It seemed the decision to erect this orphanage was made shortly after I furtively left Dungeon Master 08's side. I was not aware of anything regarding this orphanage. However, considering the position I held, I should've at least heard of it as a project if the guild was to get itself involved, and yet I didn't. With the involvement of the two other parties, I couldn't help but wonder what the true purpose of this place was — what kind of "freak" this orphanage was designed for. Dungeon Master 07 voiced it as a place where I would be thoroughly observed to figure out what's wrong with me, but this place was built far before they became aware of my situation. So obviously, it was initially created with another goal in mind, one that I highly doubted, especially with the involvement of the Maiden Ascetic, Theta's devout believers, just for observation.

But even if it were, there remained the question of what exactly they wanted to observe. As I pondered that, my thoughts pivoted to the person we were waiting for — the first "resident" of the orphanage. And as I thought of her, I couldn't help but wonder. In fact, from the moment Dungeon Master 07 made mention of her existence and expressed his desire to have her meet me, I wondered why it was the case—why he was so keen on me meeting her. I've already more or less guessed that it was because that girl was special, most likely the product of "her" experiments. However, knowing full well of "her" train of thought, I could confidently infer that while she was special, she was most likely not a newly appointed Dungeon Master—which would be the most probable reason for him to want me to meet that girl—nor was she special enough to be considered by "her" to be a good product.

If she was, I doubt she would be left here—she would most likely be kept by Theta's side for her to observe and experiment on. There was no logical reason for allowing a perfect product out there without having it be used by a Dungeon Master. So the only reason I could come up with for that girl's presence in this orphanage was that she was special, but in a sense where she was considered by Theta as a byproduct—one that is not worth to be kept in her personal facilities and safe enough for the world to behold. That was the only explanation I could come up with.

As the knock reverberated on the door, announcing the return of the middle-aged ascetic with the child, Dungeon Master 07 gave them permission to enter the room. As the door opened, I saw the middle-aged ascetic, and as I lowered my gaze from her eyes to the small figure at her side, I, much like an oracle, received confirmation of my theories.

Much like how I was absolutely confident I would be able to recognize any of Theta's Maiden ascetics in a crowd of hundreds, I was confident I would be able to tell if a person was born in one of Theta's facilities. There was just something different about them—there was just that smell to them. But as confirmed by the fact that she's never been caught for it, this was not something normal people could notice, only I, who was born and raised for most of my present incarnation in such facilities, could detect it.

________________________

Name: Tina

Level: ???

Race: Verdenkind

________________________

Right now, that little girl timidly holding onto the middle-aged ascetic's uniform, no older than “him” and for not-at-all mysterious reasons very intently staring at me, wafted off such a smell. She was one of them. I was certain of it. If perhaps anything, there was something that made her a little different than the usual "subjects" of Theta, which made her stand out. As to what it was, I couldn't really tell.

"Lord Schwarz, this is Celestina," the middle-aged ascetic said before a nudge on the little girl's back made her take a few steps toward Dungeon Master 07.

However, as she did, she instinctively retracted a couple of steps to turn around, only to lock gaze with the ascetic who gently but firmly motioned for her to turn back. Not without reservations, she turned, but took no further steps, and curtsied—an act which didn't exactly fit well considering her current uniform. She was dressed in a two-piece sailor uniform: autumn gray shorts and a white shirt with autumn gray stripes, with a The Wöhppr Faith emblem— a moon sigil on the chest. As soon as she was done, she promptly retreated behind the ascetic, leaving Dungeon Master 07 sitting there on his couch with an "is that all?" stare.

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"I apologize, Lord Schwarz," the ascetic stepped forward to explain, "She is a little shy."

‘Well, for someone shy, she sure does stare a lot,’ I couldn't help but think to myself without voicing it out.

Her gaze swept back and forth between Dungeon Master 07 and me. When looking at Dungeon Master 07, she displayed something that I surmised to be unease, which I guess, considering what we Dungeon Masters all are, is a well-manifested intuition. When she looked at me, there was, like with Dungeon Master 07, unease, however, there was also something I've seen “him” display multiple times over: curiosity.

"I see, I guess that's normal for a child her age," Dungeon Master 07 said with a chuckle, before adding, "I've been around one very unique as of late, so much that I must have forgotten what's normal and what's not," he said without casting a glance at me, but nonetheless, I could tell he was talking about me. He stood up and said, "But yes, that is indeed how a child is normally to react to someone he’s not familiar with," before turning in my direction, saying, "Now then, little one, would you do us the pleasure of introducing yourself, normally," not missing to make an emphasis on the last word of his sentence.

For a moment, I remained there, confused as to what he meant by "normally." At first, I assumed it meant that he expected me, in my current appearance, to behave like a normal child would. However, even when I assumed that, I couldn't think of a reason why he would need to emphasize it. I wasn't that stupid for it to need to be mentioned. But then, another guess formed in my mind, one that could explain the curious glance he cast on my back on the few steps back he took.

I wasn't yet able to figure out what possible reason there could be for him to expect that from me — no, from us. Perhaps it was to test us out, to figure out if this place was a good fit for us? That's a possibility, but the fact that the decision of us being relocated here seemed permanent made that possibility equally unlikely. Perhaps it was for me to once again display my control over "his" body.

Back then, upon being brought to Dungeon Master 07 by Dungeon Master 02, amidst the explanation I was expected to provide, aside from the very obvious one such as how I did "it," I was asked questions over the current level of control I have over this body, more precisely, how I'm sharing it with "him," including questions like, "Is 'he' aware of what's going on when I am in control?" to which there was more answer than a simple yes or no.

From the level of control I currently have, when in control, I was able to suppress "him" to a, if I were to describe it, slumber-like state — a state where “he” wouldn't be able to witness anything of what I'm doing with his body. If I wanted to, I would be able to, but so far with everything that happened, I made sure to suppress him to that extreme extent. I wished it didn't have to come to such extremes, but considering "his" reactions to Dungeon Master 02 and Dungeon Master 20, it was for the best.

Now that I think about it, I suppose in hindsight, it makes it look as though I held complete control. However, and in spite of the fact that I flaunted it as though it were the case, I knew very well that I only held half of it. If "he" were to want it, or if he were put in the correct circumstances to want it, he could do to me what I'm currently doing to him, making him then the one in control.

Could it be that Dungeon Master 07 realized that and wanted to put it to the test? Is it that? Is it really that? Or am I overthinking? As my mind raced at a speed which I felt was somewhat slower than what it used to be, I realized as I casted my gaze back and met that of Dungeon Master 07, who stood there expectantly, that whether it was that or not, there was currently one thing he was expecting of "us."

Allowing myself to be submerged, with an ease that I couldn't help but think, especially in front of Dungeon Master 07, to be self-incriminating, I surrendered control back to him. Being handed control back of his body, unlike how I do when I am in control, he did not suppress me to a slumber-like state like I did to him, which allowed me to witness his reaction to being given back control. To several extents, it felt as though he was unaware of my presence by his side, which I guess is fine, as that's how it should've been in the first place. He doesn't have to be aware of it; this is for the best.

His first reaction was akin to being woken up from slumber. He rubbed his eyes, then surveyed the room with a confused expression. However, amidst that confusion, there was someone he was seeking, that much I could tell. At that moment, I was a little nervous he might turn and notice Dungeon Master 07. "He" was not given any particular reason to fear Dungeon Master 07 yet, however, waking up in the carriage, he'd seen him sitting beside Dungeon Master 02, and before, seen him in Dungeon Master 00's dungeon, so there was a chance he would display the same reaction as back then. However, it was with relief that I saw that he didn't turn around. Instead, his gaze was fixed ahead, stuck on the little silhouette peeking intensely from behind the old ascetic.

"Oi. Weren't you looking for me? Did you forget about it? You've not found me yet," I couldn't help but bark internally. But as I observed the scene, I was simply relieved by his rather calm reaction — at least calm compared to the ones he displayed these past few days. I can blame Dungeon Master 02 and that albino mongrel for that. So really, I was relieved, until Dungeon Master 07, who'd been observing in the silence the two children stared at each other, suddenly stepped forward, reaching onto "his" shoulder, saying, "Come on, our little friend has already introduced herself already, hasn't she? It should be your turn now."

As he said those words, not wanting him to react badly to Dungeon Master 07 and show how little control I had over the body, I had it that "he" did not turn around to see who the hand reaching onto his shoulder belonged to and who the voice belonged to. He stared stiffly at the little girl, and as he did, wanting him to introduce himself as Dungeon Master 07 expected him to, I, who decided that now was not the time to reveal myself to him as that would only confuse him — after all, the one he called "Maa" was a woman, not a parasite sharing his body — partially took control to utter the name I have chosen for him. "Aiden."