“… If vampires lose their strength, do they even become young?”
Alice Blesbuck smiled at my question.
“Ah, it can be. The person in the picture is not Natalia Milited. No, to be precise, Natalia Milited is right, but not her body.”
After uttering a meaningful word, her lips drew a deeper arc once more.
“It’s a homunculus body that I and Lyle put a lot of effort into.”
When she finished speaking, she licked her slightly dry lips with her tongue.
Its fangs, sharper than a normal person’s, gleamed slightly, revealing itself.
“But the spirit belongs entirely to Natalia Milited.”
“That word… .”
“The Materialization, Transplantation, and Settlement of the Soul.”
she said in a calm voice.
“It was dismissed as just a story of a delusion. and… The two of us finally succeeded in that.”
Although extremely restrictive conditions must be met.
After adding that, Alice Blesbuck began to explain why.
“First of all, the person who has the genetic information of the recipient… At least, you need the blood and magical powers of your immediate family, such as your parents and children, or your brothers and sisters. That too a lot. It’s a role that confuses the soul by tying it up so that the soul doesn’t escape during the work, but an ordinary person pulls it out and dies over and over again.”
“Oh, yes.”
“In addition, the physical ability of the person being treated must be excellent enough to withstand the procedure, but I guarantee that there are only three people who meet even this second condition. In addition to the preceding conditions, it can be seen that there is almost no. And most importantly… .”
“professor.”
Cass Lyle, who had been silent as she stood next to her, quietly restrained her.
Alice Blesbuck looked at him and he said in a quiet voice.
“Isn’t there a story more important than that?”
“ah… yes. right… .”
At his words, Alice Blesbuck faltered in embarrassment.
Then he looked at me and coughed.
“I’m sorry, you talked too much about what I knew alone.”
“no. It was interesting, what?”
“Ah really? Then this is actually… !”
Cass Lyle coughed once more, and Alice Blesbuck gave a sullen look.
Then he mumbled in a very slightly depressed voice.
“… To start with, Jihyuk, are you also well aware of the conditions for unlocking the Seven Evil Order Milited?”
“Four alchemists. Are you saying that?”
“okay. And to be precise, the four alchemists… Rather than that, it means something else.”
Alice Blesbuck nodded quietly.
“The number 4 is the most stable number. It also implies completeness, totality, order, rationality, etc. Ji-hyeok, as you know, in alchemy, such meanings and symbols are especially important. And even in Milited’s seal, the number 4 has a great meaning.”
She took a moment to catch her breath and then blinked as if to organize her thoughts.
“… Let’s take a moment to explain the basics of alchemy. One of the first basic concepts that people who are entering alchemy learn is the concept of the 3 Elements. Mercury, salt, sulfur. This means three things. Each of them means a lot, but… The most symbolic meanings are spirit, body, and soul.”
“… So you’re saying that in order to unlock Milited’s seal, it must be met?”
“right. As an alchemist, or a similar magician, each must satisfy the conditions for spirit, body, and soul.”
“Then what about the other one?”
She shook her head as if sadly.
“I don’t know the details. But maybe I… I’m expecting the last factor to be directly related to Milited.”
At her words, I glanced at Cas Lyle without realizing it.
A homunculus born from the Seven evil Milited.
Because it was Cas Lyle.
“therefore… .”
After finishing the explanation, Alice Blesbuck tapped and pointed to the picture with her thin, long finger.
“My mother, Natalia Milited, I hate to admit, but I can call it alchemy. That means you can take the place of one out of four.”
The girl in the picture somehow resembled Alice Blesbuck.
“In my mind, I just want to annihilate even the soul, but if you kill a vampire of Jinjo-class, it will be difficult to get behind the scenes. Because there may have been a way to escape like a sheep.”
“Ah, so… ! That’s why they’ve been locked up inside the newly created homunculus.”
“right. I’m going to hold it like this until I find a perfect way to kill it. All of those organs were removed so that they could not use alchemy or magical powers, and all things such as muscle strength and physical strength were inferior to those of children, so I can’t do anything nonsense. In fact, he couldn’t even break a single handcuff.”
She said with a sneering laugh.
“I intend to take good care of you during that time, just like you did to me.”
I couldn’t help but flinched at the sight of her somehow creepy.
“… Then why did you come here? I don’t think it’s because of Natalia Milited’s problem… Could it be because of the body of the ‘original Natalia Milited’?”
“That’s right. It’s pretty good too.”
She nodded.
“The body is nothing more than an empty shell now that the soul has escaped. Originally, we were going to keep it on our side… Well, recently, there has been a time when the defenses have been broken a bit ridiculously. So I came here just in case. As everyone knows, the detection and barrier abilities of the World Tree’s clan are the best. In fact, the head of the family said that he would gladly take over the seal.”
It was as she said.
It was orthodox that no one could invade the territory of the World Tree, to the extent that it has been heard that even the Shadow Walkers in the legend have failed to invade the territory of the World Tree.
Unless he possesses an overwhelming force as much as Minerva, or if it is not for unusual cases like Lee Jae-jun, the former head of the Thorn Cross Society, he wouldn’t even try.
“Then why did you ask to see me separately? The story was all over.”
“Well… That’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about Natalia Milited’s condition.”
She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts.
The only person I’ve ever met was Gracius Milited.
The other two had never met, including Natalia Milited.
All that had to do with her was that Jin Ye-seul cut off her ankle and brought it to me as a gift.
“… Okay. If so, when can I see you?”
When I answered that, Alice Blesbuck responded with a happy smile.
“Anytime is fine. It is better if you come as soon as possible. To be honest, I was going to invite you to go with me right now… .”
She looked at me and smiled slightly.
I was embarrassed for some reason by the snow, so I adjusted my posture, but thanks to that, I only realized that my legs didn’t even touch the ground, so I was rambling on the chair.
“It’s kind of like that, isn’t it? From there, it looks like there is a promise.”
I nodded my head without saying a word.
She got up, and Cas Lyle handed me something.
The note had a phone number written on it.
“Memorize it and then burn it. Actually, I don’t want to do it like this, but it’s an association or training… There are also Milited’s children in the yard, so I want to make sure it’s done.”
When I took the note and burned it, she waved a little as if there was nothing more to do.
Then, Cass Lyle, who was watching me intently, came up to me and asked.
“Would you like me to drop you off?”
“No, thanks. I can go down alone.”
At that, he nodded as if he understood, and took a step back.
Then, Alice’s voice seemed to be slightly startled.
“Oh my, have you been waiting outside all the time?”
Ye-eun Lee was standing there.
She was looking at Cass Lyle with significant eyes, and in her gaze, Cass Lyle raised her hands slightly and said.
“I was just trying to help.”
“You can see it.”
With those words, she strode inside.
For some reason, her expression darkened.
“Okay, then I’ll just leave. We will see you later.”
Alice and Cass Lyle left after leaving a greeting as if they were running away.
In an unfamiliar air current, I adjusted my posture once more.
“… … .”
And as if in their place, Yeeun Lee sat in the seat where they were sitting and looked at me without saying a word.
How much time has passed
“… Shall we talk for a moment?”
I was not surprised by her sudden respectful words.
I just looked at her slowly.
Her eyes sank heavily.
At the edge of the field of vision, I could see branches of the World Tree growing here and there.
I thought it was probably a way to block out her own uninvited guests.
“What story?”
She smiled slightly at my answer.
“Um, yes. But before we talk seriously, let’s relax a bit.”
Having said that, she shook her head.
“What is my favorite food?”
“yes?”
“It’s a simple quiz. guess.”
After pondering for a moment, she answered.
“Well, chocolate?”
“Ding. It’s crème brulee.”
Saying the name of the food she had heard for the first time, she put her chin on it, interlacing her hands.
Light green hair, which seemed to represent the forest as it is, quietly flowed down.
“Then, yes… What’s my favorite color?”
“green?”
Yeeun Lee drew an X by crossing her index finger while interlaced.
“I like jade the most.”
“… I didn’t know.”
“Now that I know, it’s okay. Then the last question.”
Her golden eyes glared at me.
“What was my childhood dream?”
I knew this all too well.
I replied with a small smile.
“World Conquest.”
With an expression on her face as if she didn’t know how to tell the right answer, she smiled softly.
“I almost felt a little sad.”
After muttering like that, she tilted her head slightly this time, as if asking me to raise a problem.
After thinking for a while, I was able to recall one of the stories I had heard before.
“How many seconds does it take for human blood to go around the body once?”
“… … .”
Lee Ye-eun’s expression, who was looking at me with a soft smile, turned cold in an instant.
She lifted her clasped hands and shook her head.
“I don’t know. something like that.”
“… … .”
In an instant I realized what I was doing wrong, but it was too late to undo it.
Ye-eun Lee looked at me with cold eyes and let out a small sigh.
“… Can I trust you?”
“What?”
“What? I’m talking about the woman who sits next to you, even in the shadows.”
She was looking straight at me.
“I will not hide the fact that I have you in my heart. I honestly don’t know why I fell in love with an idiot like you… .”
I smiled shyly, who had nothing to say even with ten mouths because of the work I had just done.
Then, her face, who was staring at me, began to gradually turn red.
She slowly turned her head and avoided my eyes naturally.
“… Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this in the sense of being jealous or anything like that. okay?”
“yes.”
“The answer is… Anyway, I’m not the only one suspicious of him. Do you know that too? Everyone around you is the Seven Devils… Yes, I am suspicious and wary of Minerva.”
He nodded at her words.
If you think about it a little at the beginning, it was natural.
It doesn’t make any sense to ask someone to believe in someone who fought for their lives up until a few days ago.
In the first place, I didn’t even know why I was so open to Minerva.
I just wondered if it was because of the resonance that she had vaguely experienced while holding her arms against her.
“When you are waiting for clothes for you young to arrive… She talked to me.”
“to you? Minerva first?”
“yes.”
“What did you talk about?”
“He asked me to give you information about the people I mentioned before.”
After that, I looked at Yeeun Lee.
She slowly turned her head and looked at me again.
“What do you think I would have done?”
“… I would have told you.”
She nodded.
“Right. They told us all about their risks, their personal information, their purpose, and their location. As I said before, there are important sources of information within the association. Choi Jun-hyung, the leader of upbringing, was in contact with them, so finding out was a breeze. All we have to do is steal the information he has gathered and organized from here.”
“… … .”
I closed my mouth.
Yeeun Lee said with a bright smile.
“I was just starting to feel that I had loosened up a lot after meeting you. Waiting for the association’s scoundrels to open a public opinion battle, and just reverse public opinion and end up burying them in society… But then, her request turned out to be a good opportunity.”
At that, I nodded slowly.
And quietly told her.
“Sorry.”
After a moment’s pause at the sudden apology, she looked at me and glared at me.
“… What? What are you sorry for?”
Why did I end up in the body of a child like this when we were talking about such an important story?
I swallowed a resentment that I didn’t know who to turn to.
“It was what I had to do. However, the situation has become ambiguous, and you are getting blood on your hands instead.”
She looked at her with her mouth shut, and smiled slightly.
“… Yeeun must be telling me this after thinking a lot too. It’s something I should be aware of, but I don’t want to feel guilty for nothing, so I’m saying it that way on purpose.”
“… … .”
“Once again, thank you. And I’m really sorry for making you worry. But like you think, what am I… He’s not very mentally weak or anything like that. So, you don’t have to worry about it for nothing.”
At that, Yeeun Lee suddenly stared at me with piercing eyes.
Then he murmured in a small voice, but in a voice that could be heard by this side.
“… It’s hard to pretend that you’re older than a subject that caught Sbangali, sobbed like a child, getting distracted. Why don’t you just show it to me in the first place and not worry about it? I really have no conscience.”
Sbengali, who had been quiet inside at her words, grumbled as to why she would trip over herself while she was still.
“Are you getting really hot over there? Before, I didn’t even notice a subject, but in this case, it’s a ghost again, very.”
“haha… .”
“Tell me honestly. You know everything but pretend you don’t know and sprinkle rice cakes on me? I’m just trying to manage the fishery. I’m afraid the pods will come off my eyes.”
“What? It’s not like that. What kind of fishery management is my subject in the first place?”
She waved her hand as if it was unfair, but Yeeun Lee just looked at her as if she was suspicious.
But after a while, she let out a deep sigh as if she couldn’t take it anymore.
“What can I do, whoever falls in love first loses.”
Having said that, she quickly got up from her seat.
“The fact that you did this today is all about the seven evils… No, it’s because of Minerva, right? To be honest, I want to put it in my pocket and run away secretly… .”
I’ll just take a look today.
As she muttered, she squinted one eye at me.
“Are you going to date me after her instead? If you don’t like being a child, you can date me as an adult.”
“no… Then it’s a crime. Besides, am I really old?”
At my bewildered words, she asked back with a bold voice.
“How old were you?”
“What?”
“How old were you originally?”
“… twenty-eight.”
At my answer, Yeeun Lee snorted and snorted.
“what. He pretended to be an adult, so I thought I would be close to forty.”
“What?”
Despite my absurd reaction, she said as she passed me by.
“Then I’m done talking, so I’ll just leave. and… Don’t be too stupid for that.”
I was about to reply, but I decided to keep my mouth shut, knowing that whatever I said now would give her back a strange smile.
Yes, I would have done that.
“Kyaah?!”
Surprised by Yeeun Lee’s screaming scream, I got down from the chair as if I was rolling down.
And when I ran to the side of her, who was half hunched over on the floor, I had no choice but to stand blankly and stare out the door just like her.
“… That, you.”
Minerva was standing in front of the door.
As soon as I saw her, the first thought I had was that she was lucky not to have to go through the same situation as me, because she could make clothes with her powers.
“I have overlooked the fact that the alter ego of the shadow I have settled in is your alter ego… When I use my mother’s magic and dictate her magic from you, I suddenly become like this… .”
A girl with a large horn on her forehead and a cute tail protruding from her waistline looked at me and sniffled.
“Hey, what kind of ugliness I am, who once shook the heavens and the earth… There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
The situation was simple.
Minerva was also young like me.
* * *
― The phone is turned off, so it is connected to the voice mail… .
“… … .”
Randsch put down the cell phone he was holding.
Most of the people he had arranged, which he thought were convenient to use, had been cut off from contact.
in just one day.
Knowing the meaning of it, he sighed a little.
and… .
“This, a mammal baby that can’t be abandoned… .”
He growled low, rarely hiding his irritation.
He felt the need to move very little, unusually.