episode_0025

“Cluck, cluck, kehum!”

A cough that comes from deep in the throat.

The old alchemist, Flamelius, sighed as he sensed that his days were numbered.

He has been proud of his achievements all his life.

As an alchemist, he sets an example for others and produces excellent students.

He studied ancient knowledge diligently and achieved great success as a scholar.

However, no matter how much I trained my disciples, no matter how hard I searched through ancient books and studied, there were things that were impossible to find the answer to.

The greatest wish shared by all since the emergence of the profession of alchemist.

In the legend, it is about creating the ‘philosopher’s stone’ with one’s own hands.

“Know thyself. I know nothing.”

Mumble, mumble. Repeating this like a magic spell, the alchemist closed the book.

The Empire’s alchemy is all based on knowledge from ancient books handed down from ancient times.

For alchemists, young and old, the knowledge of the past is an indisputable truth.

And having spent his entire life devouring ancient knowledge, he firmly believed that he was the right person to perfect the science of alchemy.

But his thoughts changed after reading Phantom’s Legacy drama.

The Sophists who revealed their own ignorance and never admitted it.

Because I unconsciously overlapped their narrow-minded appearance with my own.

… … Of course, the situation in could not be matched 1:1 with Flamelius.

The discourse of the Sophists was mainly focused on spiritual and metaphysical matters.

Because what alchemists dealt with was much more metaphysical and technical knowledge.

Nevertheless, the philosophy of gave him the inspiration to think in a new way.

Once I changed my way of thinking, I began to see things that I had previously been blind to.

“… … ”

Eventually, he threw away all the old books that symbolized his high pride.

Even the accumulated knowledge was torn to pieces by the gaze of doubt and analysis.

Then, relying on my own intuition, I began to explore in earnest, peeling off the shell of the ‘truth’ that I had passively accepted until then.

No longer bound by the conventions of the past, we criticize each and every part that does not fit.

Like Socrates, who clung to the easy wisdom of the Sophists, in search of a single objective truth.

As time passed and passed, the gray hair finally turned white.

“Ha, hahaha… … !”

Liquid bubbling inside a transparent flask.

Flamelius shed tears as he gazed at the splendid and beautiful red color.

“I… …I really did it!”

At that moment, he instinctively felt something.

Now he has achieved everything a human being can achieve as an alchemist.

So that you can leave this world with dignity and comfort, without being attached to it any longer.

“Thank you. Thank you, Socrates. And Phantom.”

Two people who brightened his vision as he wandered through the dark fog.

The old alchemist quietly muttered words of gratitude, blowing his nose with a tissue.

Then he picked up the quill pen lying next to him and began to scribble something on an old piece of parchment.

Cute and proud successors whom I devoted my entire life to nurturing.

To make sure that I leave them with all the advice I need to give them.

“I… … Excuse me, but what is this?”

I wondered if I had misheard, so I dug my fingers into my ears and asked.

However, my attitude as an alchemist who had come all the way to Killigruger’s extreme to meet Phantom was unwavering.

“Take it. The Philosopher’s Stone, the secret wish of all alchemists.”

A young man who earnestly begged to be allowed to see the Phantom, saying that he must follow his master’s will.

He handed me a substance in a transparent glass bottle as I came to see him after hearing the sad news.

“After completing this, my master, Flamelius, passed away and told me to give it to Phantom as a gift. He said that thanks to Phantom, he was able to achieve his lifelong wish.”

“Ah, that… … First of all, I wish the deceased rest in peace. But the Philosopher’s Stone? Is this the legendary Philosopher’s Stone?”

A question asked while looking at the liquid rippling and wavy inside a glass bottle.

The reddish color, reminiscent of freshly squeezed blood, gives off a strangely ominous feeling.

Could it be because I watched so many animes in my past life?

As soon as I heard the name, an object I saw in an anime suddenly came to mind.

If it is as it is said, the materials that go into making the Philosopher’s Stone are probably numerous… …

“Don’t worry. The Alchemist’s Association does not use any dangerous or unethical materials. That would be an evil act that goes against the morality of alchemy.”

The young man quickly cleared up the misunderstanding, perhaps because of my expression.

Rumors that alchemists were conducting dangerous research with suspicious materials were rampant in this world as well.

“The Philosopher’s Stone, the Philosopher’s Stone. Even I, a layman in alchemy, have heard the name often… … ”

He asked, handing over the vial as carefully as possible.

Somehow, I have a feeling that if you touch this weird drug wrong, it will explode or something.

“I don’t know anything about its effectiveness. Could you please tell me?”

In the original world, the Philosopher’s Stone was a catalyst that turned ordinary metals into gold.

In the mass media, it was reinterpreted as a mysterious elixir that would grant immortality.

So what exactly does the Philosopher’s Stone that exists in this world do?

“The Philosopher’s Stone is a drug that can permanently reconstruct the structure of matter.”

A pattern of a ‘circling snake’ drawn on the surface of a glass bottle.

Pointing to this, the young alchemist opened his mouth.

“All things in nature have a specific structure. Depending on how that structure is distorted, the properties of the material change. For example, when heat or cold is applied to liquid water, it becomes gaseous water vapor or solid ice.”

“Oh my.”

“And, in a broad sense, people are also material.”

The young alchemist places his hand on his chest and his eyes light up.

He spoke as he reflected on the infinite possibilities unfolding before him.

“The Philosopher’s Stone can change the ‘nature’ of the user into the form they most desire, granting them some kind of mystical ability. The standard for ‘wanting’ can be a functional need, or it can simply be a personal desire.”

“Transformation of nature and granting of mysterious abilities? That’s a very interesting effect. Is it possible for humans to turn into elves or dwarves?”

“Hahaha, such a childish fantasy situation will never happen. Creating life is the domain of the holy Creator. It would be okay if the structure was slightly distorted, but the structure of a living thing cannot be denied by drugs made by humans.”

“Hmm, really?”

I’m a little disappointed.

I was hoping for a brief moment that small animals could be transformed into monsters from the movies.

Giant monsters like Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra, and King Ghidorah.

To be honest, it’s every boy’s dream to raise something like that at least once.

“If you are curious about what abilities you will gain, try it after I return. It has been tested for danger by the best alchemist, so there is nothing to worry about.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about… …Why did your master decide to hand over his last masterpiece to me? I’m just a writer with no connection to alchemy.”

The young alchemist raises the corners of his mouth at my perfectly reasonable question.

He put his hand inside the hem of his robe and pulled out something familiar.

It was a first edition of a dialogue log that was already worn and tattered, as if it had been read so many times.

“The dialogue written by the author. It gave the teacher a clear inspiration. Do not blindly follow the boring authority, but pioneer the study with your own eyes.”

“That’s right?”

“So our master, Flamelius, officially transferred the product of his inspiration to you, the author. Without your dialogues, the feat of completing the Philosopher’s Stone would never have been accomplished.”

“… … ”

“Respecting old knowledge, but not being too tied down and thinking with your own head. That is the wisdom that the author has given to all of us alchemists. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of everyone in the association.”

… … So, thanks to Socrates, we opened the door to truth and succeeded in accomplishing our task?

For a moment, I almost burst out laughing at the image of a balding philosopher with a pure white head shouting “That’s right, alchemist-!!”, but I held back because it would have been rude.

‘I brought my teacher’s belongings, but it’s useless to giggle because of Annie.’

To be honest, I don’t really understand the connection between the two, but if I think about it, it’s not entirely impossible.

The foundation of medieval alchemy was laid by none other than the theories of the philosopher Aristotle.

And wasn’t Aristotle’s teacher Plato, who was Socrates’s disciple and follower?

Of course, the two had different goals and parted ways, but if we trace back their roots, they were both deeply influenced by Socrates.

… … Even so, there were still parts that were difficult to understand.

“Even so, can you just hand me this precious item?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“No, you said that the secret of alchemists was to create the Philosopher’s Stone. Did your late master teach you a separate method for creating the Philosopher’s Stone?”

“No, he didn’t. He left a little hint, but that’s it. He told me to figure out the rest of the recipe on my own.”

“Then wouldn’t it be right to use this finished product in a laboratory for academic advancement? Even if it was the teacher’s will.”

In reality, isn’t it like inventing a superconductor and handing it over to a single person? Not even a blueprint for it.

If it were normal, the entire alchemy society would be turned upside down and declared absolutely impossible.

“… … No need. Well, that’s what Socrates said in the dialogues. A life that doesn’t ask questions, a life that doesn’t make you think, is not worth living.”

But the young alchemist’s attitude was extremely resolute.

He looked at me with eyes like those of a wise man from a legend and said:

“Alchemists have also read your book, Dialogues. And they have realized anew the value of the journey of a scholar who gradually seeks the hidden truth.”

“… … ”

“We, like the great scholar Flamelius, intend to find a way to make the Philosopher’s Stone ourselves. This is a matter that has been discussed with the elders, so please accept it with confidence. This is the Association’s proper courtesy to the candidate for the warrior of the pen who enlightened us.”

Even the elders of the association agreed.

Then, as an outsider, I had no more to say.

It would be very rude to decline something that is recommended to this extent.

Eventually, I returned to Bronde Academy as a candidate for the Warrior of the Pen, having received the Philosopher’s Stone.