Deep beneath the manor Rhodes controlled, inside the underground magic workshop.
Before him stood an experimental table—chaotic at first glance, yet ordered in its own way—and atop it lay a naked girl.
Pale golden hair spilled across the metal surface. Her slight, youthful body carried the vitality of adolescence, along with a presence of power that could not be ignored.
Yes. Though her fair skin showed not the slightest trace of muscle, an incongruous sense of strength clung to her. Even the most careless observer would feel intimidated the moment they laid eyes on her.
That pressure came from resentment.
Sunken warships of the Solomon Islands. Sailors who had perished in the Pacific. Their shared hatred and unwillingness had converged, condensing into a force impossible to overlook.
What resided within the girl—within Yuudachi—was not merely a bonus born of fame. It was something stronger: pure battle intent. The will of the crew who had once fought aboard the destroyer Yuudachi had crystallized into power, becoming the driving force behind this golem body.
"Flaws can be beautiful," Rhodes murmured, "but I prefer perfection."
His fingers traced Yuudachi's skin, feeling the strength hidden beneath her tender frame. Even he paused, momentarily moved.
"With this power, combined with the steel bones of a golem… she could probably tear Kayneth apart with her bare hands. Not on the level of a Heroic Spirit wielding a Noble Phantasm, but still formidable."
As he spoke, Rhodes infused her with magic, sensing the nascent consciousness shaped from battle intent. He adjusted Yuudachi's personality with delicate precision.
In the Fleet Collection setting, Yuudachi was an unruly mutt that refused to let go once it bit down.
Rhodes preferred loyal hounds.
He refined her temperament, her signature verbal tic, and guided the high-output magic reactor within her body. Slowly, the girl's resilient and flawless form came online.
She was a born warrior. Once equipped with her custom ship rigging, she would become an undeniable force on the battlefield. And after Van-Fem finished refurbishing the destroyer Yuudachi, Rhodes intended to transform it into a true flying destroyer.
When that time came, the devastation inflicted upon his enemies would be catastrophic.
Satisfied, Rhodes gently cut off the flow of magic and waited for Yuudachi to awaken, using the time to fine-tune the overwhelmingly powerful rigging.
Then RyuZU approached him in silence and spoke evenly.
"Master, Mr. Van-Fem's envoy has arrived. He wishes to discuss the refurbishment of the destroyer Yuudachi."
"Oh?" Rhodes paused. Annoyance flickered across his face, but he turned and headed out of the workshop.
Yuudachi was already activated. She would wake on her own. There were still dozens of minutes to spare—more than enough time to deal with that irritating envoy.
"Hah…" Watching Rhodes leave at a brisk pace, the autonomous doll RyuZU exhaled softly. Deceiving her master for the first time weighed heavily on her.
"Marianne," she said quietly, her tone cold and resolute. "Shadow the master."
Within the workshop, a shadow vanished without a trace, clearly moving to follow Rhodes.
"Now then… the most important part."
A mocking smile curved RyuZU's lips as she manipulated the flow of time within the workshop, watching Yuudachi's sleeping face as she gradually stirred.
"Mmm… that was a really good nap, Poi…"
◇◇◇
"That bastard… where exactly is Van-Fem's envoy?" Rhodes muttered as he returned to the workshop.
He saw Yuudachi slowly opening her eyes and lunged forward without thinking, intent on becoming the first "human" she would see.
"Internal… system booting… beginning self-check… emotional module connection error…"
A cold, mechanical voice slipped from Yuudachi's lips. She sat stiffly, like an inert machine, devoid of the liveliness expected of an autonomous doll.
"What's going on?"
Confusion filled Rhodes' voice as his fingers roamed across her body. Her pale skin felt perfect beneath his touch, drawing him in without him realizing it.
Even so, Yuudachi merely sat there blankly. Aside from a faint tremor when touched in certain places, she remained rigid and lifeless.
"An emotional system malfunction? Did she absorb too much resentment from the Solomon Sea battles…" Rhodes analyzed the situation carefully, missing the flicker of disgust in Yuudachi's eyes.
"Forget it. Emotions can be cultivated later. The important thing is her verbal tic! The tic!" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Come on, give me a Poi!"
Yuudachi remained expressionless and stiff.
Doubt crept into Rhodes' gaze. He had embedded that verbal tic deep into her core. It should surface instinctively. Even a golem without emotions would obey his commands.
Still puzzled, he sighed and shook his head.
"What a shame. Then she can only be used as a weapon of war."
"Oh?" RyuZU, standing to the side, spoke sharply. "And where does Master plan to use Yuudachi? On the bed? Doing inappropriate things while listening to her shout Poi! Poi! Poi!? That's quite the taste."
"Tch. I'm not a masochist," Rhodes said with a shrug. "Your venom won't bring me pleasure. I only want Miss Yuudachi to be perfect. None of the autonomous dolls I create are inferior products."
"I see…"
RyuZU fell silent, catching the meaning beneath his words.
Moments later, Rhodes walked out of the workshop with light steps, leaving only Yuudachi and RyuZU behind.
"Hah—!" Yuudachi let out a sharp breath, her rigid expression collapsing. "That was terrifying. Really terrifying! You were right—Master is a total pervert! Poi!"
"Thank you for saving me," she said earnestly. "Otherwise Yuudachi would've been forced— Thank you, Miss RyuZU."
"No… it's nothing."
RyuZU forced a smile. Moisture shimmered faintly in her clear eyes.