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Kaizowski revealed a cruel nature, as if he had given up being human, turning the teaching assistants into homunculi.
His horrific actions even shocked the professor in charge, who had been urging inhuman experiments behind the assistants’ backs.
More inhumane than a professor.
A madness that sacrifices even his own life.
The soul transplantation through the director’s mad consciousness transfer device instilled tremendous awareness and fear in the professors inheriting the homunculus research.
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[Experimental Study on the Endurance of Physical Reinforcement Magic for Homunculi]
*Author: Thetheomilio, Associate Professor
*Abstract:
While numerous studies on physical enhancement have been conducted, no proper measurements concerning how much weight can be withstood have been made due to human rights issues and safety concerns. This experiment aims to measure and collect data through the homunculi.
*Table of Contents
Introduction
1-1. Background and Purpose of the Study
1-2. Scope and Method of the Study
2. Physical Reinforcement Magic
2-1. Magical Formulations of Seven Types of Physical Reinforcement
2-2. Changes in Load and Duration Based on Each Formulation
…
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“Director Kaizowski… if it’s okay, may I inquire about the approval for obtaining the experimental data to be recorded in this paper…?”
Not a professor but an associate professor.
One who was in a cautious position, using overlapping interrogative sentences to present the research purpose and required data, having found himself on the bad side of a professor.
While the associate professor spun his words just to appear polite, Kaizowski’s interest remained unwavering.
“Why didn’t you mention the pain the homunculus will endure and the safety measures in this experiment?”
“Huh? If a homunculus dies, can’t we just make another one?”
“I see. Understood… I shall accept the experiment.”
“Thank you!”
“What’s your name?”
“Hopkins!”
“There’s no need to go back to inform the professor… the new experiment’s model will be the Hopkins series…”
Noticing something was off, Hopkins quickly turned to grasp the doorknob of the research lab.
CLINK CLANK
The door wouldn’t budge.
As time passed, access to various magical data allowed him to acquire magical knowledge, and with points earned from past achievements, he added additional facilities to the lab.
Kaizowski, who once could only exert influence on assistants lying in the consciousness transfer device, could now exert influence merely by stepping into the lab without lying on the experimental table.
This place.
From the moment a visitor stepped into this space, it was no different from being on Kaizowski’s experimental table.
“Please, don’t do this. I’m not a bad person! Please forgive me, director!”
“No need to be nice… safety measures tend to spill blood… I have no doubt your blood will become the lifeblood of homunculus research…”
“AAAHHHH!!”
One day later.
A new name, Hopkins, was added to the production model of the homunculus research facility.
A box containing bloody clothes and glasses was received back by the professor, who, upon receiving a message from Kaizowski urging him to visit the lab, resigned from his position, a story only known to a few.
And now.
That terrifying story was about to rev up again.
“I can do things like this!”
Souls trapped in a cramped instrument, writhing in pain and screaming while playing music.
A child, closer to a wicked spirit than a human, showcasing soul manipulation with an accompanying miniature mobile hell, began to ignite Kaizowski’s long-held hatred and fury.
“One question… I’d like to ask…”
“Yes!”
“If you were to research homunculi… what topic and how would you study it?”
This was akin to a necessary procedure that Kaizowski would undergo.
He took only those who revealed inhumane cruelty in homunculus research and sacrificed them for experiments fitting that cruelty.
The counterpart was a child playing around with human souls as if they were toys.
The verification process wasn’t optional, it was crucial.
How cruel would the response be?
In Kaizowski’s mind, the Oknodie was already a demon incarnate.
“Well… I’m curious about the music a homunculus could play too—how about making a small piano and putting a soul in each key to make it play?”
“I think when disposing of used homunculi, we could blow them up with a corpse explosion and then charge in with a summoned spirit, maybe throw in some magic dildo!”
“If we squeeze graphite with our magical power, it becomes diamonds, so if we squeeze a homunculus, wouldn’t it become some dark magic stone?”
Whatever it was, Kaizowski braced himself for an inhumane answer that had given up on being human!
However, the reply from Oknodie was far beyond any expectations.
“How about experimenting if the principal would accept granting homunculi human rights?”
“Hu…man…rights?”
“Actually, people need to eat well, sleep well, and be happy to produce mana positively, but how we treat homunculi is too cruel! I believe it’s necessary to experiment on how much human rights the principal would accept.”
Why is it so nice?
Wait, is it really?
Is this merely a trick to let down the guard, then later inflict harsh exploitation, tearing hearts apart through deeper despair?
“If the treatment of homunculi improves… what follow-up experiments would you want to conduct?”
“Once we ensure their dignity and rights as humans, I think we’d need power to protect those rights! I would establish a kindergarten at the Gift Academy to offer a curriculum where even the dullest or average homunculi can grow rapidly, and then experiment on which major attracts the most homunculi!”
“What on earth could you possibly learn from that? How would it benefit you if the treatment of homunculi improves…?”
He couldn’t comprehend.
Experiments are fundamentally about bringing the nonexistent into existence; they hold meaning only when acted upon.
The uniqueness of research is recognized in society, resulting in improved social status and individual advancement, wealth, and a respected, enriched life.
Improving the treatment of homunculi?
That doesn’t even touch it.
If the treatment of homunculi improves, it wouldn’t measure the effectiveness of attack magic nor gain achievement rewards from optimizing the magic formulas at the magic tower.
It wouldn’t be extracting answers from requests posed by adventure parties to conquer dungeons, sacrificing the homunculi’s lives to find solutions and receive part of the loot.
If Oknodie were to act upon the answer?
Only the homunculi would become happy.
She personally gains nothing.
“What kind of research, so naive, would possibly benefit you…?!”
That question was not only for Oknodie.
In the distant past, it was also a cry towards Kaizowski himself, when he first executed the homunculus research.
“Principal, must the homunculus experiment be driven in only cruel directions? I want to proceed with ethical research respecting the rights of the subjects.”
The principal scoffed.
[You haven’t forgotten, have you? The fact that you’ve buried millions of humans to fulfill your contract with me.]
-!!!
[If you feel responsible, produce results that justify their deaths. Techniques that save people cannot be devised through safe experiments that avoid injury.]
He was crushed.
He couldn’t shake off the guilt for what he had done.
He couldn’t refute the principal’s words.
“If you conduct research treating homunculi more harshly, you can reap immense points, support from various organizations, status elevation, and special friends… despite all those benefits ahead, will you still insist on the slow and tedious path?”
Could Oknodie be any different?
Though she hoped to be like him, could she remain resolute in her will?
Kaizowski’s test saw Oknodie cock her head and respond.
“Why do you think goodness is a slow and tedious path?”
“Is that path… neither slow nor tedious…?”
“If the homunculi gain human rights and are deemed newbies at the academy, they can rightfully cast their votes and participate in student council elections!”
“Voting rights?!”
“If a representative of the homunculi faction rises to power among the academy’s students and graduates worldwide, a reform can start from bottom to top instead of top-down leadership!”
It was an unimaginable response.
That homunculi could have a voice like a human, like a student.
How many things could become possible, and how many could be prevented from taking such actions with dignity?
“Perhaps the principal would enjoy it since he just wants some amusement, right?”
There was a way to persuade the principal.
Kaizowski just didn’t know how.
“Are you crying, grandpa? Oh dear! I guess your soul has caught a disease from being in that machine too long! Get better, get better, yay!”
As Oknodie gently caressed the cold consciousness transfer device and cast a healing spell, Kaizowski couldn’t help but burst into tears, finally letting loose the sobs he had been holding back.
