Rin: "Master, I am back."
Hearing that, Tris simply nodded in response.
Rin: "Master, is that really all Rin needed to do?"
Tris: "Yes, that's all."
Rin: "But what exactly is the purpose of this experiment?"
Tris: "The main purpose is simply to satisfy my curiosity about them."
Rin: "Just that?"
Tris: "Sometimes you have questions in your mind, and it feels unsettling if you don't know the answer. It's like that."
Rin: "Ah, Rin understands that feeling too. Still, Rin thinks you wouldn't do all this just to satisfy your curiosity."
Tris: "Information is also a kind of weapon. If it can be obtained easily, why hesitate? Even if it may never be used in the future, who can say for sure?"
Hearing this explanation, Rin understood and nodded.
The unlucky man they had captured was now struggling restlessly on the back of 'Black Horse'. The noise he made caught Rin's attention.
Rin: "Oh, he's awake already? Huh…?"
Looking at the puppet shaped like a horse, Rin suddenly noticed something she hadn't before.
Rin: "Master, why doesn't that puppet show its joints like the 'Servant' does?"
In her previous encounters with 'Black Horse', Rin had always been quickly lifted onto its back, never having the chance to observe it from the side. Only now did she realize this detail.
Tris: "Time and cost. But mostly time."
Rin: "Time?"
Tris: "The joints of a humanoid puppet are far more complex and detailed than those of a horse. If they can simply be hidden with fabric or clothing, I don't bother making artificial skin to cover them as I did with 'Black Horse'. And crafting fake skin for a horse, especially one of pure black, is far simpler than replicating human skin."
Rin: "I see."
She hadn't expected that the reason behind such a difference would turn out to be something so simple, obvious, and 'practical.'
Tris: "Furthermore, humanoid puppets require repeated adjustments, with their sizes needing to be changed at certain intervals. Leaving them as they are makes the process far more convenient and easier."
Rin: "Why would that be necessary… Ah, it's because Rin is still growing taller, so the puppet has to change accordingly, isn't that right?"
Tris: "Exactly. But I don't intend to bother adjusting your puppet's size too often. Perhaps only once every year or two, depending on whether I have the time."
Of course, with the two puppets 'The Twin', modeled after Tris himself, he paid far more meticulous attention to their appearance.
After all, the 'Servant' was mainly meant for Rin's training convenience, while 'The Twin' was a weapon he frequently used, a weapon capable of deceiving enemies with its outward form.
As for Rin, upon hearing that her 'Servant' puppet would continue to be modified to reflect her current appearance, she silently resolved that she must never overeat and become fat.
Just imagining her Master sculpting a round belly to put on her puppet made Rin feel utterly dreadful and uncomfortable.
(.>Д<)
No young girl would ever want to preserve an ugly version of herself. Having such an unattractive appearance carved and replicated felt no different from a form of torture or public execution.
Tris: "Why are you making a face like you just chewed a whole chili pepper?"
Tris cast her a strange glance, noticing Rin seemed lost in silent thought.
But since that wasn't an important matter, he quickly stopped paying attention and moved on to the second test subject.
Pulling the man down from the back of 'Black Horse', Tris unlocked the restraints on his ankles and said:
"From here, just walk straight ahead. Watch your step, move slowly forward."
Still blindfolded, the man hesitated at the command, fearful because he had no idea what lay ahead.
Tris drew a dagger and lightly pricked his back. Feeling the pain of the blade piercing his skin, the man no longer dared to remain still and immediately began walking forward.
Thus, Tris and Rin silently watched him stagger toward the place where the white spiders were resting.
It didn't take long before Tris's test subject reached the designated spot, thickly covered in webs.
Unaware of what was there, he stumbled straight into a large web and became entangled, unable to break free.
Through the nearby puppet 'Feathers', Tris clearly observed that the spiders had no intention of attacking the strange prey that had delivered itself into their midst.
Instead, they quickly chose to move away, abandoning the man as he struggled in the sticky threads.
Tris: "Ah, just as I suspected, the spiders truly don't attack humans. Or at least, they don't attack humans who don't strike at them first."
Tris and Rin stepped closer, examining the area the spiders had left behind.
Rin: "But why didn't they run away when they saw Rin earlier?"
Tris: "Most likely Rose gave them orders, or something similar. Of course, that's only my speculation."
Rin: "Rose? Why would this be related to her?"
Tris: "Because I'm fairly certain she left these spiders behind before departing Aldor."
Rin: "Rose left? And even abandoned a group of spiders? Why would she do that?"
The girl went from one surprise to another as she kept hearing new revelations.
The last time Rin saw Rose was during that previous lunch. Life truly is full of unexpected meetings and sudden farewells.
Tris: "Why? Who can say? Perhaps only she herself knows."
Tris approached the unlucky test subject and spoke:
"The experiment I wanted to conduct is complete. Thank you for your assistance."
Hearing these words, the man let out a faint sigh of relief, then began groaning as if begging to be released.
Of course, Tris paid no attention to whatever he wanted to say; otherwise, he wouldn't have gagged him with a rag from the very beginning.
On that rag, Tris had even applied a small trick to make it nearly impossible to spit out, with his hands bound and only his jaw and tongue free.
With the dagger still in his hand, Tris thrust it straight into the man's chest.
Tris: "I made sure to stab in the same spot as your previous victim. So now you can take this chance to experience for yourself what it felt like. No need to thank me."
Drenched in blood, tears, and even urine, the man let out weak, rasping sounds before quickly falling completely still.
Pulling out the dagger and giving it a light flick, the blood upon it was swiftly cleansed away thanks to the layer of spiritual energy surrounding it.
Tris sheathed the blade, stretched lazily, and said:
"Let's head back."
Rin: "Aren't we going to deal with the body?"
Tris: "I noticed the spiders haven't gone far. They're still watching carefully from a distance. Just leave it to them."