"Just let the academy arrest me."
When such a sentence came out of Io's mouth, the audience was silent.
Even Rozen turned his head and looked at Io. His eyes flickered slightly.
"Have you made up your mind?"
Rozen neither objected nor agreed, he just asked calmly.
This caused a trace of sadness to appear on Io's pale face.
"This is my fault to begin with."
Io spoke slowly, as if he didn't notice his tears welling up again.
"I like automatons very much, very much."
Rozen could see that even without Io's specific explanation.
Because if Io didn't like automatons, he wouldn't have pursued the Setsugatsuka series, let alone be so persistent.
Perhaps it was because Setsuki was created by Karyuusai, and Karyuusai was Io's idol. But from Io's sparkling eyes when he talked about automatons, it could be seen that the girl really liked automatons.
Io was especially fond of the automatons he made. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so happy and excited when he saw Ivan in the square in front of the station. He would have been so shocked and uneasy when he found out that something was wrong with Ivan.
"You must be laughing at me, right?" Io said self-deprecatingly, "I clearly said that I like automatons, but I handed over the daughter I made. Even if I didn't know it was His Highness's plot, I still gave Ivan to His Highness as a usable tool and weapon for my own purpose. That's why I'm suffering now."
This matter must have been weighing on Io's heart for a long time, right?
After all, before Edmond revealed his ambition, Io had already handed Ivan over. He must be blaming himself and feeling sad for it every day.
But …
"I really want to stop the war from breaking out."
Io finally revealed his true feelings.
"Because I really don't want to see the automatons I made on the battlefield, and I don't want to see children killing people."
Hearing this, everyone present fell silent.
They were really silent.
There was nothing they could do about it.
The reason why automatons existed in the world was that they were a medium to use magic in place of themselves.
They were weapons.
They were props.
Since it was a weapon, a tool, it was inevitable that it would be used in battle.
Which of the puppets with combat abilities had not had blood on their hands?
Which of those automatons with superior performance hadn't lost a life or two?
Even the kind-hearted puppeteers didn't let their puppets kill people, but they still let their puppets kill puppets. They had lost their lives as automatons.
In this era, one of the reasons for the existence of puppeteers was to go to the battlefield and serve the country.
Automatons had become an irreplaceable weapon on the battlefield.
Which country didn't have a mechanized army?
Which war didn't have automatons?
As a puppeteer, Io loved the children he created from the bottom of his heart. How could he bear to use them as weapons to kill people on the battlefield?
"I want to create a world where those kids don't have to kill anymore."
Io's tears overflowed from his eyes.
"So, even if it's really painful, I still hope that Ivan can replace me and stop the war from happening, so that the people will no longer shed blood and tears."
If Absolute Royalty was equipped with Infinite Chain Reaction, it was not impossible to do that.
As long as Ivan stood on the battlefield and sang, all the automatons would listen to his command and no longer kill people.
As long as Ivan's ability could shock the world, no one could use magic to fight against him.
Making Ivan a restraining force in the war was not just a pipe dream without any basis.
But Io obviously didn't realize that the so-called power was a double-edged sword. If used well, it could deter others, but if used poorly, it could hurt others and hurt oneself.
With such an ability that transcended centuries, it was impossible for it not to be targeted.
Edmond was just the first to discover it and make use of it.
"Now, Yvonne's emotions have been destroyed. She no longer recognizes me and has become a lethal weapon. Not only does she threaten the academy, she also threatens the country. She has even turned those innocent automatons into your tools."
Io bit his lip.
"It's all my fault. It's all my fault."
Therefore, Io chose to atone for his sins.
"Arrest me."
That was Io's only thought now.
"Otherwise, I'm sorry to everyone."
Io could only do that.
Listening to Io's words, all the professors, students, guards, and all kinds of people present were speechless.
"Thank you very much for your understanding, Professor Eriard."
The dean also nodded, sighed, and was ready to instruct the guards to arrest Io again.
But before that …
"I have to make it clear to you first."
Rozen suddenly said to Io.
"If you really think being arrested is atonement, then I will be the first to not forgive you."
The sudden words stunned everyone present, and Io was completely dumbfounded.
Under such circumstances, Rozen spoke as if there was no one else around.
"Because of your Absolute Royalty, my automatons' hearts were almost tampered with, and I've been scared for a long time. You don't want to compensate me, but you actually want to hide in prison. Do you think you can get forgiveness just like that?"
Such words made Io speechless.
On the contrary, Ye Ye, Irori, and Komurasaki looked at each other and laughed.
That's what Rozen said.
"By the same logic, those who lost their automatons didn't get any compensation either. They could only lose important things, and they didn't know when these automatons would attack them, causing such a thing to happen. It's fine if you don't help them solve it, but you still want to escape. Do you really think you can atone for your crimes by being executed?"
That was a more cruel fact than being betrayed.
"The murderer was arrested, but the people he killed will never come back."
"The robber was arrested, but the money he robbed may have already been spent."
"You think you have atoned for your sins, but for those victims, it doesn't mean anything at all."
"Usually, at this time, they can only choose to accept the loss, persecution, and pain, and then watch you go to prison."
"So, don't think you can easily get forgiveness."
Rozen looked directly at Io and said that in front of him.
"If you really want to atone for your sins, then go snatch Ivan back, repair her feelings, apologize to her, and then return all the automatons that went out of control to their owners to make up for all the victims' losses."
"That is the real atonement."
Rozen's words pierced Io's heart.
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