| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
On the seventh day of1 homunculus cultivation…
Inside the test tube floated a homunculus slightly older in appearance than me, curled up with her knees hugged to her chest.
As planned, the homunculus’ development had progressed, and she was now on the verge of awakening.
This was my second homunculus synthesis, but it was the first time I would actually awaken one. I compared the image of the girl in the test tube, bearing little resemblance to the homunculus I had prepared as a vessel in my past life, with my own reflection on the tube. I took a deep breath.
“Well then, let’s begin.”
I removed the pump from the oxygen inhalation magic device and replaced it with a hose to drain the Amnios fluid. Turning the valve would release the Amnios fluid, allowing the homunculus to start breathing with her lungs and awaken.
Naturally, she was still naked, so I prepared a change of clothes and a bath towel. My clothes were too small for her, so my mother had made a maid-style outfit for the homunculus. It was a one-piece dress with a white sleeveless top and a black apron-style skirt, with an orange ribbon at the waist on the back side. Similar to my hat, the homunculus had a trademark white frill headpiece called a maid headdress.
“…Come to think of it, I haven’t decided on a name.”
She was a homunculus, so just using the first part, ‘Hom’ as a name would suffice. She was meant to be a weapon and a shield, not a companion. I didn’t want to get too attached. With the name decided, I prepared myself mentally to awaken the homunculus.
“Now, awaken. Hom2—”
As I opened the valve, the Amnios fluid filling the test tube slowly decreased in volume. The homunculus inside, swaying within the tube, awakened to this change and stared straight at me. Liquid droplets from the Amnios fluid dripped from her white hair, sparkling in the morning sunlight streaming through the window. Inadvertently, I found her appearance… beautiful.
“I trust you understand your role already. Show your loyalty to me.”
In the test tube, still not fully drained of Amnios fluid, the homunculus named Hom slowly knelt down. Then, she deeply bowed her head and pledged her loyalty.
“From this moment onward, I dedicate all of myself to you, my master, Leafa Naga Rjuna.”
From Hom’s emotionless voice, I felt assured for the first time of the success of my homunculus synthesis.
After wiping her body dry of Amnios fluid and changing her into the clothes my mother had prepared, I introduced Hom to my parents.
Both my mother and father were delighted by Hom’s birth, warmly welcoming her into our family as if she were one of us3. Though the name might seem arbitrarily chosen, I insisted that naming her ‘Hom,’ derived from homunculus, was practical and easy to remember, fitting her nature perfectly. I added an afterthought, explaining that the name was chosen with memorability and relevance in mind.
“…What do you think, Hom? Is this name acceptable to you?” To reassure my still concerned parents, I asked Hom herself about the name.
“I am quite fond of it, Master.”
I knew Hom would never object, but it was enough to convince my parents.
Though Hom already had the knowledge and memories shared from me through the alchemy, it was necessary to acclimate her to external stimuli after being removed from the Amnios fluid. For the remainder of the winter break, I decided to let her stay at home.
From the very beginning, Hom assisted my mother, impressing her with her household chores from the first day.
“Praise and encouragement nurture love. Be sure to praise Hom.”
“Got it. Hom, come here.”
As instructed by my mother, I added a gesture of stroking her head, just as my parents had always done to me. Hom bent down to make it easier for me to pet her, closing her eyes and offering her head.
“You’re doing well. Keep it up.”
“Thank you, Master.”
While stroking her head and praising her, I noticed Hom looking up at me with a gaze full of curiosity. It was different from a smile, but it conveyed that she was happy, as she wasn’t suppressing all her emotions.
She’d probably look cute if she smiled.
The words that popped into my head surprised even myself. What was I thinking, considering such things with a homunculus?
“…Is something the matter, Master?”
“No, it’s nothing. Shall we go to bed, Hom?”
Though surprised, it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. It was different from the affection I felt for my family and Alfe, but it wasn’t a bad feeling after all.
My parents had prepared a bed and bedding for Hom in my room, so I followed suit. Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if she stayed in the storage shed, but I figured my parents would worry about that. With my parents watching, Hom and I would sleep in the same bedroom from now on.
“Good night, Hom.”
“Good night, Master.”
After giving Hom her final command for the day, I turned away and shifted to find a comfortable sleeping position. Although our beds were separated, it felt eerie to be in the same room with hardly any presence from her.
It seemed it’d take some time to get used to this lifestyle. In that sense, having a homunculus whose environmental adaptation could be controlled beforehand was handy. I forgot to include the fact that I, a human, would need the adjusting, in my calculations. After all, I—
Midway through these aimless thoughts, my consciousness drifted into the realm of dreams.
Hom
