Tetomburgh city was a small town right next to the mine in Viscount Le Gael’s territory.
The deserted city positioned near the mountain was packed with buildings and only had a population of around eight hundred people. Perhaps it was more appropriate to call it a slightly large village with more facilities than a city.
Originally, this place was made by Viscount Le Gael for the poor to live the rest of their lives as miners. Naturally, it wasn’t included in the kingdom’s map and had underground facilities that many people didn’t know about.
That was the main reason why 『Devil’s Piper』 was aiming for this city.
Since the main facilities of Tetomburgh were located beneath the ground, the buildings that were built aboveground were rather sparse.
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There were no tall buildings to prevent it from being seen from afar.
Although the city had a simple watchtower for the guard, it was just built for show. In fact, it was in a worn-down state. For this reason, even if someone found Tetomburgh from afar, they wouldn’t feel like stopping by.
A red-headed youth walked along the simple streets of Tetomburgh.
He wore a small robe, and a pocket watch was hung around his neck.
He was pushing a wheelchair, in which sat a girl with an intelligent look on her face.
The girl was grinning at the youth upon realizing that the latter wore a gloomy expression.
「Big brother, the scenery around this place might be boring, but it’s still much better than the underground. That place makes you depressed in various ways, after all.」
「You’re right, Elise-chan.」
The youth replied with an exhausted voice.
Elise was the name of that girl.
In the end, Le Look was nothing more than the go-between for Viscount Le Gael and 『Devil’s Piper』. The true ruler of Tetomburgh was none other than one of the Eight Wisemen of 『Devil’s Piper』—the unidentified alchemist, 『Spinner of The Truth』.
The 『Angel of Death』, the alchemist’s organization under his rule, was doing large-scale experiments by using the children they gathered from Viscount Le Gael’s territory.
The red-haired youth, Alante, was originally just an ordinary alchemist, but then, 『Devil’s Piper』 set their eyes on him due to his incredible achievements despite his young age.
His weird uncle, who was deemed as weirdo that no one in his family could understand, said 『You’re chosen by god』. By the time Alante noticed, he was already involved with the mysterious organization that only existed in rumours, 『Devil’s Piper』, with no way out.
Since he couldn’t put up with human experimentation, he only provided support with hypotheses or the construction of magic circles. The only living being that he experimented with was a small monster called Frog.
He also never went into the area where the others were experimenting with human beings.
But since he was administering an unknown drug from time to time, having mysterious a magic circle tattooed on his body, he came to understand that he was also one of the lab rats of 『Angel of Death』.
And the treatment he received was by no means a rare treatment of 『Angel of Death』.
Although he was disliked by the other members of 『Angel of Death』 due to the difference in values, he felt that the vice-leader, Tony Lair, seemed like he had some sort of expectation of him.
The other members who once tried to mess around with him ended up being slaughtered by Tony Lair himself.
Nevertheless, that didn’t mean that Alante had a good impression of Tony Lair.
Clad in a rugged robe that hid his entire figure,『Spinner of the Truth』 could only see the situation from afar. That person was nothing more than a monster in Alante’s opinion. In fact, it felt like Tony Lair was the real leader of the organization.
It was rumoured that 『Spinner of the Truth』 didn’t have to move his hand since he had a perfect memory and could create all kinds of magic circles from memory.
In addition, Tony Lair said that the chief never did his human experiment in front of others since it was too cruel, even by an alchemist’s standards.
In short, no one actually know what the 『Spinner of the Truth』 actually did.
He didn’t even share the fruit of his research with others.
Since he only entrusted the job of disposal and preparation of his experiments to Tony Lair, the meaning behind 『Spinner of the Truth』’s actions and what he thought was only known by Tony Lair and the person himself.
For this reason, though Alante suspected that the figure in a rugged robe might be just another creation of sorcery—or Tony Lair himself was the real 『Spinner of the Truth』—he didn’t dare to voice his doubt.
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Alante valued the lives of others. Thus, he was disgusted by the members of 『Angel of Death』. And yet, he was a member of that very same organization…
Though the pursuer was going to kill him immediately if he dared to escape from Tetomburgh, he was somehow granted with the authority to walk aboveground with the children who became experimental subjects such as Elise.
The children, whose only solace was when they were out with him, ended up growing fond of him.
For Alante himself, this stroll was the only solace he had in this maddening, human testing ground. Otherwise, he might’ve lost his mind a long time ago.
「Big brother, do you know when I’m going to die?」
Elise asked such a question to Alante.
As one of the organization members, Alante was too embarrassed to answer.
The human experimentation they carried out in Tetomburgh was separated into those who died immediately, and those who were dissected alive after putting them under observation for a while.
Elise fell into the latter case, and thanks to the effect of the drug and strange magic circle, she lost the ability to walk on her feet.
「…Are you worried about me?」
「It’s okay. I…won’t let them kill you…」
Alante replied with a feeble voice.
It was a promise that he would never be able to fulfill.
After all, Tony Lair never compromised when it came to research.
And though Tony Lair showed unnatural favor toward Alante, he clearly would get rid of Alante once he knew that the latter was a hindrance to his research.
And even if he gave his all to let Elise escape, he doubted they would be able to reach the next city before they got captured by their pursuer.
And Elise knew of that fact more than anyone else.
Even if he was safe on his own, there was still a chance of failure.
「Either way I’m going to be killed, so I want big brother to be the one to end my life.」
Elise looked at Alante’s expression after she said this, and then she smiled as if to deceive him.
「Sorry, forget about it, big brother.」
「…」
The uncomfortable silence continued on for a while. Elise was looking into Alante’s eyes, and then her eyes opened wide.
「Big brother, che~eks.」
As he turned around, Elise touched her cheeks with her fingers.
Alante reflexively touched his own cheek and knew that there was nothing there.
Elise shook her head—something that she rarely did nowadays—and showed him a genuine smile instead of a laugh.
「C’mon, pick me up.」
Elise stretched her arms from her sitting position.
Although Alante had no idea what she was thinking about, he still brought his face close to her, and then, Elise kissed him lightly on the cheek.
「E…lise?」
「…This is just a selfish wish of mine, but please don’t forget about me, big brother.」
Alante couldn’t even bring himself to smile back at the little girl who was forcing a brave smile.
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