Doro and a Divine Artifact

The figure that leaped into Sherlock's arms was only about the size of a medium-sized dog. Its snow-white body looked like jelly, as if it had been sketched out in a few careless strokes.

Yet atop that sloppy, jelly-soft body sat the head of a chibi anime girl with pink hair.

"Doro!"

Faced with the little thing throwing itself into his arms, Sherlock happily scooped it up. He reached out and brushed a bun with his hand. A flash of red lightning appeared, and in the blink of an eye, the bun turned into an orange.

"Orangina!!"

The moment the orange appeared, doro's face instantly turned into that of a drooling little glutton. Its two short white hands stretched upward with all their might, trying to grab the orange in Sherlock's hand.

After teasing the doro puppy in his arms for a while, Sherlock finally handed it the orange. Then he looked toward Ancient One, stroking doro's bouncy little head as he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Cute, isn't it?"

Ancient One fell silent for a moment. She even felt as though she had grown old and could no longer keep up with young people's thinking. After all, what normal person would use their own body to create something that could barely be called a living creature?

Of course, Sherlock would never tell Ancient One that the reason he had tried so-called Human Transmutation was simply to see "Truth." After all, only by confronting Truth could he rapidly improve his Alchemy.

This counted as a rather unorthodox method of cultivation.

As for doro, it had been an accidental creation born after he saw Truth and spoke with it.

After all, he had already paid the price and prepared the materials. By the principle of equivalent exchange, it would have been a shame not to create something.

As for why he had made doro, the reason was simple. By human standards, doro was a genuine "monster," one of the few "successful failures" among Sherlock's alchemical products.

Precisely because of that, Ancient One often took doro back to Kamar-Taj under the pretext of research and vigilance, using it as a "failed case" to scare the mages.

Of course, Sherlock had no idea whether she was really frightening her disciples or taking doro home to pet it herself. After all, Sherlock had spent five years as a shut-in at home, with nearly all his attention devoted to Alchemy.

Watching Ancient One's mouth twitch continuously, Sherlock set doro, who had just finished its orange, on the floor and let it run around the study. Only then did he turn to Ancient One.

"All right, Master Ancient One, let's talk business. Don't tell me you came all this way just to bring me breakfast."

Hearing Sherlock's words, Ancient One finally stopped twitching at the corners of her mouth. She reached into empty space, and something resembling a spear appeared in her hand.

The spear was roughly as tall as a person. Its silver-white spearhead was as long as an arm and engraved with intricate patterns, while its shaft was blood-red and covered in golden cracks.

"The Holy Lance of Longinus. I would like to ask you to repair it."

As Ancient One spoke, she held the spear horizontally and slowly pushed it toward Sherlock. Strangely, after leaving her hand, the spear did not fall to the ground. Instead, it floated through the air toward Sherlock.

Sherlock was utterly astonished by the sight. With a casual snap of his fingers, the unfinished breakfast on the table vanished without a trace. He hurriedly took the spear floating in midair and carefully placed it on his desk, beginning to inspect it with Alchemy.

After quite some time, Sherlock finally sucked in a cold breath and looked up at Ancient One in disbelief.

"Kamar-Taj really is loaded. You people actually have a divine artifact like this?"

At Sherlock's words, the smile on Ancient One's face became even more enigmatic. Her gaze was full of amusement as she teased him.

"Well? Are you really unwilling to become the Sorcerer Supreme? If you agree, every treasure in Kamar-Taj will be yours!"

Sherlock rolled his eyes irritably and turned back to studying the Holy Lance of Longinus.

Seeing his reaction, Ancient One was not angry. She merely shook her head with a smile, then casually pulled two bags of oranges from thin air and handed them to the doro that came running over. Only then did she open another portal and prepare to leave.

Naturally, this did not escape Sherlock's notice. While looking at the spear, the corner of his mouth twitched. Case solved—Ancient One had definitely taken doro home to pet it herself.

What the hell was this "typical case"? If she liked doro, she should just say so! Why make up all those vague excuses?

Perhaps sensing the glow of the portal, Sherlock did not turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the spear atop the table, but his voice carried to Ancient One's ears.

"Master Ancient One, aren't you afraid I'll disappear with this divine artifact?"

Hearing Sherlock's words, Ancient One's expression did not change in the slightest. Without looking back, she replied to him.

"If you like it, then keep it once you've repaired it!"

Hearing that, Sherlock abruptly raised his head and stared at Ancient One as she walked toward the portal, his face filled with disbelief.

"You're being that generous?"

Sherlock could hardly be blamed for his surprise. In five years, the most he had ever gotten from Ancient One was free meals and some tea. This was the first time he had seen anything like a "magic artifact" or "divine artifact."

Of course, the Eye of Agamotto hanging from Ancient One's chest did not count!

Yet in the face of Sherlock's astonishment, Ancient One calmly replied.

"The era is about to spiral out of control, Sherlock. Compared to Kamar-Taj, you are undoubtedly the one who needs it more!"

At that point, Ancient One stopped walking. She turned back and glanced at Sherlock through the portal before smiling.

"Besides, I have observed you for five years, and I trust that you will not disgrace such a divine artifact! Sherlock, the future has always been in your hands. Consider this artifact Kamar-Taj's investment in your future."

After saying that, Ancient One closed the portal without the slightest hesitation, leaving Sherlock alone as he stared blankly at the place where it had vanished. Only after a long while did he point at that spot and begin cursing loudly.

"Get those cryptic riddlers off Earth! I'm just an ordinary lazy bum! No one gets to disturb my peaceful life!"