Ch.245245. Time Flows On

“Wasn’t that too harsh?”

“I agree with my senior.”

The Dark Spiritmaster and Stella approach me as I’m helping Professor Per with calculations.

The two, who have been watching Professor Per for a while, continue with regretful tones.

“You know she was trying to do it for us.”

“Even if it was a bit excessive, it was ultimately out of goodwill.”

“I still can’t accept that proposal.”

On this matter, there was absolutely no room for compromise. What Professor Per suggested wasn’t much different from talking about bringing the dead back to life.

“Hmm.”

The Dark Spiritmaster folded her arms and couldn’t respond, but Stella, who was beside her, took a step closer and retorted.

“Aren’t you too bound by your own beliefs?”

At those words, I unconsciously turned my head toward Stella. She wore her usual gentle smile, but within it was a reproach directed at me.

“Deus, I agree with your beliefs. Resurrection is a concept that doesn’t exist even in religion.”

Most religions that cling to concepts of immortality or resurrection in the current continent were treated as heretical.

With Black Mages who use the dead, most religions focus on the afterlife rather than resurrection or immortality.

“But you’re being too swayed by it. I think that even if Professor Per crossed a line to some extent, it doesn’t completely invalidate the research she developed.”

“…She doesn’t have horns.”

The Dark Spiritmaster looked at Stella with surprised, bewildered eyes. She seemed taken aback, not expecting Stella to speak so strongly.

Despite the Dark Spiritmaster’s reaction, Stella’s eyes remained fixed on me.

“It could surely be utilized in ways other than simple resurrection.”

“…You’re right.”

Putting down my pen, I nodded without much deliberation. Her words were correct.

I had hastily cautioned Professor Per, thinking she had invaded a realm that shouldn’t be crossed.

Her invention could be used in other ways. I had cut off the branches prematurely.

I also felt self-reproach for having reacted somewhat emotionally without realizing it, as it was a sensitive area for me.

‘I can’t say my emotions are shallow anymore.’

They’re not abundant, and the waves of emotion are still milder compared to others, but they’re not as calm as before.

Living on this continent, I as a person was clearly changing.

“It’s okay, that’s not a bad thing at all.”

Stella smiled gently, comforting me as if she knew what I was thinking.

Sometimes I wondered if she was using mind-reading, but it was probably just the expertise of a woman who had listened to countless consultations as a Saintess.

“Thank you.”

Criticism for my mistakes and encouragement for my growth as a person.

I felt that Stella was helping me in many ways. Come to think of it, I might have the continent’s best counselor with me.

In response to my words, Stella answered quite mischievously.

“With time running short, I should say everything I want to say before leaving.”

“Wow…”

The Dark Spiritmaster gaped in astonishment, not expecting Stella to speak so bluntly.

Although we all knew we would eventually part ways, we had been avoiding mentioning it.

Stella casually broke that unspoken rule.

Knowing it was her way of giving me insight, I didn’t dwell on it.

Following her advice, I got up and headed toward Per without hesitation.

At my request, she was creating something more elaborate, like a mannequin.

“Professor Per.”

“Eek! Y-Yes!”

She was startled by my sudden approach, reacting with exaggerated surprise. Seeing this reaction, I was certain I had been too harsh.

“I apologize for earlier.”

“What?”

She hadn’t expected me to apologize, and with wide eyes, she asked again. I apologized once more, sincerely.

“I realized I was disparaging your efforts and research achievements by only looking at one aspect. I still reject the method of reviving the dead, but your research could have broader applications beyond that.”

As I honestly expressed my feelings, Professor Per blinked her large eyes, then smiled brightly, adjusting her glasses.

“No, no! It was my mistake! Reviving the dead! It’s actually a method that shouldn’t be done, and it could be labeled heretical, and I’ve come to think the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages!”

I’m not sure if she was happy that I took the initiative to apologize or if she was glad that our relationship, which could have soured, was back on track.

Professor Per looked like a dog excited about snow.

“S-So, Professor Deus. Would it be okay if I used my research method for the item you requested? I actually need your help.”

What I had requested was a remotely operable mannequin. However, it needed to be controlled through mana and share vision.

It could be considered a kind of robot.

If I were to create the afterlife inside the general store, I would no longer be able to enter it.

Therefore, I needed a doll that could move in my place if anomalies were detected.

Even if I couldn’t enter, I could control the doll from outside with the door open to resolve situations.

It was one of several safety measures I was preparing.

“…Alright.”

I wasn’t sure what she wanted, but since she needed my help, and I was the one making the request, I couldn’t refuse.

“Now, look at this!”

She took out one of the items she had brought earlier, a model of a human arm. One peculiar thing was that it was white with no color and somewhat small.

About the size of a young student.

Per immediately infused her mana into it.

Then something amazing happened.

The arm gained skin color and began to grow. As I watched, I could see what form the arm was taking.

“This is…”

“Wow.”

“Amazing.”

“Hehe.”

Though she couldn’t hear the ghosts’ exclamations, Professor Per smiled shyly but happily at my reaction.

The arm, which had no form or color before, now looked exactly like Professor Per’s right hand.

“This way, it uses the user’s mana to construct its form. This eliminates the need to shape it separately, and there won’t be any sense of incongruity.”

Now I understood why Professor Per wanted my help.

This bordered on Black Magic, specifically necromancy, though it didn’t cross that boundary.

When one becomes a soul, regardless of any injuries, they can maintain their previous appearance without wounds through their mind and will.

Stella, right behind me, was a perfect example of this.

This had a very similar aspect to that.

Though she called it mana, there was a need to move to a more profound method.

Professor Per spoke to me very cautiously.

“Actually, parts like arms or legs are possible, but when it comes to detailed areas like the face, it doesn’t work at all.”

“…”

“So, I was wondering if you could help, Professor…”

Various thoughts came to mind.

I understood why she could easily mention resurrection with such results.

Among the Mages I’ve met on this continent, Professor Per clearly had exceptional talent in terms of originality.

A technology that could be widely used in various ways, not just for resurrection.

I accepted her proposal.

* * *

“Gasp.”

I involuntarily furrowed my brow at the floating head. The head hovering in the air had taken the form of the Dark Spiritmaster.

“I don’t want to do this.”

The sight of the Dark Spiritmaster’s face dangling on the prosthetic body was certainly impressive, but the face was blurry, the eyes didn’t blink properly, the expression was stiff, and no voice came out.

Since she was a soul, I could hear her, but Per couldn’t understand what she was saying.

“Come out.”

“I should have won at rock-paper-scissors.”

“Sigh.”

Since I could see the Dark Spiritmaster’s entire body, it wasn’t strange to me, but to others, it would have looked like just a face floating in the air.

With the Dark Spiritmaster’s brief help, research on the prosthetic body was progressing.

‘I don’t think this can be considered a simple prosthetic anymore.’

Academically, it would be called bio-magical engineering.

Bio robot?

Biological robot?

I’m not sure of the exact term.

With this, there could be no human casualties in dangerous sites or construction work.

People would still do the work, but they wouldn’t get hurt.

I was honestly a bit excited about the future Professor Per would create.

“Phew. Shall we stop here for now?”

Professor Per, who had been jotting down various notes while watching the floating Dark Spiritmaster, stretched and twisted her body.

If Findenai were here, she would have made another crude sexual joke at her.

As I was about to stretch my stiff body, I noticed Deia sitting with her chin on the desk, looking at the prosthetic body with a rather serious expression.

“What’s wrong?”

She had said earlier that she was just going to watch out of boredom, but now she was frowning as if something was bothering her, scratching her head and holding back her words.

But eventually, either because of my gaze or because she couldn’t hold it in anymore, words spilled out.

“If you were to enter that…”

“Hmm?”

I don’t need to use it myself. And while we’re currently using it by inserting souls, later when I use it, I’ll just infuse mana and use it in a kind of connecting format.

The expression “entering” isn’t correct, and I was about to correct her.

“No, it’s nothing. I think I’m just having strange thoughts because I’m sleepy.”

Deia waved her hand and evaded the topic. It was a bit concerning, but I had been in the basement for so long that I felt like my head was dusty.

“I’ll go get some fresh air.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll brew some coffee.”

Leaving Professor Per behind, I headed outside. As Stella had advised, her research could be used not to resurrect people, but to prevent people from dying.

While I was quite pleased with that, I was curious about how far it could go.

“Come on, do you think that’s possible? The master won’t like it.”

“I just seriously considered a way for everyone to be happy. From my perspective, I’m compromising.”

“That’s nonsense, I’m going to win.”

“I didn’t say I was giving up either.”

As I stepped outside, familiar voices came with the night breeze. Following the scent of tobacco, I found Findenai smoking while looking at the moon, and Erika drinking coffee.

Erika had been bedridden due to injuries sustained in the Rometiu Forest, but she seemed to have recovered now.

“What are you two doing?”

When I interrupted, both of them jumped in surprise.

As if they were discussing something I shouldn’t hear, Erika awkwardly smiled while nudging Findenai’s side.

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

But this was Findenai we’re talking about.

“This crazy woman wants to split the master and share him.”

“Findenai!”

“…”

Erika’s voice rose uncharacteristically in shock at Findenai’s immediate tattling.

“What does that mean?”

Since I genuinely didn’t understand, I asked again, and Findenai extinguished her still-long cigarette and said:

“It means since this girl and I both like the master, we should share him. Don’t you know about concubines?”

“Erika.”

Genuinely finding it a bit much, I frowned and looked at her, and Erika seemed at a loss for words, her lips trembling.

“Ah, no. That’s…”

“Sigh.”

A sigh naturally escaped me.

Doubts arose about the steadfast character I believed was firmly established within her.

“Well, seeing that there are many people who seem to have feelings for you…”

Erika hung her head low, fidgeting with both hands, with tears slightly welling up in her eyes.

Her face reddened with embarrassment towards herself, and she looked like she didn’t know what to do.

“The Griffin family practices monogamy.”

If His Majesty doesn’t have concubines, I, as his subject, cannot have them either.

Just as I will eventually have to part with Stella and the Dark Spiritmaster.

Regrettably, I couldn’t respond to someone’s feelings.

“I told you from the start that the master wouldn’t accept it. I can’t imagine the master with women on both arms.”

“That’s… I can’t either.”

Erika quietly agreed. Additionally, Findenai proudly declared:

“And occasionally I talk about affairs or whatever, but sorry, I hate that stuff. Should I give up the master’s dick to another woman? Men have a limit on frequency, right?”

“…Findenai.”

I was about to warn her to tone it down, but:

“How many times can you do it? Ah, I should have asked Illuania.”

She started rambling wildly on her own. Finally, unable to hold back, I spoke again:

“I told you not to act cocky when you don’t even have proper experience.”

I thought she would back down again this time, but Findenai, with an unyielding spirit, boldly took a step forward and exclaimed:

“Try it, go ahead and try it again. But I’m warning you.”

“…”

“The moment you make a move, I won’t let go of the master. If you’re ready to take responsibility, you can undress me.”

I didn’t expect her to be this bold. Just once, I had caught her off guard with an unexpected offensive.

But having experienced the humiliation from that time, she acted boldly as if she had practiced this situation several times.

“Um.”

Unfortunately, in her imagination, Erika wasn’t present.

“I’m the fiancée here.”

With a reddened face and slightly puffed cheeks, Erika tugged at my clothes, displaying a youthful cuteness that didn’t match her age.

“You fool.”