Chapter 880 – #192_King Of The Beasts
#874
1.
A miao-an stone containing information, one of the spoils from a gacha mob homunculus.
Also called a memorial stone, it was among the items with the lowest expected value.
It was uncertain what kind of information might be recorded, and because information usually has an expiration date, it was often meaningless to dig it up.
For example, this miao-an stone contained a series of fragmented ‘memories’ from the perspective of a beast gorilla.
How about that?
A POV documentary from the omniscient homunculus perspective.
It was hardly a desirable reward for risking one’s life.
If we were to rank it, it would probably be around a 5th-place prize?
But they were very lucky.
The documentary Dorothy obtained turned out to be a very meaningful sampler.
“It’s inside the otherworld barrier, but I estimated the location based on the position of the constellations that were barely visible.”
“Where is it?”
“It seems to be near Colombia.”
Lynne and Eloa held their breath, carefully watching the video Dorothy was showing.
A vast night sky and an equally vast wasteland.
On the rough terrain, worthy of being called a wilderness, different grotesque creatures writhed their bodies, asserting their presence.
Beasts with no harmony in their appearance, characteristics, or forms.
Yet, as if they were a superorganism, they each held their place, leisurely maintaining their positions.
“It’s bizarre.”
“I can’t get used to it no matter how many times I see it~. Isn’t it strange that so many homunculi are gathered together? What do you think, Duke?”
“…I knew it wasn’t a trivial matter. That’s why I asked you to interpret it.”
Research on homunculi is still incomplete.
But at least according to the patterns observed so far, homunculi do not form groups.
When not active, they hide in subspace, and whether they are stationary or wandering, they each maintain their own territory.
“Let’s watch a bit more for now.”
Dorothy, with her arms crossed and her chest resting on them, gestured towards the video.
Huff, huff, the sound of the beast gorilla’s breathing could be heard in their ears.
The beast gorilla was somewhat on the outskirts of the group of at least a dozen beasts, so its view carefully showed the individuals within the group.
“Are there any famous ones or ones you recognize?”
Dorothy asked, seeing Eloa’s eyebrows furrow.
“There are more than one or two.”
Eloa spoke calmly at first, but she couldn’t hide her shock.
The group of beasts, gathered but not aligned, looking like a motley crew, was a feast of so-called ‘named’ creatures recorded in the location point database.
For example, the ‘Werewolf,’ a half-human, half-beast standing 3 meters tall.
It was the same legendary form that had been depicted in too many media, making it more tiresome than frightening.
However, the Werewolf’s physical abilities and regeneration surpassed those of the original.
A ravenous slaughter demon that would regenerate from even a tiny piece of flesh.
The number of its eyes was 24.
For example, the ‘Scarecrow,’ a ragged piece of cloth sewn together like a doll, standing on a blade.
It was a homunculus with a bizarre attribute that repeated disappearance and manifestation.
Because of this characteristic, it was difficult to land a sure hit, and its sudden attacks were threatening.
The number of its eyes, which was a measure of its danger, was 28.
For example, the ‘Queen,’ a sphere of meat with a diameter of 1 km, floating in the sky like a background.
When the Queen entered combat, its flesh fragments would infinitely divide and scatter spores on the ground.
Due to the endless barrage of attacks and the powerful barrier performance derived from its massive body and magical power, it had avoided subjugation for nearly 100 years despite its size.
The number of its eyes was 34.
In addition, each one was a difficult homunculus to deal with, like picking out elite soldiers.
“How can this be… Has homunculi suddenly gained intelligence?”
Moreover, there were many individuals whose activity cycles did not overlap.
For example, the Werewolf appeared in the world about every 50 years, and it had only disappeared 4 years ago.
“No, Duke, there’s something else I want you to see.”
Dorothy, seeing Eloa’s confusion, quickly pressed the fast-forward button.
“Duke, have you ever seen anything like this?”
Finally, one of the scenes Dorothy wanted to show appeared.
In the center of the screen, and also in the center of the group, walked a majestic, giant deer.
As expected of a homunculus, it walked gracefully on four legs, yet its body was about three stories high.
Its horns, which stretched out fiercely like the branches of an old tree, were adorned with wild flowers as if they were actual branches, and instead of fur, grass and moss hung loosely on its skin, where the beast’s unique, sleek muscles were prominent.
Its white eyes with no black pupils and the bluish mist that spread with each breath made one think of a divine creature rather than a beast.
“No, but…”
It was just on the screen.
And even that was a crude video restoring the perspective of a low-intelligence beast.
But Eloa, a hunter who had subjugated countless homunculi, felt it instinctively.
“It’s an extremely dangerous one.”
The deer was on a different level from ordinary homunculi.
She sensed a danger comparable to the legendary Jormungandr or the Red Knight, the worst homunculus ever.
In fact, in the continued video, this stag even seemed to be leading the group.
Every time it moved forward with a haughty step, the beasts that had been wandering around would clear the way as if the waters were parting.
And finally.
One scene that would add certainty to all the doubts.
——!!!
The deer, which had been moving through the group, suddenly raised its head to the sky and let out a long cry.
As the cry, as eerie as its mystical appearance, spread through the night sky.
“Kuooh!”
“Piiiii!”
“Bbaeeeek!”
“Kkirukkkiruk!”
The numerous homunculi cried out as if responding to the howling.
However, the gorilla, the protagonist of this video, quickly turned around and fled as if escaping.
Perhaps that was why this video ended up in the group’s hands.
“That’s all I’ve interpreted. The rest of the copies have been sent to the numerology faction.”
Dorothy’s presentation was over, but everyone was speechless.
Their minds were all complex.
The world was vast and things went unexpectedly, so there was no need to be surprised by an unforeseen sight.
Wasn’t the world such that even after living for hundreds of years, one couldn’t predict what was just ahead?
But a series of twisted flows.
The excessively frequent appearance of homunculi, the appearance of homunculi not recorded, and then the appearance of a stag leading the homunculi.
“Duke, can we subjugate that thing?”
“Impossible.”
“What if the three of us?”
“It would still be impossible.”
This time, Dorothy seemed a little shocked.
Lynne and Dorothy alone were at the 22nd level.
They were witches who were among the strong, who could live leisurely in the present world without needing to bat an eye at any ordinary danger.
And Eloa was the ‘Pink Duke’ who made such strong people tremble in fear and run away.
For the three of them to join forces and still find it impossible.
“One. I’ll speak on the premise that the stag is leading the homunculus group. I’m not suited for large-scale battles.”
“I know that~ but…”
“Two, homunculi are not very intelligent. When their activity areas overlap, the weaker one retreats first. If their obedience is based on such a ‘logic of power,’ then its danger is comparable to the Red Knight.”
“……”
“Three, if they coordinate and attempt group hunting, we can’t think of any other way to deal with it other than fleeing. Finally, we don’t even know where they are, do we?”
“That’s true.”
Dorothy nodded as if she understood, and leaned back on the sofa.
“Haa~ I thought I was finally finding some peace of mind again… Now even these random things are causing trouble.”
“It seems important to start an investigation as quickly as possible and prepare a response. First, I’ll write an official letter to inform each branch of this fact.”
Whether it was Hexennacht or the prophecy given to Siwoo, no matter how calmly they tried to remain, they couldn’t help but sigh.
“I guess I can go investigate?”
“I will go investigate.”
Dorothy spoke in a cheerful tone, while Lynne spoke in a calm tone.
The eyes of the two people who spoke at the same time met for a moment.
With just that, they understood each other’s thoughts.
Lynne and Dorothy were both witches who had been in the same world.
Although they had walked the path of public service, the two had decided to dedicate the rest of their lives to one man.
But that wasn’t something that could be done simply with the heart.
Right now, they were being treated as members of the penal unit due to the agreement between Duke Errelim and Duke Tiferet.
But even so, Dorothy and Lynne would be followed by the label of public service.
It was a stigma as inescapable as a witch’s fate.
But this was a world that was changing so much.
And both Lynne and Dorothy knew what kind of changes a changing world could bring.
In the past, weren’t black people, who were classified as slaves, livestock, or commodities, becoming presidents of the United States?
The fact that betraying Hexennacht, causing great damage, and providing a lot of information was considered a mitigating factor meant that the witch society was different from what it was just a few years ago.
Each of them harbored the ambition to atone for their past sins someday and stand side by side with Siwoo.
“Of course~ it’s a bit difficult to do it for free. At least a one-month exclusive right should be offered as a reward.”
“……”
Even after seeing the two of them exuding such an atmosphere, Eloa’s mind was not at ease.
“It’s too dangerous.”
Because she knew that both of them had a side that was not honest.
They were each trying to take on dangerous tasks for different reasons.
And perhaps at the center of those reasons was Siwoo.
“But~ Duke, you can’t go to Colombia, can you?”
Either way, both Lynne and Dorothy were Siwoo’s lovers.
Was it right to push the two of them into a place that could potentially be their death?
Eloa pondered for a moment, but the time for deliberation was short.
Perhaps even at this moment, opportunities to prepare a response were slipping away.
In the end, someone had to bear the risk.
“The branch here hasn’t settled down yet. Neither of you can leave your posts. One of you will have to go.”
Lynne and Dorothy’s gazes met again.
