episode_0089

000

An old school building area located on the outskirts of the academy, not frequented by people.

It is said that a large-scale magic experiment that took place here about 30 years ago caused widespread two-dimensional magical contamination.

Therefore, the academy closed all the surrounding buildings that were even slightly affected by the experiment and erected barriers to keep people away, preventing students from approaching.

However, the outermost buildings in that range, close to the boundary of the area, were either barely affected by the experiment, or the contamination has now been almost eliminated by natural regeneration.

However, perhaps it was judged inefficient to reuse this place as a classroom now, as the facilities have deteriorated and are far from other buildings.

The buildings in the old school building area were still weathering away with the passage of time, standing on the deserted land and fading away.

Until a week ago, when two students and one temporary teacher who escaped the labyrinth began using this place as their base.

The homunculus girl, laden with luggage in both hands, follows Kleon along a forest path filled with bushes.

One might wonder, “Why is there a forest on the academy grounds?” But this forest was an artificial camouflage created to eliminate the sense of incongruity of the barrier that keeps people away.

A large army of trees, rapidly grown in a short period of time by magic, had obscured the path that once existed here.

The only people who would willingly walk through such a forest would be those with a fairly nature-loving personality, or boys and girls who enjoy going astray.

Looking down at the land overgrown with weeds, the path that was once cultivated by people was faintly visible.

Inis, who reunited with Kleon by chance in that toolbox, was heading to the old school building area with Kleon.

To hear Kleon’s answer to Inis’s question about where he had been and what he had been doing for the past week.

Though one hand was still holding a bag full of items purchased at the request of Kuon and Layla.

For her, a homunculus, that amount of luggage was only light.

“Shall I carry one side?”

When Kleon said that as they started down the path, entrusting him with one of the two bags she originally had was an expression of her instinct to want to be spoiled by him.

Although it had only been a week since they had last met, Kleon’s existence, so strongly connected to her—a homunculus who is an artificially created and unstable being, like a creator—was necessary for her peace of mind.

After walking through the dark forest path for about five minutes, the section inhabited by the army of trees suddenly ends, leading to a space completely filled with artificial objects.

Statues commemorating past luminaries were lined up along the path, and at the end of the path, a massive building that students of the past had frequented was visible.

Each one was even larger than the buildings used by the current three major departments, and according to the map drawn at the entrance, there were four of them.

Each building was connected by passageways, forming a giant rhombus shape when viewed from above.

The sight was remarkable even to Inis, who had inherited knowledge from Layla and had a level of knowledge about the academy beyond that of an average person.

It was unknown what department this building was operated by in the past, but it was clear that its scale was enormous.

However, only the building closest to the forest was free from the magical contamination caused by the experiment in which the accident occurred.

Kleon naturally entered the building, as if he had already figured out where each classroom was located.

He went up a floor along the stairs and threw open the door to the lounge that students who had studied in this building in the past had used.

Inside, there were desks from various classrooms that were no longer in use, as well as desks that were originally in the lounge.

And, by dragging in beds from the infirmary and various items from the faculty’s cloakroom.

A small, cluttered space was laid out, decorated to allow people to live there.

“Welcome back, senior?”

There, Beatrice, who was sitting on the sofa and drinking tea, turns her head and greets Kleon happily.

Then, naturally, her gaze turns to the homunculus Inis behind Kleon.

Looking at her, who somehow overlapped with Kleon’s impression, Tina paused for a moment before speaking.

“Is she your daughter!?”

“Yes, yes~! I’m Inis, Papa’s daughter~”

Watching Inis, who immediately utters words of affirmation to Beatrice’s conjecture and raises her hand, Kleon sighs and tells Tina.

“She’s a homunculus Layla made. I only helped with the production.”

“Ah, I see.”

Beatrice nods as if she understands, then gets up from the sofa to prepare teacups for the two.

On the table in front of the sofa were piled up cookies that seemed to have been baked not long ago.

She was using the building’s cooking room without permission, but all the ingredients were items that Kleon had obtained from outside during the past week.

“How’s your condition?”

Kleon asks Beatrice, sounding concerned, and Beatrice nods and lightly moves her body to show that she’s okay.

After giving the Demiourgos’s factors to Riomes and Kleon, Beatrice had been asleep for three days straight.

The damage to her soul caused by the soul capture had been filled in by Kleon and Riomes, but the fatigue accumulated in her body, and the mental release of having told someone the secret she had barely been hiding, seemed to be taking the rest she had lacked all at once.

As soon as Beatrice woke up, she did so based on the stories she heard from the two, who had grasped the situation of the academy while she was asleep.

It was to organize the things they had to do to resolve the situation and establish a plan for it.

Riomes said she had something else to do, so she was moving on her own, but both Beatrice and Kleon thought that was fine for Riomes.

In her case, if she did something unexpected, it often resulted in something good for the two of them.

“So, Papa. Why has everyone become so strange? Not only Master, but even Kuon and Sasha have forgotten Papa…”

Inis asks Kleon about the question she couldn’t bear to ask as she came here.

Then Kleon looks at Inis for a moment before slowly opening his mouth to answer the question.

About Demiourgos.

What happened to the Execution Department.

And, the intervention of the Black Scripture.

Inis listens to the story and pauses for a moment before speaking.

“So, was I able to escape the Demiourgos’s mental alteration because I wasn’t human?”

“As a result, that’s right. Demiourgos’s power is said to be limited to humans, so it doesn’t work on creatures other than humans. Isn’t that right, Bea?”

“Yes. Demiourgos are demons whose origin is `to dominate and conquer humans,` so their power doesn’t work on creatures other than humans.”

Inis nods as if she understands Beatrice’s answer.

“Hey, Papa. Can’t we go back to Master’s mansion together like this? Everyone might remember if they see Papa’s face, right?”

“Unfortunately, that’s unlikely. No, it’s better to say there’s no chance. In fact, everyone who knew me seemed to think of me as a remnant of the Execution Department.”

Beatrice’s face becomes slightly dark as she adds her opinion to Kleon’s words.

“Demiourgos are demons that distort people’s minds and sow seeds of doubt to create discord. So, their brainwashing power is so strong that it can’t be undone by any existing magic.”

Inis could only close her mouth at that story.

“But this proves it. The fact that Inis wasn’t affected by the Demiourgos means that Galatea wouldn’t have been brainwashed either.”

“Galatea… Are you talking about that green-haired girl, Papa’s magic sword?”

Looking at Inis, whose tone becomes slightly sarcastic only about Galatea for some reason, Kleon nods.

“How is she doing? The connection has been completely cut off since a week ago, so I can’t know the situation…”

“Galatea is being protected inside the barrier that Master spread to surround the room. It’s such a strong barrier that even Master, the caster, can’t undo it.”

Kleon’s eyes widen slightly at that story, then nods as if he understands.

“…I see, Layla.”

“Why did Layla cast the barrier?”

Kleon answers Beatrice’s question.

“Probably to protect her from Reil. Reil must know that I’m a magic swordsman, so she must have been worried that I would look for Galatea in order to completely neutralize me.”

But thanks to the barrier Layla cast, Galatea is safe. Kleon had even assumed the worst-case scenario, but thanks to that, he could breathe a sigh of relief and be at ease for the time being.

“…Papa, does that mean you can’t go back to the mansion until this is over?”

“…I guess so. It looks like joining everyone will be a little later.”

Kleon answers with a look of regret to Inis’s sad voice and puts his hand on her head.

Beatrice thought as she watched that scene that it was like a father comforting his daughter.

“But, the thing Papa is trying to do is fight those people from the Black Scripture who brainwashed everyone, right? Then… Doesn’t that mean you’ll be turning everyone in the academy into enemies?”

The students from the Department of Holy Studies who were his disciples, and even the top students who had joined forces with him for a short time.

And, all the instructors, teachers, and all the students affected by the Demiourgos, except for him, will stand in Kleon’s way.

“Yes… That’s right. But, it’s something we have to do.”

Beatrice also answers, clenching her fist tightly, as if she is most concerned about that part.

This battle is a lonely war.

It was truly the worst battle, where they had to clash swords with former colleagues and friends.

“Is it okay…!? There are so many of them on the other side, but there are only four of us on this side, even if you include me…!”

Homunculi are beings who prioritize rational thought.

Comparing the two camps, which cannot be matched by simple force comparison, she couldn’t stop worrying about Kleon.

“Four people including Inis… Are you going to fight together?”

When Kleon heard Inis’s words and answered, Inis lowered her head and muttered.

“Well, of course… I like seeing Papa and Master getting along…”

Beatrice looks at Inis and speaks.

“I feel the same way.”

Beatrice’s eyes meet with Inis, who raises her head.

“I will also do my best to get back the scene where senior is with Layla. So, please rest assured.”

“Bearing…”

“…Bearing?”

Inis, who had given Beatrice a nickname at some point, lets out a slightly moved voice, although her face was still expressionless.

“Also, the situation isn’t that desperate. The Demiourgos’s brainwashing is certainly threatening, but they can’t do anything to us with brainwashing alone.”

Beatrice nods at Kleon’s words.

“If their power was truly absolute, the heroes of the past wouldn’t have been able to defeat them. Even if our minds are altered over and over again, there is definitely a way.”

“Okay, if there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me.”

Inis nods, placing her hand on her chest.

Kleon smiles at her and continues to speak.

“Also, the four of us aren’t the end. There’s one more reliable comrade.”

“Huh…? But, all the humans inside the academy have been brainwashed, right?”

Kleon nods at Inis’s question.

“We can start in earnest when the person senior mentioned comes. There are many things we have to do, though.”

“The recapture of Ariadne. Finding Reil’s location. Finding a way to undo the brainwashing, and neutralizing the Black Scripture…. Is that right? It’s a mountain of work.”

Inis couldn’t grasp the identity of the `reliable comrade` and `that person` that Kleon and Beatrice were talking about at all.

At that time-

The sound of the clock tower ringing to announce the time echoes from outside.

It was already past lunchtime, and it was the time when the sunset was coming down.

As soon as Inis heard the sound, she jumped up from the sofa.

“It’s dangerous! I have to finish the laundry, cleaning, and dinner preparations!”

“Then, you should go back quickly. Take care of everyone while I’m gone, Inis.”

Looking at Kleon, who said that to her, Inis nods greatly.

001

After Inis returned, Kleon hugged Beatrice.

Since the connection of their souls would gradually fade over time, it was necessary to periodically mix bodies with her once a day to replenish the connection of their souls again.

It was an act that could easily turn into a chore, but each time they got to know each other’s bodies better.

Following Riomes’s advice to be able to do acts of different tastes each time, Beatrice was shattered in Kleon’s arms today until she collapsed from exhaustion.

She felt like soaking in the bathtub just like her heart wanted, but unfortunately, there was no bathroom in the old school building.

Reluctantly, she moved to the shower room and cleansed her body, washing away the heat of pleasure that had covered her body.

They almost started the act again after seeing each other’s bodies in the middle of it.

Perhaps it was because they felt that mixing bodies all the time, no matter how good the sex was, was too lacking in self-control.

They calmed their minds by pouring cold water on themselves and left the shower room behind.

The old school building, covered in the darkness of the night, had to rely only on the moonlight coming in from the windows when walking down the long corridor because they did not use magic lamps.

It would have been nice to bring a magic lantern, but they were careful not to emit light at night as much as possible, in case someone saw the light.

As they were walking in an awkward silence, they felt a presence in the darkness beyond the corridor, where the moonlight didn’t reach.

“…Riomes?”

Kleon calls out the name of the person who could be here besides them.

But it wasn’t her who responded to that voice and approached them.

A body made of steel. A form that imitates a human. Both arms have vicious blades.

It slowly approaches Kleon and Beatrice with its reverse-jointed legs.

“Automaton!?”

A mechanical doll infused with a pseudo-soul created by alchemy, automatically repeating and executing predetermined commands.

Because it would commit murder without hesitation if ordered to, its production was prohibited in the kingdom due to ethical issues.

The figure, covered in black steel all over, quickly approached Kleon and Beatrice with its eyes shining red and pounced on them.

Kleon hugs Beatrice and leaps back greatly.

He clicks his tongue inwardly, feeling that he had been careless, and resents himself for leaving his teacher’s sword in the rest area.

“Have we been found out?”

“No…! It’s probably a gas that the Black Scripture randomly scattered to find us. If he knew our location, other automatons would already be here…! But, we can’t let it go back!”

Feeling a little relieved at Beatrice’s words, Kleon turns his body to get out of the place, aiming to go back to the rest area and get his sword, but.

“What…!”

There, another machine of the same form as the automaton behind him was positioned behind his back.

“Kuh…!”

Kleon then remembers the fact that automatons were operated in pairs of two in order to repair each other and move even if one was destroyed.

Originally developed by alchemists to fight magicians, he couldn’t guarantee that his magic would work on them, who inherently have high magic resistance.

`What should I do… Even if I use binding magic, these guys’ physical specs will allow them to break free and pounce on me soon enough…`

After thinking for a moment, Kleon puts Beatrice down on the ground and chants a spell.

“…Flare Spike.”

The automatons, which were approaching Kleon from both sides, recognized the chanting of the spell and raised their magic resistance throughout their bodies.

Then, a layer of magic formed on the metal, literally repelling Kleon’s magic.

`It’s as expected…!`

However, the thick layer of magic and the powerful hardness slow down their movements.

One of the flare spike’s tentacles is repelled, but soon the next tentacle flies towards their bodies.

By eliminating the gap between the magic attack and the attack, he prevents them from moving.

If they were human, they would avoid this or aim for a chance to counterattack, but such a situation judgment is impossible for automatons who can only think mechanically.

Of course, this is also a method that can be used when there are few automatons. It is said that in the past wars, many magicians lost their lives because other automatons pushed these frozen automatons from behind as shields.

“Let’s go, Bea!”

“Yes, senior!”

At that moment, as they were about to pass by the frozen automaton.

[Magic absorption, critical value reached. Start discharge.]

“…What!?”

The moment Kleon was surprised and turned around at the voice heard from the automaton.

A powerful and pure surge of magic burst out from them, covering Kleon and Beatrice’s bodies.

“Kuh…!”

Kleon quickly protects Beatrice, but the impact felt on his back was beyond imagination.

Thanks to this, the flare spike is released and the automatons move again, heading towards Kleon.

“Senior! Are you okay!?”

“Kuh… Ah, these guys are properly modified…! Annoying!”

Kleon barely endures the pain and stands up, but if the same method doesn’t work, how-

As he was thinking that, the automaton swung the blade on its arm and quickly approached Kleon.

“Senior!”

Beatrice tries to support Kleon with other magic, but the automaton’s speed was even faster than that.

The next moment, a white flash flickers and the blade is swung.

However, that sword was not the automaton’s.

A pure white sword.

What flew through the window and pierced the automaton as it was, was the `holy sword` with a distinctive red jewel.

[Kleon!]

Kleon, who came to his senses at the voice calling him, grabs the holy sword.

And, it completely cuts down the automaton that it had pierced through.

“Perfect timing… Iona!”

The memory of the teacher’s sword flowing through his hand moves Kleon’s body.

It was the moment when the last member of the faction, aiming to overthrow the altered academy, arrived.