Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 171 - Homunculus

171: Homunculus

171: Homunculus

From the very beginning, I thought something about the Protagonist wasn’t right.

She was a child and she wasn’t human, both of these were already confirmed by the Tags, but what had never been explained was why the Difficulty was so damn high.

Of course, it would have made sense if the Protagonist had some way of defending herself, or some form of protection like the Amulet of the Holy Sun, but she didn’t have any of that.

Even the presence of the White Witch Queen, the Protagonist’s mother Aradine, would not have been enough to carry the rating that high.

After all, I had been given plenty of opportunities to be alone with the Protagonist and kill her should I have wanted to, but I didn’t.

Because I knew something was wrong.

Finally, after coming all this way and seeing her in this weird tube with all this bizarre machinery, and even the odd wounds around her body, I came to one conclusion.

The Protagonist must be unable to die.

Needless to say, I knew there would obviously be a way to dispatch her regardless of if she was immortal or whatever, otherwise the Difficulty would be even higher than 3-stars.

That was that, but still…

‘Not been born?

What the hell’s that supposed to mean?’

Part of the reason I came to such an extreme conclusion was the Protagonist’s answers to the questions I asked her over the past few days.

She had no magical defences, nor any items on her that served a purpose of protecting her.

That meant, the only possible thing remaining that could save her was her body.

Of course, I also asked about that, and I already discovered that she wasn’t even physically strong.

So, what else could she possibly have left?

The only remaining possibility was a superlative level of health, or otherwise, a resistance to death itself.

“――Aella is a homunculus.”

Not seeming to desire hiding anything, the Queen of Witches was forthcoming with her answer, and as soon as the word left her mouth, it flashed in my mind.

Homunculus.

At that moment, I recalled it―a scene from, at this point, a time months past.

‘…With Ina.’

All at once, it occurred to me.

Not just the word ‘homunculus’, but everything about this Contract, about this Illusory World―the witches, the Protagonist “Aella”, the “White Witch Queen Aradine”, the name “Black Magic”, the setting, the basic plot, everything.

It was a while ago now, but she certainly ran her mouth off telling me all about it, didn’t she?

‘It’s the same story she was supposed to be scriptwriting for…’

Now that I was here, and having been here for a number of days, it made no significant difference, but I certainly felt some whiplash at the extreme coincidence.

‘Crazy…

Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore.’

Flicking my gaze between Aradine and the Protagonist still floating unconscious in the tube, I opened my mouth.

“That means she’s more an alchemical creation you made rather than your explicit daughter, right?”

“The meaning is not lost betwixt worlds, then.”

Pausing to think for a second, my eyes quietly narrowed towards the Protagonist.

‘If there’s one new thing to come out of the discovery, it would be that, wouldn’t it…’

That is, the Antagonist wasn’t who I originally thought it was.

I cast a glance back at Aradine.

‘Means I can get more from her than I thought, too.’

Realising that this was probably the best opportunity I had, I hastily calculated something and opened my mouth.

“…I have something important to tell you, but first, do you have any way to verify that what I’m saying is the truth?

I need you to trust me.”

Subtly, she turned her head part way towards me following my words, and though I was undoubtedly tense inside, I tried my best not to show it externally.

“I know thee not to lie barefaced.

Dare, and thou already knowest the consequences.”

Instinctively, I gulped at her warning.

Well, having witnessed what she was capable of on multiple occasions, there was no way I wouldn’t know.

Slowly, I opened my mouth.

“…She can’t be allowed to live.”

I spoke tentatively, watching her reaction carefully so as to test the water, even though I knew she probably wouldn’t be so quick to put me down.

After all, I could very well be wrong in my assessment, but every behaviour she’s shown thus far has depicted her to be the type to want to fully understand what she was dealing with before making any drastic decisions.

Meaning, I could take my time explaining my side of everything without her disturbing me, and hopefully, without her misunderstanding what I was saying or taking it the wrong way.

In the end, I was here for a heroic purpose, no matter what anyone said.

“Why not?”

“…Because the world will end.”

Even if everything I said sounded like complete bullshit, it was true.

I could only pray that she would believe me.

“I see.”

“…”

“May I enquire how thou hast come to realise this?”

“…Because it wouldn’t be the first time.”

“‘Tis so…?”

With a quiet, brief back and forth, I inwardly wondered why she seemed so calm despite being told that the whole of her world might fall.

It was confusing yet relieving, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned.

She didn’t give me much time to worry.

“Thou dost make sense.

I was ever aware of the dangers of forbidden depths, indeed…

I must confess, however, the extent to which the consequences stretch doth reach farther than I had expected.”

“…”

“And thus it seems, that which curiosity burneth bright like the sun, shall engulf all in flames, and hence extinguish naught but each and every thing.”

“…”

“Such is the nature of the taboo.”

As I watched her face, muttering ominous sayings one after the other to herself, Aradine raised her head towards her “daughter” for a final, prolonged glance before turning away.

She walked towards the door, which opened for her, before suddenly halting.

Then, without turning to face me, she simply ordered.

“Come.

Thy message hath been received.”