"Alchemist?" The term was not commonly used in the Magus Universe, where such practitioners were typically referred to as apothecaries. However, such a title was indeed used in some smaller or more isolated worlds. Noticing Lady Ella’s positive reaction to the word. Emery could see value in the term, a depth that might serve as a useful layer for his cover. With a calm demeanor, he said, "Yes… I was out harvesting when I noticed your battle. My name is Emery." The words seemed to calm the female magus somewhat. Her posture relaxed, and her guarded stance shifted into something less defensive. But the dark elf captain who stood by her side, ever vigilant, remained skeptical. His sharp, penetrating eyes never left Emery as he spoke, his tone measured yet laced with suspicion. "And which kingdom are you from?" Emery prepared to dodge the question, ready to feign irritation once more to conceal his true identity. However, Lady Ella interjected before he could speak. "Captain, don’t be rude." She then turned back to Emery, her expression kind. "I can tell you’re from the beast-man clan… that’s all we need to know" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎 "Beastman?" Emery echoed quietly. It took him a moment to fully grasp her meaning. At that moment, he realized what had happened—Lady Ella had seen through his half-blood nature. It seemed that in this realm, beast-man was the term used for someone like him. Emery didn’t bother to deny her assumption. His silence, perhaps, spoke louder than any words could. A beast-man was what he was. Lady Ella gave a small, knowing nod before her gaze shifted toward the enormous carcass of the Ancient Desolate Beast that lay sprawled on the ground. "Sir Emery… Without your intervention, we would have never defeated this creature." She hesitated briefly, as if weighing her words, before continuing. "The priceless loot rightfully belongs to you… But if I may ask for one thing—the beast’s heart. I need it to heal my father’s illness." The corpse of an Ancient Desolate Beast was indeed an extraordinary treasure, its materials worth a fortune. However, Emery understood the true value of earning goodwill and forming alliances in such uncertain territory. With a gentle nod, he refused any share of the loot and gestured toward the corpse. "Take it all. I dare not... it’s all your hard efforts" he said while taking a glance at the group of exhausted and wounded warriors. Lady Ella’s eyes widened in surprise, her voice trembling with gratitude. "Truly? Thank you, Sir Emery. You have my deepest gratitude." Emery’s refusal didn’t just earn Lady Ella’s gratitude—it also had a noticeable effect on the dark elf captain. His sharp gaze lingered on Emery, now carrying a hint of respect rather than suspicion. At that moment, Emery’s mind began to churn with possibilities. He had already begun forming a plan to integrate himself into their group. But before he could act on those thoughts, Lady Ella unexpectedly extended an invitation. "Sir Emery," she said with a bright smile, "as a gesture of our gratitude, we would like to invite you to Azure Could as our honored guest." The offer clearly startled the dark elf captain, who immediately spoke up. "My Lady… That might not be appropriate. Our home is five days away, and I’m sure Mister Emery still has important matters to attend to here." Emery wasn’t about to let such an opportunity slip away. With a carefully measured response, he said, "Actually, I was just about to leave this area myself…" He paused, furrowing his brow slightly as if weighing the decision. After a brief moment, he nodded and said, "I would be honored to accept your invitation." Lady Ella’s face lit up with a bright smile. "That’s wonderful!" After tending to the wounded and properly storing the beast’s corpse, Emery silently followed the group, his mind constantly working. He remained cautious, watching for any signs that might reveal more about the strange world he had found himself in. Despite his calm outward demeanor, he was probing for answers, gathering information from casual exchanges. The first striking revelation came as they discussed their histories. How the long-standing race war between elves and humans had come to an end over a millennia ago. The two races, once locked in a bitter conflict, now coexisted peacefully, side by side. But that wasn’t all. There were other races too—the beastman, the giants, and the fairies. Each of these races inhabited one of the seven planets within the same star system, creating a complex and diverse society that stretched across multiple worlds. Emery felt his heart race as he processed this new information. It was now undeniable: he wasn’t just in a distant part of the universe. He had crossed into an entirely foreign realm, one far beyond the neutral zone and even the elven world. As the days passed, Emery grew closer to Lady Ella and her people. They had become more comfortable around him, and the tentative walls of suspicion that had surrounded their interactions began to dissolve. He learned that the Azure Cloud faction, to which Lady Ella belonged, with dozens of magus in its ranks and multiple grand magus elders was considered a relatively low-ranking faction. As Emery digested this information, he came to another eye-opening realization: In this world, breaking into the magus realm was not an extraordinary achievement. Most people could reach it with enough effort and time. The truly exceptional individuals, the ones with genius-level talent, were able to ascend to what they called the "cosmic realm." The news was overwhelming. It reshaped everything Emery had thought he knew about power and influence in this universe. To safeguard his identity, Emery kept his questions about the so-called "travelers"—beings from other worlds—at a minimum. He sensed that this was a topic he needed to approach with caution. On the next day of their journey, Emery discovered the real reason Lady Ella had invited him along. She wanted his help in checking on her father’s health. What struck Emery most was the fact that, in this world, an alchemist like him was considered to hold a prestigious and nearly revered status—on par with the most powerful of beings. The title itself was viewed with great respect, and an alchemist’s skills were highly sought after, even by the elites of society. As a talented apothecary, Emery realized that this world could be a golden opportunity for him. While his ultimate goal was to find a way back home, there was no harm in taking advantage of the benefits that this world could offer. ### Author Note. The month of December draws to a close, and I would like to express my appreciation for your support of the novel. I understand that this month I have fallen short of my publishing target due to my illness and the holiday season. Thank you for your patience and understanding. It was a much-needed rest, and next month, the normal publishing rate will be resumed, with 12-14 chapters per week. As I promised, there will also be a discounted rate. #### December Spoiler: The new world arc will be crucial for Emery’s journey, particularly with his work as an Apothecary and, most importantly, his step into the Grand Magus realm. Thank you again for your continued support, and I hope you will join me for the January chapters. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025!