-622- [ Dark Princess ]
In the academy, a separate residence.
The so-called separate residences referred to the villas within the principal's official residence.
In the campus, there were several such villas, specially built to serve as dormitories for students from prominent noble families. Their treatment surpassed that of regular students and even the professors and staff, including dedicated servants and chefs for household chores. The treatment was so lavish that it could rival that of the academy's dean.
At this moment, within one of the villas on the academy grounds, a young girl sat in front of a mirror, tending to her appearance.
She was a very typical Eastern-looking girl.
The girl possessed a delicate and lovely appearance, adorned with jet-black long hair. She wore a vibrant sakura-colored kimono paired with a purple hakama. Coupled with her delicate appearance, she resembled a princess emerging from a secluded chamber.
In fact, the fact that she could reside in one of the few separate residences on the academy grounds spoke volumes about her distinguished status. She wouldn't be any less even if she weren't a genuine princess.
For a magus with keen perception and intuition, the elusive magical aura emanating from the girl could be readily discerned.
It was a testament to her exceptional abilities as an outstanding magus.
This girl, flawless in both lineage and strength, was currently sighing in front of the mirror.
"The Night Party is about to start."
The girl murmured to herself.
"Although I've secured a spot in the competition and can report to Grandmother, I really don't want to participate in the Night Party."
The girl continued to mumble, treating the qualification for the Night Party that countless people would yearn for as if it were worthless, eliciting sighs.
"Is he really not gonna come?"
The girl sounded somewhat disheartened.
It couldn't be helped.
The reason this girl came to this academy was not to obtain the title of the Wiseman and become the most outstanding magus of her era. Instead, it was merely to wait for the arrival of a certain person.
Participating in the Night Party was merely an excuse for the young girl.
After all, given her status as a young girl, she couldn't just wander around freely outside.
Hence, to come to the academy and achieve her goal, the young girl had to use participating in the Night Party as an excuse to get permission from her family to travel to a distant country and arrive here.
And now...
"It's been almost a year, and he still hasn't come."
The young girl felt disheartened by this.
If things continued like this, she might indeed have to participate in the Night Party and battle with others.
Of course, the young girl was not afraid of battle.
To avoid being protected like a child by that person and by her attendants as she had been in her younger years, the young girl had worked hard over these years.
Ultimately, she became one of the outstanding individuals of her family's younger generation, showcasing her talent and potential. Even in this academy, which gathered exceptional puppeteers from all over the world, the young girl's skills ranked at the top.
The evidence was her qualification for the Night Party, with the silk glove that only participants of the Night Party could obtain adorning her hand.
Upon closer inspection, on that glove, a registration code was sewn with golden thread.
———〈Dark Princes〉.
Ranked 8th, a princess of a prestigious Eastern island nation among the "Thirteen."
This was proof of the young girl's strength and status.
Hence, the young girl wasn't afraid of battle; she was afraid of not being able to wait for the person she admired.
If he didn't come...
"Then I'll take down that criminal and avenge his family."
A determined expression appeared in the young girl's pitifully clear eyes as she made this decision.
Just then...
"Young Miss!"
"Young Miss!"
Accompanied by the unreserved shouts of the two, the door to the young girl's room was forcefully pushed open.
Outside the door, two young boys walked in.
They were two young boys forming a sharp contrast.
On the left was a burly, tall, and robust young man.
On the right was a slender, delicate-looking young boy with an effeminate face.
"Subaru, Mutsura."
The young girl looked blankly at the two young boys who had grown up with her and were now her attendants, momentarily losing her reaction.
Seeing the young girl in this naturally dazed state, Subaru and Mutsura responded differently.
"Young Miss."
Subaru had a somewhat hesitant expression, wanting to say something but also hesitating to speak.
"Sorry, Young Miss, we forgot to knock."
Mutsura, on the other hand, helplessly shrugged and propped his elbow against Subaru, seemingly urging him to pull himself together.
"What's going on?"
The young girl asked in confusion.
To this...
"Never mind, I won't say." Subaru seemed a bit annoyed. "Mutsura, you say it. Otherwise, I won't be able to calm down."
"You, really." Mutsura seemed to have expected it would turn out like this, rolling his eyes. "Since you don't want to say, don't rush in like that. You're more impatient than me."
"What's happened?" The young girl was utterly bewildered.
Looking at the young girl's naturally clueless expression, Subaru turned away, unwilling to say more, giving off an appearance of not wanting to speak much, making Mutsura quite exasperated.
Finally, Mutsura stood up, helpless.
"Young Miss."
Mutsura said these words.
"I just received news that a transfer student from the Far East has appeared in the second-year classroom of the Automaton Physics School building, accompanied by a humanoid puppet resembling Karyusai's work."
As soon as this was said...
"Thud!"
The comb in the young girl's hand fell to the ground, her face full of disbelief.
Following that...
"————!"
The young girl suddenly got up, rushed forward, pushed the two young boys aside, and bolted out of the room.
"Young Miss!"
"Young Miss!"
Both Subaru and Mutsura exclaimed in surprise, then quickly followed.
Meanwhile, in the second-year building of the Automaton Physics, Kimberly had already begun her class.
"The so-called magic circuit refers to something that can replace rituals and belongs to some kind of mechanism. The concept is similar to making gears turn with steam. Just input magical power, and magic will be generated from it."
Kimberly's tone lacked fluctuation and her chalk made a monotonous sound as it wrote on the board.
"Every automaton has its own magic circuit. Based on different circuits, they perform different magic. However, all automatons are equipped with another kind of magic circuit that can bestow life: 'Eve's heart.'"
Kimberly wrote the name of this magic circuit on the board.
"Different magic cannot coexist within the same individual; this is the foundation of Automaton Physics, known as the 'Principle of Incompatible Magic Activity.'"
Kimberly spoke plainly.
"However, within this principle, there is a unique exception: the magic circuit of 'Eve's heart.' This allows automatons to carry other magic circuits besides 'Eve's heart,' granting them life, intelligence, magic, and strength. Therefore, it's no exaggeration to say that the history of Automaton magic began after the invention of this circuit."
Kimberly emphasized.
"It is the original point and starting point, as well as a mysterious black box full of mystery. Many aspects remain unexplained to this day, even though 'Eve's heart' is now fully widespread, and every workshop has a specialized base for reproduction. Replication is simple, but redesigning is nearly impossible. Therefore, unlocking the secret of 'Eve's heart' could influence society, civilization, and the world's development."
Kimberly proceeded with this explanation.
Listening to these explanations, at the back of the room, Rozen handed over the task of note-taking to Yaya and began to ponder.
(That being said, this magic circuit is indeed unique.)
Leaving aside the rest, the fact that I can overcome the "Principle of Incompatible Magical Activity" is already a remarkable feat.
One should know,
(Since coming to this world, other than utilizing the powers of Kinu and Gyokuto, I have not been able to maintain the effects of two spells simultaneously on myself.)
It's as if this world is rejecting this phenomenon, like a rule, preventing this from happening. Only the powers of Kinu and Gyokuto can be utilized freely, allowing multiple effects to take effect on Rozen.
(Is this suggesting that only by entering the divine realm can one be free from the influence of this principle?)
If so, what is 'Eve's heart'?
(Is it a miracle derived from the divine?)
At the thought of this, Rozen became quite intrigued.
He had no resistance to the term "miracle" whatsoever.
(Should I create an 'Eve's heart' to study it?)
Rozen entertained this thought.
Just then...
"Bang!"
The classroom door was pushed open forcefully, interrupting Kimberly's lecture, startling all the students in the classroom.
Including Rozen, who was equally taken aback.
At that moment, everyone turned their heads and looked at the classroom door.
"Hu...hu...."
There, a girl was standing in a posture as if pushing the door, panting heavily.
The girl seemed to be in a great hurry, breathing heavily, and her forehead was covered in sweat. It was evident she had run all the way here.
Seeing this girl, the students in the classroom began to murmur.
"Isn't that the 'Dark Princess'?"
"Why is the princess of that noble family here?"
"I remember she hasn't attended any classes in Automaton Physics before."
"And she seems in a rush."
"What is she here for?"
The students started to express their astonishment.
Even Kimberly frowned, looking coldly at the girl.
Only Rozen, looking at the girl standing at the doorway, felt a sense of familiarity.
"Princess of a noble family?"
Rozen first froze, then widened his eyes.
"Could it be..."
From the dusty memories of decades ago, Rozen retrieved the image of a young girl.
In that instant, Rozen's gaze met the girl's.
In the next moment, Rozen saw it.
He saw the girl's eyes become teary, and her delicate face blushed with excitement.