I love time travel the most!

"What a pity, such a beautiful hot spring has been wasted."

"Yes... I always feel really sorry."

Hanayagi Shoko was also helpless.

She had no room for excuses when her own doll caused trouble.

Then she leaned forward slightly, revealing a forbidden sight, and seductively said, "Since that's the case, how about I make you some compensation to show my apology? Shall I go to your room and we talk all night?"

Do you think Xiaolin will fall for this scam?

Yes, that's right!

"Please do this!"

Kobayashi readily gave a thumbs up.

This is part of the bonus content, and it's quite important later on.

Chapter 142 On the Feasibility of Improving Liu Zi

If the haughty young Charlotte is like an uncultivated fertile land, failing to constantly exude the pleasant fragrance of earth, then the alluring beauty Hanayagi Shoko is like a woman who has been diligently watered and nourished, radiating a mature charm reminiscent of a young married woman.

This kind of charm might not appeal to other men, but it's just right for Kobayashi. What he lacked in his youth, he's been searching for ever since.

I hope that future collaborations will be even more pleasant.

"Kid, claiming your female automaton is the best in the world, how arrogant!"

...and so on.

He came on with a sarcastic tone right away, it seems he has a lot of prejudice against Kobayashi.

You'll understand once you think about it.

Although Hanayagi Shoko is not outstanding in other doll fields, she is the number one in the field of bionic dolls.

Boasting that Ryuu is the best in the world in front of the other person is hard not to be seen as a provocation. Being both androids, and specifically female androids, makes the suspicion even greater.

Even though Liu Zi's high level of completion was indeed comparable to her own automaton in her opinion, the pride of being the industry's number one would never allow anyone to challenge her.

unless……

Ryuu was truly created using technology different from this world and that overturned her understanding of the world.

"So, would you like to take a look?"

"……What did you say?"

"If you don't believe it, why don't you see it for yourself? It's a puppet technology unlike anything in this world."

"........."

Hanayagi Shoko fell silent.

She thought the two would continue to bicker and test each other with words, but the other party immediately dropped a bombshell and went straight to the point, not following any set pattern.

This left her, the person in the highest position, speechless.

After a moment of silence.

"Kid, it might sound strange to me, but... do you know what it means to hand over your own doll to another maker?"

"You should hand over the technology you've worked so hard to develop to others, right?"

This world is dominated by mechanics. As automata gradually replaced cumbersome magic, everyone began to research more powerful and efficient automata.

Even the nighttime gathering where the Demon King was chosen was a testing ground.

For example, Frey and Loki's automata were prototypes of the factory's experiments.

This is a barbaric world where war is still raging, and there are no patent protection laws. If the enemy learns about the strengths and weaknesses of one's automatons, it is easy for them to counter them.

"Have no idea."

Kobayashi complained softly, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "I'm neither a demon king nor do I have any real achievements to show for myself. There's only one way to convince the world's number one, Hanayagi Shoko, of the words of an unknown nobody like me."

"...Open and frank?"

"You're right!"

In other words, Kobayashi had no intention of provoking anyone from the beginning; it was a complete misunderstanding on her part.

But I'm still very angry.

How dare you claim your doll is the best in the world... Fine, let me, the world's number one, give you some pointers!

With pride and disdain, Hanayagi Shoko saw inside Ryushi.

With just one glance, she was completely captivated.

"—So beautiful!"

He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Countless gears of varying sizes filled the girl's petite body in a peculiar way. They interlocked perfectly, turning and operating slowly and methodically, powered by the automatic gears of her heart. Those exquisitely precise gears were as elegant and magnificent as her appearance.

Hanayagi-sai Glass was experiencing hallucinations.

Within Liu Zi's body, she saw the scenery of another world. It was a planet entirely constructed of gears, a strange world on a different technological path!

The boy was right; Liu Zi was indeed made using technology that overturned her understanding of the world!

"Right? She's one of my proudest waitresses."

Kobayashi nodded smugly.

Although he had long anticipated being recognized by the world's number one bionic doll master, he was honored... even though he was the user rather than the creator.

"Kid, you didn't make this doll, did you?"

"Uh...is it that obvious?"

"Don't doubt the eyes of a puppeteer; at least this child is definitely not something you could create."

She was very certain, and the reason was unknown.

Although I was very unhappy, I couldn't find a reason to refute it.

Because what the other party said was true.

Even now, he still hasn't completely figured out how to play Liu Zi.

As Ryuu's body closed up, the world of gears was concealed, and Hanayagi Shoko's eyes revealed obvious reluctance.

She then asked, "Young man, where is her creator? Could you introduce me to her?"

"Introduction" is a truly surprising word.

Generally speaking, this is what a subordinate would say when requesting an audience with a superior. For the world's number one android user to say something like this, this world is truly insane.

You can tell by the fact that Irori and Komurasaki, who are standing next to her, are unable to say a word.

From the moment they saw the interior of Liu Zi, the two women were speechless with shock. When they heard their master requesting to see another person, they found it even more unbelievable.

At least, they had never seen Hanayagi Shoko act so humbly since they were "born".

Strict family discipline prevented them from asking questions.

Would you like to meet another master puppeteer?

This sense of recognition and mutual appreciation often occurs between masters who stand at the pinnacle of their respective fields. Of course, it is more often a competitive spirit that arises after witnessing automata from different systems.

Kobayashi shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, I can't do it, because he's not in this world."

"Yeah……"

Hanayagi Shoko was filled with regret.

In her view, this sentence meant that the other person was already dead, and therefore no longer in this world.

Kobayashi also realized that the other party had misunderstood, but he did not have the coordinates of "Time Gate" and did not know whether Y was still alive, so he had no intention of explaining himself.

Just when Kobayashi thought they could have a pleasant collaboration, Hanayagi Shoko suddenly came up with a surprising deal.

"Hey kid, wanna trade puppets?"

"……Um?"

"My 'Snow' and 'Flower' are the world's finest automatons, and also my greatest masterpieces. Two for one, how about it? Want to trade?"

Hanayagi Shoko gave Kobayashi a look that said, "You've hit the jackpot," making Kobayashi's lips twitch slightly, unsure of what to say.

"Owner……!"

On the contrary, Irori shouted excitedly, but gradually fell silent under Hanayagi Shoko's inexplicable gaze.

This is the fate of automatons.

Even if their appearance, movements, expressions, and habits are exactly the same as humans, they are ultimately not human. They are just objects and have no human rights... No, even humans are sometimes treated as objects of trade, and they may even be worse off than powerful automatons.

Hanayagi Shoko cherished them, but in order to achieve her goals, she would still treat them as commodities for trade.

...just like every night.

Therefore, she also had to take responsibility, at least... she couldn't let Xiao Zi be traded as well.

When Irori made up her mind—

Kobayashi decisively refused, saying, "I'm sorry, I have no intention of making a deal."

"Really, what a shame."

Although Hanayagi Shoko said this, there was no regret on her face. She must have already guessed that Kobayashi would refuse, and she was just trying her luck.

It's free to try it.

Then she made an even more tempting offer.

"Then would you like me to give you a doll?"

"what?"

"With their help, it will be easy to sit on the throne of the Demon King, and it's not impossible to even become the strongest in the world."

Most people would be tempted to hear this.