Chapter Index

    000

    The base of the organization Astaroth was hidden in a place unknown to anyone, but since they could use magical power to pass through a dimensional gate connected to any back alley at any time, they had no problem procuring manpower or carrying out behind-the-scenes operations.

    Under such circumstances, resistance from the human side has intensified recently, and they are currently losing their cover bases one by one in the back alleys.

    Even so, Ishtar did not show any particular reaction, and recently, she has been increasing her power by processing the humans she has captured and turned into women once more.

    “────!!!”

    The victim, with her limbs immobilized, thrashes as she feels the succubus’s tentacle passing through her ear and penetrating her brain.

    She wants to scream but cannot, and she is merely mentally dying as she feels her entire body being rapidly remodeled.

    The remodeling, accompanied by powerful pleasure substances, ends with a slurping sound as the tentacle is pulled out of the ear it entered.

    The incubi watch the woman, who is shedding her liquefied humanity from her eyes, nose, mouth… and places too gruesome to look at, while giggling unpleasantly.

    And as the final process, they implant a black crystal magic orb, created by mixing the magic power of the contractor Ishtar and the high-ranking succubus Lilim, into her body.

    Drawing a magic circle near her navel and bringing the orb, the orb slowly synchronizes with the magic circle and seeps into the body of the woman who has lost her humanity.

    A spark of black magic crackles, and a forced subjugation contract is established.

    The magic circle distorts in shape, transforming into an imprint that grants powerful pleasure to the host when performing certain actions, also known as vulvar stimulation.

    Then, the orb spreads something like shiny black rubber throughout the body, covering the entire body except for the head.

    From the outside, it looked like something with a physical form, but when viewed through magic vision, it could be seen that it was all armor made of dark black magic.

    However, because humanity was removed from the host who should control and shape it, it only appeared in the form of a simple full-body leotard without individuality or distinction.

    The humanity extracted from her body is not discarded as is, but is collected in one place through a waterway laid under the workbench.

    As if even that can be used as a material for something.

    Ishtar muttered while slowly following the series of murder processes that were carried out like a task.

    “The preparations here are almost complete…. All that’s left is to capture a blossoming human… Remilia, can I leave it to you?”

    Remilia, who was equipping the women who had become succubus pawns with weapons and issuing standby orders, turned to Ishtar with a slightly uncomfortable expression and nodded.

    “Of course. …But, are they really going to be freed later?”

    “That’s why we’re collecting their humanity without discarding it.”

    When Ishtar answers Remilia, who seems to be worried about the women’s safety, she nods as if she understands.

    At that moment-

    A dimensional gate opens towards the process room, and another demon appears.

    As soon as Ishtar confirms that the dimensional gate is opening, she snaps her fingers, concealing most of the process room in darkness.

    At the same time, Lilim passes through the dimensional gate, lands on the ground, and looks at Ishtar.

    “…Ishtar. That person. The magic power, it’s moving away.”

    “Cleon? If it’s Cleon, she must have left the royal capital. I heard it from that human, so I’m sure.”

    “… …”

    “You were asleep making black crystals, so you didn’t know. Well. She’ll be back soon. Until then, we’ll prepare-”

    “Lady Cleon…”

    In the next moment, Lilim passes through the dimensional gate again and disappears.

    Moreover, it could even be felt that her magic power was gradually moving away from the royal capital.

    Ishtar, flustered, sends her a telepathic message.

    [Hey, Lilim!? Where are you going! Now is the perfect opportunity to obtain the perfect decision!]

    [Ishtar. I’ll leave it to you. …Right now, that person is. More important… I have a bad. Feeling.]

    [A bad feeling…!? Wait, if you go any further-]

    In the end, Lilim disappears, leaving the area.

    Ishtar, dumbfounded, looks up at the sky and sighs.

    “…Lady Lilim is-”

    “…It can’t be helped. Let’s just do it ourselves for now. While Cleon is away, it’s the perfect opportunity to capture her…”

    “Are you sure?”

    Ishtar makes a sound, `hmm…` and twists the corners of her lips.

    “No problem. It’s more my style to do it without her.”

    Once again, the lights in the process room return.

    The sight of countless victims facing human death and being remodeled into demons’ underlings was hell itself on earth.

    001

    The underground staircase of the Crystal Tower did not have its entrance blocked, but as one went down, a dense fog of magic power spread out, and it could be seen that humans who did not have the means to resist it would lose their reason and wander around the stairs until they lost their lives.

    If Ryla explains that this is not a security aspect created to prevent going underground, but a phenomenon that occurred because it was built close to the spiritual nexus, what was Triss trying to do researching in such a place?

    Moreover, the scenery above ground. No matter what kind of experiment is done with the current technology, something similar to this cannot be created.

    When the group carefully goes down to the very bottom of the stairs, the entrance is the opposite of the fantastic and nature-friendly village on the ground.

    It was inorganic and covered with steel and machinery, and the entrance was frosted over, as if cooled by something, and felt only cold.

    “…This is, Triss’s laboratory…”

    Ryla swallows and places her hand on the door of the laboratory, with the magic power of flames in her hand.

    Then, heat is generated, slowly melting the frost and revealing the whole picture of the barrier blocking the entrance.

    “Is this… glass?”

    The entrance, where the frost has completely disappeared, is made of a translucent material, and the other side can be faintly seen.

    Judging from the lights visible, it can be seen that the power inside is still alive.

    “No, I don’t think it’s glass. It seems to be stronger… More than that, there’s no do-tool, such as a handle, to get inside….”

    While Ryla was looking around for a way to get inside, her heat wiped away all the cold air-

    [Detection of the neutralization of the cooling protection device. In addition, detection of the magic power reaction of the test subject.]

    The voice that suddenly rang out petrified the group.

    [Do not be alarmed. I am the artificial spirit in charge of managing this laboratory. My assigned identification name is `Mercury.` The roles I possess are librarian, guide, assistant, and guardian.]

    Ryla, who confirmed that the voice was coming from there, as a faint ball of light appeared, shines her eyes once more.

    “Artificial spirit…! And the type with such natural language ability is extremely rare…!”

    As Quon grabs her as if she is about to capture it right away, Cleon turns his head towards the light.

    “Mercury… you said. I’m Cleon. I came to find traces of Triss Megistus inside this laboratory.”

    [Identification of individual name Cleon confirmed. …Database. Present. Welcome, future visitor. You have been granted Type 2 browsing privileges. If you present the information you wish to view, I will begin the guidance.]

    “Cleon has authority…?”

    “What’s going on?”

    The group asks while looking at Cleon, but Cleon also simply shakes his head as she has no idea.

    “I want to view information related to the Hero Resia. I already know that she had an exchange with Triss Megistus.”

    [Resia. …Search completed. The corresponding information requires Type 1 browsing privileges.]

    “…So it’s not possible?”

    When Cleon asks that question, the spirit of light twinkles as if affirming it.

    Cleon sighs and ponders what to do, but Ryla creates flames at her fingertips.

    “I don’t intend to just go back with a `no` after coming all this way.”

    “Ryla, Ryla-san, you mustn’t act too violently….”

    Whether it was because it detected the rising magic power, or whether it had been planning to do so from the beginning. Mercury moves as if dancing in the air, then stops once more in front of Cleon.

    [Offer a method to the visitor: Execute the promotion of browsing privileges.]

    “Is it possible?”

    [Affirmative. The visitor’s browsing privileges can be readjusted by me, `Mercury.` However, the assistance of the visitor in question is required for that.]

    “You’re saying that I can upgrade my browsing privileges on the condition that I help you….”

    “…I heard that there are monsters inside.”

    When Aruru says that, Mercury hovers in the air for a while before answering.

    [All the living beings freely roaming within the laboratory are under the management of the facility. If you receive my guidance, you can avoid them and reach your destination.]

    “…I understand. I’ll grant your request. What do I have to do?”

    [Confirmation. Follow this entity.]

    Upon hearing Cleon’s answer, Mercury disappears once and the laboratory door slowly begins to open as if it had been waiting.

    Due to the different temperatures outside and inside, a small whirlwind-like thing occurs, but it soon subsides.

    Mercury, who had hidden its appearance, reappears in front of the group.

    [Come inside. Welcome.]

    The scenery visible beyond the open door was mechanical and dark, just like the entrance.

    A few lights twinkle from the ceiling, but basically, it seemed that the lights only come on when someone passes by.

    While walking quietly through such a passage, Sasha came close to Cleon and opened her mouth as if recalling what happened before.

    “Somehow. It feels similar to the place that was in the basement of the academy.”

    “…That’s right. That place was dangerous because it felt like a maze and had a lot of guardians. But if `Mercury` guides us here, it should be okay, right?”

    [That’s right. It seems that you have also explored ruins in this place and other places. Was there an artificial spirit like me in those places?]

    Cleon and Sasha fell silent at Mercury’s words.

    […Judging from that reaction, it doesn’t seem so…. I see. So, are there no more spirits like me left in this world?]

    Mercury fell silent for a moment at Ryla’s answer.

    “Are you looking for your kin?”

    [It’s different from searching. In the past, it was possible to communicate with artificial spirits prepared in facilities or ruins far away through the spiritual nexus…. However, such connections were all severed as the world you call the Primordial World met its demise. It’s just, survival confirmation.]

    Mercury answered Cleon’s question with an emotionless and mechanical voice.

    However, it would not be a figment of one’s imagination that it felt like there was a bit of loneliness mixed in somewhere.

    “What were you researching in this laboratory?”

    When Amelia asks that question, Mercury turns to Amelia for a moment.

    [Confirmation that the relevant information can be disclosed…. This laboratory was a place where Triss Megistus was researching biotechnology. We were doing research to modify existing life forms by adding new characteristics.]

    “…It doesn’t sound like a very pleasant study just from hearing the story.”

    When Aruru answered that way, Mercury fell silent for a moment and spoke again.

    [It was a study out of necessity. Triss Megistus recorded that. In fact, this research was being conducted just before the Primordial World was about to meet its demise. The research results completed in the process are even continuing into the Primordial World.]

    “What kind of research was it-”

    [An artificial life form that adapts through magic power and transforms and strengthens its body. In addition, it is a life form that can appear from nothing based on conditions by mixing genetic information into the spiritual nexus.]

    When Sasha tilted her head as if his explanation was difficult, Ryla pondered for a moment, then suddenly came to her senses and had a surprised face.

    “…That’s a monster.”

    [In the current era, that race name is also called that.]

    The group could only shut their mouths at Ryla’s pointed question.

    It was known that monsters were generated through various causes such as human death, contamination by black magic, or runaway natural forces, but fundamentally, it was not known why such things occurred.

    Most of them are hostile to humans, and even now, the land dominated by monsters is not a place where humans can easily set foot.

    “Wait. So, monsters were made by Triss Megistus?”

    [It’s not just monsters. Rather, monsters are merely byproducts created in the middle of what Triss Megistus was aiming for.]

    The group’s expressions only darkened more and more at Mercury’s explanation.

    Even the weakest individuals such as slimes or goblins are formidable opponents for humans who have not received combat training.

    They also caused damage by ruining crops or attacking livestock.

    If there are no other enemies for mankind, then one of the most troublesome enemies is naturally `monsters.`

    [Because monsters are born from the spiritual nexus, they naturally contain a large amount of magic power, and when humans face monsters and eliminate them, the magic power of the spiritual nexus that the monsters contain spreads around them. It strengthens the human body and abilities.]

    “…That’s right. It has already been proven magically that the growth of adventurers and soldiers who fight and defeat monsters is accelerated.”

    [Triss Megistus thought that humanity would continue even after the end of the Primordial World. Therefore, he prepared monsters so that humanity could grow in preparation for enemies so great that humanity could not resist.]

    Enemies so great that they could be called preparing monsters.

    Cleon pondered for a moment-

    “…Demons?”

    [You could say that. Anyway, they are also beings from beyond another dimension that Triss Megistus was wary of.]

    “I see. There were no demons in the Primordial World because there was no Demiurge.”

    When Aruru nodded as if understanding, Ryla continued to speak.

    “However, if it’s a being from another dimension, it was the direct cause of the destruction in the Primordial World.”

    “…Resia.”

    […That’s right. It’s fun talking to you guys. If you tell me information, I can sequentially guess and reach a conclusion based on the information I have.]

    “…Fun? Do artificial spirits also feel emotions?”

    The artificial spirits that Ryla had previously confirmed in documents and other materials did not have emotions, and there was a technology that they were similar to machines.

    [We do not feel direct emotions. However, we are designed to experience `pleasure` when academic achievements are obtained by Triss Megistus.]

    “… …”

    “O-Okay….”

    For some reason, the group fell silent once again at Mercury’s answer, which made them feel a little chilly.

    As they walked down the hallway again in silence, Cleon, who was feeling a little bored from seeing the same scenery over and over again, opened her mouth.

    “…So, how far do we have to go?”

    [It’s almost here. It’s here.]

    The room that Mercury brought the group into was truly a place that could be called the very center of the laboratory, with several huge machines placed in it.

    In the center, a giant sphere was surrounded by several metal hoops and was constantly rotating while receiving magic power.

    Around it, the illusions of the deployed formulas continue to display the state of the sphere.

    “…Is this the core of this laboratory….”

    [… ..]

    When Cleon asks that question, Mercury does not answer and heads towards a huge iron `coffin` in the corner of the room, and then disappears.

    “…Wait, Mercury?”

    “Don’t tell me, it wasn’t deceiving us….”

    When Cleon and Ryla reacted that way, they could see something like magic power flowing into the iron coffin through a tube connected to it.

    And-

    “Deceiving? Unthinkable.”

    The tone of voice that had been heard until just now, but unlike the emotionless and gender-neutral voice, a voice that felt completely feminine was heard from inside the iron coffin.

    Soon, with a `pshew-` sound, the door of the iron coffin opened, and a cold white fog spread out from inside.

    As one thought that something moving inside was revealing its appearance as footsteps were heard-

    “An elf!?”

    It was Quon who raised his voice.

    There, a tall, silver-haired woman with long ears was standing naked.

    The color of her eyes was the same silver as her hair. However, like the homunculi, the characteristic was that they did not have light dwelling within them.

    Her body boasted a beautiful S-line figure with an overall golden ratio that was neither excessive nor insufficient.

    And, her face was a shape with clear features, jade-like skin, and a prominent high nose.

    Perhaps it was because she had the appearance of an elf itself, which now only remains in records, Cleon and the group were naturally captivated by her body, which exuded a seductive figure despite the fact that there was no magical interference.

    She covered parts such as her nipples with her hair, but with her lower half completely exposed, she looked at the group with one hand on her hip.

    “Why is an elf in the laboratory…”

    Amelia was also flustered by seeing an elf, who had now completely disappeared, and muttered.

    “Calm down. This is an artificial body of type E.”

    A calm voice and a stiff tone.

    Cleon, hearing her words, asks back with a slightly incredulous expression.

    “That tone… is that Mercury?”

    “That’s right. I thought this body was necessary for the work I have to do in the future, so I possessed it. What do you think, Cleon? Do you find this body attractive?”

    Mercury said that and rotated her body once in front of the group.

    When the silver hair sparkled and scattered, Cleon felt strange but nodded in affirmation.

    “…Why that form?”

    “Humans tend to use elves as the standard of beauty for some reason. Perhaps, this kind of body is `beautiful.` Beautiful individuals occupy a favorable position in `reproductive activities.`”

    Ryla nods at her words.

    “It’s true that elves have a lot of handsome and beautiful people- no, wait a minute. What did you say? Reproductive activities?”

    All of the women in the group become stiff. Except for Amelia.

    “Cleon. I request an analysis of your genetic information, which has the modern archetype B body. Therefore, the substance with the most concentrated genetic information of you on the analytical subject for that-”

    Saying that, she takes a step forward.

    Perhaps because her legs are long, she approached Cleon’s body with just that one step and reached out her hand, and the `Mercury Elf’s` hand touched Cleon’s chin.

    “I demand semen. That will bring us academic progress. This also corresponds to the observation of the progress of the biotechnology we are aiming for. We promise to raise your browsing privileges by cooperating with us.”

    “… …”

    Cleon looked at the Mercury Elf who was saying that, then turned her head towards the cold and sharp aura felt from behind.

    “Oh~ That’s great! Cleon. The method isn’t that difficult.”

    “…Cleon-san. I, I’m okay with that.”

    “Wait, you two…! Magic power is flowing out….”

    “It seems like Quon is the same. Oh, don’t worry about this Arondight. I just wanted to take it out, so I took it out.”

    “… …What’s going on?”

    “I feel the emotion of `jealousy` from them. Cleon. What are you going to do?”

    “…Don’t ask me.”

    Cleon sighed and began to take off the armor she was wearing.

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