Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (LN) - Volume 9 - Chapter SS

Side Story: The Magician and the Doll Princess 

A boy let out a heavy sigh, which turned into white mist before vanishing. The chill that spread through his lungs was refreshing, but just when had it gotten so cold? Winter was still far away, but the temperature changed drastically the further up the mountain he climbed. 

It was said that every thousand meters above sea level dropped the temperature by ten degrees. And with the fluctuating autumn weather, it wasn’t all that strange for the mountain air to be quite chilly. But this intense cold was nothing to be sneezed at. 

“Why did I have to get sent to a mountain like this right after arriving in Germany...?” 

The boy idly complained to himself, standing directly above a fir forest as he looked up at the bright sunshine beaming through the clouds. He heaved another sigh, which looked not unlike the clouds overhead before it too vanished into the atmosphere. 

On this day, modern magician Yakagi Suimei was deep in the mountains of Germany on the orders of Nettesheim, the leader of the Society. Now, speaking practically, anyone who self-identified as a “magician” was likely to get suspicious looks regardless of whether they were telling the truth or not. To most people, after all, magicians were something out of fiction. 

Merlin, Morgana, Odin, Circe, the three witches from Macbeth... If one were to start listing all the examples, it would take forever. But if you asked ten different people, they would all tell you the same thing: “Magicians aren’t real.” That was common sense. All normal people knew about, at best, were stage magicians. 

However, that didn’t change the fact that magicians were indeed very, very real—even in the modern world overrun with science and technology. And they were just like the magicians of fiction that everyone thought of when they heard the word. They unraveled the mysteries and manipulated wondrous phenomena. 

In fact, magicians had guided humanity with their extraordinary powers since antiquity, largely contributing to the world’s prosperity. They facilitated all scholarly pursuits, beginning with natural philosophy, and it was no exaggeration to say that they’d built the foundation for the wonders of the world. However, in the modern era, their achievements were superseded by science and their existence had gradually been relegated to the pages of fiction since the days of Robert Boyle. 

And so, in the present day and age, the mythical creatures known as magicians continued to pass down their knowledge of the mysteries in the shadows. One such creature was a boy from Japan, Society magician Yakagi Suimei. 

Suimei came to a sudden stop. Just how long had it been since the mountain path disappeared? No matter how much he kept walking, all he could see around him was the same verdant scenery. 

Scowling at the cold air, he took both a regular map and a star chart out of his bag and threw them on the ground. He then muttered a few strange words as he glanced up at the sky before taking another good look around him. When he did so, the two maps were now in a different spot on the ground from where he’d thrown them. 

“Hmm... At least I’m not lost.” 

He was still going in the right direction. All he had to do to arrive at his destination was press forward. But in spite of that, all he could see in front of him was a thick, dark forest. The evergreens were packed together so tightly that visibility was grim. 

A dark forest was hardly an obstacle for a magician like him, however. If he just used magicka to illuminate the path, he would reach his destination without issue. But rather than resorting to magicka, Suimei lazily pulled a flashlight out of his suit pocket. 

“Hmm?” 

Click, click... 

The switch on the flashlight let out a futile cry. It was functionally useless. 

“Well, crap. It’s broken. Man, he really went all-out for me, didn’t he?” 

Indeed, the flashlight had been a birthday present from Suimei’s best friend—something he’d given him right before leaving Japan this time. Suimei hadn’t used it even once yet, but it had apparently died without ever giving him the chance to. 

Suimei scratched the back of his head in a troubled manner, and then returned his birthday present to his suit pocket. Technological devices often malfunctioned in the hands of magicians. The more one steeped themselves in the mysteries, the more they separated themselves from science. Sometimes their very touch was enough to render devices that depended on it inert. 

Such was the case with Suimei’s flashlight, which had given up on him. But this wasn’t an entirely new experience. Far from it. It wasn’t that uncommon for the turnstiles or the automatic doors at the train station to give him grief. 

Now, a flashlight was a relatively simple device. It couldn’t really be called high-tech. But nevertheless, modern ones still used things such as organic electroluminescence, diodes, and the like, so they were far more advanced contraptions than they once used to be. 

It was likely exactly that that had done Suimei’s flashlight in. But even so, having something as simple as a flashlight break in his hands like this was a first. That meant there was a possibility something else was at play here. It was something people often heard about, or sometimes even experienced for themselves, at certain holy sites or haunted grounds. Cameras, lights, and radios would suddenly cease functioning. 

According to magickal theory, electromagnetic waves had a nature that made them highly susceptible to the mystical. Electromagnetic waves were important in the world of mysteries as a wavelength of light, but they also held great significance in the sphere of science as part of the theory of universal eternity. That’s why it was said that the closer something was to mystical theory, the harder it was for electromagnetic waves to function properly on a purely scientific basis—meaning there was a possibility that there was a mystical presence in the area so strong that it exerted a constant influence on any electronic device. 

A barrier, huh? 

Indeed, the abnormal cold of the forest wasn’t solely because of the high altitude. Its bleak darkness wasn’t just because of the tree cover and clouds overhead, either. And, very similarly, Suimei’s flashlight hadn’t broken just because he was a magician. 

In short, there was a barrier here that ensured anyone who entered the forest unwelcomed would lose their way. Along with the unnatural chill and looming darkness that threatened to swallow you whole, it was more than enough to deter any ordinary intruders. 

Suimei could palpably sense an invisible boundary right in front of him. But even so, he didn’t hesitate to step forth. The sensation of his own footsteps was unreliable at this point. He couldn’t feel the branches and leaves he was treading upon, let alone the firm earth under them. Unlike regular darkness, it felt like he’d stepped into a physical night—one that clung to his skin like moisture. Walking into it was like sinking into a black sea. It was enough to send any normal person running the other way, but Suimei pressed onward confidently. 

Eventually emerging on the other side of the treeline, a blinding light assaulted Suimei. When he could finally see through the afterimage burned into the back of his eyes, a paved path opened up before him. It was so neatly laid and inviting that it made him doubt the bleak journey he’d been through to get to this point. 

“I guess my destination is at the end of this path.” 

He could vaguely see the silhouette of a building up ahead. Surely that was his objective. The mission that the leader had given him this time around was a rather odd one. 

“Congratulations. Now that you’re a high grand class magician, we’ve decided to grant you an assistant. An old friend of mine lives where I’ll be sending you. I’d like you to go pick up your assistant from him.” 

Suimei’s face had twisted up quite severely upon hearing that. The leader of the Society, Nettesheim, was known for pushing unreasonable demands on others with an innocent smile. Virtually everything out of his mouth begged a quip back. 

In any event, it was quite common for magicians to sequester themselves away in remote locations. Be it in the middle of the mountains or on a completely isolated island—the more secluded, the better. Suimei’s only suspicion here was that this place wasn’t recorded on the ancient map at Society HQ. 

The ancient map was an artifact that accurately reflected changes to the landscape in real time. Suimei believed it to be definite and absolute, yet for some reason... this location wasn’t marked on it. When he’d asked the leader about it, the only answer he’d gotten was Nettesheim’s trademark smile and the ominous words, “You’ll figure it out when you get there.” 

This place, however, was where an old friend of Nettesheim’s lived. “Old friend” had been Nettesheim’s own words, which Suimei regarded as highly suspicious. The leader of the Society, you see, called anyone and everyone who shared his ideals a friend. Those who adored him, those who chased after him, those who blindly idolized him... They were all friends to him without exception. 

So was the person waiting for Suimei truly Nettesheim’s friend? Was it an old disciple? A follower who revered him like a god? Suimei could only wonder. 

That wasn’t the only thing that struck him as odd about this mission, however. More importantly, Nettesheim had specifically told Suimei to go and “pick up” his assistant. That made it sound like said assistant was a familiar. Suimei didn’t possess the abilities or mana to contract a familiar, and Nettesheim knew that full well. 

Perhaps it was one that could be summoned only when needed, but fundamentally, Suimei had no interest in having a familiar standing at the ready at all times. This was also something that Nettesheim knew full well. 

So why, exactly, had Nettesheim implied what he did? What was the meaning behind his choice of words? Suimei pondered this as he walked, but the end of the stone path came before an answer ever did. 

“So this is...” 

A large, old, Neo-Renaissance-style house stood before him. The sun was currently hiding behind the clouds, and the walls stretching from the front gate reflected its dull light. Because of that, the entire area appeared to be awash in grayscale, giving it a rather curious aesthetic. 

Nevertheless, Suimei approached the gate. It was a large, majestic structure that matched the size and splendor of the manor. It was made of wrought steel that looked like it had been burned pitch black, and it was adorned with cogwheels, pendulums, and such as though it had been modeled after the inner workings of a clock or some other simple machine. 

Suimei used the knocker on the gate and a pleasant, metallic ringing sound reverberated straight towards the door of the house. The old magician’s estate naturally had a mysterious air to it, including the clearly magickal knocker. 

It wasn’t long before the front door of the house creaked open, peeling away at the darkness inside. The intervening sunlight revealed a girl in a lovely apron dress with light brown hair flowing down her back. She appeared to be younger than Suimei based on her height and features, but her somewhat transparent expression seemed quite cold. 

She approached the gate, picked up the hem of her dress, and elegantly curtsied. Suimei politely began to introduce himself in return, but... 

“I’m—” 

“Yakagi Suimei of the Society, right? We’ve been expecting you.” 

“I see.” 

The girl touched the gate and a metallic sound rang out like the gears of a clock had suddenly engaged. It was followed by ticking as the zerol gears around the heavy steel gate began revolving as it swung open, dragging itself across the ground. 

The noise of it all resounded through the mountains. Birds scattered from distant trees, the sound of their flapping wings echoing back toward the estate. But as the cacophony died down and the gate finished opening, the girl held her hand out towards the manor in a welcoming gesture. 

“My father is waiting inside. Please come this way.” 

There, Suimei looked the girl in the eyes. 

“Can I ask you something?” 

“What is it?” 

“Where are we?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean... whose house is this?” 

“It couldn’t be... Were you not informed?” 

Her surprise was perfectly natural. After all, it was only normal for someone to know where they were going before they made the trip there. 

“I’m sorry. Our leader can be quite impish,” Suimei confessed dejectedly. 

“I see,” the girl sighed in understanding. “Allow me to guide you, then. This is the Alzbayne Clockwork Doll Workshop.” 

“Alzbayne? So this is...” 

It was the workshop of the elusive puppeteer. Suimei took another look at the estate. As the sun peeked through the clouds, the red of the previously grayscale manor seemed to come back to life. 

“Puppeteer” was the proper title for magicians who used or created puppets and dolls. There were many puppeteers throughout the ages, but only a single one had ever earned the prestige of being called the Doll Master by the Thousand Nights Association. That man was none other than Edgar Alzbayne. 

It was said that he’d earned the name because of the masterful quality of his work. The dolls made by his hands were without peer. No puppeteer could surpass him. Moreover, the dolls created in his workshop every few years always accomplished great things with the masters they were entrusted to. 

And so his reputation as the Doll Master had persisted for over a hundred years. Suimei quietly recalled all the stories he’d ever heard about Alzbayne as he and passed through the majestic front gate of his estate. He then followed the girl up to the manor and into the dimly-lit entrance hall. 

Suimei took a look around, somewhat overwhelmed by the majestic double staircase before him. Inside the manor was decorated with brand new-looking furniture that belied its aged exterior. He could tell how scrupulously maintained the place was at a glance. 

All seemed to be in perfect order except for the chandelier directly overhead, which only emitted a gloomy light. Its dim, colored glass bulbs—coated in mana—were restricting their shine, making it difficult to really see the bisque dolls that sat atop the furniture around the room. Suimei wanted to get a better look at them, seeing as how they were the creations of the famed Edgar Alzbayne, but... 

Suddenly, the girl turned around to look at Suimei, who had stopped in his tracks. She then glanced up at the ceiling where he had just been looking. 

“What’s the matter?” he asked her. 

“Suimei-sama, a strong light reveals things that one does not wish others to see. Maidens especially dislike such scrutinizing gazes from a gentleman.” 

“Maidens...?” 

Suimei muttered to himself in confusion. It seemed at first that she was begging consideration for herself, but she’d spoken in the plural. Suimei was baffled as to who she really meant, and furrowed his brow accordingly. Seeing this, the girl lowered casually glanced over to one of the bisque dolls. 

“Ah, you meant them...” 

“Yes. As such, if you care to admire their looks, they’d much prefer it if you did so in this lighting.” 

I get it. All the dolls here are treated as if they’re alive. 

“Well, I suppose it’s impolite to stare, isn’t it?” 

“You’re ever so considerate, Suimei-sama.” 

With that, the girl quietly began walking again. After ascending the double staircase, they came out into a hallway lined with a long, red Persian rug and illuminated with a much warmer light. Proceeding forward, the girl showed Suimei to a room at the end of the hall. She then stood to the side of it and bowed. 

“Here?” Suimei asked. 

“Yes. The master awaits you inside,” the girl replied. 

By “the master,” she meant her father—Edgar Alzbayne. Suimei gulped nervously. 

“Suimei-sama, I bid you be at ease.” 

“I’ll try, but...” 

He was about to meet the famed Doll Master. He couldn’t relax even if he wanted to. He flashed an embarrassed smile instead as the girl turned toward the door. 

“Father, I’ve brought your guest from the Society.” 

“Come in.” 

A deep voice came from the other side of the door. It carried a weight to it almost like that of an aged tree. 

The girl then opened the door, revealing an old gentleman sitting on a sofa within. He wore a stylish monocle and vest. Suimei’s first impression was that of a dour-looking sculpture, such was the heavy atmosphere about him. This was the master of the house and the meister of the dolls created in this workshop. Suimei walked up behind the empty sofa sitting across from him and bowed. 

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have come here at the request of Nettesheim, leader of the Society. My name is Yakagi Suimei.” 

“I’m Edgar Alzbayne. From what I hear, I’ve put quite the burden on you.” 

“Hardly.” 

Suimei bowed once more, and perhaps finding something amusing about this, Edgar’s stiff, eccentric expression crumbled ever so slightly. 

“Now, as for introductions, the young lady who showed you here is one of my daughters...” 

“My name is Annaliese. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” 

“Oh, uh, nice to meet you.” 

Suimei turned around to reply to Annaliese, and as he turned back towards Edgar, a frame on the wall caught his eye. It held a monochrome picture of several people, but the face of the man in the middle was blacked out. Suimei couldn’t see who it was, even though everyone else in the picture was clearly visible. He stared at the picture in puzzlement for a moment before seeming to realize who the blacked-out face belonged to. Seeing this, Edgar spoke up in disappointment. 

“Seeing his picture nowadays would make anybody scowl.” 

“So that really is...?” 

Suimei looked to Edgar, who silently nodded. Suimei then glanced back at the picture. Indeed, in the center of it was one of the most notorious figures of all history. It was because of him that raising one’s right hand the wrong way was illegal here in Germany. 

The fact that Edgar had his picture on the wall, and his disappointment at his mention, seemed to indicate a personal connection. Suimei questioned Edgar with a raised eyebrow, to which he nodded. 

“Meister, what kind of person was he?” 

“What kind of person...? I can’t really give a clear answer to that.” 

Suimei furrowed his brow at this answer. Edgar then looked up at the picture as if reminiscing about the past, and fluently explained himself. 

“Wolf sometimes had quite a complex, like he was searching for his own path... But just when you started to think that about him, he was brimming with the confidence to guide others who seemed to be lost. Even I don’t know whether he switched back and forth between the two, or whether he simply changed over time. It was entirely possible that he was always searching for who he was himself. But I admit that I was as enchanted with him as everyone else was at the time.” 

Edgar spoke almost nostalgically about the man in question, who was indeed said to have enchanted many. He seized the hearts of the people with his grand speeches and gained many allies that way. However, after coming into political power, he used his charisma for ill and brought misery to the world. It was such a terrible time that the scars of it were still fresh, even seventy years later. 

“Were you a comrade of his?” Suimei asked. 

“That’s right,” Edgar acknowledged. 

“Until the end, or...?” 

“No, we parted ways before that. In the end, he was unable to oppose the professor’s spell. That’s why I had no choice but to leave.” 

“...” 

During the Second World War, there were multiple stages where magicians fought each other behind the scenes. Of them, it was said that the battles in Germany, Italy, England, Russia, Hong Kong, and Manchuria were the fiercest. The man sitting before Suimei now had likely been caught in that maelstrom of fighting. 

Edgar flung the Reichsmark coin that he’d been playing with in his hand over to his desk as if to say that was enough talk of his past. As it finished spinning around and came to a stop, he cut to the chase. 

“I heard that someone tied to me by fate would be coming, but I never expected you to be that man’s son. You look just like Kazamitsu did when he was young.” 

“You knew my father?” 

“I was harassed by him two or three times when he was a child.” 

Edgar’s mouth curled in amusement. Suimei had heard that his father was quite the rascal when he was his age, and this seemed to have something to do with that. 

“I’m sorry to hear about Kazamitsu. You have my condolences.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Honestly, it’s almost hard to hear you be so courteous when you’re his spitting image.” 

“You’ll... simply have to get used to it.” 

“That’s more like it.” 

Edgar flashed a bold smile, and Suimei took the opportunity to ask about what had been bothering him all the way here. 

“Meister, I’ve heard from our leader that you are an old friend of his.” 

“So Lord Nettesheim is still saying things like that...” Edgar replied with a sigh. 

That was about the answer Suimei had expected. It seemed Edgar wasn’t a personal friend of Nettesheim’s after all. Considering how old Nettesheim was and when Edgar had risen to prominence, it didn’t add up anyway. 

“So, Suimei, did Lord Nettesheim tell you why he sent you here?” 

“He only told me to come pick up an assistant.” 

“Well, that’s one way of putting it.” 

Edgar nodded, seemingly having expected this. The matter of “picking up” an assistant, however, was the other thing Suimei had puzzled over on his way here... So why did Edgar seem so unsurprised at the phrasing? The furrow in Suimei’s brow grew deeper. 

“You look like you don’t understand what’s happening here.” 

“I can’t say that I do. There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense to me.” 

“It certainly isn’t something that Lord Nettesheim would normally say. Long ago, when I was about your age, I showed Lord Nettesheim the first doll I created. Which was far inferior to the children we make these days, mind you.” Edgar paused and looked up at the ceiling before continuing, “But at the time, Lord Nettesheim... Well, his attitude was as gentle as always, but he treated it like an object. Back then, just like now, my goal was to create a living doll. So that was quite vexing to me.” 

“He said something like that...?” 

Nettesheim had denounced the handiwork of the famous Doll Master as a mere object—an insult beyond any sense of strictness. 

“Thinking back on it, that was a reprimand from Lord Nettesheim. I ran away from my mentor to his side. It was nothing but arrogance on my part. At the time, I thought I could dominate all within my grasp. So his choice of words here is a reminder of that time—both an instruction and warning from Lord Nettesheim to judge myself at all times and to put my heart into it,” Edgar said with a smile, seemingly pleased at the message. “Now, we’ve gotten off track.” 

“Oh, certainly not. This has been most interesting,” Suimei replied politely. “However, you mentioned children earlier. Does that mean...” 

“Yes. I am also a resident of this estate,” Annaliese answered with an elegant curtsy. 

In other words, she too was one of Edgar’s creations. However, that being the case, there had to be a source of mana to power her. Dolls weren’t capable of moving on their own, yet this girl seemed to be moving without a puppeteer to manipulate her. The only thing Suimei could think of was that she’d been charged with mysticism at the time of her creation, making her capable of generating mana on her own even without a caster. This girl must be a standalone doll, and Suimei’s eyes sparkled with awe and respect upon arriving at that answer. 

“My wife and I consider pretty much all the dolls of this estate our children.” 

Edgar glanced over toward his desk, on top of which sat a picture of a young man and woman. The man looked like a more youthful Edgar, while the woman had features that resembled Annaliese’s. 

“My wife was unable to bear children, you see. This was the only way we could leave something behind.” 

“So the assistant you’re sending to the Society is...” 

“One of my daughters, yes.” 

There, Annaliese put her hand to her cheek in a troubled manner. 

“But she was raised to be the most selfish of us all. I wonder if it’s because she’s the youngest...?” she mused. 

“She’s still young. Everyone starts life that way. She’ll be learning from now on,” Edgar clarified. 

“So this daughter... She isn’t independent as a magician yet?” Suimei asked. 

“That’s right. And so you’ve been selected to provide her with guidance while she serves as your assistant,” Edgar explained. 

“But I’m also still not—” Suimei started to protest. 

“There’s no need to be so humble, Suimei-sama,” Annaliese cut in. “You’re an extraordinary magician who rid the world of a red dragon. You are far from inexperienced.” 

“But that’s not really something I did on my own...” 

It was true that Suimei hadn’t defeated the dragon alone. It was a victory only made possible with the hard work of several magicians who risked their lives to accomplish it. Suimei had contributed, certainly, but he didn’t think that made him qualified to instruct anyone else in the ways of magicka. Even as a high grand class magician, taking on a disciple required remarkable leadership and experience. And Suimei, who’d only been a magician for ten years all told, believed he was far too green for the job. 

“Suimei, you’ll be working on being able to take a proper disciple. Understood? You can think of this as a rehearsal until you’re ready to teach a disciple magicka from scratch.” 

“Is it really alright for me to be doing this?” 

“It’s quite fine. You are Kazamitsu’s son, after all.” 

“...” 

Suimei scratched the back of his head shyly at that comment. Hearing such praise in his father’s name made him feel somewhat bashful. 

“Also, about the girl you’ll be taking in... She’s unique among her sisters,” Edgar continued. 

“How so?” Suimei asked. 

“She was born from a flask,” Annaliese answered. 

That phrase struck a chord with Suimei. 

“You mean she’s a homunculus?” he asked. 

“My wife came up with the theory before she died. And now that my techniques have finally caught up, I was blessed with the opportunity to create that girl.” 

“I see... But for your techniques to ‘finally catch up’? That’s rather...” 

Edgar’s story was outright astonishing. For the fabled Doll Master to chase a theory... It must have been some theory. Just how well-made was this daughter of his? Suimei couldn’t even begin to guess. 

“I’m still just a puppeteer. I had fairly extensive knowledge of alchemy, but my wife was the best of her time.” 

“Meaning someone has surpassed her now?” 

“Lord Nicolas is probably the only one. But even he was overtaken by her in her day.” 

Edgar’s expression remained stiff as he spoke fondly of his wife. It was rather frightening to think anyone had ever overtaken the monster professor. But putting that aside, Edgar turned to Annaliese. 

“Well then, Ann...” 

“Yes. Suimei-sama, right this way, please.” 

Annaliese, who was standing at Edgar’s side, walked over to the door and bowed to Suimei. It seemed she was going to guide him the rest of the way too. After giving Edgar a light bow, Suimei followed after her once more. 

When meeting someone for the first time in their own home, it was customary to meet in a reception room of some sort. Yet even though Suimei was completely new to the Alzbayne family and residence, he was being shown immediately to Edgar’s youngest daughter’s bedroom. Edgar was Suimei’s senior by both age and rank, but this was still a somewhat improper way to treat a magician who’d come as an envoy of Nettesheim. Nevertheless, Suimei obliged as these were extraordinary circumstances. 

“Homunculus.” The term was generally used to identify the artificial lifeforms created with alchemy to prove the theory behind the product of the Lapis Philosophorum. They were capable of human speech the moment they were born and naturally possessed vast knowledge. However, on the other hand, their small bodies were said to be so fragile that they couldn’t survive outside the flasks they were created in. 

In all likelihood, that was the very reason she hadn’t revealed herself yet and why Suimei was now being escorted to her personal chambers. He and Annaliese eventually arrived at a room in the corner of the second floor and, unlike at Edgar’s office, Annaliese stood to the side of the door and curtsied as if bidding Suimei to open it himself. 

“This room belongs to our youngest sister, Hydemary. She’s expecting you, Suimei-sama.” 

Suimei complied and put his hand on the doorknob, but he was curious as to why Annaliese was just standing there. He’d assumed she’d be coming with him like she had before, yet she showed no sign of doing so. 

“Annaliese, are you not coming in?” 

“My apologies, but we would like you to enter this room alone, Suimei-sama.” 

“That’s fine... But can you tell me why?” 

“You could say it’s a selfish request of Hydemary’s. If you would like to know more, you’re welcome to ask her once you meet her.” 

Meaning this should all make sense once I’m inside? 

“Understood.” 

There had to be some sort of reason behind this roundabout meeting. But, urged on by Annaliese, Suimei opened the door and entered the room alone. The moment he did, a gentle fragrance tickled his nose like rosewood incense was burning somewhere. The aroma calmed his heart, but at the same time, it had a strange, impure effect like the ylang-ylang oils and Laoshan sandalwood incense witches often used as aphrodisiacs. 

The room, however, was packed with classy, white furniture that appeared to have been imported from France. And sitting atop it—bed, chairs, and all— were bisque dolls. The room was otherwise decorated with floral patterns and white accents, giving it the impression it belonged to a princess or some other noble lady. But nowhere among all the high-class decor and furnishings could Suimei spot anything that even resembled a homunculus’s flask. He looked down at the floor and let out a sigh through his teeth as he tried to get a grasp of the situation. 

“What’s going on?” he muttered to himself. 

He then turned around and reached for the door, intent to ask Annaliese about all this. But... 

“Huh?” he uttered in disbelief. 

For when he twisted the doorknob, the door wouldn’t budge an inch. 

“Hey! The door’s locked! What’s the meaning of this?!” 

Even as he struck the door, no answer came from the other side. As his distraught voice echoed through the room, however, his trained magician eyes realized that a barrier was being deployed. The doorknob sank into the door, and the distinction between the door and the wall gradually vanished. 

I’m trapped. 

The moment he realized that, mana suddenly began building up behind him. There didn’t seem to be anyone in the room, but Suimei considered the welling mana enough to be a threat. Just where was the owner of this room hiding? Or was this mana something else entirely? Suimei narrowed his gaze and carefully scrutinized his surroundings. 

From what he could see, the dolls decorating the pretentious room were what really stood out. He’d learned just earlier that almost all the dolls of the house were Edgar’s personal creations, and after witnessing Annaliese, he could only assume they were the source of the mana. Yet in spite of that, he couldn’t actually detect any mana coming from them. 

It was a puzzle for sure, but Suimei didn’t have much time to think it out. Because all of a sudden... 

“Los geht’s.” 

[Here we go.] 

“!” 

A woman’s flat voice resounded through the room. At her signal, magicka circles took shape around several of the dolls like belts, and they began moving like awkward marionettes. It was like they were unused to being alive. They curiously moved their arms and their legs, then twisted their bodies about. But when they seemed to have adjusted, they suddenly all leaped towards Suimei at once. 

“Ugh!” 

Suimei artlessly swung his arm and mowed down the dolls with his mana. The dolls were successfully repelled, but the recoil sent Suimei back into the wall. Without giving him a moment’s rest, the same flat voice spoke up once more. 

“Jetzt kommen, mein niedlicher Teddybär.” 

[Now come, my cute teddy bear.] 

The woman’s strange, unaffected tone had a mystical air to it. What she said was far too ridiculous to be a chant, but there was no mistaking that’s exactly what it was. As proof, a teddy bear appeared midair the moment the words left her mouth. It was a rather cute stuffed animal that didn’t appear to pose any sort of threat, but the magicka that had created it was another story. It didn’t appear to belong to any known system, leading Suimei to believe it was origin magicka. As such, Suimei thrust out his left hand to repel it with strike magicka, but... 

“Fass!” 

[Take hold!] 

“What?!” 

The teddy bear seized Suimei’s hand with surprisingly deft movements. And when it did, an unbelievable weight assaulted his arm. 

Urgh! This is... a magickal shackle? 

Was the teddy bear itself constructed using a curse? Suimei was unable to shake it off, and mana was no longer flowing to his left hand. The left side of his body was being pulled to the floor. 

Suimei tried to dispel the curse, but as he did, the dolls rallied and steadily began closing in on him. Did they too have some sort of magickal effect like the teddy bear did? Or did they possess some other power altogether? Five dolls sidled up to Suimei. And perhaps as a portent of the next spell being put into play, a card case on a nearby table began clattering about. 

However, the use of multiple magickas at once backfired on the caster. Suimei was able to pinpoint their location by identifying the source of their psychic chill and by tracing the movement of mana. They were right in front of him. 

“There you are...” 

Suimei ignored the teddy bear still attached to his left arm and thrust his right arm out to attack a doll atop the bed with strike magicka. A satisfying snap resounded through the room. However, the doll dressed up like a stage magician leaped out of the way, further back into the room. 

“Oh my, you found me.” 

The magician in question—who turned out to really be a young girl—stood up and addressed Suimei in the same flat, unaffected tone she’d cast her spells with. She’d apparently been hiding herself as a large doll all this time. She wore a tophat and tailcoat, and carried a magic wand just like a stage magician. Her long, black hair flowed down her back, and her pale skin had a beautiful porcelain sheen to it just like a doll’s. 

She was taller than Annaliese, but shorter than Suimei. After twirling her wand around, she took off her hat with her left hand and lightly bowed to him. Not only was she dressed like a stage magician, she was carrying herself like one too. 

“Good day to you. Are you the magician from the Society?” she said. 

“That’s right. And I guess that makes you the assistant who’s supposed to come along with me,” Suimei asked indirectly. 

“I wonder? That depends on you,” the girl replied mockingly. 

Based on what Edgar had said earlier, this was most likely his youngest daughter—the homunculus. As such, Suimei had never expected her to be freely moving around outside of her flask, the shelter for her very life. It was a testament to the incredible and terrifying capabilities of both Edgar and his wife as alchemists. 

But as Suimei calmly assessed her, Hydemary kept her mana deployed. It seemed she was hoping for a fight. 

“Isn’t this a rude way to treat a guest?” Suimei asked dubiously. 

“You’re supposed to be a pretty strong magician, aren’t you? Put in some effort to at least live up to your name, Evening Starfall.” 

“Hmph.” 

Suimei scoffed at the nickname someone or other had given him. He then began invoking his magicka, boldly staking his claim on the first move after their brief introductions. 

“Invocato Augoeides, et sagitta!” 

[Invoke Augoeides, and fire!] 

Suimei fired down radiant rays of mana from small magicka circles overhead. As he did, the girl immediately deployed a rampart over her. His mana collided with her rampart, and sparks of manalight scattered everywhere, causing the room to flicker with blue and white. But in spite of the spectacle, the rays showed no signs of penetrating the rampart. And upon verifying that she had completely blocked Suimei’s attack, Hydemary spoke up in the same humorless fashion. 

“Here’s payback.” 

With that, she drew magicka circles overhead identical to the ones Suimei had just used. It seemed she was planning on using the same attack—a rather skillful maneuver. Was she able to read the spell from a single use? Or was she just imitating it? 

“Defense shift, overlay.” 

Suimei swept his hand through the air, first vertically downward and then horizontally from right to left as if making the sign of the cross. As he did, a hexagram manifested at his feet. It was part of a magicka circle designed to deploy like an enclosed sphere. The hexagram gave off a pale green glow and its outer circumference swiftly enveloped Suimei like a ball right before Hydemary’s mana rays crashed into it. 

Once it was all over, Suimei quickly made his next move. He dashed forth as if to attack Hydemary from the flank, sharply changing course at a right angle. He accumulated mana in his right fist and invoked a spell, a rotating, belt-like magicka circle appearing around his wrist. The was Lagline Bells, the ultimate punch Suimei had learned from Lord Ozfield himself. 

But it seemed the girl had now figured out what Suimei was up to, and deployed a rampart to protect herself accordingly. However, the signature move of the magician known as Beatorex wouldn’t be so easily blocked. 

“Cross Sight...” 

Hydemary’s flat voice again resounded through the room. She’d managed to read the nature of the attack instantly and identify it in simple terms. By imitating an opponent’s defensive magicka with a magicka circle in the palm of your hand, the weaknesses of said defensive magicka were exposed. This was a special technique indeed—magicka to break through magicka. 

“Puppenspiel!” 

[Puppet show!] 

Hydemary raised her voice again, this time speaking what seemed to be a keyword. The instant Suimei’s fist broke through her rampart, her body was swapped with that of a doll by a hair’s breadth. Suimei’s fist sent the doll flying, and he used the opportunity to scatter the other dolls who were still in action before jumping back. 

Meanwhile, Hydemary seemed to have gotten away unscathed. The doll she’d switched in to act as her substitute also appeared to be quite sturdy; it wasn’t even broken. Suimei couldn’t really compare to the original developer of Lagline Bells, but it was still terrifying how Hydemary had handily managed to thwart the attack. 

“Are you not going to show me the Golden Magnale?” she asked. 

“That’s not something I pull out for just anyone, okay?” he replied. 

“How stingy. Are you really such a tightwad?” 

“Shut it.” 

Suimei brushed aside her insult with discontent. Hydemary had a composed expression and spoke frivolously as if this were all perfectly natural to her. But in reality, such indifference was a necessity for surviving the harsh world of magicka where fights between magicians were a common occurrence. 

In any event, this girl really does live up to the Alzbayne name. Both her use of magicka and her response to mine are good. She has an advantage in that we’re fighting in her room, but even so, that doesn’t negate the fact that she’s handling herself pretty well. She’s strong. Nevertheless, however... She still has a weakness. 

“Tanzen, tanzen. Werden ein Kreis.” 

[Dance, dance. Become a circle.] 

Another chant. No, this was a command. Immediately after she uttered those words, the dolls that were collapsed all around Suimei steadily rose from the ground, joined hands, and formed a circle. It was a dangerous omen. The formation of any circle in the world of magicka largely served one purpose—the foundation for a magicka circle. And indeed, it seemed the dolls were mimicking the outer circumference of one. Following the laws of magicka, mana flowed from each doll around the circle, unifying their mana in one large wave. 

What manifested was a dreadful amount of power. It was easy to imagine that a manafield vibration would occur at this rate. Spells that could trigger such a phenomenon were extreme; they were a grade of mysticism higher than normal spells, which also gave way to triggering rank disparity extinction against lower-grade spells. 

It wasn’t clear what sort of mystery was being invoked, but Suimei’s body could be scattered to the winds by the time he figured it out. Staring down that possibility, he acted accordingly. 

“Meum desiderium est pro tempestas violentiae. O vente, abripe. Emittet clamorem desperationis. Causa delendo omnia pro me...” 

[What I desire lies before the violence of the tempest. Oh wind, blow fiercely. Raise the screams of despair. For the sake of eradicating anything and everything before my eyes...] 

As Suimei began his chant, the air around him began to stir like a draft was blowing. Paper and other light objects began flying across the room while all the curtains and lace doilies began flapping noisily. Before long, the air had condensed itself within Suimei’s hand, which he’d thrust out towards the floor. 

“I can’t say I’m pleased you’re using that kind of magicka,” Hydemary muttered. 

“Says the girl who trapped me in here,” Suimei responded in kind. 

Hydemary finally sounded a bit exasperated as she held her tophat in place. But Suimei didn’t relent, and neither did she. 

“Clauneck’s Wind!” 

Suimei unleashed Clauneck’s Wind, a violent spell that contained a devil. As the compressed ball of air in Suimei’s hand exploded, a tremendous shockwave shot through the room, sending dolls and furniture alike all crashing into the walls. In the middle of all the commotion, a portion of the flowery tapestry behind the bed flipped up. 

“...” 

Suimei caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye as he kept his attention focused on Hydemary. It was now her turn to make a move, and she swiftly charged at him. She had some distance to cover after being blown all the way back to the wall, but she closed in on Suimei in the blink of an eye. She was almost blindingly fast. It was somewhat unexpected considering the way she’d been moving thus far, but it seemed she was now intent on ending things in close combat. She dashed right at Suimei’s side, thrusting her wand out towards him. 

“Schockenstab!” 

[Shock Wand!] 

Suimei moved to evade, but he hadn’t properly anticipated what was about to happen. The moment he thought electricity was about to shoot out of her wand, a dazzling current electrified their surroundings and began lifting objects into the air. And it didn’t stop. Antique chairs, teacups, floral cushions... Anything and everything the current touched began flying around the room, sparking as it went. It was almost like the current was grabbing things and flailing them around like a sticky hand. Judging from this and everything else he’d seen so far, Suimei surmised that toys were the basis of her magicka just as a chair came flying at him. That was dangerous enough as it was, but the chair was now electrified too. Suimei tried to dodge it, but... 

“Ugh!” 

The teddy bear still holding on to his left hand was pulling on his arm as if attracted by the electricity. 

Wait, it’s not just heavy, but it can pull me around too?! 

With his mobility restricted by the teddy bear, it was all Suimei could do to throw himself to the ground to dodge the chair. He would be vulnerable this way, but he had no other choice. 

And as soon as he dove for it, the teddy bear began dragging him over to a part of the room that seemed to be free of electrified objects... making it the perfect place to send them all flying at him at once. 

The term “standalone” popped into Suimei’s head. The teddy bear and the dolls were all moving on their own in accordance with their master’s will, like cute little soldiers. Not that Suimei thought they were cute in the moment. 

Since he couldn’t move as he wanted to, he instead tried leaping in the direction the teddy bear was pulling him. Getting there sooner would give him more time to prepare for the incoming attack, and he immediately put up his defenses accordingly. 

“Primum et secundum moenia, expansio localis!” 

[First and second ramparts, local deployment!] 

As the electrified toys and furniture came flying at Suimei, he deployed a magicka circle around his outthrust hand like a shield. This was an accumulated area-type barrier. The moment it took form, the magicka circle unleashed a golden radiance. 

The brilliant fortress, the Golden Magnale, repelled every attack that came raining down on Suimei. The electrified objects were flung back at Hydemary or into the walls. 

“So you finally showed me.” 

“Reluctantly, yes.” 

Now then, what to do? 

Now that he’d used Clauneck’s Wind and the Golden Magnale, the mystical entropy in the area was approaching its limit. Suimei now had to avoid using powerful magicka for fear of triggering the magicka melt phenomenon, but at the same time, lesser magicka didn’t seem appropriate considering his opponent’s capabilities. 

No, hang on... 

He’d seen it just moments ago—a glimpse of victory revealed by Clauneck’s Wind. Taking a shot at seizing it, Suimei went on the attack. He once more gathered mana in his right hand and charged at Hydemary. 

“That again? Don’t you think it’s a bit silly for a magician to charge straight in from the front?” 

Suimei indeed looked like he was rushing into a fistfight with Hydemary, which she was rather critical of. It was a simplistic plan, and a most ineffectual one. 

But rather than engaging Hydemary, Suimei thrust out his right hand like he was aiming to fire his next spell directly at the dresser in front of him. As he did, Hydemary’s dolls grappled him. 

“How unfortunate,” she said. “What were you hoping to accomplish firing magicka over there? Were you aiming for a draw?” 

“Sorry, but no. I win.” 

“What are you—” 

Suimei was still standing there, ready to fire at the mirror over the dresser. But it wasn’t like the mirror was precious to Hydemary or anything. She couldn’t figure out why he was smiling so confidently... until she looked up at the mirror for herself. 

Reflected in the mirror was the flowery tapestry by the bed... Or rather, the enormous flask that it was hiding. And turning to face it, Suimei put his hand to his chin. 

“That’s your flask, right? Meaning this is checkmate.” 

“Hmm... So your spell is the type that can be reflected in a mirror, and that charge was just a bluff?” 

“Wasn’t that obvious? It was an oversight on your part for not considering otherwise.” 

Suimei’s charge wasn’t embellished or overacted to try and disguise the bluff. He’d been hoping Hydemary would misread him, but that wasn’t exactly a novel trick. 

“What? And you were ready to get struck down at the same time?” 

“I can take a hit. I can just heal myself afterwards anyway. That said, it’s not something I’d prefer to do if I don’t have to.” 

But you’re not so easy, are you? 

As Suimei indirectly praised Hydemary, she finally nodded in understanding. 

“Not bad. Okay, I guess you pass for now.” 

“Pass what?” 

“I wanted to make sure that the person I’m to assist is worthy of me. I was testing you.” 

“Testing me...? Is that the reason you had me come in alone?” 

“Yup. You get it, right? All of a sudden I’m supposed to be the assistant of someone I’ve never met before. I can’t just blindly agree to that. That’s why I asked my father and sister for this opportunity.” 

Hydemary explained herself rather matter-of-factly, to which Suimei grimaced in response. 

“Well...” 

He could at least understand where she was coming from. Magicians generally preferred to choose who they learned under and who they did their research with, after all. But even so, Suimei took issue with this sudden little “test” of Hydemary’s. Just as Annaliese had warned, she was certainly selfish. 

But as Suimei stood there scrutinizing her, Hydemary took the opportunity to remove her tophat. 

“My name is Hydemary Alzbayne. And you are?” 

“Yakagi Suimei.” 

“Suimei-kun, then. Hmm... Do people tend to tell you that you have a strange name?” 

“How did you know?” 

“I have most names up here in my head. Yours is quite uncommon even in Japan, isn’t it?” 

“Yeah, it is.” 

It was true that Hydemary contained vast knowledge within her. Upon their creation, homunculi were granted intelligence commensurate with the mysticism poured into them. And what Hydemary was showing off now was just a nugget of her natural wisdom. Realizing this, Suimei hummed in admiration. 

“By the way, on a completely unrelated note...” Hydemary said next. 

“What is it?” Suimei replied casually. 

There, Hydemary suddenly looked rather sullen. 

“Your face is rather plain, you know?” 

“Excuse me?!” 

“Oh my, how scary.” 

Hydemary’s neutral expression didn’t at all indicate that she was actually scared. Instead, it rather seemed like she was teasing Suimei. She wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back, but her expression remained unchanged in spite of her theatrical behavior. Coming to the conclusion it was because she was a homunculus, Suimei pointed to his left hand and let out a grand sigh. 

“Hey, can you get this thing off me already?” 

“Oh, my teddy bear? He’s cute, isn’t he? I call him Beat-tan.” 

“That’s not really...” 

It was like Hydemary took every opportunity for a tangent, and she continued to boast as Suimei stared at her in exasperation. 

“Isn’t he cute?” 

“Looks pretty fiendish to me right now.” 

“Whaaat?” 

Suimei had half a mind to tell Hydemary off for acting this way under the circumstances. Contrary to its cute appearance, the teddy bear served as a mana shackle to whatever it grasped. And whenever its prisoner tried to gather mana in the afflicted zone, the teddy bear only became heavier. It obstructed the flow of mana, but it couldn’t be removed without mana. It was quite a dangerous trap to be caught in during combat. 

Sensing Suimei’s dissatisfaction, Hydemary released the teddy bear and held it up expectantly. It seemed that she really thought Suimei was going to tell her that it was cute. She was apparently more fixated on its appearance than its magickal effect. 

“Is the magicka you use origin magicka?” 

“That’s right. I bet you’re jealous, aren’t you?” 

Hydemary continued to boast, but Suimei narrowed his eyes at her. 

“You sure are full of yourself.” 

“I am a genius, after all. Didn’t you see my magicka?” 

“Well...” 

Hydemary was talented; that much was undeniable. Her magicka itself was eye-catching, and the way she could use multiple spells at once was an extremely high-level technique. Armed with both origin magicka and concurrent spellcasting, nobody could argue the fact that she was a genius. Moreover, she wasn’t making such a claim out of conceit. It was more accurate to say that it was the genuine answer she’d come to after evaluating herself. Such was a homunculus’s innocence. 

The way she tested others still got on Suimei’s nerves, but he was willing to put that aside for now. He had bigger fish to fry. 

“Hey, how old are you?” he asked. 

“Hmm, you want to know my age? I was created by my father six years ago.” 

“You’re... six? Seriously?” 

“Yup. Understand now?” 

“Yeah. You’re really something.” 

It was normal for homunculi to have tremendous knowledge of all things, but the way Hydemary could use magicka was another story. Being able to cast spells like that at only six years old... She was, indeed, a bona fide genius. That and the fact that she could move independently of her flask made it very, very clear she was no ordinary homunculus. 

Hydemary began using magicka to repair her smashed-up room. She did so quickly, thoroughly, and without any strange quirks. Her use of magicka was flawless, giving a better glimpse into the depth of her capabilities. 

After she was done with the room, she beckoned her dolls and teddy bear over and began repairing—or rather, healing—them one by one. The dolls threw their arms in the air with joy, rubbed their cheeks against hers, and made other such affectionate displays as Hydemary lovingly patted each one. When she was at last finished with all the repairs, she took a seat at the table and beckoned Suimei towards the chair across from her. 

“Take a seat. Let’s talk a bit.” 

“...” 

With that, Hydemary pulled some sweets and a teapot out of thin air. Keeping a keen eye on her, Suimei reluctantly pulled out the chair in front of him. 

“What’s wrong? Take a seat.” 

The owner of the room, Hydemary Alzbayne, once more urged Suimei to sit with her at the table where she was elegantly sipping tea from a cup she’d pulled out of nowhere. She was actually quite beautiful, although her outfit was something else. 

Her long, black hair hung over the shoulders of her tailcoat, but she’d casually thrown her tophat and wand onto her bed. Her magician getup didn’t at all match the interior of the room, though the bisque dolls lying around shared her inorganic expression. It was all quite mismatched with her beguiling beauty. But even so, it felt like that was part of her charm. Like the discord was actually what brought everything into harmony. 

After observing her for a moment, Suimei finally took the seat across from her. 

“I’d rather you not be so cautious,” she said. “Just now was what you’d call a test. Something like a master certification exam. I have no further intention of harming you.” 

“So? How’d I do on this mysterious little exam of yours?” 

“I suppose you at least possess enough skill for me to acknowledge you.” 

“Well, thanks, I guess,” Suimei replied cattily to her evaluation. “But you know I was told to take you with me, don’t you? Are you going to come along quietly?” 

“Before that... there’s something I’d like to ask. Is that alright?” 

“And this is why you wanted to talk?” 

“Yup, exactly,” Hydemary replied indifferently. She then put down her teacup and cut to the chase: “I want to ask about you Society magicians. I hear you utilize a peculiar theory in your magicka.” 

“You mean modern magicka theory?” 

“Yes, that’s the one. It’s an outrageous theory that compounds multiple magickal systems together, right?” 

“More or less.” 

“But it’s not the same as using multiple systems at the same time, right?” 

“You saw me use it just now. Do you really think it’s that kind of lowbrow magicka?” 

Hydemary shook her head, implying that wasn’t what she’d thought at all. Just as she’d said, modern magicka theory mixed together magicka from different systems. For example, it could take rune magicka, which carved the compelling force of letters into objects to bring out their power, and mix it with a completely different system of magicka like Kabbalah numerology, which cataloged the phenomena of the world as formulas to be able to reproduce them. Even amongst magicians—who lived in the shadowy underbelly of the world—it was considered a rather heretical theory. 

Speaking of the unusual, the magicka Hydemary used was rather unconventional as well. But setting that aside... 

“And you’re all pursuing the ideals of your dear leader or whoever, right?” 

“Yeah.” 

As Suimei nodded, Hydemary cocked her head to the side like an innocent child. 

“So what’s it all about?” 

“You’ll figure it out as you go. You won’t be forced to do anything, and it’s not like I could explain it all here and now anyway.” 

“That’s fair.” 

Hydemary looked disinterested, but that was likely just because of her limited range of facial expressions. Moving on, however, she eventually came to her next question. 

“Hey... Do you remember when you were first able to use magicka?” 

“What’s this all of a sudden?” 

“I want to know what it’s like for you people when you awaken.” 

“You’re asking how I felt when I could first use magicka?” 

“I more so want to know about your eureka moment.” 

“So the revelation I had when I arrived at that stage?” 

“I was able to use magicka from the very beginning. I’m not aware of such qualia.” 

Suimei now understood what she was asking, but had one particular question about her question. 

“Couldn’t you just ask the meister? I feel like you’d get a better answer from a higher-ranking magician.” 

“My father’s answer was vague.” 

Hydemary took a sip from her teacup, seemingly disappointed with the answer she’d gotten. Suimei, however, understood it. 

“The first time I could use magicka, huh...?” 

That was because he didn’t actually remember the details of the moment all that well himself. While being shown magicka by his father, he’d touched upon mystical power. He studied the knowledge required to use magicka, and one day, he was able to use it just like his father did. That was all he profoundly remembered about it. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when that day was or what he’d felt about it at the time. Looking back on it now, it seemed whatever had led him to use magicka had become inconsequential the moment he unlocked the secret. 

The actual existence of mana was something he’d begun observing after he was able to use it. Even his mana furnace was something he’d created afterwards as well. They were skills that had stuck with him, even if their origin was vague. It was much like how someone never forgets the sense of balance required to ride a bike. Or how one can instinctively tell fortunes with tarot cards by tempering their senses. Or how sleight of hand is really just an extension of muscle memory. It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment one became capable of using such skills. But Suimei could say one thing for sure about learning magicka: it would be impossible if one never touched upon the mysteries. 

“What’s the matter?” 

“Nothing. I just don’t really know. That’s all.” 

“Is that really acceptable for someone pursuing the mysteries?” 

Hydemary’s tone was flat, but she seemed rather dubious about this point. 

“Isn’t it fine? Most everyone’s like that. That’s why the meister’s answer was vague. It’s difficult to express the sensation when theory and practice become results. I mean, every magician out there definitely goes through it, which is why nobody knows how to explain it in exact detail.” 

“Is that so...?” 

That sensation, however, had escaped Hydemary who had been able to use magic from day one. She was practically born with the manual for everything in her head, and all she had to do to accomplish something was put that knowledge to use. That was part of what compromised her ability to earnestly display emotion. 

Suddenly, Hydemary looked right at Suimei. He wasn’t sure what the gesture signified. Her eyes were cold and gray. He couldn’t perceive even a shred of passion in them, but they glinted faintly. She stared into Suimei’s eyes for a long moment before seeming satisfied. 

“Okay, very well. I’ll come along with you,” she said with a nod. 

And with that, Suimei finally had her consent... although he wasn’t sure what she’d made her decision based on. 

“Suimei-kun, was it? Do be sure to treat me well like a lady.” 

“What are you implying?” 

“Nothing. I just want to be treated properly.” 

Was that a personal request because she was a homunculus born from a flask? It seemed to express a desire not to be treated like an object. 

“Ha-aaahh...” 

Hydemary then let out an enormous yawn like a sleepy child. Seeing her absolute lack of self-restraint, Suimei was ready to mete some rather candid advice. Before he could, however, she rubbed her eyes and said something unexpected. 

“I’m tired now, so I’m going to sleep.” 

“...What?” 

She suddenly rose from her chair, leaving a bewildered Suimei sitting alone at the table. 

“Goodnight.” 

She then defenselessly curled up on her bed and... 

“Zzz...” 

“H-Hey. What the hell’s with you...?” 

What was done was done. Hydemary was asleep, and Suimei was absolutely stumped. But forced to accept the situation for what it was, he stood up and went to go for the door. The room, however, was still in its sealed state... meaning there was no door. 

“...Hey, how exactly do I get out of here?” 

In the end, Suimei had no choice but to wait there until Hydemary woke up. And when she did... 

“Who... are you?” 

“I’m gonna slug you, you little punk...” 

“Have a nice god damn nap, did you?” 

“Sorry, sorry.” 

It wasn’t at all clear that Hydemary was actually sorry. Suimei shot a doubtful gaze her way while continuing to berate her internally. After he’d humored her and answered her questions, she’d suddenly decided it was naptime and crawled into bed. Worse yet, Suimei was still locked in her room and had no choice but to wait around until she woke up. And though she apologized, her expressionless face sure made it seem like she didn’t much care. Putting all that aside, Suimei let out a grand sigh. 

When he and Hydemary eventually left her room, they found Annaliese standing outside just where she’d been when Suimei first went in. Upon spotting the two of them, she immediately turned to her younger sister. She apparently found fault with Hydemary’s wrinkled coat, and straightened it out for her like a meddlesome attendant. 

“That took quite some time, didn’t it, Mary?” 

“I got tired after talking to Suimei-kun.” 

“What?! It can’t be... Did you go to sleep in front of our guest?!” 

“Mm.” 

“She sure did.” 

Annaliese stared at her sister in wonderment, while Suimei begrudgingly nodded. Annaliese certainly hadn’t expected Hydemary to do something so impossibly rude. She was both astonished and dumbfounded by the news, but quickly pulled herself together and cleared her throat. 

“I-In any case, father is waiting. Let’s go to his room.” 

“Okaaay.” 

Hydemary gave her older sister a childish reply, and Suimei followed along behind them as they walked to Edgar’s office. Edgar closed the book he’d been reading to pass the time and turned to Hydemary. 

“How did it go, Mary? Convinced?” 

“Mm. I guess he passes, father.” 

“I see.” 

Seemingly satisfied with that answer, Edgar’s lips curved into a smile. Annaliese wasn’t so amused, however, and once again began chiding Hydemary. 

“What a thing to say about Suimei-sama, Mary! Not to mention going to sleep... Just testing our guest was rude enough. You’ve really been quite a bother to him.” 

Hydemary pouted in response to her older sister’s lecture. Edgar, on the other hand... 

“Mary, you went to sleep?” 

“Mm.” 

“Don’t ‘mm’ me.” 

“Sorry.” 

Hydemary’s spiritless tone made it hard to perceive the sincerity in her apology, but it was indeed genuine. Her attitude was completely different from how she’d treated Suimei. This was her sister and father, after all. And they didn’t seem to pay her flat affect one mind. 

Hydemary then hugged Annaliese like a spoiled child. She still had quite a sour look on her face, but she couldn’t quite keep it up with her little sister cuddling her so. 

“Jeez...” 

Still sounding a little vexed, she gently patted Hydemary’s head. It seemed she was quite used to this behavior, if not outright encouraging it. 

Edgar, meanwhile, watched over the two of them for a fond moment before hardening his expression and turning to Suimei. His countenance was the same as it had been before, like that of an old fir tree—both incredibly weighty and dour. 

“Sorry for putting you through so much, Suimei.” 

“Climbing up a mountain, being tested, having to wait... You really did put me through the wringer here.” 

“Come now. Irrationality is an indispensable part of being a magician. Don’t let it get to you.” 

Edgar’s dour grin seemed to say this was payback, giving Suimei a glimpse of his unexpectedly mischievous side. He had a retort or two in mind, but considering his position, he resisted the urge to say anything. He choked back the rant burgeoning in his throat, where it settled in his sour stomach. Edgar appeared to see through all this, however, and only smirked more. This, if nothing else, Suimei would hold against his father. 

In order to clear the air, Suimei changed the subject at the first opportunity. 

“Say, uh, there were dolls in Hydemary’s room. Were they...?” he started to ask. 

“I’m the one who made those children,” Hydemary cut in. 

“Mary is the only one among us sisters capable of creating dolls herself,” Annaliese explained. 

“She’s the only one? Ooh...” 

Though Suimei asked, he immediately realized the answer for himself. Annaliese had said that Hydemary was the only one of the sisters who could make dolls, and Suimei already knew what was unique about Hydemary. 

“Dolls can’t create dolls themselves, can they?” 

“That’s how it goes. Of course, that’s with respect to pouring life into them.” 

“I guess it’d be pretty outrageous if dolls could reproduce like that, huh?” 

As Suimei murmured to himself half in astonishment, Hydemary looked to Annaliese. 

“But don’t you have the Thousand Albtraum yourself?” 

“Heehee, you’re so sweet.” 

Annaliese smiled affectionately at her little sister’s praise. It seemed the stubborn little girl who never hesitated to call herself a genius had a soft spot for her beloved family. Annaliese was her sister, but she was almost like a mother to Hydemary. 

As the two girls talked, Suimei turned and bowed to Edgar, signifying that his task here was complete. 

“It’s about time that I take my leave,” he said politely. 

“Then I guess I’m off as well,” Hydemary added, parting with Annaliese. 

“Mary,” Edgar called to her. 

“Yes, father?” 

“Study well.” 

“I will as long as there’s something for me to learn there.” 

Edgar gently brushed off the overly confident little girl. Annaliese then turned and elegantly bowed to Suimei. 

“Suimei-sama, please take care of Mary.” 

It went without saying that Hydemary then had a snide comment about who would really be taking care of whom.