Chapter 209 - Philosopher's Stone (2)

The light swallowed the glass bottle and slowly took the form of a person.

[…..A homunculus.]

Rebecca muttered to herself. It was an artificial human body. For Rebecca, who wanted an actual body, this was extremely tempting.

‘I’ll make you one in the future, so don’t worry.’

[Thanks.]

Rebecca smiled bitterly, realizing that her mind was read, and she nodded her head.

Since she wasn’t even a soul, she couldn’t help but be obsessed with ‘real’ things. Even though she was used to being a spirit, she wanted an actual body.

Yeon-woo put Rebecca’s envy behind him and focused on what was in front of him.

The light started to take the form of a human. As it scattered, only Brahm was left behind.

He looked the same as ever. If other people saw, they would probably think that it was Brahm, but Yeon-woo knew. There was no blood flowing through that cold body.

[The resurrection of a once-great being has been completed. You have successfully created a new body.]

[The godly soul has started to take on an evil personality.]

[You have gained the Demon’s Blessing.]

[You have gained the Demon’s Blessing.]

[Congratulations! You found a new way to control death. The range of your power widens.]

[You have achieved an accomplishment that isn’t easily achieved. Additional Karma is being rewarded.]

[You have gained 5,000 Karma.]

[You have gained an additional 3,000 Karma.]

[Finish making a contract with the godly soul (Homunculus). You will be given additional rewards.]

[The resurrected godly soul (Homunculus) has sworn allegiance to you. From now, he will be bound to the Despair of the Black King to become your sword and shield.]

[You have achieved an accomplishment that isn’t easily achieved. Additional Karma is being rewarded.]

…..

[The gods and demons watching from the 98th floor express shock.]

[Multiple gods are conversing about this.]

[A few gods have expressed dissatisfaction over this. It is a bad atmosphere.]

[A few gods are uncomfortable. Some gods suggest discussions about you.]

[The godly society, ‘Deva,’ shows the most reaction.]

[The godly society, ‘Olympus,’ is the only one to have a neutral stance.]

[The godly society, ‘Asgard,’ doesn’t have any opinion.]

…..

[Hermes is looking at you with calm eyes.]

[Athena is cheering you on.]

[Poseidon is deep in thought. He begins to have a negative opinion about you, who dirtied the honor of a god.]

[Asgard contemplates whether to offer you an apostle position.]

[Hephaestus also wonders about whether to offer you an apostle position.]

[Dionysus…..]

…..

[A few demonic societies are having deep conversations about you.]

[A few demons are happy.]

[The demonic society, ‘Le Infernal,’ shows no interest.]

…..

Even if his level wasn’t the same, the power of Brahm wasn’t small at all.

He was someone that had once been a high god. Even though he had been injured by Agares on the lower floors, there were still a few gods who used to follow him in the past.

Such a god hadn’t died honorably, and become bound to this player that wasn’t even a ranker yet.

Of course it was a situation where gods and demons would be in an uproar.

Thankfully, Olympus didn’t seem to respond badly. Was it the influence of Hermes and Athena?

If there was something different, it was that Poseidon, who was interested in him, had turned his back, and those like Ares, Hephaestus, and Dionysus were interested in him.

They were all beings of the 2nd Olympus generation.

On the other hand, the demons were mostly happy.

However, only Le Infernal was quiet. They were the most liberal society, so they should’ve been the most happy, but they were probably upset about Agares returning injured.

Also, Yeon-woo could feel that his ‘level’ had increased as well.

Brahm’s soul was so large that it was acknowledged as Yeon-woo’s accomplishments.

He clenched his fists. He could feel that his subconscious had become bigger, and the pressure of his soul had become deeper at the same time.

Mental skills like Time Difference would probably become more efficient. It was the same for his power.

[Will you name the resurrect godly soul (Homunculus)?]

“Brahm.”

[The name ‘Brahm’ has been chosen for the resurrected godly soul (Homunculus).]

[Loyalty has increased by 30.]

[Control has increased by 20.]

[Brahm (Homunculus)’s soul is not able to handle its ‘level’ with its current body. The stats are being adjusted.]

[The overall stats have decreased by 21.]

[The overall stats have decreased by 17.]

…..

[Brahm (Homunculus)’s stat readjustment has been completed. However, the ‘level’ of the soul is the same, so the potential is the same. The original ‘level’ can be re-earned. Quick growth is advised.]

After the endless messages finally finished, Brahm slowly opened his eyes when he realized that the contract was over.

“Brahm!”

Sesha jumped on Brahm. Brahm held out his arms to lift his only granddaughter into the air. And for some time, he stroked Sesha’s head.

It was a body that wasn’t used to yet, but he was thankful that he could hug his granddaughter with his own arms like this.

“Brahm, you’re cold. And stiff.”

Sesha turned her face away and complained. They were traits that came with being a Homunculus, but Brahm was anxious, not having anticipated this.

Yeon-woo just lightly laughed, seeing Brahm. Brahm was really just a fool for Sesha.

***

After that, Yeon-woo and Brahm spoke for a long time.

It was mostly about Cha Jeong-woo. Yeon-woo was happy he was able to speak about his brother’s active time in the tower, and Brahm was happy to talk about his friend from a long time ago.

But the person who had the most fun was Sesha.

Sesha listened to their conversation with eyes wide open, and popped in with questions if she had any.

It was a father that she had never met or seen, but Sesha was happy that she had a father.

However, there were times when there was a silence after she asked questions.

“But…..why didn’t Dad stay with Mom?”

The mom she was talking about was Ananta.

Yeon-woo laughed bitterly. If his brother had chosen Ananta instead of Vieira Dune, or if the two had met earlier, wouldn’t something have been different?

But if that had been the case, Sehsa wouldn’t have been born. Yeon-woo just hugged Sesha.

What should he say? The fact that he couldn’t say much because he wasn’t a good speaker made him a bit sad.

***

“How’s your body?”

Yeon-woo realized that Sesha was asleep, and he asked Brahm a question. But he didn’t put Sesha down. He hadn’t been able to properly hold his niece until now, so he wanted to hold her properly at least now.

“It’s not comfortable. But I’ll get used to it. It was like this when I first made a physical body.”

Yeon-woo nodded like he understood. Of course it would be uncomfortable. With the temporary Homunculus form, he wasn’t even as strong as a ranker. It probably felt like he was trapped in prison.

“But one thing that’s a relief is that this body can be adjusted any time. I’m planning on slowly getting my body back. And after that.”

Brahm didn’t add any more. But Yeon-woo felt like he knew what he was going to say. He was probably going to find his holiness. And for that, Yeon-woo would have to work hard as well.

Even if his power disappeared, his knowledge didn’t leave him. So the Homunculus would probably grow fast.

“More than anything.”

Brahm asked Yeon-woo a question and narrowed his eyes.

“What you said at the beginning. Explain it.”

It was what Yeon-woo said about himself being able to heal Sesha and save Ananta.

These were the two reasons why Brahm threw away his pride as a god and became bound to Yeon-woo.

Because he had his regrets.

“Before that, can you take a look at this first?”

“…..?”

Brahm widened his eyes looking at Yeon-woo. Rune letters appeared on Yeon-woo’s hand and set up a magic circle.

There were two of these magic circles. They weren’t real magic circles that could activate, but rather temporary models that could show what they could do.

One of them was something that Brahm knew well. It was a transmutation circle that was made by combining a demon summoning circle and a sealing circle.

But the other one was somewhat different.

Brahm quickly realized what it was, and widened his eyes. His pupils began to shake.

“You…..it this…..?”

“Do you recognize it?”

“Well, there’s no way I wouldn’t!”

What Yeon-woo pulled out was the format of the Philosopher’s Stone. To be exact, it was a formula that Yeon-woo had made through a formula he researched.

Brahm clenched his fists. The Philosopher’s Stone was like an all-in-one tool. It was basically like a Dragon Heart. So it was what every alchemist wanted to make, and the same went for Brahm.

And Brahm was confident that he was the closest alchemist to do so in the Tower. The power he had as a god was ‘creation.’ This skill was still left to him as a trait.

But what Yeon-woo pulled out was something that surpassed his knowledge. Knowledge that was greater than a god’s? Could this be possible?

“Vieira Dune pulled out the important parts after finding it. So I don’t know the specifics.”

Sparks flashed in Brahm’s eyes. Vieira Dune. It was a name that he could chew and spit out.

“So?”

“Taking revenge for Jeong-woo, I coincidentally came across this, and I’m interpreting it right now. If this and the Book of Mercury are combined, what would happen?”

Brahm understood what Yeon-woo was saying.

“The Philosopher’s Stone could be finished. And if that formula was used to make a transmutation circle…..!”

Brahm’s body trembled. Unlike last time, he would really be able to catch a demon. And he would be able to protect Sesha.

If that happened, not only would her illness be cured, but she would be able to go through growth.

Furthermore, Yeon-woo wouldn’t have to struggle on his own and could receive Brahm’s help.

‘I can just use the remaining Devil Core from Agares.’

Yeon-woo slowly organized his thoughts as he spoke.

“We won’t have to dangerously summon a demon from the 98th floor. Just by collecting Agares’s vestige that he left behind, we’ll be able to easily make a lower demon.”

Brahm nodded. Although the Guardians had used the system call to restore the stage, not everything could be erased.

Even if he wasn’t sure, the 23rd floor was probably a Land of Demons that players couldn’t easily enter.

Brahm looked at Yeon-woo with expectant eyes, as if telling him to go on.

“And after that?”

“I’m planning on using the Kelat Auction.”

“Auction?”

Brahm’s face turned strange. The Kelat Auction was a large market where players who dropped out and even high rankers all participated in.

The Kelat Auction became a place for all kinds of items. Rankers put artifacts that they didn’t need anymore for sale, and people who wanted them bid for them.

Yeon-woo had hoarded the hidden pieces and received Henova’s help, so he hadn’t really needed to go.

The scale of the market was huge, and countless people went there everyday. But he was planning on using such a place?

It was random, but Brahm quickly understood what Yeon-woo was trying to do.

“You’re planning on putting the Philosopher’s Stone up.”

Yeon-woo calmly nodded his head.

“Yes. Of course, the important formulas will be taken off, but I’m planning on adding a few other artifacts in as well anonymously.”

“People will go crazy.”

Brahm laughed like he couldn’t believe it. The Tower would be completely flipped upside down.

“And the reaction of the Red Dragon will be noticeable as well.”

“Mm? Why them? They shouldn’t be too concerned with what happens under the 78th floor.”

“The Summer Queen’s Dragon Heart is currently dried up. So she is desperately looking for the Philosopher’s Stone.”

“…..!”

“If the Summer Queen starts to move, so will the Red Dragon. And the other clans will have to follow them. Everyone will be in a frenzy to find the real formula of the Philosopher’s Stone.”

“And then, you’re going to have everyone focus on the Walpurgisnacht?”

Brahm laughed coldly. Ananta was probably still somewhere fighting the Walpurgisnacht. If people like Red Dragon focused on them…..they would be swept away. There was no way an ant nest would be fine after an elephant horde stomped by.

There would be extreme pandemonium.

It would be as great as the war between Cheonghwado and the Red Dragon.

“Yes. And then, we…..”

Yeon-woo’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Can begin our witch hunt.”