Chapter 300: Change the Species
Several more days had passed since Carlo gave the immortality magic to Flamme. During this time, they had no interaction.
Flamme was researching the magic, trying to find a substitute method—at the very least, changing the target of life force absorption to plants would be acceptable.
That way, the guilt in her heart would be significantly reduced.
Meanwhile, Carlo continued to perfect the magic, attempting to offset the cost with higher efficiency.
Finally, the two stood in the research room together. The completely perfected magical draft lay on the table before them, but neither reached out to touch it.
Flamme stood by the window with her back to Carlo, gazing out at the Royal Capital of Ersten. After a long time, as if making a decision, she turned around to face him.
"Carlo," her voice was slightly hoarse. "Give up on this magic."
Hearing this, Carlo's eyes filled with shock and confusion. "Give up? Why? Lady Flamme, I have poured so much effort into this, and success is right before my eyes..."
"Precisely because success is imminent, you must give it up!" Flamme interrupted him. "I know how much effort you have invested—decades of research finally bearing fruit. Naturally, you are unwilling to abandon it."
"But this magic should not exist in the world, and certainly should not exist among humans."
Flamme couldn't imagine the turmoil this magic would bring to the human world if it spread.
Especially how Master Rhodes would look at her if he knew his disciple used such a method—plundering the lives of others—to extend her own existence.
If Master Rhodes showed even a hint of disappointment or anger, that would be more unbearable for Flamme than death itself.
She walked to the workbench, her gaze sweeping over the drafts with complexity before finally moving away firmly.
"Carlo, abandon this magic and all research in this field. As compensation, whatever type of magic you want to learn in the future, I can give it to you."
"This isn't about magic..." Carlo shook his head repeatedly, clearly showing no interest in the magic Flamme offered.
"The original scriptures of Holy Magic, the primordial core runes of Athos's barrier—the strongest defensive magic in the world—or even Divine Strike, the strongest offensive magic. As long as you agree to abandon research in this field, you can choose freely. Of course, you absolutely cannot leak them to others."
Flamme took a deep breath and continued to lay out her conditions.
To prevent Carlo from leaking this magic to more people and to stop him from continuing research in this field, Flamme was willing to go all out. At worst, she would just shamelessly beg Master Rhodes a few more times.
Gulp!
Carlo swallowed hard. Without exception, the magics Flamme offered were the fields humans most wanted to research.
Especially the primordial core runes of Athos's barrier.
This was completely different from the runes Linn had obtained from Lady Serie.
With these core runes, one might be able to replicate a similar type of defensive magic. Although the power would certainly be inferior to that released by the Holy Sword Athos, it would definitely be stronger than most defensive magic in the world.
However, Carlo ultimately refused.
"I apologize, Lady Flamme. I still want to continue perfecting this magic. Besides, this is immortality! Does Lady Flamme not want to live forever?" Carlo questioned somewhat agitatedly.
"I cannot do it... pave my road to the future with the lives of others," Flamme said softly, as if speaking to Carlo but also convincing herself. "But I do not want to die, Carlo. I want to live. I want to use my own eyes to see the end of magic, to watch..."
She didn't say "Master Rhodes," but Carlo sensed the hidden obsession in her words.
"In that case, Lady Flamme should join me in optimizing this magic even more!"
"No. There is no need anymore." Flamme refused without hesitation.
No matter how much it was optimized, the fact remained that the absorption target had to be a life form—and an intelligent one at that. The life force contained in ordinary cats and dogs simply couldn't meet the conditions.
Flamme couldn't accept such a thing.
Since she couldn't achieve true immortality like her teacher, then... at least she would freeze herself in her most beautiful years.
This was what Flamme had been thinking about recently.
She would research fields related to Stasis Magic, keeping her body and appearance forever in their prime.
However, this wouldn't stop the loss of life within her body.
Therefore, when her life reached its end, she would use Stasis Magic to seal herself completely, like entering a slumber.
Perhaps in some future moment, a miracle would occur. But until then, at least she could continue to exist in her most perfect form.
It was a compromise bordering on self-deception, but for Flamme, it was the greatest effort she could make while staying above her moral bottom line.
She wanted to be by Rhodes's side. Even if only in this way, she would be satisfied.
She couldn't accept appearing before him old and ugly, nor could she accept ceasing to exist entirely.
Carlo didn't know Flamme's inner thoughts. He simply looked at her, saw the resignation in her eyes, and frowned deeply.
He couldn't understand what Lady Flamme was thinking.
In his eyes, magical research should transcend worldly ethics; pursuing the ultimate answer was the only goal.
Although he had shared Lady Flamme's concerns at the beginning, with Miss Ariel's encouragement recently, he had come to terms with it.
He was very grateful for Miss Ariel's help.
He even had a bold idea because of it.
"Lady Flamme, you are too conservative." Carlo shook his head, his tone carrying disagreement. "I have clearly touched the true answer. Why give up?!"
He took a step forward, lowering his voice. "You are worried about sacrificing the lives of our own race, correct? Then... what if we change the species?"
Flamme paused slightly. "Change the species?"
"Yes!" Carlo spoke faster. "Human life force is pure, but the total amount is too small. The conversion efficiency of this magic is so low that the cost and gain are completely unequal. But... what if it were those long-lived species?"
"Are you crazy?!" Flamme's face changed drastically, and she shouted sternly to stop him.
When Carlo mentioned long-lived species, her first thought was the elves.
As the most famous long-lived race in the world, probably no other species could surpass them in lifespan.
"Carlo! You must not even think such thoughts!"
Elves were not weak. Especially since the demons had secretly targeted them in the past, the Elven Kingdom now guarded their precious kin very strictly.
Every so often, they dispatched large numbers of elven warriors to patrol elven villages across the continent to prevent a recurrence of past events.
If Carlo really acted on his idea, the consequences would be severe—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it could spark a war.
At that point, let alone the Elven race, Master Serie would probably be the first one not to spare him.
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