A man appears dashing into Michelle's life as she is in danger of dying.
　He's a tall, slender young man with gray hair, dark eyes, and a slender, tall figure.

'Ama......tu.'

　The young man in front of him spoke the name of a hero.
　A hero who was once summoned in the kingdom and came one step closer to saving the world.
　Naturally, Michelle knew of that existence, which was spoken of in a number of fairy tales.

　He had gray hair and a strong, tall stature.
　Dark eyes that lit up with a strong will.
　The strongest warrior, who had stepped into the realm of the inhuman.

　The young man in front of me is indeed a tall man with gray hair.
　The color of his eyes is also the same black as in the lore.
　However, he is too ungainly to be called a hero.
　He had such a docile look that he didn't look uncomfortable working the fields in the village.

''Ah.''

　Under Michelle's gaze, the young man scratched his head with an awkward expression.

Just because you call me ...... doesn't mean I'm a real amatsuit. I'm just a failed ...... product.

　It was a sad, wistful - that was the color of his voice.

　A failure, not understanding the meaning of those words, that's when Michelle was about to speak the question.
　The young man - the earth giant (golem), which had been silent until then, began to move behind Amatsu.
　A literal hammer falls from above the defenseless Amatsu's head.

''Ah...... Abuna--''
...... okay.

　Despite his grim expression, Amatsu's tone of voice was calm.　
　Gently, Amatsu raised his right arm above his head without any weapons.
　It was then that Michelle noticed.
　Amatsu slashed off the earth giant's arm, but he was handless without any weapons at all.

　So how did Amatsu slay the earth giant?
　A moment later, Michelle saw the answer to that question.
　--the arm of the lifted Amatsu twisted with a gnarled twist and transformed into the shape of a blade.

''Huh ......!''

　The blade buzzed like a whip, severing the arm of the falling earth giant.
　It didn't stop there, the blade pounced on the giant's body as if it was entwined with it and shredded it to pieces in the blink of an eye.
　Amatsu's arm returned to its original form as the chunk of iron fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

　Michelle froze in place at the inhuman sight and questioned.

''Your brother is ...... what?''

　The question was answered by Amatsu in a quiet voice.

I'm a 'homunculus' - a bastardized version of a hero (・・・・・・・・) created in this laboratory.

You're not going to be able to do that.

　--Homunculus.

　Michelle had heard of that name before, too.
　The "artificial humans" created by sorcerers.
　That was the homunculus.

　It is said that in the past, many alchemists tried to create the best homunculus by trial and error.　
　However, the study of the homunculus is now banned in the church country as it is against the doctrine.
　If Amatsu was truly a homunculus, then Lily and the others would have broken that prohibition.

'Come on, let's go.'

　Amatsu woke up Michelle, who was on her butt, and began to walk away from her.

Where to ......?
'Outside the orphanage for now. It's not safe here. I'm sure Lily and her friends won't let you live now that you're in the basement.

　Hearing those words, Michelle finally remembered the situation she was in.
　The trapped Sheena, the corpses of the children who had left, George and Lily who had attacked her.
　I don't want to believe it. I can't believe something like that is happening in real life.

(...... Yeah. Sheena.)

　My best friend is being held by that creepy man.
　If I leave him there, he might kill me with that chair-like machine.

Wait. ....... We still have Sheena.
...... Is that a friend of yours?
I'm a good friend of ....... I'm not going to leave you.

　Amatsu gave a small shake of his head.

'No. We have to make letting you go a priority.
Why?
This is Lily and her magic workshop. There are a lot of traps like this one. We might not be able to get to the boy if we leave you with him.
But there's .......

　Michelle couldn't imagine leaving Sheena behind.
　She was her best friend who had supported her and helped her through a difficult time.
　Now he should be the one to help her.
　If Amatsu won't help me, I'll go help Sheena, even if it's alone.

(But ...... not just me.)

　If the earth giants come out like they did earlier, Michelle won't be able to handle it.

(Sheena ...... Sheena ah ....... I don't like it. ......)

　I can't help myself.
　Michelle is not so stupid as to not understand that.
　That's why she almost crumbled to her feet in despair at the reality.

...... Don't look at me like that.

　Pop.
　The hand of Amatsu was placed on Michelle's head.

"I'll help you find your friend.
What ......?　But no, he said no. .......
Sure, it might not be possible with you around.

　So I'll let you go first and then I'll come back here.
　Amatsu said as he stroked Michelle's head.

'I think the two of you will be desperate not to let us get away with it. So in the meantime, you can't afford to be bothered by the other kids.

　That didn't help Michelle's anxiety, but Amatsu said to her, "I will save Sheena and your friends.

I will save Sheena and all your friends.
...... brother.

　Amatsu nodded with a powerful look on his face, telling him to leave it to himself.
　'Oh,' muttered Amatsu then, as if he had an idea.

'I hadn't heard your name yet. If you'd like, I'd like to know it.
...... Michelle.
Thank you. Yeah, ...... is a great name.

　I envy you, Amatsu muttered softly.
　He was about to open his mouth to ask her what she meant when Michelle opened it.

'Michelle. Are you there?

　George's voice came from a distance.

'I'm sorry I was angry at you earlier. I guess I misled you a little bit.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Michelle. I'll apologize to you and tell you exactly what happened.

　Then Lily's voice joined them.
　They were calling out to Michelle in a calm tone of voice.
　Little by little, the sound of footsteps was getting closer.

''-- So, stay where you are.

　Michelle gulped.
　Could what they were saying be true?
　Would this whole situation be a misunderstanding on Michelle's part, and would they be able to properly apologize to her?
　Will they be able to return to their normal, happy life ----.

...... No.

　Amatsu shook his head at Michelle, who almost clung to the two men's words.

'I don't know what you saw, but I'm sure it wasn't a misunderstanding.
'So, but ......'
Lily and her friends have been experimenting with things here for a long time. I've been watching a lot of people being used as test subjects at ......

　'We have to get away,' says Amatsu, starting to run with Michelle's hand in tow.

"Don't worry. I'll get you to safety, I promise.

　A moment's hesitation.
　Do I trust Lily and the others or do I trust Amatsu?
　After a moment's hesitation--.

...... Yeah.

　Michelle decided to trust Amatsu.
　With him holding her hand, Michelle started running down the aisle.

'...... Michelle!　Where are you going!
'Come back!'

　From behind her, she hears George and Lily shouting.
　Meditating, Michelle shook it off and ran.

...... bad boy!
Yeah, ...... true.
He went into the basement without permission, made fun of my son, and seduced him with his precious research findings: ......
A girl like that deserves a good, hard spanking, don't you think?

　Such fearless words came into Michelle's ears just before she turned down the aisle.


◆

　The two of them sprinted down the passageway towards the entrance to the ground.
　There was no hesitation in Amatsu's footsteps as he ran ahead, and he seemed to have a detailed understanding of this underground structure.

''......!''

　With a bobbing sound, the floor and walls began to deform.
　Countless earth giants (golems) appeared and attacked us.

'Don't get away from me!'

　Amatsu's arms gleam dully, and he cuts the earth giant into pieces.
　It happened in a split second.
　Not a single one of them could even scratch Amatsu.

...... amazing.

　Amatsu shook his head at Michelle, who couldn't help but admire him.

It's not great. ...... It's the only thing I can do.
............
Come on, let's get going. This is their magic workshop. It's not safe to stay here for too long.

　While effortlessly slaughtering the earth giants that appeared, Amatsu continued on.
　Along the way, he was attacked by countless traps that Michelle couldn't possibly break through alone.

　Countless earth giants crawled out of the floor and walls.
　Amatsu cuts them off under a single sword.

　Countless blades pouring down from the ceiling.
　Amatsu holds Michelle and avoids them with the least amount of movement.

　A large amount of magic coming from all directions.
　Amatsu uses his transformed arm to dispel the magic.

　Even if this underground bared its fangs.
　No matter what kind of trap comes at you.
　Amatsu crushes it from the front.

............

　I don't know why Amatsu will help me.
　If what he is saying is true, then it is Lily and the others who made Amatsu.
　Why is he disobeying the ones he can call his parents?

　I don't know, I don't know, but .......

　To Michelle, Amatsu, fighting in front of her, looked like a real hero.

Why are you helping me ......?

　Michelle asked Amatsu as she ran.
　I wondered why they would do so much for me.

It's .......

　He seemed troubled and somewhat sad.
　And yet, with an expression of strong will, Amatsu replied.

"--I heard your voice, you know.

You're not going to be able to do that.

"You think a clay giant won't stand a chance?

　Naturally, George and Lily noticed that the magic attacks they activated were being broken through one by one.
　The two of them are monitoring the orphanage and everything around it at the far end of the magic workshop.

''...... Haha, that's something that a badly made look does its best to do.

　It seems that the traps we've carefully laid out aren't going to do much good in the face of all that research.
　I'm proud of the fact that even a bungled appearance can break through that many traps, but at the same time, the fact that we've gone against our creators is unsympathetic.

"Momma, Dad!

　The door was opened and a man entered the room.
　He is a rotund, fat, pig-like man, for whom the word ugly is appropriate.
　The clothes he is wearing are inside out, and the shoes he is wearing are not even tied up.

　Lilly is a frowning, ugly being to anyone who looks at her.

''Oh my goodness, Dar-chan!''

　He ran up to her with a big smile on his face and hugged her vigorously.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

　Dartis Melt Elvanahit.

　He was the beloved and only son born to Lily and George.

'Mum, tie your shoelaces,'
Oh, my God, did you untie me again?　No choice.

　With a melting smile, Lily tied Dartis' untied shoelaces.
　Even though it was a strange situation where a mother was tying her son's shoelaces, which were already over twenty years old, everyone present took it as a matter of course.
　That's how much George and Lily love their son, Dartis, so much.

　They named Dartis "Melt" as his baptismal name because they love him so much.
　Using God's name as a baptismal name is the worst thing that any Mertist would ever do.
　The fact that he is doing such an unorthodox act shows the depth of his love for Dartis.

'Hey, hey, there was a girl in my room just now.
Oh, it's her!
''Dartis, did she do anything strange to you?!

　Seeing Kokri and Dartis nod their heads, they both look truly relieved.
　Then their faces turn red with anger at Michelle for approaching their beloved son.

''I will not let you leave alive!
"I'll have you mangled and disposed of, along with all the other defective pieces!

　They scream hysterically, "No! "No!" said Dartis, shaking his head.

'Bring that man to my room.
But Darling?　That woman is .......
'Don't do that. I'll bring you a better one.

　Dartis falls to the ground, jittering and stomping his limbs and screaming.

'I want to play with that woman!　I want her!　'Don't you want to do me a favor, Daddy!　You don't care if I hate you!

　With those words, both of their faces turned pale.
　I'd rather kill myself than have my beloved son hate me.

'Yo, okay, I get it. You'll be fine, my dears.
Yeah, I'll get you there in a minute.

　At their words, Dartis sat up.

Yes!　I love you, Dad, Mom!

　He smiled and gave a big smile.
　They shivered at the sight of their son's angelic smile and hugged Dartis vigorously.

"I'll send Olga over there to help Dartis."
That'll get Michelle in a heartbeat.

　And then I set out to grant my beloved son's wish.
　To kill the little bastards and activate a weapon that can take Michelle alive.

"......?

　"I was just before I left the workshop to go to Olga.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.
　I've been trying to check, but I can't find the presence that I detected.

''Is it my imagination?''

　George cut him off.

"Well, I guess I better teach that bastard a lesson about being a real hero (・・・・).

　With a chuckle, he left the room.