Chapter 73
What does sisters mean?
The first answer that came to mind was naturally blood-related female siblings.
Following that, it was a religious term addressing female believers.
However, looking at it anyway, neither case seemed to apply to Leaf's mother and Costin.
Costin was a dragonkin, and Leaf's mother was human.
Alchemists, being people who sought to change the given world by their will, tended to have weak religious beliefs.
Rather than atheists, they were non-religious, and while some rarely believed in gods, alchemists had an even lower ratio of believers than mages.
So was the possibility that either Costin or Leaf's mother changed races through alchemy, or the very slim chance both were theists?
The latter would make sense.
In the predominantly atheistic alchemy world, theists might feel sisterhood transcending race.
"Did you believe in religion?"
At my question, Costin snorted as if hearing an amusing joke.
"Me? A branch head standing at alchemy's frontier? You have decent humor, but put in your mana."
"Shall we set rules?"
"Rules?"
"Each time we increase mana, we ask one question each. If you don't want to answer, increase your output."
"Hooh..."
Finding my proposal quite interesting, Costin let out a short exclamation.
"Fine. But double."
Holding up fingers, Costin added, "When refusing to answer, the mana required is double the previous amount."
Will I still accept?
Costin's expression asked.
And my answer?
"Gladly."
Of course, it's yes.
Simultaneously, both our mana was drawn into the concentrator.
First, my black mana from opening Seir's pact seal mixed with Costin's brass-colored mana that hadn't reached gold.
"...Devil's mana."
"There was no condition about using one's own mana."
"Good. At least you have resolve. I'll yield the first question."
No reason to refuse.
I immediately asked, "What does sisters mean?"
"You've been fixated on that sisters thing. It's not really a secret among alchemists."
Though saying I'd wasted a precious question, Costin began explaining.
Sisters.
It meant a kind of sworn sibling relationship.
But unlike martial arts where everyone under the same master or sect called each other siblings, alchemists' use of "sisters" went deeper.
"Sisters means comrades willing to freely give their blood to each other. To alchemists, they are more precious than actual blood relatives."
Costin smiled faintly like someone recalling something nostalgic.
Seeming to reminisce about Leaf's mother.
"Even for me as branch head, protecting Leaf is difficult. For you all, needless to say."
Betting even their position as Golden Intellect branch head to fulfill sisterly loyalty.
That alone was Costin's reason for protecting Leaf.
“Hmm? Strange."
"...Somewhat."
At my words, Costin calmly added an explanation, "Blood is important in alchemists' aspirations."
"Because it's an ingredient for the Philosopher's Stone?"
Blood meant life.
In some creative work about alchemy, I remember the Philosopher's Stone being materialized human souls.
If blood represented life, and by extension the soul, it was quite a plausible interpretation, but...
"Don't know."
Simply denied.
Costin spoke irresponsibly.
But that answer had a reason.
"Our great founder merely considered it so."
"Founder? Cordelia Wollstonecraft?"
"Yes. She left blood as an essential ingredient for reaching the great aspiration. The problem is, we don't know what that great aspiration is. Some say the Philosopher's Stone, some say the panacea, while others say it's for an entirely new substance. Thanks to that, Golden Intellect split into several branches after the founder's passing."
So there was an answer left by the founder, but different interpretations led to various branches.
"Then..."
"That's all for the first question. As compensation for testing your resolve and my own compensation for wasting it on a worthless question, I gave plenty of information."
"...Acknowledged."
Next level.
The mana flowing into the concentrator intensified.
Double the initial amount.
This moment reached a level most Devil Sorcerers would hesitate to pay.
"Now it's my turn first."
I took the first question, so this round was Costin's.
"Explain your Devil magic."
A question intended to verify my qualifications as Leaf's companion.
However, I'd decided from the start.
"Mana..."
"I have to use double the mana to exercise my right of silence, correct?"
I wouldn't give any answer to Costin's question.
§
"...Reckless."
By common sense, this was practically suicide.
Costin considered the possibility their calculations might be wrong.
Using double the mana. That wasn’t a restriction to take lightly.
Though perhaps the first time could be taken lightly.
Roman was still young after all.
At an age where youthful desire not to lose might outweigh the fear of a shortened life.
Youth is good. Recklessness is the privilege of the young.
A distant story for Costin, who'd aged plenty already.
After becoming branch head, a forgotten competitive spirit dampened Costin's heart like seeping raindrops.
"Though perhaps I erred in asking too much from the start. Your turn."
Roman immediately asked the question he'd been about to ask.
"Did Cordelia have a sister?"
"Cordelia's sister?"
Though Roman asked the question, Costin showed stronger doubt.
"The concept of sisters came after the founder left words about aspiration, didn't it? At least as far as I know. The founder was an only daughter. She couldn't have had sisters."
Though only twice, Costin already began finding Roman increasingly strange.
"More importantly, you keep asking odd questions."
"All necessary questions."
"Then my turn again. You..."
Roman's action was faster than Costin's words.
Mana injection, double.
With this, Roman had offered additional mana six times the initial amount he put in the concentrator.
"...Listen to the question first. Is your life not precious?"
"My turn again, right?"
Costin almost laughed at Roman's quiet voice.
Not precious?
Not afraid?
Not sad?
Why is this young man still looking at them with such unwavering eyes?
Is it ignorance of youth, or courage to face all this calmly?
"Was it you who transplanted the World Tree's seedling root to Leaf?"
"...Yes. My sister and I did it together."
Costin gave a short answer and tried to ask their question.
But again Roman unhesitatingly squeezed out mana.
That makes fourteen times the initial mana.
The initial mana both sides put in the concentrator was about half the total mana of a typical Regular rank mage.
Meaning, Roman had now used mana equivalent to seven typical Regular rank mages.
That total exceeded two ordinary Senior rank mages' mana.
A fatal level for a Devil Sorcerer.
For one in pacts with high-ranking Devils, especially a mage with below-average skill, they shouldn't be breathing at this point.
Passing through brands? Cost substitution? Whichever method should be equally burdensome.
Before Costin could think further, Roman's next question flew in, "Who are Leaf's enemies?"
"You should know. Shadow of Trees. The Abyss Worshiper group called Shadow. Their goal is the World Tree's revival. I don't know the details. But unlike other Elves, they'll see Leaf as just a tool as long as she's alive. Because she's a Half-Elf. Their strength... consider them above the Five Great Guilds."
Costin's turn for questions never came.
Roman kept pouring mana into the concentrator as if it were question rights rather than refusal rights.
"Then why didn't you protect Leaf from the start?"
"To hide a tree, hide it in a forest. I also draw too much attention."
Roman, who'd been relentlessly pouring out mana, suddenly stopped.
His expression showed more bewilderment than dismay.
Removing their hand from the concentrator, Costin dejectedly explained the reason for his situation.
"The concentrator isn't unlimited. It's already full."
"Then..."
As Roman was about to ask for another concentrator, Costin stopped him by showing their palm.
"Enough. Sufficient."
They had seen his resolve.
They had also confirmed that Roman, as a Devil Sorcerer, had the skill to handle this much power.
"My eyes were wrong. I apologize."
Regular rank at best?
How ridiculous must that assessment have seemed to Roman?
Costin knew only one Devil Sorcerer who could handle this much mana without flinching.
Telema School's head and Res Limen's greatest Devil Sorcerer, Hecate Clay.
Roman, just in terms of pure mana, had already easily surpassed Senior rank.
Nesa. Your daughter takes after you. You two’s eye for men is impressive.
How terrifying genetics are.
Costin internally clicked their tongue at how mother and daughter both somehow found such people.
"Ask. Final question. I swear by alchemy's founder to answer only truth."
"How valuable is that oath?"
"Everything as an alchemist."
Roman fell silent.
Time passed as he quietly observed Costin.
Time to judge whether those words just now were true.
And when that process ended.
Roman asked, "Can you say you're on Leaf's side?"
"Of course."
"Above anything, anyone else?"
"Yes. As long as blood flows in my body."
"Then..."
Roman reached into his clothes and pulled out a small vial.
"This is Cordelia's legacy. I want to use this."
At those words, Costin could no longer remain seated.
Jumping up, they thrust their face close to the vial Roman held.
"This is... the founder's legacy?"
Costin sensed it.
Perhaps this moment might birth a new sect of Golden Intellect, filling a centuries-old void.