episode_0010

I looked around, scratching my cheek.

“Should we leave before more people gather?”

“Yes, that would be a good idea. The bugs are starting to swarm.”

The word “bugs” was particularly repulsive. If my friend, who used to have her hair in a bun, were here using the chair, she would have made a disgusted noise. Since I wasn’t feeling that bad, I just nodded.

“Alright, those who are leaving, gather closer. If you’re too far away, you might lose an arm or a leg.”

I widened my eyes and asked, “What happens to the lost limbs? Do they stay here?”

“No, they vanish in the middle dimension.”

“Oh…”

It usually took quite some time for a missing body part to regenerate when it flew away entirely. This was because my arm that disappeared yesterday sometimes reappeared as a baseball bat. Fortunately, since the missing limb vanished in the middle, it was supposed to regenerate the next day. After wiping my chest, I brought the kids together into the center.

Every time I pulled them along, the kids shrugged their shoulders. I awkwardly smiled and said, “Sorry, is the smell too strong?”

As soon as I let go and stopped speaking, the kid I had been holding onto until now was startled and opened his eyes wide. He seemed to want to say something, but Mia was quicker to open her mouth and recite the spell. I stood at the very end after making sure the kids got closer to Mia as much as possible.

A dark red magic circle appeared on the ground and began to glow. As I gazed down at the magic circle with wonder, someone suddenly tugged at the hem of my pants.

“Huh?”

“..”

Jess, who had approached without me noticing, was holding onto my pants and looking up at me with teary eyes. His ears were drooping, and his tail was curled between his legs. Just as I was about to say something to Jess…

Paaat!

The dark red light obscured my vision, and I felt dizzy.

***

They arrived at Mia’s laboratory. It was so splendid that Odile’s lab looked shabby in comparison. Mia generously provided large accommodations, a dining area, and various spaces.

Since she rarely brought in test subjects, most areas were empty and available for comfortable use.

A week passed living like this. I had become accustomed to life in Mia’s laboratory.

“Rian?”

“I’m here.”

I handed her the data, fearing she might find what she was looking for. She casually skimmed through the information.

Sip.

She picked up the cup she had been drinking from, replaced it with a new one, and sipped familiarly. Someone might ask if I was living like a real slave, but to me, it was nothing special.

“Haha, this is a piece of cake.”

Instead of doing household chores, I had spent over 10 years taking care of my mother, who was always whining when she got home. Taking care of Mia, who was not picky, was a piece of cake for me.

“Oh, by the way, we ran out of supplies, didn’t we?”

“Shall I get ready to go out?”

“Yes, please.”

Mia put down her cup, straightened up, and got up. I immediately took out the clothes from the wardrobe she had made for me.

“Ah, this is it!”

It was the best machine that not only removed all kinds of odors and dust just by hanging clothes inside but also neatly ironed them. I carefully took out the clothes and handed them to her. Mia changed behind the screen, where the light was on, casting the perfect shadow of a masterpiece.

As she took off her top, I burst into laughter at the swaying shadow. Not long after, she walked out from behind the screen, and I quickly composed myself. I didn’t want to miss out on a comfortable life just because I was mistaken for a pervert.

“Here, this is your coat. And this is the space bag.”

“I’ll be back then.”

She wore a bag the size of her palm around her waist, and put on a navy cape as she headed towards a mirror placed in one corner of the lab. It was a portal mirror registered for specific coordinates. When Mia drew a magic circle in the air, the mirror quivered.

As Mia disappeared beyond the mirror, I stretched lightly and murmured.

“Should I go do the remaining housework?”

The location had changed, but my tasks remained largely unchanged. As I hummed a tune and moved my feet, I suddenly froze at the thought that came to mind.

“Wait… if I end up going towards Mia, what will happen to Iris?”

In an instant, cold sweat trickled down my face.

“Oh no… did I mess up?”

***

“What else did I need to buy?”

Mia muttered as she put the just-bought ingredients into her pocket.

“Hmm?”

As she tried to take her hand out of her pocket, it touched a piece of paper. Without much thought, she took out the paper.

“This is…”

[ Items to Buy ]

[ *Dried Motas Grass ]

[ *45g Roticora Powder ]

It was written on a palm-sized memo, similar to what Mia intended to purchase. Mia softly smiled as she thought.

“It looks like Lian prepared this.”

She checked the items she hadn’t bought and walked the streets with a lively night market atmosphere. After wandering around for a while, her shopping was done. Just as she was about to return without much thought…

Thud, thump!

A large-built ogre dragged a cart and settled in one corner. When he put down the handle on the ground, it made a sound like a rock being thrown.

“Heh, selling fresh vegetables!”

Without unfolding the stall, he began his business right away. He was selling fresh vegetables. Since it was a place frequented by creatures like ogres and dark wizards, many sold terrifying items, but he also commonly sold such vegetables.

“Should I buy some on the way? What kind of dish should I make this time?”

She thought of the dish Lian would make and bought some vegetables unexpectedly. She smiled happily, just as she was about to turn around.

“Huh? The witch of the frost is cooking pussy?”

“…?”

A thick, high-pitched voice. It sounded uncomfortably like a man forcing a woman’s voice. A man with prominent cheekbones flashed triangular eyes and looked at Mia.

“Hmm, you cook well – … As expected of a prepared bride.”

“You talk nonsense so well.”

“It’s a joke. Just kidding.”

“Ugh…just go after you’ve seen what you need to see.”

“Aww, you’re too harsh on your friend.”

Surprisingly, Mia was on friendly terms with him. Given that there were significantly few normal humans among the dark wizards, this was enough for them to communicate.

“Well, I’m not that free either, so let’s part ways now.”

“…? Okay.”

Normally, a man who would have held on for at least 2 hours left with a cheerful smile, which raised questions, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

“I’m craving warm soup today.”

Mia was becoming a body that could no longer live without Lian, but she herself did not realize it.

***

“Hehehe…I never expected to get such a good item. I should hurry back and try it out.”

A thin body, prominent cheekbones, skinny hips, and bulging arms; this was the man who had just parted ways with Mia. He chuckled as he returned to his research lab.

Clang.

“Welcome back?”

“Yeah.”

As he arrived, those with shackles on their necks and ankles knelt with their heads bowed. They all had mottled skin as if their bodies were patched together, and surgical scars were distinct.

“The test subject?”

“It’s in a calm state.”

“Move it to the experiment table.”

“Yes.”

He hummed a tune as he leisurely headed towards the laboratory. A beautiful girl with a terrified face was tied to a pale, rigid table.

“Wow…truly beautiful.”

When he smiled, the skin above his cheekbones sparkled and shone. The girl, with her arms and legs bound, seemed to want to say something, but only a wheezing sound came out, as if she were swallowing her breath.

“Would have been nice if her voice was beautiful too. Well, it doesn’t matter, as long as it becomes ‘Master Dovan’s’ masterpiece.”

He brought the trolley, laughing eerily.

“Don’t worry. Today, I’m just here to check. I need to cut away the flaws, you see.”

Grabbing Dovan’s disheveled white hair, he chuckled.

“Oh, so soft. There’s really no need to peel the scalp off.”

Dovan lightly waved a sharp dagger in the air from the trolley.

“Now, let’s see how beautiful your blood is.”

The girl’s eyes trembled in terror.

***

“Sigh…”

I sighed and took a bite of bread. As I chewed slowly, Lily, who was sitting next to me, spoke up.

“What’s wrong, oppa?”

“Huh…? Nothing… What’s wrong…”

I couldn’t just brush off the fact that the original had been twisted about 170 degrees, so I mumbled with a disappointed expression.

“Are you… really okay?”

Noah’s gaze turned to my face. I quickly felt my face.

“Oh, the sweat I dripped earlier is still there, isn’t it? Or is it still dripping?”

With the thought that the original had been twisted, cold sweat continued to flow endlessly. I could have wiped it off like a dog shaking off water, but I quickly wiped my face with my sleeve and said,

“Sorry, does it smell? I’ll be careful from now on.”

Noah looked like he had a lot to say, then closed his mouth. At that moment, a red-haired person rushed over to my side.

“Jyun-nim, where does it hurt?”

“Huh?”

Why is he talking about pain now?

I couldn’t understand the situation, and my face twitched. Then Jess hung onto my leg, looking upset.

“Jyu-nim looks like she’s in pain.”

“No, I’m not in pain at all.”

“Jyu-nim, you’re doing something scary.”

“Something scary?”

In an instant, the restaurant, which had been filled with the sounds of eating, fell silent.

“Jyu-nim, are you causing this much pain?”

Jess ran her ear along my stomach. It was then that I realized Jess was talking about an “experiment.”