Chapter 13: You're Actually Going to Blow Up?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: You're Actually Going to Blow Up?
That’s right—just blast your way in.
Normally, people with low reputation were the type to go around causing trouble anyway. If they absolutely had to enter a restricted area, they usually just fought their way through without a word. After all, their reputation was already in the gutter; making it a little worse didn't really change anything.
Clearly, Xie Bai wasn't about to accept that method.
In the end, she decided not to do it herself.
"Edward, go to the library and borrow a few books for me."
"Borrow books? I can do that. Miss Bai, what kind of books are you looking for?"
Xie Bai tossed a list to Edward. "Just follow this."
Edward caught the list and scanned it. It was packed with various requirements. They included, but were not limited to: control, curses, purification, elements, rituals... there were even quite a few requests related to alchemy.
Xie Bai gave a small wave of her hand. "Go on."
"Uh... alright."
After dismissing Edward with a few words, Xie Bai hopped down from her dining chair.
"Hmm... I feel like there hasn't been much to do lately."
She did the math; the next harvest at the Void Insect Hive wasn't until the day after tomorrow. Currently, she couldn't level up, and there were no quests for her to take. The game's closed beta hadn't started yet, so many of the interesting main storylines hadn't even begun.
Lately, it seemed the Void Insect Race was just serving as background fodder for the beta's plot. After all, every Void Soldier Insect was at least Level 80. If a fresh-faced newbie just entering the game were to face them, it wouldn't be right to say they were useless—it was more like they wouldn't even have the chance to show their faces before being deleted.
By the time the closed beta started, the Insect Race Calamity would likely be resolved, and the players would only be arriving to help with post-war reconstruction.
Of course, all of this was based on the assumption that Xie Bai wouldn't intervene. If she did, the situation wouldn't be nearly this simple. If she wanted to, she could easily tilt the scales of war toward either side, turning it into an undisputed landslide victory.
"But I'm not really in the mood to get involved," she muttered, instinctively walking toward her bedroom.
"Wait... did I forget something?"
Realizing something was off, Xie Bai looked back at the mess on the dining table.
"Crap. I forgot to tell that kid to clean up before he left..."
*
The Royal Library.
Edward was currently searching for books one by one according to the list Xie Bai had given him.
"Analysis of the Principles of Purification Magic... found it!"
Seeing the book he needed, Edward instinctively reached out to grab it.
Slap.
A hand suddenly appeared in front of Edward, accidentally knocking his hand away from the book.
"Eh?" Edward turned to look at the person beside him.
Before he could say anything, the other party apologized first.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to get in your way just now. Please forgive me!"
Watching the person suddenly drop into a deep, ninety-degree bow, Edward was momentarily stunned. The surrounding people were disturbed by the scene and began to look over.
When they saw someone begging Edward for forgiveness so humbly, their sharp gazes focused on him. It was as if they were blaming him—Master Roland's apprentice—for bullying someone in public to the point where they had to apologize loudly.
Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Edward sensed trouble.
"No... it's nothing like that. I'm not blaming you. Um... please, stand up first!"
Hearing Edward's response, the person finally looked up, gazing at him with excitement.
"That's wonderful! Thank you for not being angry. I was just clumsy, and I made you..."
It was only then that Edward realized the person was a girl with short purple hair. Her face was delicate and cute, with a bit of a "girl-next-door" vibe. However, she was only "somewhat" cute; if he really had to compare, she certainly couldn't hold a candle to Xie Bai.
And, of course, she couldn't even begin to compare to Ellie.
Before Edward could ask for clarification, the girl's expression turned nervous, and her tone became urgent.
"Um... I'm sorry, I might have caused a scene. We probably shouldn't stay here. I know a safe place—follow me!"
Before Edward could react, the purple-haired girl grabbed him and pulled him away from the scene.
His brain finally catching up, Edward cried out in a panic, "Wait, no! I haven't gotten my books yet!"
*
Thud!
A shaken Edward was pulled into a small, cramped secret room by the purple-haired girl. She slammed the hidden door shut, making it impossible for Edward to leave easily.
"Um... could you tell me why you brought me here?"
The secret room was tiny, barely large enough to fit Edward and the girl. In the overly crowded space, Edward was forced to press against her. The unshielded physical contact, combined with the stifling air of the room, made his heart race with nerves.
For a moment, Edward even thought this might be some obsessive fan who wanted to force a close encounter with him. His concern wasn't entirely baseless. As the apprentice of the greatest Alchemist, Edward was quite famous. Moreover, he had sharp, refined features and a head of beautiful golden hair; his looks were top-tier.
If this purple-haired girl was trying to pursue him, she was going to be disappointed. Because no matter what, Edward's heart belonged to Ellie and Ellie alone—a fact that wouldn't change even if the world ended!
Hmph. Miss, I admit I'm very charming and that you might be a bit smitten, but unfortunately, I have to let you down. I'll admit you're somewhat cute, but compared to Ellie, there isn't a single thing about you that's better. Swaying my heart is no easy task.
Edward couldn't help but feel a bit smug internally.
Just as the corners of his mouth began to curl upward, the purple-haired girl suddenly dropped her panicked act.
With a smile, she said, "I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Cecilia, an Assassin."
"And the reason I came to find you today is, of course, to kill you~"
As she spoke, a dagger suddenly appeared in Cecilia's hand, thrusting toward Edward's abdomen.
Edward: "!!!"
Not good!
Edward realized with a jolt that in this cramped space, he couldn't move his limbs freely; there was no room to dodge. Even the hidden door behind him had been sealed shut by Cecilia with something—it wouldn't budge!
Seeing the dagger about to pierce his stomach, Edward had a sudden flash of inspiration.
Well, it wasn't so much inspiration as it was a "Hail Mary" pass.
With that thought, Edward decided to gamble.
In a split second, he used some dust from the wall to trace a simple Alchemy Matrix on his palm.
Cecilia: "?"
What is he doing? Does he think a basic Alchemy Matrix has any power? Or is he, as an Alchemist, trying to perform one last transmutation before he dies?
Cecilia couldn't understand Edward's actions. In her eyes, as soon as her dagger sank into his gut, the potent poison on the blade would ensure he had no chance of survival.
The panic Cecilia expected didn't appear. Instead, Edward gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"There might not be much academic basis for this, but ever since I started practicing Alchemy, I discovered I have a very... unique ability."
"And that is: during the process of Alchemical refinement, no matter how unlikely an accident might seem, there is a fifty percent chance that an explosion will occur. And it's always a massive explosion with power far exceeding the original refinement."
"Now, I'm going to use the explosion resistance I've built up over a lifetime of accidents to bet on that fifty percent chance with you!"
Bet on your grandma!
What the hell are you talking about?!
Who bets their life on a summary of their own failures?!
Besides, that summary is way too unreliable! What do you mean there's always a fifty percent chance of an explosion?! And what the hell is 'explosion resistance'? Is that even something you can train?!
For a moment, Cecilia was actually stunned by Edward's words, and the dagger in her hand slowed down instinctively.
Less than a second later, Cecilia witnessed the most unforgettable sight of her life.
The Alchemy Matrix in Edward's palm began to hiss and spit sparks.
"Wait... you're actually going to blow up?"
"What else did you think would happen?"
BOOM—!
Instantly, a blinding white light filled the secret room.
Cecilia's consciousness took a massive hit and began to blur. In her daze, she thought she saw that same helpless smile on Edward's face.
"Heh..."