Chapter 69: The Villainous Aristocrat Becomes Interested in Alchemy

Several days have passed since exploring the underground sewer of the sacred city with Judge.

I haven’t told anyone about him.

I mean, it’s not something you can casually mention, like meeting with magical beings and snatching research materials from a mysterious underground facility.

Judge also doesn’t see the need to disclose the location of dangerous weapons, so he’s keeping quiet.

The research facility was detonated with my magical tool, so there’s nothing left now.

Well, considering that there was nothing there when we illegally entered, the culprit probably already took everything.

In other words, the materials we obtained there should be ‘unimportant’ to the culprit.

However, that greatly piqued my interest.

Technologies related to artificial beings like chimeras and homunculi.

If used cleverly, it seems like it could lead to various interesting possibilities. I’m really looking forward to what comes next.

And at present, one problem has been resolved.

“Thank you for your hard work, Viscount Draussen ♡ The treatment for both legs is complete ♡ Is there any part that still hurts?”

“Well, if I had to say, the most painful part was during the treatment!!”

“Oh my ♡ That means you felt my love, right? ♡ Well then, please feel a lot of love during the arm treatment from tomorrow onwards ♡”

Saint Nakia says with a radiant smile.

This is bad. She’s impervious even to straightforward sarcasm.

“Uh, well, as for the arms, they seem to be fine as they are. They’re quite convenient in many ways.”

“Oh no, you mustn’t ♡ You shouldn’t run away from pain ♡ Pain is love ♡ Love is pain ♡ Prove it with my love—cough.”

“Hey!!”

Nakia, who spat out a large amount of blood, is carried away by a holy knight.

Hmm, in the game, injuries were usually healed without much fuss, but maybe the main story Nakia was similar without those descriptions.

I’m curious about that, but I have no way of knowing.

Switching my thoughts, I leave the altar and head to the room I’m borrowing.

On the way, walking through the hallway, I recall the contents of the documents found in the underground sewer research facility.

“Chimeras and homunculi seem surprisingly easy to make. Alchemy is quite intriguing.”

Chimeras and homunculi.

They can be created by acquiring the knowledge of alchemy, a completely different technical system from magic.

Explaining the difference between alchemy and magic might be a bit challenging.

To be honest, I don’t fully understand it myself.

To put it simply, it’s like the difference between a whale and a shark.

Even though they both live in the same sea, mammals and fish are completely different.

Magic and alchemy are similar.

In terms of being able to create mysterious phenomena, they might seem alike, but the essence of each is entirely different.

Magic involves producing mysterious phenomena using magical energy.

Alchemy, on the other hand, is somewhat like science.

Oh, let me clarify first; it’s probably not the same as the science in my previous life.

This world has its own set of physical laws.

Following those laws, alchemy produces phenomena that would be inconceivable in the world of my previous life.

In that sense, magic could be broadly considered a type of alchemy.

But apparently, saying that can lead to some angry reactions.

Magic is magic!! Alchemy is alchemy!! That seems to be the prevailing sentiment, and mages and alchemists are said to have a very strained relationship.

Well, from my perspective with memories of my previous life, they both seem quite similar, don’t they?

The person who created the documents we snatched had apparently gone through a lot of trouble in the process of researching alchemy.

“…Even so, I still don’t quite understand the culprit’s motive.”

To some extent, I could infer what the person who created the weapon Judge referred to as ‘capable of destroying both humans and magical beings’ was aiming for.

The documents provided detailed information on the research into immortality.

The culprit was aiming for immortality.

However, the documents on immortality were left abandoned in the research facility. 

In other words, the culprit might have concluded that immortality was unnecessary.

Hmm, I don’t get it. The motive is completely unclear.

“Well, it doesn’t concern me, and about alchemy a bit more—”

At that moment, my field of vision suddenly went pitch black.

Simultaneously, something large and soft pressed against the back of my head.

“Hehehe ♡ I wonder if you can tell if it is Mama?”

“Um, well, Your Holiness, you’re giving away the answer yourself. I mean, Your Holiness is not my mother or anything.”

“Oh, you found out ♡”

When I turned around, there stood an extraordinarily beautiful woman.

The self-proclaimed Mama, or rather, the Pope of the Holy Church, Sariel the pervert.

Wait a minute!!

“W-What kind of outfit is that!!”

“Hehehe ♡ Kunou-chan told me before to cover the important parts properly, right? Mama’s covering them properly, don’t you think? ♡”

When I turned around, Sariel, wearing a micro bikini, stood there.

It was a black micro bikini that seemed to accentuate Sariel’s fair skin.

“Well, um, it’s barely covered!! It’s almost the same as being naked!!”

“Oh ♡ You didn’t like it? ♡ Maybe I should have worn long gloves and knee-high socks to reduce exposure ♡”

“No, please stop that as well.”

I think that would just add another layer of wisdom.

Why does Sariel and the people in the Holy City not mind exposure at all? 

I mean, I get that it’s part of their teachings, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a bit more resistance, right?

“Oh, Kunou-chan ♡ Your leg treatment is done, huh? ♡”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“Mama didn’t do anything ♡ It’s all thanks to Nakia-chan and Kunou-chan enduring the pain themselves ♡ Good job, good job ♡ Mama will give you lots of pats ♡”

Sariel gently strokes my head.

It’s strangely calming.

Whether it’s the influence of Sariel’s Divine Blessing of Motherhood or not, my heart feels at ease.

However, it’s fine to treat me like a child at thirteen, but I wish she would do something about that outfit.

It’s really hard to find a place to look.

My heart that had just calmed down seems to be disturbed again.

“How’s everyone else doing? ♡”

“Oh, everyone is touring around in their own way.”

Felsy, Wendy, Iori, Katia, and Maria are exploring the temples in the Holy City.

Queria, Ayano, Hagane, and Kohaku are on a quest to find delicious food, wandering around.

Despite me going through the painful treatment, everyone is sightseeing in the Holy City. Isn’t that a bit harsh?

Well, it’s fine, I guess.

“Your Holiness, do you have business at the temple?”

“Yes ♡ Rather than the temple, I have something to discuss with Nakia-chan ♡ I took a break from work to come here ♡”

“I-I see.”

Why are many influential people in this world so carefree?

“Oh, since I finished the treatment and she was coughing up blood, could you hurry up and go there?”

“Well, that’s a bit of trouble ♡ Nakia-chan, Mama will go right away ♡”

Sariel dashes off to find Nakia.

Well, Sariel is probably a good person at heart, but her actions just stand out in a bad way.

I think about such things as I open the door to my room.

And then.

“Hey, you! What’s this demon doing in Kunou-han’s room? And what’s with that suspicious eye patch!”

“W-wait, I’m also a reincarnator! Don’t try to take off the eye patch! I’m a reincarnator too!”

“Huh? Really? Show me some proof!”

“Stop it! Don’t grab my horn! Don’t try to break it! It’s like a human’s nail, and it hurts because it has sensory nerves! And I’m speaking Japanese! Isn’t that proof enough?”

“Um, well, it’s pitiful to be too rough. Let’s stop, okay?”

“Oh, thank you! I’m delighted there’s a sensible person here!”

Caught in a sticky situation, Judge was suspended from the ceiling, tangled up by Maria and Iori.

Ayano looked worried.

“Hey, you! Kunou-kun! Help me—hey, don’t close the door! Wait, don’t close it!” 

Looks like things have taken a troublesome turn.

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