"Rozen-sama..."
"Rozen..."
Seeing Yaya being embraced by Rozen-sama, calming down and feeling safe just from a few of his words, Irori and Komurasaki both let out a sigh of relief.
After all, Yaya was their sister. Rozen showing such care for her naturally made them feel relieved and happy too.
They had been worried that Yaya's emotions might be unstable, or that she might be in danger because of this incident. But now, looking at the boy before them, they felt a surge of security in their hearts.
With Rozen around, Yaya probably wouldn't get hurt.
After all, Rozen was so powerful.
While Irori and Komurasaki were thinking this, Rozen turned toward them as well.
"Irori, Komurasaki — the same goes for you two. No matter who it is, if they want to take you away from me, they'll have to get my permission first. After all, you are my Automatons."
Rozen said this with a smile, not the least bit worried.
And why would he be?
With Rozen's current strength, even if the whole world became his enemy, it would still be more than enough for him to handle. If anyone foolishly dared to target those around him, why would he need to show mercy?
At that time, Rozen would definitely make them understand what true regret meant.
Thus, Rozen wasn't worried about anything happening to his Automatons — and certainly not to Yaya.
If someone truly angered him, he would just crush Androgyne into dust and send all those who coveted the Machine Doll straight to hell.
A mere incomplete Machine Doll — sure, it was stronger than Rozen had expected, and its stockpile of mana equivalent to a million people was truly outrageous in this world — but whether it could even defeat one of Rozen's Beast Vassals was still unknown.
At worst, if one Beast Vassal wasn't enough, he'd summon two. If two weren't enough, three. If needed, he'd unleash all his Beast Vassals at once. Rozen didn't believe Androgyne would even leave behind a fragment.
If not for the fact that he was still a little curious about the Machine Doll, that Yaya might not necessarily become its core (there were several other candidates after all), and considering Edward Rutherford and the world powers clearly had their own hidden agendas — not to mention that the Father Time's premonitions were still clouded and uncertain — Rozen wouldn't have simply driven Androgyne away earlier; he would have destroyed it on the spot.
Of course, if he released the Beast Vassals and fought Androgyne here, the entire Academy would likely be reduced to rubble.
Considering that, it was better to hold back for now.
Irori and Komurasaki weren't aware of these deeper issues, but Rozen's carefree tone still warmed their hearts.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Rozen-sama. This humble girl, as Rozen-sama's Automaton, will henceforth serve you with all her heart."
Irori made this solemn pledge.
"Me too, Rozen~ Whether it's on the battlefield or in bed, as long as Rozen gives the order, I'll be right there~"
Komurasaki said playfully, giggling.
Naturally, this statement triggered a big reaction from someone.
"Rozen's bed belongs to Yaya! It's Yaya's!"
Yaya immediately raised her head from Rozen's arms and loudly declared her ownership.
"Like hell it does!"
Rozen couldn't help but sigh.
The atmosphere among the group instantly lightened, returning to the usual relaxed and joyful mood.
"Anyway," Rozen continued, "now that Magnus has given me the Keystone, I'll gladly accept his generosity. Maybe I can research something interesting from it."
Rozen casually put away the Keystone.
"Is that really okay?" Irori asked with some concern. "Isn't that an important tool for creating the Machine Doll? Is it really fine to just take it?"
"Of course it's not fine," Rozen said with a half-smile. "Edward Rutherford definitely won't just let it slide."
Even though Androgyne had already been born, the Keystone was still the core of the Sanctuary of Fools. The Sanctuary could be destroyed, but the Keystone could not be lost. Without it, Androgyne wouldn't be able to advance further, and would never evolve into a fully self-aware, godlike Machine Doll.
Thus, the Headmaster definitely needed the Keystone to continue promoting Androgyne's growth and transformation.
"But," Rozen said lightly, "now that it's in my hands, I hold the initiative. If he wants to take it back, he'll have to prove he's capable."
"Honestly, if he can't even pass the trial ahead, then godlike Machine Dolls have nothing to do with him anymore."
Rozen's Wise Eye caught something: the Headmaster's spirit energy had weakened.
He had been defeated by the owner of that miasma-like spirit energy.
Someone actually managed to defeat that old fox?
Rozen was genuinely surprised.
Even without Lemegeton, that grimoire that had once made him the strongest in the 19th century, the Headmaster's own strength was still extraordinary. Ordinary Wisemen couldn't even be compared to him.
Yet he had been taken down so easily, suggesting the opponent was no less powerful than a Wiseman — perhaps even stronger.
Meanwhile, the Academy had fallen into complete chaos.
Many important figures were imprisoned in the Headmaster's residence.
Many students had been defeated as well.
Only the intruders were still running rampant through the Academy, destroying buildings and chasing down survivors, plunging the Academy into a critical situation.
Because of this, some of Rozen's acquaintances were also in trouble.
Charlotte was struggling to fight off the invaders, accompanied by Henri and Frey, seemingly protecting them.
Since the power of Multi-Controller was interfering, the Automatons must have gone berserk. Because Sigmund and Garm were banned dolls, they escaped the corruption of Eve's Heart, but they still couldn't fight — they could only be burdens. Henri and Frey themselves had no combat ability, so only Charlotte, who had learned Spirit Magic, could fight.
As for Loki...
That guy...
Rozen used Spirit Vision to locate Loki and raised an eyebrow.
Because under Rozen's view, Loki's mana was surging to an astonishing degree — like an Akabane member activating Crimson Wing Formation, his mana spiked crazily, and his control power rose to an incredible level.
That Loki was now slaughtering invaders left and right.
This must be the trump card he and Frey were hiding.
Rozen narrowed his eyes and smiled.
But now wasn't the time to just sit here and watch the show.
"Let's go," Rozen said.
"It's time to head back to the Academy."
At long last, Rozen, who had been a little late, was about to intervene in the chaotic battlefield of Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart.