Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.3] Quest 269- What Is A Soul?

The next day, after spending the whole day in bed and sleeping in with a little fun on the side, Cirrus escorts Freya to the site of the project.

“To think you would renovate this place,” Freya said at the old building being led down a staircase.

“Yeah, well, I had to make it look very boring and plain and through the use of some magic tools made this place an unrecognizable building.”

“So, where are you leading me?”

“To our lab.”

They reach the bottom to find a metal door like used in the casinos to keep their money, but more advanced and sleek. Cirrus walked to the side of it where a mic was.

“Cirrus Zephyr.”

“Voice recognized.”

The metal door clicked and unlocked. Cirrus opened the heavy-looking door to find the inside rather clean and precise with Dionysus inside.

“Oh? Is this where you were?” Freya said, entering.

“Freya…” Dionysus stopped what he was doing and came to greet her. “Yes, I have been working on this for… well, since everything about me was discovered.”

“I see.” Freya looked towards Cirrus. “So what was it that you need my help with?”

“Well, we need your help in the transference of a soul.”

Freya took a second to process what he said.

“… Do you have any idea what that entails?” she said, shocked to hear.

“He doesn’t. That is why he asked you,” Dionysus said. “It is for my child she… she was turned into a Creature, a species made by some still unknown existence in the Dungeon against her own will during the Nightmare of the 27th floor.”

“So that was why her soul seemed so… dirty. Where is she? I wished to see her with my own eyes.”

“She is out to get blood samples from her parents, so she will be gone for a while.”

“Hmm… so what? Do you wish to transfer her body into? I hope it isn’t some common body?”

“No, we're going to clone her body or well attempt to.”

“Cloning? My, this has gotten fun!” Freya made a delighted smile. “To think you would try to step into the domain of gods, Cirrus.”

“I mean, I have a god with me here, so… eh? Plus, if you decided to help when the body is finished, you would have helped in the world’s first successful homunculus. Dog not included.” Cirrus said the last part under his breath.

“Well… sure, I have no real reason to say no. besides this is rather interesting. Does Ouranos know?”

“He knows and I’m keeping him up to date on it and he had requested that once is all set and done that it be destroyed or given over to the Guild to be locked away.”

“Really? it’s such a shame.” She said, looking around and placing her hand on the large glass container. “I just had an idea that really wanted to see if this could help me with something?”

“Like what?”

“…” Dionysus kept quiet, but he could see a familiar look in her eyes. “Freya… you’re not thinking of using this place to possibly… create a child with a mortal, are you?”

She glanced at him with sharp eyes.

“Cirrus, would that be possible?” she said without missing a beat, looking at Dionysus.

“Uhh… well, I’m not really sure what the question is? Like, do you want to make a child using your blood and another or just a clone you call your child?”

“She means the first one.” Dionysus looked at her sharply as well.

“… Well, it would require research and testing, but the only problem is a soul. And in case you don’t know, I am a mortal, so I have no fucks on how a soul is actually made.”

“Then let me—"

“Freya!!” Dionysus shouted. “Are you truly going to divulge the secret of the soul? That is forbidden for us to say!”

“Hush Dionysus, we are already breaking the taboo for your child. Why not break a few more and give us a way to actually have children?”

“…” his face was stern, but he couldn’t find a reason to further stop her. After all, her words are true. “I hope no fertility gods catch wind of this.” Dionysus said under his breath.

“So to begin when a man impregnates a woman, a very, very small speck of the man’s soul goes into the womb.”

“Uhh… You mean—”

“Yes, Cirrus. Every time you ejaculate, crumbs of your soul are broken off. It is small enough that it doesn’t even affect the person. You can cum tens of millions of times and even the weakest of souls would still be fine.”

“… Okay, keep going.” Cirrus immediately felt a layer of grossness on him.

“So once in the womb, that small cinder of the father’s soul slowly begins to get nurtured by the mother’s soul and grows until the 5th or 6th week where their soul begins to both shape and be shaped by the body. By that point, it has taken the qualities of both parents as the next big thing truly blends it all: blood, DNA, as you know at around 21 grams in weight."

“… Well… now I know.”

“So, will it be possible?” she asked again, looking at him.

“Well… I mean, if you can transfer a soul, it would come to reason you could part ways with a fragment of your soul, right?”

“Who knows? The last time a person tried to make clones was killed by several spirits from fertility gods.”

“Hmm… well, uh, if Ouranos agrees, we will see about it.”

“Thank you very much. Now I must get going. I have some stuff to attend to.”

She turns and leaves the lab.

Cirrus and Dionysus look at one another.

“… Did spirits actually go and killed the people who tried to do it?” Cirrus asked Dionysus.

“They did, including mine as well… Haa… she is right, we are already breaking taboos. What’s a few more?”

“Then you gonna tell me about the dungeon?” Cirrus looked at Dionysus with curiosity in his eyes.

“… Actually there are far worse taboo’s that I wish not to break. I shall get back to work.”

“Alright, Circe will come by in a few. Seems there was a peak in the contraceptive pills.”

“And Miach?”

“He’s working on the fluid. Currently, he is busy. You know how it is after the Goddess Festival.”

“I understand.”

As Cirrus begins to walk away, Dionysus stops him.

“… Say.”

Cirrus turns around.

“What?”

“Can I ask how you are so much a… a Renaissance Man?”

Cirrus could see the look in his eyes. He had never seen a god look so intently at him that wasn’t lust.

“… I don’t know what you mean.” Cirrus turns his head. “I simply wish to do as much as I can with my life as a can. After all, the brighter I shine, the more attainable immortality becomes.” Cirrus walks away.

“Do you know how souls have reincarnated, Cirrus? Freya glossed over it given how unlikely it is, but when a soul passes on, they go into Samsara. From there, we bleach them clean and set off to a vessel suitable to house them. When the soul that was forming is too weak to make it to birth. From there, they meld with the soul and become one dazzling soul. Thus talent is born.”

“… How very interesting. Then it would seem your child will have an easier time working her way up to level 3.” Cirrus turns his head and keeps walking towards the exit.

“I think you are one of them. A child whose soul has become one with another. Your talent is far, far too inhuman.”

Cirrus smirks.

‘How very clever.’

“Goodbye Dionysus. Thank you for the compliment.”

He closes the door, leaving Dionysus alone.

“… You certainly are very bright.” Dionysus turns away and gets back to work. “But I hope the brightness isn’t snuffed out too soon… I still need it,” he whispered to himself, working away.