Chapter 76 - Katamimi's Thought Restrictions
"Your Excellency, isn't it quite risky?"
"If you lift the thought restrictions, the things that bind the homunculus soldiers to us will disappear."
"Please think about this once more; this is your last chance to change your mind."
The researchers talk to the general with anxious expressions.
But he answered strongly.
"No matter what happens, I will take full responsibility. Please lift Katamimi's thought restrictions. "
In response to the general's answer, the researchers began working to lift Katamimi's thought restrictions.
Around them, the latest armed homunculus soldiers on standby, deployed as laboratory guards in case Katamimi goes out of control.
The researchers couldn't even predict what the fully sentient homunculus might do, so they decided to put the guards on standby for the worst-case scenario.
In the worst case… it has been assumed that Katamimi will run away.
If Katamimi goes out of control and refuses to obey even the general's orders, the guards are fully armed and ready to "discard" Katamimi if necessary.
While feeling the gaze of the surroundings, Katamimi, who became naked after removing all the equipment, entered the prepared culture solution and closes her eyes quietly.
"Then, we will start lifting the thinking restrictions."
"Identification number… no, Katamimi, will have her functions suspended."
"…I have confirmed that she has stopped functioning. I will now access her simple brain."
"…Successful access to the simple brain. Now, all of Katamimi's thinking restrictions will be lifted."
The researchers manipulate the magic tool with their favored hand and proceed with the release of the thought restrictions of Katamimi.
The general keeps watching such a situation.
For him, Katamimi is more than just a homunculus soldier.
She has been his companion for many years and is an emotional pillar of his heart.
He prayed to the goddess that the release work would be completed safely while watching the figure of Katamimi sleeping in the culture solution.
The researchers operated the magic tool for releasing thoughts, and it seemed that Katamimi's removal of thought restrictions was proceeding without any problems.
However, a trouble occurred.
It started with a word from a researcher who is proceeding with the release work.
"…Hm? Isn't it strange? Katamimi's thought restrictions… are already dysfunctional…?"
Everything started from this one word…
"Check again. It's very unlikely that her thought restrictions aren't working."
"I've checked it many times, but… there's still no response."
"That can't be right. No matter how old a homunculus is, it wouldn't be without thought restrictions. Check again."
"…No… wait a minute… I found the thought restrictions."
"You've seen it, so I guess it's there. I'm going to release it quickly."
"…No! It's there, but there is no response from it! It's completely stopped!!!"
"…What do you mean? Did you make a mistake in the work process?"
"No! T-this is… the function has been dysfunctional for at least 10 years!"
The people around me scream at the words.
"…That's stupid… it's impossible… It's a thought restriction? It's the only function that restrains the homunculus!? Such a thing can't have been broken!!!"
"But! The function is completely stopped! It's without a doubt!"
"…Then… Katamimi… until just a while ago… you've been thinking and acting on your own…?"
"…Other than that… I can't think of…"
The embarrassed researchers remember Katamimi's actions.
Katamimi was always acting with the general, acting as his companion.
When they noticed, Katamimi prepared drinks for the general, polished his shoes, and organized the materials.
While watching Katamimi's actions, the researchers wondered:
(Why is that homunculus soldier acting on his own without orders?)
However, Katamimi's behavior became a daily sight, so the researchers eventually rationalized it away.
(Maybe Katamimi's actions are a type of routine work, so she can act without the general's orders.)
Yes, these were their thoughts.
But in reality, it was different.
Katamimi's actions were all thoughtful and selfless.
She prepared a drink because she noticed that the general's cup was empty.
She cleaned the general's shoes because she noticed they were dirty.
There was a lot of difficult homunculus-related documents, so she just organized it for the general's convenience.
Her actions were not ordered by anyone.
She just thought about what she should do for her beloved general and acted.
When this fact became clear, the inside of the laboratory became full of commotion.
Immediately, researchers from the Simple Brain Simple Artificial Soul Division appeared and started analyzing Katamimi's brain and artificial soul.
Upon analyzing the results, it was found that "large wave of energy" was generated inside Katamimi's brain and artificial soul long ago, and that energy destroyed the thought-restricting function.
Researchers begin to discuss the true nature of the energy.
"Isn't the most realistic thing that the impact of the enemy's attack magic had broken the thought restrictions?"
"That isn't possible. If she had been hit by enough attack magic to destroy her thought restrictions, her body would not survive."
"Then… she must've been hit by some kind of beguiling magic or mental attack magic…"
"Hmm, but is it possible to pinpoint only the thought restrictions?"
"…That's right… The question is, 'Why did only the thought restrictions get destroyed?"
"The other parts are working normally… It's like thought restrictions were intentionally targeted for destruction."
"Did the homunculus disable thought restrictions using its own will? What could it mean?"
"Perhaps it was… a hindrance?"
"I don't understand…"
"But… it's an unconventional situation? Even the accepted theories break down in this case."
Their discussion did not seem to end.
While watching such a situation, the general was thinking quietly to himself.
(…So, was Katamimi thinking and acting by herself? Then… I used to sleep with her every night… Was that something Katamimi wanted…? I thought it was a kind of mental management for human soldiers, which was clearly engraved in the simple brain, but… Yeah… that was… must've been… what she wanted…)
He stared at Katamimi, who was quietly floating in the culture medium.
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