"Hey, Merlin here. Sorry for the trouble the Round Table's caused."
"My heart aches too. Honestly, who let it get this bad…?"
"—Ever heard of 'pot calling the kettle black,' Merlin?"
"!? You are—!?"
"—From the farthest reaches, unleash light… The foundation tears the sky, binds the earth, the anchor of storms—"
"Altria—!!"
"…But I didn't expect the Heroic King to take things so seriously."
"…Lending a hand once isn't the worst idea. Not that this stubborn sword would know."
Renovation King: Expedition Edition – Kings with Too Much Time on Their Hands
"My Clarent—!!"
While exploring Victor Frankenstein's mansion after smashing its defenses, Mordred let out a wail.
"My Clarent… it's totally lost its shine!!"
"That's rough. So, Gil, where do you think it is?"
"Underground, likely. Shady experiments and rituals are always underground."
"Let's search. Hidden stairs, maybe?"
"Who knows? Will ghosts or serpents slither out?"
"Hey! Listen! My Clarent, my Clarent!!"
Artoria swiftly seized Mordred in a neck-hanging tree choke.
"'Your' Clarent? Since when was it yours?"
"Guh…"
"It's on loan for convenience. I never gifted it to you. What's next, borrowing Prydwen? Want ten Caliburns to think it over?"
"S-Sorry, Father…"
"Good. Honestly, with such reckless use…"
"Heroine X egged me on!! Where'd that jerk vanish to!?"
"She's calling you."
"What's that about?"
—Mysterious Heroine X. What kind of Saber… what kind of Dragon is she…?
"Let's keep exploring. Abandoned mansions always have treasure!"
"You're into this, Arthur! Hold up, Gil, this floor's a different color!"
"Step back. 'Gate of Babylon'!"
The floor blasted apart with a blaze of golden treasures—safe, non-scattering ones.
—The search for Victor Frankenstein's clues was left to Master and Mash, while the vessel dove into mansion exploration.
The enemy's schemes and forces? Utterly irrelevant. The vessel was fixated on "Frankenstein's Monster."
Artoria, somehow tagging along, joined the golden band of explorers, hunting treasure in a munchkin frenzy.
"Roll for Spot Hidden or Listen?"
"No need. Roleplay it out."
"If we're stuck, I'll Leap my way through."
"Worst case, blow the mansion up for a normal end. I'll lead."
"Mordred, you're in the way—stay in the middle. I'll take rear guard."
"Uh, okay…?"
"Something's underground. My Instinct 90's roaring!"
"Those boasts often lead to fumbles. If it comes to it, my Uruk Arts 99 plus treasures will crush any mythic beast in one hit."
"My Saber skills are 99 too, so we're fine! Though my Stealth's 05."
"Still an Assassin, huh?"
"I'm a Saber!!"
"Don't leave me behind, Father!"
The explorers descended underground…
Underground, they reached a room with eerie machinery and a coffin.
"Any slimes?"
"Roll Spot Hidden."
"…Critical!"
"Good, we've got info. My take? That coffin's suspicious."
—A coffin sized for one person.
—Nameless Sensor, Spot Hidden 99, screamed: Something's there! (Certain)
"Mordred, open it."
"Me!? Why me!?"
"It's only logical to send the disposable character first. If you die, make it a dramatic roleplay."
"You've got 108 character sheets. Lose as many as you want. Open it!"
"Ugh, damn it, Father's too free-spirited…"
Mordred obeyed, heaving the heavy coffin lid.
"Damn, it's heavy!"
"Is your STR 3 or something? Pathetic noodle arms."
"Don't say that. I'm delicate."
"Leave it! Even Father's body—"
"Huh?"
"What's inside!?"
Inside lay a figure with horn-like features, clad in a woman's dress, sleeping.
"Bingo! The mansion's sleeping beauty! This is RPG gold!"
"But she won't wake. What's going on?"
"These artifacts usually… Auto-success on Spot Hidden. There—a manual."
"A manual? Wait, she's got black bars…"
"…The machine activates her with generated electricity. Got Mechanical Repair?"
"I'll sub with Spaceship Maintenance. My skill's 99."
"Auto-success. Time to meet the beauty!"
"What's with all this skill talk!?"
"It's a TRPG, obviously. You don't know?"
"Nope!"
"We play in the rec room often. …Activating!"
Pulling the lever, electricity surged into the sleeping woman.
"Gotta keep tradition. Where'd you learn to start it?"
"Read the manual. …She's waking!"
Fran, Victor Frankenstein's creation, opened her eyes and sat up slowly.
"…Ugh."
"?"
"Ah, ugh… a…"
—No language skills? She's struggling to say something…
"Gil, got Psychoanalysis?"
"As if. I only focus on combat and treasure hunting."
"Any substitute skills?"
"Hm…"
"She's saying 'good morning.'"
"!? You understand, Mordred?"
Artoria's voice rose in shock.
"Hm. Even idiots can be useful with the right skills. Fools and scissors, right?"
"But can she talk?"
"…It's shoddily made in parts. No mana. Not a Servant."
—So, Frankenstein's Monster, fresh from creation.
"Ugh, ah, ugh…"
"Translate."
"She says don't call her a monster."
"Cute, isn't it? Her body's rough, but her emotions are set. …When will mages learn?"
The vessel sighed, shaking his head.
—Thinking of Enkidu, perhaps?
"But this as exploration loot is underwhelming. Freshly made, yet barely functional—unbearable. …So."
"Ugh…?"
"—Time for maintenance. Da Vinci!"
A snap of his fingers.
"Called, Gil-kun?"
"We're upgrading this monster. Lend a hand."
"Upgrade, huh? Specifics?"
"Optimize her body's efficiency, add language skills. Not a Servant, but usable in battle."
"Got it! Victor Frankenstein's Monster… too long, let's call her Fran! A rare chance to tweak her! Order accepted!"
"Add eye beams for self-defense? Or an electric weapon tool?"
"Most creations like this have Overload built-in. Let's add a moderate Overload, a modest Load."
"Straight-up, huh? Let's start. Fran, I'll grant you speech. Translating's a hassle."
"Ugh…!?"
—If she's joining us, better to converse freely for smoother bonds.
A personal wish, but I want to at least greet our new ally.
"Don't mess with her too much…?"
"Roll for Body Modification and Mental Adjustment. For reference."
"I'll take Body. …Saber!!"
…01. A critical, right?
"Look at my luck!"
"Good. We'll make her tough enough for Servant battles. Leave it to me and Da Vinci. Now, emotions…"
"I'll roll! I wanna do it!"
"…You sure?"
"Give her a fair shot."
"Alright! I'll make her personality solid! —Here!!"
Mordred slammed the dice.
—The number…
""Ugh.""
"…Unbelievable. You almost missed it."
"Frankenstein's Monster. Call me Fran. Yo."
Fran struck a gutsy pose.
"That's that. Taking her as loot."
"What happened while we read memos!?"
"Why'd you fumble there? Idiot."
"Not my fault!!"
"Moving's… kinda a hassle. King, carry me."
"Guh—! Don't jump on me with that bulk! Big dog, huh!?"
"So cute—!!"
"Senpai!?"
—The roll was 99, a fumble.
A lethargic, lazy personality was bestowed upon Fran.
"Heya. I'm in your care."
"Vic… You're Frankenstein's…!?"
"Call me Fran. For now, let me chill."
"Eh…?"
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