Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Archangel Cloning Project
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Humans' plan to clone her.
As Arcroyal read through the blasphemous content, her body began to tremble.
⚙ RESEARCH LOG ⚙ However, as research into mass-producing Great Seraphs progressed, our research team encountered an unexpected outcome. Even as replicas of Great Seraphs—Angel Kurus—the results were no match for ordinary angels, or even inferior. Regular angels are certainly stronger than average humans, but considering the alchemical materials, magic stones, and time required to cultivate them, it was deemed far more profitable to simply train human warriors. In the end, due to calculations showing insufficient returns on investment, the project has been permanently frozen. [You bastards... dare... dare to...]
Regret flooded in for having cooperated with humans so thoughtlessly.
As Seraphim had warned, she should have recognized human cunning long ago...
Her past failure stung bitterly.
Thus, consumed by rage, Arcroyal continued reading.
But then...
[...Hah...]
The story ended in an oddly anticlimactic way.
Arcroyal, who had been trembling all over just moments before, let out a deep sigh of profound relief.
[I thought... Well, there's no way mere human magic could replicate this body of mine.]
The idea of lowly humans trying to imitate her—she, the lion of heaven and exalted descendant of the celestial realm—with their crude magic.
Even so, the tale had seemed plausible enough to briefly instill fear in her heart. Arcroyal let out a slight, involuntary chuckle at the thought.
[Haha... Anyway, it's clear they're doing something with angels here. If I search a bit more, I might find the data Lord Seraphim desires...]
At that moment.
[Eek!]
A sudden presence.
Arcroyal hurriedly concealed herself deeper inside.
What followed was a group of mages pouring into the room.
Seeing they were about to begin some research, Arcroyal clicked her tongue in regret.
'They came a bit too early... but no choice. I've located the place, so I'll retreat for now and come back later.'
Wiping out that many would be trivial, but she had plenty of time and didn't want to cause a commotion.
Lord Seraphim's Ten Great Precepts regarding external activities.
The first one.
Gather information as stealthily and quietly as possible.
Besides, even though it was frozen, the shock of learning about plans to create replicas of her had soured her mood for continuing right away.
With her mind made up, Arcroyal slipped out stealthily.
As a transcendent being, passing through walls was possible for her, though it took a little time. She evaded the humans' eyes and headed outside.
Some time later.
Having left the mage tower district and returned to the city streets, Arcroyal caught her breath under the still-blue sky and the sun drifting westward.
She was struck anew by how terrifyingly imaginative humans could be, beyond her expectations.
'Should I report this to Lord Seraphim first...? No, no... I should wait until the job's done... Better to get solid, usable intel first...'
Despite the chilling content, Arcroyal had no intention of giving up at just this.
This mission was her trial to prove her worth to Seraphim.
Vowing to bring back meaningful results, she steeled her resolve once more.
'Alright, then I'll hide nearby and come back at night... come back...'
At that moment.
Her eyes caught sight of one person.
Far off, across the street, moving slowly.
Pink hair just like hers.
And.
The soul-level resonance only an angel could sense.
The instant she saw it, chills ran down Arcroyal's entire body.
'It wasn't canceled...? It wasn't...?'
Confused about what was going on, Arcroyal dashed toward it urgently.
Then.
{!}
As if aware of her, it bolted away at full speed.
Surprised by its unexpectedly swift pace, Arcroyal felt dismay again.
'What? The book said replication performance was only regular angel level! That thing was full of lies!'
Thinking how the grand mage tower operated so sloppily despite its prestige, Arcroyal pursued the fleeing figure with all her might.
And finally.
{Hah... hah... ugh...}
[Hah... hah... Got you, you little...]
In a deserted alley, Arcroyal finally caught up.
But then.
{...Pl... please... spare me...}
[Huh?]
{Pl... please spare me. I don't want to die! I don't want to kill either! I hate that... I hate it now... so please... please...!}
The next moment,
it dropped to its knees on the ground, clasping its hands in desperate plea.
Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction, a different kind of bewilderment crossed Arcroyal's face.
And.
[...Hah...]
Letting out a deep sigh,
Arcroyal first removed the robe she was wearing.
Her true face fully revealed at last.
Then, approaching it—which was still trembling as it looked at her—
her replica, she spoke in the gentlest voice she could muster.
[First... calm down. I promise: as long as you don't attack or act hostile toward me, I won't attack you either.]
{Is... is that... true?}
[Angels don't lie. I swear on the name of my master, Lord Seraphim. Believe me.]
{Ah! Y... yes! O... okay. I'll believe you.}
[...Hmm.]
She'd said it to reassure it, but it believed her words at face value immediately.
That sight was exactly like...
her own past self, naively wagging her tail at humans' sweet talk.
'This is... my replica...'
Indeed, its appearance and behavior were uncannily identical to hers.
However, unlike her current self, who had no major issues,
this one's condition looked poor in every way.
Countless large and small wounds covered its body.
It hadn't been cleaned properly, looking filthy overall,
and its clothes were ragged, barely covering its form.
If it weren't her replica, she would have felt pure pity.
However.
'Pity later... First, figure out what this thing really is...'
Exactly what it was.
Why a supposedly scrapped plan was proceeding again.
And...
Why it was in such a state.
As Arcroyal pondered these questions and prepared to ask seriously...
-Grrrrumble...
[Huh?]
{....}
A sudden stomach growl.
Arcroyal felt a twinge of embarrassment.
Come to think of it, she'd heard that regular angels,
especially lower ones, needed food like living creatures.
The one before her eyes clearly radiated hunger at first glance.
'...Hmm. Interrogating it in this state isn't ideal.'
The situation was rough, but at her core, she was an angel.
Her instinct to help those in need was strong, and mercy toward the starving and injured was natural.
'Well... I need more time before re-entering the mage tower anyway...'
Lord Seraphim's Ten Great Precepts, the second one.
Haste makes waste.
Recalling that, she decided to proceed leisurely without pushing.
Her pouch was stuffed with gold coins Solomon had given her, after all.
[You look hungry. Shall we talk over a meal?]
{F... food? Yes! Food! Please!}
[...]
The replica angel, with her exact face, eyes sparkling without a shred of doubt, bit eagerly.
Watching it, Arcroyal felt her cheeks inexplicably flush.
'Now I get it a little... why Lord Seraphim looked at me with that exasperated expression.'
It was reenacting her embarrassingly naive black history in real time.
Yet, feeling an odd closeness to this being so like herself, Arcroyal headed to a nearby restaurant.
The place they arrived at was an outdoor eatery.
The first one in sight sold Eastern cuisine.
{Nom nom nom}
[...Eat slowly. You're drawing attention.]
{Yes! Slowly. Nom nom...}
Mid-stuffing its cheeks with dumplings, it obeyed and ate more calmly at Arcroyal's words.
Watching this being so identical to her,
Arcroyal felt a strange tickle.
'I was shocked at first hearing about clones and such... but seeing it like this, it kinda feels like... the obedient little sister type they talk about?'
With that thought, Arcroyal turned her gaze to her own food.
Noodles in a dark, glossy sauce.
Though she had no need for meals as a Great Seraph, she could eat and taste them, so she planned to enjoy some human cooking for once.
But...
{Gulp...}
[...]
It stared at her portion with sparkling eyes.
Arcroyal sighed softly and reluctantly picked up her chopsticks.
And.
{Ah...}
[Here.]
{! B... but...}
[It's fine. I'm not hungry or anything.]
{!...}
Unlike her, for whom eating was mere enjoyment, meals were a matter of survival for it.
Abandoning her small whim lightly, she handed it over with ease.
[Here, ahh.]
{....Nom.... nom...}
It put the food in its mouth with a trembling air,
chewing away diligently despite what looked like a lump in its throat.
Suppressing the fuzzy feeling rising again, Arcroyal spoke in a serious tone.
[After you finish, answer my questions. I've got more than one or two things to ask.]
{...Sniff.... Y... yes.}
[...?]
Its response oddly mixed with what sounded like tears.
Feeling mild puzzlement, Arcroyal continued feeding it noodles with her chopsticks.
{Th... thank you... for the meal.}
[Good, then now...]
At that moment...
"Finally found you, No. 562."
{Eek!}
In an instant, the child's face stiffened rigidly.
Watching the last flicker of brightness in its face extinguish in a flash,
Arcroyal slowly turned around.
Standing there was a middle-aged male mage in a black robe.
With a young mage in tow behind him, the moment he appeared, the surrounding people jumped up from their seats in haste.
"Th... that guy's... Gei..."
"What are you doing? Let's get out of here quick! If we linger, we might get hurt!"
People scurrying away amid an ominous atmosphere.
Thus, causing a stir from the start of his entrance,
the mages slowly approached the terrified child.
Completely ignoring Arcroyal, who sat right beside it.