Hayeon said it was all right, but I escorted her to the door. I had woken up together and shared a meal with women I spent a night with when I had lived in the contemporary era and thought it was impolite to go alone. While I had done such a thing because I had been innocent then, I could do only things like this for Hayeon now.
I saw her in her room and went to the VIP room I would use for work. However, the door opened before I touched the doorknob.
âLeader.â
I saw an excited Sangyong Shin with his glasses on, and he looked surprised on seeing me.
âDid you see everything?â
âNo, not yet. I have something to bring under my teacherâs name.â
âIs that soâ¦â
âThen, please go in.â
Sangyong Shin lowered his head and passed me by like he had urgent business. I wondered what had gone inside and saw Vivian turn her head, noticing me as I went in.
âSuhyun Kim?â
âYes.â
âDid you talk things over?â
âYesâ¦What do you think of the room? Can you use it as a workshop? Please factor in that the room has to be returned to its original state when we go.â
âUmmâ¦â
Vivian now looked at me like she was analyzing my mood and then took out something from inside her clothes to wear it on her face. I was astonished.
âYouâ¦what is that?â
âI thought you knew. Sangyong Shin said that this item was called glasses.â
While I wanted to say it barely resembled the glasses I knew, I remained silent on seeing her proud expression.
âRightâ¦How did you come by them?â
âYou remember my job, right? I can make items like this easily. How is it?â
While some items from the contemporary ear could be made here, Vivianâs glasses were not up to par. She realized what I was thinking and pouted.
âWhy, itâs not bad.â
âI said nothing. Why did you make such a thing just for fun?â
âItâs not harmful. Alchemists are a curious lot by nature.â
âIt doesnât suit you.â
âWho cares what you say!â
Vivian took off her glasses with a frown and then let out a long sigh. Was she rebelling against me?
ââ¦Anyway, go on. Why do you want me to create a workshop?â
I heard Vivian talk to me in a weak voice. As I had more important things than glasses, I took them out two times from my pocket.
âThis isâ¦â
Vivian had a good eye, and she looked greedily at the items I held in front of her.
âOne is the demonâs heart I took out from Belphegor, and the other is the orb that used to hold your body together. Where is Sangyong Shin?â
âI told him to bring something. Are you sayingâ¦â
Vivian changed her attitude on me, asking for Sangyong Shin, and she gaped at me when I nodded yes. She closed her eyes to think, and I waited for her.
Magicians and alchemists tended to be like that. I liked talking to them because they speedily understood what I said. I saw Vivian was mumbling and listened in to her words.
ââ¦There is a possibility. However, the heart is too strongâ¦If Suhyun Kim can purify it, itâs a different matter. My orb is indeed lacking, but it did go through mana flows over time. If there are no crashes, the difference between the two items does not matter. However, the efficiencyâ¦so thatâs where Sangyong Shin comes in. These two problems may be solved through that Magic Square of Harmonyâ¦â
Vivianâs brow furrowed, and she now opened her eyes to speak to me.
âYou want me to work them through Sangyong Shinâs Magic Square of Harmony, right?â
âYes.â
âItâs difficultâ¦â
âI wonât blame you if you fail, so letâs try.â
Vivian looked like I had hurt her pride, and she shook her head.
âSuhyun Kim. I think we should wait on the workshop.â
âWhy?â
I was inwardly surprised as I had not expected her to refuse. She sighed as she began her explanation.
âIâm not saying I wonât do it. This place is too inferior for the work you want to do. Even if we push it, the item quality will not be good. While Iâm not saying things right, Iâm saying I donât want to rush it despite acknowledging that it may work even here.â
âAre you saying the ingredients are too rare?â
Vivian nodded seriously.
âYes. While alchemists always try the impossible, such items youâre holding should be used in a proper workshop, where the possibility of success will dramatically increase. That is my opinion as an alchemist.â
Vivianâs words were logical, and I really could not find a reason to refuse her.
âIt would be worth the wait.â
âYou thought well.â
Vivianâs smile was pretty, and I saw that her old personality was gradually disappearing. While it was not bad, I did miss it. I sighed and put the items in, thinking I may have rushed things. I then stared at Vivian and spoke in a suspicious voice.
âHowever, itâs not like you.â
Vivian smirked at my words, which made me surprisingly irritated. She sighed and teased me.
âMy name is Vivian la Clasidus. I did have pride in that name once up on time. Iâm getting back my logic after becoming human again, so donât think that I will be childish like before. My past antics embarrass me, and I hope you treat me like a twenty-four-year-old, which is my age.â
While she was calm, I did not like her tone or attitude. I approached her and raised my hand, but she only smiled despite my threatening pose.
âDonât treat me like a child. I was a competent alchemist, you knowâ¦ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
I let a clear flame show in my hand, and while Vivian seemed calm, I saw her eyes were afraid.
âYou think I will bat an eye? Come to think of itâ¦â
I clicked my fingers together as she spoke on.
âWhat?â
As I had no intention of harming her, the flame on her hair would not burn her as it was under control. However, Vivian would not know such things.
âAhh!!! You really did it!!!â
Vivian ran around the room and jumped up and down. She whined at me as I raised my hand again.
âYou really are, Vivian. I thought you were a different person.â
I murmured and turned off the flame on her hair, and Vivian clenched her teeth on seeing her unburnt black hair.
âWhy did you do this to me?!â
âI thought you were a doppelganger or a monster in disguiseâ¦â
âIs that an excuse?! What did I do wrong, you bastard?!â
I took out the contract I always held dear, and Vivian could not control her expression on seeing it. I stifled a laugh as I spoke.
âWhat did you say? That I was a bastard?â
Vivianâs face turned white, and tears filled her eyes.
âI must have been crazyâ¦â
She burst into sobs at that point, and I quickly went to console her.