'Eren, shall I assist you in winning Sofiya's heart?'
A tempting voice echoed within Eren's mind, its devilish allure capable of swaying even the most steadfast souls, influencing them to say yes to his offer while remaining ignorant of Sofiya's identity or appearance.
'Aleph!'
Eren recognized the source of the voice instantly, his gaze shifting to Sofiya, who peacefully slumbered deeper within the cave. Taking the night watch, Eren positioned himself near the entrance, protected by the wind-element barrier.
Arching an eyebrow, Eren responded to Aleph's alluring proposition, 'I appreciate the offer, Aleph, but no. I don't see Sofiya in that way, at least not at the present. Moreover, I believe Sofiya's focus lies solely in advancing in her ranking journey. She's a highly driven battlemage who'll stop at nothing to achieve her goals.'
Eren's eyes fixed upon the moon, its gentle glow seeping through the hollowed opening in the cave ceiling. Meanwhile, Alephe continued to tempt Eren, his voice tinged with conviction, 'Hm? It would be foolish not to see her interest in you. With my influence, I can amplify her desires and make her more assertive. Do you doubt my powers, boy?'
Aleph's voice grew serious, leaving no room for skepticism. Eren sensed the sincerity behind his words, aware of Aleph's potential to manipulate reality. Nonetheless, Eren shook his head in refusal, firmly stating:
'Considering Kino's reaction to your presence, I have no doubt about your abilities, Aleph. But now is not the opportune time for either Sofiya or me to pursue a romantic involvement.
My plate is already full. I may not be a saint or devoted to one person, but I refuse to compromise my future plans by prioritizing such matters. Sofiya is an exceptional partner I can rely on, a battlemage and Hexer combined. Having her by my side is akin to having a team of four skilled rankers.
So… I kinda prefer to maintain our strictly professional relationship without adding the complications of romance. I don't want to mess up what I already have, you see.'
Eren's resolute declaration resonated with determination, firm in his conviction to preserve the harmony and focus of their partnership.
'Such a pity,' Aleph's voice carried a tone of dejection as if he himself had experienced rejection from a girl. 'If I were in your position, I would have indulged at the moment before concerning myself with trivial priorities. Life unfolds while we're preoccupied with our plans, lad. I'm not suggesting you deviate from your goals, but isn't there a tiny room to savor the journey?'
Aleph's question struck a chord with Eren, yet instead of providing a direct answer, he countered with his own inquiry. Sensing Aleph's hidden motives, Eren narrowed his eyes and voiced his suspicions, 'This eagerness to assist me doesn't seem like your usual self, Aleph. You're seeking a favor in return. What is it that you want from me?'
Having engaged in intermittent conversations with Aleph for some time now, Eren detected a shift in the old devil's behavior. It became evident to him that Aleph's sudden interest in helping him stemmed from a desire for reciprocal aid.
Eren's counter-question momentarily caught Aleph off guard, prompting him to burst into laughter before responding, Kekeke! Well, you've caught me, Eren. I do hope to establish a sense of indebtedness within you.
You see, there's indeed something I wish for you to accomplish on my behalf. However, whether or not you choose to comply is entirely up to you. At most, I can offer you rewards for fulfilling my request.' Aleph's playful tone accompanied his explanation, leaving Eren to ponder the implications of their potential alliance.
"It's about that Elder Seed Artifact, isn't it?" Eren asked, a smirk playing on his lips. Kino had already informed him that Aleph had somehow confirmed the existence of such an artifact in Gilaahan. Aleph chuckled in confirmation, impressed by Eren's accurate guess.
"Kekeke! Yes, I want you to acquire..." Eren cut Aleph off before he could finish his sentence. "Forget about it, Aleph. I don't want to entangle myself in the power struggles of the higher echelons. I already have enough problems to solve. I don't want to add the pursuit of a mysterious artifact like the Elder Seed to my plate," Eren firmly declined Aleph's offer before it even fully materialized.
However, Aleph remained undeterred by Eren's rejection. He had anticipated this reaction from the Last. The old devil sighed dramatically before speaking again, "It seems you're straying away from one of your primary goals, Eren. And here I thought you cared about retrieving your brother, Fernando Torres, from Meta Oasis."
Eren narrowed his eyes as he listened to Aleph's words. He wanted to resist the old devil's tempting propositions, aware of the potential dangers that lay within. Yet, he couldn't deny the allure of Aleph's proposal. "What do you mean?" Eren asked warily, his gaze fixed on a distant point.
"I want you to find the Elder Seed Artifact, bind it to yourself, and keep it safe until I find a way to reclaim it," Aleph presented Eren with a deal too enticing to ignore. "In return, I will assist you in rehabilitating Fernando Torres' soul into a new vessel," he added, his voice laced with a hint of seduction.
"That's not enough, Aleph. I need more than vague promises and wishful thinking," Eren responded with utmost seriousness. Aleph wasted no time in formulating a response.
"Kekeke. I possess knowledge on rehabilitating souls into artificial bodies, Eren. There are multiple avenues we can explore. However, the simplest method for you would be to create a homunculus vessel for your brother.
You've encountered Kino, haven't you? She is a homunculus. I will guide you in crafting a homunculus body for Fernando Torres and assist in transferring his soul, enabling him to survive as an artificial human.
All you need to do is find the artifact. I don't mind if you utilize it for your own purposes as long as it remains in your possession. It's quite a favorable deal, wouldn't you agree? Take your time to consider it," Aleph patiently explained his proposition to Eren.
Once again, Aleph's words struck a chord within Eren. He clenched his fists, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind. After a brief moment of contemplation, he made his decision. "Tell me, how can I locate this Elder Artifact?" Eren finally yielded, determined to seize the opportunity.
Unable to see Aleph's facial expression, Eren couldn't help but feel a sense of cunning satisfaction emanating from the old devil. Aleph chuckled once more before responding, "Eren, do you recall Adelman's Ring? That peculiar artifact you possessed before giving it to Ariadne for further investigation?"
Eren was taken aback by Aleph's implications. "Are you suggesting that I unknowingly had such a legendary artifact in my possession?"
Aleph laughed at the thought before correcting him.
"Kekeke. No, you big doofus. What you possessed was not the genuine Elder Seed Artifact; it was a forged item. However..."
Aleph's voice trailed off, his next words delivered with caution, "There's a possibility that it might be connected to the real thing—the original Adelman's Ring! We need to acquire the dummy artifact first to uncover the coordinates leading to the true Elder Artifact."
With Aleph's words resonating in his mind, Eren felt a surge of determination welling within him. He knew that his journey to find the Elder Artifact was about to begin, and he had a clear starting point in mind.
The Last Spider understood that locating Ariadne directly might prove challenging at this juncture, but he didn't need to. He possessed the knowledge of who Ariadne had entrusted the ring.
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AN: Eren obtains Adelman's Ring in chapter 98. Its name was first mentioned by Jaario in chapter 109. The artifact was mentioned again in chapter 195 and 197. Lastly, Eren gives the ring to Ariadne in chapter 210.
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