Shouldn't You Be More Serious by Now?

Shouldn't You Be More Serious by Now?

Ten minutes passed quietly.

After waiting a full two hours, the Simulated Battle could finally begin. The staff finally gathered their focus, operating the instruments and making the final adjustments.

Olga Marie and Leff headed to the Command Room together, joining the staff as they looked down through the glass wall at the front of the Control Room at the Adaptable Ones below, who were preparing to enter the lifeboat-like devices.

Roman was conducting their final physical examinations.

However, the work was not going very smoothly.

Among the Adaptable Ones, someone seemed to have objections to Roman's examination and was arguing with him.

As for Luo Zhen, he had long since taken up a position beside one of the Coffins.

Notably, Mashu was standing beside a Coffin as well.

At present, there were nine Adaptable Ones gathered at Chaldea.

Mashu was the ninth Adaptable One.

Naturally, Mashu had to participate in the Simulated Battle as well.

At that moment, the kind and innocent girl looked toward Roman.

"Is Doctor Roman all right?"

Mashu spoke with some concern.

Luo Zhen, on the other hand, looked completely unconcerned.

"Who told him to look so easy to bully? Those young masters and young ladies obviously wouldn't miss a chance to throw a tantrum, would they?"

Luo Zhen had not really looked into the backgrounds of those seven Adaptable Ones.

It was not because he had no way of finding out. He simply was not interested.

Still, Luo Zhen had heard that most of the seven Adaptable Ones came from notable backgrounds. They were either born into prestigious families like Olga Marie or were important figures in their own right.

In that case, it was hardly strange for them to make unreasonable demands of Roman, who looked like such a pushover.

"The previous Simulated Battles were like this too, right? Just let him handle it."

Luo Zhen expressed himself as though it had nothing to do with him.

Unfortunately, despite what he said, Luo Zhen had been watching the situation over there the entire time.

Mashu noticed this and, with a slightly relaxed expression, said something.

"Senpai is clearly worried about Doctor Roman too. You're really not honest with yourself."

Luo Zhen pretended not to hear her. He turned around and examined the Coffin beside him.

This was a device designed to assist Adaptable Ones with Spiritron Transfer, known among Chaldea's staff as a "Coffin."

With the assistance of a Coffin, Adaptable Ones could better endure the loss of their existential meaning during Spiritron Transfer, greatly reducing the risks. Thus, every Adaptable One in Chaldea had been assigned a personal Coffin, and Luo Zhen was no exception.

Well, this isn't a real Spiritron Transfer yet, though.

This was only a simulated test. No real Spiritron Transfer would be carried out; the Adaptable Ones merely needed to enter the electronic space constructed by Chaldea and conduct a Simulated Battle there.

If it's only a Simulated Battle, there should be no need to use a Coffin at all.

Luo Zhen ran a hand over the cabin before him, thinking idly.

If this had been a real Spiritron Transfer, the Coffin's assistance would have been necessary and could greatly reduce the risks. But for something on the level of a Simulated Battle, there was no need to use a Coffin, was there?

Though if you aren't used to it, it can still put quite a burden on the brain.

This time, Luo Zhen was truly thinking about something that had nothing to do with him.

It really had nothing to do with Luo Zhen.

Just as Leff had said before, Luo Zhen had the highest Spiritron Transfer aptitude in all of Chaldea. At present, no one possessed a higher aptitude than he did.

Because of this, Luo Zhen had not experienced any strain on his brain even during his first Simulated Battle. Even with a genuine Spiritron Transfer, he could succeed without relying on a Coffin.

That was why, despite his lazy personality, Olga Marie had not removed him from the combat roster and had made everyone in Chaldea wait a full two hours for him.

Even though I didn't want to come at all...

Luo Zhen thought to himself.

Not long afterward, Roman came over to examine Luo Zhen and Mashu.

Seeing Roman's troubled expression, Luo Zhen said with no small amount of schadenfreude, "Looks like they gave you a hard time, big bro."

Hearing that, Roman sighed even more deeply. "Young people these days have no patience. They won't even cooperate a little, and they made things so difficult for me. Next time, I definitely need to ask the Director for a raise."

"Give it up." Luo Zhen rolled his eyes and mercilessly exposed him. "You and the Director are like a mouse and a cat. No mouse would ever want to get close to a cat."

"Then you're another cat—a black cat that raises its fur every day and trades threats with the white cat." Roman said in exasperation, "Running into you two cats, this mouse is really unlucky."

As he spoke, Roman picked up an instrument and began examining Mashu.

"Thank you, Doctor."

Mashu allowed the instrument's light to scan her body and bowed to Roman.

"Mashu is still the most polite. You even know how to sympathize with me."

Roman finally showed a cheerful smile. After finishing Mashu's examination, he began checking Luo Zhen.

While Roman focused on the readings displayed on the instrument and Luo Zhen rested his hands behind his head, they had a quiet exchange that no one else heard.

"You'll be serious this time, right?"

"...I've always been serious."

"No one in all of Chaldea believes that."

"Then don't ask when you already know the answer."

"I want you to get motivated."

"...I'll do my best."

"You brat..."

They held that exchange without meeting each other's eyes. Roman let out an unheard sigh, then switched off the instrument.

"All right. Both of your physical readings are normal. You may enter the Coffins."

With that, Roman glanced at Luo Zhen before leaving for the Command Room to report to Olga Marie.

"Good luck, Senpai."

Leaving those words behind, Mashu entered her Coffin.

"You too."

Luo Zhen waved his hand and entered his Coffin as well, lying down inside the soft cabin, which was as comfortable as a mattress.

A moment later...

"Commencing Simulated Battle experience."

A mechanical voice began to sound within the cabin.

"Beginning identity verification."

"Fingerprint authentication—complete."

"Voiceprint authentication—complete."

"Genetic factor authentication—complete."

"Magic Circuit examination—complete."

"Match confirmed with registered name. Identified as Chaldea's No. 1 Adaptable One."

"Identity confirmed."

"Spiritron Dive, begin."

As soon as the words fell, Luo Zhen's consciousness seemed to be sucked away. His vision flashed with dazzling light as he dived into the Virtual World.

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