[But it's unacceptable to ignore your 'master's' orders. Since you've taken over Gray's body, it's only natural that you should carry out her duties.]
[So you keep walking up to the second floor. As you continue climbing the stairs, the voices become clearer.]
["You know exactly how troublesome that castle is! And as a Will executor? Why would you volunteer for something like that?!"]
[The irritated voice sounds blunt and confrontational. For some reason, your urge to avoid it intensifies.]
["That too was a result of serious consideration,"]
[replied his companion. The voice sounded like a young woman. Although her tone was gentle, there was an unmistakable mischief in it.]
[She didn't seem to be hiding the fact that she enjoyed the situation—or perhaps she never intended to hide it in the first place.]
["If you really thought it through, how did you come to that conclusion?"]
["Naturally, it was in response to my brother's wishes."]
["My wishes?"]
[Responding to the man's suspicious tone, you can somehow imagine a mischievous smirk behind the door.]
[If the door weren't there, you're sure you'd see the satisfied grin of someone who's just won.]
["For instance. If you can wrap this case up properly, and then suddenly say something like, 'I want to go to the Far East,' maybe you'd still make it in time, right?]
["The Clock Tower hasn't decided yet who will participate in the War or anything like that, right? If you want to do something about that, time is running out."]
[As if hit by a sharp counter, the man's voice turned into a groan. Accompanied by the sound of grinding teeth, something like a curse escaped.]
["What kind of devil are you?"]
["Oh, just your beloved little sister (half-sister)."]
An expression of understanding appears on Carela's face as she starts to grasp a bit of the conversation.
Because the screen only shows Gray (Carela) standing in front of the door, it's tricky to guess who El Melloi II is talking to.
But since the person referred to herself as a younger sister, Carela has to know who she is. Turns out—it's Reines. In short, she's El Melloi II's half-sister.
"Hmm, even though I know who El Melloi II is talking to, I don't really remember this conversation in the anime.."
Carela touches her chin, thinking. She's not really focused on the screen, though the scene continues.
[You feel a nod, and as if trying to comfort her opponent, you hear the girl lower her voice and whisper.]
["Alright, my dearest brother. I did try to take your feelings into account too."]
["And how's that?"]
["For example, how I ignore the fact that you chose to live here, in your own apartment, instead of in the El-Melloi manor. The fact that you're paying rent in a building our family owns is just absurd."]
["That's the opposite of absurd. The rent I pay goes toward repaying my debt to the El-Melloi family. There's no more efficient way to do it."]
[In response to his straightforward reply, you hear the girl chuckle sarcastically.]
["Heh. That's a nice thought, but if you're just taking a handful of sand from a desert every month, isn't it a bit much to say you're trying to get rid of the desert?"]
["It's a matter of principle. Either way, I don't want to rely on the El-Melloi family's assets."]
["But if you have no interest in the family's wealth, doesn't trying to repay a debt to that wealth seem a bit contradictory?"]
[There's something cheerful about the banter from behind the door. It reminds you of someone who enjoys watching others get frustrated.]
[Indeed, the defining factor in the hierarchy of this relationship doesn't seem to be age—but something they were born with.]
[Sure enough, after a long groan, the conversation continues.]
["I have conditions."]
["Oh?"]
["To start with, I'll handle this case entirely on my own. Lady, I won't allow you to interfere in this."]
[With determination as if there's nothing more to wish for, his stubborn voice makes the declaration.]
["Is that a problem?"]
[The companion laughs wryly. As if realizing she's overstayed her welcome, the girl can be heard standing up.]
["Alright, alright. Then, dear brother, I'll leave the rest to you."]
[You hear footsteps—approaching the door.]
[Instinctively, you step away. A few seconds later, the door opens, revealing brilliant blonde hair. Soon after, pale white skin like a bisque doll, and elegant clothing.]
[But the most striking part of her is her eyes—blazing like fire, full of strength and resolve. When her eyes turn toward you, her gaze remains just as intense.]
[She is none other than Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, El-Melloi II's half-sister and the girl who sealed her position as a Lord.]
[You stare at her blankly, then look at the 'maid' behind her.]
[What's strange about the maid is her skin color. She's not Caucasian, not Black, not East Asian.]
[No—her skin tone doesn't suit any human. It shines silver. That maid, whose name you recall from Gray's memories as Trimmau, is apparently a leading designer in the field of Automata.]
[You stare at her blankly as well.]
[Reines's gaze quickly shifts toward you. Feeling her eyes on you, you return the gaze and give her a slight bow.]
["Oh? So you're here too?"]
[You simply nod in response. With a teasing smile, the golden-haired girl speaks again.]
["How's life as an apprentice? Is your sly master bothering you?"]
["Compared to life in the countryside, this is far more comfortable."]
[As if peeking into your soul, the girl nods a few times.]
["Wow, I'm glad to hear that. After all, for someone like my brother, taking on a student isn't just to help with chores."]
["In a way, you're like the final line of defense. Got it? That's a big responsibility, you know?"]
["…I'll do my best."]
[You raise your head slightly so you can look into her eyes. In response, Reines lifts a single white finger.]
["You'd look cuter if you took off that hood, you know?"]
[With a light tap on your hooded cloak, she walks past you and starts descending the spiral staircase. You glance back at her briefly, then turn to face the door.]
[Perhaps it's time to go in and meet your 'master.' You're ready to face whatever comes next.]
["Excuse me."]
"Yawn… Damn… What time is it? I'm getting sleepy… Hey, system... can we stop the simulation here and continue tomorrow?"
Responding to Carela's request, the system pauses the video, and the screen quickly shifts into text:
[End simulation?]
[Yes] - [No]
Without hesitation, Carela chooses [Yes], and the text changes again.
[Please note: If the user ends the simulation before it is completed, the user will only receive what was experienced during the simulation. Some of the character's abilities may be sealed and only unlocked once the simulation is completed.]
Responding to the system's warning, Carela simply nods and yawns.
Seeing its user agree, the system's screen shifts again. Then suddenly, a white light appears, blinding Carela.
After a few moments, the light gradually fades—replaced by a floating silver card in front of her.
Now no longer blinded, Carela gazes at the silver card hovering before her with great interest—though her sleepy expression still lingers.
Without much thought, she grabs the silver card and begins to examine it.
The silver card displayed Gray's face on the front, while the back was just a plain silver background.
"Um... how do I use this?"
As soon as the question left Carela's lips, the system screen reappeared, explaining the function of the card and how to use it.
"Ah... I see. Um, then... can you show me the information from this silver card?"
Her request was immediately acknowledged. The system screen changed, displaying a status window like a character sheet in a game.
[Name: Gray; Species: Human, Magus; Gender: Female; Height: 154cm; Weight: 42kg; Armaments: Add; Circuit Quality: B; Circuit Quantity: B+ ~ EX; Element: Earth; Ability: Rhongomyniad Anti-Fortress A+ (sealed), Rhongomyniad Mythos ??? ??? (Sealed)
"...Damn. Her magic circuits are pretty good. Is it because she's the wieler of Rhongomyniad that her quality naturally increased?"
Carela stared at Gray's face on the silver card, her expression a mix of sleepiness and envy. But in the end, sleepiness won.
With little effort, she tossed the silver card into the air. It instantly dissolved into white particles that slowly faded away.
She stood up, glancing at the system screen one last time before it too faded on its own.
Carela walked over to her bed and dropped herself onto it. It didn't take long before she was fast asleep, hugging her pillow tightly.
The next morning, Carela was still lying in bed. Sunlight seeped through the window and touched her face, yet she remained sound asleep.
That peace didn't last long, as the window suddenly flew open. A cat jumped in and landed right on Carela's stomach.
"Gahhh!"
Carela jolted awake. She looked left and right in confusion before her eyes landed on the cat staring back at her from atop her stomach.
"Ugh... Kuro? Did you really have to wake me up like that...?"
The cat, with soft silver fur and blue eyes, was indeed Kuro—Carela's pet. It had been nearly three months since she began taking care of him. Though often mischievous, Kuro was a sweet cat.
With sleepy eyes, Carela lifted her hand and patted Kuro on the head. The cat purred softly, clearly enjoying the affection.
After a few strokes, Kuro jumped off the bed, landing on the floor beside it. Carela sat at the edge of her bed, yawned, then stood and began stretching.
A few minutes later, she opened the door to outside. Kuro immediately darted outside. Carela could only sigh at the sight.
She followed him out and began her morning routine.
After finishing up, Carela sat down for a simple breakfast. Meanwhile, Kuro was now peacefully sleeping on the sofa.
Once she was done eating, Carela got up, left the table, and walked into the living room. She glanced at Kuro, who was sleeping soundly—truth be told, she wanted to join him. But class was waiting.
With a soft sigh, she left the apartment, making sure to lock the door securely.
Outside, Carela walked through a narrow alleyway toward the main street. People bustled about the sidewalks, but compared to the crowded London in yesterday's simulation, this felt almost empty.
Her steps were steady, heading toward a single destination: the Clock Tower.
...
Time passed. The orange glow of dusk now bathed the city, piercing through thin clouds and the characteristic fog of London.
Carela walked down one of the hallways of the Clock Tower. She had just finished attending all her classes for the day. Her face showed fatigue, but her eyes hinted at something lingering in her mind.
She remembered something she hadn't had the chance to do since yesterday.
Carela paused for a moment and stretched her body. With a light motion, she raised her hand into the air. A light appeared, gathering in her palm and forming a silver card—the card she had received from the simulation system.
Until now, she hadn't had the chance to use it due to her busy class schedule. Even though she already knew the card's functions and capabilities, she still wanted to try it for herself.
The silver card could be used in two ways:
The first, by using Gray's power—the character she had possessed in the simulation. However, since that power was sealed up to 60%, this option was less effective.
The second… was far more interesting.
Not just interesting—extremely useful. Rather than using limited powers, this card allowed her to summon the character within it—Gray herself—similar to summoning a Servant.
Even though her strength was also sealed by 60%, having such support was much more practical, especially when facing difficult tasks.
Carela looked at the silver card. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Well… if I can get a combat partner, why not?"
"Hmm… I should find a good place to use this card. I definitely don't want anyone seeing it."
With that, she quickened her pace and left the Clock Tower.
Carela stepped out of the old building, letting the cool London evening breeze brush against her tired face. The chill gently swept through her white hair, but her steps remained steady.
The streets had begun to empty. Students and young magi had returned home, buried in their own affairs. Perfect timing, she thought.
She made her way to a small garden behind the Clock Tower. The place was rarely visited—hidden behind an iron fence and trees that had begun to shed their leaves.
Once she reached the grassy clearing, Carela stopped. She made sure no one was around.
She slowly took a deep breath, then tossed the silver card forward.
"Summon."
A silver flash lit up the air. The space around her gently trembled, and a silhouette began to take shape.
From within the light emerged a short-haired gray-haired girl. She wore a hood and dark clothing, typical of the Grendel Style.
Gray opened her eyes. She looked at Carela without saying a word.
Carela took a step forward.
"Nice to meet you... even if you're just a simulation version."
Gray gave a slow nod. In her right hand, Rhongomyniad remained in its sealed form.
Though her powers were limited, her calm presence made Carela feel... less alone.
"All right," she whispered. "Let's see... what we can do together."
Gray didn't respond, only nodded again. Seeing how silent she was, Carela could only smile helplessly.
"Hey, system... is this really Gray?"
In response to her questions, a holographic screen appeared in front of her with a few lines of text.
[No. She is a representation of the user within the simulation currently being accessed.]
Carela furrowed her brows.
"Wait… you mean she's me? But why can't she speak? And… why does she feel different from me?"
[Because the user's personality in the simulation has merged with Gray's. Additionally, simulation characters are not designed to speak.]
Carela looked at the girl in front of her again. Silent, yet real. A faint reflection… of herself, and yet not herself.
"Um… even if she can't talk, she can still behave like a real person, right? Not like a robot just following commands?"
[Yes]
Carela stared at Gray for a few moments. The girl met her gaze with calm eyes—no exaggerated expressions, but she felt alive.
"In that case…"
Carela whispered, then extended her hand.
Gray looked at it, then slowly reached out and took it. Her touch was cold, but real.
"Come on," said Carela. "Let's take a walk before it gets dark."
Gray nodded. The two of them began walking through the quiet garden, their footsteps side by side, without a word.
There was no conversation, but the silence didn't feel empty.
It was as if a single soul was walking alongside its own shadow.
And even so, it felt like her once-lonely days were about to change.