-135- What do you plan to do?

"Karyusai?"

Rozen turned towards the voice and immediately spotted Karyusai sitting at the doorway.

What was surprising was that Karyusai was alone, without any member of Setsugetsuka present beside her, a rare sight.

"You seem to be in good spirits, little boy."

Karyusai lounged lazily outside the doorway, puffing on her pipe, and smiled at Rozen with a carefree demeanor.

However, Rozen's mood wasn't as light.

"What did you mean by what you just said?"

Rozen asked straightforwardly.

"What do you mean 'I might end up dead'?"

The question only earned Rozen a nonchalant look from Karyusai.

From that look, Rozen saw many things.

It was difficult to put those things into words, but Rozen was sure of one thing.

That was, Karyusai didn't hold any favorable feelings toward the Izanagi clan.

And it was indeed true.

"You think you can find out the whole truth by going to the Izanagi clan?" Karyusai commented indifferently, "As the top-ranking clan standing at the pinnacle of this country, the Izanagi clan is hardly a charitable institution that helps people in distress, right?"

Rozen could understand what Karyusai wanted to say.

"Although I don't know what transpired between the Akabane clan and the Izanagi clan, now that the Akabane clan has been annihilated and Akabane Tenzen is a wanted man, there's no reason for the Izanagi clan to assist you, little boy."

Karyusai voiced a somewhat brutal reality.

But it was the truth.

From the Izanagi clan's attitude towards the Akabane clan in the past, it was clear that no one in that clan held any favorable feelings towards them.

And now, with the Akabane clan wiped out, even if the Izanagi clan wasn't outright gloating, there was no way they would help Rozen unravel his doubts.

In fact, if Rozen were to approach them, he might be met with trouble.

This wasn't an exaggeration.

As an accomplice of the heinous crimes committed by Akabane Tenzen, Rozen had certainly drawn the nation's attention.

Presumably, there were high-ranking officials suspecting Rozen's collusion with Akabane Tenzen or harboring him.

And the Izanagi clan was undoubtedly aligned with the nation.

If Rozen, without any consideration, went to the Izanagi clan, he might be arrested, imprisoned, and even subjected to torture to extract information. None of these outcomes would be surprising.

Moreover...

"Moreover, if the Izanagi clan is privy to secrets that shouldn't be known to others, if they know the truth behind the Akabane clan's annihilation, or if they are somehow involved in such events, wouldn't contacting them about pursuing the truth only result in getting silenced?"

Rozen wasn't oblivious to this line of reasoning.

Hence, Rozen wouldn't rashly approach them.

Rozen's original plan was like this.

"Going alone, concealing your tracks, heading to Mount Tengu, infiltrating the Izanagi clan's stronghold, and secretly collecting information there – is this your intention?"

Karyusai saw through Rozen's thoughts.

She hit the mark.

All that was missing was that Rozen also wanted to approach Domon Hinowa, Kamo Subaru, and Yuge Mutsura, hoping to learn something from these three. Given their positions, even if they weren't privy to many family secrets, they should know more than Rozen, right?

From these three, Rozen could collect some lesser-known information and ultimately discover the truth on his own.

The issue, however...

"You're practically asking for death, little boy," Karyusai's tone turned stern, as if scolding a junior. She continued, "With your abilities, do you really think you can achieve all of this?"

That was the crux of the issue.

Sneaking into the Izanagi clan's stronghold to gather intelligence?

Was that something easily accomplished?

Even with Rozen's current capabilities, infiltrating the Izanagi clan's stronghold and silently gathering secretive information would be impossible.

Five years ago, Rozen and Raishin had managed to navigate the Izanagi clan's stronghold quietly because Rozen had deliberately avoided their significant facilities, not daring to touch the clan's secrets recklessly.

"This time it's different.

This time I must delve into these secrets.

So, if I were to do that, I guess my grave would be piled high with grass before Chaldea succumbs to the end of humanity."

"You can't possibly not understand such a simple question. You're just unwilling to give up so easily."

Karyusai's tone began to soften, as if soothing Rozen, speaking slowly in such a manner.

"No need to be impatient. You can slowly find out about the truth. If you die because of recklessness, then it's all over."

Hearing this, Rozen understood it quite well.

"You're afraid I'll act impulsively, that's why you've been waiting here all along, to prevent me from doing something foolish, right?"

Rozen smiled wryly.

Clearly, Karyusai had already figured out what kind of person Rozen was.

Indeed, Rozen was intelligent, well-informed, and capable. He couldn't possibly be ignorant of such obvious truths.

However, understanding was one thing, and being able to calmly refrain from doing such things was another matter.

Rozen was, after all, still an individual.

Even though he was knowledgeable, Rozen's life experience was quite limited, a point that had been repeatedly emphasized in the past.

Therefore, even if he understood these truths, Rozen might still impulsively do foolish things.

Karyusai understood this, which was why she had waited for Rozen to wake up here, wasn't it?

"After all, you're someone who knowingly offended Japan's top puppet craftsman, and the consequences aren't something to joke about. Yet you dared to challenge, mock, insult me, and call me foolish."

Karyusai spoke these words with a light chuckle.

"Clearly intelligent, yet lacking in cunning, a straightforward little boy like a child. I rather like you."

Leaving behind these words, Karyusai stood up.

"What do you plan to do from now on?"

Karyusai asked the final question.

Rozen contemplated for a moment, then answered.

"Continue training."

Yes.

Continue training.

"If I don't become stronger, I won't even have the qualification to pursue the truth."

If he doesn't become stronger, he won't defeat Akabane Tenzen.

If he doesn't become stronger, he won't contend with Izanagi.

Only by growing stronger can these problems be resolved.

"Very well."

Karyusai nodded in satisfaction.

"Our agreement remains valid."

With that, Karyusai turned and left.

Leaving only Rozen behind, standing quietly in place.

"Become stronger... huh?"

Recalling the battle amid the blaze of the Akabane clan's residence, the figure of Akabane Tenzen with his crimson wings and ten fingers controlling threads, Rozen touched the command seal on the back of his hand.

Soon after, Rozen reached a decision in his heart.