The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 22
“…….”
However, Bea’s mind kept churning. Her calculations were torturous and sluggish.
Despite her reluctance to kill, rationalizing it as an emotional decision, Bea wasn’t the kind of person to recognize such sentiments. Her mind, seldom prone to indecision, eventually reached a conclusion.
Raise it as an assistant.
Or perhaps, use it as a test subject.
Despite reaching such a foolish, un-alchemical conclusion, Bea felt a sense of calm.
❖
That was half a year ago.
When she started trying to raise the ‘failure’ to use it efficiently.
In fact, Bea had put considerable effort into properly utilizing the ‘failure’. Since it possessed adult-level intelligence, she thought it sufficient to grow its body. It could be used as a test subject afterward.
But she was mistaken.
For some reason, the body was completely unresponsive to magical reactions. It was a problem of magical resistance, indicating that not just alchemy, but magic itself would be ineffective.
‘Anti-magic properties. Can it be removed?’
The answer, though challenging, was yes.
Somehow, she managed to grow the homunculus into the appearance of a seven-year-old child, condensing seven years of growth into just half a year. But that was the limit.
As the body grew, so did its innate anti-magic properties, making further changes impossible.
In short, the body was unfit for use as a test subject.
Moreover, during the time she raised this homunculus, alchemical materials often inexplicably deteriorated. The protective barriers meant to conceal her presence kept breaking.
Bea had experienced such phenomena before.
The disruption of her base’s barrier, the deterioration of alchemical materials, the lack of progress in her human transmutation research.
Perhaps the very birth of this homunculus in such a form was a result of these disturbances.
Initially, she thought the resemblance to her old acquaintance was coincidental, a result of the failed transmutation.
But as the homunculus grew, the similarities became more apparent.
To Aseph.
Aseph. The one she had thought to claim compensation from.
The losses were too great – time, invaluable alchemical materials, and the mental effort expended in raising the homunculus.
And so, Bea came here.
She had expected it to be a long search, but it didn’t take as long as she anticipated.
His features were distinctive, and inquiring about someone with such an appearance almost invariably pointed to the vast mountain ranges of the imperial borderlands.
Beyond those mountains lay the prosperous land of Vilkanos.
Legend in Vilkanos told of a divine beast with such features, and that this legendary creature reincarnated as a human named Aseph.
His name was Aseph Vilkanos.
The guardian of the rich land beyond the mountains, Vilkanos.
He was the master of the Duchy of Vilkanos and a war hero of the Empire of Frieblanda.
The owner of this palatial mansion.
Bea hadn’t anticipated his status. At first, she thought she had come to the wrong place, but upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely illogical. Bea quickly accepted it.
‘The strongest ally of the Empire.’
The Empire of Frieblenda was a nation of mages, a gathering of those who looked down on alchemists. And he was an ally of that empire.
Therefore, Bea had braced herself for rejection. But surprisingly, the situation was quite unexpected.
Led into the drawing room, Bea was treated not only to fine tea but also to an abundance of snacks for the homunculus, which still looked like a child.
Bea frowned, trying to make sense of the situation, while the homunculus, seemingly oblivious to her dilemma, fidgeted next to her, eyeing the plate of sweets. Its round eyes blinked a couple of times before turning to Bea.
“Master, may I have some cookie?”
Before Bea could respond, old servants nearby pinched each other’s arms and whispered, unable to hide their smiles. The homunculus seemed quite endearing to them.
Indeed. Though its appearance was unintended, it was remarkably striking.
“…They must have been set out to eat.”
“What if they refuse to compensate us? Should we pilfer as many cookies as we can?”
“…….”
Bea glanced at the homunculus with a roll of her eyes.
She never taught it such things. Yet occasionally, this creature came up with bizarre ideas.
The homunculus’s eyes sparkled as it grabbed a cookie. It started eating with earnest, holding a cookie bigger than an adult man’s fist in both hands, but it struggled to finish due to its small mouth.
Bea briefly watched the homunculus before averting her gaze, but everyone else in the room continued to observe it neatly eating the cookie without dropping a single crumb.
As the wait prolonged, an elderly butler stepped forward and spoke.
“Are you perhaps Zephyr?”
“….Yes.”
Bea was sipping her tea indifferently when he spoke.
“The Zephyr who built the windmills of the West.”
Bea set her teacup down, surprised.
How did he know?
