"No, I shouldn't say recently. More accurately, you've changed significantly compared to before after that trip you took."
Touko reconsidered her phrasing slightly.
The current Roy had undergone extraordinary changes compared to his past self.
Touko had practically watched Roy grow up step by step, from when he first arrived in Fuyuki City to becoming the pioneer chosen by the Root. She'd witnessed his entire journey firsthand, with every change over the years forming a clear, straight line in her mind.
"Significant changes, really?"
Roy lowered his head in contemplation.
Had he really changed that much?
Of course he'd changed compared to before - not just since his time with Uemon Ji, but even his mindset when he first arrived in Fuyuki was completely different from now. Shortly after that, he'd split his personality into two distinct aspects.
But as for whether his trip to Asterisk City's world had caused any particular changes in his mentality, he honestly hadn't noticed anything.
"Have I really changed? Enough for you to notice so quickly?"
"How long do you think I've been with you?"
Seeing Roy's surprised reaction, Touko chuckled dismissively.
"You can't hide your changes from me. Specifically, you've become noticeably more cheerful. Before, even when you smiled, it only made me feel cold inside."
The Roy of the past, particularly during his preparations for the Holy Grail War, had already split his personality. But even the outwardly friendly side was just an act, extremely superficial. His friendliness then was like a mirage - intangible and impossible to grasp.
During that period, Roy would smile, but it was merely a magecraft technique to hypnotize others. Touko, who deeply understood his true nature, could only see the ferocity hidden in his heart through those smiles, not an ounce of warmth.
But the current Roy was different.
His smiles now carried none of that previous chill, instead radiating genuine cheerfulness.
His current friendly disposition seemed to emanate authentic warmth from the heart, no longer the hollow pretense it once was.
"Is that so... Maybe it's the change in environment. After all, that world has no magi."
Hearing Touko's explanation, Roy realized he might have indeed changed considerably.
He'd clearly been much more relaxed in Asterisk City than here.
Though he didn't find it particularly remarkable, attributing it to environmental influences. After all, he fundamentally despised magi as creatures. In a place without them, it was naturally easier to dispel the gloom in his heart.
"Perhaps."
Touko also thought this explanation might be correct.
After some thought, she concluded this was ultimately a good thing.
Roy had never fit into the world of magecraft to begin with - their relationship could even be described as parallel lines. That he could gradually shake off past influences, not remain trapped by history but move toward the future, was something Touko was happy to see.
After all, being unable to free oneself from past entanglements was precisely where Touko herself felt most powerless.
"Speaking of which, Touko, there's actually something I wanted to ask you too."
Roy gently stroked the flawless white bare back in his arms, a hint of pensiveness surfacing in his eyes.
"When I was in that world, someone once said I relied too much on mannerisms that split my personality. They suggested I discard my glasses and reintegrate the two sides of my character..."
He laid out Fan Xinglou's admonitions to him completely for Touko's consideration.
"That world has its share of wise people too. That person was right."
The moment Roy finished speaking, Touko nodded decisively.
"I've wanted to tell you this before, but back then the darkness in your heart was too heavy. Without using this method to suppress it, who knows what you might have done. That's why I never pointed it out."
As a pioneer of this technique, Touko had long noticed Roy's past dependence on personality fragmentation.
She was utilizing this magecraft, while Roy was depending on it.
Their approaches were fundamentally different.
Fan Xinglou's assessment was completely accurate.
"And now?"
"Now it should be safe to tell you... Though reintegrating your personality carries some risk, it's not impossible."
Touko offered this cautious reply after careful consideration.
All mental magecraft, regardless of school or level, carries varying degrees of risk. There's no such thing as risk-free mental magecraft—even hypnosis could potentially turn someone into an idiot, though the probability is lower.
But Touko felt the current Roy was no longer the same person. Attempting reintegration wasn't out of the question.
Previously, the ratio of good to evil in his heart was 0.1:9.9—forced integration then would have been disastrous. But now that he'd changed considerably, with the ratio having improved significantly, the risks had naturally decreased. Theoretically, the optimal time for integration is when both aspects achieve perfect balance.
After brief contemplation, Touko pressed Roy with a serious expression.
"The key to integrating different personalities lies in finding the catalyst—have you sensed such a catalyst?"
"That's precisely where I'm stuck. I feel like I possess this catalyst, but don't know what it is..."
Roy gave a helpless bitter smile. He could sense he had the catalyst—if only he could identify what it was, he was certain he could achieve integration. The problem was he didn't yet know what it was.
"So it's not absent, just undiscovered?"
Touko's eyebrows lifted slightly as her expression softened rapidly.
"In that case, there's no problem. Listen—it's best you don't actively search for it either. Maintaining the status quo is optimal for now. Isn't there that saying? 'Force a flower to bloom and it won't flourish, but plant a willow casually and it will grow.' Since you already possess the catalyst, you'll undoubtedly find it in time. Just wait patiently for that moment."
"In the worldview of magecraft, those who obsess too easily are most prone to corruption!"
Given Roy's existing risk of corruption, extreme caution was warranted here.
"That advice might as well be no advice at all..."
Roy's mouth twitched slightly.
He'd sought Touko's counsel precisely because she was an expert in this field, only to receive the suggestion that he should simply wait.
"Oh? Do you have a better approach?"
"Never mind."
"Going to sleep, I'm exhausted tonight."
Touko yawned, having regained some of her strength, and slipped out of Roy's arms. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
Roy lay beside her, but his mind was still echoing with Touko's earlier words.
What lingered in his thoughts wasn't the part about merging personalities later, but the part where she mentioned how much he had changed.
"Have I really changed that much…?"
Roy stared blankly at the ceiling, clearly lost in thought.
"Was it because that world had no magi? Or was it something else…?"