Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Restraints
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I gaze quietly at my mother.
She's looking at me with the child, who's still smiling.
"Theo."
"Yes, Mother."
"Mommy."
"Yes, Mommy."
"Want to guess what gift Mommy's giving you?"
At Mother's words, I turn my gaze back to the child.
She looks almost twice my age, but still... to me, she's a kid.
A human Mother might give me.
Defining it that way makes my head hurt, but what can I do?
I slowly voice my first hypothesis.
"A slave...?"
"The Empire only enslaves criminals, and I have no intention of attaching something so lowly to you."
Not a slave, then.
"A teacher...?"
"Why would I ask this child when I could request the Tower Lord or Knight Commander?"
That makes sense.
Not a slave, not a teacher.
Not a maid either. I already have a dedicated one.
Then...
"...Fiancée?"
"No!"
"No way!"
"Ah, no...!"
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Lily sis, Ravire sis, and Isfil shouted in unison.
Why? Isn't seven years old around the age for a fiancée?
Is my knowledge wrong?
As I pondered that,
"...Theo, do you really think I'd bring your actual fiancée?"
Mother gazes at me steadily.
It wasn't a joke. It was the scariest expression Mother had ever directed at me in my life.
"Uh, um. Sorry."
I apologized hurriedly, and only then did Mother sigh and look away.
"Theo."
"Yes, Mo... Mommy."
"The person you'll marry..."
Suddenly, Mother looks at me and squeezes her eyes shut.
"Sorry. Hearing about your marriage made my emotions well up for a moment..."
Mother muttered in a choked voice before speaking again.
"Must pass my test."
"...Pardon?"
A test?
"I need to check if they have what it takes to claim you."
"..."
Like a daughter-in-law trial?
But my marriage is at least ten years away.
Just forget it and live on.
She'll nag me to marry when the time comes anyway.
Thinking that, I look at the others.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"Do I have to pass that test too?"
"Of course."
"Me too, Mother?"
"Ravire as well."
The sisters talking nonsense,
"..."
And Isfil, glancing at me furtively.
No, that's not the point right now.
"...So, who is she?"
The one I'm most curious about.
I point at the person still beaming at me.
"...Since you clearly don't know, I'll explain."
Ahem. Mother clears her throat.
"It's a homunculus."
"Homunculus?"
It's a concept I've never heard in my seven years in this world.
Of course, I know what a homunculus is.
Just that, in my memories, homunculi are a bit...
"Mommy."
"What is it?"
"Does this homunculus have special eyes, hide in shadows, grow long nails, or binge-eat or something?"
"No such functions, Theo."
A relief, yet somehow disappointing.
I check the others' faces, wondering if they know, but no one seems to.
Lily sis is tilting her head too, so that's that.
"Since no one knows, I'll explain."
Ahem. Mother continues confidently.
"A homunculus is the pinnacle of magitech."
"..."
"Last time, during the invasion war... no. Ahem, when I visited another country on business, I brought one back."
I feel like I heard something I shouldn't have.
The child still smiling brightly at me.
"Mainly used for protecting the master."
"Ah."
Like a bodyguard knight.
"Of course, it's useful for all sorts of things beyond that."
"...All sorts?"
"Assists with magic, or chats if you want company."
Chats?
I look at the homunculus again, and only then does she speak, still smiling.
"Nice to meet you! Master Theodor!"
A clear voice flows out.
"Ah, uh..."
I could only respond awkwardly.
"Doesn't sleep, so can guard you 24/7, and will help your life in many ways."
"..."
Grateful, but...
"What's wrong, Theo?"
"No, nothing."
It's burdensome.
Too human-like.
Part of me wants to ask Mother about the homunculus's self-awareness or personality, but...
"..."
In a fantasy world like this, it'd be hard to get a straight answer.
Should I refuse?
But I can't not accept.
"..."
Still, from my short time with Mother, I know her temperament.
If I refuse here, she'll get upset for no reason.
And if she does...
'It'll be exhausting.'
Not just exhausting.
Last time Mother got mad at Ravire sis, she didn't speak to her for a month.
I had to console a crying Ravire sis every day because of it.
If she turns on me later...
"..."
Unlikely, but no need to stir up trouble.
My choice is set, then.
"Thank you. I'll gladly accept, Mommy."
"Use it well, Theo."
Mother smiles softly, pats the homunculus's back, and she walks slowly toward me.
"Nice to meet you again! Master Theodor!"
"Ah, uh..."
Our maid already looks so overworked. If I give her some vacation time...
Just make sure she doesn't get discarded.
Anyway. Gifts all received.
I tried returning Isfil's Holy Grail, but when I tried to give it back, she teared up, so I couldn't.
Ended up accepting stolen goods as a gift, huh.
After that, a lavish feast appeared out of nowhere, stuffed myself with dessert too, and returned to my room.
"..."
Click. The door closes, and I glance at the homunculus.
First time seeing black hair.
Don't think I've seen black hair in this world.
And as expected of a homunculus, stunningly beautiful.
All the women around me are beauties.
As I thought that,
"Master Theodor?"
The homunculus tilts her head, and rubbing my temple, I speak.
"What should I call you?"
"Whatever name Master Theodor gives me. Usually, they don't name us."
"That's a bit..."
Not naming her would be inconvenient to call.
I ponder for a moment.
Homunculus... Homunculus...
"...How about Clue?"
"Clue, you say?"
"Your name."
Mash a few words together, should work.
I look at the homunculus,
"Clue! Perfect. Call me Clue from now on!"
She beams.
"..."
I examine her face quietly.
"For now. Hm."
Think of her as machinery.
"How do you... charge?"
"Charge?"
"Yeah, you know..."
"Ah, you mean power source."
Clue claps her palms together with a gentle smile.
"Power comes from Master's mana."
"My mana?"
"Since you're my master, yes."
"Hm, not hard."
Mana, huh.
"How do I give mana?"
"Just place your hand on my shoulder."
Clue smiles softly.
"..."
I slowly place my hand on her shoulder and transfer mana.
Mana flows through my hand.
Watching it absorb into Clue's body, I reflect on magic.
The more I learn, the more this world's mana feels sloppy.
Shouldn't mana be more complex and difficult?
At least in the novels I've read.
Hierarchies, or at least circles or something.
But here, it's so vague.
Convenient spells exist, but attack magic is scarce.
Clean exists, but no Meteor? Ridiculous.
I discussed Meteor with Mother, result?
"Our Theo has emperor potential!"
Something like that.
Divided into beginner, intermediate, advanced, whatever.
Who made this rootless magic system?
Yet there's a Magic Tower.
Someday, talk to Lily sis about this too.
As I thought that,
"...Master?"
Clue's voice rings in my head.
"Hm?"
"This much..."
"Ah, yeah."
I remove my hand from infusing mana, and Clue looks at me perplexed.
"Y-you don't need to give so much..."
"No, it's fine."
"That can't be..."
"Really fine."
Using lots of mana brings fatigue.
But none now.
I clench and unclench my fist to check. Nothing.
"...If you insist."
I recall Mother's words as Clue nods.
Doesn't sleep at night.
"Clue."
"Yes, Master."
"Do you know everything?"
"N-no. Sorry. I'm just a homunculus, don't know everything..."
I see.
Then...
"Wait a sec."
There should be books around here.
Borrowed some for cultural studies.
I tiptoe to barely reach the shelf, pull out a few.
She needs life knowledge more than raw info.
"Master, dangerous. Let me..."
"It's fine."
I'm basically pro at this; no big deal.
I hand her the books.
"Here."
"Master, why give these to me...?"
"You don't sleep."
Not sleeping is hell.
Even one or two all-nighters ruin life; past that, serious quit thoughts; a week, measuring office height to floor.
Every day? Even inhuman, it's tough.
Without even chat company.
"Wish I could pull all-nighters sometimes too..."
Kid body too honest? Gets sleepy like clockwork after a bit.
"So read these. Tell me when done."
"Master..."
I hand the books to perplexed Clue and flop onto bed.
"Gonna sleep."
Stuffed and bathed; sleepy as hell.
Leaning on bed,
Sleep came swiftly.
Not long after the child said he'd sleep, steady breathing sounds.
"..."
Staring blankly at the books, the homunculus now named Clue gazes quietly at the child.
Sleeping without a hint of fear.
"..."
She clenches and unclenches her fist again.
Homunculi consume lots of mana.
Built as weapons, basically.
Masters always impose restraints, give minimal mana, only when needed.
Most homunculi wake to engraved restraints, live in fear of stopping from mana shortage, leashed to masters.
She had restraints too.
Just, uniquely, all new ones focused solely on never harming the master.
Maximum restraints possible, all for protecting the child.
Ignoring everything else; as long as child safe, anything goes.
Intense obsession to protect the child, chillingly so.
"..."
Clue reaches out briefly.
Pale moonlight outside.
Like this, she could escape and flee for a century.
Even if child oblivious. That massive amount he gave.
Plus, pretended fine out of consideration, then crashed from exhaustion.
Her gaze falls on the books.
Just handed by the child.
"..."
Looks out window, then back to child, sits slowly.
Escape anytime.
With this mana, always.
Today, read the books.
Thinking that, she turns the page.
"..."
Sound of turning pages echoed through the night.