| Author: Sasaki Ichiro | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mab | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Silva | |
“Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer too, I’m half crazy, All for the love of you~♪”
Coppelia hummed a cheerful tune that somehow carried an undertone of madness, as she walked lightly ahead of us. Her back was completely relaxed, as if she were enjoying a family picnic, showing no signs of caution.
On our end, we carried our weapons and remained on high alert, with Vier, the Sirius rivaling an SS-class magical beast, accompanying us. Yet, despite all this, Coppelia showed no signs of caution or concern, leaving us to wonder whether she trusted us that much or was simply confident that nothing could go wrong… It was hard to tell.
We proceeded down a corridor—or rather, a long, narrow room resembling a laboratory. The room was cluttered with emerald tablets, boiling flasks filled with sulfur and mercury, magical circles drawn on the floor, lamps, scales, hourglasses, and various mysterious tools commonly associated with alchemy, such as ‘Philosopher’s Eggs’ and ‘Alchemical Crucibles.’ The space was so packed that there was hardly any room to walk, forcing us to carefully weave our way through the narrow paths between the scattered items.
As we moved forward, Eren, who was following closely behind, whispered in a low, uneasy voice as she observed our surroundings.
“This place feels a lot like the magic experimentation building in the manor, but it’s even more… unsettling.”
The walls were lined with stuffed animals and magical creatures, jars filled with preserved organs, eyeballs, severed heads, beakers emitting ominous, vibrantly colored smoke, alchemical crucibles containing homunculi, and cages housing chimeras—likely the result of combining different magical creatures.
“…This is definitely the workshop of someone whose profession starts with an M.”1
And no, we’re not talking about a manga artist, masseuse, or maiko.
Despite the fact that we had naturally followed her into this place, the sheer unpleasantness of the surroundings made me question whether we would encounter someone here who could be reasoned with. Internally, I raised my level of caution by two notches.
Just in case, I discreetly placed talismans in inconspicuous spots, such as under the desk or in the gaps between various specimens. These are just slips of paper that emit almost no mana, so they’re unlikely to be discovered. However, in a pinch, they’re designed to react to even the slightest mana wave and explode like landmines.
Although these talismans don’t have much destructive power, they could serve as a diversion or create a smokescreen when necessary.
After being led around, we were finally shown into a small room. Though it still had shelves filled with experimental equipment, it also contained a few chairs, desks, and bookshelves, giving it a slight air of being lived in.
“Please, please, have a seat! I’ll prepare some delicious tea right away!”
At the back of the room, a large pipe organ was installed, giving the place a slight resemblance to a chapel. There’s a saying that “alchemy is music,” so the organ likely has some magical significance as well. (I can play the piano and violin to a degree befitting a noble, though my skill is just enough to be passable in polite company.)
Following her suggestion, Eren and I sat down at a plain wooden table and chairs (while Vier sat on the floor nearby). Shortly afterward, Coppelia returned, pushing a cart laden with tea utensils.
“Thank you for waiting! The tea snacks are currently being bloodlet… I mean, prepared, so please wait a moment.”
““No, thank you! We’re quite full!!””
Upon hearing the ominous phrase, we quickly declined.
“Is that so? Well, it can’t be helped since the bile’s freshness is already fading a bit,” Coppelia didn’t seem to mind as she poured herbal tea into our teacups. Surprisingly, a rich aroma soon filled the room.
I cautiously reached for the cup that had been set before me, lifting it along with the saucer to take a sniff.
“…It smells like fruit.”
“Maybe something berry-like?”
Eren, still wary, tilted her head in thought.
“Oh, you’re sharp! This is a special fragrant tea made from surplus Batacutilius used in experiments,” Coppelia said, standing there with a pleased smile on her face.
“Batacutilius…? Well, at least it’s not poisonous,” I noted.
Hearing my words, Eren sighed in relief and brought the cup to her lips.
(Batacutilius, like black agate, is essential for necromancy, especially in reanimation rituals, but there’s no need to mention that. Some things are better left unknown.)
Just as I was trying to keep that detail to myself, Coppelia casually added, “Oh, and as a secret ingredient, there are ten castor seeds, a mandrake root, and five or six henbane leaves mixed in.”
Everything she listed was highly toxic, and the amounts she mentioned were lethal.
“—Guhahhh!!!”
I instantly spat out the tea I had been about to drink, coughing violently as I quickly snatched Eren’s cup away. Without a word, I used Poison Recovery with all my might on her.
Then, just to be safe, I cast it on myself as well.
“Wow, impressive! As expected of Lady Clara, your healing art is as sharp as ever. —But don’t you think you recovered a bit too quickly? Usually, you like to take your time with it,” Coppelia commented, seemingly unfazed.
“I don’t have the kind of twisted taste that enjoys poisoning myself for fun!” I shouted back in anger.
Coppelia responded with a puzzled look, blinking mechanically several times. Then her gaze shifted to Eren, who was still on edge after nearly being poisoned.
“Um, is she not the sacrifice for this time? To be offered as usual after lulling her into a false sense of security to break the seal?”
“What is that supposed to mean?! I don’t understand any of this! If you don’t give a proper explanation, I’ll consider you an enemy!!”
As I directed genuine hostility toward her, Coppelia blinked repeatedly.
“An explanation, after all this time…?”
She tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and then, after a short pause, seemed to realize something. She clapped her hands together as if she’d figured it out.
“Oh, I see. The backlash from your rejuvenation has caused issues in your memory region. According to my search results, this condition matches the so-called ‘senility’ symptom. In that case, I’ll start from the beginning and explain.”
“I’m not senile!!” I protested against Coppelia, who had come to a completely disrespectful conclusion on her own, but she casually brushed it off with a, “Anyone with that symptom says so,” which only added to my stress.
