After leaving the chapel, Luo Zhen and the others once again entered the underground space beneath the cliff that Irori had frozen earlier, preventing the monsters outside from entering. Standing on the ice field radiating cold air, they fell into an unusual silence for a while.
Leaving Luo Zhen aside, Irori, Yaya, and Koko kept thinking about the giant monster named Guinness inside the chapel. For a long time, they simply could not believe that such a thing existed beneath the academy.
What exactly was that?
Was it the Divine Machine Doll developed by the academy?
But Luo Zhen had clearly said that it was an unfinished product.
Could it be that the Divine Machine Doll was still under research and had not yet fully taken shape?
What would it take to research something like that and bring it into existence?
As Automaton Dolls, Irori, Yaya, and Koko could not possibly ignore this matter, and the weight in their hearts was obvious.
Looking at the group of girls, whose spirits had fallen somewhat, Luo Zhen gave a wry smile before speaking.
"Enough. Don't overthink it. Since it has already appeared, just let things take their natural course."
Luo Zhen offered them a few words of advice.
The girls all looked toward Luo Zhen, only to be drawn at once to the dark-blue, gemstone-like stone in his hand.
"What is this stone, Luo Zhen?"
Koko asked deliberately in a bright voice, as though she wanted to change the subject—or perhaps simply lighten the mood.
"This?" Luo Zhen raised the stone in his hand and smiled. "Didn't I just say? It's called the 'Kaname Ishi'!"
"'Kaname Ishi'..."
Yaya murmured.
"Could it be the stake of Yatsukamizuomitsunomikoto?"
Irori asked as though she had suddenly remembered something.
The Yatsukamizuomitsunomikoto she mentioned was a gigantic