Breaking the Silence

The mouth seal was released. We're fucked. Big time.

I gasped at the system logs popping up before my eyes.

That was a problem in itself, but...

My heart sank at that line more than anything.

Freira right now wasn't the mature, resolute woman from the original story's late game. She was just a fragile girl trapped in a gilded cage, easily hurt.

Where the hell did it go wrong? I even told her directly I was heading out for a bit.

Did she not get it? I'd even left a letter just in case. What the fuck?

As I fidgeted anxiously, Elise, who had been strolling leisurely through the Grand Duke's residence, glanced over slyly.

"Senior. What's wrong? You look like a puppy desperate to take a shit."

<Elise. Can you run?>

"Three times faster than you, Senior."

Everything's fine, and I'm on my way.

Elise's eyes widened as she read my thoughts.

"Oh. Ooh. So that's how it goes. This is fun."

What the—hold up.

Did this psycho beagle of a junior mess with my letter?

<Hey, wait. If you...>

Snap.

Elise yanked out her internal connection cable and bolted north.

"See you at the Grand Duke's residence. Bye now."

"…."

Unable to catch up because my core output lagged, I flailed my fists in the air after her.

Freira Karstein doesn't cry.

A Grand Duke's daughter can't show such weakness. Even without tears, people already looked down on her.

At ten years old, her mother abandoned her.

Vanished beyond the Northern Wall to some distant northern land, never to return.

Of course. You can't overcome your bloodline. That's what people whispered, pointing fingers.

After that, Freira's tears froze solid. She swallowed her bitter heart and held back her sobs willingly.

"…Um, Alsanna. Thank you."

"What are friends for?"

The two were playing chess in the Grand Duke's reception room. Fleeting memories brushed their minds.

Today's the most bitter day in years.

Freira, looking gaunt, swallowed the emptiness creeping up her throat.

Bang.

A silver-haired automaton kicked the door open.

"…You."

"Uh… wh-who are you?"

Elise replied shamelessly and boldly.

"Hamel sent me. Everything's fine, and he's on his way."

Clatter.

Freira dropped her queen. Her heart pounded uncontrollably.

"H-he's coming? How do you know that?"

"We've been together the last few days."

"………What?"

Alsanna trembled at the uncontrollable situation. As a bishop of the Holy Kingdom, she had to resolve this peacefully.

"C-calmed down, Freira. Let's sit first. And you, miss, what's your name…?"

"Elise. Argent Heavy Industries' latest automaton. Equipped with a self-thinking module, so I can talk like this."

"Ah…?"

Alsanna's face hardened instantly.

"…You're the tin can, huh?"

"Tin can? And what's your affiliation?"

"Bishop of the Holy Kingdom."

Elise's eyebrow twitched subtly.

"Fanatic, are we?"

"…Pardon?"

"I know all about it. The place that killed the most of our kind. The Holy Kingdom, right?"

The reception room's atmosphere turned more hostile than when Gaius had been there.

In the midst of this chaos, a black-haired man stepped in from beyond the door.

…Haa.

It was Hamel.

"…Explain."

Freira crossed her arms, glaring at me. Her shoulders trembled with fury.

Explain? I still couldn't speak.

And looking at how things had played out, I had nothing to say anyway.

I glanced at the letter I'd written.

This is bullshit. I'm innocent.

It wasn't like this originally.

I ground my teeth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and glared back at Elise, who bolted like a rabbit.

"Are you broken? Need repairs?"

"Negative."

"Then why were you gone for days?"

The Grand Duke's daughter's voice quivered. So did her eyes.

I pulled out my core from my chest and showed it to her.

"The core—"

Freira shot to her feet.

"If you needed a core, just say so!!"

I can't talk, lady. I get you're mad, but think a little.

"Freira…? Hamel can't speak, you know?"

"…You're right. Sorry."

Alsanna sneaked a glance at me, signaling to calm Freira down.

I stood, arms wide.

Hug me.

"Wh-what did you do to deserve a hug…?"

Saying that, the Grand Duke's daughter hugged me tight. A scent of cold snowflakes brushed my face.

"Do you know how worried I was?"

"Affirmative. Yes, miss."

"You answer just fine…"

As I gently stroked her hair, Freira hugged tighter.

In the midst of soothing her, my eyes met Alsanna's, who stared blatantly from behind.

"…."

"…."

Thud.

Alsanna flushed red and averted her gaze. She fidgeted with her hands, mouthing silently.

Idiot.

You too, you lame bishop?

I spent the day with Freira clinging like gum. Alsanna joined us this time.

"I'm bored."

Elise barged in, but I shoved her out the door.

Not today, you.

After Alsanna left and Freira was asleep, I was lecturing Elise.

I backed her against the wall, her purple eyes darting away desperately.

<Elise.>

<Scolding me?>

<Just hear me out first. Why did you swap the letter?>

<Monkey's paw.>

The one that grants wishes but twists them grotesquely?

<It was fun. Let's have a drink.>

Smack.

One good whack, and Elise feigned a pout.

<Oh? Not gonna comfort me? Like you did the Grand Duke's daughter.>

<What for?>

<She's the enemy of our kind. So I got revenge.>

Oh… She saw it as a mission?

Thinking about it, this was partly my fault. I'd spouted nonsense about automaton liberation to get the voice module.

Elise had basic knowledge injected, but she was newly made—practically a blank slate.

She could only absorb stimuli like a sponge.

Raising her right is part of being a senior—and a possessor.

I sighed and met Elise's gaze at eye level.

<Elise. There are good humans ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too. Ones who don't oppress us.>

<Like the Magic Tower gear freaks?>

<They're… no. Anyway, from now on, the people I tell you about are allies.>

Freira, Alsanna, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ulrich.

I imprinted those three names first. Key figures from the original.

<Good lord. They're all utter monsters. And one's a Holy Kingdom fanatic.>

<You'll see once you meet them. They're good people. …And one more.>

Second Imperial Princess. Selene von Baltgard.

Elise's face turned dead serious at the name.

<Did I hear wrong?>

<You heard right.>

<But the princess's public opinion is in the gutter, straight to the sewer…>

<Elise.>

<…Understood. You must have your reasons. Anyway.>

Elise looked up at me brightly, then bowed her head.

"Sorry for causing trouble. I won't troll allies anymore."

T-troll? Where'd she learn that?

"See you next time, Senior. Let's talk out loud then."

With that, Elise went silent. She removed her voice module, handed it to me, and headed to the Grand Duke's main gate.

"…."

She hesitated at the first-floor stairs, then turned back to me.

Whoosh.

Elise averted her eyes and held out a letter. Neat handwriting on the envelope read:

An apology letter? Gotta be.

Wanna rip it open right now??

"…."

Elise left without looking back. Probably heading to Argent HQ.

Should've caught that expression.

The silver-haired automaton's steps wobbled slightly. More human-like than when she'd arrived.

The next morning.

"Waking… when…?"

"Almost… soon… activating…"

I sat there, barely registering murmurs.

My core was removed. Residual mana in my body let me vaguely sense my surroundings.

Like a coma.

Thrum. Startup hummed inside my body, and system logs scrolled before my eyes.

Ugh, stiff as hell.

Two people in front, so no stretching.

"Core swap complete."

The disheveled magitech engineer examined me closely. The woman from the Magic Tower who'd clocked me as a machine.

"…Such an aesthetic chassis."

"An expert's eye is different. I designed it myself."

"As expected of the Grand Duke's daughter. I'll head out then."

Freira saw ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her off with a bright smile. Her gaunt cheeks seemed a bit fuller—probably my imagination.

She leaned on my shoulder, tilting her head.

"How is it, Hamel? That's what you wanted, right? Like it?"

Yeah, yeah. Time to check specs.

Check changes.

Ooh. Military grade indeed.

Mana surged fiercely inside me. Overall mobility had clearly improved.

I scrolled through the changes. Parameters were up across the board.

But that wasn't the point.

I grabbed Freira's hand and closed my eyes.

Alright. Mouth seal release.

"Hamel. Why close your eyes? …Your mouth's twitching up? That happy?"

Snap.

"Eek!?"

I pulled Freira close, gripping her shoulders. The Grand Duke's daughter pursed her lips tight.

Her emerald irises quivered between wide eyes. Meeting that color fully, I opened my mouth.

"Lady Freira."

A human voice.