The golem scarab, once intended to be crafted from stone, was now destined for a far grander transformation.
Grid, armed with newfound knowledge from this new world, envisioned a metal scarab, a testament to his alchemical and blacksmithing prowess. With the advancements of modern metallurgy at his fingertips, the idea took root in his mind, a constant hum of possibility.
Why settle for fragility when indestructibility was within reach?
Before embarking on this ambitious project, however, Grid needed to address two pressing needs: Food and funds.
With him becoming an Archmage eating food is now merely for a wants than a need, his body can sustain itself for years without eating using mana only.
The solution to the former was simple - he'd simply use money. As for the latter, well, a grand alchemist like him could conjure wealth with a flick of his wrist so food isn't a problem for him but not for the kids.
After four months of living together with the kids, his heart slowly open but his mind doesn't even knows it.
But first, sleep. Exhaustion had finally caught up with him after three days of relentless reading and planning. Despite reaching the Archmage realm, his body still needed time to adjust to the surge of mana, to synchronize with his newfound power.
He rose from his seat, his steps heavy with weariness, and he made his way to his room. With no further tasks to attend to, he closed his eyes and surrendered to sleep, his body finally relaxing into the embrace of slumber.
The morning arrived with the precision of a well-oiled clock. Grid awoke at 6 AM sharp, as he always did. After preparing breakfast for the children, he donned his uniform, his bag slung over his shoulder.
Nicole, the girl from the previous night, watched him with a curious gaze. Since his breakthrough, Grid's body had begun to transform, muscles sculpted by the blessing of mana, his physique taking on a more defined shape. Though subtle, the change was undeniable, radiating an air of confidence and power.
"Why do you look so handsome today?" Nicole asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"It's just your imagination," Grid replied, his voice flat, emotionless.
"Don't be like that," Nicole chided, "and stop with the cold speaking. It's creepy, like talking to a hundred-year-old monster."
If she knew the truth, she might have fainted.
"Does being struck by lightning really change you that much?" she mused.
"Why don't you get struck by lightning and see for yourself?" Grid countered with a chuckle.
"No thanks, I'm good with my life right now,"
"I don't need to gamble my life like that. Oh, and by the way, Father and Mother have some errands to run. Would you mind picking up some food for the kids after you finish school?" she asked with a smile.
Grid nodded and closed the door behind him.
"Does it really change you that much?" Nicole murmured, her voice filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"I hope it's a good change."
She looked at the money in her hand, then her eyes widened in realization. "You forgot the money!" she exclaimed, sprinting after him.
Nicole, with her sleek black hair and sharp nose, possessed a striking beauty. As the daughter of the orphanage caretaker, she was responsible for managing the ten children.
Her bright and cheerful personality made her a favorite among the kids, her gentle and loving nature made her popular.
Grid, her brother, had grown up alongside the other orphans. The recent changes in his personality had worried her deeply. It had all started four months ago, on a night of torrential rain.
A bolt of lightning had struck the umbrella Grid was holding, electrifying him.
It was as if a switch had flipped. His brother's caring, loving personality had undergone a complete transformation, his smiling face replaced by a cold, piercing gaze.
If not for the doctor's reassurance, she would have believed he was possessed by ghost.
While rare, personality changes after near-death experiences weren't unheard of. Nicole tried to rationalize it, but a nagging feeling persisted, 'something wasn't right.'
After receiving the money, Grid examined the twenty Darius coins, their bronze composition catching his eye. He already had a plan.
His first stop was his new base of operations, an abandoned hut made of bamboo and palm leaves. It reminded him of the cave where he had conducted his research in the past.
Grid extended his hand, palm facing forward, and began to recite the incantation.
"Ground below, heed my call. Trees around, obey my word. Water below, observe the command. And air above, use my mana to..."
For five minutes, he chanted, ensuring the spell would execute flawlessly.
*Boom!*
The ground trembled, the shaking intensifying with each word. As Grid uttered the final syllable, a massive surge of mana gathered toward the hut bathing it in breath taking blue hue until it disappear.
Slowly, the earth rose, revealing a breathtaking marble building, rising majestically from the ground.
With a few subtle adjustments, Grid ensured the building possessed a modern design.
Crafted from marble and cement, the two-story house appeared ordinary at first glance. But upon closer inspection, thousands of intricate inscriptions were etched into every corner, forming a complex array of magic circles.
Arcane Manor had been an essential skill in his previous life. Mages constantly needed to establish secure bases, making building or manor made of magic a necessity for protecting their research. This Manor he named 'Marble Keep' was his only research lab, designed to shield him from thieves and other mages. He hoped his work was still intact within its walls.
Grid had always felt a connection to his research lab, a sense that he could summon it at will. It wasn't supposed to resemble a modern house, but with a few tweaks, he had redesigned it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings like some common manor.
The incantation acted as the key, unlocking the building, while his mana served as the gateway for it to be summoned.
He nodded in satisfaction. The building's appearance was pleasing, and its primary functions of warding off intruders and concealing itself remained intact. He only hoped the interior was as well-preserved. He had no idea how many years had passed in the magic world.
His eyes fell on the counting calendar, still ticking away.
"It seems only five years have passed in the magic world," he murmured.
"My research should still be intact."
Grid ascended to the second floor, where his research lay untouched. Rows of glowing marble, arranged in a mesmerizing pattern, stretched before him.
In the modern world, these would be equivalent to USB drives, but they could only be accessed through mana and incantations made by the owner.
His priority was money, and for that, he needed to turn to alchemy.
Turning stone to gold was pure fantasy concept on Earth but not on his last life.
But turning something to gold isn't simple as it seemed. One had to identify first the composition of the material to ensure success. Bronze or silver acted as catalysts for the production of gold. Using other metals, unrelated and doesn't relate to gold, would result in a random and unusable product.
But why settle for gold when diamonds were within reach? In his previous world, diamonds weren't valued for their monetary worth but for their hardness, making them ideal for golem construction.
Even beggars could find diamonds on the streets if they searched carefully. Gold was no different, used primarily for decorative purposes in buildings, just for adding grandeur and allure.
In this world, however, gold and diamonds were highly prized. A gram of 24k gold was worth five thousand Darius, while a gram of diamond fetched a staggering hundred thousand Darius. A loaf of bread cost five Darius coins, meaning Grid could buy a thousand loaves with a single gram of gold.
He examined the alchemy box, ensuring it was still functional. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a piece of burnt wood, a charcoal. It was the main catalyst for the equivalent exchange in alchemy, the key to synthesizing diamonds.
In his previous world, a beggar who stumbled upon a kilogram of diamonds would instantly become a billionaire if they sold it here, let alone to a grand alchemist like Grid. He could bankrupt entire nations if he sold diamonds recklessly.
"Diamond," he whispered.
The box hummed with magic. The charcoal block transformed into an unrefined diamond, its glassy body shimmering even in its unpolished state.
"Now, how do I sell this?" Grid pondered.
The size of the diamond meant he could easily sell it for billions, but he didn't need that much money.
But if he needed to sell gold or diamonds, he needed a plausible story, an explanation for the material's origin. He couldn't simply claim it was a family heirloom or that he found it on the street. So if he decide to sell more in the future it would not raise suspicions.
Grid hated having his work interrupted. He decided to play it safe.
*Blink*
Carrying the kilogram of diamond, Grid appeared above the city, concealed from prying eyes. He initiated a mana survey, a spell that pinpointed the location of anything the user desired. After a five second wait, the spell detected the building he was seeking.
*Blink*
He materialized outside the door of a dilapidated house.
"This should be the black market," he muttered.
A perfect place where everything he would sell will not be questioned by authorities and would exempt him from hassle.
He straightened his shirt, then used illusion magic to alter his appearance. Opening the door, he was greeted by a clean interior, rows of bottled wine lining the walls.
"How can I help you?" A voice sounded with questioning tone.