Chapter 572: Catalyst of the Alchemy Experiment

On the tree platform of 【Awakened Tree】.

The mages who had survived were bound tightly by Tally's shadow ribbons, piled together in a heap.

Just in case.

The heroine Grey fed them a potion that suppressed magical power, rendering them temporarily unable to cast spells.

As for that eighth-tier high-stage Zi Pao Fa mage.

What a pity.

Tally went to look around, and only when she reached the spot where she had fallen did she see a crater of churned-up earth — but no person.

Rod glanced at Grey and Kira, who had begun the interrogation.

He had no intention of joining in.

He began examining the research rooms on the platform.

Whether useful or not, he set aside a spell satchel all on its own, sweeping conduits, petri dishes, material compression blocks, and all manner of casting materials into it.

Generous quantity, fully packed.

Should fetch a decent sum.

He didn't really understand spell-research things — he'd just leave them to Lady Kali to look over.

Of course.

Besides these, there were still some other curiosities to be had.

Tally picked up a transparent glass vial from the corner of the research long-table, examining it with great interest.

"Master, look — a bottle of 【Elemental Harmony Aromatics】."

"Never heard of it."

Rod was examining two three-meter-tall humanoid puppets in the corner.

Calling them puppets was less apt than calling them products of 【Bio-Weaving】.

Not to mention the sutures all over their bodies, the skin and flesh were of varying colors.

Some were a deathly blue-green, some the normal flesh tone of human skin, and some had the petrified skin of an earth spirit.

The facial features, however — there were no facial features.

Smooth, without any contour.

These were two puppets woven together from various kinds of flesh.

Tally popped open the vial with a little plop, and an indescribable fragrance wafted out.

"A magical potion that lowers elemental resistance. Oh — I have a great-aunt who's an efficiency-first succubus, and she always carries this stuff on her."

"What does efficiency-first have to do with lowering elemental resistance?"

"What do you mean it doesn't? When you smear this stuff on that thing, it makes people unable to hold back."

"You're talking nonsense."

"Tally would never lie to Master — this is a side effect of 【Elemental Harmony Aromatics】, and even a lot of mages don't know about it."

As expected of a succubus.

Her cold knowledge in that area even surpassed that of mages.

Rod ignored her, channeling a wisp of spirituality into one of the tall puppets.

He was surprised to find that it had complete internal organs within, along with obvious traces of Crystallization Disease.

"Can a Bio-Weaving puppet also have Crystallization Disease?"

Without a doubt.

This too was something the people of Bahadur had deliberately infected it with.

Rod's gaze went cold.

His five fingers, blade-like, plunged violently into the puppet's abdominal cavity — a wet squelch — and were immediately withdrawn.

He opened his palm.

There, a Crystallization Disease crystal core half the size of a palm was clearly visible.

Entirely a rich blue, with a jade-like texture.

Sensing the abundant, vast energy within it.

Crystallization Disease.

Releases chaotic energy.

Recognizes various small sects, establishes Corpse-Burning Officials.

Spiritual creations.

What are the Bahadur Magical Academy and the Yige Sect trying to do?

"Ya-ha~~ Two more goodies~~"

Tally's excited cry once again interrupted his thoughts.

The succubus Young Lady had a scroll in her left hand and a rune stone in her right, bouncing over to Rod.

Today she was dressed as an adventurer human in hunting garb.

The brown leather breastplate over her chest was filled out to the brim, even slightly overflowing in a curve.

Naturally, it jiggled with every bounce.

"A scroll of 【Arcane Resonance】 and a rune stone of 【Elemental Siphon】 — Master, quick, look!!"

"Have you finally seen the light? Starting to take an interest in spells."

Tally's excited, pink-flushed pretty little face froze for a moment.

She shook her head with a look that said 'you just don't get it, do you.'

She tilted her head back, planted her hands on her hips, and grinned smugly:

"Master, you little dummy, let big sis Tally teach you properly. 【Arcane Resonance】 can be drawn on that thing, 【Elemental Siphon】 can be paired with my 【Vitality Drain】 to grow stronger, and combined with 【Elemental Harmony Incense】. Get it? I can make you fly!"

"Mm?"

Tally's smug expression froze.

She crept over with her neck tucked in, pitifully nuzzling her cheek against Rod's chest, then looked up with dewy eyes.

"Master~ just try it."

Rod gave a cold snort.

He poked his head out to look beyond the experiment hut.

—The interrogation of heroine Grey and the half-deer Kira was still ongoing; they hadn't noticed this side.

Seemed fine.

He pulled Tally further inside the experiment hut.

Tally knew perfectly well her master had just agreed, and was instantly thrilled, her face alight with excitement.

Going on a trip is great!

Every time they go on a trip, there are way fewer women around Master! Doesn't that mean it's my turn to eat?!

So saying.

The two of them moved to a corner.

They didn't strip much, each modestly pulling down to around the knee.

Tally found a biodegradable, harmless spiritual ink among her spellcasting materials, and with great enthusiasm copied it onto the 【Arcane Resonance】 scroll.

Stroke by stroke, she drew the complete ritual pattern on Rod.

Those who know, know.

It's hard to write on something soft.

Moreover, without stimulating biological manipulation, there'd be no reaction.

Tally had no choice but to take a little nibble, performing some basic stirring to maintain the catalytic effect.

Only then was the pattern successfully completed.

【Elemental Harmony Incense】, then.

Rod pulled a bottle of fruit wine from his spell pouch, and using a clean measuring cup meant for spell experiments, mixed two glasses.

They finished drinking it during the drawing of the ritual pattern.

Tally didn't take off her top, so she simply tucked the 【Elemental Siphon】 against her chest and successfully activated it.

The experiment officially began.

Buzz buzz buzz———

Buzz buzz buzz———

Buzz buzz buzz———

This was an unprecedented spell-chemistry experiment.

The high-frequency vibrating hum, the gentle stirring of liquid, the girl's coquettish cries from the intensely stimulated chemical reaction, and the awed gasps of a certain forester shocked by the novel sensations and phenomena.

These were all perfectly normal reactions and phenomena.

Nothing to make a fuss about.

After a long while.

Rod stepped out of the laboratory looking refreshed.

As for Tally—

Even though she was the one who'd claimed to hold the advantage in this prop match.

The long-missed affection made the little succubus's heart flutter, and she lost territory after territory.

Defeat left her legs weak and her waist limp, to say nothing of it.

She even rolled her eyes back, so dazed she couldn't maintain her shapeshift.

For now, she was hiding in the shadows to recover.

The half-deer Kira waved at him: "Mr. Rod! You're rested!"

"Rested?"

"Yep! Just now after the interrogation I was about to go call you, but my lord Grey stopped me, saying you two were resting!"

This Kira really is a bit like Miss Xiao Ke, with that same innocent, radiant face.

Rod looked at Grey.

The heroine turned her head away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

Kira's excitement hadn't worn off yet; her little hooves clip-clopped as she ran up to Rod.

"Honestly, my lord Rod, you're the most most most most most amazing Tier-7 I've ever seen! Just now my lord Grey even said that starting today, you're her target! Though she said it's only a target in terms of strength."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Rod smiled, paying no mind to that last qualifier.

"You two are also the most amazing hero candidate and half-deer bestower I've ever seen."

Grey coughed twice, a hint of awkwardness crossing her heroic, handsome face.

She changed the subject: "Anyway, let's get back to talking about these guys."

(End of chapter)