Go and sacrifice something you wouldn't have sacrificed in the past.

The woman named Charlette said this to Adeline, but what could that be?

Something you wouldn't have sacrificed in the past?

What does she need to sacrifice?

No, that statement is incorrect.

It should be said, what does she still have left to sacrifice?

She has lost everything!

Alchemy has already lost its meaning. Everything she has experienced to reach this point has been denied! For someone like her to live in this world... it's merely because Charlette has some extra expectations for her!

She has recently been staying in the church, allowed to enter the tower where Charlette is located. It's heard that the church has been quite busy lately, dealing with various forces and splitting interests, they say the church also wants to gain some benefits from the war in the Ice and Snow Kingdom—though the Wise King is not very pleased with this.

On the other hand, the church has been selecting a new Saintess, a process that's been even more challenging. The voices calling for Charlette's return have become increasingly louder within the church. No one really pays attention to Adeline.

This might be considered Charlette's "kindness."

If it weren't for Charlette's indication, there wouldn't be many people wanting to approach her, even though she has experienced a painful failure, her actual power still remains. She also possesses the ability to create alchemy items like the World Reflection which can change the tide of war.

As for her saying she feels unworthy of using alchemy anymore... who would believe that?

It's not like having faced the Demon King she would have her powers taken away by him.

She rarely experienced a period of leisure.

Not having to think about anything, not having to do anything, freed from the mission of the President of the Alchemist Association, not needing to think about the past, not about the future, simply living as Adeline in this physical form.

She seems to understand a bit why the White Church can become the largest organization in the world, even the Human Central Empire has to seek collaboration with them. In such a world, humans need a belief—to seek solace for their souls, not everyone is strong enough to face everything. The presence of God is essential.

And God, indeed, overlooks everything in this world; occasionally, God even responds to the call of the followers.

What does God base His decisions on, Adeline doesn't know. She thinks perhaps she should genuinely consider joining the White Church—if that might make things feel easier.

After all, the end of alchemy is right there.

In the Demon King's hands, from the very beginning.

So, what's wrong with believing in God? After all, God is also the origin, the pursuit in alchemy seems like a laughable pursuit. It might as well be better to believe in God from the very start, receive blessings from Him, and find reasons to continue living. She saw many believers with their devotion to God. Even though they have greed, and places where they bend their morals, their faith in God remains unwavering.

Can't understand.

But, it might suit the current self well.

Adeline finishes her meal and places the tray in its fixed position. Then she casually walks inside the church, observing worshippers praying, seeing ordinary people come in to communicate with the priests, some seeking blessings, others confessing sins. Some seek help from the priests, while others form teams.

She seems never to have truly understood the vast collective of the White Church. As the President of the Alchemist Association, Adeline once considered the church to be a threat, a powerful force, an organization with terrifying capabilities... As the President of the Alchemist Association, she seems to have much to learn... But at this point, what more is there to say?

A nun approached Adeline: "Miss Adeline, Lady Charlette requests that you come to the tower. She has something to discuss with you."

How surprising.

It's been two weeks since that day, it's heard that the army of the Human Central Empire is about to reach the gates of the Ice and Snow Kingdom, and Charlette hasn't sought her out. Now she seeks her out, does she have something to say? Would she be aiming to seize benefits from the Ice and Snow Kingdom, planning to have her take action?

But she can no longer take action.

"Alright, I know. I'll go over shortly."

She still takes a stroll inside the church first before slowly heading to the tower.

She has the authorization to enter and exit this tower, but she seldom comes here, as it feels so deserted. There are no decorations, Charlette confines herself here, her essence continuously converging toward divinity.

To the extent that the holy power within this tower almost overflows, anyone entering this place won't feel very comfortable.

Upon entering this zone, it feels as if emotions vanish, all feelings are suppressed.

Divine art possesses the power to calm people.

"If you're thinking of asking me to do something in the Ice and Snow Kingdom, I can't do it." Adeline preemptively states, "I can no longer properly use alchemy; merely crafting small things is still possible, but to sway the war, the current me..."

Charlette remains calm: "It's merely an Ice and Snow Kingdom. For the church, no matter who controls it, there will be no shortage of church chapels there. These days, there have been some restless voices within the church because of losing Nalune, and responding in Butuo City, now entangling with people over Nalune's matter, causing unrest. But these are simply not issues the church should care about."

Her presence appears increasingly sacred, the most beautiful and virtuous person in this world—she looks less and less human.

"So what did you come here for?"

"Do you remember what I said to you a few days ago?"

"..."

Adeline fell silent.

"It seems you remember. But you probably don't know exactly what I mean. I wasn't quite sure at the time, so I had someone check it."

Charlette spoke as she produced a book from somewhere.

The book looked newly written. The cover was very new.

"What is this?"

"Be grateful, in this world, only the Church has the ability to investigate and find the truth, something even the Human Central Empire can't achieve. In different regions, various rumors, myths, ballads, combined with divine revelation and astrology, form the answer. It's pieced together to reveal the truth of history."

Adeline's gaze fell on the book, and its title was called:

"Kedoria Great Destruction Investigation Report".

Just seeing the title made Adeline's heart race wildly. She keenly sensed that this book would have a significant connection to her. Even under the glow of divine art, she could not suppress the excitement rising inside her.

She opened the pages of the book.

Then she froze.

After a long silence, she began flipping to the next page, her pace quickening, becoming more aggressive, until at a certain moment, she forcefully closed the book and stared at Charlette: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Just like the contents recounted in the book." Charlette's gaze remained calm. "Isn't this what you want to know? About everything that happened in Butuo City, the source of your failure was nothing but incorrect understanding, right? Apart from the Demon King, who knows all history, this is the only history the Church can trace. You can of course question the authenticity of this book. Whether you believe or not is none of my concern. I'm just telling you about it, what you do with it is up to you."

Kedoria Great Destruction.

This book elucidates the Church's investigation, integrating all methods, providing an analysis and trace of the Starfall event known to the world that occurred hundreds or even thousands of years ago.

This was an annihilation known to all races, a fear the Demon King brought to humanity, where he casually erased a city from the map. People didn't even know the reason...

Adeline had actually investigated it, but concerning the Star Tear event, even the long-lived Elf Race didn't have a deep understanding. If there were reasons to be spoken of.

At that time, the Elf Race just knew that one day a human city suddenly exploded. They were too far away. The Elf Race had many speculations, but those speculations had no basis.

Only the truth pieced together by the Church...

Perhaps only the Church, now at its peak, could know the reality.

In the city named Kedoria, what had once happened.

Was "Human Alchemy".

Alchemists didn't apply alchemy to their own bodies. This isn't strange at all. Most alchemists had this concept, and the prevailing saying was, "The weaker the body, the more the alchemy's power stands out, further showing the place of wisdom, which is the pride and dignity of an alchemist."

This viewpoint was quite popular among alchemists, with many treating it as a creed.

But when was this viewpoint first proposed, or when was it adopted and promoted?

There's no clear record.

In this book, the Church speculates it was due to that great destruction.

In the city named Kedoria, Human Alchemy was rampant, leading to some kind of result.

The truth of that result is now unknown, but in any case, the final result of this Human Alchemy was that—the Demon King created an alchemy item named Star Tear, which fell from the sky, erasing the city from the world without leaving a trace.

And the Demon King himself likely had no choice but to do so.

Because the Demon King truly felt sorrow.

Of course, this portion of the intelligence could only be known because of what happened in Butuo City, and the alchemy item named Star Tear could only be used with compassion and sorrow.

Only then could this report form a logical closure.

As for the reason for the Demon King's sadness...

Adeline recalled what the girl had said when she confronted Mohe.

The world was all her possessions, everything existed to make her happy, so erasing a human city was like a child being forced to part with a beloved toy?

Then what was the reason the Demon King had no choice but to act?

"No matter what, this is inseparable from Human Alchemy."

Charlette took the book back from Adeline's hands, and divine flames reduced it to ashes.

Her purpose was crystal clear.

Adeline fully understood Charlette's meaning, what she meant by the past sacrifices you were unwilling to make.

She raised her hand, looking at it.

To apply alchemy to oneself, to treat oneself as an alchemy item, and undergo alchemy... what would that be like?

"What you choose to do is your freedom."

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