Kasumigaoka Utaha was busy browsing racks of clothes, while Hayasaka Ai stood beside her, giving advice and comments.
Although they had just learned some earth-shattering truths, those matters felt far removed from their immediate lives. Right now, buying new clothes seemed far more pressing.
"Lord Roy, do you have enough money?"While Utaha stepped away to the fitting room, Hayasaka took the chance to quietly approach Roy.
"I've got a bit of savings left—just a little," Roy answered. His expression turned complicated as he said it.
"After all, I've got two gold-eating beasts at home. Every time they come back, they don't even say a word before raiding all my savings! That money was what I managed to scrape together from working at city hall!"
His tone was filled with genuine anguish.
But as someone who had grown up wealthy, Hayasaka Ai could hardly empathize with his financial suffering.
"You mean… your sisters?" she asked carefully.
She had already heard bits about the Aozaki family from Tohsaka Rin—how the two older sisters were always wandering abroad, leaving Roy alone to manage things at home. Rather irresponsible sisters, she had thought.
"Hmm? I'm not actually from the Aozaki family."Roy paused, then gave her a small smile.
"I never told you, did I? I've just been lodging at the Aozaki residence these past three years. The savings they take, I treat it as rent, protection money, and tuition. So I don't really hold a grudge."
Not part of the Aozaki family?So his full name wasn't Aozaki Roy, but simply Roy?
Hayasaka suddenly recalled Rin's warning: never pry into Roy's past.
"I'd better pick up some daily necessities myself," she muttered, quickly excusing herself toward another store.
Neither of the girls dared keep Roy waiting too long. Soon, they had chosen a few outfits, some essentials, and returned to him.
"Lord Roy, what are you looking at?"
They found him staring intently at the display window of a shop. A plastic mannequin was dressed in a striking outfit—deep navy blue, daringly low-cut at the chest, back almost completely bare, with a fluttering short skirt trimmed in lace. It came with a matching headband, thigh-high black stockings, and garter straps.
"I'll take two sets—no, four!"Roy marched right up to the shop clerk and declared it in a booming voice.
Kasumigaoka Utaha & Hayasaka Ai: "(,,#Д)"
"…Lord Roy, are you absolutely sure about this purchase?""…And, just for clarity, who exactly is supposed to wear it?"
"Of course—you two!" Roy beamed at them with unabashed satisfaction."Perfect fit, right?"
"Sorry, but I refuse to degrade myself like that!" Utaha snapped."With respect, I've never worn anything this shameless before," Hayasaka added coolly.
"No worries! You just need to put it on!"Roy laughed heartily, leaving no room for refusal. His tone made it clear the matter was already decided.
"…Do you even have enough savings left?" Hayasaka asked, making a last-ditch attempt.
"Even if I don't, I can buy it on credit. Magi have those kinds of privileges!" Roy said firmly.
Not here of all places! Don't abuse your privileges like this!Both girls groaned inwardly in perfect sync.
With the outfits bagged up, the three began their walk home.
"By the way, what are homunculi like in the magical world?"On the way back, Utaha suddenly raised the question, her curiosity piqued.
"Nothing too special," Roy answered nonchalantly. "Their bodies are designed the same as humans. Their minds, however, start blank—like a sheet of paper. A magus designs their personality tendencies. But… there are rare cases where a homunculus is born with natural sensitivity, just like a real human. So you can't generalize too much."
"And how are they treated?"
"Badly. To magi, they're just tools, disposable resources. Easy to create, easy to discard. No one cares about their feelings. They're treated more like machines than people."
"But magi must be desperate for manpower these days. Even so, homunculi still get no rights?"
"They've never had rights to begin with. But they're undeniably reliable as fighting forces. Since they can always be replaced, the Association does acknowledge self-aware homunculi with rank—but only the lowest. No matter how strong they are, they're never allowed to climb higher."
"I see…" Utaha nodded thoughtfully."Why do you ask?"
"Well… if I had to say… it's research material. I was originally a novelist."
Her answer was honest. After all, she had been pulled into this world without warning. If one could suddenly cross into another world… couldn't one just as easily cross back?
Roy glanced at her, but said nothing, walking on in silence. Hayasaka, too, looked her way, but held her tongue.
Utaha wasn't as guarded as they were. Compared to them, her mind was easy to read. But precisely because they could read her so clearly, they chose not to comment. She was just a teenager, after all—not like Hayasaka, who was already a trained elite.
What Utaha needed was a dream, something to hold on to.
Aozaki Residence
Back home, Roy prepared a side room for Hayasaka as her quarters.
"And don't forget to try on the clothes!"
The two girls dragged themselves into the bedrooms, looking as if burdened with the weight of the world.
"…What do we do? Do we really have to wear these?""I don't mind."
Hayasaka slipped smoothly into her "loyal maid unto death" mode, quickly changing into the revealing outfit with practiced efficiency.
Utaha grimaced, but eventually resigned herself to doing the same.
When the two finally stepped out of their rooms, Roy's eyes lit up at the sound of footsteps. But the moment he saw them, his excitement died in an instant.
"That's how you're wearing them?"
"It's chilly today. I trust Lord Roy will show us some mercy," Utaha said sweetly, twirling to show off.
It was indeed the backless maid outfit Roy had purchased. But underneath, Utaha had layered a full set of inner garments, covering herself from neck to ankle.
Utterly boring!
Beside her, Hayasaka had done the exact same thing, though she let Utaha take the risk of speaking first.
"…Forget it, then."Roy slumped in disappointment.
"I was planning to check whether you two had any talent for magecraft—as a little reward for indulging me by wearing the maid outfits."
The room fell instantly silent.
Without a word, Hayasaka turned on her heel and headed straight back to the bedroom.
Utaha cursed inwardly at the "traitor," but hurried after her.
Roy smiled in satisfaction.
When they returned again, Roy's eyes widened—the world itself seemed to shine brighter.
Both had shed their inner layers. Though the maid outfits were identical in cut, the effect on each girl was vastly different.
Utaha's figure was fuller, the edges of the outfit pressing deep into her soft curves. The plunging neckline showcased her chest to dizzying effect, while her long legs, clad in black stockings, created a blinding contrast with the pale skin peeking between skirt and thigh-highs. Her face flushed scarlet, her eyes evasive—she radiated the classic "I'm not wearing this for you!" tsundere aura.
Hayasaka, in contrast, was slender, delicate. Her body had no excess, her waist so fine it begged to be held. She chose pristine white stockings instead of black, exuding a fragile, untouchable purity—yet precisely because of that, she inspired the urge to sully it. To change her image further, she let her golden hair down, clipping her bangs aside with a floral pin. Her clear blue eyes sparkled with calculated innocence, giving her an air of youthful naïveté, tinged with cunning.
Two maids: one black-haired, voluptuous, tsundere elegance; one blonde, fragile, cunningly innocent purity.
Ah… in this life, I could ask for nothing more.