Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: I Became a Great Seraph in a Fantasy Novel
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“Well, now. Who would’ve thought a failed experiment like this would slip through during the process? How exactly did you handle the cleanup? Leaving emotions in a test subject? Are you trying to sabotage Lord Baal’s grand plan?”
A middle-aged mage speaking in a chilling tone.
Gai Anar.
He was displeased with the current situation in every way.
The test subject that should have been neatly disposed of was wandering around freely.
Fortunately, he’d received word and was nearby, so he’d come in person, but he hated having to handle what amounted to mere cleanup himself.
And above all, he hated that this had happened at all.
“I... I’m sorry, Master. Even I’ve never seen anything like this after creating over four thousand...”
His disciple’s words dripped with thick fear.
Part of him wanted to blow the boy’s head off right then and there, but he held back for now.
It would be a waste to discard a disciple with a reasonably useful brain just like that.
“Enough excuses. Priority one is disposing of that thing properly, then we head back. Hurry up—we can’t be late for the experiment.”
“Understood, Master Gai.”
At Gai’s command, the young mage immediately began channeling mana into his staff.
The staff, brimming with clear murderous intent, advanced straight toward the head of the test subject sitting before them.
{P... Please... spare... me...}
The test subject pleaded in a trembling voice.
At a glance, it looked like they were about to end the life of a woman begging for mercy, but neither Gai, who had given the order, nor his disciple felt even a shred of remorse.
{Pl... Please... please spare me. I... I...}
A failed product that deserved disposal.
Why hesitate to scrap it?
It might look vaguely human on the outside, but it was nothing more than poorly made trash.
A being whose very existence was a mistake.
The proper course was to eliminate it and incinerate every trace.
At that moment.
[Hold on.] “Hm?”
“What are you?”
*
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ They acted as if she weren’t even there.
Arcroyal stepped in front of them, her voice laced with faint irritation.
[Sorry, but I have business with her too. If it’s not too much trouble...] -Boom!!!
Before Arcroyal could finish her reasonably polite words, a spell came flying.
The blade-like attack stretched precisely toward her nape.
An attack that would sever a normal human’s head in an instant.
However...
“!”
“What?”
Arcroyal blocked the attack without a scratch.
Even looking like this, she was a great seraph who had once swept away ten thousand enemies in a single night.
An attack like this couldn’t even touch a single hair on her head.
Of course, to the two mages who didn’t know this, it just looked like the robed mage had casually blocked their spell.
“Tch... What the hell are you? Who do you serve? How dare you interfere with Master Gai’s work? As a mage of Sodom, don’t you know that’s a grave sin?”
“Step aside quietly. Considering you blocked that attack, I might let you leave now and pretend this didn’t happen. Refuse, and in Lord Baal’s name, I’ll tear your limbs apart!”
[...Hm.] These mages had thrown the first punch, yet now they were issuing dire threats.
Arcroyal saw no value in responding to their words.
She fell silent, rapidly assessing the situation.
From the looks of it, these two held fairly high positions even here.
Shaking them down might yield something useful, but...
Regrettably, the timing was delicate for Arcroyal.
Presences were already gathering from all directions.
They must have sent word via messenger magic in the meantime.
She wouldn’t lose, no matter what.
But she was better at offense than defense, and something might happen to this child here.
This girl likely held key information... and more importantly, Arcroyal had grown a bit fond of her in the short time they’d met. She didn’t want her hurt.
Besides, too much commotion might endanger Eva’s group, who were infiltrating another part of the city.
It could turn into the exact scenario Seraphim had warned about—chasing two rabbits and catching none.
‘Indeed... that’s why you said not to cause a scene. In that case, here...’
Following Seraphim’s teachings, Arcroyal quickly decided.
She eyed the mages speaking in sharp tones.
“Is she deaf?”
“I’ll say it once more. Back off quietly, and there’ll be no bloodshed...”
At that moment.
"[Radiance of the Sun!]" -Flash!!
“!”
“Gah!”
In an instant, an immense light poured from Arcroyal’s body.
The strike overwhelmed their eyes, blinding the two mages completely for a moment.
And then.
{Wh... What?}
[Stay put. Don’t fall behind.] Arcroyal scooped up the girl—who looked just like her—and fled the scene.
A moment later, when the mages recovered their sight, she was long gone.
“Damn it! She got away.”
“Shit! What the hell was that? Master, just wait—I’ll go after them right—”
The young mage vented his frustration while sneakily gauging Gai’s reaction.
But Gai shook his head, stopping him.
“Tch... Forget it. This was just cleanup for defective trash anyway. Some weirdo got involved, but experiments take priority over that. The sacred ritual for Lord Baal.”
“Mm... I understand, Master.”
“Release the chimeric beasts. Let them handle the finish. We’re heading back to the magic tower.”
“Understood.”
The disciple inwardly grumbled but had no choice but to obey his master’s ironclad order.
With that, they left the disposal to the cleanup crew and returned to the magic tower.
*
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Arcroyal evaded while cradling the cloned angel.
But her mind swirled with complex thoughts.
Her encounter with this girl, her own clone.
And even more confusing, the mages’ conversation as they blatantly ignored her.
‘Over four thousand... and some experiment coming up soon...’
She couldn’t just let that slide.
Before grilling the girl for details, Arcroyal felt she needed to infiltrate the magic tower again as soon as possible.
To witness this “experiment” firsthand.
To clearly uncover what they were doing to angels.
‘And depending on the circumstances... I’ll handle it myself...’
Having decided, she planned to take the girl somewhere relatively safe for now...
Near Eva’s group.
But...
[! Tch...] The next moment, ominous presences hurtled toward her.
Not one or two, but multiple entities closing in.
Arcroyal landed hastily on the ground and turned to the girl.
[Listen carefully.] {Y... Yes?}
[Don’t look back from now on. Run to the place I tell you. Got it? Once you’re there, they’ll take care of the rest.] {O... Okay...}
The girl replied in a trembling voice.
Arcroyal couldn’t help but smile faintly and stroke her head.
She didn’t know why she did it amid the urgency.
She just...
Wanted to.
[It’s okay. We’ll meet again soon. Now go!] {Y... Yes!}
Thankfully, the inexplicable gesture seemed to help—the girl hurried off down the alley.
Then Arcroyal slowly turned, fixing her gaze on whatever had appeared behind the girl.
At a glance, they resembled robed humans.
But Arcroyal knew better.
They weren’t human.
Her eyes pierced clothing effortlessly.
Twisted, corrupted bodies.
And barren wings at their waists, feathers fallen out.
In a word,
Failed attempts at angels, patched with random scraps.
Gazing at the repulsive sight,
And at the frail, pitiable forms beneath the exterior,
Arcroyal gathered holy power in both hands and spoke coldly.
[Looks like I’ve got one more thing to investigate...] *
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Obedience and hunger.
From the moment of her birth, those were the only sensations filling her mind.
Basic cognition and knowledge had been implanted.
But all of it served merely to execute those two imperatives.
And now,
Her hunger had reached its peak.
For the past two weeks, she’d had nothing but scant moisture.
Before her, a ray of light appeared.
She followed it aimlessly forward.
She arrived in a vast space.
Standing there were
Beings identical to her.
And then.
A voice echoed in their ears.
A command laced with obedience.
What it demanded was...