......!

　Lily sat up with a bang.
　Before she knew it, she was asleep on the bed.
　Her whole body was wet with sweat and she felt sick.

I feel like I had a very ...... nasty dream.

　Olga, our best research work, was killed and we were about to be killed by someone else.
　It was such a disgusting dream.
　It was the kind of dream that makes you wonder if it was really a dream.

"Lily.
...... you.

　I looked to the side and saw George, who was just as wet with sweat as I was, sitting up.

'I had a very, very bad dream,'
Yes, ...... and so am I.

　George's dream was similar to his own.

There are some unusual things, like both of us having the same dream at the same time: ......
'Yes. ....... But it's only a dream.

　Between George and Lily, their beloved son, Dartis, is asleep, snoring.
　Both themselves and Dartis are safe.
　It's creepy, but as long as Dartis is safe, that's all that matters.

　But my memory before and after sleep is hazy.
　It's so blurry that I can't remember much.
　It's like a haze in my head, and I can't think straight.

...... Come to think of it, didn't I have to do something?
Yes. .......

　Something had to be done.
　With such a vague sense of mission, they left the room.
　They left the bedroom for three people in the basement and walked downstairs with their footsteps echoing.
　They head for the room with the suction device.

　Lily and George's research requires a large amount of magical power.
　Not to mention the creation of the homunculus, the maintenance of the magic to rejuvenate the body also consumes a large amount of magical energy.
　Although they were two excellent alchemists, it would be difficult to even maintain their youth if they were using the magic power of two people.

　Although it was a magic technique that I learned from Olivia Eliesteel, an Imperial noblewoman with ties to the two of them, it would be too costly.
　Lily thinks that since it's that vixen anyway, they've already created an improvement method and wouldn't have taught it to themselves on top of that.

　To compensate for the lack of magic power it consumes, it was created as a "sucking device".
　It draws out magic power from the target and can be used for other magic.

　In order to recreate the power of the "Heroic Amatsu", the two of them are making him a homunculus.
　That's no ordinary method either.
　This is no ordinary process, as it uses magic that has been lost in the past--loss magic and human soul training.
　It's a magic with an extraordinary effect of reproducing the ability of the person who used it as a medium.

　I haven't mastered it completely, but thanks to this magic, the experiment is going well.
　The problem is that it consumes too much magic power.

It's time to start using some of the older kids.
Yeah. We'll make it subhuman if we can.
Ha, you really don't like subhumans, do you?
I'm not surprised. You too, right?　The mere thought of having that creepy fellow in my life makes me want to throw up.

　While having this conversation, they came to one of the labs.
　For some reason, the inside was in disarray.
　Some of the lab equipment was scattered on the ground.

'............'
............

　But the two of them didn't care.
　Instead, they were more interested in the person who was being restrained by the sucking device.

　Michelle.
　One of the children they had taken in was being restrained by the device.

'Oh ...... that was it. You were supposed to absorb the magic from Michelle.
How did I forget to go to ......?

　The two of them immediately began to activate the sucking device.
　Even though they were children, if they sucked magic power until they died, they would accumulate a significant amount of magic power.
　Even from Michelle, it would be more than enough magical power.

Once you've sucked it all up, you can go to ...... to improve Olga.

　That's when a noise went through my brain.
　Something, I must have forgotten something important.
　Such a thought popped into Lily's head for a moment.
　But that thought was quickly drowned out by the sound of the sucking device working.

'Don't do it ...... help me.'

　Michelle asks them both for help.

'No. I don't want to. I've provided for you for free and with nowhere to go, so you should repay me by dying.
I don't like that ....... I miss my mom and dad.

　They let out a giggle at Michelle, who was begging for her life.
　They wondered why the kids would say the same lines every time, every time.

'Don't worry, you won't have to worry about it. 'Don't worry, you'll see her soon enough. In the afterlife.
I know. I'm sure your parents are probably dead from being eaten by demons.

　They didn't seek out Michelle's parents from the beginning.
　It's no surprise that they intend to kill all but a few of the children they've chosen for camouflage from the start.
　Michelle was one of the children we brought in to kill.

"You have children too, don't you ......!　How could you do this terrible thing?
I'm not looking at you and Dahlia together. We don't care how many of you are dead.
'It's rather annoying. You kids' voices are so high-pitched and annoying.

　Michelle's eyes stare at them.

Can't you just imagine what it would be like if it happened to your child ......?
Ha, ha. Don't worry. It won't happen again.

　There are dozens of mechanisms to protect Dartis in this basement.
　There are plenty of guards watching over him, and Lily can use healing magic in case he gets hurt or sick.
　I've even stocked up on a large number of potions, just in case.
　Even if they were to be attacked by the demons, I've also got earth giants (golems) and orgasms in reserve to intercept them.

''Dar-chan will live happily ever after with us.
Such as .......

　With despair plastered on her face, Michelle asks me.

'...... Is that how you also betrayed your hero, Amatsu?
............ Amatsu?　Yeah, that idiot. That was the best talent we've sought for years.
I asked him to help people, and it was so easy to get him to cooperate. He's such a stupid man.

　Why did Amatsu's name come up?
　The thought crossed their minds, but it quickly disappeared.

"That guy's buddy broke his contract and disappeared for good. ...... That guy made me a lot of money.
I was able to start working on the sucking device because I had the man's magical data.
Kuku ....... I wonder what Amatsu would think if his magic was killing children.

　They don't notice the unnaturalness of their own eloquence.
　They don't notice.

'Well, enough about the dead guy,'
From now on, you're going to die like trash, just like Amatsu.
No ...... I don't want to die!
'If you're going to hate me, you're going to hate your own lack of luck.

　Then they activated the device.

"Hmm, gah, gah, gah. ......

　At that moment, Michelle, who is on top of the device, exclaims.

'Phew. What is this girl?
Kukuku...... sounds like a screaming pig being slaughtered.
Ugh!　Oh!
"Yeah.

　They've heard many children's demise in their lives, but they've never heard a cry like this before.

'Kukku, what is this face? You look like a pig.
And you're shitting yourself. It's disgusting.
I can't stand it. I hope you die soon.

You're right, you're right.

　With a crack, there was a snap of fingers.
　At that moment, the world the two of them had been seeing changed.

''Buh-oh!''

　Michelle, who had been sitting in a chair, had somehow been transformed into a huge man.
To their beloved son, Dartis.
　He has peeled off his white eyes, sprinkling his body fluids from above and below, exposing a horrible appearance.

'Dah-chan!
"What the hell is this?!

　I can't understand the scene in front of me.
　We hung the device on Michelle ourselves.
　And then, somehow, it turned into Dartis.

"Geez, gosh, busted !!!!

　His greasy body is slowly losing its life.
　Your cheeks become thin and your lips lose moisture and become chapped.

"Do you know what?　Ba, mamaa!　Doboji de eh?!

　Dartis shouts.
　At a sight beyond comprehension, the two men felt the blood in their bodies drain away quickly.
　The two of them, their faces pale, moved in a hurry to stop the device and

Ouch!
?

　The knife stabbed into his thigh and he fell to the ground.
　He let out a moan of pain, but it's not enough right now.
　It's because Dartis is hanging over the device and screaming.

'I won't let him,'

　As they tried to crawl forward, a boy stood in front of them.

'Hee......'
Why ......!

　It was that dark-haired boy from my dream earlier.
　The hero, Amatsu.
　The avenger who has risen to kill himself.

"----

　In that moment, they both remembered everything.
　An event that had happened just a few moments ago.
　It was not a dream.

Oh ...... ah ......
You seem to remember.
'Why ...... why!

　That's a question that pops up, but it's not the time to ask it.

''It's Dah!　We have to help her quickly!
Please, turn off the device!

　The device's settings aren't that strong yet.
　During those few minutes, Dartis will be alive.
　In the meantime, we have to help him somehow.

　The dark-haired boy said coldly.

'I thought that was never going to happen?'

　What I saw in his eyes was hatred for Lily and the others.
　The only thing in their eyes is a dull, glaring light.
　It's not like the face I've seen in the past of Amatsu, it's a fearless eye.

''Ngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.
'Dartis!'

　The device's sedative function was activated by the fact that he was writhing around in his massive body.
　The restraints increased their tightening force, snapping both of Dartis' arms.

"Bo-go-go-go-go-go-go-go...

　Dartis began to bubble and buzz and shake unnaturally.
　Their frustration grew as their frustration grew at the obviously unusual appearance.

'Oh!　Ta, please!　Save my son, please!
''Please!　Please don't kill Dar-chan!

　The dark-haired boy snickered at that.

You refused to help me when I asked you for help. It's very convenient that you only want to save your own child.
Please. ......!
'Please!'

　With tears streaming down their faces, they rub their heads on the ground and plead with each other.

The parent's karma avenges the child, right? It's all your fault that this guy is dying.

　The dark-haired boy points at Dartis.

'Oh, g-gaah.'

　Jumpy and twitching, Dartis is screaming.

'No!　Oh ....... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!　Please forgive me!　Please!　It's our fault!　There's nothing wrong with Dar-chan!
"Uh, I'm sorry to betray you!　We were wrong!　We'll do anything!　We'll get punished as much as we can!　So please let Dartis live!

　My son will die.
　That would never happen.

"I'm not going to kill another child!　I will change my mind and I will take care of him!　I won't even study the homunculus!
I'll pay you back every penny I've got!
Ohhhh, Dartis!　Dartis!

　The dark-haired boy who had been listening silently opens his mouth.

Did you really mean it?　Is it really a bluff to save your son?
No, it's not!
No, sir!　No, sir!
Tell me you're not sorry for a single thing, okay?
Yes, I am!　It was our fault!
Forgive us!　Amatsu-sama!

　All right, said the dark-haired boy.

All right," the dark-haired boy said.

　Then he moved out of the way of them.

'Thank you, thank you ......!
Dartis!　I'll help you now!

　Crawling on the ground, the two men reached the device.
　Then George deactivated the device.
　Now my son will be saved, he was relieved.

◆

　In front of me, they're relieved to think they've turned off the device.
　Not knowing what's going to happen next.

'Gee......!　Buh, ahhhhh!

　Immediately after, Dartis began to scream, his whole body shaking.
　The sight of him convulsing while spreading feces and urine all over the place made him look like a pig, just like the two of them had said earlier.

'What ......?'

　Dumbfounded, the two of them look at the device.
　From their point of view (・・・・・・・・・), the device should have been shut down.

"You!　What are you doing!
No!　I shut off the power!

　I snapped my fingers at the right moment.
　It was my cue to undo some of the brainwashing I'd put on them.

'...... sono, na.'

　And they finally realized that they hadn't turned off the device.
　They didn't stop the device, they just increased the amount of magic power drawn.

　This device is made up of a combination of a number of magic-granting items.
　By pouring magic power into those magic items, they are able to move in a predetermined manner.

　In other words.
　George didn't flow magic power to the 'Stop' magic stone, but to the 'Increase suction' magic stone.

　The two noticed and tried to stop it, but it was too late.

''Buggy ...... goh ......ah!

　In the next moment, the magic power was completely sucked out of Dartis' body.
　His entire body was dried out, and with an expression of epic pain, Dartis died.
　Just like all the children these guys have killed in the past.

'Lies, lies ......'
'Dartis ......?'　Reply to ......, as always, please respond to .......

　They are both stunned as they reach for Dartis' body.
　He mumbles and mumbles and tries to shake the body to wake it up.
　But there is no reply.
　For Dartis has dried up to a crisp like a mummy and is dead.

'Noaaaah!　Dar-chan!　Dar-chan!'　
'Oh ...... ah!　Oh no, that's ridiculous!　Dartis!　It's a lie ...... ah, it's a lie!
Ugh ...... ohhhhh!

　He screams and they cry out.
　They shake their hair out and hug Dartis' dead body.
　Lily, for example, can't take it anymore and is even vomiting.

'No, no, ...... no, no, ...... it's a lie, it's a lie!
'I'm not lying. As a matter of fact, your son is drying up and dying there.

　I shook my head and gave them both a reality check as they called out lies, lies, lies.
　If you keep going on like that forever, you won't be able to move on.

'Oh, my grandmother!　You don't tell us what to do!
Yogu! How dare you hurt my darling!
Don't make accusations like that. You killed that guy, didn't you?

　You point at Dartis' body and sneer.

How do you feel?　Killing your own son, the love of your life, with your own hands.
Ugh, gahhhh!
Oh no!

　Lily screams and shakes her head in denial of reality, and George scratches his skinny face.
　I drew the first one, just like the scenario.

　What could be more painful than these two being done and dying?　
　It would be the death of their beloved son.
　So I had to make sure that would happen.

　I stunned Dartis and strapped him to the device.
　Then I'll have the two brainwashed men turn it on and kill Dartis.
　They killed their beloved son with their own hands, which would be hilarious now.

　This is the first time they've used brainwashing magic on such a large scale, but somehow it worked.
　After stealing their unconsciousness, I made them smell the 'Thinking Ability Deprivation Potion' that these guys had in their possession.
　Thanks to that, I can say that the brainwashing is almost perfect.
　It required an uncommon amount of magical power, though, so I had to wear out quite a few potions to recover.

''Why do you think your son is dead?''

　I say to the two crying men.

"Because you guys betrayed me ....... No, it was because you used and preyed on others. If you guys hadn't done that, Dartis wouldn't be dead.

　I laugh and tell them.
　With an earthy look on their faces, they have despair plastered on their faces.

''After killing all those kids, did you think you'd be able to save your own son?　How could it be that convenient?''

　In other words.

You're the ones who killed Dartis.
Oh, ...... ahhh.　
'No, no, I'm not ...... I'm not ......'

　Yeah, I've always wanted to see those faces of yours.
　Seeing your faces in despair is the only way I can move on.

"It must have been painful. To have all that magic inside you sucked out of you in a matter of minutes must have been an agony of hell," he said. You're the ones who caused me that kind of pain.

　I'm going to put them both on the spot.

"Dartis must have been desperate, huh?　Because he was killed by his mom and dad, who loved him so much. It hurts, and it's scary, and I don't know why I had to be killed by my parents ...... to die with a grudge against you guys, right?

　With that, he pushed them to the point where they couldn't speak.
　Well, I guess that's about it.
　Let's just get this over with.

Hee......!

　He strengthens his arm strength with magic and lifts George and Lily, who are crying on the ground.

"What more are you going to do to us?

　He places them on top of the device and restrains them.
　That seemed to make it all make sense.
　Their faces turned from earthy to bright red and then pale again.

''Well ...... wait, wait, wait!
''You're going to kill us too!
You said earlier that we will be punished as much as we want. You'll be punished as much as you want.

　Bulbul, and they both shake their heads.

'Don't do it!
'No, I don't want to die!
You don't have to.

　He smiles and smiles.

'You love your son enough to cry like that, don't you?
Help me, help me, yeah!
Stop it!　Stop it!　Oh, no, no, no, no!　Get off, get off, get off, get off, get off, get off!

　The two men flail about, but the restraints don't budge.
　They won't come off with even the slightest application of magic.
　This is because this restraint itself is also like a magic item.

　We made it ourselves.
　You know how strong they are.
　In a little while, I'm sure I'll have my arm snapped just like Dartis for sedation.
　He continued to speak as he looked at the two ridiculous figures.

'Then why shouldn't you guys go after my son?'

　With that, I activated the device.
　In consideration of the two of us, the amount absorbed per second is not that much.
　I want him to experience the same kind of pain that my son did.

Geez, geez, geez.


　And then the suction begins.
　Screaming, the two of them flailed around on the device.

'Gosh!'
Squeak, squeak, squeak.

　Little by little, little by little, I can see the life drain from his face as the magic is slowly sucked out of him.

''Good, I'm glad I got to experience the same pain as my son. We'll have ten more minutes of fun, okay?
Daz, dazed, dazed.

　Their eyes widen and they beg for help.
　Ignoring them, I head towards the cord extending from the device.

　Beyond that, there was a transparent stone that was filled with the magic power they had absorbed.
　The magic power absorbed from the two of them caused the transparent stone to turn a bright red color.

''Even if it's rotten, you're a former cathedral knight alchemist (alchemist). That's a nice color.''
Gajejeje!　Oh, my God.
If you reabsorb the magic from the stone, you'll live a little longer.　Do you want it?
f*ck you!

　Without pause, they both make their requests.

But that's too bad. But alas, there is only one stone. And you're the only one who can give it to me.

"......!　Gulp!　Give me a rock for my cotton cloth!　Give me a rock for my cotton cloth!
No!　Give it to me!　My Marigu!
Gah!　Lily, stop jerking me around!
You!　You stole her, didn't you!
Hang in there, girl. ......

　The two of them argue as they endure the pain of having their magic sucked out of them.

'...... That's a lot uglier than I imagined.'

　It's amusing, but uncomfortable to keep looking.

Hey. Did you think I was going to let you have it?

　I pulled the stone out of the device and slammed it into the ground.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

"Ahhhh!
"Zona?
You have to understand that. It's not going to help you.
Oh...
Uh-oh.

　Apart from the despair that comes from the grief of knowing your son is dead.

I hope they die in harmony with each other.

　Pasting the despair from the fear of death looming over us.

''Ahhhhhhhh!''

　The two of them screamed in agony and anguish.


◆

　Ten minutes later.
　They both dried up and died with pain and fear plastered on their faces.

'I knew we were father and son,'

　I mutter to myself as I remember the way I died.


'Your demise, it sounded like a pig's scream.