Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 165
『 Translator – Divinity 』

“What do you mean by ‘it might be possible for a spirit’?”

“Spirits are nature itself, so they are very sensitive to changes in natural laws. They can sense the output of magic beforehand and understand the magic formula behind it. That’s probably why he said that…”

Damian recalled how Casey had sensed Seidel’s crow golem beforehand and nodded.

“I’ll ask him when I get home.”

“Okay. By the way, don’t you know anything about Seidel’s identity?”

Damian relayed the information he got from Freeman to Soliel. Soliel nodded as she listened, then tilted her head.

“He’s making golems that look exactly like his daughter?”

“Yes, they definitely had the same face. And they even have the same name…”

Soliel’s expression turned grim.

“That bastard… isn’t he trying to use some kind of magic to bring his daughter back to life?”

“Bring his daughter back to life?” Damian asked, blinking.

But Soliel didn’t answer right away and fell into thought with her arms crossed.

After a minute or two of Damian waiting in silence, Soliel suddenly raised her head.

“That could be his goal. Do you think he’ll be satisfied with just turning his daughter into a golem? I don’t think so.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Soliel, but I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“No matter how much you make them resemble humans, golems don’t have souls. The magic stone forms a pseudo-spirit to make them move. So they don’t have hearts and are nothing more than dolls. But… to turn his own daughter into a doll?”

Soliel looked at Damian, one corner of her lips twisted into a smirk, and asked, “Do you think it makes sense for a father to be satisfied with turning his daughter into a soulless doll?”

Damian’s mouth fell open slightly.

“If he really wanted to see his dead daughter move and talk again, wouldn’t he want more? He’s a wizard, after all.”

Damian’s face grew increasingly grim as Soliel continued.

“B-But Ms. Soliel, can magic really bring back the dead?” Damian asked in disbelief.

Soliel shook her head firmly. “No. No magic can bring back the dead.”

“Then why did you say…”

“It can create new life. Without using the means of reproduction.”

Damian tilted his head.

“But that’s the most dangerous kind of magic that breaks natural laws. Wizards have the authority to modify natural laws, but only within the scope of ‘modification.’ However, the magic to create new life breaks natural laws. It betrays ethics and human morality. That’s why wizards don’t break natural laws. That’s the case with most destructive magic.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“If he turns the pseudo-spirit created by the magic stone into a soul, Seidel will have a new daughter. If he transfers his dead daughter’s memories, a being exactly like his dead daughter will be born.”

Soliel rested her elbows on the tea table and clasped her hands.

“Creating a new body and transferring someone’s memories are difficult magic, but not impossible. However, the magic to turn a pseudo-spirit into a soul is difficult to do alone. First of all, obtaining the materials is a challenge… But what if there’s someone sponsoring him?”

“Is that sponsor… Marquis Sutton?”

“Well, that’s what it seems like. I could be wrong. But it’s certainly suspicious.”

Soliel shrugged and snorted.

“Other wizards aren’t interested in how he researches golems. But if he’s trying to turn a pseudo-spirit into a soul, that’s a different story. Magic that breaks natural laws is wrong. It has to be stopped. That’s why I have to step in.”

Soliel finished her tea and asked, “So when are you planning to raid the place?”

“If it’s okay with you, Ms. Soliel, I’d like to move as quickly as possible. Do you have a plan?”

“I don’t have a plan yet, but I do have the goal of capturing Seidel.”

“Can you capture Seidel?”

Damian’s eyes widened, and Soliel swallowed her tea before answering.

“Of course I have to capture him. Did you think Seidel would stop what he’s doing just because you destroyed a few hideouts and a few golems?”

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

“Well, I don’t think it will be easy to catch him. I don’t know how often he’ll be at the hideout. And it’s almost impossible to tail a wizard. But let’s go and check it out. We need some clues to catch that bastard and decide whether to roast him or boil him.”

Soliel munched on a cookie from the tea set and continued, “If you want to strike as soon as possible, how about two or three days from now?”

“Ah, then it would be better to do it on the weekend. Lilliana has classes…”

Damian nodded, and Soliel brushed the cookie crumbs off her hand and said casually, “Okay. Then let’s do it at dawn on the 13th.”

Soliel set the date as if they were going on a picnic, and Damian was rather taken aback.

“Is there anything we need to prepare?”

She finished her tea and answered slowly, “What could you possibly prepare? But while you’re not necessary, I need Casey. Bring him with you.”

Damian’s eyes dimmed as he felt like he was being treated as someone useless. Hey, despite my appearance, I’m a bodyguard and I can even catch golems…

“I’d like to go with Casey… but I’m a bit worried about Lilliana. If she can stay alone…”

“Lily will be staying home, won’t she? Then with my magic, no ordinary outsider can intrude, so wouldn’t it be fine?”

“Ah, I see. Then if Lilliana allows it, I’ll go too.”

“Alright. It doesn’t seem like it will take that long. And since the opponent is who they are, the more forces we have, the better.”

Soliel got up and had the rock golem clear the tea table. Damian bowed to her and left the magic shop.

—Do you think it makes sense for a father to be satisfied with turning his daughter into a soulless doll?

He pondered Soliel’s words and looked up at the sky, where the sunset was painting the clouds, muttering bitterly, “Well… it doesn’t make sense, I guess.”

Damian was once again reminded that his relationship with Marquis Jeska hadn’t started on common ground.

Marquis Jeska wanted Damian to act like a doll, not causing any trouble. Considering the support he received from Marquis Jeska, it wasn’t that he was dissatisfied, but…

He didn’t know. He didn’t understand the relationship between parents and children, nor the relationships between family members. He didn’t know if he could live properly among ordinary people, even more so.

‘But this isn’t new. I’ve lived just fine until now.’

Damian scratched his head and headed home.

***

Damian rubbed his tired eyes and opened the front door with his key.

His mind was complicated with all the information he had obtained today, and he had to think about what preparations to make for the raid on Seidel’s hideout.

As he opened the door, a familiar voice cheerfully greeted him along with the warm yellow light spilling out.

“Damian! You’re back now?”

Lilliana and Casey were sitting on the sofa, surrounded by shopping bags.

Timo, who had been sitting at their feet, saw Damian and ran towards him, wagging her tail and clinging to his leg. Damian carefully stepped inside, making sure not to step on her paws.

“You’re back earlier than I expected. I thought you would have dinner outside.”

“Walking around is tiring, so we came back quickly after buying what we needed. Do you know how much energy shopping takes?”

“So did you buy any clothes you like?” Damian asked, plopping down next to Casey.

Lilliana hid one of the shopping bags behind her back and said, “Ahem. I’m not showing you yet.”