Hohenheim's Alchemical Notebook—or rather, its fragmented remnants, for other pieces existed elsewhere in the world.
Derek examined it closely. The notebook radiated antiquity, its pages yellowed by oxidation. Only Sterga Trading Company’s special alchemical preservation prevented it from crumbling at a touch.
The text was written in Holy Vaye script.
Holy Vaye, a shattered kingdom from a millennium past, had left behind a language that evolved into the continent’s common tongue.
Thus, despite its age, Derek could decipher the words on the pages.
He understood the words—but not their meaning when woven together.
It felt like stumbling through advanced academic texts far beyond his school grade.
Baffled, Derek gave up.
As he set the notebook aside to inspect the potions he’d bought, a translucent frame suddenly materialized before his eyes…
[Learn to brew "Soil Purifier" from Hohenheim’s Alchemical Notebook. Prerequisite: Mastery of "Intermediate Alchemy."]
Huh?!
Derek recognized this trigger-style prompt instantly.
It mirrored how random clues appeared while playing "Destiny" to advance the plot.
*Intermediate Alchemy minimum?*
Fine. He’d try.
Derek entered the Duke’s study.
"Study" was a misnomer—it resembled a library. Books densely packed towering shelves, arranged like fortress walls in meticulous rows.
In this world, books were prized collectibles among nobility. Naturally, Duke Wudewen possessed a vast collection.
Finding what he needed in this sea of texts wouldn’t be simple.
Fortunately, he was Master Derek. He summoned servants to assist.
Grabbing *Fundamentals of Alchemy*, he retreated to his room.
The world of alchemy fascinated him—like chemistry, but magical. It required mana and auxiliary magic circles during procedures.
Derek skimmed quickly, skipping incomprehensible sections about magic circles and arcane circuits. He knew deep study would be futile now.
Closing the book, another frame popped up…
[Master "Basic Alchemy." Prerequisite: Mastery of "Elementary Magical Theory."]
*Nested dolls, huh?*
Derek grumbled internally but decided to quit struggling.
No matter. He’d already bought Sophia, the alchemy prodigy. Her talent would handle it.
*With my gold-digging girl, I’ll conquer alchemy itself!*
Still, he’d learned how to acquire new skills.
Setting the book aside, Derek tested his purchased potions.
"Testing" meant tasting each one.
He smacked his lips. Honestly?
They tasted awful—like bitter herbal decoctions simmered for hours. Some were pungent enough to choke him.
Yet their effects were miraculous.
Though Derek’s cultivation hadn’t truly begun, the basic potions sparked warm, strange currents within him.
Others worked subtly or overtly—every potion produced tangible results.
Effects were felt, but true efficacy lacked objective measurement. No game-like stats existed for comparison.
After this preliminary assessment, Derek grasped the basics of potions.
Considering his situation, he resolved to embark on a new "quest"—cultivation.
As the saying went: *Forge iron while the smith is strong!*
A man must be hard.
With sufficient hardness, most crises could be resolved.
As the destined final villain of the "Pride" storyline, Derek refused to waste his innate talent for cultivation.
Nor would he waste Sophia’s alchemical genius.
He sent Xinzel to secretly deliver *Elementary Magical Theory*, *Fundamentals of Alchemy*, and *Hohenheim’s Alchemical Notebook* to Sophia. "Fulfill any needs she has for her studies," he ordered.
When Sophia became a wealthy alchemy master, his retirement would be secure as her investor.
With arrangements complete, Derek began meditating.
Though eager to learn magic, he had no choice.
After his reincarnation, he’d just finished cultural studies and awakened his mana.
Duke Wudewen insisted he first accumulate mana through meditation to build a foundation.
Uneventfully, two weeks passed.
Through relentless meditation, Derek felt his mana reserves growing increasingly full.
Meanwhile, the little maid Teresia showed visible progress.
When stepping from carriages outdoors, she now gracefully gathered her skirts like a proper lady.
But Derek didn’t overestimate her. During this time, Teresia had mastered other… skills.
At meals, she’d diligently shut the dining room door, "to keep Master’s food warm."
Was the Holy Lady truly this thoughtful?
Of course not.
She did it because afterward, she and Derek would engage in… private activities.
Derek would portion a small share of his meal for himself. The rest? Teresia devoured it all.
A professional eater, Teresia never picky—anything edible went straight into her mouth.
Besides, Chef Yeger’s dishes for Derek vastly outshone her meager maid rations!
Only a kind master like Derek would share such delicacies. Serving him made her blissfully happy!
Mouth full, Teresia savored every bite.
Derek had initially let her finish his leftovers merely to avoid Chef Yeger’s complaints about untouched meals.
He never expected Teresia’s bottomless appetite!
Watching her wolf down food, he even suspected Xinzel of starving her.
Investigation proved otherwise.
The benevolent Holy Maiden simply possessed… generous capacity.
As days passed, Teresia’s door-shutting-and-devouring routine grew seamless.
Once the door closed, Derek had to "pay the toll."
When it opened, Teresia emerged with a contented glow.
It sounded scandalous—but truly, nothing improper occurred…
…
Derek’s feelings were unclear, but with a full stomach, Teresia’s life was blissful.
Perhaps recognizing Derek as her "provider," she grew increasingly natural around him when alone.
Derek welcomed this change.
His efforts weren’t wasted. Teresia’s impression of him had improved—she likely wouldn’t mark him as an enemy to eliminate later.
Yet one issue troubled him deeply.
Due to his curse, Derek occasionally "insulted" Teresia.
But whenever he did, she just beamed happily.
*Had the Holy Lady awakened some strange kink?*
As an upright man, Derek feared the day Teresia might gaze at him with hunger and offer a leather whip…
If it came to that, he worried her temptation might shatter his will—and his moral compass.
Even if he retired from villainy, he’d become a monster.
Teresia’s eerie reactions bred unease.
Day and night together, their relationship shifted subtly.
Unnoticed, something else began to change…
One morning during dressing, still drowsy, Teresia tripped slightly.
Her soft body tumbled into Derek’s arms—recreating the scene from his first night after reincarnation.
In that instant, Derek’s heart lurched!
Not from attraction to the lovely girl in his embrace. He realized…
This softness, this warmth, this fragrance—wasn’t the same as that first night.
Teresia’s recent feasts had nourished her. Her superior genes activated, unlocking hidden potential.
In just two weeks, her flatlands had vanished. Gentle slopes now rose where plains once lay. At this rate, Teresia’s Great Mountain Range seemed imminent!
