Imperial VI-8

It's short.

It's impossible to blame Marie.

No one can be blamed.

What on earth am I supposed to talk to Emma about in this state?

Is there anything I can say to her?

I can't even bring myself to speak to someone crying over Emma right in front of me.

You're not wrong, I think.

It was Daniel who quietly listened and then spoke.

I look at Daniel.

Daniel firmly responds to Mrs. Marie.

"I also watched the entire sequence of events alongside Emma. Honestly, I don't know what's right or wrong. But I believe it's not wrong for the Empire to provide powerful weapons to its citizens and soldiers fighting on the battlefield. That, to me, is the correct use of tools. At the same time, I also believe your feelings as a mother for your daughter are absolutely right. No one is wrong, in my opinion."

"Even if that leads to your daughter's disappointment?"

Marie narrowed her eyes at Daniel, her expression suggesting she was about to say something like, "What do you know?"

"That's unavoidable. Humanity doesn't understand the way the world works at all. It's the same thing. Even if you act based on what you believe is right, you can't know the outcome. That's precisely why people learn. By failing, learning from it, and gaining new knowledge. It's the same principle."

Whether Marie was overwhelmed or simply shocked by Daniel's words, it was hard to tell—she was speechless.

Eventually, she spoke.

"Hmph! You little brat, talking big like that. Try saying the same thing to Emma. Whether she'll listen is another matter."

"It's fine. Emma's a proper researcher, after all."

With those words, we left Marie's room.

We arrived at Emma’s room, guided by the butler.

Now, how should I greet her?

Though we’ve come this far, I can’t think of a clever way to approach her.

What about Daniel, who was so confident a moment ago?

I glanced at Daniel, and he looked completely hopeless.

He wore a strained expression, beads of sweat on his forehead. Where had his earlier boldness gone? Now that he was face to face with her, he seemed utterly at a loss for words.

I'll just try saying something. I'll just go with whatever happens.

"Emma-san, it's been a while. This is Taro."

It wasn't loud, but clear and firm—calling out to the closed door.

No response. He touches the door.

It's locked. The door won't open.

Huh? Is that a gemstone? There's some kind of mechanism inside the key. Is this a magic item?

I think I've read about something like this before in a text somewhere.

It should have been a mechanism that could be disengaged by channeling magical energy in a particular way.

The mechanism must have been too complex, which is why crafting it had been so difficult.

"That was recently made by the young lady herself. Thanks to that, it's been hard to meet her lately."

Yet she still seems quite capable of crafting something like this, and doesn't seem to dislike making things at all.

Instinctively, she placed her hand on the magical stone-embedded key.

Yeah, I guess putting mana in like this should do it?

Clank.

The key opened effortlessly with that sound. It was unlocked.

At the same moment, the door also swung open.

Inside was Emma, her beautiful hair a mess, wearing something like a pajama, reading documents on her bed.

Our eyes met completely.

"H-hi, it's been a while..."

Emma jumped off the bed, letting out a confused groan, then shut the door.