Solar Mage

Chapter 41: Homunculus

I can feel my bones healing, and moving back to place, which is a good thing, but... why does it feel so painful?! It feels like my bones are breaking rather than being healed!

I writhe in pain as I lay on my hands, using them as a substitute for a pillow.

A few seconds pass as Tin cautiously emerges from behind the monolith, looking at me– and then the Hollow before coming out.

"Oh Tin, there you are, I needed your help with something."

I say while slightly turning my head rightward, facing each other; eye to eye.

"What do you need?!"

He says nervously while quickly making his way over to me after seeing the massive hole through the hollow's chest. Getting to me, he crouches down on my right side. I turn my head up to face the ceiling.

This is definitely more comfortable.

"You've been an adventurer for a long time right? I tried to figure out what kind of monster it is but I just can't. In all the Monster Encyclopedias I've read, none of them match this one's description. Do you know anything about this monster?"

He looks over to the Hollow's corpse and stares at the hollow's corpse intensely, seemingly examining it.

"Hmm... I've never seen or heard of such a monster before, either. But seeing your fight, despite this– this thing, having no blood, muscles, or even mana, it managed to have the better of you for the majority of the fight."

Kgh– I thought no one saw that– but I won in the end so why did you have to bring it up?

Tin continues, not facing me but seemingly deep in thought.

"Say– did the monster always have a hole in its chest and face, or did you create them?"

Why is he asking about that?

"I made the hole in its chest, but the creepy hole in its face has always been there."

We both get up, I stay still as Tin walks over to the monster's upper body, and suddenly crouches down and reaches his hand into its hollow face.

Ew– what is he doing? Reaching into its face hole? This monster's hundreds of years old, don't you know how many disgusting residues could be sitting in there? I think I'm going to throw up.

He reaches his hand into the Hollow's hole further, until half of his forearm is inside.

"Hrp–"

Ugh– my lunch of dried meat and rock bread almost came out: can he get his arm out of that disgusting Hollow already?

Tin struggles, rummaging inside the hole for an entire second.

"Aha!"

He exclaims, returning his face to a cheerful smile as he takes his arm out of the Hollow, grabbing onto something while coming back to me.

What is he hiding from me? I want to see it too!

"It's just as I thought, I've never seen this kind of monster before, because it isn't a monster!"

My face shows confusion, but abruptly becomes emotionless for a second, then turning into a face full of rage.

What is he talking about? It can't be– is he trying to say– this Hollow was a human? God damn Syo! How dare you commit such an action on humanity? You should thank god you're already extinct, because I swear, if I ever find any of you alive, I'll kill you all!!

Tin doesn't see my face, instead, he stares at his closed hand, before he opens it and reveals a light blue crystal, resembling a mana stone that causes my face to return to confusion.

Huh– what is that? I've never seen a mana stone with such a shape before.

"I've never seen this thing before, but I've heard of creatures with the features of this. They are called homunculi, or chimera."

Homunculi? I've heard of them before, they're artificially made creatures of alchemy, formed from the body parts and mana of multiple organisms, molded into the shape of humans or beasts, but– because they are made of different beasts' body parts, they should look like misshapen and disgusting creatures because their body is composed of tens, if not hundreds, of different organisms?

"Their main discerning features apart from being humanoid are their pale skin and hollow body parts, where no light can escape. In that place, is where their cores are."

We both look at the blue blue crystal in Tin's hand.

"I thought that homunculi were misshapen though?"

He scratches the back of his head.

"Yeah, I was confused about that as well. From what I've heard, the ultimate goal of alchemy was to make a real living human, and to make a core that could act as the heart for the homunculus."

We both shift our view to the homunculus' body.

"That looks quite similar to a human though, doesn't it? Even the best alchemist alive, said to be the greatest in history, has never made a homunculus as humanoid as this one that he has shown to the public."

I say in a joking manner, turning to him.

He continues looking at the corpse, then suddenly looks at me with a blank face that turns to confusion and slight agitation.

"What? ... I'm not an alchemist, how do you want me to respond to that?"

Right... I viewed him as an alchemist for a second.

"How are you so knowledgeable on such topics then?"

"You brat, just because I'm old now, doesn't mean I was always old! I was a kid just like you at one point in time, I heard all the stories and wanted to become one just like you, just with a much less... versatile skill set."

He's right, I need to widen my perspective more, I have been too lenient with advancing my knowledge ever since I entered the academy because of all the praise. I had forgotten that the reason why I entered the academy in the first place was to get away from my master's intense training.

"Tin, you said you had a family right?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

You blurted it out when we were falling into the Hidden Dungeon...

"I just guessed."

"You can keep that core then, you shouldn't be risking your life in dungeons, you should be spending time with your wife and kids. That should sell for a lot of money right? Once we get out, if that core doesn't sell for enough money, come to me, I will buy it off of you for even more."

"Namel–"

Tin tried to speak but Rachel suddenly appears from behind as the trapped tiles return back to their gray, stone color, with Sage flying back down, into my cupped hands I instinctively formed, noticing him come down.

Oh my god, Sage has a cute side to it as well? It acts just like the pet bird I saw perform at a festival once!

"From now on, your name is Sagey!"

I say while bringing my hands closer to my face.

"ORDER RECEIVED. NAME CHANGE IMPLEMENTED"

Ah– you can't fool me anymore, Sagey, I will forever remember this moment!

I look up and see both Rachel and Tin staring at me.

"Ahem– I'm sorry, did you want to say something Tin?"

"It doesn't matter anymore, but I think that Rachel wanted to speak."

He says while turning to Rachel, covered in dust.

"You shouldn't jinx it Nameless, we don't know if we will all get out of here, and we definitely don't need another curse be placed onto this party."

"Ah, I'm sorry, is there some kind of curse removal or blessing you can place on our party?"

"Don't be ridiculous, if such a thing was that easy to remove, no one would be wary of demons."

She says while crossing her arms.

Really? Didn't she do it before though?

"You fell from a high height earlier didn't you? Come over here and I'll heal you."

If my legs are injured, how would I be able to move...

"No thanks, I'm fine. I have my super regeneration– I mean regeneration, remember?"

"I'll still heal you anyway! Who knows, it might be able to get rid of the curse as well!"

Is she still paranoid about that?

"But–"

"No talking back, Tin, stand together with him. I'll remove the curse l from all of us."

They both close in on me and we sit in awkward silence as we wait for Rachel to finish praying.

Honestly, she's such a worrywart, but– this warm feeling from the healing prayer feels nice.

I close my eyes, enjoying the warm light, before I feel something thin strike the top of my head. Opening my eyes, I see Rachel standing above me, pulling her hand away from my head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"It seemed like you forgot that we're in a rush, so I reminded you, and now you won't forget again, unless you want me to chop your head."

She says while glaring at me.

"Okay, I won't forget this time– let's move now then."