Chapter 299 - Wavering
Carlo was startled by Flamme's strong reaction, but he immediately explained, "No, Miss Flamme, you misunderstand. I was not referring to elves."
He paused, a strange glint in his eyes, and lowered his voice even further. "I meant… the demons."
"Demons?" Flamme was stunned.
"That's right! They are demons!" Carlo's breathing became rapid. "They have a lifespan and vitality that are far longer than humans. Although their life energy is slightly different, it is essentially a kind of life source."
"Most importantly, they are the enemy, a threat to the entire continent! Using their lives to cast this spell and extend our lives is something we shouldn't hesitate to do; in fact, it could be considered a... righteous purification."
Carlo's words were like the whispers of a demon, full of twisted logic, but their allure was deadly.
Flamme was momentarily stunned, her mind a complete mess.
Using the lives of demons... to cast this spell?
Reason told her that this was still taking lives, and the essence had not changed. But emotionally... the demons are indeed the continent's universally acknowledged enemy.
Is it far easier to accept using their lives than using the lives of innocent humans?
Once the idea popped into her head, it grew wildly in her mind like weeds.
"But…" Flamme's lips moved, her heart wrestling with a fierce internal struggle. "The life energy of the demon race is completely different from ours. If we forcibly convert it, will it cause unknown consequences? The risk… is too great."
She did not immediately refuse; instead, she raised some concerns.
This in itself demonstrates her wavering.
When Carlo saw that Flamme hadn't rejected the idea as decisively as before, he was overjoyed and quickly said, "Of course, there are risks, but as long as we are careful and cautious, and start with the lowest-ranking demons and proceed step by step, we might succeed!"
He looked intently at Flamme. "This may be the only way to achieve your wish without feeling a strong sense of guilt."
The research lab fell silent.
Flamme stared blankly at Carlo, then at the taboo-symbol drafts on the workbench, without saying a word.
Using the lives of demons to buy time for oneself?
This proposal is too shocking and too unorthodox. But there is still a slight possibility.
She didn't know what the outcome would be if she continued down this path, whether it would lead to the eternal life she hoped for or plunge her into an abyss of no return.
All she knew was that her heart, which had fallen silent because of giving up, was once again throbbing uncontrollably.
She needs time. She needs to think things through carefully.
Flamme did not give Carlo any answer and left the research room with her head down.
The somber atmosphere had not completely dissipated when Carlo stood alone at the table, his heart still pounding from his conversation with Flamme.
He looked at the scattered drafts, his mind replaying the bold idea he had put forward: to utilize the life force of the demons.
This idea did not arise out of thin air. Instead, when he was caught in a similar moral dilemma as Flamme and staring blankly at the magic, Ariel, who always showed a tremendous interest in all kinds of magical knowledge, had an unintentional conversation with him.
...
Inside the library.
Ariel, carrying a pile of books, sat opposite Carlo, seemingly chatting casually.
"Mr. Carlo, it seems your research has hit a bottleneck?" Ariel's voice was very gentle, with a hint of concern.
Carlo sighed, a surge of emotion welling up within him. "Yes. The problem of conversion efficiency is too difficult to solve, especially in a way that comes at the cost of other people's lives..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the struggle on his face was obvious.
Hearing that Carlo was still struggling with this matter, Ariel gently closed the book in her hand and said casually, "Human life energy is indeed too thin. Under such conversion efficiency, countless sacrifices may be made."
Her words hit Carlo's sore spot perfectly.
"Isn't there any other way?" Carlo asked instinctively, with a hint of reluctance.
Ariel's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, as if she had been waiting for him to ask that question.
She opened a book about monsters and demonic creatures, tapping the cover with her fingertip, her tone casual yet subtly seductive. "Why... must it be limited to humans? This world is so vast, with all sorts of life forms, and there are quite a few races with more concentrated life energy than humans."
"You mean elves? No way!" Carlo immediately thought of the elves, the race with the most abundant life energy, and shook his head like a rattle drum.
"Of course not an elf." Ariel sighed.
She was not referring to elves, of course. After all, the man in front of her was hesitant because of his moral considerations.
Ariel didn't even need to think about it; even if it were an elf, the man wouldn't be able to do it either.
"I'm referring to… those beings known as the 'Demons'."
"Demons?" Carlo was taken aback.
"Yes." Ariel nodded. "Their life force is far more concentrated than that of humans. More importantly, they are the enemy of the world. Wouldn't it be a win-win situation to use their life energy for research?"
Seeing the sudden gleam in Carlo's eyes, she continued in that seductive tone, "Think about it, Mr. Carlo. When it comes to dealing with demons, no method is too much, right? Even using them for research is perfectly acceptable."
She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice even further. "Besides, don't you think this is an excellent direction? It can advance your research and contribute to the fight against the demons. As for the risks… isn't every pioneering magical creation a process of groping forward in the unknown?"
At the time, Carlo was caught in a dilemma between efficiency and morality, and Ariel's words, which seemed to offer the perfect solution, were like a guiding light in his dark maze.
He grasped at this "lifeline" almost immediately, thinking it was an absolutely brilliant idea.
However, as Carlo reminisced about that conversation, a chill crept up his spine.
He recalled Ariel's eyes at that moment, filled with an undisguised expectation.
Why was she expecting that? Why did she specifically mention the demon race?
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the research room, interrupting his thoughts.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and Ariel entered.
She still wore that gentle smile, her gaze sweeping over the messy drafts on the table before finally settling on Carlo.
"Mr. Carlo, judging from your expression, it seems there's been new progress in your discussion with Lady Flamme?" Ariel asked casually.
[End of Chapter]
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