"Just so we're clear, an academic exchange doesn't mean I'll be holding your hand through everything."
Alice Kuonji's merciless words snapped Shouko back to reality as she watched the girl excitedly clutching the necklace.
Crafting mystic codes was a world apart from creating dolls.
Not to mention, the technological differences between this world and the Type Moon universe were substantial.
"Don't worry, I get it." Shouko raised her chin confidently. "Who do you think I am?"
"Though you'll probably need to supply the materials later," she added with a helpless shrug. "It's not exactly convenient for me."
"Fine," Alice nodded gently. "Find me a Magic Circuit. I'll pay."
"Working on a new doll?" Shouko's eyes shone brighter. "Mind sharing the details?"
"Just like the one you're holding. Made entirely of mercury."
Shouko glanced at the necklace in her hand, her expression growing even more excited.
"Alright! What kind are you thinking?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
The Volumen Hydragyrum was currently a semi-finished product, only lacking a Magic Circuit to be complete.
Alice had no intention of creating another Trimmau Mark II; she wanted to push boundaries.
Fortunately, the Magic Circuits in this world were truly marvelous.
There were Circuits for space, even for time.
All she needed was to find the right Magic Circuit and integrate it with the existing ones to complete the doll.
But now the biggest question was: which Magic Circuit should she choose?
Alice stroked Suigintou's hair in thought.
Suigintou, having her hair touched, silently pushed Alice's hand away.
She still hadn't forgiven her.
Understanding, Shouko smiled and handed the necklace back to Alice. "I get it. This part is always the most frustrating."
"I'll keep an eye out for some rare Magic Circuits for you."
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and pointed at Suiseiseki and Souseiseki nearby. "They should go with you."
Suiseiseki immediately beamed, gently tugging at Souseiseki's sleeve.
Ignoring the tug, Souseiseki began, "I—"
"Alright now~" Shouko cut her off before she could finish. "You've more than repaid any debt by letting me study you all."
"Besides, I already have two mouths to feed here. I can't take on more."
Behind her, Komurasaki immediately puffed out her cheeks, while Irori shot an angry glare at Shouko's back.
How dare she imply the girls ate too much.
Souseiseki opened her mouth to say something.
But after a brief pause, her slightly parted lips curved into a faint smile. Wordlessly, she took off her hat and bowed her head. "Thank you for awakening us."
Suiseiseki curtsied in agreement.
Shouko waved her hand with a smile.
"Aww~" Komurasaki let out a lonely, mournful sound.
Though their time together had been short and she was often on missions, she had become close friends with Suiseiseki and Souseiseki.
Suiseiseki also clung reluctantly to Komurasaki's hands.
"Can we come visit?" she asked Alice pitifully.
"Fine."
"Yay~!" With permission granted, a delighted Suiseiseki hugged Komurasaki, who also broke into a smile.
Souseiseki and Irori, the two parental figures, smiled in turn.
After the children and parental figures finished their goodbyes, Alice stood up.
"Then we'll take our leave."
"Wait." Shouko suddenly raised her hand grandly.
She stared at Suiseiseki and asked, "Since we're parting ways, at least tell me why you seem a bit afraid of me."
Suiseiseki shrank back slightly and whispered, "Because..."
"Because?"
"I saw you take Komurasaki apart last time."
"..." Shouko fell into immediate silence.
Komurasaki, however, let out an 'oh' and raised her hand in sudden understanding. "That was when I got back from my last mission."
Shouko covered her face and let out a frustrated sigh.
So she'd been seen repairing Komurasaki after she'd been injured on a mission.
So that was it.
She'd disassembled Suiseiseki's only friend here right in front of her.
For a child, that experience must have been incredibly traumatic.
Alice, who had watched the entire scene, faintly curled the corners of her lips.
"Remember to take that mirror. I'll have Kirakishou keep an eye on things here."
She knew Shouko would be leaving this place soon.
"The days ahead won't be very stable for me," Shouko said, glancing at the mirror's size and shrugging somewhat helplessly.
"Good luck."
Alice gently patted the tops of Souseiseki and Suiseiseki's heads. "Let's go."
"Bye bye~" Shouko propped her cheek with one hand, lazily waving with the other.
Souseiseki and Suiseiseki picked up their small suitcases. The soft patter of their tiny footsteps echoed as they entered the mirror alongside Suigintou.
Just as Shinku and Alice were about to step into the mirror...
"Alice." Shouko's voice rang out.
Alice turned back, slightly puzzled.
"Don't let anyone discover that the Rozen Maidens lack Eve's Heart."
With the sound of her breathing, the smoke around Shouko thickened.
"Dolls that gain sentience without Eve's Heart... they're approaching the level of Divine Machinery."
Divine Machinery represented perfect life. Its birth would unravel all the mysteries of life.
Incapable of injury, immune to age—that was Divine Machinery.
Could it be that the perfect Alice sought by the Rozen Maidens might actually be Divine Machinery?
After a moment of silence, Alice gave a slight nod and followed the hazy Shinku into the mirror.
--+--
After Alice and the others departed, the room slowly returned to silence.
Several seconds of stillness passed before Shouko gently tapped her pipe against the table.
With a light clink, Irori stepped forward quietly and collected the teacups.
After a moment's hesitation, she spoke slowly. "Master, why did you agree to her request?"
She was referring to the technical exchange. In her view, the other party's attitude hadn't been poor, and there might have been room for refusal.
Their upcoming itinerary wasn't exactly relaxed, making such exchanges rather inconvenient.
Shouko smiled wryly. "I was afraid if I refused, she might just 'agree' on my behalf."
Her slender fingers tapped the pipe again, dislodging a few specks of ash.
"I'm almost regretting inviting her," she murmured, propping her cheek and closing her eyes slightly.
She'd been too fixated on the Divine Machinery.
A wave of annoyance washed over Shouko.
What a monster she'd turned out to be.
The Magic Circuits inside Alice certainly excited her, but once the initial thrill faded, fear surged in their place.
Just as Alice had implied, she undoubtedly had other dolls in her possession.
Shouko felt that if their attitude had been even slightly displeasing, Alice would have gladly demonstrated exactly what the Magic Circuits within her could do.
If someone was willing to engage under the banner of technical exchange, refusing would be the height of ingratitude.
Her own skills were merely the icing on the cake for Alice; Shouko could tell that the Rozen Maidens were Alice's primary objective.
Leaning against the low table, Shouko gazed at Komurasaki and Irori beside her.
Had she been alone, it wouldn't have mattered—she wasn't afraid to die—but they were still here.
Still, she was quite interested in that mercury doll, so the exchange wasn't entirely unwelcome.
"In that case, what about Souseiseki and Suiseiseki...?" Irori asked with concern.
"Don't worry. Judging by the state of the two dolls with Alice, Souseiseki and Suiseiseki will surely be happy."
At this, Shouko lazily sprawled across the table and said to Irori, who was looking at her worriedly, "Once the exchange is over, we won't have any further ties with her."
Though she didn't know where Alice and the others came from, Shouko's next destination was Britain, on the other side of the planet.
Not even the world's most powerful Space Circuit could bridge such a distance. Once their exchange concluded, they would never meet again.
"Irori, pack our things. We depart soon."
"Yes."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.