TLWD 60

Chapter : 60. Homunculus

Homunculus.
An artificial lifeform synthesized through alchemy and magic.

Its origins trace back to Arcanis Lirsein, known as the first mage in history. The homunculus concept was based on one of the 23 great dilemmas he posed while contemplating the future direction of magical advancement:

—“Are life and soul one and the same, or are they distinct?”

In seeking to solve this question, mages crossed into the realm of the divine—creating life, a domain once thought exclusive to gods, and dragging it into the reach of human reason.

The result: golems and homunculi.

Yet in modern times, homunculus synthesis has been banned across the continent.

The reason can be summed up in one sentence, spoken by a hero of the Allied Forces—a great archmage:

—“To synthesize a biological homunculus, you need human genes.”

Golems are synthesized using inanimate materials—earth, stone, metal, wood.
Homunculi, on the other hand, are created using biological materials—namely, humans.

Both are artificial lifeforms born from alchemy.

But golems move in simple patterns, strictly obeying commands. They possess no self-awareness or emotions—because they are made from inanimate matter.

Homunculi, however, can perform complex tasks. They possess a sense of self. They feel emotions.

Because they are born from life—crafted by grinding down a human being.

And now, floating before my eyes:

==<Entity Information>==
Entity: Alteron de Veneron
Classification: Artificial Organism > Synthetic Animalia > Mimic Class > Homunculus
Gender: Male
Age: 1 year
Trait: Replicant-Type Homunculus

Alteron, who stormed off huffing and puffing just moments ago… was not human.

The data displayed wasn’t character information. It was entity information.

And homunculi, depending on their intended use, come in many varieties.

◆ Replicant-Type Homunculus (Homunculus Simulatus)

This entity was created to replicate a human’s appearance and physique. The cloned likeness is extremely difficult to distinguish from the original.
This entity retains approximately 30% of the original’s memory via memory-transfer sorcery.

“That thing” was a homunculus created to impersonate Alteron.

In other words, it was a homunculus synthesized by grinding down the real Alteron.

He didn’t recognize me because only 30% of the original’s memories were retained.

And given that the age listed is one year, the real Alteron must have died over a year ago.

This is precisely why the synthesis of homunculi is taboo across the continent.

To my knowledge, only one group would dare to commit such madness.

The Black Trade Guild.

More specifically, the upper echelon of that guild—worshippers of corrupted souls.

“Avarus.”

The Forger of Greed. Avarus.

At the sound of that name, Alteron’s—no, the homunculus’s—eyes trembled violently.

It wasn’t Alteron.

It simply wore Alteron’s face.

“How… how do you know of him…?”

And yet it resembled Alteron so uncannily that it was eerie.

No, it didn’t just resemble him. It was identical.

Even I wouldn’t have noticed if not for the Predator’s Instinct [S].

I would’ve just thought he was being his usual, insufferable self.

Which meant one thing:

‘This is how they’ve been swapping people out.’

It explained how the Black Trade Guild had political sponsors and noble allies in every kingdom.
Even manipulating royal armies from the shadows.

Homunculi had played a massive role behind the scenes.

Without hesitation, I lunged at the fake Alteron.

Homunculi have different vulnerabilities from humans.

But replicant-types, designed to be indistinguishable from real humans, share their weaknesses as well.

Crack—!

The Dragon’s Claw [A] tore straight through his chest.

I grasped his heart in one swift motion.

Even as he looked at me, silently pleading for his life, I didn’t hesitate.

I ripped it out.

◆ You have slain a Replicant-Type Homunculus!
◆ Gained 10 combat experience!

A translucent message confirmed the kill.

The heart in my hand still throbbed with faint life, but devouring a homunculus’s heart—despite being [S+ Predator]—held no benefit.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Kai yelled, startled.

Bernard looked equally stunned, eyes stretched wide in disbelief.

Of course they were.

To them, it looked like I had just murdered the eldest son of House Veneron.

Killing a noble—even as a noble myself—was a serious crime.

The Veneron household would never let this go.

I knew that full well.

But there was no time for lengthy explanations.

Clang! Clang-clang!

The sounds of clashing metal echoed from the end of the hallway.

Soldiers were fighting—Count’s guards versus the Veneron soldiers.

Having sensed the commotion, House Veneron’s men had begun making their move.

Activating Predator’s Instinct [S], I scanned the battlefield.

◆ Combat-Type Homunculus (Homunculus Bellator)

These units are designed for combat and security tasks. They possess enhanced musculature, rapid regeneration, and natural resistance to magic.

They weren’t human either.

The ones I had just killed—replicant-types—had lower combat capabilities due to their focus on mimicry.

But these… were different.

Emotionless, soulless killing machines engineered purely for battle.

Each of them had combat strength on par with knights who wielded aura.

Even so, our troops were holding their ground—for now.

These weren’t just any soldiers. They were veterans hardened by countless battles.

But they wouldn’t last long.

I pulled a bottle of oil from my inventory and gulped it down.

Then, in that exact moment—

A golden flash streaked across my vision.

Blonde hair fluttered in the frigid wind.

A blue blade shimmered in the air.

A piercing sound rang out as the sword sliced cleanly through a homunculus’s neck.

More precise than a combat-type homunculus.

It was Kai—his growth since the battle with the lycanthrope was astonishing.

But there was a problem.

Combat-type homunculi don’t share human weaknesses like the replicant-types.

Despite their decapitation—

They kept fighting, as if nothing had happened.

“Du-Dullahan?!”
“W-What the hell?!”

The Count’s soldiers recoiled in horror.

Even Kai’s eyes widened in panic.

Only I remained calm.

I opened my [Player Info] and allocated the +3 stat points from my recent level-up—all into Agility.

Within moments, the oil had metabolized into energy.

◆ Activating combo skill: [Metabolic Overdrive] [U]
◆ Calories consumed: 50,000 Kcal
◆ For the next [500 seconds], all stats increase by [+50%]!

Hormones surged violently. My nerves flared like live wires.

With Metabolic Overdrive [U] activated, my Agility now exceeded 103.35.

◆ Using derived skill: [Find Weakness] [U]!

With every weak point instantly visualized, I dashed forward.

Meanwhile…

The headless Veneron soldiers continued moving.

Kai’s ice-blue eyes wavered with clear alarm.

Then—

WhhhOOOM—!

A tremendous gust of wind blew past him.

A movement almost rivaling that of a lycanthrope.

Too fast even for a Master’s perception.

It wasn’t a lycanthrope—but a black wolf.

CRACK!

Adrian.

He tore through a soldier’s armor with sheer brute force.

Blood sprayed from the sundered plates, yet Adrian was already preparing his next move.

The Veneron troops had no time to regroup before Adrian closed in again.

Each attack was precise, lethal, and merciless.

Every time his red eyes gleamed—

One more soldier fell.

Realizing the threat, the Veneron troops quickly formed up, surrounding him with deadly efficiency.

Clang! Clang!

Blades slashed through the air in arcs, aiming to rip Adrian apart.

Kai moved in to help—but Adrian didn’t dodge.

His red eyes darted, analyzing every incoming strike.

Then he stepped forward—into the storm of blades.

KRAKOOOM!

A thunderous crash.

The formation shattered.

Kai flew in, breaking their lines further.

Adrian deliberately took non-lethal blows to disrupt the enemy’s rhythm.

Then Kai slipped into those gaps.

“Aim just above the navel.”

SPLAT!

Kai severed the soldier’s life with surgical precision.

Like two wolves tearing through a helpless flock.

“What… is that…?”
“G-Good heavens…”

The Count’s soldiers stood in stunned silence.

They knew how terrifying the Veneron troops were—each one trained like a knight.

Yet against Kai and Adrian, they were powerless.

One by one, they fell.

Eventually…

All was silent, soaked in blood.

Only Adrian and Kai stood, back to back.

Their breaths were heavy.

Adrian slowly lowered his blood-stained claws.

Kai, however, did not lower his sword.

“What were you thinking?”

Kai asked, voice low.

I hadn’t expected him to ask.

I thought he’d start yelling, accusing.

But surprisingly, he didn’t.

‘Is it because our relationship is now Friendly?’

Maybe. But more likely…

He saw the Veneron soldiers—headless yet fighting.

Even without an explanation, it was obvious something was wrong.

His question was simple:

“If this reaches the royal family, we won’t get off easy.”

What was I going to do now?

If I could prove Alteron was a homunculus, this would all be resolved.

But unlike the combat-types, Alteron was a replicant.

Perfectly indistinguishable from the real person.

And unfortunately, I had no way of proving he wasn’t human.

Still—

“The plan’s simple.”

There was a way. I hadn’t acted without a plan.

“Alteron got lost while crossing the snowy mountains en route to the Count’s territory… and was killed by monsters.”

In other words—

“We never met Alteron.”

We destroy the evidence and play dumb.

With no proof, the royal family couldn’t do a thing.

“……”

“……”

The soldiers stared blankly, lips sealed.

They looked like they wanted to object—but couldn’t find a hole in my logic.

“Still… the Baron won’t be fooled.”

Only Kai voiced reason.

“True.”

Even I had to admit that.

Honestly, I suspected the Baron of House Veneron might be a homunculus himself.

Which meant…

“We strike first—before he realizes what’s going on.”

Shock registered on the soldiers’ faces in real time.

“W-What?!”

“Strike first? You mean…”

“You’re declaring war?!”

They began doubting their ears.

Though they didn’t say it aloud, their faces screamed: “Is this guy insane?”

“I’ll ready the troops.”

Only Kai responded without hesitation.

His face was calm, his expression blank.

But I knew better.

Inside, he was burning with fury—raging at what House Veneron had done to Seraphia.

Let me remind you—

Kai is the kind of “lunatic” who would make enemies of the entire world for Seraphia.

“No. If we bring the troops, we’ll be too slow. This operation demands speed and stealth.”

We had to act before Avarus caught on.

And to maintain deniability, we needed to hide our identities.

‘I’d prefer going solo, but…’

If I ran into Avarus, I wouldn’t stand a chance alone.

So—

“Kai, you and I will handle this. The soldiers stay to defend the territory. Bernard.”

“…Yes, sir?”

Bernard, who had been zoning out, snapped to attention.

He looked pale, probably nauseous from all this.

“While we’re gone, you take command of the Count’s forces.”

“U-Understood.”

He nodded and began organizing the troops.

Bit slow at first, but he’s a competent butler.

There’s a reason my father appointed him chief steward at such a young ag—

“BLERGH—!”

—e. Probably.

Anyway.

“Kai, we attack House Veneron. Now.”

“Right now?”

“When else?”

“Still, this is so sudden—”

“Didn’t you know?”

Seems this guy hasn’t been through a proper war yet, unlike my past life.

◆ Sudden Quest [Ambushes Are Always Sudden!] has begun!

“Ambushes… are always sudden.”