"City Lord Madam, is there something you need?"
Roy inquired calmly, though inwardly he was marveling.
This mare's skin was truly white.
Not the unattractive kind of pale, but a jade-like white that was aesthetically pleasing.
It even had a glossy sheen, as if polished, resembling the texture of silk.
"I have long heard of Wizard Vizel's reputation, and upon learning of a new wizard's arrival, I came specifically to pay my respects."
The City Lord Madam slowly approached Roy, her gaze lingering with a hint of allure.
Roy immediately became highly alert.
However, he soon realized he had misunderstood her intentions.
As her light gauze robe slipped off, she revealed herself with complete openness.
"Would you be willing to spend the night with Mnites, my lord?"
Indeed, the customs of Netherlands had changed.
The once widely celebrated war songs and dances had transformed into the coquettish gestures of mares seeking mates.
The heavy armor, spears, and broadswords were now deemed unattractive.
Physical appearance was no longer admired for its ruggedness but rather for its refinement and elegance.
This wasn't something they were born to prefer, but rather a reflection of the broader societal shift, where the upper class set the trend for the rest.
The boldness displayed by this City Lord Madam was a true representation of the kingdom's nobility.
"Mnites, is that your name?"
Roy unceremoniously touched her skin, which was as smooth as polished jade.
The texture, akin to glazed pottery or jade that had been lovingly handled, was truly astonishing.
"You just offer yourself like this, aren't you afraid the City Lord will find out?"
Mnites chuckled lightly, "Lord Roy, you may have misunderstood. Although I am married to him, I am not his subordinate.
Moreover, it was he who begged me to come this time."
Roy was slightly surprised, "He begged you?"
Isn't the City Lord a centaur from Netherlands? Did he crossbreed with a minotaur?
Mnites explained, "He went to great lengths to please you, Wizard.
I must admit, at first, I was reluctant, thinking I would have to serve another old man.
But I never expected...
I never expected someone so handsome and beautiful..."
Her words carried genuine emotion, and her face showed a trace of sincere infatuation.
Roy smiled faintly, "Madam, I have a favor to ask."
"Oh?" Mnites, who had spoken of her husband with disdain, now showed patience and gentleness toward this handsome man, "Please, go on."
Roy said, "Your skin and figure are like works of art bestowed upon the mortal world by the goddess of beauty. I happen to have some knowledge in the arts and would like to record them with brush and chisel."
Mnites laughed softly, "Lord Roy, you truly have a flair for the romantic!"
...
In a luxurious room in Scarto City.
Roy's brush moved swiftly as he painted with abandon.
He had never formally learned this skill, but the talent bestowed by [Artist] made him feel like a master painter of the Wizarding World, capturing the scenes he wished to preserve.
Soon after, the plaster he had prepared and molded revealed a lifelike statue of a female centaur.
Mnites, upon seeing it, beamed with joy, "My lord, you truly have a gift!"
However, her smile soon faded.
"Alright, you may leave now."
Roy put away his tools and, as if treasuring a priceless artifact, stored the painting and plaster statue in his Spatial Ring, his expression indifferent.
"Huh?"
"Put on your clothes and go back."
Atedia stepped out and said, "Madam, please return."
"Why?" Mnites asked with a hint of disbelief. "Lord Roy, weren't you just praising me?"
"I was praising your skin and figure, which have already been recorded, haven't they?
By the way, the texture has also been memorized."
Roy spoke indifferently.
Mnites' face turned red and then pale, her fingers clutching her gauze dress tightly, filled with unwillingness but utterly helpless.
...
"Lord, she has left."
Not long after, Atedia returned to report.
Her expression was somewhat peculiar, as if she had something to say but hesitated.
Roy asked, "Is there anything else?"
"N... no!" Atedia quickly replied.
Roy nodded and entered the room.
Celine was inside, busy preparing some preliminary work for alchemy.
Roy said, "I've been pondering for a while now on how to help you restore your appearance, at least to fix your skin.
Now, I finally have an idea!"
Celine turned her head and looked at him with a deep gaze.
After a long while, she said, "You've been pondering... how to restore my appearance?"
"Hey, what's with that expression? Shouldn't you be asking me what the idea is?"
Celine remained silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, what's the idea?"
Roy replied, "Beauty and skincare start with the skin. Perhaps, by combining it with my artificial flesh, we can create a 'Skin Grafting Art' that allows you to change your appearance."
He had just been promoted recently, and his first-level Source of Magic wasn't entirely stable yet, so it was a good time to explore these "sceneries along the way."
Moreover, these things weren't just limited to the 'Skin Grafting Art.'
If the ideas were expanded and applied correctly, they could also be connected to the 'Animation Art,' helping to grasp many essential aspects.
Wizardry like the 'Transformation Spell' goes without saying, being an inevitable evolution of skin grafting.
For practical combat applications, there are artificial skin, biological armor, and derivative uses of protective gear!
Of course, even if ordinary people opened their minds to these ideas, it would be of no use.
Because their knowledge and abilities aren't sufficient to support these whimsical thoughts, only wasting time, energy, and materials.
Only someone like Roy, with exceptional talent and the ability to realize ideas, could do this.
As they discussed, Roy took out mercury, lead, vinegar, and a bit of arsenic, and began experimenting with the enhancement of apprentice-level alchemy through his [Proficient] skill.
In fact, the Wizarding World already had similar things, which he had encountered when concocting "Narcissus Love" before.
But this time, the main materials were more about integrating the forms and textures he had absorbed from sketching and sculpting.
These were no longer physical objects but abstract "concepts."
This was the mystery of the 'Transmutation Circle.'
After his last promotion to a formal Wizard, Roy had summarized this process, calling the extraction of a giant's life and soul to create a "Talent Seed" and strengthen his own spirit 'Talent Transmutation,' as well as 'Soul Transmutation.'
Then he suddenly discovered that abstract things could also be absorbed.
With Wizard-level mental strength and the means to materialize the extraordinary, many things could be achieved.
Even something as abstract as skin gloss and texture could now be memorized and restored.
Of course, this required some special talents.
For example, [Artisan Skill] and [Artist] talents.
Roy integrated all these elements into his consciousness. As his thoughts flowed, he materialized them while chanting the incantation for the Animation Art.
"..."
Moments later, a piece of artificial meat, crafted into a facial mask, appeared within the Alchemy cauldron.
(End of Chapter)