Volume 17 Chapter 5 Magic Research Institute
Lisa was reminiscing about 5 years ago.
At that time, she was 28 years old and had just moved from her hometown in the Eastern region to this Central Continent.
She was working as the lead researcher at a small country's magic research institute called Caraille.
She was an alchemist and a skilled magician who could handle a wide range of magic tools, from creating magic life forms to manipulating magic power.
Magic humans, created using magic technology, were artificial humans.
Compared to other experimental subjects, they had exceptionally high magic power, which drew attention. However, to Lisa, they were just experimental subjects, mere tools.
The magic research institute she belonged to was conducting research on "stars".
Lisa had created many magic humans, and the purpose was to have them assist in future on-site investigations of the "stars".
However, there was a worrying report about the "star" research recently.
"This star is being invaded by something and is slowly weakening――."
Lisa had discovered this when she was in her teens and had been researching the current state of the star since then.
What was the true identity of the being invading the star?
If the star continued to weaken, what would happen in the end?
To investigate this, it was necessary to reach the deepest part of the star.
That place, known as "The Heart of the Stars", was still an uncharted territory――.
* * *
"Your magic ability is abnormally high compared to other experimental subjects, 49."
Lisa called out to "him".
Today was the magic ability check for experimental subjects 40 to 60.
Especially in terms of controlling magic power and sniping ability, 49 excelled beyond the other experimental subjects.
By a landslide.
"You're the one who created me, Takamagahara-sensei."
He――Magical Experiment Body No. 0049 - glared at Lisa with a piercing stare.
Behind him was a steel plate shattered into tiny pieces.
With a thickness of over 10 meters (≈ 33 feet), 49 had destroyed it with just one shot of magic power.
Yet, he didn't seem to be exerting himself at all.
"The basic design was done by me, but as for the abilities that the experiment body can exhibit, it's a fact that I can't know until we try it out."
Lisa explained.
"Hmph, you're quite careless, aren't you?"
"The technology for creating magical humans is still not established. In the past, people used to modify humans to grant them magical abilities, but recently, they've developed a method to create new magical life forms from scratch... you're one of those, too."
Lisa gazed at him.
With his thin, ash-brown hair and an air of fragility, he was a beautiful boy.
His height only reached up to Lisa's waist.
Looking at him like this, it was hard to believe that he possessed magic abilities on par with a court sorcerer or even higher...
Moreover, those abilities were still growing――a truly terrifying prospect.
"...Aren't you scared? If I were to get serious, I could destroy this entire research facility."
49 asked, his eyes reflecting Lisa's image.
With her black hair cut short at the shoulders and purple eyes, her intelligent features were striking.
Tall and slender, she wore a white lab coat.
Many men in the research facility had confessed their love to Lisa, but she had rejected them all, devoted to her research.
"That's impossible. All experiment bodies are programmed to obey us and can't resist."
Lisa said calmly.
So, they can't completely define the "performance" of the magical experiment subjects, but they can control their "actions".
They can't take actions that Lisa and the other researchers don't want them to take――.
But 49 is vastly different from the other magical humans――.
It's as if they have delicate emotions and a sense of self, just like a human.
"Still, you're mentally different from the other units."
Lisa said to 49.
"Is that so?"
49 has a cool personality and doesn't say much.
But his eyes tell a story of his emotions more eloquently than words.
"Most experiment subjects don't have a sense of self. They're just like puppets that follow orders... That's why you, with your clear will, are so rare. Maybe even unprecedented."
Lisa murmured.
"This is a fascinating phenomenon."
"Am I... not a puppet, but a human... Can I think that?"
49 looked at her.
"Human――."
Lisa repeated the word.
"The other units don't have that recognition. You're the only one who's different..."
Lisa suddenly thought of something and said,
"I'll give you a name!"
"A name?"
49 tilted his head.
"What's the sudden idea?"
"Well, since you're human, I think you need a more human-like name. That might bring about a change in your mentality."
It was just a casual suggestion to her, but 49's eyes sparkled with delight.
"That sounds good."
He leaned in, eager to hear more.
"What's the name going to be?"
"Hmm... let's see."
Lisa thought for a moment,
"Since you're 49, how about Jig?"
"Jig...?"
"It's a play on words with 4 (ji) and 9 (gu). Ah, nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Jig, yeah..."
He muttered.
A faint smile floated on his lips.
"...Yeah, that's good, that."
It seems he was unexpectedly pleased.
Since that day, Experiment No. 49, aka "Jig", started actively talking to her every time they did magic experiments.
"Hm? What's up today, Jig?"
"Uh, well, it's just... somehow..."
Jig's face turned red.
He looks like he's getting flustered.
Despite his cool exterior, he's surprisingly shy, it seems.
"You're not here to see me or anything, right?"
"No, no, I didn't particularly want to see you, it's just... well..."
"Hahaha! Even magic humans make that face. This is funny."
Lisa laughed.
He looked like a younger brother.
But to her, Jig was just an experiment.
No matter how human-like his reactions were, he was still just a creation.
She didn't forget to remind herself not to get too emotionally attached.
――In the midst of such research life, an incident occurred about half a year later.
An incident that would greatly change the course of 2 people's lives.
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