What is my father thinking? I couldn't help but wonder to myself. He gave me this… Blood to research on. It looked like any old monster blood, dark looks like a human being's blood but congealed. Well, that was my first thought… Till I looked into it, which he already gave me notes to. Can he have a worse handwriting at this point?..
The cells of this blood were attacking each other, one side was threatening to dominate over the other, consuming every… Demi-human cell there was. It was a war, literally. A one-sided war. That changed when I looked into it today. The demi-human cells were managing to defend themselves. Consuming the monster cells. "That's odd…" I mumbled to myself.
"What's wrong Natsumi?" My father, who I forgot was in the same room as me questioned. He slid in his damn rolly chair that sent scratchy noises into my ears. I complained, whined… To make him get rid of it. He never once listened to me and kept using that damn thing. He saw my glare at that thing, and stood up from it while apologizing. "Did something happen with the blood?"
"Yeah… Take a look for yourself."
"Hm? Alright…"
I took a step away from my microscope… It's such a handy tool. Apparently my grandfather was the inventor of this tool. Although, I never met him. I've heard a lot of stories about him from my grandmother. Mainly the melodramatic moments, or the romantic parts. Those parts never piqued my interests. Apparently, all the technological advancements in Nuwanushi were from him…
"That is indeed odd…" My father mumbled just like me, he kept staring down the lenses, fiddling with the knobs to get a better look. "The demi-human cells are fighting back, did the monster cells lose their power?"
"I don't know."
"Ah, don't mind me, Natsumi. Just talking to myself."
"I don't know what happened, dad… Why are you making me look into this?" I asked him. He already seems to know a lot about this. I've been his assistant for a few years already… At the behest of my mom. I don't believe I could ever be as great as he is. Out of nowhere I felt his warm palm rest on my head, when I looked up, he just gave me a warm smile.
"You shouldn't be standing in my shadow, my dear. Whilst I may know a lot about this already, I do not know much further. Your grandmother tasked me to look into it before you, whilst… It's related to something we both know, you do not know much more."
"You didn't answer my question…" There he goes on his old man rambles… That's his signature when it's in an emotional mood… It helps… But I don't have much foresight to see his point.
"Ah… Ahem…" He cleared his throat in front of me. Once again, rubbing my head like I was still a child. "You deserve to make a name for yourself. You're a smart young woman, much smarter than your old man at your age. If you need directions for this task… I may be able to help you."
A name for myself…? That… I just want to help you… I wanted to tell him… Other than my mom's begs, I wanted to help him manage his time. When growing up, he was at his office, working. Rarely did he ever get home early, or take a day off. I keep trying, it's slowly working. His shoulders aren't as low as they ever were, and the bags under his eyes are gone. "What do I need to do…?"
"First of all, go back to the records." He put his pointer finger up, he then listed many things… Almost too much to remember in quick succession. "Second, look into the Hoffman Experiments." Those were the main ties I needed to look into. I tried asking what did old files have to do with this? He raised his finger to his lips, cutting me off before rambling on. Third, take it slow doing this. In a matter of months, half a year my research will pull through. Fourth, I need to keep an open mind with this. He grabbed a slip of paper that he managed to find on his messy desk.
I don't know how he could find ANYTHING on that thing…. Yet- He somehow keeps his own room clean! Yes, a grown man like my father doesn't know how to clean up… That's the point my mom wanted to make…
"Take a look at this, this is what I sent to the Guildmaster of Vertealle."
"Okay…" It was all data sheets, a piechart… It was the state of the cells, and the percentage of what they were. Then, in his own writings was the sentence. [The test subject's cells can't be understood. This small sample needs more time to be researched. They shouldn't be alive, they should've died so much earlier. Lady Noelle, please send them over to Nuwanushi so we can learn more.] "W-Wait… This is from someone who's alive?" YOU COULD'VE SAID THAT EARLIER!!?
"Correct. Now toodledoo, there's work to be done." My father shooed me away, and took a seat on his squeaky chair. He purposely made that scratching sound, which resulted in me running out.
That… That blood came from an actual being? This revelation struck my back, physically sending my nerves on overdrive. I had so many questions, this is the first thing I've seen that blew my mind…
"Oh hey, Miss Shizuka! How're you doing?" One of my coworkers exclaimed at the sight of me. She had a smile on her face, that quickly twisted into a concerned look. Sorry… I can't do any small talk right now. "Did something happen between you and your father?"
"No… I have something important to do… We can talk after I'm done, okay?"
"M'kay, stay safe!"
As I rushed towards my goal, people kept stopping me in my path. Over the three years I've worked here… People accepted me openly, mainly due to my father. They're extremely nice people, helping me with any issue, or taking care of something I cannot do. God forbid cooking, my own mother banned me from the kitchen.
FINALLY! The research center of Nuwanush is such a pain in the tail to navigate! Despite working here for three years, I still get lost! UGH! I set my dang hands on the door, and they slowly creaked open. Our file area– Looked more like a grand library. Lights beamed down on humongous bookshelves, they made a circle, and at the center stood a statue. That was memorialized to the first Queen of Nuwanushi… Faline. No maiden name.
The first queen was a cat demi-human. Her colors were lost to time, but she had special features. She always wore an adventuring outfit, even after her inauguration. A long sleeved jacket that went over a crop top. Wearing shorts with thigh-high boots. There was always a serious look on her face– From both my dad and grandma. The statue captured everything about her, her signature daggers that strapped to her legs… And the few missing fingers on her right hand.
This statue was the motivation we all gained; the memory of the greatest inventor to ever live
I shook my head, the distractions were heavily clouding my mind. Like a librarian, the lady at the front counter welcomed me with a bright smile. Her name was Kaede, she was an older demi-human but always wore a beaming smile.
Thanking her, I walked amongst these sky high bookshelves. They were labelled alphabetically… A through Z. As I trodded along, eyeing each label. I accidentally ran into someone.
"Oof, hehe… Sorry…" I apologized, I had to get off my butt, but the person I ran into offered a hand. Taking it, Minoru's voice came from that figure.
"It's alright… Did you get hurt?" He asked in a friendly tone.
"Ah~ Lady Shizuka, how may I help you?" Minoru greeted me. He has been my colleague during my time here. He had a weird air, and look about him. Purple hair, and eyes– These colors were unearthly rare. However, like my family and some part of the population he had fox-like ears… He was a fox demi-human. He always had a creepy, unnerving smile whenever he spoke to me. "What's with that look? Is there something on me?"
"No… I just got lost in thought, my apologies."
Can he just wipe that creepy… Smile? I can't tell if it was faked, that constant smile on his face, paired with those… Psychotic eyes he always has, it makes me shiver. He always sounds so up beat, friendly, but my senses, my nose tell me there's something wrong with him. Just to appease him, I took his hand and he pulled me up to my feet.
"You seem deep in thought, and it is unusual for you to come to the report room… Are you looking for something?" He asked once again, with a tilt of his head. Before I could respond or say anything, he turned to the shelf in front of him marked the letter 'C' and placed the folders there. "If it's something related to these, I can help you. I spend the majority of my time in this beautiful place."
"I'm just looking for something…"
"And what that might be?"
Do you have to ask that…?! UGH… I don't want to tell him. C'mon Natsumi, ignore him. He's just an older guy who shouldn't care what you think. "It's just over there." I pointed towards the H shelf. I froze when something struck my mind. Crap… I need a ladder. It's on the seventh shelf… These looming shelves felt so much more gigantic… Each level was almost my height!
"I'll walk with you, perhaps I can be of use to Lady Shizuka."
"I can do it myself."
"I insist, it might be a good colleague bonding time."
I DON'T ACCEPT!
I tried walking past him, he blocked my path with an arm. Can't this creep just leave me be?! I have something to do! There was an urge in my hands to smack his creepily compiled face. "Mister Minoru… I recommend not doing that? It counts as harassment, and you will lose your position." I threatened him with a gigantic scowl on my face.
"Ah, sorry, sorry Lady Shizuka, that was not my intention. But, may I accompany you? It gets rather… Solemn reading everything alone."
"...Just do what you need to do."
"Great… Thank you!"
Please shut your mouth.
As we, I wished it was I, strolled on forth, he never quieted down. Talking about all his findings, and how my father was doing. "What's your purpose in talking about all of this?" I groaned underneath my breath. Alongside being a creep, he was just like my old man. Talking. Talk, talkity talk…
"Just making small talk."
Yeah that's clear you freak! I grit my teeth at his response, it's obviously not working! I wanted to walk away from him, extend the path between us. Or the very least, use Telekinesis to push him away… He turned to look at me, big old creepy smile and all.
"What are you looking at?"
"I'm just curious, what is it you are looking for, Lady Shizuka?"
"Can you promise that you'll stay quiet about unnecessary chatter?"
"Very well…"
"I'm doing research into the Hoffman Experiments. My father tasked me to."
"Oh, that?"
"Didn't you promise?"
"You said 'unnecessary chatter'. I did my own look into the Hoffman experiments, around…" He put a finger to his chin, raising it slightly to look at the sky. His eyes flickered back and forth for a moment, then continued. "Fifteen years ago. When I left my old home." He raised one finger on his right hand, then held all five on the left.
"Wait… Hold on, you did?"
"Correct. I can answer a few of your questions." He removed his hand from his chin, and offered it opaquely on his palm. "Ah, if you don't mind. You'll need that ladder to reach there." His finger pointed towards a shoddy, run down ladder that everyone uses. It was across us, just past the statue, to the furthest bookshelf that was tens of meters away. He rolled his eyes, giving me a slight up and down, then with long strides towards it.
Thanks to the advancement of our magic, and technology… Plus the natural, rich resources of our home, he lifted it quite easily. Wrapping both arms around the stick-like sides of it, and carrying it back.
"Thanks… Anyways, while I look up there, can you answer a few of my questions?" I wrestled to get the ladder into place. With a few thuds, I got it standing sturdy as it could be. On my first step, it let out a loud Creak!. I glared at Minoru, he had his eyes closed, and his lips deformed into a softer smile. "You better keep your eyes away. Got it?"
He only shrugged, before turning to the bookshelves. Just as a safety net, I tucked my tail between my legs. Although I wore protection under my lab uniform, I had a strange feeling in my stomach. That look he gave, that air around him.
I don't believe I am overly cautious. My father… He told me about our bloodline. As I took one, wobbly step at a time, I looked down at him. Weirdly enough, he listened.
"Lady Shizuka, what would you like to know about the Hoffman experiments?" I heard him ask, there was a slight shift, causing my hands to tighten around the ladder.
"What went on there? My father's not saying anything."
"Disgusting treatment of demi-humans. Brutal tortured prisoners." Minoru casually said, shifting his weight a bit more onto the ladder.
"Okay, first of all… Can you stop leaning onto the ladder please? This thing is older than you. Second of all, that's a bit vague."
"That's all I can describe it as such."
So helpful. I groaned internally. Soon after, I stepped onto the seventh shelf. He was actually helpful for once. Just in front of my eyes stood two folders, the second read the name. "The unforgettable experiments of Hoffman." Hm…
The unforgettable experiments of Hoffman.
One hundred years ago the first queen of Nuwanushi Faline planted the flag of this Nation. Dubbed the Kingdom of Innovation; advancements; technology. Her genius of technology and experiments set the rapid expansion in stone. Professor Hoffman, a devout follower of the first queen, made his own advancements.
His sights were focused on strengthening the bodies of demi-humans. For the first thirty years of his life, he followed moral standards. His research, and bright ideas were recognized by Lady Faline. He soon earned the title the Miracle. But, it all changed after the tragic death of his mentor, and idol.
For the years to come, he delved into horrific treatments– Though with standards; on traitors of the nation; volunteers or enemies. No race was safe from his hands.
At the beginning of his downfall, he tried melding catalyst crystals inside the bodies of the individuals. He quickly learned, catalyst crystals poisoned the bodies, mind and soul. They all quickly turned insane, their body deteriorating. Nearly hundreds were sacrificed for his research.
The last, and nigh unforgettable experiments happened. In his madness, he made adventurers dig for monster cores, plunging their hands into the corpses of beasts, and monsters alike. With those, he tore open the chest cavities of his "guinea pigs". Many died due to poor treatment, the shock and pain from these. Those who had survived suffered with the combining of their heart and a monster core.
His goals were simple; what would happen if a demi-human or human merged with a monster core? Would it create a beast hybrid? If so, what were the benefits? What would happen? His answers were simple… They died. Corpses piled up. Those that remained after the combining never woke up. Their bodies slowly crumbled away. Not even a trace was left over.
When a task force consisting of; Lady Kazusa Shizuka, Chizuru Shizuka, and an unnamed human man, with an army raided his laboratory he mumbled about his experiments. He raved and hollered, according to Kazusa Shizuka. He was arrested for his inhumane actions, locked up till his death forty years ago.
– An unnamed witness.]