At this point, all of Kyouko's reasons for not being fond of Rozen had already surfaced.
1. Kyouko was dissatisfied with Rozen's attitude toward her, resulting in a rather poor first impression.
2. Despite Rozen having the ability and opportunity, he didn't seize the chance to excel in society, leading Kyouko to believe he was lacking ambition.
3. As someone who values status, Kyouko wasn't necessarily snobbish, but she felt that Rozen's ordinary background didn't meet her standards.
In other words, if Rozen had a better attitude and achieved some level of success, Kyouko likely wouldn't hold such strong opinions about him.
As for his humble origins, Kyouko herself came from a modest background, so she didn't view this as a problem. The issue lay solely in whether Rozen had the potential to succeed and whether he was willing to work hard for it.
She was a living example of someone who climbed up from being a commoner, and she recognized that Rozen's conditions were far better than hers.
So, at the end of the day, Kyouko didn't object to the engagement between Rozen and Asuna. She simply thought Rozen was "salvageable." If Rozen worked hard and achieved success, Kyouko would likely change her view of him entirely and stop making such remarks.
Ultimately, Kyouko was still a mother who wanted to see her son-in-law succeed and, even more so, wanted her daughter to have a good life. This much was certain.
The only problem was that Kyouko had misunderstood something:
Rozen was not an ordinary person, nor was he a normal individual.
He was a Magus.
He was the Master of Chaldea.
He was a traveler of time and space.
He was a visitor and wanderer of worlds.
To Rozen, so-called societal success was utterly meaningless.
If he wanted, he could easily rule the entire world.
At that point, who could surpass him in terms of "status" in Kyouko's eyes?
But Rozen wouldn't do that, nor did he want to.
The reason was simple: Rozen was merely a seeker of mysteries and a lover of miracles. Ruling this world would mean altering the trajectory of others' lives and the world itself without any meaningful purpose. That wasn't necessary.
In this world, Rozen didn't want to use mysteries to alter too much. That was his way of respecting this world and humanity.
Granted, using The Seed to rise to prominence in this world wouldn't fall under that category, and Rozen could certainly do it. But Rozen didn't come to this world to gain status or settle down. He came to make up for past regrets, rest for a while, and allow his body to gradually absorb Foreign Mana and achieve sublimation.
Thus...
"I'm just a high school student; I haven't even entered university yet. Talking about these things now is premature. As for matters of society, I'll think about them after I've entered the workforce."
Rozen said this lightly, without much explanation, a faint smile on his face.
His tone made one thing very clear:
Rozen was brushing them off.
He wasn't taking this matter seriously at all.
For a moment, everyone was left speechless.
...Is he just too young?
Kyouko fell silent for a while before sighing, her disappointment apparent.
Shouzou seemed to share her thoughts and remained equally silent.
This was simply a matter of differing perspectives.
From Rozen's point of view, the achievements that the Yuuki couple emphasized were utterly meaningless. He wasn't a part of this world; he was a Magus, and what he pursued wasn't societal status and power but mysteries and miracles.
From the perspective of the Yuuki couple, Rozen might be capable, but he wasn't focused on the future or taking opportunities to secure a perfect life. Wasting his time now would only lead to regret later.
Neither side was necessarily wrong—it was simply a matter of differing positions and needs.
The Yuuki couple were social individuals and successful adults with established careers, so naturally, they valued others' careers and efforts.
Conversely, Kouichirou agreed with Rozen's view.
"I think Rozen has a point. After all, he's just a high school student; he hasn't even entered university. Asking him to forgo his studies and enter society prematurely isn't a good idea. We should admire the fact that, even as a high schooler, he's already connected with the government and earned so much money. As for his career, it's not too late to plan for it after university."
Kouichirou's words caused Shouzou and Kyouko to pause and reflect before nodding in agreement.
"Indeed, even if achievements are important, they shouldn't be rushed. He's only in high school; neglecting his studies wouldn't be a wise choice."
Shouzou ultimately had some perspective and wasn't completely shortsighted.
As a university professor, Kyouko naturally wouldn't advocate for neglecting academics either. If Rozen were already in university, it would be a different story, but he was only in high school. Asking him to start a business now was indeed too hasty.
However, Kyouko still had her own thoughts.
"With your grades, you've already surpassed the current academic curriculum. I've heard you could even pass a doctoral exam. If that's the case, why waste time in school?"
Kyouko expressed herself clearly.
"Besides, the school you and Asuna are attending can't even be considered a proper institution. Its curriculum is lackluster, the teaching is overly simplistic, and even the teachers are casually recruited. There's no real talent there. That place is less an educational institution and more like a correctional facility or shelter. The claim that it was established as a refuge for students who lost their way due to accidents is nothing more than a façade."
Kyouko's blunt statement caused Asuna to stand up, unable to remain silent.
"Mom! You…!"
"What?" Kyouko frowned. "Did I say anything wrong?"
Was she wrong?
Kyouko wasn't wrong.
In fact, the school Rozen and Asuna currently attended was indeed founded for those very reasons—something Rozen himself had stated before.
Asuna, of course, knew this all too well, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it.
That's because she was genuinely happy at that school. Unlike the prestigious schools she had attended in the past, she could now spend every day with her friends, without having to hide her identity or compete fiercely. A life judged solely by grades was something Asuna had never experienced before.
At that school, Rozen and Asuna had countless happy memories. They also shared many joyful moments with Kirito and their friends.
Now, hearing Kyouko describe the school like this—even if it was the truth—Asuna couldn't help but feel emotional.
On the other hand, Rozen seemed to have discerned Kyouko's true intentions.
"What is it that you're trying to tell us?"
Rozen asked calmly, directly meeting Kyouko's gaze.
Kyouko's intention was simple.
"Yes, some kids who have endured tragic experiences may need such facilities, but there's no reason for you two to attend such a place. Studying in a school like that will only ruin your chances of getting into a good university."
Kyouko glanced at Rozen and Asuna, then spoke bluntly:
"You should both transfer schools."