Author: Sasaki Ichiro	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Mab	English Source: Re:Library
Editor(s): Silva

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

The two templar knights, who had started to leave along with the adventurers serving as guards and the guild staff, noticed the commotion and returned from the hallway to the lobby.

“Huh? What’s going on in there?”
“Believe it or not, there’s a catfight between Lady Clara and the brat’s girlfriend.”
“They’re fighting over him?!”
“Well, they’re fighting over someone, alright, but it’s over the orange-haired maid. Seems like she and that girl used to date. And now, they’re trying to settle their past mistakes.”
“Lesbians, huh… Not my thing, but I won’t complain. Wait, isn’t that Guildmaster Karolos over there?”
“You’re right. I thought he disappeared after Marina chewed him out earlier for hitting on the new receptionist, but here he is again, chasing after another girl.”
“What a guy…”

The gathered crowd, peeking in with curiosity, was already spreading rumors.

Not a single person here seemed to feel any tension—everyone was just indulging in their nosy curiosity. But when I glanced at Colin’s girlfriend’s tense profile, I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling creeping up on me… Was I just overthinking things?

And then, as if completely oblivious to the atmosphere around her—

“Let’s see… Individual Identification Number θ-008… Oh! So you’re Number Eight—Eighette! Long time no see, Eighette! The last time we met, you were still inside Master Victor’s prized Cup of Hermes. He was tossing in randomly summoned spirits, specially selected shrine maiden blood, the s̲e̲m̲e̲n̲ of a high-mana nobleman acquired through back channels, and all sorts of other things. It’s impressive you’ve managed to maintain a human form at all. Good job, good job!

“Then again, even Dolly Kadmons, those bred from purebloods and magically modified as infants, only live about half a normal lifespan. And since you, Eighette, were an experimental body made for feedback purposes, isn’t your time almost up? You’d better enjoy life while you still can!”

With an overly familiar tone, Coppelia casually rattled off personal details—no, not just personal details, but what were clearly top-secret matters about the Church’s dark side and the tragic circumstances of her past.

The girl—whom Coppelia had referred to as “Eighette” (which, by the way, is not a human name)—had been frozen in place. But as the conversation progressed, the blood drained back into her once-pale face, and she started trembling.

Her complexion went beyond a normal blush and turned a deep, flushed red.

(Oh no…)

As Coppelia’s nominal master, saying this was awkward would be an understatement.

(I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.)

I pressed my hands together in my mind, silently apologizing as I averted my gaze and took a slight step away from “Eighette” (temporary name).

But she clearly had no attention to spare for me. Raising her head proudly, Eighette glared fiercely at Coppelia.

“Don’t call me by that ridiculous name! I have a proper name now!”
“Oh? And what is it?”

I want to punch that smug smile.

“I have no name to give to the likes of you!” With a furious roar, Eighette planted her feet firmly, standing her ground.

“Wow, you’re a pain…” Coppelia sighed and shook her head, looking utterly exasperated—only to be met with a unanimous You’re the problem here glare from everyone present.

Stomping her foot, Eighette launched into a passionate condemnation of Coppelia.

“The arrogance of treating humans as mere playthings! The audacity to toy with life without remorse! You who wear the guise of holy men but are nothing more than fiends in human skin! I live in hiding, bearing the shame of my survival, for the sole purpose of taking revenge on you all! To avenge my sisters—those ‘sacrificial lambs’ who were deemed failures and discarded like trash—I have endured, sharpening my hatred like a blade!”

“Aah, is that so? Sounds rough. Good luck with that~”
“Don’t act like this has nothing to do with you, watching from your safe little perch! You’re part of the cult I should be avenging myself on—no, you’re one of the root causes, aren’t you!”

“No no, I’ve already washed my hands of that world. These days, I’m just your average, run-of-the-mill maid, blending right in. If you really can’t let it go, go vent your grudge on Master Victor who’s still alive in this era. His lab’s located just past the boss room of the Labyrinth near Clarus, by the way.”

“…Hooh.” As most people stood there with visible question marks above their heads at Coppelia’s excuse—or rather, her completely absurd rant—I heard a small, intrigued hum from Emil. A fickle wind spirit whispered the sound to me.

Incidentally, I had no way of knowing at the time that this offhand comment from Coppelia would come to hold significant meaning later on…

“Don’t mock me! Or is that confidence I hear? You must be so satisfied, right? After sacrificing me and my sisters in your attempt to create an artificial saint—you finally completed your masterpiece!”

She flung her arm out and pointed dramatically—at me, for some reason.

“—Eh??”

A totally idiotic noise slipped out of my mouth.

“Excuse you, Lady Clara is not an artificial Saintess made by the Church. I mean, she does have some Dolly Kadmon genes, but still.”

Wait, what?! This is the first I’m hearing of this!!

“Lies! Someone this young, capable of advanced healing arts and proficient in multiple schools of magic… and most of all, that inhuman appearance!! If she’s not an artificial saintess crafted by the cult’s secret rites and bloodlines—then what the hell is she?!”

To Eighette’s desperate cry—(and excuse me, but ‘inhuman appearance’ feels like a low blow)—Coppelia responded proudly, puffing out her chest:

“She’s a mutated freak of nature!”

Author’s Note:

Since there were questions, here’s some additional clarification.

“Dolly Kadmons” (〈初源的人間〉) are essentially pure-blooded individuals born from generations of selective breeding within the cult—specifically among those with high magical power and aptitude for healing arts. Then, after birth, the infants are subjected to enhancement procedures.

In short, they’re the crystallized result of generations of magical hotties… ahem, let’s say diligently pairing off. So, despite everything, they are still human.

In contrast, artificial saints are full-on homunculi—created by tossing ingredients into an alchemical cauldron and having alchemists stir and mix them like some kind of grotesque recipe.

That research was later fed back into the development of Dolly Kadmons.

Also, the average lifespan of a Dolly Kadmon is around 40–50 years, whereas a homunculus lasts about 15–20 years.