Chapter 214 – World Tree (Two)

Rustle.

Ray, who had received an envelope from the man and tore it open, momentarily froze.

The letter was written in Ancient Script.

The moment he stared at the characters he couldn’t pronounce but could understand.

「I warn you.」

「Do not come any closer.」

「Be satisfied with your current state.」

「Cease your search for emotions.」

Simultaneously with the delivery of meaning, someone’s voice echoed consecutively in his head.

“……?”

He quickly sharpened his senses, but the colorless, odorless voice had already vanished without a trace.

…Was it an illusion?

No, the voice had been too clear to be an illusion.

Thinking it might have been the Doctor’s voice, he reconsidered the message conveyed in the letter.

‘Cease searching for emotions and be satisfied with my current state?’

It sounded as if they knew all about the peculiarities of me as a human.

How exactly?

The fact that I am emotionally incapable is something I have never fully disclosed to anyone except Veronica, Philip, and Graham.

Even if they had scattered Homunculi for surveillance, it would be impossible to ascertain just by observing external aspects.

There was one highly probable conclusion.

‘The Doctor is someone who already knows me well.’

Doubt and curiosity boiled up, and by the time he realized it, the boy was already asking questions.

“Where is the Doctor?”

“…….”

“What is your identity?”

“…….”

The Homunculi gave no answer.

They just stared at Ray with doll-like, expressionless faces.

Then, at some point.

“What is the Doctor’s purpose?”

“Emotions are useless.”

The man who handed over the letter opened his mouth.

The surrounding Homunculi chanted in unison.

“Emotions are useless.”

“Emotions are useless.”

“Emotions are useless.”

The man spoke again.

“Answer.”

The chanting continued.

“Answer.”

“Answer.”

“Answer.”

Ray could intuitively sense that no further attempts would allow communication with the Homunculi.

He also realized that even if he captured and interrogated them, he wouldn’t be able to extract any information.

“Answer.”

“Answer.”

“Answer.”

But answer what?

‘Are they asking for a reply to the letter?’

If it’s a reply to the warning to cease searching for emotions, it was already decided.

Ray looked over the Homunculi with a cold gaze and said.

“Be satisfied with my current state and not come any closer. I absolutely cannot do that.”

The series of scenes that unfolded immediately afterward were all instantaneous.

Red Mana filling the empty Rings of the Homunculi.

The Homunculi taking stances to throw the fireballs they held in their hands.

And.

─Kwaaaang!

With a roar, his vision flashed brightly.

Only black ashes remained where the Homunculi had been standing, and Ray’s body, having just completed instant Electrification, was scattering sparks as it returned to its original form.

At that moment, the space beside him rippled and Curiosa appeared.

“I heard a loud noise and came out, but it seems the situation is already over.”

“Homunculi came.”

Curiosa, pausing briefly, looked around at the abundant ashes and said.

“Well, I did think it was about time they’d come looking directly.”

“Curiosa, you were right. Clearly, at first they held no emotions, but at a specific moment, emotions erupted explosively. Anger and malice toward the opponent. And as if resonating with the emotions, Mana also filled their previously empty Rings.”

Curiosa expressed doubt.

“They had Rings…?”

“They also used Fire-type Magic.”

“They used Magic too… Among the ones I’ve seen so far, none used Magic. Did the Doctor improve them further in the meantime? No, thinking conversely, there’s also a clear possibility they were simply hiding their abilities…….”

Curiosa muttered, lost in thought.

Ray stared at the other’s violently trembling lavender curiosity, which was almost uncontrollable, and asked.

“What kind of beings are Homunculi?”

“Artificial lifeforms created by the Doctor.”

“Artificial lifeforms? They’re not human?”

“According to my speculation, yes. They have almost identical faces within each appearing group. I suspect they might be creating copies of someone. Using unknown Magic or technology.”

…Created artificial lifeforms.

“That feeling was definitely there. The Rings of the ones that appeared today were all in a clean state, as if they had been created not long ago.”

Then Ray noticed something sparkling in each pile of ashes.

After handing the letter to Curiosa, he used Telekinesis to gather them in front of him.

Familiar-looking, fingernail-sized red gemstones.

“…Bloodstones.”

High-quality Charging Stones carried by Mercread Operatives.

It seemed the core that infused emotions and Mana into the Homunculi’s Vessels and Rings was precisely this.

Then, from behind, Curiosa’s trembling voice was heard.

“This last sentence here seems to be targeting me. I don’t know how you released the Curse Seal of loyalty, but a child who doesn’t listen must receive severe punishment? Doctor, you crazy bastard…! After engraving that damn curse that doesn’t even let me control my own emotions, severe punishment? Wait, Doctor, I will definitely tear you to death with my own hands.”

Curiosa’s anger was so intense it could be felt even from behind.

Ray fiddled with the Bloodstones in his hand and muttered in a voice that seemed to gaze into the distance.

“They said emotions are useless.”

“Yeah. They are useless. Because of emotions, we get angry, cry, fall into depression. All evil originates from emotions. Damn it, and I, rather than being tormented all day by unwanted curiosity like now, would choose a life living like a machine without any emotions.”

Curiosa, answering absentmindedly, belatedly looked at Ray’s back and asked.

“Who said that?”

“The Homunculi.”

“The Homunculi?”

Instead of answering, Ray turned his body, met her gaze, and asked in return.

“Do you think a life where you can’t feel any emotions is better than now?”

A tone more serious than usual.

Curiosa, who had intended to brush it off casually, had no choice but to calm her emotions and ponder seriously.

“…Whether you feel emotions or not, each has its pros and cons. If I had to compare which side has a greater total of advantages… I think it would be the side living while feeling emotions.”

Curiosa, perhaps with a headache from the question requiring much thought, became irritable.

“Damn it. Why are you suddenly asking such a difficult question? If you want me to do anything, pay the price. You, since when have you been using me without giving any information? You little brat with not even a shred of conscience…! Give me information about you…! Anything that can satisfy my curiosity even a little─.”

“I think so too.”

“─What are you talking about? That you have not even a shred of conscience?”

“No, I also think the advantages of a life with emotions are greater.”

Curiosa’s anger evaporated instantly.

“Ahem, information about values, is it. Understood. The advantages of a life feeling emotions… What comes next?”

“Are greater, I think.”

“Are greater, I think… Memo.”

Ray watched Curiosa diligently moving her pen over her notebook, then gathered all the Bloodstones into his embrace.

And as he created a wind to blow away the ashes piled on the street, he thought.

The statement that emotions are useless.

‘…They said their goal is to return the world to its original state.’

Perhaps, it might be related to the Doctor’s purpose.

The bus raced across the wasteland, kicking up hazy dust clouds.

Destination: the wasteland on the outskirts of Sector 33.

The land at the coordinate point where Rael Row would arrive first and wait.

Vroooom──!

It advanced toward the destination via the shortest route only, without passing through intermediate-numbered sectors that were waypoints.

Therefore, the estimated time of arrival was within 5 days, but.

Kwaang──!

Screeeech──!

The variables that occurred delayed the time much further.

Mountain vehicles ambushed throughout the wasteland fiercely charged toward the bus, and Veronica urgently had to deploy a Ward.

Kwaang─!

Vehicles that collided with the Ward and overturned rolled away into the distance behind the rearview mirror.

Kooong─! Kooong─! Screeeech─!

Other vehicles turned their steering wheels left and right, incessantly crashing into the Ward.

“I’ve at least blocked anything from entering the Ward’s range!”

Veronica shouted urgently.

The White Ward was enduring the barrage of attacks without issue, but it was a situation where one could not be complacent.

Because the number of enemy vehicles easily reached three digits.

“We’re completely surrounded. I’ve heard there are bandits who often target travelers. Are they after our possessions?”

“They’re not bandits. They’re Homunculi.”

Ray answered Grine’s question while focusing on driving.

He glanced around, but beyond the doors of the mountain vehicles, he couldn’t see any emotions of the occupants at all.

Not even the slightest, tiniest, minuscule trace of emotion.

‘Homunculi.’

No other conclusion emerged.

“Homunculi, you mean the ones that attacked when we left the mansion yesterday?”

“Correct.”

“That seems to be the case. When I focus my senses, I get the same uncomfortable feeling as yesterday. It seems the one called the Doctor continues to target Ray-nim, who ignored the warning.”

“I agree. Hold on tight.”

Instantly, Ray turned the steering wheel sharply to the right.

The hemispherical White Ward enveloping the bus moved along.

Kwaaaang──!

Enemy vehicles that were close by tumbled over in succession.

“That’s a good method. Since our current speed is fast, even a slight nudge can knock them off.”

Grine spoke while supporting her body with the Elf’s unique sense of balance.

Roll roll roll─!

Veronica, who rolled three times, stood up naturally as if it were an intended movement and grabbed the chair handle.

“My Mana is still sufficient─.”

Screeeek─!

Immediately afterward, due to the bus tilting to the left, she rolled forward three more times.

Grine spoke in a voice with a faster tone than usual.

“Ray-nim, please open the windows. I’ll use Magic to shake off the pursuit.”

“No, before that, please check the mansion first. It’s possible we’re not the only ones under attack here.”

“Understood.”

Grine disappeared via the stairs to the second floor of the bus.

A short while later, she returned with Jang in his crumpled suit and spoke first.

“Homunculi have also appeared around the mansion. About 30 in number. All are around 1st Circle level, and Curiosa-nim and the Wizards from the main building are defending to prevent them from crossing the Wall.”

“Young Master, I will take over the driving.”

Fortunately, it seemed the mansion’s defense was proceeding without issue.

The boy, from whose Vessel the emotion of worry had disappeared, pressed a button to open all the windows on the right side.

Wheeeeen──!

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, please leave it to me.”

After handing over the driver’s seat, he passed by the girl who had become one with the floor, went up the stairs, and climbed onto the bus roof through the ceiling hatch.

His field of view opened up.

Since the Ward enveloping all sides blocked the wind, there was no moment of staggering.

Whoosh─!

Behind the bus, he could see Seeds imbued with green Mana transforming into thorny vines and covering the pursuing vehicles.

‘The rear won’t be a problem. The left side is connected to a cliff, and the remaining direction is.’

He turned his gaze to the right.

Dozens of vehicles running alongside the Ward as if to block the bus’s escape.

In the hands of the enemies extended outside the windows, bright red fireballs were held like bombs about to be thrown.

Fwoosh!

Flames also bloomed on the boy’s palm facing the sky.

Fwoorook!

In an instant, they swelled in size.

Fwooroorook!

Even after expanding to a size larger than the bus, they continued to grow endlessly without an end in sight.

High-quality Mana stored in the 3rd Circle.

Added to that was the result of Red Mana resonating with the boy’s emotions.

The fact that the mansion, his nest, had been violated had ignited a fierce fire in the boy’s territorial consciousness.

As a result, the emotion that arose in the boy’s heart was anger of an unprecedented scale.

Fwoorooroorook!

The massive heat engulfed the feeble heats and swept over the vehicles on the right.

And at that moment.

A woman atop the cliff was watching that spectacle.

“Amazing, truly. I think I understand why Father is wary. And also, why Vicious was defeated.”

The lips of the woman with brown hair drew a bewitching smile.