-671- [ Machine Doll ]

Rozen naturally noticed the scene where Karyusai Shouko's expression relaxed. This clearly showed just how much Karyusai Shouko desired Rozen to win at the Night Party.

Just a while ago, Karyusai Shouko said this:

"Is this Night Party going to be different from the rest?"

Rozen turned his head and looked at Karyusai Shouko, and a moment later, he asked that question:

"Why will this Night Party be different?"

As this question was raised in the room, Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki, who had been playing, all stopped and turned their gaze in this direction.

Karyusai Shouko was simply puffing on her pipe, exhaling smoke, and looking down at Rozen's hand.

On Rozen's hand were gloves that revealed to others that he had qualified for the Night Party.

However, the style of these gloves wasn't quite suitable for Rozen. To hide the command seals on both his hands, Rozen had always worn gloves. Regardless of which world he was in, the first thing he would do was find a pair of gloves to minimize his distinctiveness.

However, in this academy, the gloves representing qualification for the Night Party, despite being the fingerless gloves Rozen prefers, have an empty section on the back with only a decorative "X" pattern, making the seals inscribed on the back of both hands appear faintly visible.

Currently, the gloves Rozen is wearing exhibit a somewhat prominent red pattern that appears somewhat concealed on the back of the hands.

As for the gold ring representing "Miracle" and the silver ring representing Gyokuto, both were clearly visible. They were worn on the fingers of Rozen's left and right hands, and besides Rozen himself, no one else could use them.

Who could know that Rozen's two hands held so many secrets?

However, Karyusai Shouko didn't look at the magic seals or the rings. She simply gazed at the registration code embroidered in golden thread on the wrist of the glove.

"Fimbulvetr's Winter."

Karyusai Shouko extended her hand, and her finger slowly traced over the registration code on Rozen's glove.

"Edward Rutherford sure thinks highly of you, giving you such a registration code for this Night Party."

Karyusai Shouko seemed somewhat nostalgic.

"It symbolizes both the harbinger of the apocalypse in the old world and the dawn of a new world. The registration code you've received is just that."

Without looking at Rozen, Karyusai Shouko continued.

"Given a registration code like this, can you understand what kind of grand event this Night Party will be?"

What else could it be?

Since Rozen transferred here right before the Night Party started and brought about an undeniable disturbance, it symbolized the end of the old world and the beginning of a new one. This implied that...

"Is the upcoming Night Party equivalent to a complete transformation of both the old and new worlds?"

Rozen contemplated for a moment and then spoke those words in silence.

This left Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki speechless.

Karyusai Shouko just smiled and recited the following like a poetic verse:

"On the Night of Sevens, in the time of Six Buds, mankind shall become the agents of gods."

"Like flawless jewels."

"Authority shall be overthrown first, gathering those from foreign lands."

"Then unshackling the bonds of dominion, the city will be filled with purification."

"Thus, stars shall shower down, a prelude to the opening of the heavens and the earth."

"The youth arrives, reigning upon the throne of heaven."

Reaching this point, Karyusai Shouko finally looked up at Rozen and slowly spoke the last line.

"Behold, the one by their side is 'Machine doll.'"

'Machine Doll.'

When this term entered Rozen's ears, his eyes suddenly focused.

The reason was simple. In that moment, Rozen felt a slight vibration coming from Kinu and Gyokuto on the other side.

These two deities were reacting to this term.

"Machine Doll," Rozen said, staring directly at Karyusai Shouko.

"What is that?" Rozen asked the question in an unprecedentedly solemn tone. It wasn't just Rozen; even Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki, upon hearing the term 'Machine Doll,' felt a heavy pressure and collectively held their breath.

In response, Karyusai Shouko said, "Didn't you once ask me this question in the past? What lies beyond Banned Dolls."

Indeed, Rozen had asked that question in the past. This was because Akabane Tenzen was after that very thing when he slaughtered his entire clan and used their 'Crimson Wing Blood' to create it. This was Rozen's conjecture back then.

So, the last time Rozen left this world, he did indeed ask Karyusai Shouko what lay beyond Banned Dolls.

Could it be...

"Is this so-called Machine Doll something that stands above Banned Dolls?" Rozen muttered to himself.

This left Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki at a loss for words.

Karyusai Shouko, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile. Her smile seemed to mock others, mock herself, and finally, it was like mocking the entire world.

"People have always pursued puppets, machineries, and components with the pursuit of making them 'like humans.'"

As a result, Banned Dolls, with a certain degree of self-control, were created.

"Then they were dissatisfied with their limited magic, limited abilities, and limited performance, so they madly pursued the notion of making them 'like gods.'"

As a result, people envisioned Machine Dolls, entities that could do anything.

"Humans are such insatiable beings."

Karyusai Shouko raised her hand with the registration code embroidered on the glove and lightly placed it on Rozen's chest.

"Don't let yourself be devoured, little boy."

Leaving behind this profound advice, Karyusai Shouko said nothing more.

Rozen fell into silence immediately. Sensing the slight vibrations from Kinu and Gyokuto on the other side and recalling Akabane Tenzen's past actions, Rozen sighed inwardly.

(Regardless of the world, humans are always in pursuit of gods.)

If that's the case...

(If that's the case, then let's see who can grasp this miracle first.)

Though Rozen could only vaguely guess what a Machine Doll might be, since this Night Party was somehow connected to it, he was bound to be drawn in.

(Everything will become clear at this Night Party.)

Therefore, Rozen was mentally prepared.

Prepared to join and fulfill his own purpose.

The grand banquet was about to begin. As for the ultimate victor, no one knew.

//// This machine doll is likely a official term from the night novel. I've found it in the Chinese wiki. As for the poem Karyusai said, I couldn't find the official translation so I just translated myself. If someone know the official translation, leave a comment. ////