KTBYM - Chapter 70

The Duke, who had been silent until now, finally broke his silence. That was likely what everyone present had hoped for from Eon.

There was witnessing from the person holding the position of Chancellor and the person with military authority. At this point, even someone like Eon would find it difficult to speak nonsense.

Eon spoke up.

"This is a half-homunculus that I made."

Silence settled over the exhibition hall. It was because the answer was not what they had expected. Some looked as if they thought he was trying to evade the crisis with strange words.

"Marquis, please repeat that. It seems that everyone here, including myself, did not properly understand what you said."

"This is a creature I created."

Only then did the surroundings stir.

"Y-You mean it's not a human?"

Count Hanson shouted as if he could not believe what he had seen turn into smoke beneath his sword.

"You must have confirmed for sure that it is not a human."

Eon lifted the magic stone lying on the floor. Surrounded by his white fingers and radiating light, the stone looked more beautiful than any gem, as if asserting that it had nothing to do with this chaos.

"Stop keeping everyone in suspense and tell me right away what on earth this is."

The Duke's voice cracked, as if his mouth had gone completely dry.

"Even though it has the appearance of a human, this is a homunculus... No, it’s not even a proper one, so let’s just consider it a doll."

'A homunculus?'

I had seen them in novels or comics I read in my previous life. Since their characteristics and background of birth differed depending on where they appeared, they could not be defined in a single word, but it was certain that they were humans created through alchemy. There was also a description that their abilities, knowledge, and lifespan far surpassed those of humans.

"Homunculus? What on earth is that?"

"Speak in a way that I can understand!"

The two Counts urged Eon on again. They wore expressions that seemed even more clueless than I did.

Come to think of it, in this world where magic and alchemy exist, I had never heard a story about a homunculus. It was as if someone had completely erased all traces of homunculi.

"You can consider this a doll I made. It moves, talks, and even eats food like a human."

"You mean the Marquis Grannois made those things?"

"Yes. It is a product of alchemy."

"So you are saying that you created things that look exactly like this person, just like making a potion?"

Count Hyrn and Captain Hanson took turns asking questions. In fact, rather than questions, it was closer to repeatedly confirming a reality that was simply unbelievable.

To them, whether it was a homunculus or whatever, that wouldn't have been the important thing. It was the fact that the conclusive evidence calling Eon a murderer had disappeared. Everyone must have been in despair over that fact. And I had a reason to be even more confused than them.

"Weren't they all human? Then what about the setting that Eon is a murderer?'

Marilyn and Karen were merely creatures created by Eon. He had not decorated the dead like a pervert, but had simply carefully preserved more valuable and important magical artifacts.

'Tara is alive..'

Suddenly, Mary's words came to mind. I pushed my way through Eon's creatures and soldiers to the innermost part. The magic stone kicked by my foot rolled away with a rattling sound.

They all had brown hair and green eyes, but among them, a more familiar face caught my eye.

"Karen."

Thanks to being at the back, she wasn't hit by a knife. Compared to my comrades who had knives stuck in their chests or their heads severed, she was in very good condition.

"You weren't human?"

As if recognizing me, her emerald eyes followed me. But there was no answer. I caught my breath and walked past her.

And I was able to find one that was quite different from the homunculus. It was the very thing I believed to be Tara.

The glass tube containing Tara was not broken. The liquid inside the tube was also the same color as it was at the beginning. It was clear that only Tara had not responded to the little girl's call. I brought my face close to the glass tube.

'Different.'

Why didn't I notice back then? This wasn't Tara. Not only was it not Tara, but it wasn't a human, nor a homunculus. It was just a doll with brown hair, green eyes, and freckles on the bridge of its nose.

"Sally, what are you looking for?"

I gazed down at the little boy who had approached me before I knew it. I was looking at him with the exact same feeling I had when looking at Eon.

“What is this?”

There were countless things I should have asked the child, but the question that slipped through my lips was this.

"It's just a doll."

The child smiled sweetly, crinkling their eyes.

"A doll? You mean just a doll?"

The child nodded earnestly, as if it sounded like another question.

"Not a homunculus, not a corpse, just a doll!"

I put weight into both hands and slammed the glass down. For what on earth had I been tormented by guilt and worried about all this time?

Was it really necessary to go to the trouble of making Tara's doll to deceive me? Was it to see me shocked? Or was it because you were resentful that I tried to help the maid escape behind your back?

I should be grateful that Tara is alive. I should be relieved that these things aren't real people. I just felt betrayed by a reality different from what I knew. Even as I despised myself for it, it was hard to suppress the anger at having played the role of a puppet.

"The maids you met just moments ago are those half-homunculi. The ones over here were merely asleep for a while. It seems that has caused an unpleasant misunderstanding."

Over there, the one who had toyed with me was continuing his explanation. I heard voices of admiration asking if those maids were homunculi.

"But is there a reason you keep calling her a half-breed? To us, she looked like a whole person."

"It is said that true homunculi possess abilities that surpass those of humans. They are different from those half-baked ones who can barely manage to do what they are told."

"Then, Marquis, have you ever seen a real homunculus?"

The corners of Eon's lips curved upward. The pure smile, devoid of mockery or contempt, reminded me of the one the little boy had worn just moments ago.

"That can't be true. I merely heard a story passed down through generations."

A momentary hesitation flickered at the corners of his lips. I knew it, having observed him with constant anxiety all this time. However, the others seemed oblivious to the smooth answer that flowed out immediately.

"Now, everyone, let's clear up some misunderstandings here."

Duke Razpalin, noticing that things were not going as expected, stepped forward to try and smooth things over.

"Captain Hanson, wouldn't it be better to get those soldiers out for now?"

“I guess so.”

Captain Hanson replied with a deflated spirit. It seemed he had already lost the will to investigate Eon's background.

"We almost greatly misunderstood this exhibition room, but fortunately, the truth has been revealed. In fact, thanks to the ink, we have come to realize just how formidable the abilities of the Empire's Tower Master are."

The Duke glanced back at Eon as if gauging his mood. Eon simply watched, as if admiring an entertaining play. As if taking that as a positive sign, the Duke went a step further with his proposal.

"What do you think? This half-breed. No, to the eyes of an ordinary person, it looks perfectly intact, so I think we can remove the modifier 'half-breed.' Anyway, do you have any intention of selling this homunculus?" 

Captain Hanson and Count Hyrn nodded blankly, then looked startled.

"Isn't the slave trade also prohibited in Baynan?"

The Duke shook his head at Captain Hanson's remark.

"Slaves are human beings, so it can't be helped, but isn't this clearly a being different from a human?"

"Still, since they look similar, it could lead to a misunderstanding..."

"If the Marquis’s words are true, I believe it is safe to regard this as a beast like a horse or a pig. Ah, of course, the Marquis’s ability to create this certainly deserves praise, though."

The Duke cast a favorable gaze toward Eon. It was a gentle look, yet it was imbued with the characteristic confidence of a ruler who had never once missed out on what he desired.

'I feel bad for some reason.'

[Beast? What are you talking about? That pig-like guy.]

The reason I was confused about whether the voice ringing in my head was my own thought or not was because it felt similar to me.

[You think everything you want will work out.]

Hearing the voice once again, I realized it was the little boy's telepathy.

'Did you send me telepathy?'

The little boy was glaring at the Duke with wide-open eyes. It felt less like a message was being sent to me and more like overflowing rage had been conveyed to me.

"Even so, it’s not like we can raise them like cows or horses, is it?"

Eon, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke.

"Haha, of course. Naturally, the masters should take care of food, clothing, and shelter. Also, if magical power is required for movement, I suppose there are ways to entrust it to wizards or have it regularly infused at the magic tower."

The Duke added that, upon reflection, maintaining and repairing the homunculus would also be a good business model.

[Then and now. Disgusting.]

The reason I was surprised once again by the telepathy I heard was that the owner of the voice was Eon.

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