Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 205: The Autonomous Mystic Code Maid

Shinji's kind offer was something Waver naturally could not refuse. It had been three days since the news of Kayneth's return had spread, and from early morning Waver had felt the weight of numerous prying gazes. To be honest, he was quite concerned that he might be kidnapped.

Waver knew his abilities were lacking, and the old apartment he was living in under the El-Melloi name had limited defensive capabilities. Before Shinji's arrival, he had even considered staying in the office for the next few days, as it was much safer than the apartment. Those familiar with Waver knew he had a keen eye - one that could see through the surface to the true essence, be it the inner principles of magecraft or the true nature of a person. This keen eye is known as the "Discerning Eye" in Fate/Grand Order.

Through his Discerning Eye, Waver could see the strengths and weaknesses of his students, allowing him to tailor his teaching to fully develop their potential. He could also see through the plots and schemes hidden in the mist, thus protecting himself and the El-Melloi classroom. Of all the humans Waver had encountered, Shinji had the highest evaluation in terms of combat ability. With him here, Waver had little to worry about. The only concern was how to protect himself when they were apart.

Regarding this, Shinji had already made preparations. He tapped the one-meter-tall suitcase, and it opened, with dazzling silver spilling out from within.

It was not an exaggeration - the silver was indeed spilling out. The silver substance was mystic code mercury, which upon touching the ground automatically gathered and formed into a female automaton standing 1.65 meters tall, with a standard appearance and physique.

"This, this is...?" Waver unconsciously swallowed, unsure if he was more surprised or excited.

"Your professor's latest creation, an autonomous mystic code doll. 'Mystic Code Mercury' is something you're familiar with. After over a year of research, he has performed deep processing on the improved Zwei type, finally completing the autonomous doll you see before you."

"Compared to the original and Zwei types, her biggest feature is the addition of intelligence and a magical furnace. She can move and act autonomously without her master issuing commands or providing magical energy. By referencing Einzbern's automaton technology, the doll's intelligence level is very high. Not only can she serve as your bodyguard and handle various combat situations, but she can also be a great help in your daily life - handling laundry, cooking, cleaning, and even functioning as a multi-purpose tool."

"If you have any special requirements, you can also manipulate her with your magical energy to transform her into forms not pre-programmed. Incidentally, after the first transformation, the next time you just give the command, she will remember and evolve on her own."

"So, how about it? Aren't you captivated by such a versatile and adorable maid? If you are, then act quickly! It's only 998,998 - not 9,998, and not 19,998 - just 998,998 to bring home this all-purpose maid!!!"

Seeing Shinji fully in salesman mode, Waver was inexplicably compelled to ask, "Then, where can I purchase one?"

A strange silence followed.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The two otaku men stood awkwardly, staring at each other beside the mercury maid for dozens of seconds, before finally bursting into laughter.

"Oh dear, I can't help it, I can't help it. I've been watching too much TV shopping lately, and accidentally slipped into that mode."

"Me too, I got caught up in it without realizing it."

Shinji leaned back on the sofa, while Waver returned to his antique armchair.

"Is this for me?"

"Yes, yes, your professor said it's a thank you for your efforts over the past few years. Originally, I wanted one too, but there are only three magical furnaces, so one each for you, your professor, and Miss Sola. Thinking about this just bugs me - I was the one who dug up the magical furnace from the basement of the Kay Hotel, so why didn't I get one?"

The "magical furnace", capable of serving as an independent source of magical energy, is an extremely precious magical artifact. Even the Archibald family that Kayneth belongs to does not have more than a handful, and the Matou family doesn't have even one.

Ignoring Shinji's complaints, Waver simply asked, "Lord Kayneth and Miss Sola?"

"They made up. After everything that happened, everyone has grown. Kayneth isn't as arrogant as before and has a better grasp of himself. Miss Sola also got rid of her ladylike attitude after her ideals were shattered. Now their relationship is stable, and I bet they'll get married once the Archibald family situation settles down."

"That's good, but... won't it be too smooth sailing?"

"I'm just telling you the result, the process of course wasn't as simple as I made it sound." Shinji shrugged. "At first, Mis Sola locked herself away and Lord Kayneth didn't bother with her, they each went their own way. Shortly after you left, Lord Kayneth finally couldn't take it anymore and went to talk to Miss Soka, but they ended up in a huge argument. I happened to not be home at the time, but according to my uncle, it was a brutal sight. By rough estimates afterward, the damage alone was worth six figures."

"And then what happened?" Waver pressed further.

"After that, it evolved into small arguments every 3 days and big ones every 5 days. In the end, they had to set up a sound-insulating barrier outside their rooms to avoid affecting others."

"Didn't anyone try to mediate?"

"No one could, the maids in my house had been collateral damage several times, so in the end, my father decided that others shouldn't get involved in this kind of matter. A few months later, they seemed to have gotten tired of arguing and started a cold war."

"Then what made them reconcile?"

"There were about three factors. First, Kayneth's magic circuits were gradually recovering. Second, Miss Sola realized she was quite useless. And third, it was when my father and stepmother got married. After the celebratory dinner that night, the two of them talked all night and finally decided to start over. Well, I did have my doubts, but my father said there was no problem, and that You should go see them yourself."

Waver, being an expert at reading people's true nature, and Shinji hoping he could use Waver's keen eye to judge whether Sola has truly let go of her feelings for Diarmuid and is wholeheartedly marrying Kayneth.

"I'll go take a look." Waver nodded, then shifted his gaze to the mercury maid doll, "How do I operate this?"

Shinji rummaged through the bottom of the box and tossed a notebook over, "That's the instruction manual, with your learning ability, you'll master the essentials quickly."

Waver caught the notebook and quickly flipped through a couple of pages, surprised, "It even has a disguise function?"

"That was my suggestion. After all, the mercury doll isn't very convenient to carry around, and you can't just lug a big box all the time. So I added an illusion function, so you can disguise it as a human or a tool when needed. By the way, designing it as a maid was also my idea, it fits the noble family persona, and you know what they say - all hail the moe!"

Waver's expression twitched, but he didn't deny it. Influenced by the game-loving Iskander, he had become quite the otaku, though not quite to Shinji's level of thick-facedness.

"The maid design is good, but if I bring it to class, the problem students will just laugh at me. The mere thought makes my stomach hurt." After all, Waver's classroom was nicknamed the "problem student containment unit."

"While they may be problem students, they all have great potential, and they trust you." Shinji recalled the scene he encountered at the entrance, "When I came, two students, one tall and one short, said they want me to hear your lecture, and that I won't regret it."

Other teachers would be delighted to hear such praise, but Waver's expression only darkened further.

"Those two are the biggest troublemakers in the class, they're always fighting and bickering. Just thinking about them makes my stomach hurt. Just to be safe, when you saw them, were they fighting?"

Shinji rubbed his nose: "They were."

"I knew it. Decided, their homework is tripled, no, make it five times as much!"

Waver felt his stomach hurting even more. At this rate, he's going to age prematurely.

=====

Support Me At /AbsoluteCode