| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
A terrible chill ran through me, raising goosebumps all over my body. Inside, I felt a revolting sensation as if my organs were being turned inside out.
Something wet wrapped around my hand that was touching it, pulling me into the Gate of Truth. It was an indescribably unpleasant feeling, as though I were being swallowed by a monster’s insides. I endured the nauseating warmth until my body was finally drawn inside the gate.
“Hom…”
I sensed Hom approaching, slightly delayed. The writhing mass of tentacles making up the door morphed into Hom’s form1, indicating that she too would soon enter this space.
This was my fourth visit to the World of Truth. The first time, I was granted entry and learned the method to transmute the Nehushtan. The second time, I came to discover the process of creating a perfect homunculus to serve as my soul’s vessel. The third time, I visited to store the Ars Magna.
“…No matter how many times I come here, I never get used to it…”
I nearly vomited from the overwhelming discomfort, but with an empty stomach, all that came up was sour bile, burning my throat and bringing tears to my eyes.
“…Are you alright, Hom?”
When I looked, Hom was already by my side. She must have been silently watching over me, waiting for me to catch my breath.
“No problem, Master.”
Hom looked more composed than I expected. The emotion control, set to minimize fear and disgust, seemed to be working well. I wished I could benefit from it temporarily, as being in this place was profoundly unpleasant and I doubted I could endure the discomfort for long.
The intense nausea drained all the heat from my body. I felt cold, my legs unsteady. Just breathing the air in this space felt like it was shortening my lifespan.
“Are you alright, Master?”
“…Honestly, I hate even breathing this air, but we must hurry for Mother’s sake. Let’s move, Hom.”
“Understood.”
Despite my quick, anxious speech, Hom understood and started walking. Beyond the Gate of Truth was a circular plaza leading to a corridor made of crystal-clear, reddish-purple mineral. Outside the corridor was a deep darkness, scattered with star-like glimmers, an abyss so terrifying that it seemed it could swallow me whole.
Glass had stored Ars Magna in a small room at the end of this corridor. The walls of this room, made of the same material as the corridor, had numerous pedestals carved into them, one of which held Ars Magna.
However, when we reached the room, all the pedestals were empty. Ars Magna was nowhere to be found.
“Master…?”
Hom called out to me, standing in the center of the small room.
“It seems it has been retrieved. We’ll need to meet the Administrator.”
Meeting the Administrator was something I had hoped to avoid, but there was no other choice.
“Then, we should head to the altar in the deepest part, correct?”
Hom quoted my past life’s memories perfectly in response to my murmur. It was no surprise, considering she had been recognized as qualified alongside me. Despite having a different soul, the qualifications had been passed on to her replica body.
“That’s right. Can you manage?”
“Of course, Master.”
Compared to me, Hom seemed to be in much better condition. I could tell, without looking in a mirror, that my face was pale. Perhaps because of this child’s body, the disgust was much worse than when I was Glass, making it hard to walk straight due to dizziness.
As I tried to leave the room, I stumbled and had to brace myself against the wall, the unpleasant sensation causing me to double over and retch.
“I will carry you, Master.”
Hom immediately crouched down, urging me to get on her back.
“Sorry, Hom…”
I would have preferred to walk on my own, but it seemed this body couldn’t handle the strain. Carried by Hom, I set off toward the deepest part of the World of Truth.
