With a single step, Kanzaki Rei vanished from the castleâs entrance hallâand reappeared inside the "Potion Synthesis Chamber" where the young vampire stood.
Until now, Kanzaki Rei had deliberately concealed his presence so as not to disturb him.
Whooshâ!
At the sudden appearance of a figure, the pale-faced vampire visibly jolted in fright.
"Y-You... are?"
Without hesitation, Kanzaki Rei replied, "Your savior."
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the chaotic drafts scattered over the alchemy table.
He couldnât understand them...
Even with his current proficiency in Pharmacology, Potion Crafting, and Magical Alchemy, the contents were beyond his comprehension.
"My savior?"
The vampire was clearly bewildered by the answer.
But as the potion reached completion, his perception expanded outwardâand what he saw beyond froze him in place.
Ruins.
Nothing but ruins.
While he had been absorbed in his research...
What exactly had happened?
"You..."
Kanzaki Rei cut straight to the point, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.
"That dragonâwanted to kill you."
"I stopped it."
His tone remained calm.
"But my abilities are limited. I couldnât save everyone."
"So the only ones left alive are youâand a handful of others strong enough to protect themselves."
By secretly probing him with the "Core," Kanzaki Rei had already uncovered his true identity.
This vampire was a Level 7 Alchemistâthe third Level 7 entity in the city.
His name was Eukinri.
"Ring any bells? Ansu, this guyâs name is Eukinri."
Ansu let out a dry chuckle.
"Never heard of him. A nobody."
"I may be well-traveled, but that doesnât mean I recognize every insignificant insect in the world."
So... he truly was unknown.
"Kill me? Why?"
As he asked the question, Kanzaki Rei noticed his mental energy subtly spreading outward. A faint, nearly imperceptible poison was already drifting through the air.
A Level 7 alchemist.
Not entirely without combat capability.
If used correctly, his toxins could easily kill a Level 7 class-holder.
But Kanzaki Reiâs physical resistances were far beyond what ordinary poisons could affect...
"I suggest you donât try anything clever."
Kanzaki Rei stepped forward.
Whooshâ
In an instant, the invisible gases filling the room condensed.
[Fifth-Tier Origin Magic â All-Grid Transmutation]
The airborne poison was forcibly solidified, transforming into a tangible state.
Air was wind.
And now, under Kanzaki Reiâs control, it became matter.
The toxins floated beside himâonce invisible and intangible, now condensed into a completely transparent substance.
It couldnât be seen.
But if touched, it could be felt.
"Thereâs no comparison between us in combat."
"What do you want with me?"
Kanzaki Rei spoke evenly.
"This potion of yoursâyou were planning to release it publicly, werenât you?"
His eyes lingered on the drafts. Off to the side, there were even formal research reports.
Clearly, the intention had been to submit this work to the White Tower.
Developing a new formula and contributing it to the White Tower would yield a massive amount of contribution pointsâpoints that could then be exchanged for resources within the Tower.
Of course, keeping it private was also an option.
No one would object.
The Golden Dragon had learned of this through a Seerâs prophecy:
Within this city, an alchemist would create a potion capable of granting monsters higher intelligence.
From that moment on, monsters would be able to think like humans.
"Do you understand what effect your potion will have?" Kanzaki Rei asked.
Eukinri nodded. "Yes. It stimulates intelligenceâbut only in monsters."
Kanzaki Rei narrowed his eyes. "And how does it work? Are you saying this potion can create intelligence out of nothing?"
Intelligenceâtrue sentienceâwas never something one could simply drink into existence.
It was extraordinarily difficult to obtain.
If a potion could grant it to monsters, then intelligent beings could theoretically elevate their own intelligence even further...
Kanzaki Rei glanced at the alchemy table.
Besides the newly completed potion, several other vials with varying effects were arranged nearby.
"Youâre interested in my research?" Eukinri asked, surprised.
Kanzaki Rei nodded. "Iâm also a part-time alchemist."
At those words, Kanzaki Rei could feel the hostility in Eukinri ease slightly.
Behind him, however, the Golden Dragonâs expression turned strange.
An alchemist?
Since when?
Youâre out here physically overpowering a Golden Dragonâand youâre telling me youâre an alchemist?
Eukinri continued, "Strictly speaking, my potion doesnât grant intelligence. It awakens it."
"In my view, all monsters in this world already possess intelligence."
"Itâs just... suppressed."
"Sealed by some unknown rule, preventing it from manifesting."
"Only a rare few are born with defectsâflaws in that âsealââallowing them to exhibit limited intelligence..."
"This... might be a kind of disease."
"I call it: cognitive deficiency."
...That naming sense made Kanzaki Rei pause for a moment.
But technically, it wasnât wrong.
Most monsters were effectively mindless.
"If this problem can be solvedâif the âdiseaseâ can be curedâthen their original intelligence should be restored."
Kanzaki Rei quickly grasped his meaning.
"So youâre saying monsters donât lack intelligenceâitâs just suppressed."
"But according to current research, they simply donât have any at all..."
Based on Kanzaki Reiâs knowledge, this was the prevailing conclusion within the White Tower.
And if monsters truly possessed intelligence, then with his current perception, he should at least be able to detect even the faintest trace of it.
"Their intelligence doesnât manifest in a way we can perceive."
"Itâs like water frozen into iceâits nature hasnât changed, but its form makes it unrecognizable."
"What Iâm doing... is melting that ice, returning it to its original state."
Kanzaki Reiâs eyes sharpened slightly.
Such a theory... was unheard of.
"If monsters could think like humans... communicate like humans..."
"Then perhaps we could talk to them. Negotiate with them."
"Maybe, from that point on, humanity would no longer need to fear monsters."
"Can you imagine it? A world where humans no longer hunt monstersâand monsters no longer harm humans?"
As he spoke, Eukinriâs eyes shone with excitement, filled with a vision of a new world.
Kanzaki Rei gave a faint shake of his head.
So thatâs it...
A believer of the Peace Doctrine.
Is that what drives this research?
It was an ideal... difficult to agree with.
Eukinri...
Intelligence alone does not guarantee peace.
Humans wage war against each other even now.
Let alone... between humans and beasts.