As we toured the karakuri research facility, our guide—Hiraga Genko, the current head of the Hiraga family and the institute’s director—led us into yet another section.
“And this here’s the team working on medical karakuri. You’re the one who needs a prosthetic limb, right?”
“That… yes I am…”
The old man replied.
“Got word straight from the Shogun, so I went ahead and made it already.”
It seems that prosthetic limbs had been prepared for the old man in advance. Without delay, the old man began fitting the artificial arm and leg into place.
“Whoa! What is this? It moves on its own?!”
“It automatically reacts to the user’s movements. It takes a bit of skill, but once you get used to it, you should be able to run and dance with it.”
“Amazing! I can even hold a sword!”
The old man grips the sword with his prosthetic arm and swings it. Of course, it won’t perform as well as his original limbs, but with this level of performance, it shouldn’t be a problem in everyday life.
“Sensei, with this, you can continue practicing with the sword!”
“No, I don’t think I can go that far. I won’t be able to use most of the Yagyu Shinnen-ryu techniques.”
“But…. you used your secret technique on the Yamata no Orochi the other day, right?”
“I was only able to do that because I was mustering up the last of my strength. It’s not something I can do normally.”
At his disciple’s remark, the old man gave a wry smile.
“Mm, you’ve got a point. It might hold up against an average swordsman, but it won’t keep pace with the movements of a master. Well, that just means there’s still room for improvement. One day I’ll make a prosthetic that can—but for now, make do with this.”
From there, we were treated to demonstrations of various other karakuri still in development. It had been a long time since my curiosity had been stirred so deeply, and I couldn’t have been more satisfied.
As for Fana, Anje, and Karen—the muscle-brained trio—by the halfway point they were already holding their heads, as though all the complex talk is giving them migraines.
“But you’re pretty clever! I’ve never seen anyone show such comprehension on the first try! You don’t just have human-level intelligence, you might even surpass it!”
I chuckled, puffing out my chest.
“Fufufu… I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“That settles it! There’s something I’ve just got to show you—and you alone!”
“Only me?”
“Yes. The contents are… well, let’s just say they’re not for the not brainy ones. You’re the only one here who could possibly understand it!”
And so, leaving the others behind, I followed Genko deeper into the research facility. We passed through a series of heavily secured doors, each one shutting behind us with a heavy metallic thud.
“Research-oneechan, what kind of thing are you going to show me?”
“A craft that can generate an infinite amount of electrical energy. Honestly, it’s top secret among top secrets, but I’ll make an exception—just for you.”
I followed her, excitement bubbling in my chest. After a short while, we arrived… at a completely empty room.
“…? What’s this supposed to mean?”
The next moment, ropes seemed to reach out from all sides and automatically wrapped around my body.
“Yessss, got you! Now I can take you apart as much as I want!”
Genko yelled with bloodshot eyes.
“I’m so curious about how a doll with such great capabilities works, I won’t be able to sleep at night!”
“Even if you take it apart, I don’t think you’ll understand how it works—it’s powered by magic, after all.”
“If that’s the case, then so be it! Seeing is believing! I just have to see it with my own two eyes to be sure! Hihihihihiii!”
Well… I couldn’t really blame her.
If I saw something I didn’t understand, I’d want to dig into it until I figured it out, too. In fact, it was that very obsession—endlessly researching magic—that had led me, in my previous life, to be called the Great Sage. She is probably the same breed of human as I was.
Of course, that didn’t mean I am just going to sit still and let her take me apart. Besides, I wasn’t even a karakuri doll to begin with—I am a human.
Riiip, riiip, riiip!
I easily tore through the ropes and freed myself from the restraints.
“Heheheh! I knew something like that wouldn’t hold you! But—how about this?!”
A door at the back opened automatically, and out stepped a karakuri doll. Its thick armor plating and array of built-in weapons made it obvious this thing hadn’t been built for anything peaceful.
“This here’s the strongest karakuri soldier—developed with the concept of surpassing even top-class swordsmen in combat ability!”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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