บท 22: Alchemy Laboratory!
Next to the design notes, Leonard found a detailed report on the Iron Earthworm; its specifications and creation process.
---
'Iron Earthworm - Experimental Data
- Average Length: 3.2 meters
- Average Diameter: 1 meter
- Strength: Slightly stronger than a Knight (Knight level)
- Endurance: Exceptional, surpassing the level of a Great Knight
- Reaction Speed: Comparable to a Knight
- Straight-Line Speed: Poor—unable to match a horse's pace. (A frustrated scribble in the margin suggests the creator was furious about this.)
- Tooth Hardness: Level 3
- Recovery Rate: Level 3 healing
- Digestion Capacity: Level 2 digestion
Production Materials:
- 10kg of earthworms
- 10kg of refined iron
- 500g of yellow eye stone powder
Production Method:
Combine all materials in the Iron Earthworm prototype and follow detailed steps for assembly. Once the iron worm eggs are formed, place them near iron ore. The eggs will absorb nutrients from the ore and grow over a 30-day cycle.
---
Leonard recognized some of the terms, particularly the hardness and recovery level. His teacher, Alfonso, had provided notes on these standards.
In the wizarding world, level 3 hardness indicated high durability; materials of this grade could withstand high-intensity spells with little to no deformation. Zero-ring spells, for instance, would struggle to leave a mark. While the raw materials (earthworms and refined iron) were common, the real rarity lay in the yellow eye stone powder, an alchemical component Leonard wasn't familiar with.
From the data, the Iron Earthworm's combat power seemed moderate. In a straightforward fight, its strength and endurance might be impressive, but its speed and reaction time were average. If David, with her brute strength and quick reflexes, had been fully armed, she could likely overpower the creature in direct combat.
But battles were rarely so simple. The Iron Earthworm's ability to burrow and attack from underground gave it a significant advantage in enclosed, complex terrain. Its stealth and ambush tactics made it far more dangerous than its raw stats suggested. In the right environment, it could be a deadly predator.
As Leonard pondered the creature's strengths, a new thought struck him: the Iron Earthworm's creator must have developed a way to control it. Wizards creating alchemical constructs, mutated creatures, or servants always built in some form of failsafe, a secret method to subdue or command their creations.
Such a safeguard would be invaluable. If Leonard could locate this "key," he'd not only neutralize the Iron Earthworms roaming the mine but potentially control them. For now, this knowledge was a treasure in itself, a critical advantage in navigating the dangers ahead.
On the table lay a simple yet powerful object: a metal ring, unassuming but pivotal. It was the key to controlling the Iron Earthworms. All creatures produced by the alchemical instruments in this laboratory were naturally bound to this ring.
Leonard picked it up, examining the intricate design. Ten small holes dotted the surface, but only two of them emitted a faint glow. Curious, he reached out with his mental power, establishing a connection. Instantly, he sensed the presence of two nearby units under the ring's control.
From these creatures, a singular emotion flowed back through the connection: 'fear.' Leonard traced the source of their dread and realized it was directed at Serena, the massive lizard resting nearby.
He turned to look at her. Serena's body stretched over five meters long, her head raised nearly two meters high despite lying on the ground. Her presence was undeniably intimidating.
"You can take this lab," Serena said unexpectedly, her deep voice breaking the silence.
Leonard blinked, surprised. "You… know this is a laboratory?" he asked, his confusion mounting. Her rationality and apparent intelligence seemed to be growing with each interaction. Serena, however, offered no further explanation and began to leave the cave, her massive form disappearing into the darkness.
Leonard stood still, his thoughts racing. He had always assumed Serena was simply a captured intelligent beast his teacher had kept as a pet or experiment. But this moment challenged that assumption. 'Why was she placed in the deepest part of the basement? And why does she seem… more logical every time we meet?'
A bold idea formed in his mind, but he set it aside for now. What mattered was that he owed Serena a feast, perhaps several; after everything she'd done.
---
The alchemical laboratory held new promise for Leonard. With it, he could complete his daily studies and tasks in ways he hadn't imagined. Slipping the metal ring onto his wrist, he tested its power.
"Come here!" he commanded.
A moment later, the ground cracked, and two Iron Earthworms emerged from the soil. They were as grotesque as he remembered, fat and segmented, with metallic heads that gleamed under the dim light. Through the ring, Leonard could feel their awe and submission.
"You'll follow me underground," he instructed. "Don't surface unless I order you to."
The Iron Earthworms immediately complied, burrowing back into the soil and disappearing without a sound. Leonard nodded, satisfied.
Turning his attention to the shelves, Leonard's gaze landed on a cube-shaped metal block sitting on the top layer. This, he realized, was the core of the alchemical laboratory; a compact device that controlled its essence. Carefully, he picked it up and focused his mental energy on the object.
The moment his power connected, the cube began to rotate in his hand, its surface shifting subtly. A thin crack appeared, glowing faintly. It was as though the laboratory itself had begun to awaken under his touch.
The cracks on the metallic cube spread and twisted, spinning like a mechanical Rubik's Cube. The space around Leonard shimmered, like light breaking through a closed door, before transforming into a beam of green energy. This light was drawn into the Rubik's Cube in his hands.
Pouring more of his mental power into the device, Leonard watched as it rotated again, its surface shifting and splitting. A new beam of green light spilled out, expanding into a flat, surreal space that enveloped the area around him.
With a few tests, Leonard confirmed the nature of this folded space. It was real but existed independently from the physical world. He identified two distinct modes of operation:
1. Hidden State:
In this mode, the space became invisible to the outside world. No one could see or interact with it, and those within the space couldn't observe the outside world either. However, the metal Rubik's Cube still remained in the real world, leaving a potential vulnerability if someone recognized its function.
2. Open State:
In this mode, the space became semi-transparent. Outsiders could see a portion of its interior but couldn't enter unless Leonard allowed them. Similarly, those inside could observe the external environment, offering some situational awareness. Only those explicitly permitted by Leonard could cross into this space.
The hidden state seemed safer at first glance, but Leonard was cautious. If a wizard could create such a folded space, they might also have the means to destroy or force entry into it. It wasn't an impenetrable fortress, just a valuable tool for now.
Leonard began storing the golden fragments from the shattered gate into the alchemical laboratory's folded space. The gold was a fortune, enough to solve his financial worries for years to come. Satisfied, he pocketed the Rubik's Cube and motioned for David to follow as they exited the cave.
The return journey was easier than expected, with no need to navigate forks or hidden dangers. But halfway out, Leonard's sharp ears picked up the sound of footsteps and voices echoing from deeper within the mine.
Ahead, a group of eight men trudged through the dimly lit tunnel, their oil lamps casting flickering shadows on the walls. The smell of alcohol clung to them, and each carried a pickaxe in their hand. Leading them was a burly, authoritative man with a booming voice.
"Are all those monsters gone?" he asked gruffly.
A shorter man with a bald head and a scraggly red beard nodded nervously. "I saw a wingless dragon. It ate every last one of them."
The mention of a dragon made Leonard tense, though he suspected the man was referring to Serena.
"Why were there monsters in the mine to begin with?" the red-bearded man continued. "Did we open some kind of door sealing the devil?"
"There's no such thing as devils," the burly man growled, his voice dripping with disdain. "Poverty is the real devil."
The men fell silent for a moment as he continued, his tone colder now. "Do you want to go back to those wretched, poor days we left behind?"
The group mumbled their agreement, their pickaxes glinting ominously in the dim light. Leonard remained motionless, watching and listening, carefully deciding his next move. This was no ordinary mining crew, they seemed ready to fight for something they believed was theirs.
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