Chapter 7

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Ace

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: Rumors of the Golem Alchemist

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Today, Ian felt a bit tired.

Too much work?

Or did he not get enough sleep?

No, that wasn't it.

He'd slept well enough, and work was just the usual amount.

So why was this happening?

"Senior Investigator, have you heard the rumors?"

"Huh? What rumors?"

"The Golem Alchemist. Oh, right—you were the one who reported it. I totally forgot. Hehe."

This was why.

"So, what was that golem like? Was it really amazing? Super impressive?"

"Y-yeah, it was."

"Whoa! I'm so jealous! Getting to see a golem with your own eyes. I've never even laid eyes on a crappy clay doll my whole life. So, did that golem really beat the crap out of those black mages?"

"Uh? W-well, you see..."

"Whoa! I'm so jealous! I should've become an investigator too. Then I could've tagged along with you and at least gotten a look!"

Ian let out a small sigh. His ears were killing him.

'Can't you just back off already? I'm starting to get tinnitus.'

It had been hours since he arrived at work, but his subordinate bureaucrats had been clinging to him like this, chattering nonstop.

And why? Because of the rumored alchemist who controlled a golem—the one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they called the "Golem Alchemist."

Not just his close colleagues, but even bureaucrats from other departments whom he only exchanged greetings with were swarming him, bombarding him with questions.

And this had been going on for days, not just today.

Ian couldn't comprehend it at all. What was so special about that damn alchemist that it had become such a hot topic? Why?

'Sigh. My fault. I should've reported it differently from the start. Why did I even mention an alchemist and cause all this mess?'

But regrets wouldn't help—spilled water couldn't be gathered back up.

No choice. He'd just have to endure it.

Still, even trying to brush it off, the pain was unavoidable.

Unfortunately, human ears were wide open.

What could he do? Even if he tried not to listen, it came through anyway.

"So, how does that Golem Alchemist control such an incredible golem?"

"Right? They say it's over ten meters tall—a colossal one. The destructive power must be unimaginable."

"Obviously. It took out hundreds of black mages single-handedly."

"Whoa, that big? Incredible."

'It's not ten meters. And it didn't kill hundreds.'

"And that black mage group? They were some secret organization plotting to overthrow the Empire with sinister intentions. The Golem Alchemist really did something huge."

"Oh, that Pandemonium thing?"

"Yeah, that. Who knows—maybe thanks to the Golem Alchemist smashing them, the Empire gets to stay peaceful without a war."

'No, what are you even saying? Isn't that a huge leap?'

"Hey, did you hear? People on the borderlands are calling that golem a divine spirit now."

"Huh? First time hearing that. What do you mean?"

"You know how monster attacks have been frequent near the border lately?"

"Yeah, I know."

"The one who beat those monsters and saved the people was the Golem Alchemist. He used that golem to take down thousands of them. No wonder the villagers were so moved—they're calling the golem a divine spirit."

'No, thousands? What kind of bullshit is that?'

Ian was witnessing with his own eyes and ears how he'd somehow become the "hidden hero Golem Alchemist operating in the shadows for the Empire."

With people blabbing nonstop right next to him like this, how could those bizarre rumors not spread?

They were even fleshing them out in real time.

What? Ten meters tall? Killed hundreds of black mages and thousands of monsters, saving the Empire's citizens?

'Do you guys even think that makes sense? If it were true, the higher-ups would be in an uproar by now. Sigh.'

It was frustrating beyond belief, but there was nothing he could do. How do you stop rumors from spreading?

The fictional alchemist he'd made up to hide that Ddol Ddoli was his creation had already become a secret hero saving the Empire from the shadows.

And this had all happened in just a few days. Ian couldn't even imagine how the rumors would grow if more time passed.

'Ah, whatever. It's out of my hands now. Time to head home.'

Ian quickly packed his things. To escape that endless drivel, clocking out was the only answer.

Stepping out of the office, Ian felt a sense of liberation. It was always nice, but today, escaping that infuriating nonsense made it feel even better.

'Time to dive into the alchemy I haven't been able to do.'

In truth, he hadn't been able to focus on alchemy properly since returning from his mission. He'd been constantly summoned by his superiors for reports related to it.

The first was a detailed report on "Pandemonium," and the second was on the rumored alchemist—the "Golem Alchemist."

Thinking back on those past few days of overtime he never imagined doing made his teeth grind.

'But it's out of my hands now.'

There was even a sense of relief.

The black mages' secret organization, Pandemonium, had reached even the Emperor's ears.

Given the Emperor's hair-trigger temper toward black mages, he'd order a full investigation without missing a single one, and soon enough, Pandemonium's other branches would be uncovered.

'For me, it's like picking my nose without lifting a finger.'

It wasn't now, but eventually, Ian would have had to weed out Pandemonium himself. This was a windfall.

'But if Pandemonium gets wiped out at this point, does the game story change?'

Lost in such thoughts, Ian arrived at his lab. He first tidied up the cluttered interior strewn with various items, then checked his ongoing research.

'Today's the wrap-up phase.'

Even with how hectic things had been since his return, Ian hadn't stopped his alchemy research.

Because it was fun.

Overtime he never did before? It didn't stop him.

After all, "fun" conquered any hardship.

So he'd chipped away at it bit by bit over the past few days, and today was finally the day to see results.

Ian dismissed the incessant alerts and pulled out three round, red orbs from the lab shelf.

Life Force Crystals—a magic material he'd bought at quite a price.

Because they were rare.

Especially since the towers produced only tiny quantities, controlling supply and driving prices sky-high.

'Good thing I set my character's background as a merchant's son. Otherwise, alchemy would've been a pipe dream.'

If Ian had to pick one thing he'd learned doing alchemy, it was that it was a money pit.

Making basic potions? Fine.

Anything beyond that?

'No way.'

Praising his past self, Ian gripped the three red orbs and hit the "Proceed" button on the hologram window. The orbs melted away smoothly, and research resumed.

...

A low resonance hummed.

The player's privilege. A sound only Ian could hear.

Soon, he felt something permeating his mind.

Indescribable, but if he had to put it in words—like injecting a special solution straight into his brain with a syringe.

An unpleasant, slightly stinging sensation faded, replaced by a flood of information.

Knowledge on "Soul Extraction."

And on souls themselves.

Ian savored the storm of incoming information.

No one needed to teach him—he instinctively knew how to extract a soul now.

'Soul Extraction, huh.'

Reading the description, Ian felt a strange twinge of regret.

'Too bad it doesn't work on living beings.'

That could've been fun.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thinking about it, yeah—that'd be way too overpowered.

'So it works on dead ones?'

Ian decided to test it later.

The skill's intended use was extracting souls from soul-infused objects.

But did he have to follow that?

In his mind, no.

Whatever he did with it was up to the owner, right?

'Man, I wanna test this skill right now. How can I use it in a fun way?'

Ian calmed his itching urge.

Experience had taught him that tempering expectations was best for mental health in moments like this.

This was alchemy he'd do for life.

To enjoy this fun toy forever, impatience had to go.

Couldn't end up like those veterans who binged all content day one of a game release, then whined, "Eh, game's boring now. Trash game, I'm out."

Earth had alternatives aplenty—this world didn't.

If he got bored of this fun stuff, life would turn pitch black.

'Anyway, now I can extract souls and store them in soul stones.'

According to the acquired knowledge, those soul stones would be key for future life synthesis.

For living beings, the soul—not the body—was paramount, as it was the body's master.

"Ah, screw it. Let's do it now."

He couldn't hold back the itch.

Like seeing a drama preview—how could anyone wait a week?

Of course not.

Ian glanced around. Was there anything in the lab to use Soul Extraction on?

Of course not. Soul-infused items weren't exactly common.

To get one, he'd need to hit the towers, the black market, or the alchemist guild.

'Damn. I wanna try it right now...'

He froze.

Something entered his view.

A lump of flesh.

Greenish, smeared with dried crimson blood.

The grotesque thing that would make ninety out of a hundred people scream was a goblin corpse.

Left untouched for a month, but preserved with anti-decay treatment, it remained intact.

"No way this works?"

'It's not alive. So maybe?'

The goblin had been dead over a month, so its soul should've long departed the body.

Whatever—he'd give it a shot.

First, he pulled out a soul stone.

Made two days ago after finishing the "Soul Stone Creation" research, skimping on sleep to craft it.

'So pretty.'

The soul stone looked like translucent crystal.

You'd mistake it for a gem if you didn't know.

Clutching it in his left hand, Ian placed his right on the goblin corpse's head in the corner and closed his eyes.

Focus.

Mana drained from his hand in a lump and poured into the goblin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠corpse.

'It works!'

Ian's body trembled. It did! Not just on inanimate objects!

'Of course!'

Probably damaged because it died long ago.

Who cared?

...

Then something amazing happened.

Pale smoke seeped from the goblin's head, flowing toward the soul stone in Ian's hand.

At the same time, color seeped into the stone, like water filling a bottle.

Ian held the completed soul stone.

Dark gray, like gray paint mixed into clear water.

'Insane. So freaking cool.'

A subtle warmth emanated from it, making Ian tremble in wonder.