform were still dusted with the dirt Helos had kicked up in her excitement. “I spent thirty thousand Sory to buy a new dress for Miss Helos.”

Eleanor closed her book, her sapphire eyes widening slightly.

“Oh?”

She casually set the book aside. “What kind of dress? Does she like it?”

A faint blush crept up Julius’s ears.

“I can’t quite describe the exact style…”

His voice unconsciously softened. “But judging by her expression, she probably doesn’t dislike it.”

Suddenly, the youth paused. He noticed Eleanor was looking at him with a half-smile in her eyes.

“Looks like you’re quite satisfied?”

Eleanor’s lips curved into a meaningful smile. “Does it look good on her?”

Julius cleared his throat, his gaze drifting toward the window as he tried to stay composed. “Miss Helos is your sister, after all, so naturally…”

“Naturally, it looks good.”

Eleanor watched his expression and suddenly chuckled softly.

“It’s rare to see you speak so well.”

She stood, the hem of her skirt brushing against the carpet with a soft rustle. “But… next time, remember to buy one size bigger when choosing her dresses.”

Eleanor walked slowly toward Julius. Sunlight danced through her golden lashes, shimmering in her sapphire eyes.

She tilted her head slightly, the golden strands at the ends of her hair swaying gently with the movement.

“That girl will grow taller soon.”

“If she grows taller, then we’ll just buy another one.”

Julius answered without hesitation, as if nothing was odd about the statement.

Eleanor’s lips curled into a sly smile.

“That’s not so certain.”

She turned, the skirt sweeping over the carpet. “Besides that, what else did you buy?”

“Some Magic Crystal Shards and Alchemical Tools.”

Julius’s voice grew a bit lighter. “The tools are Master Wells’s last exquisite set for this year.”

“I see.”

Eleanor nodded gently and sat back down on the couch.

The sound of the pages turning under her fingertips was faint but constant. Yet she noticed Julius still standing awkwardly at the door, his toes nervously nudging the edge of the carpet.

“What is it?”

She lifted her eyelids. “Is there something else?”

Julius’s throat bobbed up and down, his fingers quietly clutching the empty money pouch.

“Th-There’s just a small matter…”

His voice grew smaller, the last words nearly swallowed.

Eleanor closed her book and raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

“Ah…”

The youth took a deep breath, his ears red as if about to bleed. “I overspent a bit… could I apply to you for reimbursement?”

The room fell into sudden silence.

Outside, the wind whistled softly, making the quiet inside feel even more pronounced.

“I thought it would be something serious.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened slightly, then she suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

She reached into the drawer and pulled out a plump little pouch of coins, tossing it casually to Julius. “Here, Saint Knight. Consider it your stipend from me.”

Julius hurriedly caught the pouch. Feeling its weight, his pupils contracted slightly.

“Th-This seems a bit too much?”

“Too much?”

Eleanor pouted. “Those old men at the Church keep squeezing you all the time.”

“When I become the Great Saintess, I’ll raise your stipends first!”

“Those guys are utterly heartless!”

“…You’re right, Miss Eleanor.”

Seeing the indignation in her eyes, Julius nodded solemnly, his shoulders trembling slightly beneath his black uniform.

“I firmly support you becoming the Great Saintess right now—shall we hold the Coronation Ceremony tomorrow?”

“Why do you look more eager than I am?”

“Am-I?”

While Julius was asking Eleanor for reimbursement, Helos was already deep into her own research.

“This is finally the stage.”

Helos took a deep breath and lined up ten Magic Crystal Shards neatly on the workbench.

The translucent stones shimmered faintly in the sunlight, like ten tiny stars.

She closed her eyes and softly flipped through the alchemy in her mind, her fingertip pausing briefly over the [Quick Synthesis] option.

“Come on!”

She murmured and pressed the button with force.

***

The next moment, a pale white glow spread across the surfaces of the Magic Crystal Shards, and complex runes seemed to come alive, slowly flowing over the stones.

Helos’s eyes widened in surprise as the shards floated up, arranging themselves into a perfect circle in the air.

“Wow…”

She couldn’t help but reach out to touch them but was repelled by an invisible barrier.

The shards began spinning rapidly, emitting a subtle humming sound.

The silver strands of her hair whipped about in the breeze, a few playful locks sticking to her parted lips.

Flustered, she brushed the hair away, eyes fixed unblinking on the spectacle.

Within seconds, the shards gently fell back onto the workbench with crisp clinks.

The once dull stones now looked completely renewed, their surfaces etched with mysterious magical patterns that shimmered with a ghostly blue light under the candlelight.

[Magic Core ×10 synthesis complete]

Helos blinked, her pale violet pupils dilating slightly.

She carefully extended her index finger and lightly poked one of the cores—a faint electric tingle ran through her fingertip, making her flinch.

“This… is it done?”

The girl muttered as she picked up one core to examine it against the light.

Inside the stone, it seemed as if a starry river flowed—tiny sparks flickered here and there, while streaks of light occasionally darted by.

Suddenly, she recalled the crafting systems from some games she had played in her past life—click the button, wait for the progress bar, then receive the product.

Only back then, if you failed, you could reload the save and try again. But now…

She looked down at her slightly numb fingertip, then at the ten perfectly formed Magic Cores on the table, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Pretty convenient, huh~”

According to Ultimate Alchemy’s records, these Magic Cores are the foundation for building the entire alchemy system.

Yet, as Helos gently caressed one warm core, her brow furrowed—this was completely different from the alchemy system described in the alchemy tomes she had read in the Library of the Ducal Mansion.

The traditional alchemy in this world was more of an extension of magic and considered essential knowledge for crafting magical artifacts.

But Ultimate Alchemy and traditional alchemy were fundamentally not the same thing.

It was more like a pure [Synthesis System].