Chapter 202: All, Members, Evil, People

Professor Graham’s parchment notes that had “accidentally” fallen were now spread flat beneath the laboratory light before her.

Of course, this was a copy she had recreated entirely from memory.

The formula recorded there for [Metal Activation] was extremely simple.

So simple that even its core ingredients were common materials.

They were not rare magical plants or magical beast components, only several standard catalysts and basic mineral powders commonly found in any Alchemical Workshop.

With Helos’s current authority within the Association, gathering everything she needed from the Public Materials Repository was effortless.

She even had the bonus effects of [Ultimate Alchemy].

Helos began her experiment full of confidence.

First, she strictly followed the estimated ratios written in the notes and placed the materials into the Alchemical Table.

She skipped the final step called “will guidance,” which looked the most vague and intangible, intending to first attempt fusion through orthodox alchemy methods.

Thanks to the cheating-like support bonus of [Ultimate Alchemy], the purification and fusion process went flawlessly.

There were no accidental explosions, nor any signs of material rejection.

But when the final step was complete, Helos looked eagerly at the finished product cooling inside.

The excitement on her face quickly froze.

What she had created was only an ordinary silver-gray alloy ingot, hard in texture and smooth on the surface.

It was cold and lifeless.

No so-called [Metal Activation] had occurred.

Helos poked the alloy ingot with one finger and pouted in disappointment.

“Did it fail…?”

Still unwilling to give up, she tried several more times.

She adjusted the ratios and changed the order of fusion, but the result never changed.

Those finished alloy products showed slight differences in hardness, but not the slightest trace of “activation.”

“Looks like the materials aren’t the most important part.”

“‘Will guidance’ is the real core of it.”

Helos could not help but think about what Professor Graham meant by “will.”

***

Over the next few days, Helos became completely stuck at this bottleneck.

To understand the true meaning of “will,” she had nearly become obsessed.

She irritably ran a hand through her long silver hair while sweeping her gaze across the messy Dormitory room.

The girl had been studying Gavi every day lately.

Helos crouched in front of Gavi, tilted her head up, and asked with a serious expression:

“Gavi, do you have ‘will’?”

Gavi tilted her head.

She seemed unable to understand the meaning of the word, and the points of light in her eye sockets blinked innocently.

“Sigh… asking you is pointless too.”

Helos let out a sigh.

Sometimes she would knock on Gavi’s metal skull.

thunk thunk thunk

She tried to hear whether something different was hidden inside.

Other times, she pulled Gavi’s arms around and carefully examined the precise joints, wondering whether Milda had hidden some mechanism she did not know about.

At last, her gaze landed on the ruby necklace hanging quietly over Gavi’s chest.

“Right… it’s this thing.”

Gavi’s body stiffened slightly.

The light in her eye sockets flickered once, but she obediently lowered her head and allowed her master to do as she wished.

Helos carefully reached out and removed the necklace from Gavi’s neck.

Her eyes lit up.

Holding the necklace in her palm, she felt its cool touch.

She clearly remembered that in the tomb outside Olivius City, this very thing had birthed ghosts and Skeletons under the erosion of resentment.

And it was also this very thing that, through a strange twist of fate, fused with Gavi’s life core.

That was what caused this golem, who should have possessed no self, to “come alive.”

“If that’s the case…”

“Resentment counts as a kind of will too, doesn’t it?”

She recalled the words Professor Graham had spoken in the Specimen Room.

The creator’s hatred and fear had twisted an alchemical creation.

Then an obsession so intense that it endured even through death should also qualify as “will.”

But then a new problem appeared.

How was she supposed to “inject” will?

Surely she wasn’t expected to stand beside the experiment in helpless rage while shouting, “Come alive for me!”

That was way too cringe.

And besides, how would she inject it?

With mental power?

She did not even possess mana, much less some kind of spiritual force.

After thinking for a long time, Helos still had no major breakthrough.

The threshold to this “forbidden field” was far higher than she had imagined.

She sighed and felt like her brain had turned into mush again.

Slowly, she placed the ruby necklace back around Gavi’s neck.

The light in Gavi’s eye sockets seemed to brighten slightly.

She even raised a hand and gently straightened the ruby pendant.

“Forget it. No point forcing it.”

“Research can’t be rushed.”

Helos stretched deeply and decided to rest her mind for a while.

She had been cooped up in the Dormitory and Underground Workshop for several days straight.

If she stayed any longer, she felt mushrooms might start growing on her.

“Gavi, I’m going out for some air.”

She turned toward the door.

“You don’t need to come.”

“Stay in the Dormitory and help me clean those alchemy tools.”

She specifically instructed Gavi to remain behind while she went for a walk alone.

Right now, she needed some solitude to clear her head.

Gavi gave a slight bow, her movements as steady as ever.

***

Helos stepped out of the dormitory building.

The setting sun was warm but not harsh, returning a little color to the pale face she had gained from spending too much time underground.

She had no destination in mind.

With her hands behind her back, she wandered aimlessly along the tree-lined path inside the Academy.

She watched the energetic students around her.

Some practiced dazzling magic on the lawn.

Others gathered in small groups, chatting loudly and enthusiastically.

The irritation in Helos’s heart gradually calmed.

Maybe she really did need to relax.

Without realizing it, she kept walking.

Then, when she reached the Central Lawn before the Main Building, her footsteps suddenly stopped.

Once again, she saw that familiar figure who made her start trembling every time.

Lilith.

Helos’s heart pounded wildly.

thump thump

Almost by instinct, she froze in place and immediately straightened her back.

Her pale violet eyes, relaxed from casual wandering, instantly became alert.

She quickly checked her appearance.

Her uniform collar was straight.

Her skirt remained neat.

There was nothing improper about her posture.

Heaven knew why.

She had already “graduated,” yet the moment she saw this teacher, she still became instinctively nervous like a mouse seeing a cat.

At that moment, Lilith stood upon the steps of the Main Building, gently speaking with what looked like an upper-year noble student.

She remained as flawless and elegant as ever.

Her dark violet velvet gown accentuated her tall figure, while her ebony hair was meticulously pinned behind her head.

A warm and proper smile rested on her face.

Every subtle movement embodied the very model of a lady.

Just as Helos was torn between slipping away now or forcing herself to go say hello later, Lilith finished speaking with the student.

Out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to notice Helos.

A trace of surprise flashed through those deep wine-red eyes.

Then the smile on her face became even gentler.

Lifting her skirt slightly, she walked with elegant steps through the crowd and came straight toward Helos.

The evening breeze brushed past, stirring strands of her black hair.

Helos almost unconsciously snapped upright and gave a tense salute.

“L-Lady Lilith.”

Lilith covered her lips and laughed softly.

The sound was as pleasant as silver bells.

“Miss Helos, there’s no need to be so nervous.”

“It isn’t class time now.”

She spoke gently, her eyes sweeping once over Helos’s slightly weary face.

She seemed to notice the worries weighing on the girl.

So, in a voice as soft as the spring breeze, she asked with concern:

“Looking at you, you seem troubled.”

“Have you run into some kind of difficulty?”

She tilted her head slightly.

Her wine-red eyes shimmered with soft light beneath the sunset.

“If you don’t mind…”

“Would you like to tell your teacher about it?”