Now, it's almost midnight.
Normally, Rozen would have already exceeded the designated curfew time and going out for a night stroll would surely result in a good scolding from Natsuki.
Fortunately, today, Rozen had informed Natsuki before leaving that he was planning to attend a party, so he would be coming home late.
In the past, Natsuki often sent Rozen to various balls and parties, so using this as an excuse didn't seem out of the ordinary.
Moreover, it wasn't just an excuse; Rozen really was going to attend a party.
However, Rozen didn't tell Natsuki that he was planning to attend Vatler's party.
If he had told her, she might have objected.
After all, Natsuki didn't have a good impression of that snake charmer. She had warned Rozen before to be careful, so if Rozen had told her he was planning to attend Vatler's party, she might have refused.
Unable to do anything else, Rozen chose to keep it a secret.
But...
"Hmph..."
When Rozen told Natsuki about it, she just stared at him until Rozen started sweating, and then this big sister made a slight snort.
"No all-nighters."
Natsuki just said this to Rozen and then let him go.
This made Rozen couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"I guess Natsuki-nee figured it all out."
Thinking carefully, being a prominent noble of the Warlord Dominion, and especially since it was Dimitrie Vatler who was hosting the party on his private yacht, inviting various dignitaries, how could Natsuki not have heard about it?
In this way, if Rozen said he was going to a party, even a little thought would reveal that tonight, Rozen was going to attend whose party.
If this had been in the past, Natsuki would definitely have stopped Rozen.
But now...
"I've told you before, you're already a high school student and have received an official Attack Mage license. If that's the case, then you should consider everything on your own."
Natsuki just left Rozen to his own devices.
This made Rozen both relieved and somewhat nostalgic about Natsuki's attitude.
"Since the argument at the Blazing Banquet, Natsuki-nee has become much more lenient with me."
Perhaps, after that incident, Natsuki truly realized that Rozen was no longer a child, that he had his own abilities to handle his own affairs, and that he no longer needed her protection and management.
This made Rozen feel both relaxed and somewhat indescribably lonely.
After thinking about it, Rozen shook his head and stopped overthinking.
"I'm already this old and still like this."
Rozen mocked himself, suppressed his inner emotions, and returned home.
Naturally, at this time, everyone in the house was already asleep.
Whether it was Nagisa, Avrora, or Kojou, the sound of their breathing came from their rooms.
On the contrary, there was no sign of breathing in Natsuki's and Astarte's rooms.
Rozen saw a note left in the hall, with a message from Natsuki.
"I'm taking Astarte to duty, take care of yourself."
A simple sentence made Rozen let out a dry laugh.
"...Could it be related to the incident on the cruise ship?"
That's the only possibility.
Whether it's Rozen or the intense battle between Vatler and Kanase Kanon, it resulted in a significant disaster at the North District Port, and the Management Cooperative of Artificial Islands certainly couldn't ignore it.
But this matter is obviously related to Vatler. Thinking about going there to handle the incident, how could they not send someone who can handle the other party?
And on Itogami Island, the only one who can be compared to Vatler is Natsuki.
In that case, it's only natural to send Natsuki there to handle the situation.
Unfortunately, Natsuki probably already guessed that Rozen was going to attend Vatler's party.
Now, with such a big incident, how could Natsuki believe it has nothing to do with Rozen?
Therefore, the phrase "take care of yourself" was particularly piercing to Rozen.
"I'm going to get another good scolding from Natsuki-nee."
Rozen sighed and put down the paper.
"Anyway, let me do my own thing first."
With this thought in mind, Rozen entered his room.
Just as Rozen entered the room...
"Buzz!"
In the room, space ripples began to appear.
Inside, white chains of Injunction Shackles emerged.
---Injunction Shackles.
Rozen summoned them, extending his hand and grabbing one of them.
Looking at the white chain lying quietly in his hand, Rozen remembered the incident on the cruise ship.
What appeared in his mind was a deep red spear that moved as agile as a snake.
It was the Beast Vassal owned by the female vampire, an active weapon with will and life.
"That female vampire is neither an old generation nor a pure-blooded vampire, just like a lackey, but relying on that unbeatable living weapon, she still severely injured Tobias Jagan."
While there was an element of surprise attack in it, it must be said that the living weapon's spiritual and agile nature made Rozen quite impressed.
"Although my blood also has the Beast Vassal 'Kiffa Ater,' which shines with great destructive power, as long as it falls from a high altitude and is reinforced with gravity, it is enough to destroy everything, it has nothing to do with agility and spirituality."
Thanks to this, after seeing the performance of the female vampire's Beast Vassal, Rozen couldn't help but think so.
"If I can give the Injunction Shackles their own will, they can make various actions as they please, and I don't need to control them."
In the past, when using the Injunction Shackles, Rozen controlled the chains with telekinesis, making them move flexibly to capture enemies. Even Natsuki used magic to drive the Lawbinding Shackles when using them, otherwise, the chains wouldn't automatically capture enemies.
But if the Injunction Shackles had their own will, then Rozen would only need to give orders, and it would definitely improve their speed and agility significantly, right?
"I can save magic power and energy without having to control them specifically."
Rozen had this idea.
But...
"How can I make weapons have their own will?"
After all, magical instruments are magical instruments, not Beast Vassals. They have no will of their own, let alone their own lives.
In that case...
"Just give them will and life."
Rozen could do such a thing.
In the past, Rozen let Kinu and Gyokuto possess his coat and ring, which turned the two magical instruments into artifacts with will and life.
So...
"Let's just use the same method."
Saying that, Rozen took out a piece of talisman.
It was completely black in color, depicting complex red magical patterns.
The type of talisman was a formula talisman, used to generate Shikigami.
This is exactly the ten Guardian Shikigami that Rozen personally made in the past.
"Come out! Valkyrie!"
Rozen called out his long-unused Shikigami.
"Clang!"
In Rozen's hand, the talismans emitted light one after another.