The red moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the entire land.

At the highest point in the central district of the Caster City State, atop the bell tower of Krimms Cathedral, Andrews and Ales sat facing each other. Both held mugs, gulping down barley beer.

"Ales, you went too far today."

Andrews set down his mug, his tone accusatory.

"If I had really gone too far, those Holy Professionals would have stormed the Secret Investigation Department this morning, wouldn’t they?"

Ales wiped the beer from the corner of his mouth. "If we’re talking about who went too far, it’s you people. This is not what you described at the last meeting."

"What’s the difference? It’s either Dawn or Storm. You can’t possibly let them choose the Red Moon, can you?" Andrews didn’t think he had done anything wrong. "It’s just like that one time..."

"Andrews, I’d advise you not to continue."

Ales’s face turned cold. "The church isn’t the only way out in this world. Faith is power, but it’s also a shackle. I believe you understand this better than anyone."

Andrews didn’t refute him. Instead, he poured another mug of beer and said with a bitter smile, "What’s important is staying alive, isn’t it?"

"Alive? Tsk, tsk. If I’d known you’d end up like this, I should have left you for dead back then."

"And wouldn’t you have died on the Cordo Sea then?"

"..."

Ales seethed in silence. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "So, what did you want to see me about? If it’s more of the same from this morning, then don’t even start. I’d rather not waste what little energy I have left on you."

Andrews turned his head to look in the direction of the Council. In the light of the red moon, the kind expression on his face vanished.

"Let’s not mention things that have already failed... This time, it’s a personal request. I hope you can protect that girl for me."

"That’s what you said last time, too."

"This time is different."

Ales looked at him, puzzled. "Has something changed?"

"I don’t know," Andrews shook his head gently. "I just have a bad feeling."

"A feeling? That’s not a good thing. Your feelings are always right..."

"That’s why I have to ask you, Ales. I know you don’t have much time left, but the truth is... I don’t have much time left either."

"Hm?"

Andrews pulled up the sleeve of his white-and-gold-trimmed robe, revealing a pristine arm where a pattern drawn in golden thread was now visible.

"Dawn is already calling me."

Ales looked at the pattern, his face darkening. He asked with a hint of anger, "When did it start?"

"This afternoon..."

"Is it related to the celebration this morning?"

"I’m afraid so," Andrews pulled his sleeve down and sighed. "According to past records, from the moment it appears, I have 100 days left."

"It’s probably only 99 days now."

"...Ales, with your personality, it’s a real wonder you’ve lived this long."

Ales took a sullen swig of his drink. A flash of sorrow passed behind his monocle. "Thank you for the compliment."

"So you agree?"

"Yes. As long as she’s in the Secret Investigation Department, I’ll keep her safe. You know I can’t go far."

Andrews’ kind smile returned to his face. "That’s good enough. I hope my premonition is wrong this time..."

"I said the same damn thing a long time ago, but when has that ever worked out?"

"This will be the time!"

"Heh..."

......

......

’I’m tainted, I’m so tainted...’

Wei’en stared blankly at Clelia, never imagining he’d one day be grabbed and forced to adjust the positioning of a pendulum clock’s faceplate and the direction of its hands.

Especially the hands—they were just so... pink.

Clelia let go of his hand, a blush on her face. "How is it, is it fixed?"

"Not yet. It’s two clocks, after all. It’ll take a little longer..."

"Well, you can take it slow. Just remember to set the time right. It’s ten o’clock at night, so just ten turns should do it."

"Ten turns? Clockwise, right? Then counter-clockwise would be fourteen turns. I..."

[You have been eroded by the Power of Desire. Unfortunately, your defenses have been broken once again. Evaluation: Hmm... for this sort of thing, it takes two to tango. Special Reward: Resilience Level -1.]

’What the hell!’

Wei’en jolted awake. He sat up, looked around, and said with a wry smile, "So it was just a dream..."

’It’s all Clelia’s fault. If she was going to leave, she should have just left. Why did she have to provoke me like that before going? Now I’m having *those* kinds of dreams again...’

’Crap,’

Wei’en suddenly remembered that he wasn’t at his own place—he hadn’t brought a change of clothes...

’Great. Guess I’ll just have to air things out today.’

With no other choice, Wei’en tidied himself up as best he could, then stared blankly at the red moon outside his window, lost in thought.

’It’s been more than ten days since I came to this world. I wonder how things are back in my old one.’

’They must be heartbroken, right?’

"Since I can’t go back, I might as well take a good, long look at this fascinating world."

After a long while, Wei’en let out a deep sigh, sealing these memories away in the depths of his soul.

Memories were precious, but he wasn’t yet so lost in the past that he couldn’t pull himself out. Besides, his current situation demanded his full focus and caution...

Immediately after, Wei’en opened the box he carried with him, took out a pen and paper, and, referencing the runic knowledge in his mind, drew the Rune Array for a Mechanical Puppet stroke by stroke.

In the past two days, he had already drawn dozens of complete Mechanical Puppet blueprints.

But each time he drew one, he gained new insights, especially when it came to deconstructing the various components. Some parts, no bigger than a fingernail, were inscribed with a dozen or more intricate lines.

This was undoubtedly the fruit of his predecessors’ wisdom.

Thus, Wei’en grew more meticulous with every blueprint he drew, carefully contemplating the intent behind each design. Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he would consult Jerry Mage’s handbook.

His progress was quite rapid.

After a period of research, he came to understand that a Mechanical Puppet wasn’t a technological mech, but a weapon of war controlled by a Rune Array.

Take the Core Rune Array of the [Iron Heart Fury], for example. In addition to the Solid Heart and Fury Burst Runes, it also contained a connection rune for easier control.

And this connection rune was the foundation of the Mechanical Puppet—or rather, the foundation of all Mechanical Puppets.

Its function was not only to connect with the Mechanical Mage, but also to easily convert the Wizard’s mental commands into the Mechanical Puppet’s actions, even down to the subtle movements of a finger joint.

Calling it the core of the core of a Mechanical Puppet would not be an exaggeration.

Therefore, after figuring this out, Wei’en focused his research on deconstructing and reconstructing the Core Rune Array.

He was well aware that only by mastering the study of each individual rune could he completely assemble the entire Rune Array.

This step might be difficult for others, but for Wei’en, it was precisely the easiest part.

[You have successfully drawn the Solid Heart Rune... Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]

[You have successfully drawn the Spirit Rune...]

[...Keystone Rune...]

’Keystone Rune?’

’So that’s what the connection rune is called?’

’It’s quite a fitting name—the keystone for building a Mechanical Puppet.’

After Wei’en finished deconstructing all the runes involved in the [Iron Heart Fury], he had drawn a total of four runes: the Solid Heart Rune, the Fury Burst Rune, the Keystone Rune, and the Spirit Rune used for replenishing energy.

He then used his panel to raise the level of all four runes to max.

[Congratulations, your Rune Knowledge: Keystone Rune has reached max level. Effect: Success rate of drawing this rune is 100%.]

[...]

[Congratulations on obtaining a max-level Rune Knowledge. Your Rune Study proficiency progress: 4/100. Special Reward: Spirit Level +1.]

As the runes reached their max level, more knowledge flooded his mind. Combined with what he had already accumulated from his introductory studies, it provided a wealth of information for him to study and cross-reference.

The Keystone Rune and Spirit Rune were flawless, but the Solid Heart and Fury Burst Runes had several areas that could be optimized and improved.

After improvement, the effects of these two runes could be increased by 15% and 33% respectively.

Wei’en drew the new and improved runes. He believed that this would also make it much simpler to apply them to the components of a Mechanical Puppet later on.

’Is the Keystone Rune the only one that’s a Hexagram?’

DONG, DONG DONG...

Before he could start fusing the runes, the bells tolled, and the red moon outside the window quietly retreated, giving way to the light of the rising sun. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The room also became a bit brighter.

Wei’en only glanced at it before immersing himself once more in studying the fusion of the Keystone Rune and the Death God Origin Rune.

[You have successfully combined the Death God Olanir’s Origin Rune with the Keystone Rune and successfully drawn the result. Evaluation: Mechanical Puppet? Or Mechanical Life? Special Reward: Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

’Mechanical Life...’

’No way... right?’

Wei’en looked at the evaluation on the panel, his breathing quickening. Could it be that the fused Keystone Rune could grant life to a Mechanical Puppet?

’Then, could it still be called a puppet?’

He couldn’t help but glance at the Driver beside him. ’Should I give it a try?’

’The Keystone Rune is just one link in the Rune Array used for Mechanical Puppets; it’s not a Magic Rune of the Mechanical School. What if I brand him with it and it doesn’t work...?’

"Driver, I’m not entirely sure what this rune does. I’d like to test it on you, if that’s alright?"

Wei’en mulled it over for a long time but couldn’t make up his mind. In the end, he decided to let the Driver choose for himself.

After all, since being branded with the Soul-Devouring Rune and the Mechanical Rune, the Driver’s intelligence had increased considerably. It was capable of simple reasoning.

The Driver didn’t answer immediately. Its gaze shifted to the ghost beside it, particularly to the one large and three small, shimmering Rune Brandings on its forehead...

"Baba, hit me with it."

A smile spread across Wei’en’s face as he nodded. "Alright, one shot coming up."

’If it doesn’t work, I’ll just have to accept it. The worst-case scenario is that I’ll just have to start a new line of puppet-type abilities the next time I get an Origin Body.’

Having made his decision, he no longer hesitated. Holding the Driver, he began to brand the back of its head.

[You have successfully branded the Keystone Rune (Death God) and learned Keystone (Death God), Level 1. Evaluation: If the Death God awakens, It would probably hunt you down and kill you immediately... Special Reward: Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +2.]

[Note 1: Keystone (Death God) Level 1. Effect: Can convert a Mechanical Puppet into a Mechanical Life. The converted Mechanical Life will see you as its master.]

[Note 2: A Mechanical Life possesses the ability to self-learn and improve, and is especially adept at controlling Mechanical Puppets.]

[Note 3: Each level-up allows the conversion of one additional Mechanical Puppet.]

Wei’en stared at the information on the panel. "I think I just created something incredible..."

’I can’t believe it’s actually a Mechanical Life... and one that can learn and improve on its own, and is even skilled at controlling puppets...’

Although he didn’t know how many levels the ability could gain, even a single Mechanical Life was enough to change the entire paradigm for the Puppet Mechanical Wizards of the Mechanical School.

That’s right—it would change the entire paradigm.

A genius Wizard like Jerry hadn’t recorded anything this ridiculously overpowered in his entire handbook...

The Driver tried to look at its own forehead, its eyes going crossed. A grin spread across its face. "Baba, does this mean I’m powerful now?"

Wei’en hugged the Driver and planted a big kiss on it. "It’s more than just powerful. It’s incredible!"

’If this is the effect of the Keystone (Death God) Magic, what happens if I incorporate it into a Mechanical Puppet’s Rune Array? Will it also transform the puppet into a living being?’

’If so—that would make me truly unstoppable.’

’As soon as I get back, I’m going to start building a Mechanical Puppet!’

A smile spread across Wei’en’s face. Today’s gains were immense.

’Thank you, Death God. Thank you for providing the origin. And an even bigger thank you to whoever it was that turned the Death God into an Origin Rune. You were truly on another level.’

’As for the warning on the panel...’

’The Death God wants to kill me? Well, It will have to wake up first...’