Arc Lab 10
Thousand Faces—possessor of a Relic that allows him to become anyone.
His true identity is unknown. Even among Tier I Seekers, he is an eccentric figure.
“This humble one has never been found out this quickly before, gesu. At what point did you realize, gesu?”
“From the very beginning.”
“…………Gesu?”
“The moment I entered the conference room and saw you, I knew you weren’t Shiro-san. So, where is the real Shiro-san?”
“Heyyy, did you do something to Shirooo?”
Even after revealing his true form, Chive-san’s blade remained pressed against his neck.
“If that’s the case, rest assured, I will show no mercy.”
“Whoa there, first I need to explain that, or my life will be in danger, gesu. First off, I haven’t done anything to Shiro-sama, gesu. I took on this job at Shiro-sama’s request to act as her double, gesu.”
“Hoh hoh. A double, you say.”
“Heyyy, then what about the other one? Thousand Faces has to be somewhere, right?”
“No need to worry about that, gesu. I have a Tier II female Seeker whose weakness I exploited wearing this outfit for me, gesu. Right about now, she’s probably awkwardly trying her best not to get caught, tacking ‘gesu’ onto the end of her sentences in embarrassment, gesu.”
“Gesu.”
“Gesu.”
“What a gesu.”
“Indeed, gesu.”
“Oh my, quite the gesu.”
It was unanimously gesu.
“Oh my, you’re making me blush, gesu.”
“We are not praising you.”
“Now, now, what should we do?”
“I’d appreciate it if you kept quiet, gesu. And I’d appreciate it even more if you’d withdraw your sword, gesu.”
“Whoopsie daisy.”
Chive-san sheathed his sword.
Thousand Faces let out a sigh, “Haaaah.”
“This time was truly unexpected, gesu.”
Thousand Faces looked at me. Probably. It was hard to tell with the mask.
“Well, that happens, I suppose.”
“This whole situation is abnormal to begin with, gesu.”
“True.”
“Indeed.”
“What in the world are you, gesu?”
“Even if you ask me that…”
“Thousand Faces. I will not permit disrespect towards Master.”
This time, Munieca-san placed the edge of her hand against Thousand Faces’ neck.
“Th-That wasn’t my intention, gesu. This humble one is just in shock, gesu. I’ve never been exposed this quickly before, gesu. What on earth was wrong with my disguise, gesu?”
He asked me almost imploringly, but, hmm.
“It wasn’t really a specific flaw… you just weren’t Shiro-san at all, so I knew immediately. That’s all I can say.”
“N-No way……”
Thousand Faces looked utterly crestfallen. Wow, he seems more affected than I thought.
I started to feel a bit bad, but that’s really how it was. Sorry.
“Well, well, not to defend him or anything, but Kon couldn’t tell.”
“Yes. The same goes for this one.”
“Me neither.”
“Nor I.”
“……Really, gesu?”
“It’s just because Wof-kun is weird.”
“Weird…”
I wanted to deny it, but part of me had to admit it was true.
“Haaaah, it can’t be helped, gesu. As expected of The Witch’s disciple and the conqueror of The Impregnable, gesu.”
“No, I haven’t done anything regarding The Impregnable, nor do I intend to.”
The glares from the ladies felt intense, so I quickly added that.
It’s true! If anything, I’m the one who wants to ask how this happened and find out why.
Thousand Faces stood up and walked straight out of the room.
I wondered if that was okay, but there wasn’t really any reason to stop him.
“Well then, I shall return to the Lab soon.”
“Then I’ll see you there.”
“I am perfectly capable of going alone, however?”
“If you don’t mind getting caught and nearly sold off again.”
“I’ll be in your care.”
He got caught once before. He was almost sold to a sideshow.
The guys who tried to sell him… well, half of them were still alive, so we handed them over to the guards.
“Mhm, mhm. Be careful now.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Ah… Be careful, okay?”
“Yes. I’m heading off.”
“Well then, I’m counting on you.”
I left the room.
I walked with Hayyarn perched on my shoulder.
“About that talk earlier, regarding Talisman’s Mischief… was that about the Egg?”
“Indeed, the Talisman’s Eternal Egg. Drinking its liquid grants agelessness.”
“Is it one of the Three Eggs?”
“However, while it does grant agelessness, there is a side effect known as Talisman’s Mischief. It transforms those who drink it and become ageless.”
“So that’s why Alhazardo Abramelin has the head of a black panther.”
“It is said the transformation reveals one’s soul. Most often, they end up with the head of an animal.”
“Side effects… Does the Phoenix Resurrection Egg have them too?”
“It does. Wof. Listen well. The dead must never be brought back to life. They must not return.”
Hayyarn’s voice at that moment was mechanical, devoid of any emotion.
It felt like he was simply stating, dispassionately, that it was forbidden.
Hayyarn once possessed the Three Eggs.
I could tell he must have experimented quite a bit back then.
“…Then what about the Elixir… Does it have side effects?”
“It does not.”
“It doesn’t?”
“If I had to say something, it would be to be careful not to drink too much.”
“Ahaha.”
That makes sense. Even the best medicine can be harmful if you take too much.
One should always follow the proper dosage and administration.
“Right. Wof. I have decided it is time I earned some money.”
“Earn money?”
“After all, money makes the world go round. It is necessary to maintain the Lab. When I was active in the past, the Lab was state-run. But things are different now.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Using the Lab wouldn’t make it difficult, but standing out too much is not good. Something simple, mass-producible, and convenient would be best.”
“What about Potions?”
“With existing products, upsetting the market balance would make me stand out even more.”
“Couldn’t you just make them at a level that doesn’t upset the balance?”
“If that’s all, then the Lab wouldn’t be necessary. It should be something only the Lab can create.”
“That’s asking for the impossible again…”
“I am aware it is unreasonable. However. That is what the Lab is for.”
“I suppose that’s true, but…”
Something only the Lab can make, that’s mass-producible, simple, and useful.
There’s no way such a demanding wish list could be fulfilled.
“Ah, there is. There is!”
“What did you say?”
“However, I need a bit of confirmation… or rather, permission.”
“From whom?”
“That’s why we’re taking a little detour.”
I deviated from the route home.
We arrived at a mansion.
“Where is this?”
“Hayyarn, have you never been here before?”
“I have not.”
Come to think of it, maybe he hadn’t.
“This is the Torquetum’s base.”
“Hoh. So this is it.”
After explaining, I knocked on the mansion door’s knocker like I was used to it. After a short wait, the door opened.
Appearing before us was a peerless beauty enveloped in shining golden hair.
“…Eh?”
“Huh?”
The peerless beauty immediately shot daggers at us. Scary… A beauty’s glare is beautifully terrifying.
Hayyarn looked ready to pounce but froze under her gaze.
“Um, is Liv-san here?”
“Oi, who the hell are you? A customer?”
“I’m a friend.”
“…Wait here.”
“Y-Yes.”
We stood there, stunned.
Then, a small, cute Little Girl with gray hair came out.
She had Fox Ears and a Tail. I didn’t know her either. She stared at me with golden eyes.
“Master of the vortex that disturbs the starry sky.”
“Huh?”
Disturbs the starry sky… what?
“Hm. Me?”
“That alchemist rabbit there is merely a pitiful twinkling star caught in the vortex. Master of the vortex that disturbs the starry sky.”
“M-Me?”
She was staring intently at me, so I guess she meant me.
“Indeed. This one is, after all, but one shining star among many. Merely one of the countless souls drifting in the Sea of Souls.”
“Uh, huh.”
“But you, Master, are different. You are the master of a vortex that draws in and swallows shining stars of all sizes.”
“Um…”
“But the vortex is not only the Master’s. There are vortices large and small. My elder sister is one such vortex. But you, Master, are an inexplicable vortex. One that shifts between large and small, shallow and deep—an inexplicable vortex. Even this one’s Relic cannot read such a thing.”
“…Relic?”
“Correct. This is a family secret, but this one can predict the future. Stars and vortices can be read to some extent. But you, Master, cannot be read. You constantly change, never revealing the depths of your vortex.”
You probably shouldn’t be revealing family secrets.
Hayyarn was surprised.
“Future prediction!? In another age, that would be worthy of a national treasure!”
“It is so even now.”
“…Could it be, are you from the Tasan Family?”
The mention of a family secret made it click.
This place also served as an annex for the Tasan Family.
“Indeed. This one is Sedici. Sedici Tasan. Age 8.”
She held up three fingers on one hand and five on the other to show ‘8’.
What kind of 8-year-old was this?
“Little Girls these days are certainly different.”
“Mu. It is time. Let us speak again. Master of the vortex.”
“I’m Wof.”
“I know. Now, withdrawing.”
With that, Sedici quickly ran off.
What was with that Little Girl?
Shortly after, the golden-haired peerless beauty returned.
“Enter. Liv will see you.”
“Y-Yes.”
Could she be a Tasan too?
I somehow got that feeling.