Type-Moon: Root Seiko

After deciding to take on the responsibility of adoption, Luo Zhen's first task was to get to know them.

"Master, the incubation chambers for the new androids are underground. The lighting is dim, please watch your step."

The artificial steward named Sera led Rozen into the heart of the castle.

She was afraid that her service to Luo Zhen was not good enough, so after walking down the stone steps, she said, "It is too disrespectful to bring Master to such a damp environment."

"Master, please wait a moment. I will arrange for the castle to be renovated immediately. There are no extra carpets in the castle now, so please allow us to pave the way with our bodies for you to step on. Please step on us to move forward!"

Luo Zhen immediately raised his hand: "That's too much, that's too much. We don't play that kind of weird game."

Although it's unknown whether all androids are like this, Sera's personality is quite distinct; she's prone to overreacting.

Her emotional expression was also more active than that of ordinary androids that Luo Zhen had seen, which was actually a good thing.

So seeing that she was still racking her brains to do more, Luo Zhen spoke up first: "Don't call me Master anymore. I've never been to school, I have no academic qualifications."

"Don't call me master, lest outsiders think I'm playing a big game."

"...Then what should we call you?" Sera asked pitifully.

"Just call me by my name. Why don't you try calling me once?"

“……(€€€€€€)”

Sierra crashed, and even the steps downstairs stopped.

She stood with her feet on the two steps in front and behind her, trying to open her trembling mouth.

In the dim light of the fluorescent stone lamps in the hallway, her face appeared even paler, her bloodshot pupils trembled uncontrollably, and she gasped for breath again and again…

"Ro, Ro, Ro... Ro—Gurgle~!"

"Really vomiting blood? Is it really that hard to say my name?" Luo Zhen was shocked.

Sera actually coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining his palms red.

She was afraid of getting Luo Zhen dirty, so she insisted on not letting him touch her.

But because it was in such an awkward position on the dimly lit steps, she instinctively stepped back and naturally lost her footing, falling down the steps!

Fortunately, Luo Zhen was prepared.

With lightning speed, he grabbed Sera's wrist and pulled her into his arms, while wrapping his other arm around her waist.

On the sloping steps, Luo Zhen and Sera were acting out a stage play, their postures full of tension.

But Sera clearly wasn't thinking about anything romantic.

She suddenly realized what was happening and exploded on the spot!

"I'm so sorry, Master Luo Zhen! It's all my fault for being so incompetent that I couldn't even handle such a small matter... Ah, did I say it out loud?"

Luo Zhen nodded: "Indeed, why did you say it after adding an honorific title?"

Why is the underlying logic of these people in the Einzbern family so strange?

Because of this mistake, Serra's regret was palpable, and she kept her lips pursed and remained silent.

She asked Luo Zhen to wait a moment, and quickly went to change her clothes so that her blood-stained appearance wouldn't taint Luo Zhen's mood.

When she returned, the maid's hood, which had always been neatly covering her hair, had been removed.

It's probably because my hair got a little wet while I was cleaning it.

Her long hair, slightly shorter than Irisviel's, was hastily tied back in the middle with a hair tie. It hung down from her shoulders to the front, creating a very dangerous "ladies' hairstyle."

Luo Zhen said thoughtfully, "You look much prettier like this. The Einzbern family's uniforms are really too conservative; they haven't changed in hundreds of years."

"Yes! It's an honor to receive praise from Master Luo Zhen!"

Sera bowed deeply, her voice still a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The title "Master" seemed to have been set in stone, making Luo Zhen feel that he had aged considerably all at once.

But to prevent her from vomiting blood again for violating the fundamental logic of reverence for God, let's leave it at that for now.

The underground space of Eindzbern Castle is very vast, but completely devoid of any sense of habitation.

This basement was built entirely for the centralized cultivation of androids; it was densely packed with alchemical equipment and cultivation chambers, a truly shocking sight.

Einzbern's artificial human technology followed ancient methods entirely, a mystery passed down from the age of gods.

They are completely self-sufficient in the materials they use. The current androids are all clones made based on the genes of the Winter Saintess, with only minor adjustments to the details of the genes to specialize and increase beneficial mutations.

As Sera gradually regained her composure, her crisp footsteps echoed through the magically cold underground workshop.

The androids that were passing by and carrying out maintenance all instinctively wanted to kneel down when they saw Luo Zhen.

Only after Luo Zhen gave them a stern instruction did they switch to bowing... This barely managed to trigger their blood-vomiting code.

Luo Zhen asked Sera, "How long does it take you to cultivate an artificial human?"

“It depends on the purpose of manufacturing,” Sera said smoothly. “If it’s just a quick-produced individual, it only takes half a month from embryo to finished product. But such a quick-produced one only has a lifespan of three months and is lacking in functions such as thinking and language. Unless there is an urgent shortage of manpower, we will not waste resources to manufacture this version of androids.”

"Properly made androids are divided into basic types that maintain the operation of the castle, combat types with specialized bodies, and magical types with management abilities and excellent circuits. The cultivation time required ranges from one month to half a year, and the lifespan is generally between ten and twenty years. Illyasviel is the latest creation of the Einzbern family, and it took exactly half a year from design to completion."

"Has Ilya finished?"

Luo Zhen asked, "Her body is too young. I thought she was prematurely born and brought out of the incubation chamber by you to deal with Alice."

Luo Zhen's words were very hurtful; anyone with a normal mindset would definitely feel embarrassed and intimidated.

But androids won't.

Just like math, if you don't know it, you just don't know it.

Sera remained undeterred: "No, that's exactly how Illyasviel designed it."

"In order to further improve the uncontrollable aspects of Irisviel, Irisviel removed more of the human growth potential from the initial design, and it was enough to only retain the weapon part."

"Her body will no longer grow, and her mind has no room to grow either. The plan is for her to be properly used by two assistants, namely me and Liselle."

"..."

This inhumane statement was so eloquent that Luo Zhen was momentarily speechless.

To reiterate, he doesn't know how to criticize these androids.

Moral condemnation is meaningless for artificial humans who do not consider themselves human, let alone their fellow human beings.

This made Luo Zhen understand even more: it was truly a miracle that Irisviel could be educated to have human values.

This problem needs to be solved step by step, so Luo Zhen quickly moved on.

"Nasera, how long ago were you born?"

"Two months. I was created to assist Illyasviel's birth, and I was specially optimized and adjusted during the nurturing period to work with her."

"Is that Lisellet the same?"

"Yes. I am the magic type in charge of overall management, while Lyserite is the combat type who protects Illyasviel."

"Do you want to live with Ilya from now on, or break free from this bond?"

"...?"

Sera was stunned for the first time.

She was showing Luo Zhen the latest batch of artificial human incubation pods that were about to be completed. Floating inside the pods were "compatriots" who looked about 80% like her.

The bizarre scene was so eerie and unsettling that Luo Zhen lost all interest in appreciating the beautiful figures of the android girls.

He was focused solely on Sera in front of him. It was more mentally healthy, and he felt quite at ease.

"...I will obey your orders, sir."

Sera's cultivated high-speed thinking led her to the answer, and she bowed to Luo Zhen again.

“I was born to serve. As a member of the Einzbern family, everything I have belongs to you, my lord. If you deem Ilya and I still of value, we will do everything in our power.”

Luo Zhen nodded: "Hmm, this question is too early for you."

Sera didn't understand Luo Zhen's meaning and lowered her eyebrows slightly in confusion.

Luo Zhen didn't explain either.

Children need time to study.

If you want to know what kind of life you really want to live, you have to understand what kinds of life are possible.

-----------------

After leaving the incubation facility, Luo Zhen embarked on a major project: to meet all the androids in the activity.

To see all the nearly one thousand androids in Einzbern Castle is an incredibly arduous task; it can make one dizzy.

But this is something that must be done; it's part of my responsibility.

Luo Zhen left Irisviel to continue looking after Illya, and began having Sera bring batches of android sisters with different jobs to see him.

During this process, Luo Zhen asked them similar questions to Sera.

How long have you been born? What do you do for a living? What kind of life do you want to live in the future?

While asking these questions, Luo Zhen carefully observed their emotional reactions.