Miracle Summoner

"This..."

Kikuoka Seijirou suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

He knew that while Rozen's words were harsh, they were undeniably true in their literal meaning: "Why should he?"

"If you want the sample, it's probably to analyze it and see if it can be replicated with current technology, right?"

Rozen looked at Kikuoka Seijirou, his eyes full of amusement.

"Setting aside whether you can analyze it or even recreate it, what do you have to offer in exchange for the sample? Surely you don't expect me to give it to you for free?"

This was the true meaning behind Rozen's "Why should he?"

To be honest, by now, Rozen still maintained ties with the government, but he no longer relied on them for transactions or support.

The technologies Rozen had already provided the government had earned him a fortune, not to mention the profits from the World Seed.

Rozen now lacked nothing. Even when he required the government's help, it was only for trivial matters, easily covered by the goodwill he'd already built up.

Besides, the government itself still had occasions where it needed to rely on Rozen, as seen during the Death Gun incident. In the field of VRMMOs, no one could surpass Rozen. As long as they continued researching full dive and virtual worlds, they would inevitably need him. This gave Rozen every right to negotiate and cooperate on equal terms without offering anything additional.

Moreover, Rozen's reason for working with the government was not to blatantly display the mysticism he wielded, which might disrupt the natural course of this world. If Rozen were truly unconcerned, he wouldn't need the government at all. He had more than enough means to resolve all problems himself.

Thus, as long as the cooperation remained mutually beneficial and on minor matters, Rozen didn't mind.

But if the government aimed to use the elixir he possessed to elevate its international status or alter the world order, Rozen would have no part in it.

After all, the elixir was a form of mysticism, albeit a subtle one. As long as Rozen didn't explain, others would struggle to detect its mystical origins, instead assuming it was the result of advanced technology. This was precisely what Kikuoka Seijirou believed, and others would think the same.

This was also why Rozen chose to use the elixir to treat Yuuki. Otherwise, he could have used one of the many magical techniques in his arsenal to heal her directly. The fact that he refrained demonstrated his commitment to keeping mysticism hidden and ensuring the world's natural trajectory remained unaltered.

For these reasons, regardless of whether the government could analyze or recreate it, Rozen had no intention of handing over this mystical creation based on his principles.

Moreover, Rozen currently lacked any desires that the government could satisfy. What could they possibly offer in exchange? Nothing.

Besides...

"Don't think that developing such a drug and monopolizing it will allow you to rise to the top of the international hierarchy or control the needs of other nations."

Rozen spoke calmly.

"Don't forget that this country is, in the end, just a small nation. If your ambitions grow too large, you'll be swallowed by the bigger powers, and when that happens, you'll have nowhere to cry."

Hearing this, Kikuoka Seijirou shivered, cold sweat running down his back.

Rozen's words were like a slap of reality.

Indeed, ambition is fine, but it must be backed by equivalent strength.

The elixir Rozen had could undoubtedly reshape the world, but precisely because of this, a small island nation like Japan couldn't hope to monopolize it.

Kikuoka Seijirou could already imagine the scene. Once such a drug emerged and the global powers became aware of it, Japan would never succeed in monopolizing it. Instead, it would face immense pressure from larger nations, demanding access to the technology and the finished product under the guise of justice and the greater good for all humanity.

Japan was ultimately a small nation. Attempting to swallow something this monumental would undoubtedly be beyond its capabilities.

In the end, while the elixir's emergence might revolutionize the world and benefit humanity, Japan might see some development but would never cross the boundaries into dominance.

If they did, they would provoke the ire of major powers and the international community, leading to an outcome akin to a moth flying into the flame.

Of course...

"If your goal is purely to bring about a revolutionary breakthrough in medicine for the benefit of humanity and society, then I take back everything I said."

Rozen glanced at Kikuoka Seijirou with a meaningful smile.

"But given that you still haven't fully analyzed or utilized the technologies I provided earlier, perhaps it's best not to set your sights on this. It's beyond the reach of current human capabilities."

Unless the world's scientific advancements reached a staggering level, such aspirations were futile.

While magic and science might seem fundamentally opposed, they were, in essence, two sides of the same coin. The miracles that science couldn't achieve were called magic, and those it could achieve were considered magecraft. They were the same phenomena realized through different means, processes, and methods.

Thus, one day, Rozen's elixir could theoretically be deciphered and realized by advanced scientific technology. It wasn't entirely impossible.

However, even if that were the case, Rozen still had no intention of introducing it into this world.

Rozen's stance remained unchanged: this was a world without mysticism, and it was best to let it continue as it was, unaltered by his intervention.

Otherwise, it wouldn't just be Kikuoka Seijirou showing such a strong desire for the elixir's research. If more ambitious individuals learned of its existence, it could lead to even greater conflicts and ultimately result in disaster—a price far too high.

"...Understood."

After a long silence, Kikuoka Seijirou let out a sigh and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Let's pretend I never asked."

Kikuoka Seijirou relented.

"A wise decision," Rozen said with a smirk.

"However..." Kikuoka Seijirou suddenly shifted his tone with a sly smile. "First it was the technology we couldn't analyze, and now this. Aoka-kun, why not tell me just how much of this kind of technology you still have?"

Kikuoka Seijirou's attitude turned intriguing.

This was also a form of probing.

Kikuoka Seijirou had reason to believe that Rozen had even more astounding things at his disposal.

Rozen simply returned his smile.

That smile carried even more intrigue.

Then, Rozen spoke.

"Take a guess."

With those words, Rozen turned and walked back into the sterile room.

Only after Rozen left did Kikuoka Seijirou's smile fade.

"...I need to report back and have the higher-ups reevaluate their stance toward Kirigaya Aoka."

Kikuoka Seijirou muttered to himself.