Chapter 36: Arc Lab ⑩
“The Thousand Faces” — A relic user capable of becoming anyone.
Their true identity remains unknown, making them one of the most unusual among the First-Class Explorers.
“This is the first time I’ve been found out so quickly, gesu. At what point did you notice?”
“From the start.”
“…Gesu?”
“The moment I saw you in the conference room, I knew you weren’t Shiro-san. So, where’s the real Shiro-san?”
“Heyyy, what did you do to Shirooo?”
Even after revealing himself, Chive’s blade stayed pressed to the impostor’s neck.
“If you’ve harmed her, I won’t hesitate.”
“Whoa, whoa, please, let’s not jump to that, gesu! I haven’t done anything to Shiro-sama. I’m just standing in for her at her own request, gesu.”
“Oh? A stand-in, huh?”
“Then what about your side? There’s no ‘Thousand Faces’ hanging around there either, right?”
“No worries, gesu. I’ve got a Second-Class female explorer under my thumb, made her take my place. She’s probably doing her best not to blow her cover right now, forcing herself to end every sentence with ‘gesu,’ all embarrassed.”
“Gesu.”
“Gesu desu.”
“Gesu-me.”
“Indeed, gesu.”
“My, my, how very gesu of you.”
Unanimous “gesu.”
“Ahaha, I’m flattered, gesu.”
“That wasn’t praise.”
“Now, what should we do?”
“I’d appreciate it if you stayed quiet, gesu—and even more if you’d lower your sword, gesu.”
“Fine, fine.”
Chive sheathed her blade, and “The Thousand Faces” exhaled a relieved sigh.
“This was truly unexpected, gesu.”
He turned his masked face toward me—at least, I think he did. Hard to tell with that mask.
“Indeed, that’s true.”
“This whole situation is abnormal, gesu.”
“Yup.”
“Indeed.”
“What are you, gesu?”
“Even if you ask me that…”
“‘Thousand Faces,’ any disrespect toward my master will not be tolerated.”
Now Munieka’s hand chop rested lightly against his neck.
“N-no offense intended, gesu! I’m just shocked, gesu! No one’s ever seen through me this fast before. What mistake did I even make, gesu?”
He looked to me for an answer, almost pleading. Hmm…
“It wasn’t a mistake so much as… everything about you wasn’t Shiro-san. That’s all.”
“Wha—? No way…”
“The Thousand Faces” slumped in defeat, clearly more shaken than I’d expected.
I actually felt a little bad—but it really was that obvious. Sorry, man.
“Well, well. Not to defend him, but I couldn’t tell either, you know.”
“Indeed, I too was fooled.”
“Me toooo.”
“I as well.”
“…Really, gesu?”
“Wof’s just weird, that’s all~”
“Weird—hey!”
I wanted to deny it, but couldn’t quite.
“Sigh… fine, gesu. As expected of the witch’s apprentice—the one who brought down the ‘Unconquerable Fortress,’ gesu.”
“Wait, no, I didn’t bring down anything, and I don’t plan to!”
I blurted it out in a panic under the women’s suddenly sharp stares.
Seriously, I’d like to know how that rumor even started.
“The Thousand Faces” rose and walked out of the room.
I wondered if that was really okay—but no one stopped him.
“Well then, I should be heading back to the lab.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I can manage alone.”
“Unless you don’t mind being captured and sold again.”
“…I’ll rely on you.”
Yeah—she’d been captured before, almost sold to a freak show.
Half the kidnappers survived long enough to be handed over to the guards.
“Take care, you two.”
“Safe travels.”
“Watch yourselves~”
“Will do.”
“Then let’s go.”
I left the room, Haiyaan perched on my shoulder.
“That story about the Talisman’s prank earlier… was that about the egg?”
“Indeed. The Eternal Egg of the Talisman. Drinking its liquid grants immortality.”
“One of the Three Eggs?”
“Yes—but though it grants immortality, it also carries what’s called the Talisman’s Prank. Those who drink it undergo transformation.”
“That’s why Alhazard Abramelin ended up with a black panther’s head.”
“They say the transformation reflects one’s soul. Most who drank it gained animal heads.”
“Does the Phoenix’s Resurrection Egg have side effects too?”
“It does. Wof, listen carefully. The dead must never be brought back. They must never live again.”
Haiyaan’s voice was flat, emotionless—like he was simply reciting a forbidden law.
Long ago, Haiyaan had possessed all three eggs.
He’d clearly done… extensive experiments.
“…Then the Elixir—does it have side effects too?”
“None.”
“None?”
“Other than not overdosing.”
“Haha.”
Well, that figures. Even good medicine turns to poison if you overdo it.
Always follow dosage directions.
“Oh, right. Wof, I’ve decided to start making money.”
“Making money?”
“Yes. The world runs on it. I need funds to maintain the lab. In my prime, the lab was state-funded—but not anymore.”
“That’s true.”
“So I must create something simple, mass-producible, and useful—but without attracting too much attention.”
“What about potions?”
“Existing products would unbalance the market and draw notice.”
“Couldn’t you just make them slightly better instead of game-breaking?”
“Then I wouldn’t need a lab at all. It must be something only the lab can produce.”
“…That’s a tall order.”
“I know. But that’s what the lab is for.”
“Well, yeah, but still…”
Something that can only be made in the lab, can’t be mass-produced, is simple, and useful.
There’s no way something that convenient exists—
“Ah, wait. It does. It does!”
“What?”
“Just need to confirm something—or rather, get permission.”
“From who?”
“So, we’ll be making a little detour.”
I veered off the road that led home.
We arrived at a mansion.
“What’s this place?”
“You’ve never been here before, Haiyaan?”
“No.”
Right, that’s true.
“This is the hideout of Torquetum.”
“Oh? So this is it.”
I explained, then knocked on the heavy door like I was used to it. After a moment, it opened—
—and standing before us was a breathtakingly beautiful woman with dazzling golden hair.
“…Huh?”
“Ah?”
The stunning beauty immediately glared at us. Terrifying… that kind of beauty makes her glare even scarier. Haiyaan tried to step forward, but froze under her gaze.
“Um, is Liv around?”
“Oh, who the hell are you? A guest?”
“A friend.”
“…Wait here.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
We were left standing there in stunned silence.
Then, a small girl with gray hair appeared. A cute little one, with fox ears and a tail. I didn’t recognize her either. She looked at me with golden eyes.
“Oh, master of the vortex that disturbs the starry sky.”
“Eh?”
The vortex that disturbs… what?
“Hmph. So it is I who speaks.”
“That alchemist rabbit beside you is but another fleeting star swallowed by the vortex. Oh, master of the swirling chaos that disrupts the heavens.”
“Y-you’re talking about me?”
She stared right at me—so yeah, she probably was.
“Indeed. I am but one of the many shining stars. A mere soul adrift in the sea of spirits.”
“O-okay…”
“But you are different. You are the vortex that consumes all—great or small, bright or dim—it matters not.”
“Uh…”
“Yet there are many vortices. My elder sister is one such vortex. But you—yours is an incomprehensible one. It shifts in size and depth, impossible to read. Not even my relic can divine its core.”
“…Relic?”
“Yes. It is a family secret, but I can see the future. I can read the stars and the whirlpools to a certain degree. But you… you are unreadable. Ever-changing, your depths hidden from all.”
…You’re not supposed to blurt out your family secrets like that, kid.
Haiyaan was shocked.
“Future sight!? In any age, that would be a national treasure!”
“It still is.”
“Wait—could it be… you’re from the Tasan family?”
I had a feeling when she mentioned “family secret.”
This place is also one of the Tasan family’s villas.
“Indeed. I am Sedici. Sedici Tasan. Age, eight.”
She held up three fingers on one hand and five on the other to show “eight.”
What kind of eight-year-old does that?
“Kids these days sure are something…”
“Hmph. Time’s up. Let’s talk again, O master of the vortex.”
“It’s Wof.”
“I know. Now, I take my leave.”
And with that, Sedici ran off in a hurry.
What was that little girl’s deal?
Soon after, the golden-haired beauty returned.
“Get in. Liv will see you.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
I wonder… could she be a Tasan too?
Somehow, I have a feeling she is.