6 Alchemists (2)

Chapter 6: Alchemists (2)

Beelzebub was getting hungry, which prompted him to side with Bruno.

It wasn't about lodging but food.

He didn't know how to prepare food at all! That was because he used to live outside for a while, eating whatever he found on the streets… and when he finally got a job and a room for himself, David saved a lot of money by buying the cheapest food that he only had to unpack and gnaw on.

And while he lived with his parents, his mother took care of his meals, so David was limited to simple cooking skills that weren't of use in another world.

When he became famous, David always ordered a good and hot meal from the best restaurants for himself. In the game world, it was much different, as one of his maids' cooking was more addictive than he thought.

He missed her meals now…

But passion was what allowed Beelzebub to forget about his hunger. Bruno's excitement and sparkling eyes fueled that desire, and both talked about alchemy on their way to the Williard Village.

Bruno now understood that Beelzebub was his lucky chance that he couldn't let go, so he was ready to share a room with him and help him accommodate in his village. His vigilance was now a past, as David's soft voice, loaded with knowledge of the highest alchemy, brought so much understanding to the young man that he needed more room for new information, kicking away all his suspicions and doubts.

Getting acquaintances like that was one of the easiest ways to die while taking others with yourself, but fortunately for Bruno, Beelzebub enslaved only enemies, not innocent people — he wasn't a demon to worry about…

"My teacher said I should work on my flame control skills, describing it as impatient…." Bruno surely wasn't concerned about Beelzebub's origins now.

David's lips curved into a faint smile. "Such a common flaw. Are you sure you aren't scared of flames?"

"How can I be scared of flames? They don't hurt me!" Bruno slightly tilted his head, not understanding how a fellow alchemist could think this way.

Beelzebub sneered as though having mind control skills. "Using your words… they hurt your resources, am I right?"

Those words stopped the young man dead in his tracks, and his lips parted wide enough for anyone to make a joke out of his expression.

Bruno muttered in amazement… "That's… so true…"

"And simple." Beelzebub added, his voice sounding quieter in Bruno's ears as he hadn't halted his steps.

That was because David already saw an outline of the Williard Village, which in his eyes shouldn't have been called a village at all. It was perched on a hill, surrounded by stony walls with archers patrolling the area atop them. The hill gently sloped upward, allowing humans to inhabit every piece of its land.

Many fields and houses run down its ridge…

Two routes connected to the stony fortress, maintained well by the villagers who were more than welcome all visitors and mainly merchants to their lands. However, only one route was used by foreigners.

The route that David and Bruno were on was used mainly by hunters and villagers that wanted to enter the forest and get closer to the chasm.

The Williard Village was one of the villages closest to this dangerous zone, which hurt them in more ways than one.

"Could you wait for me for a little?" Bruno looked at the man that was more than a new acquaintance now. "There's a graveyard close… I always visit my friend's grave before returning home."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you." Beelzebub instantly replied upon hearing Bruno's words, making the young man smile warmly.

"Sure!"

But deep inside, Beelzebub was curious whether he would be able to see any ghosts. He hadn't seen any transparent existence in the forest in which Bruno safely escorted him out… the young man's skills and environment read were better than many hunters in the village.

For that reason, Beelzebub didn't have any need to reveal his skills, which surely would have questioned his origins. Perhaps, it was a useless worry since humans could wield demonic skills in the past, but that was mainly reserved for players that could learn every skill through the system…

Beelzebub could have used an excuse of having a heavenly bloodline, but that wouldn't make sense to Bruno after his initial confusion about that lineage.

Therefore, it was an excuse saved for later, if need be.

Overall, Beelzebub was level seven after his first battles in the forest. He hadn't unlocked his first alchemy skill because there was no need for that. Additionally, his new magic was quite demanding, meaning that level seven didn't give him any new skill at all.

He could unlock another element at level ten, which Beelzebub was convinced to reach in a few minutes.

'Seems like I won't have many skills and will just focus on getting a few useful ones and their evolutions.' David thought inwardly while following Bruno's wake.

Both of them went past many graves, which were erected on small man-made hills.

Beelzebub hadn't seen any ghosts yet.

At last, Bruno stopped before the grave of his friend.

[Leya Of The Williard Village.]

He closed his eyes and clasped his hands, silently speaking to the deceased. His expression became somber and lonely, clearly missing the presence of this friend.

Since she was a girl, Beelzebub assumed she was more than a friend to Bruno.

It became quite cold, and the only wind whistled in their ears as minutes passed… soon, Bruno faintly smiled and spoke aloud, his voice much lively.

"I have returned safely, Leya. Thank you for looking after me." He then turned to Beelzebub and nodded. "Thank you… We can enter the village now!"

"It's fine." David nodded, genuinely not minding that.

The two of them returned to the main road, silently making their way upward. Bruno was still lost in memories of his dear friend while Beelzebub thought of his next plans.

'Other than humane needs that even a demon needs to satisfy, I must glean more information about heavenly lineage and NPCs from the past. There has to be someone that knows a lot, and I guess I know who it is.' Beelzebub thought of an alchemist whose body should be similar to his.

But to gather that man's attention, Bruno's development was important.

And as Beelzebub passed through the first check without any problems, thanks to Bruno's name, the duo went straight to Bruno's house, where his mother was nervously waiting for him.

Upon opening the doors, Beelzebub's eyes widened, however.

A girl's ghost was inside Bruno's house.