Chapter 147

As she stared at the wall before her, Noah could feel how much of a genius was Eleonora. Although she had committed fifteen crimes that would suffice for a death penalty sentenced to her immediately, aside from Adrian’s quick defense, she must have also contributed majorly to Laurent’s resurgence from its dying magical history.

Well, if it were Eleonora, it wouldn’t have been too difficult to put a soul into a machine to create a clone. 

Noah blinked blankly at the thought she just had. Wait, what was I thinking? “If it’s Eleonora… I’m sure… I think…”

After a short series of incomprehensible mutters, Noah’s steps began to hasten along the wall. Her head spun as she ran. 

Adrian was certainly a brilliant wizard, but he was one of the few wizards endowed with a gift for pure magic. In other words, it was not merely a skill in machining magic to design a mana device. Firstly, human clones were machines. Rather than assuming it was Adrian who designed it, it would be more convincing that…

A loud gasp almost slipped from Noah’s lips as she moved to the end of the long wall. How old was Eleonora when she died? Such a question was quickly dispelled. The writing on the right end of the wall, on the last glass case, sparkled gold.

Imperial power 578, 25 years old.

“…The last invention of Eleonora.”

Noah looked into the box, biting her lips. Before Eleonora Asil was killed, the glass box that was supposed to exhibit the magic she had last studied was empty. Had her last creation been incomplete before her death, she wouldn’t have had to make such a display case with her age written on it. 

Certainly, it was something that had existed and stored inside but was removed. When and why was it removed? And where was it at the moment?

Noah recalled that the library was a place wherein one couldn’t enter without the Minister’s permission. It was said that it was a very private space for Adrian.

Downstairs, the floor vibrated at irregular intervals, demonstrating Muell’s continual rebellion. Noah thought over and over again and stared into the empty glass box, clenching her fists. 

The last invention of Eleonora Asil… No, the size of the box, or the pedestal placed inside the box, clearly indicated what was stored: a bundle of paper, or a blueprint. And in context, what Eleonora Asil designed was a machine that mimicked a living person.

Who else could design a machine that embodied all the joints of a human being except her? Noah peered through the glass and only then did she discover a few words, describing the contents of the safe.

Replica Project – with A.R.

The Replica Project. With Adrian Rossinell. As soon as Noah saw it, the incomplete puzzle took form in a flash. It was a joint study. The best living wizard who mastered pure magic and the genius witch who specialized in processing magic had worked together to study a project on human cloning. Design and production must have been the role of Eleonora, while the role of Adrian was to replicate the human skin.

“These crazy things…”

Noah exhaled heavily. After killing Eleonora for a reason unknown to her, Adrian must have kept her designs in the library and sent them somewhere at some point. Why?

There are two good reasons: to keep or hide the designs from uninvited guests who, like me, have entered his private space without permission; second, to send the device on that blueprint to the right place to make it. Or…

“Both.”

“Both of you, really… You don’t listen.”

A rather tired voice rang in Noah’s ears. She stiffened, her eyes still glued on the empty box. It was Adrian’s voice. Noah slowly shifted her gaze to the side. The owner of the library was standing at the other end of the corridor where she ran to.

Noah managed to muster, “Are you done?” 

“…Yes.”

Fortunately, his voice didn’t sound so different from usual. Noah took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, then asked with a smile. “Are you getting any results today?”

“…You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?” A hint of annoyance flashed across Adrian’s face. Muell seemed to tire his spirit very effectively. “But… I sent Lindon up. Where did you put him, Ellie?”

Perhaps Lindon was the name of the man she had forced to sleep with the sleeping powder. His name is also heavenly… Come to think of it, it’s almost time to get up. Nervous, Noah looked around. 

“I don’t know. I said I didn’t need any help, and I just said I’d watch from the side and he went somewhere… Oh, there he is.”

Fortunately, Lindon wobbled out of the bookshelf. The dreamy-faced Lindon opened his eyes wide the moment he saw me. “Have you finished watching, Lady Asil?”

“Yes, thanks.” Luckily, the brainwashing effect was excellent. Adrian approached and looked over him, sighing briefly. “Come down for now, Ellie. We’ve succeeded in harvesting the dragon’s mana, so let’s go back today.”

“Coming,” Noah quickly moved her steps as he beckoned. When they emerged out of the entrance to the library, the door closed by itself.