Miracle Summoner

The "Alchemy" of Atlas is fundamentally different from modern "Alchemy."

Its origins lie in the continuation of the magical ancestry of ancient Egypt, passed down from the goddess Isis.

Typical "Alchemy" is a technique of material transformation, and those who study the free conversion between substances are called alchemists. The alchemists of the Clock Tower, through integration with Western magecraft, have already achieved feats such as creating humanoids indistinguishable from real humans, equipping them with excellent magic circuits, and freely adjusting their performance and even lifespan. Organizations like Chaldea have utilized such technologies as well, with the birth of individuals like Mash, an artificial demi-servant, being closely tied to this knowledge.

However, the "Alchemy" of Atlas differs significantly, adhering more closely to its original meaning. It does not regard the "transformation of matter" as its ultimate goal but instead elevates the "transformation of phenomena" to the highest act. The typical alchemical goal of transmuting base metals into gold, a practice often mentioned among alchemists, is seen by Atlas alchemists as merely "material transformation," a primitive and crude technique far removed from their ideals.

Thus, the "Alchemy" of Atlas, rooted in the ancient Egyptian art of metallurgy, has undergone significant development, largely untouched by the influence of Western magecraft.

The philosophy of Atlas treats the human body as a vessel designed to optimally and efficiently unleash intellectual power.

"Human beings are rare computational devices equipped with mobility and sensory mechanisms (the five senses), evolved to gather and analyze information and directly address the myriad problems derived from it as intelligent lifeforms. This is what we humans are."

This is the shared creed of the alchemists of Atlas.

In other words, they believe that the brain does not control the body, but rather, the body exists to enhance the brain's performance. If one were to simply create a monster capable of raw computational power, there would be no need for an alchemist—only a technician. True alchemists, in their eyes, should embody a trinity of body, mind, and soul, excelling in calculation, practice, and growth.

As a result, the foundation of an Atlas alchemist lies in "Thought acceleration" and "Thought partitioning."

- "Thought acceleration": As the name suggests, this ability allows for accelerated thinking, enabling thoughts to process at superhuman speeds.

- "Thought partitioning": This ability allows one to freely divide their thinking into parallel processes, enabling instantaneous calculations.

All alchemists of Atlas possess these two abilities. Notably, in the case of "Thought partitioning," an Atlas alchemist must at least divide their thoughts into three parts to be considered competent. Those who can divide them into five parts are deemed geniuses, and a past, exceptionally brilliant director of Atlas was said to be capable of dividing their thoughts into eight parts, processing eight streams of thought simultaneously.

Beyond this, the alchemists of Atlas also learn the secret techniques of "Transformative Formulas" and "Accelerative Formulas"—alchemical skills passed down exclusively within Atlas, inaccessible to the outside world. Even within the Clock Tower, there are no magecraft tomes on these subjects—only scattered notes and records.

Thanks to this, Atlas alchemists are capable of creating powerful weaponry and advanced technologies, even developing seven weapons capable of destroying the world.

It is no wonder that Rozen is deeply intrigued by such a legacy.

"If I can acquire the Alchemy of Atlas, combined with the Virtual Ether that enhances the brain's potential, perhaps I can unlock the complete state of my Mind's Eye ahead of time."

This was the immediate benefit Rozen envisioned.

Beyond that, this knowledge would greatly aid Rozen in utilizing various technologies and developing more powerful magical tools, mystic codes, and alchemical equipment. In combat, with such flexible thinking, he could not only command the battlefield with precision but also perfectly manipulate multiple Beast Vassals, executing stronger tactics and formations.

In short, obtaining this legacy would offer countless advantages.

Given Rozen's pursuit of the mysterious and miracles, he couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip by.

As Mash noticed Rozen's gleaming gaze, she immediately understood his intentions and relaxed her expression.

After all, Mash knew Rozen well enough to be aware of his relentless pursuit of mysteries and miracles, so she refrained from saying anything unnecessary.

Similarly, Nitocris, being a mage herself, grasped Rozen's thoughts and intentions the moment she saw his expression and gaze.

However...

"This ruin already belongs to the Pharaoh. Without the Pharaoh's permission, how could I allow someone else to access its legacy?"

Nitocris appeared conflicted.

Seeing this, Rozen smiled faintly.

"Didn't you say earlier that King Ozymandias views me as an important guest and instructed you to treat me with the utmost respect?" Rozen said, his tone carrying a hint of provocation. "In that case, a minor request like visiting an important facility within his domain surely wouldn't be something the Sun King would deny, would it?"

Nitocris's personality was clear to Rozen—she seemed grand and wise on the surface but was, in fact, quite easy to convince... or rather, persuade. She had a pure and intelligent nature but also displayed impulsiveness and a tendency to be rash.

Most importantly, she viewed the Pharaohs as supreme beings and held a somewhat immature self-perception. As a result, she exhibited blind reverence toward Egypt's most famous and powerful Pharaoh, Ozymandias.

In such circumstances, Rozen's words could only provoke one reaction.

"The Pharaoh is certainly no petty king!"

As expected, Nitocris's expression changed, and she loudly declared in a mix of sternness and indignation:

"The Sun King is the greatest king of all. How dare you belittle the Pharaoh? That is sacrilege!"

As she spoke, Nitocris made her decision without hesitation.

"In that case, to demonstrate the Pharaoh's magnanimity and benevolence, I will grant you special permission to visit this Atlas!"

"This is not an unauthorized decision without the Pharaoh's approval but a necessary choice to uphold the Pharaoh's greatness!"

"...Or so it should be... probably... maybe... yes, that's it!"

As she continued speaking, Nitocris's tone grew uncertain and uneasy.

This caused even Rozen to feel a slight pang of guilt.

That being said, this place wasn't truly Ozymandias's property but something he had claimed. If Rozen hadn't wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict, he would have barged in long ago.

Regardless, Rozen's objective was achieved.

"Come with me. I'll lead you to explore this Atlas, deeper underground."

Nitocris turned and began walking, seemingly eager to resolve the matter quickly.

"Wait, Queen Nitocris," Mash hurriedly called out. "What about the Mountain People here?"

"Don't worry," Nitocris said nonchalantly. "They are merely plagued by nightmares and won't suffer any physical harm. This is but a minor punishment—hopefully, they'll learn from it. Besides, the Sphinxes bestowed by the Pharaoh are guarding outside, so they won't be in any danger."

Hearing this, Mash finally felt reassured.

Thus, the two followed Nitocris into the depths of Atlas, descending further underground.