novelraw Chapter 286
Chapter 286
With a single step, Kanzaki Rei vanished from the castle’s entrance hall—and 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.
Whoosh—!
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 couldn’t 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 outward—and 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 dragon—wanted to kill you."
"I stopped it."
His tone remained calm.
"But my abilities are limited. I couldn’t save everyone."
"So the only ones left alive are you—and 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 Alchemist—the third Level 7 entity in the city.
His name was Eukinri.
"Ring any bells? Ansu, this guy’s name is Eukinri."
Ansu let out a dry chuckle.
"Never heard of him. A nobody."
"I may be well-traveled, but that doesn’t 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 Rei’s physical resistances were far beyond what ordinary poisons could affect...
"I suggest you don’t try anything clever."
Kanzaki Rei stepped forward.
Whoosh—
In an instant, the invisible gases filling the room condensed.
[Fifth-Tier Origin Magic — All-Grid Transmutation]
The airborne poison was forcibly solidified, transforming into a tangible state.
Air was wind.
And now, under Kanzaki Rei’s control, it became matter.
The toxins floated beside him—once invisible and intangible, now condensed into a completely transparent substance.
It couldn’t be seen.
But if touched, it could be felt.
"There’s no comparison between us in combat."
"What do you want with me?"
Kanzaki Rei spoke evenly.
"This potion of yours—you were planning to release it publicly, weren’t 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 points—points 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 Seer’s 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 intelligence—but only in monsters."
Kanzaki Rei narrowed his eyes. "And how does it work? Are you saying this potion can create intelligence out of nothing?"
Intelligence—true sentience—was 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.
"You’re interested in my research?" Eukinri asked, surprised.
Kanzaki Rei nodded. "I’m also a part-time alchemist."
At those words, Kanzaki Rei could feel the hostility in Eukinri ease slightly.
Behind him, however, the Golden Dragon’s expression turned strange.
An alchemist?
Since when?
You’re out here physically overpowering a Golden Dragon—and you’re telling me you’re an alchemist?
Eukinri continued, "Strictly speaking, my potion doesn’t grant intelligence. It awakens it."
"In my view, all monsters in this world already possess intelligence."
"It’s just... suppressed."
"Sealed by some unknown rule, preventing it from manifesting."
"Only a rare few are born with defects—flaws in that ’seal’—allowing 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 wasn’t wrong.
Most monsters were effectively mindless.
"If this problem can be solved—if the ’disease’ can be cured—then their original intelligence should be restored."
Kanzaki Rei quickly grasped his meaning.
"So you’re saying monsters don’t lack intelligence—it’s just suppressed."
"But according to current research, they simply don’t have any at all..."
Based on Kanzaki Rei’s 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 doesn’t manifest in a way we can perceive."
"It’s like water frozen into ice—its nature hasn’t changed, but its form makes it unrecognizable."
"What I’m doing... is melting that ice, returning it to its original state."
Kanzaki Rei’s 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 monsters—and monsters no longer harm humans?"
As he spoke, Eukinri’s eyes shone with excitement, filled with a vision of a new world.
Kanzaki Rei gave a faint shake of his head.
So that’s 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.