If Echidna had not lied—if dragon's blood truly could reconstruct a body—then the body created might not be a mana-based form like that of "Ryuzu Meyer." Perhaps… it would be something more real, an actual physical body of flesh.
"Personality, memories, intelligence, knowledge—these things that can collectively be called the 'soul' were meant to be infused into a vessel to achieve immortality. That was likely her thinking. However, circumstances changed. The vessels of 'Ryuzu Meyer' could not bear Echidna's soul."
"Why not?"
"It is like pouring a pot of water into a cup—the cup cannot hold it all. The water that spills out represents part of the soul. If one forcibly injects it, the overflowing portion of the soul would be lost. It is impossible to determine what spills out—it could be memories, emotions, or knowledge. No matter which it is, such loss would be unacceptable to the Witch."
"I see."
Lillian understood. If that were the case, perhaps a body reconstructed through dragon's blood would possess a greater capacity to contain a soul.
"Then," he asked, "was the existence of someone like you—an 'awakened' individual—also within Echidna's predictions?"
"To call it 'awakening' is not entirely accurate," Ryuzu said. "From the beginning, the Witch granted knowledge and personality. That was so that 'I' could manage the other clones. Later, after the passage of time, I gradually developed a 'self' that truly belonged to me."
"I see… Then the meaning of 'apostle' is—"
"Your words carry compulsory force over me, and over the other clones as well. That is proof that you are an apostle."
"After granting us knowledge and personality, Echidna also formed a contract with us. We must obey her—and her apostles—unconditionally."
"I still don't understand why I'm an apostle."
Ryuzu looked at him seriously.
"Please think carefully. When you met the Witch, what did you obtain? Or rather, what were you granted?"
"What did I obtain?" Lillian only remembered participating in the trials of the past—what could he possibly have gained from that? Wait… if the first "tea party" was included as well…
His expression turned unpleasant.
"That cup of tea."
"What?" Ryuzu immediately asked, "You drank the tea prepared by the Witch?"
"That was the 'condition' for participating in the tea party, wasn't it? It was made from her… bodily fluids."
Ryuzu nodded.
"That is precisely it. The 'tea' itself is a part of the Witch's body. By drinking it, you essentially came to possess a portion of the Witch."
Lillian's face looked extremely grim. The way that was phrased made him deeply uncomfortable.
"You seem very displeased," Ryuzu said. "Any command you give cannot be refused by any of the 'Ryuzu Meyer' clones, myself included. For a man, isn't that something irresistible?"
"…"
Lillian had not expected her to make such a joke at such a serious moment. He shook his head.
"I'm not interested in little kids."
"…"
This time Ryuzu fell silent. After a moment, she said, "My age is likely several times yours… but never mind. Now that you know all this, what do you intend to do?"
What did he intend to do? Faced with such a question, Lillian could not provide an answer. He had long suspected that Echidna desired to return to life. Although Ryuzu's explanation surprised him, it was not to the point of terror. It was simply something unexpected yet still within reason.
"What I want to do isn't important," Lillian said, looking at Ryuzu's expressionless face. "What matters is what you want me to do by telling me all this. Don't tell me you're expecting me to say something like, 'I'll be the one to set you free'—that kind of cliché line?"
Normally, that would indeed be the classic line—saving clones who had developed free will. But from Lillian's perspective…
He suddenly thought of something.
"Wait. If the barrier of the Sanctuary is lifted, what will happen to all of you?"
The duty of these clones was likely to monitor the village and the forest, guarding the tomb of the Witch of Greed. Because of the barrier, ordinary people found it difficult to enter. Even humans who were not restricted from coming and going—like Lillian—would never have found this place if he had not followed Ram's carriage before.
The barrier was the Sanctuary's greatest protection. Without it, humans would inevitably set foot here. At that time, a mere group of clones could never hope to oppose humanity as a whole.
"If the barrier disappears, this place will surely fall into trouble. Your existence would also be threatened. From that perspective, you should be the ones who most wish for the barrier to remain intact, shouldn't you?"
Lillian said this, yet from the moment they first met, Ryuzu had clearly declared that she supported leaving.
"We've already stayed here for far too long," Ryuzu said.
"…"
Lillian looked at the girl inside the crystal. To be honest, he did not think what Echidna had done was particularly insane.
As beings created by her—her "possessions"—it was only natural that they would sign such unequal contracts. Of course, once these "possessions" developed free will, conflict became inevitable. As for the deeper grudges and moral complexities involved, how could outsiders ever judge them clearly?
"Regardless of what you plan to do, I will continue challenging the trials," Lillian said. "However, if possible, I will make her terminate your contract."
Ryuzu looked at him in surprise.
"I didn't expect you to say that."
"No need to read too much into it," Lillian said casually. "I'm just an ordinary person who likes helping others."
"You say you like helping others, yet you beat Garfiel into that state?"
"He had it coming… I was just teaching him basic manners. Better he learns now than get beaten to death by someone else in the future."
Unexpectedly, Ryuzu nodded in agreement.
"Garfiel is actually quite strong. For you to defeat him so easily… that invisible attack—if I'm not mistaken, it comes from Sekhmet, correct?"
"Sekhmet… oh, the Witch of Sloth."
The Witch of Sloth, Sekhmet—among the witches, her combat ability ranked second only to Satella, the Witch of Envy. She was a being capable of simultaneously controlling two thousand unseen hands.
"So you know of her as well?"
"Yes. Long ago… I often heard the Witch of Greed speak of her," Ryuzu said. "They were on good terms among the witches, and once joined forces to resist the Witch of Envy. Later, after Sekhmet died in battle against the Divine Dragon Volcanica, the Witch of Greed gathered her soul so that she would not perish completely."
"So Greed and Sloth were close, huh…"
Naturally, Lillian had never known such details. Hearing them now, he found the history from centuries ago strangely fascinating. It also proved that even back then, Echidna had already enjoyed collecting souls—though perhaps she only collected those of the strong or those who interested her.