In this moment, Rozen's first thought wasn't about anyone else but his junior in Chaldea, Mash.
Mash had accompanied him for two years and hadn't been seen in fifteen years. She had been used as material for human experimentation and thrown into the experiment of Heroic Spirit Fusion.
Eventually, Mash became a Demi-Servant, forging a contract with Rozen and becoming his first contracted Servant.
The proof of their contract, the Command Seals, remained on Rozen's hand. So, Rozen lowered his head, looking at his right hand.
The hand, like when he was in Chaldea, was covered by a black silk glove.
However, this glove conceal the back of his hand, and it not only concealed the 'Miracle,' but also the Command Seals.
Nobody knew about the mysterious secret beneath Rozen's glove.
He clenched his hand.
Then, Rozen lifted his head and looked at Karyusai Shouko, who met his gaze, waiting for his answer.
In this situation...
"Do you think I'm really that pedantic?" Rozen responded.
Indeed, he disliked human experimentation profoundly.
However, as he had mentioned before, Rozen merely disliked human experimentation. As manufactured beings, not just Yaya, but also Irori and Komurasaki were all innocent.
Just like Mash, who was once subjected to human experimentation, they remained pure, kind, and genuine.
So, Rozen wouldn't generalize his feelings to the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons.
Of course, if the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons did something that disgusted him, that would be a different story.
Karyusai Shouko seemed to sense Rozen's thoughts from his words, and she gave him a deep look.
"Don't answer so quickly, little boy," Karyusai Shouko said softly. "I didn't ask this question just to tease you. Remember, you're about to use a forbidden automaton. Since it's created through forbidden means, there's bound to be a price."
Forbidden things are called 'forbidden' because they defy the laws of nature. Just like children with deformities might excel in some aspects, they pay a considerable price.
The same applied to the 'Banned Doll.'
"In order to achieve powerful performance, puppet craftsman often add or sacrifice many things into this seemingly innocent body,"
Karyusai Shouko's voice sounded distant.
"To make it easily maneuverable, they may shape it for minimal magical energy consumption. To control it more effectively, they might intentionally remove personal emotions. To enhance its physical activity, they might need to consume blood. To wield powerful magic, they may use others' lives as sacrifices."
Karyusai Shouko's laughter took on an eerie tone.
"Forbidden dolls never lack these kinds of elements, you know?"
The implications were clear.
"Perhaps my 'Setsugetsuka' also demands an unacceptable price from you. Are you fine with that?"
In this moment, Karyusai Shouko seemed like a demon, both tempting and warning.
Rozen's gaze deepened as he stared back at Karyusai Shouko. He didn't know whether she was intentionally trying to scare him. However, Rozen had his own thoughts.
When it came to the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons, he did find himself considering acquiring one. It was almost a given that anyone with an interest in automatons would want to obtain such high-priced, high-quality creations.
Rozen believed that by possessing any of the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons, he could easily defeat Akabane Tenzen.
Of course, whether he could defeat Akabane Tenzen wasn't the most important thing.
What mattered was that by manipulating automatons, his combat strength would substantially increase, and his proficiency in various techniques would become more refined.
(Even if I can't bring the automatons back to Chaldea, at the very least, my combat power in this world will be assured.)
For example, in the forbidden area of the Izanagi clan, if Rozen had possessed any of the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons, facing off against Enenra or the mountain god wouldn't have been an issue at all.
As the highest-level automatons in this world, Rozen believed that if he were to control them, the power of these automatons should at least be on par with that of Upper-level familiars.
For Rozen, who couldn't yet summon Upper-level familiars, this was undoubtedly a great temptation. In the past, even before he had acquired numerous magical skills, Rozen had been able to battle alongside his summoned Servant, Mash. As a Master, not having strong familiars would significantly weaken his combat capabilities.
Given this, if he could obtain powerful automatons, Rozen wouldn't hesitate to accept them.
As for the issue of the price...
"Master Karyusai, I think you've misunderstood something," Rozen turned his emotions into words and spoke.
"Only the immature can't control the weapons in their hands."
That was right.
Only the immature couldn't control the weapons in their hands.
Therefore, Rozen never feared being unable to control his own familiar. It wasn't just because Servants summoned by him would be bound to obey him, but also because as a Master, if even his own familiar is afraid, how could they fight alongside him?
This was Rozen's conviction as a Master.
Either don't form a contract or trust the contracted Servants completely.
That was the way to overcome enemies.
So...
"If there's something wrong with the automatons I control, I'll overcome it myself," Rozen said firmly.
The entire room fell silent, and even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.
Irori looked at Rozen with an inexplicable expression.
Stars twinkled in Komurasaki's eyes.
For the first time, Yaya looked at Rozen with a serious expression.
Karyusai Shouko also stared at Rozen in a daze, without saying a word for a long while.
"Overcome...?" Karyusai Shouko muttered under her breath.
"If I also had your conviction, perhaps..."
Karyusai Shouko's voice started to carry a sense of loneliness.
"Master Karyusai?" Rozen couldn't help but speak up.
Karyusai Shouko finally came back to her senses.
"Since that's the case, let's see to what extent you can achieve that," Karyusai Shouko said.
If earlier Karyusai Shouko's mention of giving Rozen one of the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons seemed like a test, now she seemed to have made a decision.
"Let me think..."
Karyusai Shouko paused for a moment and then spoke up.
"We'll do it like this..."
The words that followed from Karyusai Shouko's mouth left Rozen in astonishment for a while.
Not just Rozen, even the 'Setsugetsuka' sisters each voiced their opinions, protesting to Karyusai Shouko.
But in the end, Karyusai Shouko was determined to proceed her own way.
In this manner, Rozen temporarily remained here. It seemed that he wouldn't be returning to the Akabane Resident for quite some time.
In the outskirts, at the mansion.
As the day began to brighten again and sunlight poured down from the sky, Rozen slowly opened his eyes in a room.
"Ah~~~" He let out a lazy yawn and then sluggishly climbed out of his blanket, sitting there in a daze, lacking energy.
"Is it morning already...?" Rozen mumbled in a dazed manner.
Gradually, the sleepiness faded away, and Rozen's mind was finally awakened.
So, he looked around the room.
The room he was in was a spacious area made up of eighteen tatami mats.
Incense was burning beside the bedding.
The warmth of a brazier filled the room.
Through the Japanese paper doors, Rozen could see the bright sunlight outside, reflecting the scene of the traditional-style courtyard through the glass windows across the hallway.
Rozen confirmed, "The events of yesterday were indeed real..."
He truly lived in Karyusai Shouko's mansion now and wouldn't be returning to the Akabane Resident for a while.
Suddenly, Rozen recalled the events of yesterday.
"Since you said, only the immature can't control the weapons in their hands, you should also know that exceptional weapons choose owners worthy of them, right?"
Sitting on the raised dais with curtains, Karyusai Shouko had spoken to Rozen like this.
"I can offer you a chance to obtain 'Setsugetsuka'."
After all, as the top figure in Japan's field of bionics, Karyusai Shouko's ultimate creations, these three automatons, were worth as much as battleships. Karyusai couldn't just give them to Rozen for free.
So, Karyusai Shouko made an arrangement with Rozen.
"For the meantime, you can stay here."
"The time will be set for one month."
"During this month, you can freely live here and come and go from this mansion."
"After one month, if any of the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons actively express a desire to become your automaton, from that moment on, she will be yours."
"Whether you can successfully obtain the world's best automatons depends on you, little boy."
This was the agreement between Rozen and Karyusai Shouko, as well as the promise Karyusai Shouko gave Rozen.
"Don't worry, I will send a letter to the head of the Akabane Resident, informing him of your current situation so he doesn't have to worry. Even if you can't take away any of the 'Setsugetsuka' automatons after a month, I'll specially create an automaton for you."
"Of course, it's impossible for that automaton to match 'Setsugetsuka,' at best, it will be on the level of 'Oborofuji'."
"What to do next depends entirely on your effort, little boy."
This was the true meaning behind Karyusai Shouko's words.
"Let me see to what extent you can achieve."
This was the essence of that sentence.
Without a doubt, this was Karyusai Shouko's test for Rozen.
"Whether you can control the weapon in your hand, this talent, this gift, let me personally confirm it."
Karyusai Shouko's final words echoed in Rozen's mind.
Rozen chuckled as he thought back to that time.
"Never thought it would turn out like this in the end."
When Rozen was given the task by Akabane Kuukan to come here, he had also hoped to obtain automatons like the 'Setsugetsuka' series.
However, that was just a wish.
Rozen had never imagined that he could actually get his hands on the 'Setsugetsuka' series so easily.
Of course, it was just a chance.
For Karyusai Shouko, she simply wanted to confirm Rozen's quality.
And for Rozen, it was just an opportunity.
"For others, having such an opportunity would make them ecstatic, right?"
But not for Rozen.
If it were some mysterious magic, that would be another story, but for familiars who fought alongside him, Rozen's demands had always been quite stringent.
In other words...
"Happy for what I gain, Accept what I have lost."
Rozen couldn't bring himself to flatter and curry favor just to get his hands on the 'Setsugetsuka' series in the upcoming month.
So...
"Just let things unfold naturally."
With these thoughts in mind, Rozen felt a sudden sense of clarity. After leaving the cozy warmth of his blanket, he pushed open the paper door and stepped outside.
The sunlight bathed Rozen, making him feel refreshed. The harmonious and tranquil atmosphere of the garden beyond the hallway further lifted his spirits.
"Well then, let's start with a warm-up exercise."
Of course, the so-called warm-up exercise referred to practicing magic.
Rozen wasn't about to sweat and exercise like a muscle-bound man; he shifted his gaze to a tree in the garden.
"Guess It'll be you."
Pure magical power surged from Rozen's body, transforming into focused mental energy that enveloped the tree.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound resonated from the tree. It was the sound of branches snapping.
Under the control of his pure mental power, branches began to break off from the tree one by one. They flew through the air like arrows, suspended in the garden.
Rozen manipulated the branches, allowing them to move freely in midair.
At times, the branches glided like graceful dragons.
At times, the branches formed into wooden puppets.
At times, the branches collided with each other, like two armies engaged in a duel, creating a series of sounds.
At times, the branches arranged themselves into various formations, resembling military tactics.
With utmost fluidity and artistic finesse, Rozen controlled the branches, making them come to life.
This level of skill, this ability, if it were witnessed by those self-proclaimed extraordinary puppeteers, they would surely be ashamed to death.
And then...
"Wow, that's amazing!"
A clear voice rang out, sounding surprised and delighted. The sound of small hands clapping followed suit.
Since he wasn't using "Heaven's Eye" to be aware of his surroundings, Rozen was taken aback. He then saw a cute little girl with twin ponytails sitting on the corridor. She swung her small feet back and forth, clapping her hands joyfully with an incredibly sweet smile.
"You are..."
Rozen raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"I'm Komurasaki, as I introduced myself yesterday, big brother."
Komurasaki said cheerfully, her lively and energetic personality on full display.
Soon after, she hopped down from the corridor, running towards Rozen with the sound of footsteps pattering.
Watching this adorable little girl running towards him, Rozen felt somewhat dazed.
Human-like actions.
Human-like demeanor.
Human-like spirit.
A human-like presence.
Could this really be an automaton?
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