In the underground Magecraft workshop beneath Rhodes's manor—
Before him lay a cluttered yet carefully ordered workbench. And on that workbench, a girl's naked form.
Pale-gold hair spilled across the surface, framing a slender, youthful body brimming with vitality—and an aura of power that couldn't be ignored.
Yes. Though her porcelain skin showed not a hint of muscle, the girl radiated a strange, dissonant strength. Even the most carefree soul would flinch at first sight, cowed by that overwhelming presence.
It was resentment. The grudge of sunken ships in the Solomons, of sailors who perished in the Pacific. Their shared hatred had condensed into an undeniable force.
This girl—this Yuudachi—wasn't powered merely by the "fame correction" of her legend, but by something far more potent: battle-hardened will. The determination of the crew who once fought aboard the destroyer Yuudachi had become strength itself, the fuel that now drove this Golem.
"Imperfection may have its beauty… but me, I prefer perfection."
Rhodes murmured, running his fingers across Yuudachi's smooth skin, awed by the latent strength thrumming beneath her fragile frame.
"This kind of power… paired with the iron bones of a Golem, she could probably tear Kenneth apart with her bare hands. Not quite on par with a Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm, but still terrifyingly strong."
As he spoke, he channeled mana into her, feeling out the tender consciousness born of that battle will, fine-tuning Yuudachi's personality.
Though canon Yuudachi from Kantai Collection was a scrappy little wild dog, Rhodes preferred her as a loyal hound.
With delicate adjustments, he refined her temperament and locked in that classic verbal tic, syncing it to the powerful mana reactor at her core as her resilient, flawless body stirred to life.
She was a natural-born warrior. Outfitted with specialized ship equipment, she'd be a force to reckon with in war. And once Van-Fem finished refurbishing the original destroyer Yuudachi into a true aerial warship, she'd become a floating nightmare, delivering devastation from above.
With that thought, Rhodes gently pulled back his mana, letting her awaken at her own pace, and began calibrating the massive weapon systems of her armament.
But just then, RyuZU approached silently from behind, speaking in her usual cool, even tone.
"Master, a messenger from Mr. Van-Fem has arrived. He wishes to discuss the refit of the destroyer Yuudachi."
"Oh?" Rhodes blinked, frowning slightly, but still left the workshop.
Yuudachi was already activated. It would take minutes yet before she truly woke. Plenty of time to deal with some meddling envoy.
"Phew…" Watching her master stride away, RyuZU let out a quiet sigh. Clearly, deceiving him for the first time weighed on her heavily.
"Marianne, I'm entrusting you with following the master." Her voice was soft, yet cold and resolute.
And within the workshop, a shadow melted into nothingness, off in pursuit of Rhodes.
"Now, the important part begins…" A mocking smile played across RyuZU's lips. She tightened her grip on the flow of time within the workshop, savoring the sight of Yuudachi's sleeping face as she began to stir.
"Mm… what a comfy nap that was, Poi…"
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"Damn it, where the hell's Van-Fem's messenger?" Rhodes grumbled as he returned to the workshop. He saw Yuudachi's eyes slowly opening and rushed forward, eager to be the first "human" she saw.
"Activation confirmed… initiating self-check… emotional system linkage error…"
The words were cold, mechanical. From her lips came the flat tones of a machine, devoid of the spark of an Automaton's selfhood.
"What the—?" Shock painted Rhodes's face. He touched her flawless skin, entranced by its perfection even as his fingers roamed.
Yet despite enduring his groping hands, Yuudachi sat stiffly, motionless, reacting only with the slightest tremor when he touched particularly sensitive places.
"Her emotional system's malfunctioning? Did she absorb too much resentment from the Solomon battle…?" Rhodes muttered, analyzing carefully—without noticing the disgust flickering in Yuudachi's eyes.
"Forget it. Emotions can be nurtured later. What matters most is the verbal tic. The tic! C'mon, give me one 'Poi'!" He shook her pale shoulders insistently. But Yuudachi remained blank and lifeless.
Suspicion darkened Rhodes's gaze. He'd hard-coded her verbal tic into her very core. She should have had to say it, even as a soulless weapon. That was the point.
Yet with a sigh, he resigned himself.
"What a waste. If that's the case, then she's only good as a war machine."
"Oh? And where does the master plan to use her?" RyuZU quipped sharply at his side. "Perhaps in bed? Doing unspeakable things while she goes 'Poi! Poi! Poi!' over and over? How very depraved."
"Tch… I'm no masochist. Your venom doesn't excite me." Rhodes shrugged. "I only wanted Yuudachi to be perfect. I don't produce trash Automata. Never."
"…I see." RyuZU fell silent, her eyes lowered at his words.
Then Rhodes left the workshop with a jaunty step, leaving Yuudachi and RyuZU alone together.
"Phew…" Yuudachi exhaled sharply. The rigid mask fell away, her face relaxing at last. "So scary, so scary! You were right—master really is a pervert! Poi!"
"You saved me, RyuZU-nee. Otherwise, Yuudachi would've been… been…"
"No, it's fine…" RyuZU forced a smile, though faint tears glimmered in her eyes.
◇◇◇
PS: RyuZU was only being mischievous. She didn't do anything too cruel… probably. And technically, she didn't even lie to Yuudachi. Rhodes really is both a doll fanatic and a lecher.