Clap. Clap. Clap.
Edward stood to the side, softly patting his hands together.
"What a... wonderful fairy tale."
A green, oily liquid gradually filled the small vial. The fairy tale was beginning to fade back into reality.
Alice let out a long, slow breath; the word 'exhausted' now completely filled her mind.
"Is... Nadeshiko really revived?"
Raishin crouched beside Shouko, speaking with careful caution.
"Don't worry." Shouko's fingers traced over Nadeshiko's form, checking the girl's vital signs. "She's perfectly healthy. She might just need some time to adjust."
"Also," Shouko's tone shifted as she turned her gaze to Magnus, "your combat squad... they seem to be modeled after Oborofuji, aren't they?"
Magnus gave a slight nod. "They are the Japanese military's mass-produced result based on Oborofuji."
"Heh." Shouko let out a disdainful laugh. "Such primitive technology. If I hadn't disassembled a few of them, I probably would have overlooked it."
She placed Nadeshiko into Raishin's hands, stood up, and pulled out her pipe.
"Consider this a reward for letting me witness this... 'resurrection.' Karyuusai Shouko will lend her hands a little longer."
"My thanks," Magnus replied immediately.
"What's a pity, however, is that their personalities cannot be restored to their original state." Wreathed in smoke, Shouko looked towards Nadeshiko.
"Due to the removal of the living components, some missing parts can never be repaired. After rebooting, the 'self' of those combat dolls will likely be replaced by entirely different personalities."
"Then... we'll just have to start over." Magnus—Akabane Tenzen—removed his mask, his expression calm and gentle.
"By the way," Shouko said, addressing Alice as she walked over, "the progress on this side is almost complete as well."
"Progress?"
"Irori."
Alice immediately understood and gave a nod. So, the Divine Machine was about to be born?
It's finally... almost here.
The bell of the Night Party echoed once more through the night sky; tonight's gathering had concluded.
At the same time, the beams of flashlights and the sound of messy footsteps slowly drew nearer.
It was the rescue team, coming underground to find the Headmaster.
Only arriving now? The attack started this afternoon.
Alice's gaze shifted to Edward.
Edward blinked. "I made them lose their way for a little while."
Alice and Alice, supporting Shouko and carrying Nadeshiko, moved closer to Komurasaki. Those who weren't supposed to be here couldn't afford to be discovered.
Before long, Avril appeared not far away, leading a group of puppeteers.
Avril's expression was stiff, her hand gripping the military saber at her waist tightly.
"...Are you unharmed, Headmaster?"
"As you can see, Avril," Edward replied with a smile.
"What a shame," Avril said, her face blank. She turned to the subordinates behind her. "All of you, take the kids back up. And bring this old man with you."
"Avril, dear..." Headmaster Edward called out pathetically, but Avril merely turned silently and strode directly to the front of the group.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded, and the cavern slowly returned to silence.
"Alice," Alice called softly.
"Hmm?"
"I recall, back when you invited me to discuss the topic of the Divine Machine..." Perhaps due to fatigue, Alice's voice was rather quiet. Yet, in the stillness of the underground, Alice could still hear her perfectly clearly.
"Edward mentioned that he and Magnus were comrades with a shared goal," Alice continued. "Magnus's goal was to revive his sister. So then..."
"What is Edward's goal?" Alice's cool voice reached Alice's ears.
Alice abruptly stopped walking, freezing in place as a certain conjecture entered her mind.
Edward's wife, her mother, didn't have living organs preserved like Nadeshiko did.
The method of finding 'bugs' wouldn't work. And judging by Edward's indifferent demeanor during the recent ritual, it didn't seem to be that either.
So, for whom, then...
Alice slowly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Shin, in her maid form, looked at her young mistress with concern.
'Father and daughter are just the same,' Alice thought with a slight shake of her head. 'Both so stubborn, so convinced of their own views. Their attitudes are so rigid, they fail to convey what they truly mean to the other.'
She continued speaking, "Do you remember the mana I used to dispel the suggestion magic from you before?"
She gently tapped a finger against Alice's chest, allowing a trickle of mana to seep in.
The heart within was beating steadily, powerfully.
"There's a contract on your heart."
The girl's light, cold voice was deafening in Alice's ears.
"It's a contract of exchange."
"..."
Silence spread between the two girls.
Several seconds passed before Alice started walking again.
"...Young Mistress?"
"Hmm? What is it?" Alice turned back, her eyes seeming to glimmer.
She used a light tone, "What's wrong, Shin?"
"...No... It's nothing."
"I really did hope for it once, you know... Hoped that Father was acting for my sake. But I denied it to myself soon after." Alice spread her arms wide, like a little girl at play. "But now, learning that such a possibility exists... I'm not quite sure how to handle it."
In this darkness where no one could see, Alice could somehow sense that the girl beside her was smiling.
A happy, fulfilled smile.
"For someone with the Young Mistress's twisted personality, I never expected to hear such honest words."
"Okay, Shin. I'll make you cry your eyes out later."
Sunlight shone at the end of the path ahead—the direction of the future.
--+--
The following afternoon.
Alice was sitting in her dorm room, holding paper and pen, listening to Charlotte recount her adventure story.
A girl who looked almost identical to Charlotte—Lotte—was playing with the Rozen Maidens.
The Rozen Maidens all seemed able to see this spirit.
"Hmph." Kanaria stood on a chair, hands on her hips. "I'm the one who knows our sisters best!"
"Really?" Lotte asked happily.
"Of course! I even know Suigintou's secret!"
The moment these words were spoken, the room fell silent.
Suigintou glanced sideways. Shinku set down her tea. Souseiseki and Suiseiseki turned their heads simultaneously. Hinaichigo blinked her big eyes, looking at Kanaria. Kirakishou moved closer to her sisters with interest.
Even Robin, who had been who-knows-where, flashed into the room.
"Spill the tea," he chirped, making the sound of someone ready for some drama.
"And that is..." Kanaria raised a finger, pointing dramatically at Shinku. "Suigintou doesn't actually hate Shinku!!!"
"..."
Silence.
After a long moment, Alice picked up her pen again and continued writing Charlotte's adventure story. The faint scratching sound brought everyone back to their senses.
Robin clicked his tongue lightly, bored, and flew over to Alice's side.
Souseiseki and Suiseiseki turned their heads away at the same time again. Hinaichigo's eyes were wide, but Kirakishou immediately covered her mouth.
"Ara." Shinku glanced at Suigintou and picked up her teacup.
"Don't spout such nonsense," Suigintou retorted, arms crossed as she turned her face away.
Alice gave a slight shake of her head and flipped through the completed story.
"This is?" Finally snapping out of the shock of the 'earth-shattering secret,' Charlotte looked at the book in Alice's hands and inquired.
Sigmund sat perched atop her head, also casting a curious glance.
"Writing down events that have occurred into a book, then comprehending it as a form of magecraft."
Against the attacks of the 'Cursed Sword,' Alice didn't have any reliable means of defense. Facing it directly might have cost her her life.
And this spirit, existing between all things, capable of defending against the 'Cursed Sword'—she was somewhat interested in it as well.
"Well then..."
Mana surged from within her. The storybook before Alice bloomed with a blue radiance, akin to a watery mirror.
The magecraft activated. A girl who bore a resemblance to Alice appeared behind her, and then, she smiled.
At the same time, Alice's Magic Circuit—Yumina—also smiled.
--+--
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.