Why do things always happen one after another, right before I even start learning magic?
It’s better not to embarrass myself.
Just as Lulumia was about to slip away, Ino smiled and approached, sitting at the table next to Yao Guang’s Saint Son.
“Lant, why are you here so early today?”
“It’s all thanks to His Eminence going mad lately, making us train on time every day. Ino, you have it easy, but we’re suffering.”
“If you tried a bit harder, you wouldn’t have fallen so far behind.”
“No one can compare to you.”
Yao Guang’s Saint Son looked troubled, then tilted his head to glance at Lulumia, who was still holding her tray and hadn’t sat down.
“Is this the magic automaton you took in a couple days ago? Not bad at all. I can’t see any signs she’s a magic automaton, and there’s no owner’s mark on her face. Why not give her to me?”
“In your dreams.”
Not the least bit angry at Ino’s blunt tone, the young man named Lant Tambour gave Lulumia a warm smile.
“Hello, I’m Lant Tambour, a Saint Son candidate from the West Ode Diocese of the Sacred Nation of Ouenheim—Yao Guang’s Saint Son. Though I’m also a candidate, my strength is pretty average, so I’m just here to pad my resume. I’m not competing with your master Ino, so relax.”
“West Ode Diocese is the same as the Royal Capital Diocese. Lant is really well connected there—often, his words carry more weight than mine.”
Ino explained to Lulumia.
So this pretty boy is actually a good person.
Lulumia’s eyes widened in surprise.
The young man before her looked seventeen or eighteen at most, with a face handsome enough to make countless otaku grit their teeth in envy.
Dazzling golden hair, delicate features, friendly blue eyes—if he wore a white, imposing outfit, Lulumia would really think he’d stepped out of a shoujo manga as a prince.
Seeing Lulumia still in a daze, Ino smiled and pulled her to sit by her side.
“Lant is the fifth son of the Tambour Count family and lives with us in the same temple. He has a good personality, so don’t be afraid.”
“I say I’m the fifth son, but actually I’m just an adopted child. I’m from a collateral branch. When the main family heard that someone from the collateral line was recognized as a Saint Son by Lady Istelle, they specifically summoned me from the countryside and adopted me. There’s not much affection there.”
Lant shrugged his golden head.
“If someone works for the Church, the whole family gets special treatment in Ouenheim. Everyone knows that, even if they don’t say it out loud.”
So direct, not holding back at all.
Lulumia couldn’t help but think—in Earth’s terms, someone seventeen or eighteen is just a freshman in university.
Being straightforward is normal.
The fourth princess, who’s impossible to read, is the rare exception—Lulumia still doesn’t understand how the fourth princess dared to borrow five thousand gold coins from the original owner.
She picked up her skirt on both sides and gave Lant a curtsy that wasn’t quite proper.
“Good day. I am Lulumia, magic automaton of the Immaculate Saint Son. I was only recently created and don’t know much about this world, so I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“So polite? Nothing like the arrogant rumors at all. I knew it, rumors are always exaggerated. Don’t just stand there, sit down.”
Lant smiled and motioned for Lulumia to sit, his bright eyes turning to Ino.
“Are those dragon horns and tail real? That must’ve cost a lot to buy, right?”
“Of course they’re real. I saw her myself smash her head into her kidnapper before I saved her. I’d guess ordinary defensive magic is like paper before those horns.”
Ino explained while elegantly eating.
“As for money, I’m sure you’ve already heard—she owes a lot to outsiders. Originally, Seran’s Witch was going to dismantle her, but by chance she ended up with me. Thanks to her own intelligence, she wasn’t toyed to death by that witch.”
“That witch, huh…”
Lant’s expression turned sympathetic.
“I caught a glimpse of her from afar last month. She immediately sensed me looking her way. She smiled, but that smile made my skin crawl.”
“Speaking of which, what level is she? To catch the attention of Seran’s Witch and have dragon horns, she can’t be low level.”
Ino stopped what she was doing.
She’d housed Lulumia for several days, but honestly didn’t know Lulumia’s magical ability.
Everyone at the table turned to Lulumia.
Lulumia suddenly felt like she was being grilled about her salary at a New Year’s family gathering.
Her face stiffened, and she stammered.
“1…”
“First tier?”
“L… Level 1…”
As soon as she spoke, the air froze.
A mix of cheerful and awkward tension filled the room.
Lulumia wanted to crawl under the table. How could the original owner be so useless?
Level 1 and the first tier were two different things.
First tier meant level 10-19, second tier 20-29.
Someone like Lulumia, only level 1, didn’t even count as a tier.
“Haha…”
Lant half-covered his mouth, wanting to laugh but not daring, managing only an awkward yet polite attempt at smoothing things over.
“Well, she’s only just been created. There’s a lot of potential. The future is bright, yes, bright…”
“Mia…”
Ino’s expression grew complicated.
She’d known Lulumia wouldn’t be very strong, but she hadn’t thought she’d be this weak.
“You should’ve told me earlier.”
“I’m sorry…”
If she weren’t thick-skinned, Lulumia’s face would be burning red.
Telling herself that shameless people are invincible, she went all out, playing the pitiful little girl, curling her tail and mumbling softly.
“I wanted to tell Sister Ino earlier too, but Her Highness the Fourth Princess was in such a hurry I didn’t have time to ask Sister Ino for advice on magic… If I had some magic potions, I could level up quickly… probably…”
“Only level 1 really is troublesome. Ino is a star in the Royal Capital Diocese—lots of people pay attention to her. If her assisting magic automaton is only level 1, people will definitely doubt her abilities. Since you studied at Saint Istelle Academy before, what kind of magic are you good at?”
Lant propped his arms on the table, smiling like a spring breeze.
With that face at the academy, he’d have a crowd of girls swooning.
Damn handsome guy.
Thinking that, Lulumia kept her expression serious and answered.
“I tested for Water magic during entrance exams.”
“Then you’re just like Ino. No wonder you two look like mother and daughter.”
“Mother and daughter? Am I that old?”
“Hehe, just kidding, just kidding.”
Lant scratched his head again and again.
Ino was only fifteen or sixteen; although her bearing was more mature than her age, her face still showed traces of youth.
When she stood beside the fourth princess before, she was a little shorter than the tall princess.
“If it’s Water magic, then it’s easy. Ino’s a soon-to-be third-tier Water Magic Swordsman. If you follow her, whether it’s using magic or fighting, she’ll be a good teacher. The main thing is building up your mana, but that’s tricky—only through training and fighting does it really grow.”
“Recovering mana slowly is so inefficient compared to using magic potions. My family sells magic potions—why not shop at my place? I’ll give you a discount.”
So he was just trying to sell something. Lulumia realized—she’d never met a stranger who was friendly unless they were a salesperson.
“If I need some, I’ll come to you, Sir Lant.”
“Just don’t go anywhere else, or I’ll cry.”
“Then cry and show me.”
Ino laughed and joined in, but then her expression turned serious again.
“I helped out a lot of nobles in the last operation. The past couple of days, they’ve been sending me invitations. I want your opinion—mainly who’s on bad terms with who, and what taboos there are…”
Lulumia had just started listening, ears perked up, when Lant’s magic automaton at the table pulled her over to a table near the wall.
The girl was about Lulumia’s age, carrying a massive silver shield on her back.
With her were two other girls around fifteen, all warriors, all armed.
“Shh, when the masters are talking about this kind of thing, we’re supposed to stay out of it.”
The girl with the silver shield made a shushing gesture.
The pink-haired girl made Lulumia’s PTSD flare up, and she had to fight hard to keep from backing away, her facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.
“M… Master?”
“Hm? What’s wrong? Don’t you call Ino master?”
The pink-haired girl gave her a look usually reserved for kindergarteners.
“Our master’s really gentle, never hits or scolds us, and even takes good care of us in bed…”
“Hey, FiFi, that’s enough.”
“What? I’m not wrong.”
The pink-haired girl, called FiFi, pouted in protest.
Lulumia was practically petrified, her mouth wide open and motionless.
In bed…
She darted her eyes to FiFi, who looked only ten years old, then across to the two blushing fifteen-year-old girls, and finally to Lant, who was seriously discussing things with Ino, smiling as gently as ever.
This man… he’s a perverted lolicon…
Truly, you can never judge a book by its cover.
There were so many things wrong here, Lulumia didn’t know where to begin.
One person could lay hands on a girl like this, while the other seemed to think nothing of it.
They really were a match made in heaven.
Still, considering she, as the “most human-like perfect automaton,” had those functions was one thing—but even ordinary automatons were made this realistic?
If the otaku of the twenty-first century found out, they’d be complaining about how backward Earth’s tech was.
Whatever, that’s just how medieval Europeans are—prim on the surface, but behind closed doors… nothing to say about it.
Besides, magic automatons were basically silicone dolls; better to use them than real children.
As long as he didn’t take an interest in her, it was fine.
Lulumia consoled herself, quietly opening her panel, and sure enough, found the tag “Lolita Magic Automaton Lover” on Lant.
Ugh! Disgusting!
“Ahem, FiFi’s words are a bit careless. Lulumia, don’t take it to heart.”
The girl with the spear sitting across from Lulumia coughed to ease the tension.
“Let me formally introduce us. We are the magic automatons of Lant Tambour, the fifth son of the Tambour Count family—Yao Guang’s Saint Son. Our job is to protect Lord Lant and take care of his daily needs. The three of us are all high-level combat automatons made by the New Moon Magic Workshop.”
“Lulumia, you were made in the magic workshop directly under the Magic Association, right? I remember your maker was the so-called magic genius, Master Xion. You may only be level 1 now, but I’m sure you’ll surpass us soon.”
“Thank you, I’ll do my best.”
Lulumia replied with a smile.
The pink-haired girl snuggled close, her big, clear eyes full of curiosity.
“You’ve lived with Lady Ino for a while, so you must know her preferences, right? Tell us what Lady Ino does in private. In exchange, I’ll tell you about Lord Lant’s.”
What kind of preference do you mean?
Seeing the pink-haired girl’s cheeks flush, Lulumia felt she already knew what “preference” meant here.
But she was a woman—nothing like that could happen with Ino.
Besides, she prided herself on her chastity. Even as a magic automaton, she had her dignity.
“Lulumia’s skin is so nice—it’s as warm and soft as a real human’s. Your tail looks real too. I can even hear your heartbeat from here. Are you really a magic automaton?”
The pink-haired girl jumped topics, shifting to Lulumia’s body without warning.
Her fingers slid across Lulumia’s arm, making her shiver.
Lulumia had to edge away slightly.
“You girls don’t look any different from humans either.”
Lulumia pinched the pink-haired girl’s cheek, not holding back.
“So soft and springy.”
“Ow, that hurts!”
“We don’t have heartbeats,” the spear-carrying girl said enviously.
“The easiest way to tell a magic automaton from a human is to listen for a heartbeat.”
“Lulumia is called the perfect automaton and a true artificial life form because she has a beating heart. Eating and drinking aren’t just symbolic—they’re necessary for survival, just like a real human. She might even grow over time.”
“Us, we need regular maintenance and mana replenishment. Eating, drinking, crying out in pain when hit, making noises in bed to please the master—all that is imitating humans, not something our bodies do on their own. Strictly speaking, Lulumia doesn’t even count as an automaton anymore… right? I remember that’s what the promo slogan said. So nice, you’re way more advanced than us.”
“I don’t know, but I feel like I’m a person.”
Finally meeting a fellow automaton who could talk, Lulumia couldn’t help feeling curious.
She looked down at the pink-haired girl stroking her hair, whispering, “You smell just like a living person,” in a rather creepy way.
“Can I listen to your heartbeat?”