Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Creating a Little Sister
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A little sister? Create one?
Calming my startled heart.
I examined the recipe that had appeared before my eyes once more.
- One drop of Benefactor's blood
- One drop of Lulu's blood
Truth be told, it wasn't such a difficult condition if I thought about it.
Just one drop of blood.
The kind of amount where I could just say it was blood from a sudden gag reflex.
What can I say... it had nothing to do with that.
Something about making this gave me pause.
"Somehow... this feels a bit different from the syntheses so far...?"
Thinking back, it was true.
The recipe alarm that usually showed the intermediate steps had appeared a little differently this time.
And the completion notice with that unknown voice and question mark in the middle felt off somehow.
This was clearly a situation where something I didn't understand had intervened.
"But... it doesn't feel hostile, right?"
This was baseless. Just my 'intuition' as an 'Alchemist.'
The emotion from that unknown voice wasn't hostility like "I'll kill you."
It was more like positive curiosity: "You want to create me? Hmm... interesting. Go ahead, give it a try."
The problem was whether to...
'Accept it outright. Or pretend I didn't see it and ignore it...'
I knew instinctively.
The being whose voice I'd just heard was no ordinary existence.
And I'd already been 'observed' by such a being.
To make matters worse, I'd piqued its interest and earned its 'curiosity' and 'favor.'
So.
What I really wanted to say was...
"...Can I really ignore this favor and come out unscathed?"
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment is watching your choice.]
"...Huh...?"
What? This notification?
Can the scale fragment send notices like this now?
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment looks forward to the homunculus you will create.]
"Looks forward...?"
No, the scale fragment is looking forward to something from me...?
Even if the tower's existences are something science can't explain.
This still doesn't make sense, does it?
'What the hell is that... scary... maybe I shouldn't make it...?'
Thinking coldly.
Controlling a homunculus made from part of a being that can send me its intentions through just a scale fragment.
Is that even possible?
'Yeah. Impossible. A guy like me is too small a vessel to contain such an existence.'
So here, logically and politely.
Without offending that existence, I had to euphemistically decline.
"Um... I'm sorry, but my abilities are insufficient to serve you properly. So, let's just pretend this never happened..."
As I politely conveyed my refusal to the scale's existence.
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment frowns at your choice!]
-Rumble rumble rumblleee!!!
"!!!"
"Nya?! Daddy-nya! The house is shaking all of a sudden-nya!!!"
The scale's existence, upon hearing my refusal, seemed to grumble like "That's not the answer I wanted...?"
Soon, an indescribable ferocious red aura poured out from the scale.
It crushed my entire one-room apartment, pressing down on me and Lulu.
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment advises you there are no second chances—make a wise choice.]
"Urgh...!"
"Nyaaah...!"
We barely endured the indescribable pressure for a moment.
"I-I'll do it...! I'll make it! So please don't emit such strong energy anymore...!!!"
As the pressure intensified.
To save Lulu at least, I had no choice but to accept the scale's existence's proposal.
####
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment withdraws its energy.]
Only after hearing my answer did the scale's existence stop emitting energy.
Leaving it behind, I decided to drip one drop each of Lulu's and my blood into the Emerald Cauldron as ingredients to create the homunculus.
"Lulu... it might sting a little."
"Lulu's fine-nya! This much pain is nothing-nya! More than that, I wanna meet my little sister soon-nya!"
"Lulu... aren't you... scared?"
"Nya? Why-nya?"
"Well... that ferocious energy just now..."
"It was amazing-nya! Lulu's so excited to have such an awesome little sister-nya! Once she's born, we'll go hunting together and catch tons of strong prey-nya!"
"...Is being strong good?"
"Nya? Isn't it good if family is strong-nya?"
"...I guess so?"
...Am I the weird one?
Listening to Lulu, it kinda made sense... but also not?
Anyway, that confusion was fleeting.
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment gazes fondly at your daughter.]
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment gazes at you intently, as if telling you to learn from your daughter.]
Snapping to attention at the scale's notifications.
I pricked my finger with a needle and registered a drop of blood as an ingredient.
Drip-!
['One drop of Benefactor's blood' registered as ingredient.]
['One drop of Lulu's blood' registered as ingredient.]
With all ingredients registered in the Emerald Cauldron.
I activated Pure Flame.
Pure Flame (S+)
Whoosh-!
[Synthesize 'Cute Small Animal Homunculus (Loyalty)'?]
[YES][NO]
"......"
Is this really okay...?
If I select [YES] now, something I don't know will be born.
What if I pick [NO] right now and seal that scale in the Emerald Cauldron forever?
Then the existence trapped in the cauldron couldn't harm me, right?
'Should I... just try it...?'
But such thoughts were fleeting.
['[Censored]'s Scale Fragment advises that if you're thinking of sealing it using that cauldron, shattering it would be child's play.]
Vrrr-! Vrrrrrr-!!!
Does the scale's existence have the ability to read my mind?
I don't know how it knew my thoughts.
But as if to prove its words, the Emerald Cauldron began shaking violently as if it might break, and that ferocious energy surged wildly again.
'Wha-...? Th-this is gonna actually break!?'
That can't happen!
My precious SS+ skill can't be destroyed so pointlessly!
"I-I'll make it right now!"
In the end, fearing the Emerald Cauldron would truly shatter.
I hurriedly selected [YES] on the notification window.
Bubble bubble bubblle-!
Moments later, the Emerald Cauldron began to boil.
Soon, the ingredients lost form and merged into one...
Or so I thought...?
"Wha...... wha????"
The ingredients merged, colors shifted.
Up to gradually taking shape, it was like any synthesis I'd seen before.
But that silhouette... was different from anything so far.
"That... isn't human...?"
Overall petite and slender build.
But those thin yet long arms and legs were definitely human.
However, calling it fully human wouldn't be right.
Attached to the hips was a long, plump... yes, something like a shark's tail.
"What the heck... is being created...?"
As I watched breathlessly, wondering what would emerge.
Moments later.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"...Ah. To have a body once more like this—such a fresh sensation.
My creator... no, perhaps calling you Parent would feel warmer?
At any rate, pleased to meet you, my Parent. Looking forward to our time together."
.
.
.
.
'Cute Small ■■ Girl? Homunculus (Loyalty)' [???] synthesized!
A homunculus born through ■■ ingredients? by an alchemist of tremendous skill using tremendous tools.
※ Will not harm you unless starving.
※ Must be fed every meal properly.
※ Loves delicious food.
.
.
.
.
.
"...Huh?"
What the hell does any of this mean?
Why did a little girl come out of the cauldron???
####
Not a cute small animal.
A cute shark little ■■ girl? had emerged, and as my mind overloaded into grogginess.
Lulu approached the girl, rubbing against her fur in friendly greeting.
"Nice to meet you, little sis-nya! I'm Lulu, Daddy-nya's daughter-nya!"
"I've been watching, so I know. But calling me little sister upon seeing me..."
"Nya? Not little sis-nya?"
"Hmm... no, not wrong. I too was newly born from the same creator as you, and received your blood in the process, so we are sisters."
"Right-nya! We're sisters-nya! Nice to meet you, little sis-nya! For our first meeting, joy fur scarf-nya!"
"Hee hee hee... My big sister is so cute. Thank you for the enthusiastic welcome. Looking forward to our time together."
"Nya nya nya!"
Thus, the cat and girl confirmed they were sisters.
Laughing and chatting warmly as big sis and little sis.
-Grrrooowl~!
-Grrrooowl~!
Maybe because they're sisters?
The saying that sisters resemble each other was true.
The cat and girl whose stomachs growled approached me.
"My Parent. Perhaps because this body was just born, but I'm hungry. I'd like some food..."
"Daddy-nya! Lulu's hungry too-nya!"
"Ugh... uh wha...? Ah. Both hungry?"
"Yes. A hunger I haven't felt in ages."
"Lulu digested all the meat from earlier-nya!"
"Already...?"
It felt like barely an hour since she ate the meat. Growth phase? Her stomach digests instantly? Her digestion speed is insane.
I gave Lulu the large chunk of meat I'd saved for her.
For this... shark girl who looks about 7? What to feed her?
As I pondered, the shark girl tugged my sleeve.
"Parent. Let me say this upfront: when I'm hungry, I lose all reason."
"...Huh?"
"Next 5 minutes. If 'delicious food' doesn't enter my stomach by then, I'll lose control and devour everything in sight."
"...Huh???"
"Ah, no need to worry too much. I might hurt you and big sis, but probably won't eat you. Ah, while talking, 4 minutes left. I'd prefer no disaster, so please feed me something. Got any food?"
"...Raw meat by any chance?"
"Is that 'delicious food'?"
"...I'll grill it quick..."
"Yes. Thank you, my Parent."
Thus, I emptied the fridge of all saved meat, feeding Lulu and the shark girl until full.
As the two sisters patted their bellies and slept on my bed.
I quietly slipped out, hitting nearby butcher shops, buying 10 million won worth of meat and stuffing the fridge.
"Aigoo, our handsome VVIP customer is back! How much this time?"
"Handsome guy! What meat today?! Sirloin? Tenderloin? Pork belly? Just say the word!"
"Handsome young man again?! Our meat's fresh from today's slaughter! Buying a lot, so only the best cuts again!"
That day, rumors spread among neighborhood butchers of a young, handsome big eater.
But I'd learn of it much later.