"You really are living the life of a favored man!"
After dinner, in the corridor.
Rin had worked all day and wanted nothing more than to rest immediately, but the moment she saw Roy, she couldn't help but flash a sour, teasing smile and snap at him with a sharp tone.
"Jealous?"
The moment Roy heard that bitter tone, he knew she already found out about what happened last night—and that she wasn't happy about it.
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.
"Wait! Not here...!"
Rin's face instantly flushed bright red as she quickly glanced left and right.
Hayasaka, having rested all day and fully recovered, happened to pass by the corridor, glanced at the two, then coolly walked away as if nothing was happening.
But Rin's neck turned even redder from just being glanced at like that.
"You're gonna die!"
Rin lightly slapped Roy's chest, embarrassed as she spat out the words.
"Don't worry about it. Nobody's gonna say anything," Roy said, completely unfazed, not a hint of embarrassment on his face. Instead, he smiled warmly to soothe her.
To Rin, that smile looked more and more like it deserved a punch.
"Everyone is my wings, but Rin, you're also my one and only special one."
That was honestly a very scumbag thing to say.
But Roy wasn't lying.
When he first settled in Fuyuki City, Aoko came and went quickly, and Touko was often away. At the Mage's Association in Fuyuki City, Rin was actually the one who cared for Roy the most. Whenever magi gave him trouble, she always stepped up to defend him.
The reason Roy, who normally took off his glasses reluctantly, was so easily convinced by Rin's words was because she had truly helped him a lot. Aside from Touko and Aoko, Rin was the person he liked most in this city.
Of course, Rin's help also came because Roy had reported the Matou family to Aoko and, through her, destroyed them and rescued Sakura.
But judging from Rin's personality, even if Roy hadn't done that, she likely would have stood on his side anyway.
"How many people have you said that to?"
Rin's face lit up with a brilliant smile.
Yet that smile didn't reach her eyes. Deep in her gaze flickered a cruel light.
If Roy's answer failed to satisfy her, she would probably punch him without hesitation.
"I've only ever said it to you. That's not a lie."
"Is—is that so..."
Rin stammered.
Roy's expression was serious, because this really was the first time he said it.
…Hmm? Why do I feel like I've said something like this before?
Maybe I did say something like this once before?
Forget it, since I don't remember, it must not have been important!
"Alright, let go of me, don't let anyone see…"
Rin blushed deeply as she gently struggled in his arms, careful not to use much strength since she didn't know Roy had already remodeled his body to normal human strength.
"Alright."
Roy said as he smiled, then bent down and kissed her lightly on her flushed lips.
Before Rin could react, her vision went dark and Roy's face filled her entire sight.
When she came back to her senses, Roy had already released her.
She stood there stunned for a moment, then her face flamed red as she fled hurriedly.
Watching her retreating figure, Roy couldn't help but chuckle.
"Though she looks bold, she's actually pretty innocent."
Huh?
Why did I just say something so scumbag-like?
***
Not long after, Aozaki Touko returned.
As soon as she arrived, Roy pulled her into the basement.
Touko looked completely baffled, at first thinking Roy had some kind of relapse. But when she saw the basement full of dolls he'd modified into a complete mess, she was utterly horrified.
"What have you done to my precious babies?!"
"…These things are precious?"
Roy's expression flickered with subtle meaning.
Most of those dolls were actually modeled after him.
He himself was right there in front of Touko, yet she said these dolls were the real treasures?
"They can be sold for money, you know!"
Touko pointed at the disfigured dolls on the floor, full of distress.
"Do you know how much one of my dolls can sell for? And you just went and messed them up like this?"
Ah, well.
That's true!
In the original timeline, Matou Sakura had sold off the entire Matou family's collection of dolls just to buy a blank doll from Touko—so it was easy to imagine just how expensive Touko's dolls were!
"I really did something irreparable!"
Roy couldn't help but feel a painful tightness in his chest.
Life in the Aozaki household was never affluent, especially now with so many mouths to feed, every day's expenses were huge. Both Aoko and Touko were bottomless money pits, and saving money was incredibly difficult.
"But how did you manage to modify so many dolls like this?"
Touko was getting curious again.
She had thought about teaching Roy doll-making techniques before, passing on her craft to him, but Roy had declined back then, saying he didn't have enough time and was already putting all his effort into realizing his ideals.
Now that his ideals seemed within reach, was he planning to take up doll-making again?
"I have something to tell you, and you mustn't be afraid when you hear it!"
Roy looked at Touko seriously, almost worried she might faint upon hearing it.
"What is there to be afraid of?"
Touko laughed confidently.
She was a True Ancestor Dollmaker—someone who could jump out of some corner even if she died.
"I have a Creator God inside me, given by the Root. Her name is Tiamat. Through a contract with her, I received a certain power... Touko? Are you okay?"
When Touko heard the name Tiamat, she nearly fainted.
She forced herself to stay calm but couldn't help raising her voice dramatically.
"Enough! Stop talking about that! It's terrible for my heart!"
"Alright."
Roy obediently nodded.
"Hah…"
Touko leaned on the nearby table, her hand shaking as she lit a cigarette. After a while, as the nicotine filtered into her lungs, her racing heart gradually calmed.
"People chosen by the Root really don't make sense… So, what do you want with me?"
"I gained Tiamat's body modification ability. It's basically a weakened version of Tiamat's Life Authority. It's so powerful that it's hard to control—basically, I'm blind in both eyes when I try. Touko, you're an expert on human anatomy. Help me master this ability!"
The moment she heard "Life Authority," Touko nearly blacked out again but managed to hold on.
For modern magi, even just a god was enough to drive them mad, let alone a genuine Creator God.
And this power was her ultimate superior version.
This meant Roy wouldn't need her help to change bodies anymore; he could fix his own congenital genetic defects by himself.
"I understand. I'll help you."
Touko crushed out her cigarette and suddenly smiled brightly.
***
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