The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 53
“It can cover the entire mine as it is now.”
“Give me a precise figure.”
“There isn’t a specific range set.”
“Then set it now.”
Looking troubled, Aseph eventually gave Bea the answer she wanted. He provided an approximate figure and added a few words of concern.
“…And it forms a sphere centered on me. But I can’t adjust it delicately.”
“I see.”
If Aseph had been able to delicately control the property known as anti-magic power, he probably wouldn’t have ruined his ongoing research in the first place.
Bea glanced at the homunculus she had brought to the site. Initially, she had brought it to find magic stones similar to the ones used to create it, but it seemed like it could be used for another purpose.
The homunculus, a direct clone of Aseph, initially had a faint anti-magic power embedded in its body when first created. As it grew up, the anti-magic power strengthened.
If the anti-magic power increased with growth, how much area could the homunculus currently affect given its physical age?
Comparing the anti-magic power that increased with each growth phase of the homunculus and the area Aseph could currently cover, what would it amount to?
“……”
And how could that be utilized?
How could it be used?
“Bea.”
Following Aseph’s voice, she lifted her head, and he was wiping her face with a handkerchief.
“You’ll collapse at this rate.”
Blood stained the handkerchief. She hadn’t realized she was bleeding from her nose while deep in thought.
Bea took the handkerchief and wiped the blood herself.
“No. Don’t intervene. There’s another way.”
“Bea.”
Sensing that Aseph might oppose her plan, Bea emphasized once more.
“Stand back. Don’t step in.”
❖
Everyone who heard Bea’s newly conceived plan during the short period was skeptical. Especially after seeing the homunculus, which was central to the new plan, people were even more opposed.
“It’s tough, but this isn’t something to involve a child in.”
“This isn’t just any child.”
Bea removed the hood of the homunculus to show them, explaining it had anti-magic power similar to Aseph’s appearance.
When the child’s appearance, who had been quietly hooded until then, was revealed, everyone was startled.
Following Bea’s command, Aseph, who had been silently keeping his mouth shut, blushed deeply.
‘Could it be?’
‘I heard he was unmarried.’
A few who were confused looking back and forth between Aseph and the homunculus finally regained their senses and changed their demeanor to be more respectful.
“If it’s the Young Master… then it’s even more reason not to.”
“It’s a perilously dangerous plan.”
Bea tilted her head to the side in confusion.
“I’ve heard this is the shield of Vilkanos. The blood of the divine beast is said to be flowing in the guardians of Vilkanos. Are you saying you can’t trust that?”
No one could respond to that statement. Even Aseph Vilkanos himself remained silent next to her, so what could his following mages and alchemists say?
Eventually, as everyone awkwardly maintained silence, Bea picked up the homunculus.
“Let’s get it done then, prepare.”
“But, Ma… Madam! There’s—”
“Madam?”
Why were they suddenly addressing her in such a manner?
As Bea frowned, the pale-faced alchemist slapped his mouth with both hands.
“Y-Your Highness…?”
Tired, Bea ignored him as he continued to talk nonsense.
“Are we going to keep wasting time here?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Time is of the essence, so stop with the pointless talk.”
It was when Bea was about to move to the location she had previously mentioned.
“Bea.”
Having held back for so long, Aseph finally called out to Bea.
“No matter how I think about it… this doesn’t seem right. It’s too dangerous.”
“Weren’t you revered for using this ability?”
“It’s because it’s you who’s jumping into this that I can’t be bold.”
“…….”
“Bea, even if the plan itself is one thing, more than anything, I don’t want to see you and the child in danger.”
“You don’t want to see me in danger?”
“Of course.”
Bea stroked the head of the homunculus she was holding. Aseph, watching this, felt as if it was not the homunculus but his own head being caressed.
“Then there should be no problem. This is your replica.”
“What?”
“If you want me to be safe, it will happen.”
Aseph was left speechless by her appearance.
When Aseph had once asked the homunculus, it told him that Bea hated Aseph and the homunculus the most. How many nights had he agonized over that misunderstanding, desperately wanting to clear it up?
Yet, the way Bea’s hand gently and affectionately stroked the silver hair of the child…
Could it have been a hallucination? A misconception?
Normally, can one touch and trust someone they dislike in such a way?
As Aseph was lost in thought watching her tender gestures, Bea had already walked to the designated place with the homunculus, directing the mage.
“Full power.”
“Y, yes!”
The mage responded to Bea while glancing at Aseph for approval. With Aseph’s reluctant nod, all preparations were complete.
The plan was simple: to pour a magical explosion, heightened only in heat and destructive power, into one area, turning everything into dust.
It was a type of magic shunned by mages for its lack of finesse, and using it for rescue operations was unthinkable. It was essentially a death sentence.
However, with the properties of anti-magic on site, it wasn’t impossible for rescue operations. If there was Bea, who knew the coordinates of areas likely containing survivors, and the homunculus that could exclude just those areas from harm. There was no need for the time-consuming excavation work.
But everyone opposed it. It was an absurd plan, after all.
Only Bea and the homunculus thought it was possible.
No, surely Aseph Vilkanos must have also seen its feasibility.
Knowing this, why oppose it? Honestly, it was hard to understand.
“Master, why are we doing this?”
“……”
“I don’t understand why we need to go this far.”
The homunculus she created occasionally asked difficult questions. Was it because it was a direct clone of Aseph Vilkanos? They always seemed just a bit beyond Bea’s comprehension.
But indeed. Why was she doing this.
