The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 201: From Master to Slave (2)

The Eight Iron Formations.

The Demon Army’s largest military research facility that was divided into eight sectors.

“There were many masterpieces that were born here. Guys like Vanta Tortoise, Leviathan, Castle Bravo, as well as biological weapons and white phosphorus bombs, even a lab that succeeded in isolating Elementals....”

“I didn’t ask.”

“I know, I know. I’m aware of what you came here to do, Winter Heaven.”

Entero, Quintus of the Great Mechas, walked while clicking his beak. His steps were so leisurely that it was almost frustrating. Aether followed him along with her two younger sisters.

“That is where I do my research.”

Entero pointed to a lab entrance with a long fingernail.

“...Mana Extraction Lab?”

“To put it simply, a blood collecting station.”

“What happens in there?”

“It’s literally for drawing blood.”

Aether hadn’t been to the Iron Formations too many times, because she conducted most of her research in her own personal lab.

“So you collect the blood of humans or elves?”

“Basically, serums infused with mana have many uses.”

Aether quirked her head; she wasn’t an expert in this area, either. What in the world were they doing?–she was thinking, when...

Rosemary held out mana grass along with a lighter.

Goldenstein–the cigarette that was known to be the top brand. Aether took the Goldenstein and lit it out of habit.

“Huu.”

It was good as expected, far exceeding the brands that had different levels of mana absorption. It was perfect for both combat and calming one’s body and mind.

“They make these by feeding the leaves with the serum. The level of mana absorption beats the ones they sell on the market.”

Until she heard that, at least.

“W-what did you just say...?”

The taste of the cigarette soured drastically. It was as if she learned something that she shouldn’t have known. Dropping the cigarette in her mouth, Aether burst into coughs, feeling like her lungs were flipping.

It was only after Akasha and Rosemary pounded her back that she managed to calm down. Her head hurt. A race that could only use magic when smoking something touched by human blood in it, was it... Aether wanted to rip out her lungs right now.

She couldn’t, and needed to deal with it for being born as a Golden-Eyed. This curse wasn’t going to break until they killed all the Elementals, at least.

The fact that they needed to exterminate the Elementals didn’t change. Aether caught her breath, gritting her teeth. She gathered herself, thinking about the large bomb.

“Quick, quickly. I don’t wish to stay here for long.”

All she was thinking about was finishing Dark Day as fast as possible. Aether followed Entero’s lead and went into the extraction room.

The extraction room reeked of chemicals; it was for disinfecting and antibacterial purposes.

There was the sound of people gasping in the distance.

Some screamed to be saved, and others sobbed as if they lost hope. Most twisted up like pretzels with groans of pain every time their blood was drawn.

Aether’s brows drew together.

“There is supposed to be a suitable assistant here?”

“It won’t hurt to try.”

Entero wasn’t exactly sure why Aether was here, either. There were so many mages they had taken captive that he had no way of knowing who she wanted. Most of them lacked the ability or energy to do as the Winter Heaven wished, even.

“Sis, come this way.”

Aether walked over at the behest of her two sisters.

There were two office Beasts whispering something to each other.

“Manager, this bitch is smiling.”

“Let her be, she must be having a good dream.”

She turned her head towards the capsule the two Beasts were talking about. A woman who looked absolutely shabby was grinning.

The woman was dressed in just a single cloth. Her grossly thin body was close to being exposed.

Her limbs were completely bound by slimy tentacles, while her body was half submerged in a cucumber-like capsule in a forced bath.

She looked terrible. Golden hair completely devoid of any shine, and ruby red eyes dead like a fish.

“Whatever, just take more blood.”

Tha-dunk!

The Beast who oversaw this place indifferently pulled down the lever. When they did, blood was drawn little by little through the tubes attached all over the woman’s body. The woman stopped grinning like a madwoman clenched her teeth hard.

“Kugh, kuhugh.... Argh......!”

And then eventually moaned.

The woman twisted this way and that, dislodging a few needles.

“This bitch is at it again.”

The manager pressed the button next to the lever–the button for sending electric shocks into the capsule. The woman shuddered for a bit, then went limp.

“I told you to stay still.”

The manager wielded its mechanical arm and bowed towards Aether who had been watching the woman with an unpleasant expression.

“As you can see, this bitch is quite tenacious. I’ve heard that you were planning to use her as an assistant, Winter Heaven. If I may as a lowly office clerk, would it not be difficult due to how rebellious she is.......”

Without a word, Aether looked down at the unconscious woman, eyes frigid like an ice age. Rosemary and Akasha gulped.

“What a rotten relationship.”

Aether tsked.

“Absolutely awful.”

Klais Hasfeldt.

Aether had previous experience of being driven like a slave for three years by this woman in front of her.

It wasn’t such a distant memory, only a few months ago. Their positions were the exact opposite of what it was now.

“How about it, sis? Are you going to use this human?”

Rosemary asked carefully.

Aether thought for a comment.

To be honest, she hated Klais. She still had memories of contempts from four years ago when her consciousness had been given over to the other ego.

She had never dreamed of reuniting like this. No, she hadn’t even wanted to. She hoped to never meet again, but in the end, it didn’t turn out as she wanted.

“What should we do, should we wake her?”

“What, with a shock?”

“We’ve already pressed the button.”

Pzzzzt! Klais came to with a dull groan. Her chest repeatedly rose and fell.

“Kugh.... Haa, hurgh.......”

Gasping, Klais spit out chunks of blood. It was then that the managers stopped with the torture and went to grab cleaning supplies.

Klais eyes faintly regained focus.

“Y-ou’re.......”

A weak voice like a deflated balloon. That was the voice of her former master which she heard for the first time in half a year.

Klais slumped, unable to speak anymore. It seemed like she would die immediately like a sunfish1 if she took her to the lab.

No more was the Klais who had been full of elegance, dignified and worked her like a dog. She still had remnants of her beauty, but that hardly made an impression on Aether who was obsessed with research. There was only a hideous prisoner of war in front of her.

With a sigh as if finding this ridiculous, Aether asked Rosemary.

“This is what you want me to use as a research assistant?”

“Uh.... why does she look worse than I thought?”

Rosemary recalled the past.

She had punched her in the stomach, whacked her legs with her staff like she was testing a stone bridge, and dragged her around by the hair like some rag.

Still, she hadn’t been this broken then....

Rosemary asked.

“When was the last time you fed her, Quintus?”

“Not since the last escape attempt.”

“You didn’t give her anything in almost three months?”

“Correct.”

“Not even once?”

“Correct.”

“Then how is she alive?”

“She was kept alive with minimal dextrose and Hartmann’s solution.”

Rosemary and Akasha were horrified.

It meant that he hadn’t given her any breaks for meals and kept her nourished via IV injections 24/7 while drawing blood. Even to Rosemary who had once been human, it seemed, well....... a little too harsh.

“There is no need for sympathy. She would escape without doing this much. Did you not see her squirm earlier?”

“True, it’d only cause problems if she ran away.”

“So I ask you, Winter Heaven. Will you take her or not?”

Everyone turned their gaze to Aether.

Aether had been silent even until then due to her long-running thoughts.

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Frankly, she didn’t want to take her.

She was sick of humans. Traitors who had blown every single opportunity they were given.

Klais also shared the blame. Not just some, but a lot of it.

However.

“I’ll take her.”

It was more important to get the research done quickly than get personal.

“Alright.”

Rosemary forced out the limp Klais. Klais, completely drained, was dragged out without much resistance.

“Kehugh, kuhgh...!”

Klais coughed non-stop to the point that she couldn’t breathe. Blood again spilled out of the tube where the air had been pushed out.

With the last bit of strength she had, she spoke.

“Kill, me.......”

None of them listened to her. Entero ordered the managerial personnel to bring a metal collar.

He put the collar on Klais. On one side, he hooked a chain made of durable material, and on the opposite end of it he attached a plastic handle that made it easy to push and pull.

“Here, sis.”

Rosemary took the handle from Entero and handed it to Aether.

Like selling her some pup. With a snort, Aether took the handle.

“She’s now your assistant? Slave? Anyway, something like that. We were going to kill her when she tried to run away, but Akasha said to leave the decision to you so we didn’t. Use her however you want, then get rid of her when you don’t need her anymore. Okay?”

Collared, Klais toppled to the ground because she lacked strength in her legs. Instead of the just tugging on the leash, Aether glanced down.

“Kugh, kehugh....”

“Get up.”

“J-just kill, me....”

“I said get up.”

Aether pulled hard on the leash, and Klais’ body helplessly jerked forward.

“Lift your head.”

“Kugh....”

“I won’t say it a third time. Lift it.”

It was a force that made even Rosemary’s knees buckle. Heart throbbing in pain, Klais slowly raised her head.

“Do you remember my face?”

“......Aether.”

“Cognitive abilities are working.”

Although her body was damaged, her mind was fine. Her physical and mental exhaustion was none of her concern.

All that mattered was enough of a brain to assist her in her research.

“Quintus.”

“What is it?”

“When was the last time you gave her a dextrose injection?”

“It has been nearly fifty hours.”

“You really work her hard.”

“Because she’ll run away like last time if I don’t.”

Aether chuckled sharply, then dragged Klais out of the Eight Formations.

1. Reference to a mobile game where you raise a sunfish and it dies from anything and everything