Ten minutes quietly passed by. After waiting for a full two hours, the simulated battle could finally commence. The staff members gathered their focus and began operating the instruments, making final adjustments.
Olga Marie and Lev went to the command room together, observing the Apparitions below through the glass on the front wall of the control room. They looked down from above at the Apparitions preparing to enter the lifeboat-like devices.
There, Romani was conducting the final physical examinations on the Apparitions. However, the process wasn't going smoothly. It seemed that one of the Apparitions had some objections to Romani's examination and was arguing with him.
As for Rozen, he had long been standing next to one of the lifeboats.
Notably, Mash was also standing next to one of the lifeboats.
Currently, there were a total of nine Apparitions gathered in Chaldea. Mash was the 9th Apparition.
Naturally, Mash also had to participate in the simulated battle.
At this moment, the kind and innocent girl looked in Romani's direction. "Is the doctor alright?" Mash asked, sounding somewhat concerned.
On the other hand, Rozen appeared indifferent. "Who said my big brother looks like someone easy to push around? Those young masters and ladies won't miss the chance to act spoiled."
Rozen hadn't really bothered to investigate the backgrounds of the other seven Apparitions. Not because he couldn't find out, but simply because he wasn't interested. However, he had heard that most of them came from prestigious families like Olga Marie or had notable backgrounds.
In that case, facing someone like Romani, who seemed a bit weak, it wouldn't be surprising if they made any unreasonable demands.
"It was the same in the previous simulated battles, right? Just let him handle it," Rozen remarked.
Rozen expressed this nonchalantly, pretending it didn't concern him.
However, despite his words, Rozen had been secretly keeping an eye on the situation over there.
Mash noticed this and commented with a slightly relaxed expression, "Even though you act like you don't care, you're actually quite concerned about Dr. Roman. You're not very candid."
Rozen acted as if he hadn't heard the comment, turning away to inspect the lifeboats next to him.
These lifeboats, known as "Crates," were devices designed to assist Apparitions during spirit particle transfers. With the help of the Crates, Apparitions could better endure the loss of their existence, reducing the risks involved. Therefore, each Apparition in Chaldea was equipped with a dedicated Crate, including Rozen.
(Well, it's not a real spirit particle transfer right now.)
Currently, it was just a simulated experiment, not a genuine spirit particle transfer. The Apparitions only needed to enter the electronic space constructed by Chaldea and engage in the simulated battle.
(If it's just a simulated battle, I don't really need to use the Crate.)
Rozen thought idly while touching the device in front of him. If it were a real spirit particle transfer, the assistance of the Crate would be essential to significantly reduce the risk. However, for a simulated battle, it might not be necessary to use the Crate, right?
(Although it might still put some strain on the brain if not adapted.)
This time, Rozen was thinking about something unrelated to him.
Indeed, this matter had nothing to do with Rozen.
As Lev had mentioned before, Rozen had the highest adaptability to spirit particle transfers in all of Chaldea. Even during his first simulated battle, he didn't experience any burden on his brain. In fact, Rozen could perform a genuine spirit particle transfer successfully without relying on the Crate.
Due to this, despite his lazy personality, Olga Marie didn't exclude Rozen from the list of participants for the battle and made everyone in Chaldea wait for him for a full two hours.
(Although I really don't want to be here...)
Rozen thought to himself.
Shortly after, Romani came over to conduct a final check on Rozen and Mash's physical condition.
Looking at Romani's troubled expression, Rozen couldn't help but say with a hint of glee, "Seems like you're having a tough time dealing with them, big bro."
Hearing this, Romani sighed, saying, "Young people nowadays have no patience. They don't even want to cooperate a little, making my job much harder. I'll have to ask the Director for a raise next time."
"Forget it," Rozen rolled his eyes and bluntly exposed him, "You and the Director are like a cat and mouse, and no mouse wants to get close to a cat."
"Then you're the other cat, a black cat constantly raising its fur to intimidate the white cat." Romani puzzledly said, "Encountering you two cats, I, as the mouse, am really unlucky."
Romani then picked up the instruments and began checking Mash's condition.
"Thank you, Doctor."
Mash allowed the instruments to scan her body while showing her gratitude with a bow.
"At least Mash is the most polite and understanding towards me."
Finally, Romani revealed a bright smile after checking Mash and proceeded to examine Rozen.
During the process, while Romani focused on the readings displayed by the instruments, Rozen stood with his hands behind his head, and they had an unheard conversation.
"This time, you should take it seriously, right?"
"...I've always been serious."
"No one in Chaldea believes that."
"Then stop asking when you already know."
"I want to motivate you."
"...I'll do my best."
"You rascal..."
Their eyes never met during this conversation, and Romani let out an unknown sigh before closing the instruments.
"All right, the data for both of you looks fine. You can enter the Crates now."
After saying this, Romani glanced at Rozen and then went to report to Olga Marie in the command room.
"Good luck, senpai."
With those words, Mash entered her own Crate.
"Same to you."
Rozen waved back and entered his own Crate, lying down on the soft cushion-like interior.
A little later...
"Initiate simulated battle experience."
Inside the Crate, a mechanical voice began to sound.
"Identity verification in progress."
"Fingerprint verification—completed."
"Voiceprint verification—completed."
"Genetic factor verification—completed."
"Magic circuit detection—completed."
"Confirmed as Chaldea's No. 1 Apparition, matching the registered name."
"Identity confirmed."
"Spirit particle transfer, initiate."
As the voice fell, Rozen's consciousness seemed to be sucked away, and his vision was engulfed in a dazzling light as he immersed into the imaginary world.