— — — — — —
The ruby-like spirit blood rippled a few times.
Nina Adilard snapped out of her shock and let out a soft, quiet laugh.
『Helping you dissect my own ancestor… that really is ironic.』
Ryo clearly didn't care about her attitude. He smiled and asked, "So? What's your answer?"
『Deal.』
Nina chuckled, her voice taking on a faintly alluring tone.
『I only have one condition. After everything is done, I want permission to study the structure of a machine god.』
『You know how rare it is. A being that was originally a god, then forcibly rebuilt into a machine god.』
『And on top of that, the god in question is Hermes, the founder of alchemy itself.』
『Actually, I'm still doubtful that he's really a god.』
"As expected, you really can't count on alchemists, who are basically mad scientists, to have normal human ethics…"
Ryo muttered to himself before explaining, "The Hermes I captured is the Greek version, not the full Hermes Trismegistus, who embodies a syncretic fusion of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek god Hermes. This one specializes in theft and commerce. He doesn't have any authority over alchemy."
『Authority?』
Nina asked, puzzled.
Ryo went quiet for a moment, then explained, "It's a kind of power you wouldn't understand. Only beings on the level of gods can wield it."
"All you need to know is that the Hermes I caught isn't good at alchemy."
『I see.』
Seeing that Ryo clearly didn't want to elaborate, Nina didn't press the issue.
『Then how do you plan to separate me from the Wiseman?』
"I'll extract your soul, make a body, and put it in," Ryo replied simply.
『…That's it?』
Nina's tone turned a little strange.
As a great alchemist, she understood what he meant.
Extract the soul. Use alchemy to create a human body. Fuse the soul into it.
Simple to say, absurdly hard to actually do. One could say it was impossible.
"What, you want me to custom-build the race too?" Ryo asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
『You can customize it?』
The disbelief in Nina's voice was impossible to miss.
"Human, vampire, certain half-dragon species, even special spiritual bodies. I can make all of those."
Ryo spoke with unshakable confidence.
『In that case, make it an ordinary human body.』
『Oh, and do you need any alchemical equipment? If there's a shortage, I still have a set of professional instruments hidden beneath the abbey.』
"You need tools to make a human?"
Ryo looked genuinely confused. "Isn't this something you can just do with your hands?"
『…』
Nina was honestly frightened by the sheer confidence in his words.
『…As you wish.』
"Give me the data for your body."
『Of course, Your Majesty. No problem at all.』
...
Two minutes later.
Nina, still residing within the spirit blood, stared at the experimental table in silence.
Lying there was a version of herself with brown skin, pale golden hair, and a well-defined, curvy figure.
He really did make it barehanded. She'd seen a flash of light, and then "she" was just… there.
"Nice figure," Ryo said, casually appraising the body he'd made based on her data.
『Didn't you say you were a Primogenitor?』
Ryo turned his head. "I share the title with the Fourth Primogenitor. Why, is there a problem?"
『As long as you are happy.』
At this point, Nina finally understood why the Witch of the Notaria and the Witch of the Void were standing so obediently to the side.
When a god insists on calling himself a Primogenitor, the sensible thing to do is nod along.
As she thought about finally being freed from the Wiseman's spirit blood, Nina felt both emotional and nervous.
Remembering how brutal the Wiseman could be, she couldn't help adding,
『Before you extract my soul, please allow me to say one thing. Once my soul leaves the spirit blood, the Wiseman will likely awaken immediately…』
"Isn't that even better?" Ryo said, sounding oddly pleased. "Lab rats are better when they're lively, right?"
『…』
Nina had completely run out of words to describe him.
Ryo glanced at the spirit blood. "Next, I'll extract your soul. Get ready."
About two seconds passed.
"…You can start now? Huh?"
On the experimental table, the golden-haired woman with wheat-colored skin opened her eyes, blinking in confusion.
"It's over already? That fast?"
"I work quickly," Ryo said as he pulled on a pair of gloves.
Almost instantly after that. Manic laughter burst out from the Wiseman's blood beside Nina.
"Hahaha! I'm finally free of you!"
The ruby-like spirit blood turned silvery gray, melting and flowing like liquid metal.
But in the next moment, two gloved fingers descended from above, pinching the fused metal and forcibly compressing it back into gem form.
"Who are you?"
A frantic voice rang out from the spirit blood.
"What did you do to me? Bastard, let me go!"
"Just in case, let's give you a little shock," Ryo muttered.
At the same time, the phantom image of the 5th Familiar, Leo Pemptos, appeared behind him.
Crackling sparks filled the air.
"You—"
More crackling.
"I swear I'll—"
This time, it turned into thunderous booms.
"Sir, please, just tell me what pose you want me to take."
Looking at the Wiseman in his hand, now completely docile, Ryo nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. From now on, you're Lab Rat Number One."
"Th-thank you, sir, for the name."
The Wiseman, weak, pitiful, helpless, and no longer smug, spoke in humiliation.
Nina glanced at the Wiseman, who had folded in three seconds flat in Ryo's hands, then thought about how she'd sacrificed her life just to seal it away for 270 years.
Her mouth twitched.
What exactly were those centuries of my youth even for…
"Alright, time to start the experiment."
As he spoke, Ryo cast a slow, unreadable look at Nina.
She shuddered and immediately hopped off the table, standing stiffly to the side with utmost respect.
At that moment, light began to gather at Ryo's fingertips as he said calmly, "Next comes conceptual dissection. You're fine with that, right?"
"No problem."
Nina replied obediently, meekly, and with a hint of forced charm.
.
.
.