-14- [ Laziness ] and [ Diligence ]

Chaldea, in Rozen's room.

"Senpai..."

At this moment, Mash stands by the bed, looking at Rozen sitting on it with a worried expression.

"What's the matter? Do you need something?"

Rozen pays no attention to everything, still sitting on the bed, his fingers skillfully moving.

Looking closely, Rozen places his laptop on his lap, with his knees bent, swiftly operating the keyboard, playing a game. His eyes are fixed on the screen, paying no attention to Mash.

Seeing Rozen like this, Mash hesitates to speak.

"Director, it seems like she's really upset this time. She not only suspended all simulated battles but also locked herself in the room, not coming out. Everyone is worried about what might happen next."

This is the current situation.

Rozen only responds with a single word.

"Oh."

With such a response, Rozen seems disinterested, continuing to play the game.

In the past, if Rozen had been neglecting important matters and indulging in games, Mash would have protested seriously. But this time, Mash not only refrains from doing so but also appears hesitant, as if considering Rozen's mood.

"Senpai..." Mash can only say, "Why don't you apologize to the Director?"

This is the only solution Mash can think of.

However...

"Do you think it's possible?" Rozen's hands continue to move, quickly operating the keyboard while saying, "Even if I do nothing, that woman will still get angry for no reason. If I apologize, it will only make her angrier; there won't be any other effect."

"That's... that's not true," Mash tries to persuade with little confidence, "Even the Director, as long as you apologize sincerely..."

"Enough, stop talking." Rozen's tone turns cold, "I'm just speaking the truth. I haven't done anything wrong. I passed the simulated battles, so there's no reason to complain. As for what mood that woman is in, it's not my concern."

Hearing this, Mash doesn't know what to do.

At this moment, the automatic door of the room opens, and a person walks in.

"Doctor."

Seeing the person walking in from outside, Mash immediately calls out and looks at them with a pleading expression.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mash." Romani pats Mash's shoulder and says, "You just finished the simulated battles, so I'm sure you're tired. Go back and rest."

"But..." Mash wants to say something, but Romani's gaze stops her.

"You know this guy's temper," Romani shakes his head, "Let me talk to him. After all, I am his older brother."

Hearing this, Mash glances at Romani, then back at Rozen who is still playing the game, and after a while, nods.

"Then I'll go back to my room for now." Mash tells Rozen, "Don't play games for too long, Senpai. I'll come to get you for dinner."

After saying these words, Mash leaves the room, stepping away with a lingering look and letting the automatic door close.

The whole room suddenly fell silent, with only the rhythmic sound of keys being pressed and the background noise from the game.

Romani finally looked at Rozen, sighing.

"You..."

Before Romani could finish saying anything, Rozen cut him off.

"If you're here to lecture me, I'm not interested in hearing it."

Rozen expressed himself without hesitation.

He said, "There are plenty of people in Chaldea who want to complain about me. After all, I'm lazy and not serious at all. Just let me leisurely play games."

Rozen's words made Romani sigh again.

Then he said, "It's not convincing at all, considering you are the most hardworking mage in Chaldea."

"Hardworking."

This is an adjective that, besides Mash, anyone who hears it will dismiss with a snort.

This word has absolutely no relation to Rozen.

Is that how everyone in Chaldea perceives him?

In the eyes of others, Rozen is just a foolish person who wastes his time on meaningless games, despite possessing exceptional magical talent, and lives an undisciplined life.

But only Romani knows that, in fact, Rozen works harder than any other mage in Chaldea.

"Living leisurely?" Romani, with a helpless tone, revealed the truth.

Yes.

Rozen diligently practices magic every day, starting from the moment his magical energy recovers until it is completely depleted.

If not for this, he wouldn't be able to summon intermediate familiars or skillfully command hundreds of familiars simultaneously, after learning magic for only three years.

All of these are the result of diligence.

Others can only see Rozen wasting time playing games.

But how would they know that every time Rozen plays games, it's because he has depleted his magical energy and can no longer practice magic, waiting slowly for his magical energy to recover?

"Your physical stamina being so poor is also related to this, isn't it?" Romani said so.

The so-called magical energy is the power that magicians generate by converting their life force using the magical circuits within their bodies.

And Rozen, every day, not only depletes his magical energy to practice magic but also precisely converts his life force to replenish his magical energy. The result is excessive consumption of his life force.

As a result, Rozen's physical condition is exceptionally poor, to the point where he is weaker than some powerless girls.

Of course, Rozen's highly exceptional magical circuits are also a factor.

In the world of magic, it is not uncommon for problems to occur in the body due to issues with magical circuits. These circuits, similar to pseudo-nerves derived from the soul, are organs used to convert magical energy. Once they malfunction and affect the body, it's normal for complications to arise.

Due to Rozen's exceptional magical circuits, the rapid and frequent flow of magical energy places an enormous burden on his body.

In other words, unless Rozen gives up magic and abandons his path as a magician, his body will remain weak. Even if he won't be prone to illnesses, he is destined to be physically frail.

"It's because of this that you used to..."

Before Romani could finish his sentence, Rozen, who had been playing games all along, finally spoke up and interrupted him.

"Can you stop being as annoying as that woman, big bro?"

Rozen spoke with extreme displeasure.