Chapter 22

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 22

Chapter Title: Pursuit of Immortality

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Suddenly, the thought struck him. Life was truly an unpredictable beast, not a shred of it making any sense.

Ian had this epiphany because his current life felt worlds apart from his previous one.

What had his past life been like?

A grueling routine of overtime every day and weekend shifts as regular as meals.

Who knows how others saw it, but Ian had given it his all, in his own way. Yet he'd died without ever escaping the clutches of small-time companies.

And now?

Everything was a breeze. He hadn't even done much, and things just fell into place effortlessly.

'Why did I get this award?'

He genuinely couldn't wrap his head around it. What had he even done?

Investigated demon traces in detail and reported them?

Found a real demon and killed it on the spot, eliminating any future threats?

Captured the fleeing remnants of Pandemonium's black mages who tried to escape when things went south?

Yeah, sure, he'd done all that. But if asked if he'd done it exceptionally well, the answer was no.

It was just his duty as an Imperial Magic Investigator.

He'd been given orders, carried them out—that was it. Giving him an oversized reward that didn't match the deed made no sense.

Especially one reserved for heroes who'd saved the Empire?

"Congratulations, Senior Investigator!"

"Our division finally has its own hero!"

"Heh, does this mean we can hold our heads high now?"

Returning from receiving the award from the Emperor himself, his colleagues—who'd been buried in work—greeted him with wild enthusiasm the moment he stepped into the office. But Ian barely registered it.

He was lost in thought.

'Is the Emperor a demon hater? Did a demon wrong him personally, or maybe one brutally killed a family member?'

Ian chuckled to himself.

What nonsense was this delusion?

'But anything less, and there's no way he'd hand me the Sacred Light Medal.'

Of course, Ian knew how terrifying the word "demon" was to people in this world.

Unlike Earth, demons actually existed here.

History was riddled with their invasions, fueling deep-seated fear—like how Europeans once dreaded the Mongols as devils.

If even enemy nations were that scary, imagine real demons.

Honoring someone who'd stopped one didn't seem so odd.

"Nah, it's still weird."

Ian shook his head. Even rationalizing it that way, it didn't sit right. For that single act, the Sacred Light Medal?

'It's not that strange, but...'

His gut screamed otherwise.

Was there some hidden reason behind it?

"There you are. The hero of our division."

A deep voice pulled his attention. It was Blake, the Director of the Magic Management Division, with his imposing presence.

As everyone bowed, the Director approached and slung an arm over Ian's shoulder.

Ian flinched. Blake wasn't the type to act this chummy.

'The Director arm-in-arm with a subordinate? This guy who's always so detached...?'

Blake was the Director, yet he showed zero interest in the division's actual work.

He spent his days schmoozing high nobles to boost his own reputation.

Naturally, he spared no attention for his underlings.

For such a man to act friendly? Really?

"Ahem. I need to talk to Ian privately. Back to work, everyone."

Blake dismissed the staff and dragged Ian out to the terrace.

"What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be at the banquet hall. Took me ages to find you."

"Banquet hall? Those aren't my scene. Parties don't interest me at all."

Come to think of it, he'd been invited. As the Sacred Light Medal recipient, he was expected to grace the event.

Of course, he'd shown up—the Emperor was hosting, after all.

But he'd made a quick, polite exit. Plenty of lovely noble ladies had been eye candy, but crowds of aristocrats weren't his thing. Blake seemed to be on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about that.

"A commoner like me crashing banquets or balls? Those are for noble lords."

"Hey now, you're a noble yourself these days. You need to get used to their ways."

"Pfft, honorary knight doesn't make me nobility."

"Sir Ian, you're a hero of the Empire now. The capital's nobles are watching you. Hold your head high."

"Well, confidence has never been my problem."

"Hahaha! That's the spirit."

Blake patted his shoulder warmly. Ian couldn't fathom this version of him.

Deputy Director Bren, maybe—but not this guy.

'What's his angle, pretending to be buddies?'

Ian shot him a sidelong glance, careful not to be noticed. Didn't seem like anything sinister. Then what? Why the sycophantic act?

'Eh, who cares.'

Ian smirked. Since when did he overthink this stuff?

Don't complicate it. Nod along, clock out, and dive back into alchemy research—that was the plan.

"Ahem, uh, Sir Ian."

"Yes?"

"Got a moment?"

"Huh? Why, what's up?"

"Nothing major. There's someone I personally admire, and I'd like to introduce you."

Ian realized why Blake had been hemming and hawing.

'Trying to slot me in somewhere?'

To impress the higher-ups, probably.

"Don't freak out. It's Duke Balua."

Ian tilted his head. Duke Balua—who?

'Oh, right. That Swordmaster with the Electric Sword or Thunderblade or whatever.'

He remembered now.

The Empire's Sword, revered by every knight.

"You're lucky. His Grace is very interested in you. Moments like this are for seizing opportunities."

"Sorry, but I can't. No time."

"What?"

"Yeah. Got a ton of urgent stuff. Can't clear my schedule."

"No, that's not—"

"Tell me next time. Gotta handle these backlog reports. Excuse me."

Ian bowed and headed inside. Blake stared at his retreating figure in disbelief.

Was he sane? Turning down this chance? A shot at the Duke's notice? Promotion on a platter?

"Even with urgent work, you'd postpone it to meet His Grace right now. What the...?"

Blake clicked his tongue. He'd known the guy was odd, but this odd?

Leaving the palace early as usual, Ian sighed in relief only after reaching his lab.

'Whew. Dodged a bullet. Almost got dragged into hassle.'

Duke Balua? Fancy lord?

What did he care? Would they boost his alchemy tech tree?

Or research it for him like some ancestor?

As if. No one could interfere with Ian's alchemy. And he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had zero interest in noble politics.

Blake's sudden chumminess after the medal hadn't helped.

'If he's jealous, let him come find me himself.'

Ian shoved thoughts of the Duke aside.

Something far more important awaited.

The demon soul stone tucked safely in his inventory.

The soul stone thrashed like it had been waiting for this moment, as if legs had sprouted and it was trying to bolt.

"Ugh, stay put."

Ian gripped it tightly. Squeezed with his strength, it couldn't escape.

'Using this as a main ingredient feels off. Better extract its attribute and be done.'

His original plan had been a new homunculus with this as the core, but he'd changed his mind.

Couldn't synthesize life with a soul yammering about returning to its master. Too creepy.

'What if the demon-soul homunculus betrays me?'

Betrayal? Unacceptable.

Better grind it into material.

'Sorry, demon soul. You're fodder now.'

Might as well ascend in peace.

As extraction began, the soul stone went berserk, shaking wildly like an angel and demon duking it out inside. The frenzy was maddening to watch.

It raised questions.

"Who the hell is this demon soul's master to make it freak out like this?"

How strong was the pull?

The owner was definitely another demon. Demon society was a brutal hierarchy; low-ranks pawned their souls to superiors for survival.

So the question was, who was the owner?

'Baal, Satan, Belial—some lord-class demon?'

Ian dismissed the thought. Whoever it was, didn't matter. This one's toast anyway.

The percentage climbed, shaking subsiding rapidly. Past halfway, stability was obvious.

About five minutes later.

Extraction was a resounding success.

He'd worried about failure.

The spent soul stone crumbled to dust, its soul dissipating as smoke into the air.

'Ascended, I guess?'

At least it didn't return to its master.

'Huh?'

Completely eliminated?

'Does grinding the soul stone count as a kill?'

Nothing else made sense.

'Achievement rewards are the best.'

Ian's face lit up with a grin. Unexpected windfall—perfect.

'Demon Slayer. Super rare, doesn't pop even after slaying tons.'

Never dreamed he'd snag it like this.

Excitement aside, he checked the result.

Success, but no weight in his hand.

Just a faint, borderless orb of light hovering there.

'Oho. So this is the extracted special attribute.'

Formless, yet tangible. Mysteriously so.

'Feels just like mana.'

Maybe special attributes were mana at their core.

Preserved as energy form.

"Soul Attribute Stone?"

First time hearing it. Did that exist?

Checking research projects—yep, it did.

'Ah, shoulda unlocked this first.'

Ian scratched his head. Now what?

Soul Attribute Stone research took over 6 hours; attribute lasted 1 hour max.

Even finishing research and crafting immediately, this one was doomed.

"Come on, warn a guy."

Ian laughed wryly. What a ridiculous game. Why not prerequisite the stone?

'How was I supposed to know? No guide.'

Not even 100-hour players knew. First life touching alchemy—who could?

"Screw it. Use it within the hour."

He had something to test anyway.

Could he apply this attribute to himself?

Success: jackpot. Failure...

'Eh, toss it.'

Demon soul stone? Catch another.

They'd pop up eventually.

'But how to apply it to myself?'

Eat it, maybe?

'Looks just like cotton candy.'

Suddenly appetizing.

Ian popped the light orb into his mouth without hesitation. His eyes widened.

Incredibly delicious.

'Jackpot! Chocolate flavor!'

This vibe—like chugging booze then grabbing chocolate milk at the convenience store.

"Huh?"

A success rate popped up?

So it was possible?

"Of course!"

30%?

Who cares.

Vanishes in an hour anyway.

"Please work!"

The holographic hourglass flipped in the transparent window. Ian clenched his fists. Tension mounted—no pleasure, no pain, heightening the suspense.

Success? Failure?

'Please succeed. Please!'

"Jackpot!"

Ian whooped. It actually worked!

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