Hypocrisy

"Pandora was indeed not human. She was actually a golem, a shoddy golem I created."

Punk answered Ganatica's question in a voice devoid of emotional fluctuation.

"However, she probably no longer counted as a true golem. According to the Netheril era Archmage Council's definition, only an artificial creation 'possessing a simulated soul and incapable of disobeying orders' qualified as a 'golem.' But I assume you noticed that Pandora had already developed emotions. In her final moments, she even defied her programmed commands... I think that, at that moment, her soul completed 'Breaking the Cage' and ascended into a true soul. So... Pandora, who possessed a genuine soul, should be called a 'constructed life-form,' not a golem or magical puppet."

Punk's voice was calm and relaxed. No one could have discerned from his words what attitude the lofty Legendary spellcaster held toward the constructed life-form girl who had ruined his plan.

In truth, Punk genuinely had no excess feelings about it. To him, Pandora had merely been an insignificant "tool." Though this tool had been somewhat inconvenient to use, that was all. In any case, the inconvenient tool had not caused any critical consequences. Once Punk learned that Aimoda Flameclaw could find people by following his instincts, he understood that his battle with the Legendary Red Dragon had been inevitable from the very beginning. There had been no avoiding it...

Nor was there any need to avoid it...

After hearing Punk's answer, Ganatica, who had lowered his head, fell silent once more. Had the devoted "hero" received the answer he wanted?

The emotional fluctuations the youth displayed without reservation revealed his feelings.

He had not!

Had he heard that Pandora was merely a disguised, cold magical puppet, Ganatica might have grieved for a while before sinking into numb silence. But precisely