Chapter 261 – The Homunculus
Previously, in the cave, there was an experience of failing to control the mind of the homunculus.
Because Albert’s brainwashing was already much stronger than my ability to control.
In an urgent battle situation, he could not use the charm eye and had to fight a bloody battle.
‘Still, there is a way to apply mind control.’
The mind control of fascination is basically the ability to interfere with a person’s brain. If Albert, like me, was mind-controlled through the Enchanted Eye, it must mean that he is exercising control over the cranial nerves of the homunculus. Then the answer was simple. It means that you just have to destroy the brain of the homunculus in front of you to the ‘appropriate level’.
If the brain is damaged, naturally, the control of the fascinated eye will also weaken. You can activate the charm eye on your side at the right time while you are torturing. Of course, it was simple in theory, but I couldn’t see an easy way.
Need to be regulated
If the homunculus dies after torturing too much, all the plans will come to naught. Homunculus’ ability to regenerate is also limited. I had to be careful with my only source of information.
“Hehe! Don’t waste your time and kill me quickly. No matter what you do, I won’t divulge any information about you. Since we were born, we were designed to be loyal to our Master. On an instinctive level, nothing would harm our Master. Can not.”
The homunculus, which took the form of a wolf beast, smiled while exposing its fangs. His whole body was poisoned and he looked like he would stop breathing at any moment, but his momentum was confident. At this point, it’s hard to tell who’s on the torturer’s side. He needed to teach him his position.
[Fire Hand]
Roaring!
I cast fire magic and covered my palms with flames. Before opening his mouth again, he grabbed the face of the homunculus with his burning hands. As he burned his face from the start, the homunculus thrashed him.
“Quaaaaagh!”
The burning face regenerated tenaciously even in the flames. I could see new flesh sprouting from under the tanned skin in real time. It’s to the point where I don’t even need Madecassol. It’s a regenerative ability that was troublesome when fighting, but rather helpful when torturing. Even if you treat him roughly, you will never lose your breath.
With his mouth shut, he silently burned him repeatedly. It was only after an hour had passed that the regenerative power of the homunculus showed signs of running out. There were no burn marks and the distorted skin could not be completely restored. Only then did I release my hand from holding his face.
“Water.”
Chew!
The fire that was burning the homunculus’ face was extinguished by spraying it with water. The homunculus, finally freed from the pain, looked at me with a puzzled face.
“Heh-uh… Heh-uh… Why don’t you interrogate me! Are you sure you want to kill me?”
Unlike Lepiel, he looked at me questioningly because he didn’t ask me anything. Perhaps he felt the fear of death, but his spirited attitude from earlier had disappeared. Does a homunculus even have a survival instinct? The eyes of the homunculus staring at me contained fear.
“I can’t kill you until you reveal the information.”
“My, I would have said that I would never betray my master.”
“Long and short, you have to tell them to know.”
Gradually, the life force of the homunculus ran out. The time for judgment is now. I met the eyes of the homunculus head-on and energized my fascination.
“Now, answer me.”
A dazzling red eye light poured down on the face of the homunculus. Exposed from the front in fascination, the homunculus stiffened like a frog encountering a snake.
“Where is Albert hiding now?”
I asked a direct question, but there was no immediate answer. It must mean that the brain is still less damaged. The homunculus kept his mouth shut. The time has come for him to use shock therapy again.
[Spark Hand]
This time it’s an electric shock. His electrified hand gripped the homunculus’ forehead.
With his fingers clenched at his temples, he constantly showered him with electric shocks.
Paperweight!
“Hhhhh!!!!”
The high voltage electric current that even burned his brain made the homunculus tremble all over his body.
The life in his eyes, which had been wide open, was gradually disappearing.
“Tell me! Where is Albert now?”
“Deeeeek…!! Kkeureuuuuuk…!!”
The first unintelligible words were heard from the homunculus being burned by the electric fire. It could be a simple scream, but it could also be a movement to answer. I quickly withdrew my hand and let a red glare radiate from my eyes. It was the moment when the captivating ability was activated to the limit.
“Deeeee…”
“Place?”
“Dergantus…!”
Dergantus.
Incomprehensible words came out. I wanted to ask for more commentary, but the homunculus couldn’t speak anymore. It was because he was in such a state of shock that his breath had stopped. I felt the pulse of the homunculus and realized that it was dead.
‘What else is Dergantus?’
As I was lost in my thoughts, I heard Lefiel’s voice from around me. Lepiel knew the answer.
“Dergantus is the ruins of the ancients in the Great Forest. It is an old castle built by beastmen during the Great War. It seems that Albert is hiding there.”
Did you mean the ruins?
What if I said something totally out of the ordinary, but I was very fortunate. Finally I relaxed. The long undercover effort to catch Albert has finally paid off.
‘The end is in sight!’
The end of a long, long quest was in sight. With the location located, all that was left was to kill Albert. The couples waiting around for the interrogation to end let out a sigh of relief.
“Whew… I wondered what if I couldn’t find any clues again.”
“Somehow I couldn’t find Albert even after wandering around the Holy Land all day. He must have been hiding outside.”
“He’s a very cautious guy. I’m going to catch him before he runs away.”
Lefiel patted my shoulder as if he had worked hard.
“You’ve worked hard. It’s the first time I’ve seen the ability to control the mind of a dreamer clan to be useful. Other dreamers would have put their brains to use for crimes. You’re definitely an outlier.”
“Please don’t treat me like other dreamers. I’m pursuing righteous brainwashing. I don’t mind controlling innocent people.”
“What is righteous brainwashing…? When it comes to brainwashing, I can only think of ways to use it in a weird way.”
“It’s a prejudice.”
Speaking of mental control, Hitomi-like situations usually come to mind. Like otaku who use their abilities to rape women at will. However, I had no intention of becoming a corrupt dreamer who abused mind control.
Even the same brainwashing technique can be used to advantage depending on the person performing it. I will correct the perception of the dreamer clan with my own hands.
“Whoops. I understand. Remember that there is a dreamer like you.”
With a smile, Lefiel revealed his future plans to me. Once Albert’s location was discovered, even the beast warriors could not sit still.
“I plan to send an expedition to the Dergantus Ruins immediately tomorrow. I will select elite beast warriors to subdue Albert and the homunculus. Will you join my expedition?”
“Of course I will go with you. We cannot leave the killing of Albert in the hands of others.”
There was something uneasy about leaving Albert’s extermination to the beast warriors. Because Luffyel, the best of the beastmen, is a woman. I wouldn’t be able to show my skills in front of Albert. To put an end to it with certainty, I need to step in myself.
“Okay. Let’s meet again in front of the castle gate when it’s bright tomorrow morning. Come fully prepared. While we’re gone, we’ll leave the job of guarding the workshop to the other beastmen warriors.”
After promising to get together again, Lepiel left the workshop. It was to select warriors capable of forming an expedition. Tabula’s alchemists hesitantly approached us who remained in the studio.
“Are the raids over now? Are our workshops safe?”
“It’s still too early to be relieved. Albert, who controls the homunculus, is still alive. Only after defeating him can we say that the workshop is safe. Tomorrow, I will go to subdue Albert with Grand Master-sama. The news that the subjugation is over will come. Don’t relax until then.”
“Oh, I see!”
After advising the alchemists, we went back to the studio’s bedroom.
The day of the finale has finally arrived.
*
It was when he returned to his bedroom and was preparing to leave for the expedition. Suddenly, I heard Rumi’s voice calling me from inside the room.
– Wizard. How is the quest to track down Albert going? Still no clue at all?
Because she was Rumi who was locked in a book and couldn’t go outside.
She had no idea what had happened today.
“I found out where Albert is hiding. Today, I captured the homunculus he controlled and interrogated him. The time has finally come to complete the quest.”
-That’s good news. So, are you going to kill Albert from now on?
“I’m going to pack up an expedition right away tomorrow. The beast warriors will cooperate, so I’ll be able to finish it somehow.”
-Be sure to prepare well before departure. I also have a class I want to give to the wizard. Please come directly to the library.
For a while, she was busy learning how to craft magic scrolls, so she didn’t take any of her Rumi’s lessons.
It would be helpful if you learned magic before joining Albert.
“Which class is it?”
– This is a class that will lead you to the top level of a wizard. The time has come for wizards to awaken as first-class wizards.
A first-class wizard?
Does it mean that the time has come to level up as a mage?
