Chapter 56

"Forget everything you've just learned!"

That was Berit, who had been observing the situation, making this assertion.

"Huh?"

I couldn't help but say that.

What do you mean, forget it? We just succeeded in creating such a substance.

"Do you understand! Alchemy is not about creating something. It's about destruction!"

Berit placed his hands on his hips and declared this.

"That's why what you did is not alchemy at all. It's just a heretical practice!"

Indeed, I didn't quite understand what Berit was saying. What does he mean by alchemy being destruction?

"Mr. Berit, could you explain that in more detail?"

"Hehe, I'll be happy to explain."

Berit looked around, and then finally looked at me and said:

"Mr. Norman, can you produce an iron ball?"

That was possible with the alchemy I just learned.

"Rise, iron!"

I chanted the spell, and a conveniently sized iron ball appeared in my right hand. In reality, I first produced a clod of earth and then transformed it into iron using alchemy, but by doing this process instantly, it appeared as if the iron had materialized out of nowhere.

"So, I've produced the iron ball..."

"Then, can you give it to me?"

So, I handed the iron ball to Berit.

"Then, I'll show you true alchemy."

The moment Berit said that, the iron ball rusted.

"Huh?"

I was surprised by what happened right before my eyes. The iron ball in Berit's hand was covered in rust and crumbled into pieces.

"Hahaha, this is the essence of alchemy!"

"No! What you're doing is definitely not alchemy! You're just degrading the material!"

Material degradation. Indeed, what Berit was doing might not be called alchemy. However, if I could learn it, it would definitely be a powerful weapon.

"Mr. Berit, can I learn to do the same?"

"Hehe, with my guidance, it will be easy!"

"Boy! There's no need to learn that heretical practice at all!"

What should I do? I really want to learn Berit's alchemy, but Zagan doesn't seem to be convinced.

Is there any way to convince him?

Ah, there is one way.

"Alright... It's a shame, but I'll give up on learning your heretical practice, Mr. Berit."

"Good, boy. You're quite wise. I like that. I'll be of help to you in the future."

Zagan was pleased.

"What! You don't want to learn my alchemy? I can't allow that!"

Berit, on the other hand, became angry. It seems he takes pride in his alchemy.

"Orobas, stop Berit."

"Yes, sir!"

I gave the order to Orobas, who had been waiting to intervene. Orobas and Berit started grappling.

"Since only one can be dismissed at a time, let's start with Zagan."

"Hmm, alright."

So, I dismissed Zagan first.

"Boy, if you need anything, feel free to summon me. I'll be of help."

As he left, Zagan said this. It seems he really likes me.

Well then.

"Listen! My alchemy is closer to the essence than Zagan's! How can you not learn it!"

"Master, don't interfere! Calm down!"

Berit and Orobas were still grappling.

"Mr. Berit, please teach me your alchemy."

"Hmm? Didn't you say you wouldn't learn it?"

"No, that was a lie to convince Zagan."

Indeed, I lied to convince Zagan. The whole thing about dismissing one at a time was also a lie. I had already proven that I could dismiss two at once.

"I see, you're as cunning as a demon."

I was praised as cunning as a demon. I don't think I'm that cunning, though.

"Then, I'll teach you my alchemy right away."

So, Berit's alchemy lessons began.

Berit's alchemy consistently involved material degradation. However, there were various types of degradation, from the rusting I saw earlier to decomposition, decay, liquefaction, and even transformation into poison.

"It's not going well, is it?"

"Yes, it's not..."

Unlike Zagan, Berit taught things intuitively. Berit himself seemed to work intuitively, and his explanations were vague. As a result, I couldn't get it to work at all.

"If I could directly transmit my senses, it would be easier..."

Indeed, if that were possible, it would be easier to learn.

Wait a moment.

I have an idea.

"I'll try to incorporate a part of you, Mr. Berit, using the invocation ritual. That might help me understand your alchemy."

"Hmm, interesting, let's try it."

I wasn't sure if it would work, but it seemed worth a try.

So, I decided to give it a shot.

"By the name of Norman, I strictly command you. Enter my body swiftly and fulfill me with your knowledge and power. Fulfill all my wishes within the limits of your authority. Come forth—28th, Berit!"

I chanted the invocation spell, focusing on invoking only a hundredth of Berit's spirit. As usual, a foreign presence entered my body. I focused on gathering it in one place—

Hmm? I gathered it, but where should I place it in my body? My palms and the backs of my hands were already filled with four sigils each.

So, where should I place the next sigil? After some thought, I decided on a location.

"How about it? Is the sigil engraved?"

"Yes! It's clearly engraved!"

I confirmed with Orobas. It seems the sigil was successfully engraved.

The location was my right eye. I couldn't see it myself, but I was sure a sigil pattern was engraved on my right eye. Now that the invocation was complete, I would try Berit's material degradation.

"Rise, iron!"

First, I created an iron ball. Then, I focused on the sigil in my right eye and sensed Berit's spirit.

Then, Berit's magical formula flowed into my mind. I see, this is how Berit melted the iron ball.

Understanding this, I tried to put it into practice.

"Corrode!"

Hmm? It didn't work. The iron ball remained unchanged.

I thought it would work. Why not?

Then, I remembered a possible reason.

So far, all my magic had been activated from either my right or left hand, where the sigils were. Since this time the sigil was in my right eye, wouldn't I need to bring the iron ball close to my right eye?

I brought the iron ball close to my right eye and chanted the spell again.

"Corrode!"

The iron ball rusted and crumbled. It worked.

"It seems to have worked successfully."

Berit said this.

"Once I release the invocation, I need to see if I can do the same."

For now, I tried various material degradations with Berit invoked, being mindful not to forget the sensation.

"By the name of Norman, I command you, 28th Berit. Since you have entered my body and demonstrated your power as ordered, I permit you to depart to an appropriate place. I command you to depart peacefully and quietly."

I chanted the spell to release the invocation. Berit's spirit disappeared from my body.

"Is it gone?"

I asked Orobas if the sigil in my right eye had disappeared.

"Yes! It's completely gone!"

It seems Berit's spirit had successfully left my body. Now, I needed to see if I could do the same thing.

I closed my eyes and recalled the sensation from before. Then, I chanted the spell.

"Corrode!"

It wasn't as smooth as when Berit was invoked, but the iron ball was indeed corroding, albeit slowly. It was a bit awkward, but it worked.

After that, I repeated various material degradations multiple times. As I repeated, the process became smoother, and eventually, I could degrade materials at the same speed as when Berit was invoked.

Once I invoked a demon and learned their specialized magic, I could use it even after releasing the invocation. This was a significant discovery.

Thanks to this, I was able to return to the top 5 in the rankings!

Thank you!

It might be thanks to the reviews I received. Thank you again!