Lyle

When I woke up in bed, I remembered having felt something similar before.

Like I'd been reborn.

And yet, like I could do anything.

That time when I'd created my dark history.

I slowly got out of bed, swore in my heart never to make the same mistake again, and looked out the window.

"Nice weather. It's like it's celebrating my growth."

Then the Third Generation burst out laughing.

"*Pfft!!*"

The Jewel started getting noisy, but that was normal, so I ignored it.

Besides, I had an important appointment today.

I got out of bed, took off my jacket, and stood in front of the mirror.

It looked like I'd put on a bit more muscle than before.

Looking at my body, I murmured.

"...It's weird saying it myself, but isn't this perfect? I'm definitely good-looking."

The Sixth Generation shouted.

"*Addition confirmed!!*"

The Seventh Generation too.

"*M-my stomach— damn it! Sorry, Lyle... it's funny, so keep going.*"

I ran a hand through my hair while looking at the mirror and said.

"What's all the noise about? Come on, I won't make the same mistake twice. Sure, I'm feeling a little fired up, but I'll show you I can keep myself in check. Oh right, I need to go see Damian today."

The plan was to pick up the reward.

Yesterday, they'd reported the quest's completion to the Guild, received an A-rank evaluation from Damian, and wrapped things up.

They'd exchanged promises to settle the reward payment at a later date.

—Novem had.

"Pfft… so everyone's going together?"

The Fourth Generation was desperately holding back laughter.

I answered, even though there was nothing funny about it.

Before going to bed, Novem had explained the day's schedule to me.

We'd been away for five days, so Novem had the mansion's cleaning and laundry to take care of.

Miranda was picking up Shannon from the hospital, and Aria would accompany me to Damian's lab to collect the reward.

The metal that the Monsters had been clad in—Novem had entrusted it to Damian. We'd need to have that transported over as well.

While I fixed my hair, I said.

"I'm going to Damian's with Aria. Novem's handling the mansion's cleaning, and Miranda's picking up Shannon. She should be good to go by now. But still… why didn't Novem sell that metal?"

Back at the Guild, I'd barely been able to move.

My consciousness had been hazy, and people around me were saying things, but I couldn't remember any of it.

The Fifth Generation explained.

"It does seem to be a rare metal, but there's no magic power infused in it. Plus, it's apparently difficult to work with. Something about the Academy buying it as research material for a better deal?"

The Seventh Generation picked up where he'd left off.

"Quite so. Since Lyle wasn't conscious, we put the decision on hold. There's also the Academy's appraisal to consider. You should ask about the price later and decide from there. Incidentally, the Guild's offer was a hundred gold coins. Talk about tightfisted."

The amount for defeating the boss on the 40th underground floor was far from a number I could be satisfied with.

The Guild seemed to understand that too, as they recommended having the Academy buy it instead. They'd stand to profit by acting as middlemen, so why wouldn't they?

"Why didn't the Guild take a commission?"

The Second Generation explained.

"According to Clara, it's because the Academy holds more power. They probably didn't want to slash your reward for no reason, especially since you're an acquaintance of Damian."

Apparently, they didn't mind taking a small loss because they didn't want to make an enemy of the Academy.

As for Clara, it seemed Novem had paid her reward.

(I should go thank her later... Maybe bring some flowers?)

After fixing my hair, I stepped out of the room shirtless.

Sure enough, as if she'd come to wake me, I ran into Novem right in front of the door.

"Good morning, Lord Lyle. Um... you're looking well today. Your complexion has really improved. I'm so glad."

Seeing the relief on Novem's face, I—

"Novem."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

The Successive Heads began to make a ruckus.

I really wish they'd read the room.

'He's going all in with this momentum!'

'He's shining brighter than the moon, and it hasn't even come out!'

'Pfft— BWAHAHA!!'

'Well, I don't know about that, but this is just how it is, right? Even if I'm aware of it, can I really hold it back?'

'A confession at a time like this... Lyle, think about it a little more... No, I guess it couldn't be helped just now.'

'The mood's all wrong, you know... Why don't you try again, Lyle?'

Ignoring my irritating ancestors, I looked at Novem as well.

Then, Novem started laughing.

She wiped away her tears with her fingertips.

'...Lyle, I appreciate your feelings, but I think it might be better not to say things like that right now. More importantly, in your current state, it might not be wise to go see Damian.'

I said to Novem, who had smoothly deflected my confession.

'Tough guard, huh. But that's what I like about you.'

'Well, I'm glad to hear that. Then, shall we have breakfast, Lyle? And today—'

'I'm going to Damian's. I want to get everything wrapped up as quickly as possible.'

'Y-You are?'

Novem looked like she wanted to say something, her expression troubled as she gazed at me.

She hardly ever made that kind of expression, so for some reason it made me happy.

I guess because I got to see a side of Novem I didn't usually see.

Together with Aria, I headed to the academy, handed over a note, and had a staff member escort me to Damian's laboratory.

The lab was supposed to be a spacious room, but all the equipment crammed into it made it feel cramped.

Books were piled up like mountains. Students in white coats were busy tidying them up.

Every single one of them had dark circles under their eyes.

They all looked like they were swaying on their feet—they had probably pulled an all-nighter.

"Seriously, pulling all-nighters isn't good for your health."

When I said that, Aria, who was standing beside me, looked slightly taken aback.

She had been acting like this ever since we met that morning.

"What's wrong, Aria? Such a cute face going to waste with that grimace."

The Fourth Generation's voice rang out.

*'Perfecct!! It's perfect, Lyle! But maybe pick a better time and place!'*

When I ignored the nagging, Aria finally spoke up.

"You know... Novem's right, wouldn't it have been better to just stay in your room today?"

When even Aria was saying something like that, I shook my head.

She was probably worried, recalling what had happened before during my "growth."

I had sworn to myself never to let the same thing happen again—such worry was unnecessary.

"You're worried about me, huh, Aria... That makes me happy."

"Y-you idiot!"

Aria blushed from embarrassment, and the students in white coats tidying up around us—both male and female—clicked their tongues in disapproval.

While this exchange was going on, Damian appeared, having brought supplies into the research lab.

He had dark circles under his eyes, but his energy was abnormally high.

"Good morning, everyone! I haven't slept a wink!"

"Damian!"

I raised my hand and turned toward Damian, and he raised both hands in return.

"Lyle!"

As we exchanged our greetings, the people around us stared at us with surprised expressions.

Being stared at like that just made me happy, so I wished they'd stop.

I couldn't keep myself in check anymore.

"Welcome! And the timing couldn't be better — I just took them out of the capsule."

A capsule?

Hearing that, I looked around and saw people floating in a translucent green liquid.

They appeared to be asleep.

"They're not breathing? They don't look dead, though?"

As I directed my gaze toward the capsule, Damian explained.

"You just noticed? These are the ancient automatons. Were you imagining something with a bunch of gears and screws? Sorry to disappoint — they're something exceedingly close to human."

If he said "exceedingly close," there had to be something clearly different about them.

Aria, too, seemed to have only just realized what she was seeing. She peered into the capsule, eyes wide.

"Th-These are dolls!? They look absolutely alive!"

And then Damian explained.

"That's exactly what my goal is, isn't it? I'll surpass these automatons and create the ideal woman. I swear I will!"

Hearing Damian's enthusiasm, I felt ashamed of the thought that had crossed my mind — wouldn't it be faster to just make her instead?

Damian was a man. The manliest of men.

"That's wonderful. I'm rooting for you, Damian."

"You get it, don't you, Lyle? I knew you would. You're one of the very few people who bothered to remember my name."

We shared a laugh, savoring our mutual joy, and then got straight down to business.

"Now then, about the compensation."

"Oh, this right here."

We'd been laughing a moment ago, but the sudden shift to serious expressions left everyone around us at a loss for how to react.

Damian removed the pristine white sheet draped over the cart.

As the sheet lifted into the air, scattering dust from its surroundings, a single woman lay there dressed in black clothing with a white apron.

No — she merely looked like she was sleeping.

Aria, startled, leaned in to get a closer look at the Automaton.

"W-Wait, you're kidding... This is a doll?"

The cart stood about waist-high to me.

Golden twin tails.

Her eyes were closed, yet she looked as though she could start breathing at any moment.

Her skin was pale, and her lips were a soft pink —.

Her feminine figure was notably full around the chest.

And on her forehead, a faint pattern was visible.

It didn't appear to be a tattoo, but what kind of mark was it?

It didn't seem to be something Damian had chosen out of personal preference.

(So that's why he offered to give it away.)

However, when I looked at the capsules surrounding us, the Automatons inside were shaped differently from the one here.

The Automatons in the capsules, if you looked closely, all had the same appearance — the same face, the same hairstyle.

But each of them bore a similar mark on their forehead.

"Right, so after decoding the documents, the method of activation appears to be... using blood as a catalyst to form a master-servant contract."

"Blood? What are you talking about, Damian?"

Hearing that, I shook my head.

Aria tilted hers.

"What's the matter with you, Lyle? Just take it already. We still need to talk about that armor afterward, you know. If you don't want it, I'm selling it, so hurry up."

Turning to face Aria, I heard her out.

"Selling it!? Don't be ridiculous! Look at this adorable sleeping face... Yes, just like a sleeping princess."

"A... a princess?"

Aria was exasperated, but the others wore much the same expression.

The Fifth Generation spoke.

'What is this guy even talking about?'

The Sixth Generation replied.

'Who knows?'

"The way to wake a sleeping girl has been settled since ancient times, hasn't it! I learned it from picture books!"

That's right. The picture books Clara and I had read together in the library contained just such a passage.

The curse of the imprisoned princess was broken by the hero's kiss.

Without hesitation, I pressed my lips to the Automaton's mouth.

"Now then, let me break this curse."

"No, it's not a curse or anything like that..."

Damian was saying something, but I kissed her anyway.

Then, suddenly, the Automaton began to move.

It slowly opened its eyes, and then into my mouth—

"W-It moved!"

Damian's eyes lit up even as he was startled.

And Aria was screaming.

"Wh-wh-what do you think you're doing, Lieeeel!!"

I slowly pulled my mouth away and spoke to the Automaton, now awake.

"How does it feel to be awake, my princess?"

Its open eyes were crimson, and after glancing around at its surroundings, they turned to me.

After staring at me for a while—

"I never expected to be awakened in such a fashion. Confirming genetic data. Master registration complete. Let me see, how do I feel... I imagine you expect me to say something along the lines of 'the very notion of worshiping and serving the deviant who brought a doll to life with a kiss is enough to make me retch'? Oh my, how peculiar... It seems there is a problem with some of my data. My speech appears to be impaired."

Damian looked at the Automaton sitting up and then turned to me, his eyes gleaming.

"That's incredible, Lyle! To think you woke it up not with a blood contract, but with a kiss... All right, I'm gonna try starting mine the same way!"

As Damian looked on gleefully, the Automaton stepped down from its cart and bowed with flawless etiquette.

"It appears I've ended up in a den of perverts. Very well—starting today, I shall call 'Master' the man who trembles at a sudden threat to his virtue yet lusts after a doll. Now then, state your name."

Its words and its manner were completely at odds with each other.

But that kind of thing wasn't enough to get me down.

"You've got some real punch, Automaton. I'm Lyle... Lyle Walt. Just you wait—I'll make you mine."

With a huff, I brushed back my hair, and the Automaton before me spoke with both hands pressed over its mouth.

It was a cute gesture, but—

"You said dolls have no freedom, yet after I registered you as my master, you go and pull that attitude... You're laying it on a bit thick with the 'Chicken' nonsense, Master. [Chicken = Lyle]—I'll keep that little memory for myself. Oh dear, I said that out loud."

I flashed a grin at the Automaton.

"Just you watch—this Chicken will take to the skies someday... Fuhahahaha!!"

My booming laughter wouldn't stop.

Even hearing myself say it, I was practically swooning.

(Crap, I sound incredibly cool right now!!)

From inside the Jewel, I could hear voices clamoring and raising a tremendous racket.

It consumed magic power, but for me now, it was a negligible amount.

Aria spoke, her eyes slightly misty.

Had I moved her to tears?

The fact that I could make someone cry with emotion—starting to frighten me.

"Lyle... Chickens don't fly."

And the Automaton followed suit.

"Oh, having such a tremendous scum of a master—what a privilege. I'll beat you into shape and re-educate you. Oops, my true feelings slipped out... I'm not doing well. My network is also in ruins, and what time and where even am I right now? The fact that asking the scum standing in front of me probably won't give me a clear answer is incredibly unsettling."

Hearing the Automaton's words, Damian looked delighted.

"There are so many words I've never heard before! Someone, record these quickly! First up: 'tremendous scum of a—'"

I had gained a new companion that day.

And in the process, I mass-produced black marks in my history and lost something precious.