Two hours before dawn, Mulan returned to Black Castle with Balu, who had stayed by his side the entire time. Instead of going home, however, he headed straight to Matt's place.
Balu grew visibly uneasy as they approached the cluster of buildings enclosed by a low fence. Although he was now Mulan's subordinate, in theory, Matt still had absolute control over him as the Alchemist who had created him, should he choose to exercise it.
"Don't worry. I promise I'll help you undergo Human Transmutation within a year. Then you'll truly have a self of your own."
"Really?"
Balu struggled to control his volume, and his question came out as a roar.
"Hahaha, when have I ever lied to you?"
In the past, Mulan would never have dared make such a bold promise. Even Matt and Black Castle's other Alchemist wouldn't have dared say it. Now, however, Mulan had grounds for confidence.
That confidence came from two things. One was the Blood Heart taken from a truly Supernatural Vampire. Precious though it was, obtaining one was not impossible.
What really mattered was the second thing, something he had never even heard of before. After encountering it and gradually reflecting on it, Mulan had developed a powerful intuition that it would have an unimaginable effect on Balu's Human Transmutation. That thing was Farolynch's True Blood.
Mulan couldn't say whether anyone like Farolynch would ever exist again, but his current state was very likely unprecedented. At least, no Magic Book or Resurrector's Book of Esoteric Arts contained any record of such a being.
Farolynch was now a perfect Resurrector. His blood was True Blood, inherently imbued with Magic Power and even human emotions, far purer than that of ordinary humans. With it, Human Transmutation was no longer impossible.
And if they failed,