Chapter 14
Chapter 14
I’m the Possessor
Having knowledge of the future was more useful than I had expected.
On top of that, possessing the protagonist’s body and talent created an incredible synergy.
“This makes the second one.”
I carefully harvested the golden flower that had bloomed deep within the abandoned garden and stood up.
The security systems we passed on the way here opened as easily as automatic doors.
Thanks to that, my companions, who had nothing to do except deal with the occasional rampaging homunculus, kept expressing their amazement.
“Incredible. So this is real alchemy.”
“I’ve never seen security systems fail in under five minutes before.”
At Clovis and Cecilia’s reactions, I wore a slightly proud expression and carefully adjusted the flower in my hand.
Clovis looked at it with a nostalgic expression.
“Sun Essence. Haven’t seen that in a while.”
“That’s a material found only in the southern deserts, right? Is it the same case as Moon Tears?”
“Pretty similar. It’s a flower some witch planted out of boredom.”
“Where do you even get information like that?”
“Secret.”
At this point, my companions had already realized I was moving with a clear objective.
Of course they had. The execution speed and information quality weren’t something a normal beginner alchemist could show.
However, they didn’t press me about my secrets and instead asked about our next destination.
“Where to next?”
“Not far from here.”
I answered Clovis while holding up the Adventurer’s Lantern.
As the warm light spread outward and illuminated the surroundings, hidden spatial distortions began to reveal themselves.
Seeing the web of cracks spreading in all directions, Cecilia clicked her tongue.
“On the surface they all look the same, yet I have no idea how you pick the right one.”
“It’s hard to tell at first. But if you look closely, you can start to see patterns.”
I had struggled at first too, memorizing the traits of spatial distortions.
But as someone who called himself a veteran, I couldn’t stay ignorant forever.
So I studied them obsessively.
Now I could identify them at a glance.
“Everyone starts somewhere. No need to be discouraged.”
“You say that, but you didn’t start here, did you?”
“…I did a few experiments while learning.”
“Only a few? That’s impressive in itself.”
Cecilia pointed out the obvious truth without hesitation, and I quietly shut my mouth.
I couldn’t really argue with that.
But I couldn’t exactly tell them I was from another world and knew the future through a game either.
“Let’s just say… I had a complicated situation.”
“I see. I’ll wait until you feel like explaining.”
Her calm acceptance made me silently grateful.
Soon after, I used the spatial distortion to arrive at the final ruin.
Clovis whistled in admiration.
“This is basically a teleport gate. If used properly, you could reach the deepest part of the Wasteland.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple.”
“Why not?”
I paused and thought for a moment.
Monsters infesting the Wasteland, remnants of a ruined civilization, and ancient defensive systems still active after five hundred years.
They clung to spatial distortions like grime stuck in cracks.
“Spatial distortions aren’t exclusive to us.”
“Ah. I understand.”
“Finding a safe route is harder than you think.”
Clovis quickly accepted the explanation.
He had seen enough monsters being warped through distortions to understand the danger.
I shook off the unpleasant memory of losing homunculi by reckless traversal and signaled my summoned spirits to scout ahead.
Cecilia tilted her head.
“What are those ghosts, exactly?”
“They aren’t real ghosts. More like artificial life forms created from residual spiritual energy left in the world.”
“Like homunculi?”
“Something like that.”
Clovis looked intrigued as well.
“They’re certainly unusual.”
“They’re more like a trait of mine than standard homunculi.”
“So they’re not homunculi? Everyone probably assumes they are.”
“That’s not wrong either.”
We moved on toward the final ruin.
According to my internal map, we were currently in the Giant Forest.
As the name suggested, it was a forest filled with trees hundreds of times larger than normal ones.
Because of that, landmark features from Alchemist Story were still intact, making navigation easy.
“Wait. There’s something ahead.”
“What is it?”
“Based on the spirits’ report… an ogre.”
“Then let’s avoid it.”
In the Wasteland, even goblins evolve into veteran-level threats.
Ogres, normally apex predators outside, were merely mid-tier here.
Those who survived here were like battle-hardened veterans.
Some even formed groups or used makeshift weapons.
That was normal in the Wasteland.
“I found a detour. It’ll take a bit longer, but it’s safer.”
“Let’s do that.”
We moved carefully around the ogre.
Thanks to the spirits scouting ahead, we avoided most dangers, and Cecilia and Clovis handled unavoidable threats.
Eventually, we reached a hidden entrance between cliffs.
“This is it. The last ruin.”
“This one actually looks like a ruin.”
They seemed somewhat accustomed to underground ruins by now.
That made sense. Most surface structures had been wiped out long ago.
While I was lost in thought, my spirits returned with new information.
“Kyuu! Kyuu kyuu!”
“What? All the homunculi inside are down?”
“Someone already cleared it?”
Clovis looked disappointed.
This kind of thing happened often among adventurers.
Ruins didn’t disappear after being cleared.
Cecilia tried to comfort me.
“Don’t be too disappointed. This happens often. It’s part of your growth.”
I shook my head.
“I’m fine. I’m not weak enough to be discouraged by something like this.”
I was used to it.
In my past life as a hunter, I had seen parties stealing cleared gates.
In Alchemist Story, random variables like this were common.
I reviewed possible scenarios.
Homunculus rampage, structural decay, monster intrusion.
Then I noticed something that made my expression stiffen.
Albedo-class alchemist… Sorbian’s failed expedition.
Clovis noticed my reaction.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
I brushed it off.
But inwardly, I sighed.
This variable was not a good one.
“My luck is terrible…”
Why do protagonists always get lucky streaks in stories?
I wasn’t even the one who chose to come here.
As we moved deeper, the number of scattered homunculus remains increased.
Something was clearly wrong.
Clovis narrowed his eyes.
“The numbers don’t match the scale.”
“Agreed,” Cecilia said.
We continued forward until we reached a heavily sealed stone door.
Clovis sighed.
“Classic alchemy security system.”
“I’ve seen this before.”
“And a lot of alchemists died to these.”
I stepped forward.
This was a system I had dismantled countless times in the game.
I touched the seal.
Click.
The formation unraveled smoothly.
Within five seconds, the seal was gone.
Clovis stared.
“You solved that instantly?”
“Let’s just say I’m familiar with it.”
The door opened.
Inside was breathtaking.
A half-collapsed glass dome filtered sunlight into a pale green glow filled with life.
Plants absorbed the light and thrived, pulsing with vitality.
“It’s beautiful…”
The sight was overwhelming.
Even in the game it had been beautiful, but reality was on another level.
I examined the structure.
“The alchemy circuits are incredible. It treats the entire structure as a single crafted artifact.”
Clovis asked.
“Is it valuable for research?”
“Not really. Most of the circuits are too degraded.”
Restoring it would be nearly impossible.
I approached a stone table and picked up an old book.
“It’s intact?”
“Some materials last centuries.”
It was a research journal about rare plants.
My eyes lit up.
This was useful.
I stored it carefully.
My spirits returned with collected materials.
“Good work.”
They brought excellent-quality resources.
Among them was a pure white flower.
Moon Tear.
Cecilia looked at it quietly.
“…It’s been a while.”
This was one of my key objectives.
I turned to my companions.
“Can I take this?”
Clovis shrugged.
“Fine by me. What’s it for?”
“I can’t say. It’s important.”
After a pause, I added.
“We’re done here. Let’s move on.”
Clovis blinked.
“There’s more?”
“Yes. I know a few places.”
This world was mine to navigate now.
A veteran’s turn had finally come.