Though a flicker of tension stirred within her, Sylvia kept her expression carefully composed.

Only after double-checking that the Blink Rune etched into her right palm was ready to activate did she step into the unnervingly tense zone.

“What… is this feeling?”

The moment she crossed the threshold, an indescribable sensation washed over her—part anticipation, part exhilaration. Somewhere hidden in this perilous area, a faint but compelling scent called to her.

“What is it, Archangel?”

Noticing the girl had halted, Angus frowned slightly. His left hand, hidden behind his back, slowly tightened into a fist.

“I’ve detected something unusually significant here that requires my immediate attention. Lord Angus, please wait here. I’ll return shortly.”

Without waiting for a reply, Sylvia turned and strode briskly toward the source of the scent.

“Archangel?!”

Stunned by her decisiveness, Angus froze for a heartbeat—then, as if receiving a silent signal, suppressed the flare of anger rising within him.

All he had to do today was deliver this girl to the designated spot. Then he’d shed his humanity and be formally accepted by the Abyss.

At this critical moment, her sudden detour felt infuriating.

*Just follow me obediently!*

Mind buzzing with irritation, he locked onto her agile retreating figure and hurried after her.

*What is it? Why does it feel so thrilling?*

Sylvia knew her actions risked souring Angus’s impression—and possibly dooming the entire countermeasure plan. But the pull was too vivid, too insistent to ignore.

And so, though stepping into this mansion district for the first time, she navigated the maze-like corridors with uncanny familiarity. Angus trailed behind, his expression growing increasingly bewildered.

*This direction… Could it be?*

When the Archangel actually turned down the corridor leading to the alchemy lab, Angus’s forced calm shattered.

Those potions inside were more precious to him than his own life!

He would never allow anyone to touch them.

Heart hammering, he sprinted forward—only to find Sylvia standing still at the already-open lab entrance, not stepping inside.

Still, his anxiety didn’t ease.

“ARCHANGEL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Voice nearly hysterical, Angus blurred forward in a motion eerily close to a Blink Rune, arms flung wide to block her path.

He’d imagined being exposed and struck down by her staff.

He’d never imagined *this*.

His panic and fury were utterly genuine.

No matter what, he’d protect decades of research—even destroy it himself—before letting it fall into The Church’s hands.

“Lord Angus, please relax. I intend no harm.”

Sylvia instinctively softened her address. But the excitement blazing in her eyes was impossible to hide.

*No way…!*

*This is the exact alchemy gameplay I loved and mastered in the original game!*

Spotting the giant pink-painted “love” character on the inner wall, warmth flooded her chest.

So someone in this world shared her passion—and executed it beautifully.

Gazing at the shelves lined with vividly colored, effects-laden potions, she felt a heartwarming sense of homecoming.

…Though their potency clearly lagged behind the top-tier variants from the game. A faint regret tinged her thoughts.

*Does Lord Angus not know the advanced recipes?*

Only then did she notice the raw wariness and resentment in his eyes, his outstretched arms screaming how deeply he valued this place.

She’d been so carried away she’d forgotten the host entirely.

“My apologies, Lord Angus. Is this… an alchemy lab? I was drawn here by the scent. My intuition tells me these potions could revolutionize the world’s entire potion-making paradigm. Naturally, I couldn’t ignore that. So…”

Composing herself instantly, Sylvia restored her serene, holy demeanor and began praising the lab’s creations with sincere admiration.

“What?”

Angus had sensed his initial judgment might be wrong—but *this*? The Archangel rushing here… for *praise*?

Impossible.

Yet meeting her utterly pure, gentle smile, doubt melted away.

After all, in every human heart, the Archangel never lied.

“These potions… can they truly change the world?”

Hearing the words again, Angus stood frozen.

Such a thought had never crossed his mind in over a century.

He’d loved alchemy since childhood—a refuge after heartbreaking losses. Alchemy never betrayed him; it was *his* domain of perfect fusion and wonder.

From humble apprentice to Lord of Chernost City, his devotion never wavered.

But never—*never*—had he imagined such lofty recognition.

What should he do now?