Hearing the words "Magic Furnace Voucher," Landen instinctively shot back, "Is this your stance as well?"
"Landen, from the moment I learned that you had built the first magic furnace, I knew that your future would inevitably lead you to become a Demigod or a Legend. You might even take your place among the Orthodox Gods." Rather than answering directly, the Demigod Dwarf Slem began speaking of the past.
"Not just me—most of the Legends in the Imperial Capital would probably come to the same conclusion after meeting you."
Landen expressed his gratitude for Slem's high regard. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me."
"Do you know what it feels like after becoming a Legend?" Seeing that Landen did not understand his meaning, Slem continued, "Take me, for instance. I became a Demigod in the year 757 of the Ancient Empire, Back then, Douglas was still the Grand Archmage of the imperial court. I had already been hailed as the god of ironmaking in the Empire. My portrait hung in every blacksmith shop, and every High-Rank smelter and rune scribe in the Empire had to study under me for at least ten years."
"You truly are a witness to human civilization!" At that moment, Landen suddenly recalled what Revendia, Gleia's father—that old herbivorous dragon—had said when they first met: before him, humans were no more than insects.
Slem nodded and continued, "To those humans and Dwarves outside, I am more like a stone statue. They have grown accustomed to there being a big stone in this world named Slem. That stone tells them how to draw Runes and forge magical tools, yet that big stone has nothing whatsoever to do with their fates."
Hearing this, Landen even felt a little sad. At that moment, he somewhat understood why those