It had been half a year since Theo had seen Paragranum’s laboratory, and it was as filled with bizarre things as ever. Homunculi sleeping in huge tanks, crystal skulls, strange gemstones, potions bubbling away, fizzing reagents...

If Theo had not known who Paragranum was, he would’ve taken this as a warlock’s lair.

“Come, there’s no hurry, so sit here.”

Perhaps it was because Theo looked uneasy that Paragranum dug out a chair from a corner and sat Theo in it. She took a seat at a nearby table and started to write intently on a long piece of parchment, silently inviting him to look around.

Theo was puzzled for a moment before quietly laughing.

... Does this mean these medicines are really valuable?

The grimoire’s top priority was to acquire materials that allowed her to fulfill the purpose of her existence. She had mentioned in the past that she wasn’t particularly good at combat, so this bag of materials must have been the equivalent of a pie from the sky. There was no way she would be able to get her hands on such materials without invading a dragon’s lair.

Thirty minutes later, Paragranum placed the designs she had sketched out on an easel...