Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Business (6)
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Looking at the witch like that, I became convinced of one thing.
No matter what I did, sticking close to a rich person whose sense of money was completely shattered was the absolute best.
'Gotta gouge her while I still can!'
I immediately plastered on my best salesman smile. With the most eager and polite demeanor I could muster, I asked,
"Since you're being so generous, I won't haggle any further. That said, does the Witch have any particular form in mind for the clone? If you provide me with enough data, I might just be able to make it happen."
"Data?"
Her face turned indifferent at my words.
"You might be able to have a deep conversation with me about this bizarre recipe of yours. But anyone else...? Eh, not really interested. Anyone will do."
So she wouldn't even bother dealing with anyone who wasn't on her intellectual level.
"Th-then... what about the Witch herself?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Flip it around—if your clone stays near me and shares information, that could work too."
"Hmm, my data..."
But her third eye narrowed suspiciously, reading into my intentions.
She must have thought the word "data" meant I'd demand to grope her body everywhere or collect her fluids—some perverted nonsense like that.
"It doesn't have to be physical info. Just give me a little time to observe you up close, and it's a simple matter."
At my clarification, she pondered for a moment. Then, as if a brilliant idea had struck her, her face lit up.
"Ah, I see. A self-portrait. Like an artist's ability, right? I've invited painters here before to capture the mansion's scenery."
"Yes, that's exactly what I—"
"But they all drew it so gloomily that I had their heads chopped off."
"......"
I kept my smile steady, pretending not to be fazed, and pressed on.
"Fortunately, my clones won't function at all if they don't resemble the original enough. So any unsavory incidents you're worried about won't happen. And you won't even need to sit still like for a painting."
"That's a relief."
Only then did she seem truly at ease, smiling softly.
Right at that moment.
From somewhere in the mansion, the low, heavy toll of an old clock bell echoed: dong, dong.
"Ah, time's up already."
She rose regretfully. With her movement, the tacky clothes enveloping her shifted back into an elegant, antique red silk dress.
"You should stay the night. The beasts around here get fiercer after dark. I'll prepare a room for our guest."
"Th-thank you."
As I stammered my thanks, she pointed with her chin at Doris, still groveling at her feet like a dog.
"Take this pathetic alchemist with you."
"You mean..."
"She's your slave per the contract anyway. Have her attend you. Spending the night chatting about that odd recipe of yours wouldn't be bad."
And so, under the guidance of the same emotionless middle-aged butler who'd brought me earlier, I was led to a spacious room on the second floor.
The room was surprisingly cozy and luxurious.
Mana lamps emitting a soft glow, a sofa draped in plush velvet, and in the center, a massive bed so fluffy it felt like lying on clouds.
I threw myself onto it without hesitation.
The soft mattress enveloped my body gently. Staring blankly at the intricate ceiling fresco, I let out a long sigh.
'How the hell... did I survive the day?'
No.
It wasn't just surviving.
I'd exploited the witch's weakness, gained the upper hand in the contract, and pocketed an unimaginable fortune plus rare elixirs.
All in all, today was a massive win.
Is this what a salesman's hard work earns you?
"Hoo..."
Then, the door creaked open cautiously.
I just turned my head slightly and spotted a figure peeking in hesitantly from the doorway.
Doris Finch.
Still lounging on the bed, I beckoned her lazily.
"Come in. Closer."
Her shoulders twitched at my words.
Gone was her wild, manic personality. Like a prisoner awaiting execution, she approached with a terrified face. Kneeling on the floor by my bed, she whispered in a voice barely audible.
"M-Master... did you call for me...?"
I grabbed her ass as she drew near, kneading it like a ripe fruit filling my palm.
"So why'd you do it? You knew better than anyone that recipe wasn't simple enough to just blab about and sell off. You made it yourself."
The flesh yielded softly between my fingers.
Normally, someone like her would've been untouchable—even for me—but now she was the witch's slave.
A little sexual harassment wasn't an issue.
"Eek...!"
Doris shuddered in resistance. Her trembling shoulders made the sensation of her plump ass even more vivid.
With a face on the verge of tears, she desperately pleaded.
"I-I didn't know it'd turn out like this! I just made the elixir with the recipe you gave me and sold it... Then scary people burst in, I got sold at auction, and became a slave...! I swear, it wasn't on purpose! Please believe me!"
Tsk.
Even I had to admit her fate was rough.
She was supposed to be a docile shop NPC, but overnight she'd lost everything and ended up a slave in this hellhole.
I pondered what to do with her.
Fuck her brains out?
She was my slave now—no resisting if I stripped her and ravaged her right here.
But this was the witch's mansion.
She was about to become an important sponsor. Damaging her property without permission could rub her the wrong way.
In the end, I chose the safest option.
"Fine. Stop crying now."
"Hic... Master..."
"Just quietly attend me tonight."
I wiped the tears streaming down her cheek with my finger, speaking as gently as I could.
Surprised by my unexpected mercy, she just looked up at me in shock.
'You think you're shocked? I shocked myself.'
Damn, that juicy ass.
Wanna pound it right now.
Hold back. Patience.
I can drag her topside anytime and rail her then.
'Better check my Maker skill again anyway.'
It had hit level 5, unlocking a new feature.
Clone Creation Lv.4 → Lv.5
You can now deploy up to two clones simultaneously.
I'd always been able to summon and maintain multiple clones at once.
Like Cheon Da-eun in the rift and Rena by my side.
But there was a fatal limitation.
One summon at a time.
And only one clone per space.
If not for that, given my usual antics, I'd have thrown Ira and Yoo Seol-hyun on the same bed for a 3P ages ago—or even dragged Big Sis Cheon Da-eun in for a 4P whenever I got bored.
But the new keyword was "deploy."
Anyone who's played a mobile game knows the nuance.
'Like party setup.'
Now I could deploy two clones in one party at once.
Meaning I could pull out two clones together for coordinated teamwork.
For a test, I thought of my two most rational, controllable clones.
Aira Petrovna and Miyazaki Rena.
'Both machine minds, after all.'
These two wouldn't cause pointless trouble in the finicky witch's mansion or derail my plans.
I sat up on the bed and summoned the pair.
Fzzzzzt—!
With a burst of blue noise, the two clones materialized.
"Eek...?"
Doris, kneeling beside me, let out a short shriek of terror at the sight. But I ignored her completely.
Before my eyes stood my two perfect creations, existing side by side.
Two beautiful women staring at each other with emotionless eyes.
My girls.
Seeing them together for the first time made my lips curl up involuntarily.
I spread my arms wide and pulled them both into my embrace at once.
"M-Master...?"
"Master, can't... breathe."
The soft, warm feel of flesh pressed against me from both sides.
'Ahh, this is it. Flowers in both hands.'
Basking in a strange sense of conquest, I murmured to the two with their faces buried in my shoulders.
"Say hi to each other. First time seeing one another, right?"
At my words, they turned their heads toward each other with mechanical motions. An awkward silence hung in the air. Aira spoke first.
"...I'm Aira Petrovna. I handle Master’s clone creation duties."
"Miyazaki Rena. Slime Hunter. I'm... Master's bodyguard... I think."
A stiff, awkward introduction.
But even that was endearing to me.
Breaking the quiet room's silence was none other than Doris Finch, eyes wide with excitement.
"Wait! What is this? Homunculi?"
Oh, right.
She wasn't just any alchemist—she specialized in life alchemy.
That exquisitely detailed body model she'd made in the past was still serving usefully via Aira's hands.
Having witnessed my perfect clones, the madness she'd forgotten sparked back in her eyes.
Forgetting she was a slave, she jumped up and rushed toward me.
"No, it's different! The mana structure's different! They're... alive! How? How did you create living flesh—and two of them at once—so perfectly?!"
"Hey, calm down..."
"How far can they think? Higher reasoning? Self-awareness? Wait, from that chat earlier, they must have egos! This is revolutionary! A new horizon for life synthesis!"
That was when.
Rena's eyes, watching her, gleamed coldly.
Slash—!
Hardened slime extended from Rena's fingertips like a razor, neatly slicing Doris's wrist.
"Kyaaak!"
"Rena!"
I yelled in surprise.
Just slicing her arm off like that?
Rena replied flatly, unfazed.
"She was rude to Master."
"Even so, that's a bit..."
Way over the line.
I was about to scold Rena for acting on her own.
But something was off.
No scream echoed as expected. No splatter of blood or rip of flesh. The room remained eerily still.
What the...?
When I looked back, Doris was smiling.
Even with her severed forearm rolling at her feet. No sign of pain, no blood from the stump—just tangled mana circuits and mechanical parts visible inside.
"Surprised?"
She grinned like she'd pulled off a fun prank.
"My body's partially a precision body model too!"
Ah.
I glanced at Rena, who nodded slightly with her blank expression.
Her way of saying, 'Safe to cut.'
'Haa... this bitch.'
Once I grasped the situation, rage boiled up.
Acting like this in front of me without even realizing she's a slave now?
Mad scientist type—eyes flip the moment curiosity hits.
I'd felt a flicker of pity earlier. My mistake.
Types like this need breaking in harder.
Was gonna keep her quiet overnight, but no.
"Rena."
"Yes."
At my icy call, her head turned.
"Slice off every usable part on that bitch."
"Understood."
Slash, slash, slash—!
"W-Wait! Kyaaak!"
Rena's hardened slime whipped through the air like a lash. First, it severed her waist clean, splitting upper and lower body. Then the remaining left arm and the shoulder joint of the already-cut right.
Like intricate surgery or disassembling a toy, her body broke down into parts in seconds.
Now pure terror paled Doris Finch's face. Cold sweat poured from her remaining torso—head and trunk only—like rain.
"W-Wait! Master, I-I'm sorry! L-Look, my parts... if detached over 24 hours, they become unusable...? Can't reattach, it'll be trouble, p-please, have mercy...!"
To her desperate cry, I replied coldly.
"It's fine."
"Huh?"
"I only need this one onahole anyway. Use it for the night, reassemble in the morning."
"Eh? M-My, l-l-lower half?"
"Yeah?"
I looked at her last remaining head and innocently countered.
"Why's this your lower half?"
"......"
"It's the onahole I bought from the Witch."
Her rolling head went deathly pale.