The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 73
Aseph remained silent, unable to answer.
“There is no such thing as an unexpected event for Master. Even when doing just one thing, she calculates thoroughly. She isn’t someone who would proceed without knowing what that man might do.”
“You… in this regard, you really do take after me.”
Could it be that the butler and Ruslan thought this way when they look at Aseph? Homun’s feelings had a somewhat blind aspect. It was a different sense than simply looking at a mother figure.
Bea, too, had reacted with considerable astonishment. Contrary to what Homun had guessed, it seemed even for Bea, it was an unexpected event.
“If there truly were an unexpected exception in Master’s calculations, it would be the existence of you and me.”
It was unexpected that the child was facing this fact.
His plans to think positively had been brutally shattered, but this was the child’s way of accepting the present. It had to be acknowledged.
“Yes. I was mistaken. I’m sorry.”
Aseph sighed and gently stroked Homun’s head.
But still, perhaps this was alright.
It was because of what Homun had said.
If everything calculated and planned is the life Bea pursues, then an unexpected existence intruding might actually be special.
The relationship between the empire and Vilkanos. Himself, whose stance towards alchemists is more ambiguous than anyone, and Bea, an alchemist prejudged in the conventional sense. An unusual child born between them. People would only think of it as abnormal.
But upon reflection, such relationships were common. Random encounters, love, and unplanned children could all be summarized as such.
This child truly was Aseph and Bea’s child.
“You really do resemble Bea.”
Therefore, Aseph could only laugh helplessly at the current situation he couldn’t be optimistic about.
He had found commonalities between himself and Homun, and between Homun and Bea.
“I am a clone of yours. I cannot resemble Master.”
“Yes, you do resemble me. But your personality resembles Bea’s. And your manner of speaking. Your way of thinking. Even the way you express emotions.”
In the child’s stoic gaze, Aseph could see Bea.
“It’s said that the first child often resembles the father the most. And that child’s personality resembles the mother’s. Since you’re my child, you resemble me on the outside, and your personality resembles Bea’s.”
“That’s…”
Stumped by the biological improbability, Homun clamped his mouth shut.
“You are not my father. Because.”
The child was so flustered that he had to pause to gather his thoughts.
“I am an artificial being.”
“I was once called a descendant of beasts, what does it matter? If a son of Vilkanos can descend from a beast before, then this time, a son of Vilkanos could be an artificial being.”
“What do you mean, beast?”
“The ancestor of our family was a divine beast.”
“…”
The child looked skeptical, and Aseph laughed again.
“Then you mean, interbreeding?”
“Ah… I was worried that exact phrase would come from Bea when I confessed, but here I am hearing it from you.”
“Are you making a metaphor or an analogy?”
“No? I mean it literally. The divine beast, Vilkanos.”
Homun’s expression became blank. Yet, his eyes seemed to be filled with imagination. He knew it in his head but seemed to want to believe in the entertaining story deep down. It was fascinating that his inner thoughts were much more visible than Bea’s.
“Such a thing doesn’t exist. It’s probably just a mythical story needed while using a mutated giant wolf as a symbol.”
“You really are exactly like Bea.”
Aseph stroked Homun’s hair as he listened to his words.
Homun’s face turned red under the quiet touch.
“…It seems communication is impossible with you.”
Even with that cold remark, Aseph was reminded of Bea.
―Your Highness, it seems we are unable to communicate, Aseph.
This child knew he was a direct clone of Aseph. Biologically, he took after Aseph, so he should be more similar to himself than to Bea.
Aseph had always considered this Homun as the only link between him and Bea, who were on the brink of severance. Perhaps he had inwardly thought of the child as an excuse or a pretext to keep by his side.
Regardless of the child’s identity, since he resembled Vilkanos, he was perfect to use for that role.
But it wasn’t just that.
Only after finding both his and Bea’s traits in the child did Aseph truly accept Homun as his own child.
Realizing this, even if belatedly, filled Aseph with a sense of overwhelming emotion.
“Now, you should call me ‘Father’.”
“…”
Homun pressed his lips together in a straight line before glancing at Aseph. When Aseph nodded lightly, the child’s lips quivered.
He thought there was no expression, but that wasn’t the case.
With just a little time and close observation, one could fully sense those subtle emotional changes. It was something only the closest of families could do, even without watching each other for a long time.
“Go on, try it.”
“A-Ase… Fath…”
Homunculus blushed, unable to finish, his golden and amethyst eyes unable to find focus, wavering. This was the expression Bea would make every time Aseph courted her.
His awkwardness was so much like Bea’s.
Thus, Aseph couldn’t help but love him.
Aseph slowly stroked the child’s hair. The child frowned, but also did not push him away, and if pushed a bit further, would just stop whatever he was doing and let Aseph touch him as he pleased.
“I want to get along well with you. It might not be as much as living with Bea, but I will make an effort so you can love this place enough. You will grow up in Vilkanos without lacking anything, as my successor.”
