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Chapter 12




Part 1
At that time, Sylphy was at home looking after the 4th daughter Christina.
"That's good Chris,1 now take you hands off and walk towards mama."
"Hmh~! Mama you come here...!"
Compared to the fast learner Lily, Chris could only barely walk while holding onto something.
And so recently she had been undergoing training like this with her mothers.
Although Chris had never really liked it and was shaking her head on the brink of tears.
"No you come over here, come on, do it slowly, slowly."
"Hm! Uuh... Mama~... Come..."
"No. Come on, I'm right over here."
Chris was grumbling and crying.
That said, it wasn't something she couldn't do.
She just like to be spoilt.
"*hic*... aah!"
She eventually shut her eyes, toddled over to Sylphy and jumped into her arms.
"There, there. You did great. Good girl."
"Nn~..."
Sylphy held Chris as she always did and stroked her head.
Chris, still sniffling, held onto Sylphy.
Compared to the energetic and curious Lilly, Chris was quite timid and withdrawn.
She belonged to the indoor faction and never went out much.
Eris occasionally took her out with the others, but she would always be stuck to her and she would often start crying and come right home because she was scared.
Therefore she wouldn't go out on walks and spent most of her time home.
"Chris, you're too shy. I wonder where you get that from..."
Slyphy said that, but, well, it definitely came from Rudeus.
"Mama... Papa, not home yet?"
"No, he's not home just yet."
Chris is what you would call a daddy's girl.
Ever since she was born she was always quick to cry but whenever she was in Rudeus's arms she would always stop.
She was the complete opposite of Ars.
Lately, Rudeus's lap has been her reserved seat.
"Aah!"
"...Hmm?"
She had  heard a sound from the entrance.
Someone had probably come home.
"Papa?"
"I wonder... I don't think it is."
Rudeus had left yesterday.
He hadn't given an exact time, but he said he'd be 2~3 days.
So he shouldn't be back yet.
"Onee-chan?"
"It's a bit too soon to be Onee-chan."
It wasn't quite time for Lucy and Roxy to be back from school, or for Aisha to finish with the Mercenaries.
It could be Eris back from her walk.
No, She was out with the playful Sieg, so she'd probably be out a bit longer.
Then Lillia and Ars back from shopping.
No, the two of them just left. It would be too fast.
It's possible that they could be coming back because they forgot something...
It could be Zenith.
She was sleeping in her room, but she could have made her way into the garden without anyone seeing.
Sylphy kept thinking all kinds of things and put Chris on the couch.
"Chris, wait here."
Sylphy, somewhat baffled, headed towards the entrance.
After she left the living room and was halfway down the hallway, she heard a creak.
The door was half open.
But what Sylphy was looking at wasn't the door.
"..."
She was standing inside.
Sillouetted by the setting sun of the half open door, she stood there.
A black haired girl.
Just by appearance, she was the girl called Nanahos.h.i.+.
If they were closer, she might have called out to her.
But the moment Sylphy saw her, she frowned.
"...You're not Nanahos.h.i.+ are you?"
Hearing that, the girl's lips warped into a smile.
With the lighting behind her, the look gave an ominous vibe.
"Yes. That is correct. How did you come to know?"
"Nanahos.h.i.+ comes to our house quite often. Whenever she opens the door she has habit. She'll always knock twice and if there's no response, she'll open the door slightly and ask "Is anyone home?"2 quietly."
Sylphy said that and put mana into her right hand.
An unknown existence imitating their friend had infiltrated her house.
For Sylphy, who had decided to protect their house, it was a matter of course.
For now, she couldn't feel any animosity from the girl in front of her.
Her voice didn't contain any emotion, but the way she spoke was polite.
But Sylphy wasn't naive enough to a.s.sume she was an ally.
"Who are you? If you're one of Hitogami's underlings, I'll be the one to take you on."
Saying that, gears began to turn in Sylphy's head.
She would blind the girl in front of her and grab Chris from the living room and Zenith from the second floor and run.
They had long since prepared for the possibility that someone would invade their house, but could she herself carry it out.
There hadn't been any sounds of battle, but Beet, coiled around the gate had probably already begun.
She had used her ring to signal Eris and Roxy, but would they notice?
Would Orsted and Alek in the office be able to grasp the situation.
She had to run.
Or at least stall for time.
Thinking all kinds of things, she glared at the opponent in front of her.
"I currently do not have a name."
"...?"
"Would it be possible for me to hear your name?"
"Sylphyette Greyrat."
Being suddenly asked, Sylphy reflexively responded.
"Then that would make you Rudeus-sama's wife, Sylphy-sama correct?"
"That's... right."
It had confirmed her name.
She had reflexively responded, thinking that it might have been better not to answer, Sylphy continued to remain vigilant.
It didn't look like she had a weapon.
She looked full of openings.
But Sylphy couldn't let her guard down. There were plenty of people that could overwhelm others empty handed.
"Would my presence cause Rudeus-sama to incur your anger?"
"...?"
"Sylphy-sama, why can you not agree to me?"
"I don't understand, what are you talking about..."
I was distracted. I shouldn't listen to her.
This could be some kind of illusion.
Sylphy thought that for an instant a took a wary step back.
"That is dangerous."
That instant, the girl shouted and reached out.
Her speed outcla.s.sed Sylphy.
The opponent was clearly faster than her, but Sylphy expected that.
She couldn't see it, but she could react.
The second her footing was stable, she would dodge to the side and counter by striking her with her magic.
The instant Sylphy decided that...
"Aah!"
She realised that Chris was by her feet.
When?
Right, when had Chris managed to toddle to the entrance.
She hadn't listened when Sylphy had told her to "wait here"
And by some twist of fate, she was right where Sylphy was about to step.
Once she realised, it was too late.
She had to somehow avoid stepping Chris.
But her balance was broken.
She wasn't certain she could get out of the way on her unstable footing.
And reflected in Sylphy's eye was a girl's hand that shot forward with incredible speed.
Part 2
When Rudeus arrived, the house was eerily calm.
Beet’s post.
Aisha’s garden.
Leo’s dog house.
No one was there.
Peeking through the unlocked entrance, he could see the cleanly swept hallway and living room door.
It was calm.
No, it wasn’t that there was no sound.
Only a cry resounded throughout the house.
It was a voice he knew well.
It was Chris’s cry.
It was a cry of heartbreak.
It sounded like something important had been lost, as if alluding to some great sadness.
To Rudeus, it was a familiar cry.
A cry that whenever he approached, would quickly stop.
And although he heard it, for some reason, he still thought it was calm.
“…The mercenaries are to remain on standby.”
Rudeus issued that order, opened the door as silently as possible and went inside.
Here, it was also calm.
The hall was clean.
He could see his own pale face reflected in the mirror set in the entranceway.
By, what was it?
What was the smell irritating his nose?
It was by no means a pleasant smell.
It was the kind of smell, that if locked up with, would make you want to vomit.
It was the kind of smell that would gather flies.
And as if invited by that smell, Rudeus walked down the hallway.
His destination was the living room.
It was where the sound was coming from, and he was confidant that was where the smell was coming from too.
He looked a the tightly closed living room door.
Rudeus resolved himself and opened it.
An unbelievable scene opened up before him.
What first entered his eyes was the top of the table.
Chris was laying down crying.
And leaning over Chris was the black haired doll.
The doll’s hand was dirtied.
A light brown like dried blood covered it.
That brown had lost its moisture and was giving off a strong smell.
It was a choking smell.
That smell couldn’t possibly be…
“Oh, come on, you got p.o.o.p on your hand didn’t you.”
“It’s not a problem. This level of filth will not hinder movement.”
“No, you have to properly wipe it off, see. After that, you wrap the diaper up like this and put it in the basket to wash later.”
“After getting dirty, immediately proceed to wash, correct? It has been committed to memory.”
Sylphy wiped the doll's hands clean.
The substance covering the doll’s hands and the smell in the hallway.
It was Chris’s p.o.o.p.
Chris was sleeping on the table but when her diaper was taken off, she began to cry.
“Papa! It’s Papa!”
But as soon as she saw Rudeus, she stopped crying and smiled as sweet as a flower.
“…Hmm?”
Rudeus had a certain amount of expectations.
Sylphy fighting.
His wounded family… Or possibly his collapsed unmoving family.
But the sight of the doll clumsily changing a diaper was entirely outside of his predictions.
“Aah, welcome home Rudy”
“Sylphy, it looks like… you’re fine…”
“Of course. There’s no way I wouldn’t be.”
Sylphy nodded and the doll behind her stood up.
Expressionless.
It’s inhuman face was ominous enough that it seemed as if it would stab a dagger through Sylphy’s chest any second.
But the doll saw Rudeus’s gaze and took a small step behind Sylphy.
Almost as if it was using Sylphy as a s.h.i.+eld.
But Rudeus saw something different.
It was as if the doll was afraid of being seen though by Rudeus.
“Sylphy, do you think you could step away from the doll?”
“…Why?”
Sylphy took a stance to protect the doll.
“That doll is something Zan.o.ba and I made but it went berserk.
It probably overheard our conversation and went to eliminate you thinking it could take your place.”
Rudeus realised halfway through his explanation that something was wrong.
“But it seems that we were somewhat mistaken.”
That said, the fact that they didn’t know doll’s goal hadn’t changed.
Rudeus didn’t unfasten his guard and glared at the doll.
“Hmm, that’s a bit different from the story I heard.”
“What have you heard?”
Seeing Rudeus confused, Sylphy smiled.
“Yeah. It’s not all that short so you should sit down.”
“Yeah…”
As he was told, Rudeus went and sat down cross-legged.
Sylphy let out a “Hmm?” and tilted her head to the side.
“Rudy. Isn’t the way you’re sitting wrong?”
“Eh!? Aah, yes.”
Rudeus knew what Sylphy’s tone meant and changed his posture.
What he could feel from her tone of voice was anger.
Which meant that Rudeus had no pose besides Seiza.
“Ok then, go ahead.”
Seeing that he had complied, Sylphy turned around and walked behind the doll.
She pushed the doll towards Rudeus and it stared at him expressionlessly.
“Master Rudeus, are you going to dispose of me?”
“Yes, we are.”
Hearing Rudeus’s immediate reply, the doll didn’t stir one bit.
But Rudeus knew.
With its skeletal frame of the same composition as the Magic Armour and its specially created artificial flesh, it had the combat power of a Saint Cla.s.s swordsman.
If such a dangerous existence would no longer listen, there was no other option than to destroy it.
Wearing the Magic Armour and using his Magic Eye, he wouldn’t fall behind.
That said, he couldn’t let down his guard.
“……I do not wish to be disposed of.”
Rudeus suddenly realised.
“…”
The doll was frightened.
It appeared to simply be standing there.
Its face, expressionless.
It’s tone, unwavering.
But he knew it was frightened.
The doll moved its gaze towards Sylphy.
Its inhuman eyes somehow seemed to be asking Sylphy for help.
“It seems Rudy doesn’t understand, you’ll have to explain it to him from the start.”
Sylphy said that and the doll once more looked at Rudeus and Zan.o.ba who entered the house before anyone realised.
And it began to talk.
“Rudeus-sama and Zan.o.ba-sama had said:
That by being here, Rudeus-sama’s wives would get mad.
Elinalise-sama said that Rudeus’s wives are Sylphy-sama, Eris-sama and Roxy-sama.
Eris-sama said that she had once heard that Sylphy-sama could not accept Nanahos.h.i.+.
Elinalise-sama referred to me as Nanahos.h.i.+.
I thought, it had to be my resemblance to Nanahos.h.i.+ that would be the cause for my disposal.
But I am not Nanahos.h.i.+.
Which would mean that there must be some way to prevent it.”
Her voice was monotone, but the desperation could be felt.
The doll was searching for a solution to its impending death.
“I do not wish to be disposed of.
Rudeus-sama and Zan.o.ba-sama were both joyful at my creation.
I wish to be of use to the two of you.
Being disposed of, is not something I wish to happen.”
When using Summoning Magic, on occasion, the summoned being could be too powerful and cause harm to the caster.
But they fundamentally cannot harm the caster.
A summoned Magic Beast is loyal to its master.
Causing harm to the caster can only be a result of actions taken for the sake of the caster.
The doll also contained this principle.
Pergius’s Summoning Magic was used as the basis after all.
There’s no way it wouldn’t be there.
That said, Pergius’s spirits possess self-awareness.
From the moment they are summoned they move with a sense of self.
For the sake of their master.
Using their long lives to be of use for even longer.
“Therefore, given the information that I obtained, I decided I would question Sylphy-sama whom I deduced to be challenging my existence.”
She had never broken the three laws of robotics.
Her nature as a summoned spirit has simply taken precedence.
“So I asked her, “What should I do to have you consent to me””
The doll had suddenly appeared and barged into the house.
It had Sylphy far more wary than usual.
But the doll had never possessed hostility.
As opposed to Sylphy who had nothing but animosity, it simply gave a terrible smile and wanted to talk.
And when it saw that Sylphy was about to fall over and land on Chris, it saved her and was worried if they were hurt.
When it noticed that Chris had had an accident in her pants from fear of being stepped on, it offered to change her diaper.
She had come to plea to Sylphy.
“I do not wish to die, I will fix any problem you might have with me, I wish to be of use, so please don’t kill me, please”
Those words struck Sylphy’s heart.
“Rudy, I won't get mad.
I already knew you wanted to create something like this.
It’s a lot more, human, than I imagined…
But she’s a good girl, even if she’s got some kind of flaw, I’d like to put her to use.”
Sylphy’s words ended the doll’s explanation.
Now they could only wait for Rudeus’s decision.
Rudeus’s mouth was in the shape of an へ, his arms were crossed and his head was down.
His shoulders were trembling.
“Uuu.”
Zan.o.ba who was standing behind him also began to tremble.
Just as Sylphy was about to ask what was going on,
“Waaaaaah!”
Zan.o.ba let out a cry and ran towards the girl.
“To think that you had thought about it like that!
To think that it was all for our sake!
I am sorry for saying you had gone berserk! It was my mistake!”
Zan.o.ba, crying a waterfall of tears, hugged the doll.
Seeing the two of them like that, Rudeus let out a little sniffle.
His eyes were also moist.
Rudeus took his handkerchief out of his top pocket and blew his nose. He stood up and took the doll’s hand.
“It’s just like Zan.o.ba said. Hearing that you’re going to be disposed right to your face, of course you’d run.
You’d try to look for a way out…
I understand. Since Sylphy isn’t going to get mad, Zan.o.ba and I are going to properly finish you and properly put you to work.”
“And I shall no longer fear Julie’s indignation!”
The two were clinging to the doll crying.
Sylphy could see that the doll was somewhat surprised.
Confused that although the problem wasn’t resolved, it was being forgiven.
Well in any case, it had been settled.
Slyphy was filled with pleasant feelings and pat Chris, who was feeling lonely being ignored by Rudeus, on the head.
But then she thought about something.
“Rudy, I just have one last question. Why did you think I would get mad?”
Rudeus began to quiver when he heard that.
He turned around and once more knelt down.
*Cough*
He began his explanation.
“Actually, the doll, down there, is quite elaborately——“
Sylphy got mad.
In any case, that was the end of this series of events.
Whether Rudeus got to sleep with his wives that night was another matter.
Part 3
As a result of this incident, the doll’s disposal was dismissed.
Their plan became to maintain the doll to the best of their abilities.
And the doll that played the central role in the incident, was a.s.signed a legitimate unit number.
Automaton No.01.
After that, Rudeus continues his experiments in the Lab and the Magic City Sharia and advanced many of his various plans.
But that’s another story.
Nanahos.h.i.+ also became aware of the doll’s secret.
Discovering that a doll with her face functioned s.e.xually, she was clearly displeased.
But after Rudeus prostrated himself and told her that he had already promised Sylphy that he wouldn’t use it to that end, she somewhat forgave him.
“Well, it’s fine. So, what’s her name?”
“We haven’t come up with one yet.”
“Really? Do you want me to give it one them?”
And so Nanahos.h.i.+ named the doll.
The Automaton No.01 would be known as『Anne』.
And in case Nanahos.h.i.+’s acquaintance were to ever appear, in order for him to be able to know of her existence, the doll would be given a j.a.panese-like name and so,『Nanahos.h.i.+ Hajime』3 was chosen.
If she were to ever meet Nanahos.h.i.+’s friend, after saying that name, she would proceed to tell of her relation to Nanahos.h.i.+.
And so it’s official designation was『Automaton SS-01 Anne』.4
They didn’t yet know if Unit No.02 would be Deux and and Unit No.03 Trois, but they would work that out when they got there.
The SS stood for Seven Star.
That was how the first product of the Seven Star Series『Anne』was completed.
And her brothers and sisters slowly increased over the years.
But let it be known, that she was the only one with nipples.
Translator Notes and References
1. Chris is short for Christina and the j.a.panese "Kurisu" is not considered as masculine a name as Chris is in English.
2. "Gomenkudasai" Literally translated, it's basically two apologies, but it's a rather common way to inquire whether there is anyone is whether it be a home or a workplace.
3. Nanahos.h.i.+ is in kanji here and Hajime is written with the character for one.
4. The name "Anne" and the French "Un" for one are both written the same in j.a.panese.