《I Decided to Not Compete and Quietly Create Dolls Instead》 CH 1 Hora na: Chapter 1 I regained my past life memories when I was being taught sewing by my nanny. [Little miss, whats wrong?] (TL: its the typical ojou-sama here.) She asked with a worried voice, but I wasnt able to answer her. Thats not important. My head became a mess because of the outburst of memory like a dam bursting out. The me until now and the me from my past life is getting mixed up. Even though it was the consciousness of two different life in two different world, they did not repel each other. Even for me, it was both surprisingly smooth and familiar. It even feels like it was like that since the start. .The previous me was the third child among four siblings. Perhaps because all of my siblings are boys, I was far from the girls girl personality. I had males friends but I never had a boyfriend. Confessions? There are things like that. However, its only for girls cuter than me ! I wasnt the one giving but rather the one receiving on valentine days. Ive also tried to be more woman-like but that didnt last long. Afterall, there were only two girls components on me. The first is handicraft. Though its a fiddly skill but I am quite confident in it. Anyhow, all of my friends wedding dresses are handmade. .. I never had a chance to wear one though. Another one is Otome games. Is this one really a girls component you asked? Its something like a throbbing literature girls romance story, I think. Well then, I noticed a serious fact when my previous life memories came back. The familiar name, places, and magic setting .. It completely matches one of the otome games that I used to play. Rune Knight Concert It was a story where the stage was a Magic academy in a medieval age fantasy. Apparently, there were some hot deployment and the man received was also pretty decent. [Alteria-sama, Alteria-sama] (TL: Its read as Altirea. Man, Im not so good with names but I like Alteria more than Altirea.) Replying to nanny with shaking shoulders. [ Im okay, nanny. Im just a little dizzy.] And so, I am Alteria Wisp? ..What, there is no way I can calmly accept this! This is bad. Real bad. If I reincarnate into her, then its even better if I reincarnate into a mob character instead. Alteria is what you call a rival character. But speaking honestly, I dont really hate Alteria that much. Although the heroine of this story is a good child who is not dicouraged in any adversity, I cant help but sympathize her as her heart broke again and again. Even with the terrible harassment from Alteria, in her heart she still wanted to get along with her. At first, it was really moving and brave of her but in the end, it make me feel more eerie. Compared to that, being annoyed and troubled little by little everyday, showing discomfort and frustration, and being troubled by making up after that, Alteria is more human-like. She is not completely hateful. Moreover, her(Alteria) point in her handicraft hobby is pretty high. According to the setting, there are a lot of stuffed toy in her room and she also seems to give each of them a name. The same as me. Furthermore, Alteria has a nickname: Doll Princess, who can make her dolls move according to her will. Whats that, it seems so fun. You think that reincarnating as her is good.. well, that is that and this is this. Finally, in the end, Alteria will receive a great reward. As a result of her evil secrets being revealed, she was chased by the magic academy because of her forbidden magic. Moreover, after being abandoned by the fiance, the Wisp house was crushed due to their sin of plotting with the other countries. In short, she lost everything. According to the after story on the official website, she even tried to assasinate the hero and the heroine due to hate. Well, its a depressing life. Such a precious second life, Give me a break from all of that! And from then on, I started to think anew on how to avoid the misfortune that is going to happen in the future. CH 2 Chapter 2 The girl refected in the mirror is just like a pale bisque doll. The white skin, which exudes a fantastic atmosphere, makes you wonder if there was blood running through. If there wasnt the slight brush on the cheek, I probably could be confused with the inhabitants of the netherworld. My big blue saphire eyes as if made to fit me, gives off a very strong impression. My hair is shining gold and the dress is the same blue as my eyes. As a whole, I look somehowa little Tsundere and unapproachable. This is the me now, Doll PrincessAltirea Wisp. * * * [Because of you little miss, cleaning the house is a lot easier now. Thank you.] Or so said the steward, Warren-san. Being praised by a grey haired middle aged man makes me feel very happy. As a result, the dolls I am making ended up quite fine and precise. Putting in magic while sewing with the thread. (TL: not so sure abt this zʤ顯). The skill of my handicraft from my previous life is still there and is getting more and more polished after being reborn. I gave the job of cleaning the house and the garden to the care of the magic dolls. At first they got in the way of the maids and the gardener but they seem to cooperate just fine now. Ever since recovering my previous life memories, I have been single-mindedly struggling to improve my power as the Doll Princess. The former Altirea sticks too much to the appearance as a noble, and she just focused too much on general magic. However, according to the setting, she is specialized in creating magic dolls but her talent in general magic is below average. It is an advantage to know your own pros and cons. Cutting out the other magics, I decided to invest as much time as possible in magic dolls. Now I can even create magic dolls without threads. For example, if its in the mountain then I can just use the grass or the branch of a tree. I also want to expand to learning alchemy eventually as I want to be able to make a living even when the Wisp house is destroyed. Honestly, there isnt any merit for me to go to the magic academy. But alchemy is usable wherever you went. Ill just be able to learn some unfimiliar magics under the uniform guidence policy. Because seeing the game characters is.. not so attractive for me. They are all handsome(TL: ikemen -,-) but they all have one or two bad traits. I went moe with them because it was over the monitor, but I would refrain from getting involved in real life.(TL: Ha, you know what it is right Moe!) And the heroine is pretty scary. If you are in front of that goodness-reincarnation child, then you would be so guilty and embarrassed that you can die.There is also a possibility that Id run away when bullying her. (TL: pfftt, haha so true.) Speaking of that, according to the SS on the official website, the former Altirea was actually a quiet and brave young miss or something. But after getting involved with the heroine, she seems to have changed to a relentless and no mercy personality. If I was her, Id also probably be like that too. .. which is why I had to convice father no matter what. He seems like he wants me to attend the academy, but I have to somehow change that by any way possible. I want to go to somewhere I can learn to be a puppeteer and an alchemist. And now allowing the dolls to help out in the mansion is a behind-the-scene preparation work. Father is pretty stubborn but he will probably be swayed by Warren-san words. Thinking about the recent resistance from him, I think doing this will probably be enough to cover him up. It will soon be my eighth birthday, and as expected, my busy at court father will be coming back to the mansion soon. I was going to try to talk to him at that time. But the words that father came back with was too shocking that I dont want to be near it. [ Alty, this is quite sudden, sorry. The Rozerem duke and his children is coming to visit tomorrow.] Rozerem dukes children. They are certainly. [I think Elstat-kun is the same age as Alty and theyll be classmates at the magic academy anyway, so it will be good if you get along with him from now on.] Elstat Rozerem. Its a name I have heard before. I even know what kind of person he is. Since he is one of the capture targets. Speaking of which, was Altirea and Elstat knowing each other since they were young also in the story setting? Uwaa, what should I do? I didnt expect I would get involved with him in a place like this. Ah- but we are still both 8 years old. Please dont let him be an annoying guy like from the main setting. How is he annoying? He is a boy who cant abandon a dream that should have been abandoned long ago. CH 3 Chapter 3 Elstat Rozerem. One of the capture targets in Rune Knight Concert. With sharp eyes and neat features, he somehow has a hard to approach air about him. Being an unrestrained loner wolf, he himself was also in the magic academy but he didnt go to class much. If you wonder what the heck he was doing, then the answer is that he goes to the arena on a daily basis. The prodigy son of the duke who neglected school due to getting addicted to betting matches. its not like he is someone like that. Well, rather it would be better if he were like that. That is because Elstat had been hiding his identity and participating in the matches. Wearing a wolf-like helmet over the upper part of his face or so in the past story, was rather a cool figure to see. I quite love it. I love it to the point that I made the same wolf helmet. My second brother was an otaku so he was very happy when I gave him that. It also received and created a lot of AA in the net. (TL: no idea what this AA is.) Well, more importantly Betting matches sometimes are fights against ferocious monsters, you could lose your life if you do poorly. If you wonder why I am talking about something so dangerousC [Gold and power are all useless. The dukes son? If anyone want me to give them up then I will. Having just a sword is good enough.] Elstat havent been able to abandon the longing of being embraced ever since childhood. Live with the sword, die with the sword way of living. As the heir of the duke, in a way he is in a terribly cramped position on the contrary to his own way. It was a dream that was supposed to have forgotten in his day by day life, but even now Elstat is still trying to achieve it. And so not being able to compromise between ideal and reality, the irritation from that had finally driven him to partipating in the arena. Well, as a matter of course, this anguish became the focal point in his route. Now lets talk about how our heroine-chan dealt with such a young mental monster, that is she went out with him while patiently listening to his dream story without complaining. Like him saying[the real me is not in this school.] or [I am so tired of this curse of a dream.] Thanks to the beautiful CG and the voice actors work, I went moe when playing it but when I calmed down and think about it carefully, it is just some messed up painful remarks. Of course, Elstats looks after ten years will probably make me scream Uwa while burying my face on a pillow. Or should I say that heroine, what a girl to be able to listen to that calmly. It makes you wonder whether she is a counselor or not. As expected of the heroine, youre amazing heroine. If it was me, no matter how much of an ikemen the other partner is, I will definitely run away from him. Id probably even knock him down. * * .anyway, Ive actually tried to vent it on cactus doll-kun. The cheer-up Cactus-kun is willing to comfort me. If he were the real thing, he will really prick me but since he is only knitted, it is okay. Rather it was fluffy, so I felt really better.. Fuu.(TL: taking a breath sound by the way.) I calmed down a little. Hmm. I wonder whether its okay to talk nonstop to a doll even if it has its own will. I ddont know since when it has become such a strange habbit of mine. It is a natural thing now since I am the Doll Princess wait, I guess its not. It definitely looks creepy to outsiders. On the other hand, its not like my previous life common sense also applies here either, so it cant be helped. It cant be helped, yep. More importantly, lets think about things from here on. Thanks to Cactus-kun, I became a little more positive. Thinking about it calmly, to me, Altirea, Elstat is just the child of my fathers friend. He is neither a capture target nor a fianc. Moreover, if he was the truoblesome guy whose heart is for the sword, then I just had to have the most minimum contact with him and thats it. Whats more, it seems like an unexpected chance that I should grab. I have gotten pretty good as a doll user anyway. If I was able to impress the Rozerem duke with this ability, it would also help with persuading father later. Yoshi, lets work hard. I recovered my spirit and got out of bed. Because of the shock, I had to go into my room. First of all.. everyone, set. The Rozerem duke will be coming tomorrow. Lets do a thorough cleaning today. Of course, its also to appeal to father. Ordering with my finger, the dolls throughout the house has gathered together. Knight, maid, devil, white bear, and so on. Far from being a group nor my caompanions. They are the results of test making them with diferrent appearances and abilites. Each of the dolls have spirit that dwells within them, and their likes or dislikes are all according to their spirit attributes. The wind spirits are assigned to clean the mansion while the earth spirits is to look after the garden. The water spirit dolls are to wash those that have gotten dirty and heal those who got injured by accident. The fire spirits..well, what to do with them? They are mischievious so they get in various troubles. Theyve been fine until now, but itll be bad since father is coming back. Lets see. I guess Ill let them play with the children of the territory like they have always been for now. Oh- Dont be so down. Ill prepare an arena for you someday. Yep, really really. * * As the one who supervises the dolls, I cant afford to relax in my room. Staying at the place and looking over them, its important to be able to give appropriate instructions according to the situation. Garden, entrance, hallway, dining room, I walk throughout the house. Eventually, I spotted father at the stairs. [Hey, Alty. While I was unaware, youre able to use magic so well, huh.] As usual its his nice to hear comfortable gentle voice. Solute Wisp, my father as well as one of the diplomacy ministers of this country. He has the same gold hair and blue eyes as me, but totally different than the cold pisque doll me. His expression is always overflowingly warm that just make you want to endlessly rely on him. [The home tutor was also saying that Altirea is so good at remembering that he/she will run out of things to teach in the coming year, something like that.] If my plan to not attend the magic academy is not successful then there will be lots of problems. [Isnt that amazing? I am so proud of a daughter like you.] My father, with his big hands, patted my head with a -pon-pon-. Being both happy and embarassed, I lower my head a bit. Diverting my eyes to look ahead, I see an angel doll wiping the window. [But such amazing dolls. Really make me remember old times.] [Do father used to know other doll users?] [Yeah, there used to be a guild member. However, I think the you now are probaly better than him.] .eh? Wait a minute! I somehow just heard some strange words. Guild member? [Speaking of Alty and the enthusiasm of youths. You know in the old days, I used to be an adventure.] Oh this is a medieval fantasy world after all, the capture targets were also adventurers but the image of father now isfar from an adventurer. Using sword and magic to get rid of slimes or trolls. Honestly, its really hard to imagine. [Since Im finally here, lets talk about the past memories 9together. Come here, Alty. Why dont we chat with some tea?] CH 4 Chapter 4 When I entered father Solutes room, what greeted me first was a ferocious griffon. Its not like we are keeping one in the house. It is just a stuffed head hanging on the wall. Next to it was a primary-colored mask that gives off a strange presence. Shifting my eyes around the corner of the room, I can see the glaring armor set which was full of scratches. This is also just a decoration and the inside is empty. The other things that enter my sight are the fluttering Arabia curtains and the pot from the Jomon period if they were from my previous life. The word unexpressable was in my mind. Father flies around various countries for work, so he must have collected some stuff wherever he went. Collecting stuff like stuffed heads and armors is also a masculine point of a young man. Far from the calm image of father, somehow, I dont really hate the remaining childish side that adult men secretly keeps. But I am still grinning to myself while thinking about it. [These are all the memories from when I was an adventurer.] Seems like I was mistaken. [That armor, it is dented in a few places. It saved my life many times. Dont you think the griffons head is well-made? He was my nemesis, and I remember that when I finally defeated it, rather than feeling happy it was terribly lonely.] But seeing father talk in such an enthusiastic manner about the old days(although a little rude) was awfully adorable. [In fact, I didnt graduate from the magic academy. I hid my identity, signed up in the adventurer guild, and went diving in to the labyrinth fighting monsters everyday.] [Fathers father, grandfather Fect, didnt he get angry with you?] [If he didnt have a disease,the family heritage was supposed to have gone to my brother, you see. As a second son, I was allowed to do what I like. However, up until the third generation who threw away the sword, the Wisp family was originally a military family. Father and uncle seems to really cared about that as whenever they heard about my accomplishments they would happily say something like the spirit of the Wisp family is left inside you.] [It was really such a big-hearted environment right?] [Aah. I am very grateful. I had various experiences, and thanks to the connection I had from back then, many of the works now also went well. However, it was a pretty hard decision to take over the house. The left behind part of my study was so much that I just had to do it. Honestly, it wasnt just once or twice that I tried to escape. I was brought back by Shuara each time though.] [Mother did?] [Aah. Without me knowing when, she completely seized the butlers and maids of the Wisp house and laid a seige that quickly caught me in no time. Father even laughinly said I dont even know who is actually the family head anymore. something like that. I ran and Shuara chased. That repeated again and again so many times. It was a good distraction. It was also thanks to her that I wasnt stuck between living as an adventurer in the past and the future of taking over the Wisp house. Alty, the way you instructed the dolls was exactly the same as your mother. You were a quiet child before, but recently you are starting to be really similar to her.] ..even if you say so, I cant answer to that. Its because mother Shuara passed away immediately after giving birth to me. How she is like, I have absolutely no idea. It is a somewhat strange feeling. It is the personality of the me now that I didnt have in my previous life, as it is formed with the absence of the completely unrelated mother. So even if you say that we are alikeCUn.(TL: Un- is an expression. Well Im not explaining. You should know it already.) I wonder whether me reincarnating Altirea is a certain inevitablility. Such delusion is floating in my mind. Well, whatever. This is a problem that I cant answer to. Father doesnt think that the current me is unnatural. I suppose that settles as a good thing. Speaking of which, Warren-san and the other servants of the Wisp house who have been working here for a long time, have been looking down at me with an awfully nostalgic gaze. Its probably because they remembered about mother. My appearance when thinking about my mother, seems as if I was immersed in the sentiment of my deceased mother. Father adrubtly changed the subject to something else. [Speaking of which, we were supposed to talk about the doll user in the guild, right? He said I am always lost on how much will to give to them like that. If given too little, it will soon lose its power, but if given too much freedom, it will no longer listen to you. Which did you use, Alty?] [There is almost no limit. Because they are all good childrens.] [Then wont they do crazy things just like a child do?] [No, father, youre misunderstanding it. Dolls have to have their own reason to be able to move. Its just that they cant convey it very well.] Its fortunate that I as the Doll Princess is good at guessing what they are saying. .Moreover, that year I spent in my previous life taking care of my seperated brother is also helpful. That child, it was really hard for him to express his thoughts. Hmm, I am starting to worry about him. Did he get bullied? He didnt become a shut-in, did he?(TL: hikkikomori.) [Thats why I gave him and the others their mouthsC you can look at the doll and you will know the personality of the doll master. It seems that a significant portion os it is reflected in them.] [Is that right?] Even if I said that, from other people view I. dont remember having done anything that looks strange. As the daughter of a noble, I sholdnt show any shameful behavior to others and I should also maintain a good communication with the surrounding people. [It was Warren who said this but seems like you are quite good at talking to dolls,huh.] Hii I was seen? Uwawa Waa Wa- so embarassing. .. its that father, that. A situation that cant be mentioned out loud-embarassing-embarassing-embarassing.(TL:err no idea how to translate this in Jap its ˤ礴ˤ礴ˤsomehow like embarassing expression as in twisting ur body or something? No idea folks Im no japanese so bear with it.) * * Certainly there is a strange link between the doll master and the dolls. Im really excited to appeal to father about my powers as a doll master and so are the dolls. The dolls who finished their jobs are also pulling my and fathers hands to run around the house. Its like they are saying Look at how clean it can be after we cleaned it! Saying so while proudly pushing up their chests. More surprisingly, The knight fire spririts who were supposed to be playing outside, with their specialty of using the sword brought back a wild boar. The meat was such that melts in your mouth, just the perfect ingredient for entertaining guest. Yoshi, Yoshi. Now the preparations for the visiting duke Rozerem and his son is all set. However in the next day, there was an unexpected trouble happening. The knight dolls whose body appeared to have been torn apart, one by one was brought back. The water dolls spirit had to get down to heal them in a hurry. My room really gives off the feeling of a busy hospital. Who did such a thing? I mean just why are the knight dolls who had suffered serious injuries showing such satisfied expressions? CH 5 Chapter 5 Hearing about the whole story, turns out it was just my needless worry or should I say, boys are just idiots, and I am even more of an idiot. It is not something that can just go with saying sorry. Although I didnt know about it, the knight dolls have some kind of an order of the round table between them. Its for discussing about various day to day activities or so.(TL: Lol so cute.) The topic last night was [what we can do to entertain the visiting Rozerem duke]. (TL: here they usewareware as us in Jap.) After putting out some opinions and having hot debates exchanged many timesthe selected choice was to personally pick up the duke. In this country, it is proper etiquette that we go and pick up the guests as early as possible. The order of the knights works fast. So when it was almost dawn, they left the mansion and went west. Then they entered the Moat mountain, that was also the border between the nearby Duke Rosilez territory, and they was about to join with the dukes group who was having a break near the fountain. Now then- It was at this time that Elstat Rozerem who was standing a little far away from them started to brandish his sword. Looking at the surrounding trees as if they were enemies and saying [Lets decide it with this one blow!] Or [This is my final move!] and so on as if he was pretending to be a one man hero or something. I wonder just why is such a little boy pretending to fight with an imaginary enemy. Well, anyway. Seeing such an Elstat, the knight dolls thought of something ridiculous. (We also used to do such things since a long time ago too.) (Thats rightCSo nostalgic-) (Playing pretend alone was fun but it was also quite lonely.) (Yoshi, lets enter and be the villians!) (Isnt that a good idea? Elstat-sama will surely be happy about it too.) (Its that. Wont we get praised by princess just like yesterday when we caught that wild boar?) (Yoshi, lets do it! Do it.) (Yoshi, lets go guys.) TL: he said yarodomo here. Thus the members took their wooden swords and jumped at Elstat one after another. Here, if they just said [lets-have-it] or [lets-play] then it wont be a problem but unfortunately the dolls didnt say anything. And the result, the tragedy happened. Elstat was mistaken that they were going at him for real. Imagine it. The knight dolls suddenly rushed in at you, wont you be scared? Id cry if it were me. Run away when crying too. However, Elstat just said this, it is easy to overcome your fear only when you are out on the battle stage. On the contrary, he was excited and acted as if it was the attack of the mysterious enemy in the woods like in somekind of hero story, and increased the sharpness of his swords mercilessly cutting at the dolls. Noticing the commotion and coming to see what was going on, the Rozerem duke, showing a totally delighted expression when he saw Elstat being able to fight evenly with the dolls lying limp on the mountain ground. By the way, the dolls and the spirits dont feel pain or die, they just get their body scrapped. Or seeming a little tired though. Well, that aside haa. The knight dolls are quite mischeivious but I didnt think theyd go this far. However, looking back calmly this much is only a little more than what I expected. Just like yesterday, even though I said they can just go play, they went and caught a wild boar. They wanted to be given a job. I would have avoided the journey if I gave them some kind of work. It was my mistake. [Its difficult to stand above someone. Well, this time is probably a good chance for Alty to properly have a talk with the order of the knight dolls. Just dont blame yourself too much. It seems like Elstat also had fun too.] Thank you very much, father. But this somehow looks like I attacked the dukes son. Wont it be a big problem? [Waha-Altirea-kun is quite pessimistic isnt she?] The Rozerem duke has a lion like features and a big body. And with a powerful voice that really fits him. [Me and Solute also used to do crazy stuff too. We almost saw each other as sworn enemies. We even tried to seriously kill each other at times too. Compared to that, it was cute, cute. The subordinates outburst? It happens alot. Its better to deal with it than to regret it. Its the first time I saw my son with such a lively face. After the dolls get better, let them do it again, okay?] are- is it not a problem? [Err that, sorry.] The 8 years old Elstat is like a dog rather than a wolf, and he looks a little upset ,probably becuase he is angry. How should I say it, its like a little puppy unhappily hanging his tail and ears. [I didnt notice they were just playing with me, and I did something mean. Urm, is it okay if I help you heal those dolls?] Ehh, what is this? Somehow the flow of the conversation is going in an unexpected direction. CH 6 Chapter 6 Seems like the 8 years old Elstat is only living with the sword but not up to the point of wanting to die with the sword like in the future just yet. The 15 years old Elstat who appeared in the game, had the desire to keep the ruined dream somewhere inside him, and showed the love pattern of being able to fall to ruin anywhere along with the heroine. -I want to take you and run somewhere far away. The happy end in his route was the scene of holding hands with him. Unlike the others, it was not not drawn in the epilogue. It probably was double suicide. At least for now, he doesnt give off the decadent smell at all. [Sorry, I wont do something like that anymore.] The Elstat who I knew, wouldnt bother coming to my room and honestly apologizing at all. While passing by each other at the academy, hed say[..I wont show up in front of you again, beacause as long as I still have this curse of a dream, Id still be doing the same thing again and again.] and saying even more self-contained lines. [If there is anything I can do, please tell me.] Far from the main him, he went straight to the point. my heart is in a little mess. I was totally swayed by his words and actions in the game, so as a revenge- [then I have one request.] [Is just one fine?] [Yes, its is a very big task. Please think of me as the most important thing to you. Please throw away the sword so that this wont happen again.] It was the first time that Elstats facial expression changed so continously that I just wanted to take a photo. Dazing out after hearing [the most important], and just as he became completely red, he was startled all at once and thenC [Throw away.. the sword.] His gaze fell to the floor. Both of his clasped hands were faintly shaking. Lowering his eyes like that really looks like a Chihuahua abandoned under the rain. Certainly, my second brother in my previous life was also like this when mom threw away his figures. Seems like the tease was a big blow to him. [Sorry, that was a joke.] [Thats great.] Elstat was smiling again like the sunny sky. [Seems like you really love the sword. You seem on the verge of tears just then.] [Wrong, I was thinking of which to choose next, the ax or the spear.] What a strong will. Well, thats as expected. There is no way that his pride will allow him to cry in front of a girl. Or should I say Elstat has been diligently apologizing, and it happened because I didnt manage the knights well so Im not particularly upset.. [I am sorry too. This time it was because of my clumsiness. The one who should lower their head is me. Please forgive me.] [No no, dont mind it. It was a good lesson. Im even grateful for it.] [Thank you very much. Anyway, to be able to fight with that many doll knights, Elstat-sama is really like the hero in those stories.] [Its no big deal. The others also hold back at me too.] While saying that Elstat loosened his expression, seemingly a little proud. [Anyway, Alty. Are you still angry? Somehow you look a little unfriendly. I think you called me Els before.] Nn? This should be the first meeting between Altirea and Elstat like in the setting is that not true? I dont remember it thoughcould it have been lost when I remembered my past life memory? Father Solute and duke Rozerem are good friends, so it isnt strange that they introduce their child to each other since childhood. [Aa, sorry Els. Its been a long time that I cant quite grab the manner to talk with.] Well, lets keep it at that. [I wonder if you could help me fix the dolls.] [Aah, Im good with my hand, see?] Els showed me his right hand. On his hand was a wood carving ring. On it was engraved a wedge-shaped pattern. [Im the one who made it. Its the same carving as the one for the first emperor Vault-sama.] In my previous life, it would be like boys wearing the matching shoes and bag as the famous soccer or basketball players. Vault-sama is also called Flame Sword emperor. Eto. Doesnt Els-kun just want to brag about this? Anyway, its the quality that matters. It has several grooves on it with the same size of a few milimeters. And it was on the curved surface of the bracelet. Then I guess its fine to let him take care of one or two dolls. But, [Sorry Els. I have already finished sewing them.] Please dont underestimate me who finished a wedding dress in only a week. Something like this is only a piece of cake. [I see.but its good. You might get angry with this butC] [What is it?] [There was someone with different movements among the knights. It didnt give me the initial to move.] [.a doll like that. I wonder if there is one.] I dont remember though. [I think he was an amazing expert.] Whats that. Its scary. CH 7 Chapter 7 It was a mild night. The half lit moon gave off a soft light. The sound of the bugs was just like a melody that gently strokes ones ears. The second floor of the Wisp house. Solutes room. The autumn breeze was blown into the room through the wide open window. [The last time I drank with you. It was also on such a night, huh.] The current Rozerem duke- Hydraus Rozerem, muttered after pulling the glass cup from his mouth. [How nostalgic. Was it when Alty and Els was only three years old?] He nodded towards his decades long friend, Solute Wisp. They met many times at court but drinking alone just the two of them like this, was a long time ago. [Its been five years. The guys at the magic academy had considerably aged a lot. but you look as nice as that year.] [Thats because Ive been training. As Im always flying around the country, I dont know if anything dangerous might happen.] [Thats it. I have also tried to move my body, but I always ended up too lazy.] [Doing it with someone might be goodnow one more cup.] [Oops, sorry.] [Its from the nearby Rosilez duke. How is it, quite a taste right?] [I guess this is what they call mellow drinks right?] Hydraus gently lifted his glass and saw Solute through the pale water of the glass. [Because Im with you that I get to enjoy these stuff.] [Me too. Today Ive troubled you.] [What. Its no big deal. Alty is still 8 years old. Failing is obvious.] [That makes it easy then. Anyway, Hyde, you made a great decision in front of the kids.] [Its the opposite, opposite. I was able to keep it down because it was you. Its not like itsLeure.] That was the name of Elsats mother who died giving birth to him eight years ago. Solute and Hydraus were childhood friends of the same age, and both coincidentally lost their wife eight years ago. Probably they have the same burden in their hearts that they quickly became friends again. [Speaking of which, how is Tourus?] [A letter has just arrived recently. There seem to be some kind of three-person relationship going on. Fortunately, no one seems to have the upper hand yet.] Solute have two children. One of which is of course, Altirea, and another is her big brother Tourus Wisp. Currently, he is studying in the west country across the ocean, Malgaroid kingdom. [Aah- since Tourus is even more good looking than when you were young. Arent you glad it isnt a four-person, five-person relationship going on there?] [Tourus is even more insensitive than I am thats why I hope its not a six-person, seven-personCtwelve-person relationship there.] [If its like that then its terrifying. It would be good if he can come back alive. What about Alty? She already 8. I think its about time to find her a fiance.] [Even if you say that. Its quite a difficult situation.] [If there is no partner, then our ElsC] [Thats nice to hear but I dont think those guys at your house will agree to it.] [Were both dukes. The status matches.] [Thats not it. Its Altys magic. What do you think?] [I see. Sorry, I completely forgot that.] It seems Hydraus understood immediately. [Possesssing fantastic talent makes the house fallsCthere was such a useless legend.] (TL: its a kind of legend like phrase : ΤβŤ򱧤Ҥϝ. I totally suck at this, uu.T_T) To the young nobles like Solute and Hydraus, its just a joking matter but the obstinate old men, who holds the real power in each house, are completely convinced. [Alty will surely be told that when she gets married. As a parent, I dont want her to go through that.] [Then is a married-in son in law fine?] [We have a perfect heir, Tourus, here you see. Its difficult. My old man is also making quite a fuss. Hurry and marry her, hurry and marry her, he said. Being frank, I think shed be happier if she married with love as a doll master rather than the marriage engagement. Well, the choice is still up to Alty. No matter what way she chooses, I am going to help her as much as I can.] * * * TLs corner: + Els father, Rozerem duke: Hydraus Rozerem. Its written Haidoreusu. + Els mother: Leure. Its writtenReure. +Altys onii-san, another hella harem protagonist, Tourus. Its writtenTourusu. CH 8 Chapter 8 [ There was someone with different movements among the knights. It didnt give me the initial to move.] Elstat stared straight at me. His eyes looks as if there were crimson flames burning in them. It was like the thing that was burning was the fire of youth in him. [Probably because we walk the same path of the sword. I understand it. He is an amazing expert, I think.] (TL: he said tabun here.) There were also times when my previous brothers eyes was like this. It was summer vacation, when the department store organized a match with the pro players. It was my first brother who perfectly won the lottery over their challenge rights. The night just before the match, he also had the same eyes as Elstat now and [I am going to destroy them and become famous!], shouted that. When the anime director, who used to be the high schools top ranker, visited at the culture festival. My second brother happily made him read his script. Compared to my brothers, I think my reaction that time was way less extreme. [According to you, that, there is a expert among the knights right?] [Aah, Im not mistaken. Even better than the winner of the matches, Carl Peneim. Once, let me fight him once.] ( ǰԇ somehow kinda like the matches in the samurai period or something:TL) [Ne- Els, its just my opinion but. with an amazing opponent like that. Even if you fight, the you now, wont you lose in just a moment? Moreover, rather than fighting with those stronger than you, I think learning by observation is more benefitial. I can also ask them to teach you. How about it?] I think the answer is obvious if it was me. [No, that cant do. Of course Ill be happy if it was just a show match or just learning by observation, but first I just want to fight once. I want to know what it feels like to taste defeat.](TL: wah, Els so classic.) If so then why not just find that Carl Peneim or whatever at the Rozerem duke to fight with already. There is no way theyd lose to an eight years old anyway. .Though I almost blurted that out, I somehow stopped my mouth in time. If I were to say that, I think well have a big fight. My brothers also said that I didnt understand what a mans romance is. Talking to you is just feels like being poured cold water on and eating cold noodles. My first brother dumped such abused words at me. Just what is cold noodles huh, *cold noodles! (TL: cold noodles here is . Well the name says it all.) He was so pissed off that even my bento for the next day was cold tofu. It was packed full of white.(TL: no idea what this is פץץ.) Lets go back to business. In short, wanting to fight with the knight doll is also part of Elstats romance. He is playing in The disciple who got arrogant and came back to fight the master sword expert story. This is troublesome but somehow simple. Well, compared to it, the original Elstat is way harder. No matter what kind of face a man has, you have to accept them all, then can you go all the way from dating to marriage. Also there is merits in this for me too. Its a chance to get to know deeper about the knight dolls. I thought I understood the knight dolls. I can even recall each and every one of their names. Yet I didnt noticed there was an expert among them like Els at all. (Well, there is also the possibility of Els just imagining it.) There is one thing for sure. I might be able to think of other ways to use the knight dolls by looking from a different point of view. Thats why- [For now Ill try asking them about it. Since today was a little tiring so you should go rest first.] I answered just like that. [Alrighhhhhhhttttttttt ! ! !] The window glass was shaking and rattling as Els shouted happily. As I was thinking that it was annoying to the neighbours, aah- wait, the mansion is built in the middle of a plain so I guess thats not a problem. No wait- [Els, I think the people who were escorting you is already getting drowsy though] -Plop- as the fire in his eyes was put out. I seems to have poured cold water on his mood. * * The number of the dolls created had already long been beyond 100 already with such number, they can no longer fit in my room anymore. Thats when I got permission to use the old small Europian style building next to the Wisp house. Aka, Doll House. Please dont laugh about it. Anything simple is the best. Under the renovation of the dolls themselves, it has become a cozy place comfortable enough compared to the main house. It also seems to have become the maids leaving works hanging place from time to time. Morning of the next day, I tried to enter the knight dolls room-but I was stopped. The water spirits doctor said. (Until their wounds are healed, weve casted sleeping magic on them. That last night was very serious.) Looking carefully there was a stain on the cheek of the doctor doll. Apparently, not forgetting about the excitement from thepretend fight the knight dolls rampaged quite a bit last night. (But we will still do whatever you ask us to.) The Rozerem duke will be staying for a while. Today we are going to go out in incognito to the town together. Lets come back and see them when we return. I think meetting with the dolls living in the town might be a good idea. Having been away from me for over six months, they are likely to have noticed a lot of stuff or at least some sort of hint. Ca while after that. Me, my father Solute, the Rozerem duke, and Elsat was sitting in a three person horse drawn carriage. [Hoho-Altirea-kun. These are also the dolls you made right?] The Rozerem duke spoke with an awfully polite speech. I heard from father before. Hes actually theGahaha laughing excitedly type. I wonder if he is shy in spite of his big body. [Yes, I am planning to let them meet their brothers who are living in town.] Next to me was two stuffed cats with droping eyes lying around with a- pur-pur. [I see, brothers huh. The faces are so alike. I wonder wont you get confused with which one is which?] [Its okay. Because their faces is a little different from each other.] The difference is a little vague, so its hard to tell. The one on the right gives off a sleepy feeling and the one on the left gives off a sleeping-sleepily feeling. (TL: its really written like that one is ͤ`ʸФ and the other is ͤͤʸФ. Its confusing.) I want you to imagine their expression a bit. . Lets stop here. Then. The carriage shook quite a bit after hitting a big rock. The 2 kittens effortlessly got thrown off the couch but they just continued purring there. The earth spirits are as stable as expected. [Oww!] Els was holding his head in one side. Seems like he was hit by the hilt of his own sword. Eh- why is such a dangerous thing there. [Its in case we got attacked. Who knows if it will be like yesterday.] Ugh Being told that hurts. However, an eight years old carrying a sword around the streets is a little too dangerous. Even more so it will stand out in the public. Were incognito today too. Come, put it away. [Ee-] Come on dont be selfish. [I got it. Well, I can also use a bit of magic. If something were to happen Ill protect you.] Later I will defintely regret this decision no, even if there was a sword, the enemy is just too overwhelming. The result would still be the same. Lately, I think luck is not on my side. Im sure today incident will be an even bigger blow than yesterday. CH 9 Chapter 9 The trade city, Spiril is noisy from the top til the boot. The sky have blacked-tailed gulls*, the ground have wondering cats. They were carelessly flying and rolling about in the city. Although there were rumours about dwarves living at the back alleys of the city recently, sorry but that is probably just the dolls that I made. Thinking for when Id have to leave the mansions, I asked a gruop of dolls to go to some places in the cities and secretly live there. The trade city Spiril is also one of those cities. Its just- That it has become something strange for this city. * * * Father had an errand to run so he went on his own way. I guided the Rozerem duke and Els casually around the packed street stalls. The store ahead is my favorite fruit shop. The fruit on skewers may make it easier to eat while walking but it makes you worried whether they are making any profit through it at all. My recommendation is Bouka (a mango-like fruit). Although its a little unexpected behaviour from a noble but its better to eat it in one bite. The sweet juice from that orange-orange fruit, I wont let even a drop spill out. Ah, this is fun, really fun. ..tte- eh? Certainly, it was supposed to be here but- [Whats wrong, Alty?] [Wait a moment, Els. I cant find my favorite store.] Strange. The shopkeeper there was like a stubbly-bearded hermit*, so he stands out in the crowd with just that alone. Also if he changed places, then I would find it immediately though It was when I was looking around restlessly- (Ojou-sama, you have become even more beautiful than before. With my poor vocabulary, Id say you are like the white agate polished by the ever-lasting snow.) Words that were floating from someones mouth was delivered to my head. In the foot among the crowd of people hustling and bustling about, I found a doll with an affectation face standing behind a brick-like building. With black suit and Borsalino hat*, like the Italian mafia. Or should I say, In fact, he is an Italian mafia himself. The dolls that was send to the trade town of Spiril have, far from blending in the society here, firmly bitten inside the dark community of the town. The humans call them the Rutia family. With 24 faceless executives( actually they are dolls), at the top, one of the major forces that reigns in Spiril *dark community. Somehow it became like this. Mafia themed Otome-game, I wonder if I was wrong to make a doll like the character model. (Do you need something, Kajero?) (Excuse me as you seem to be having fun. But there is something that you might want to hear about as soon as possible.) Kajero is the one who function as the main brain in the Spiril group. Honestly, my brain isnt even close as clever as him. (There are three things. First is that the fruits shop you are looking for had collapsed last month.) (..no way.) I cant believe it. Its like the fun in coming to Spiril is cut by half. (The owner has fallen ill. However, please stop your worry. The store has already been taken over by our family.) (Then you mean a doll is acting as the saler?) If it was that then its quite cute though. (No. We dolls will never show ourself. As the same in the past, we are using normal human agencies.) Well, thats a little disappointing. (Sorry to not live up to your expectations. We will accept any punishment, whenever. Next is a gratifying story, we the Rutia family is finally able to obtain a seat in the council of this city.) The trade town of Spiril is inside the Wisp territory. However, it has become something of an independent city. It is ruled by dozens of council members. (The mason guild and the inn union is already affiliated. It is not wrong to say that one fourth of the streets here belongs to us.) That is rather amazing, ehh- wait a sec. Me as the lords daughter having such influence, isnt it a case of self-empowering? (What are you talking about? I am just boasting about the power of the Rutia family. Ojou-san isnt a member or even the lord of the family. Us having obtain such power has nothing to do with you. .well, the main members might be overly friendly with Ojou-sam though.) Kajero said so with a voice that was vicious enough to make any swindlers run away barefoot. When they were in the mansion, they were good children.not anymore. They were shceming for power from the beginning, even more evil than the devil in the stories. (That aside, Ojou-sama. Did you hear about the things tonight from the Wisp duke?) Why would my fathers name come up here? ( The Borrowed Water Stage Inn is where influential people including the council are supposed to gather.) (TL: OMG, the name here is ֹν. I have no idea what this name is so I just translated it word by word.) Wait, wait a minute. Thats the inn that we are staying at. (It seems to be a party to celebrate the dukes daughter, your birthday. Of course, our family will also show our appearance there. Or I wanted to say but as we members are all non-speaking dolls. Aah, but do not worry. Even if it was known that thefaceless executives were dolls, they will not be informed that the creator is Ojou-sama. As for me, let me view it by pretending to be a soul-less doll near you Ojou-sama. Kuku- it sounds amusing, yep, amusing.) By the way, Kajero has a pretty hard to understand personality, so lets just follow him afterall. The sense of that remark just now is something like Im worried about you Ill stay near you all throughout the party. He has the pretending-to-be-a-vilian bad hobby but inside he is the same good boy as the other dolls. CH 10 Chapter 10: Author: I am surprised that Kajero earned more reaction than expected. I am also happy that there seems to be a lot of people with the same hobby as him. ______________________________________________ The me at the time was totally distracted with Kajeros story that I completely forgot about everything else. I wasnt aware until the Rozerem duke told me , somehow it was like this- [ When I saw you, you suddenly stopped moving and blankly staring into empty space. No, noyou dont have to worry, who doesnt have a time when they act strangely in their childhood? But at the time, you were expressionless. Just like the clay dolls that were brought back from the East country of the famous Flame blade emperor.] (Is that all what you have to say Kajero?) (Eeh, that is more or less of it, however Oujo-sama this secret talk of ours , although short but very tasteful indeed, dont you agree?) (U-n, Im happy but I have to guide these two around. I wonder if you can put up with it , and Ill visit you later.) Anyway, there will be a scheduled talk with Kajero. About how to treat the knight dolls from now on. I want to hear his idea as the number 1 most capable doll and also as the representative of the 24 faceless executive (Understood. Excessive chasing is not good so lets stop it here. Ah, thats right. There is an unconfirmed piece of information butC) I wasnt able to hear the end of Kajeros words. [.uh! ?] Suddenly I was pulled into the back alley by Els, and I was so shocked that no words were coming out of my mouth. [Wait, wait, whats wrong Els?] His 8 years old appearance is still just like a young puppy, but I wonder why at times like this he is exuding an atmosphere like that of a wild wolf. [I cant really explain but. something bad is coming. Its probably aiming for you, Alty. Its better if we run away.] An explanation that doesnt really count as one. If it was at normal times, then Id shake him off shouting I dont get what youre saying! though. But I nodded. [Got it. Which way should we run?] [This way.] Speaking of which, this situation is somehow similar to the game scenario. ..It was the sweet and sour date if I recalled.Elstat suddenly pulled the Heroine into the back alley. Just when she wonder what is going on he said I also have no idea but I have a bad feeling. giving a vague answer to her. The truth was that the two were surrounded by thugs. It was the old Altirea, who hates the heroine so she hired a gang to attack her. In addition to that, there are a few times where Elstat showed his danger perceptions skills similar to wild animal instincts. Though there are also times when most of what comes out if his mouth was live with the sword or die with the sword, . Chances of his intuition being wrong is only at his bad ending. By the way, in [Rune Knight Concerto] there are various related stories written in the last half of story setting, but lets just put them aside for now. * * * [Haa, haa.] (TL: uhm, dont be confused here, the one who is panting is actually Els.) [Els, can we rest a little?] [Not yet, I can still run] Looking so out of breath and panting like that,there is no way you are running anymore that is just impossible. [Did the bad feeling disappear?](Alty) [Aah, its okay now](Els) [Then lets rest a little since Im quite tired.](Alty) [Im saved.No, I can still run.](TL: pftt, Els u and ur pitiful pride haha) I wonder if that strength and stamina comes from the pride there is no way Id lose to a girl or something, CUn, sorry, I had a cheat. The one-piece dress Im wearing is self-made but it is made with the same magic as the dolls and it also got the blessing from the wind spirit dolls. Fast running is just a piece of cake. When I want to, I can even fly. [For the time being, why dont we sit there?] I took out a handkerchief from my pocket.If I just gently stroke it on the small the box near it then the dirt and dust on me will be washed off. Thank you water spirits. There are some drawbacks , but since it didnt appear when Im using it then its all good. [What do we do?] 2 people were sitting side by side near the wooden box. [We ran quite far.] [Spiril is quite big.] [Its a port town that leads to the kingdom. It might be two or even three times bigger than normal towns.] [Amazingby the way Alty, what was going on back then? Why were you suddenly standing there in a daze?] [I was talking to a doll.] Though its a plain answer, it probably wont make him understand. So lets explain a little more. [I let a number of doll come to live in the city, and one of them came to see me just now.] [The guy in the shadow of the building?] [You noticed it?] [Aah.that guy probably also have considerable skill. Its not like Ive fought him but somehow his atmosphere is different from the others.] Its true that Kajero is strong, he is probably a high class spirit. When a group of bandits came to the mansion, only him alone was able to devastate them completely. Speaking of which, I feel like I heard that the bandits were incorporated into the Rutia family or something.probably I did heard it. [Alty, stand behind me.] Els stood in front of me as if he was protecting me. A dark skinned man with a tattoo on his face and arm was coming towards us. He was like a big hunk of muscle. His body looks well trained to the point that every part of his body muscle seems like they would explode at anytime. A man like that coming at you . Of course youd be wary of him. However, [Its okay, Els. Its someone I know.] I nodded slightly to him. The other side stopped his feet and carefully bowed his head. [Ojou, Ive come to pick you up.] His name is Edmond. He was once the leader of the bandits who went around stealing in the Wisp territory. Now he is Kajeros right hand man who is one of the 24 faceless executive and works as a mediator for them to contact the humans. He seems to have also heard of my existence. [Please calm your worries. You will be escorted back by the family. And I was ordered to give you this letter.] It was a letter from Kajero. The guard dog seems to be talking about Els. He seems to be quite hated by Kajero. A sword type and an intelligent type.its true that they dont get along. It is like water and oil. Thinking about Els safety, I shouldnt bring him back to Spiril again. Anyway, lets think about it when the time comes. There is something more important. The Wandering Earl. That is the name of the one like the characters of who was one of the two villains in Elstats route. C -If Elstat was a boy who couldnt become a hero, then the Wandering Earl was a man who couldnt become a monster. In my previous life, I felt like I read about that sentence from somewhere. * * * Something bad was coming. Both Els and Kajero also noticed. A kind of feeling stuck in your throat. A bad atmosphere. (Im grateful that that child took Ojou-sama and ran away, but he didnt have to be that pushy.) In addition, if there were to be marks on that white porcelain-like skin, Ill have no choice but to have him turned to ashes in atonement. While thinking about such dangerous stuff, the young head of the Rutia family started giving out instructions. To order Edmond to go pick the Oujo-sama. Considering that childs stamina, it should be around the fifth Avenue. He himself didnt head there. He had something else to take care of. (Contacting the executives. Everyone is to attend tonight party. Mobilize all the members available to protect the venue.) He skipped the explanations and gave the instructions immediately. So that the Ojou-sama can be safe no matter who is targeting her, preparations are needed. Am I being overly cautious? However, one is bound to be overly sensitive when hearing such information. C -The Wandering Earl was spotted in the nearby Rasilez territory. (The Wandering Earl is supposed to badly love variant talents.) Is it not because of hearing the rumor of The Doll Princess that he came to the Wisp territory? (The presence just now. its probably because the Wandering Earl was somewhere nearby. To think wed both missed each other) To those who wish to harm Ojou-sama, there will be no mercy. His mind was already thinking of a steady plan to thoroughly slaughter the Wandering Earl. * * Long, it was long journey. 50 years as a human, 50 years as something that wasnt human, and lost count of the time he became a monster. Once a wise old man told me. That people are reborn after a thousand years. I continued to wait for that time. In the hazy memory of mine, the deep consciousness that told me it was for the sake of meeting my beloved person. Ive survived the thousand year craving for food. And now the promised day has come. Among the many disordered footsteps in the trade city, she stopped her feet and looked up to the sky. The figure that was a beauty similar to the clay dolls in the eyes of the East country- C honestly lets confess as my heart was stolen. My beloved, the only one who could make my heart move, that could only be the reincarnation of her the Doll Princess Altirea Wisp. I wanted to call out immediately. However, there was something disturbing. That child with the awfully good intuition. But must not be made lightly of. The mannerism of a hero. And a doll good with its brain. Although a spirit, his essence is close to me. On the monster side. Well, thats fine. My power increases at night, so lets meet again tonight. C CH 11 Chapter 11 Hatoba Inn pavilion which has to escape from the hustle and bustle of the trade city as its sell phrase, is located in a confusing place just a little bit away from the center of Spiril. Ive come to this town many times, honestly this is the only place I dont have confidence to come on my own. If Edmond wasnt here showing us the way, me and Els wouldnt have been able to come here. The visible sea from the window is dyed in orange, as if it was trying to swallow the iffy color from the sun. The dusk is ascending. It will soon probably change to darkness of the night. Father and even the Rozerem duke havent come back yet. [Kuu.] Els made a gentle breathing sound while sleeping on the bed. Els fell asleep while sitting there waiting for the two people to return. The bed here is really fluffy, and it makes you feel like being above the clouds. With all the running, Els being like this is only right. [Tsu.](TL: just another breathing sound folks.) Els is lying there with a really innocent face. He is such a defenseless figure now. ..It makes me play a prank on him. I pinched my handkerchief and used it to tickle Els nose. [Uu] Els wrinkled his eyebrows a little. This is somehow quite funny. I repeated the same thing again and again. [U-n] Els tried to escape by rolling over. Did he wake up? [Tsu] It seems like its okay. Then lets try pinching his cheek. Oh, soft. Its fresh enough to make a young girl like me jealous. Even now Els still didnt show any sign of waking up. What should I do next? Thats it. His hair is described as comfortable to the touch just like the tail and paws of wild animals or so in the original story. Why dont I check it? I gently stroke Els hair as if I am petting my cats and dogs at home. Oh, Oh, Oh! Its smooth and silky. If Els had hair all over his body, hed probably turn into a fluffy puppy. (TL: fluffy puppy its *ե .) I got it. Thats it, the next doll will be a yeti. Then Nessie and Skyfish, lets make the *UMA corps. Ah its really interesting. But first we have to survive through tonight. Kajeros letter also said it. To be careful of the Wandering Earl . Els too said it. That something bad was targeting me. ..that monster-like earl is here. In this trade town, Spiril. The original story was that he was attracted to the heroines talent that he came to the royal capital to find her. This time I am his target. It is not completely unexpected. I have been prepared for this since long time. * * Because of this personality of mine that I am probably better than any man. [Im scared, help] crying while clinging to Els or Kajero. If Id done that then my life would probably be totally different then. Well, whatever. My second brother liked to say Cpeople can only be themselves. I think its true. Even after reincarnating, I am still myself. Even though I can just be a princess who longs for someone to protect her, in the end I didnt choose that. [Altinemy..] Els mumbled while being half asleep. Theyd be sad if I was gone. Kajero and the other dolls too. Also Father. Thats why, U-n. Lets try my best. * * Thinking with the original story in mind, the earl would probably wait for when Id be alone to approach me. In other words, I can control where the meeting place should be to some extent. When the party ends, lets run from the Hatoba Inn. Then Ill fight with the earl where there is a trap set for him. Eight years earlier than the original story, there is no heroine, Elstat, even a guard dog, only me alone would capture the earl. Somehow this is getting fun. * * thinking back my plan was full of holes like the Emmental cheese, far from perfect, but there are three main points. First. Its that the earl isnt hiding his presence from others at all. In the original, there wasnt a scene showing that, but it was described in the story setting that he would appear in royal or nobles parties and that always became the topic of talks all around. So I have no choice but to also take that possibility into consideration. Second. I am not just regarded as his collection candidate but as his reincarnated old lover. Thats the reason why hed become this reckless. Because such passionate love is horrible. If Id known about the story in advance, then Ill be able to take measures but that is just hopeful thinking. And third, this might just be my idle complaint but- C I think this world god of fate seems to hate the thing called conflict. [When I was lost earlier, I actually met with a famous person by chance.] In the middle of the party, the Rozerem duke started to say such a thing. [That is because of the guidance from the gods that my voice was finally able to reach out.] Thus with a voice as if talking to someone, he was invited to the venue. [To have been invited to such a beautiful princess celebration party, living over a thousand years has indeed has its meaning.] A youth with black eyes and hair as if condensed with darkness, his behavior was also thoroughly elegant and graceful that you would not have any complaint when looking at him. Sigh of exclamation was heard from here and there. [Nice to meet you, Doll Princess. My name is Christophe du Vergennes or The Wandering Earl as you should have heard.] It was a completely unexpected development. In front so many eyes, to come in contact with him so majestically. Aah, mou- Rozerem duke just what kind of person did you bring here! The talent owner in the collection of the wandering earl have all been ice-pickled dont you know.no he really doesnt know? It was written in the story setting. Earl Du Vergennes was a famous person since eons ago, but all the more reason his bad deeds was beautifully hiddenC. Anyway, tte. Now that the Earl has come. The plan needs to be changed. What to do now, me? CH 12 Chapter 12 part 1 C Before talking about the Wandering Earl, lets turn back time a little bit. Upon returning to the Hatoba Inn Els then quickly fell asleep. Whether because he was tired from overrunning or because he could hardly stay awake, I am not sure either. Even after waking up he wasnt talking much and looked as if he was deep in thought. He might have wanted me to listen to what was on his mind but at that time my head was preoccupied with the thoughts about the Wandering Earl. My birthday party is being held on the first floor of the inn. Colorful cuisines were lined up on the table in the so-called buffet style. This inn has three special dishes as its specialties. First is the steamed vegetables dressed with cream cheese. The refreshing flavor will spread through the mouth along with the steam. It would probably make your hand move toward it nonstop, but please try to resist the temptation. Next is the serving of omelet rice with *demi-glace sauce.(TL: FYI, Demi-glace is a rich brown sauce in French cuisine used by itself or as a base for other sauces.) Even more so than the eggs that melts in your mouth, the sauce from carefully stewed veal and onion will definitely captivate you. Lastly is, yep, the brown dish that was stacked up almost like a mountain on table. The drifting smell of ginger and saucer(similar seasoning to soy sauce), just that is already stifling your appetite. The plump chicken, that gives off a crispy sound with every bite, will definitely not betray your expectations. Each and every of them, is more delicious than the previous one. I gave a wink towards the cooks who were anxiously looking here from the kitchen. My intentions seems to have been properly transferred. The cooks were hugging each other and cheering as if theyd won some kind of tournament. These three dishes was my own special recipe. Previously, the head chef here was quite troubled about the cuisine signboard. Its been about half a year since then, but as expected of professionals, theyve actually made them even more delicious than I did. [ Ive grown to really like this thing called *Karaage, and wanted to eat it at home but theyve firmly hidden the recipe.] With a barrel-like body that would go rolling around when pushed, and to think he was someone who used to travel around the world. [Its part of the stubbornness of the cooks who can earn money anytime they want. Isnt Altirea-sama aware of it?] Or so muttered one of the guest, a merchant of a large business, Mr. Talbot. Is this perhaps the thing called to *hang the sickle? (Princess, you are over thinking it. I think it would be better for you to go and get ready now.) Kajero gave me an advice while I still was lost in thought. Anyway- [I have no idea about it at all. If you ever get your hands on the recipe, please do let me know.] I gave him an empty reply. Its not like getting it is of any use anyway Mr. Talbots body is as barrel-like as his name, and getting any fatter than this is going to be life threatening.(TL: his name Taru-bo sounds the same as Taru= barrel.) He should be aware about the danger of metabolic syndrome, rather than something like a recipe. The medicine system in this world is so undeveloped that it is unlikely for me to understand.. thats right! [Talbot-sama, us ended up meeting here might be some kind of fate, so let me give you a fortune.] [Hoho, the famous Doll Princess is also fond of fortune telling?] [Im still a beginner butlets see. Talbot-sama, this is just mere words but please keep your meals on a moderate diet, and also refrain from drinking sake, or else misfortune might befall on you.] * * * Later this month, Mr. Talbot is said to die a sudden death due to a heavy feeling in his chest. The guests who attended the party unanimously whispered to each other. Apparently, the Doll Princess have the magic eye that can see into the future. It was completely a misunderstanding, and the rumor spread without being corrected. * * By the way, speaking of Kajero, who gave me advise a while ago, is actually pretending to be a normal doll while being embraced in my arms. CThe possibility of the Wandering Earl raiding the inn is not zero. An escort is absolutely necessary. Because he claimed like that again and again that I had no choice but to accept it. A young girl that cant take their eyes off the dolls. I dont want such a misunderstanding, and that might even lead to discussions about my behavior and comeback responds. Well, its not like there isnt such deduction at all. As the guest of honor, people keep visiting me one after another especially the council deputies and those related to them. The young representative of the *Mason guild, the female master of the inn union*, Spiril adventurers guilds guild master, and the high priest Rokisona an amazing lineup.(Tl: a glimpse of the two names in chapter 9.) The last one who came to talk was, the so called *Anbu corps of Spiril, the head of Rutia family. (TL: *Anbu here is the same as narutos Anbu corps= the so called shadow/darkness corps.) [Ojo-Altirea-sama, this-..this is my first time meeting you.] With dark skin and tree-like big muscles. The feeling of having met him before isnt just my imagination. The person who escorted Els and me to the inn. Edmond. The infamous thief who was thoroughly defeated by Kajero. With experience as a leader, he is now working as the boss on the surface. His attitude is just like the king of the underworld. However, only at this moment, he completely looks like a dispirited villain child. Well, cant blame him. The one in my arms is the true head of the Rutia family. Moreover, lurking here and there around the venue are the others from the 24 faceless executives. Try imagining having to work in a place with twenty higher ups observing. Of course youd be too nervous to bring out your usual performance. Not to mention, the other party is me, the creator of the 24 executives. Im sure Edmond feels as though there is a hole at his stomach. Hes quite pitiful, so lets let him escape quickly. [I am so sorry Edmond-sama. My stomach is already empty. I wonder if I can go ahead and eat first.] I look into his eyes. It seems like my intention is properly transmitted. He gave a small bow and walked to the distant seat as if escaping from something. * * .The Rutia family as a newcomer was as a matter of course the center of attention, and Edmond as the boss, of course, would have to be in contact with the lords daughter. Humbly watching the mood or probably just trying to show their dignity. The people in the venue was startled. The haughty emperor of darkness looked as frightened as a child in front of his angry mother. This incident, along with the magic eye, became spreading rumors which created an image of the Doll Princess far different from reality, but that is a different story. * * (Darn Edmond, daring to talk to the princess when she is hungrymust be punished.) (Dont be so mean. Bullying your subordinate too much is no good.) Although he says that, seems like he doesnt really mean it. Kajero seems to be quite fond of Edmond. Sometimes I see the two walking together or rather I see Kajero sitting on Edmonds shoulders while he was walking around the streets. A brain using kid and a giant full of meat. They are exact opposite but perhaps they go along well with each other. C Part 2 Taking a glance at the table, I saw Els and Mr. Talbot eating the fried chicken as if competing with each other. Els was playing with an awfully refreshing look, that I cant help but be stumped for words after remembering his gloomy look just before the party started. Ah, our eyes met. Els stopped his hands. He quickly brought the food into his plate and brought it to me. Mr. Talbot who was pushed aside looked quite lonely, but lets ignore it. [Youve been giving greetings all along, and havent eaten anything right? Here.] [Thank you. Youre quite attentive.] [It isnt a big deal. I am also quite fed up with such parties. You should be tired, and you have to keep talking when someone comes. Rest a bit already.] Eh- Was Els this kind of boy who could be so concerned? The original him and the current him, both is supposed to be a boy filled with thoughts only about the sword. Strange. [That doll, it is the one looking at me during the day, right?] Els glance was directed around my belly or in other words at Kajero in my arms. [It really is Altys.] (.so youve noticed. What a sense of smell.) Kajeros tone of voice was as if it is full of thorns. In Kajeros letter, Els was also called a guard dog. He is probably displeased of something about Els. But as if he didnt notice nor care about it, Els was unfazed as normal. [I can even smell the rain when Im in a good mood. I have confidence in my nose.] He even seems rather proud. [Well, we havent introduce ourselves yet, right? I am Elstat, the eldest son of the Rozerem duke.] (I am called Kajero. Ive heard a lot about you from Ojou-sama. By the way, why dont we talk by telepathy instead as it might seem strange to be seen talking to a doll.) [Actually, Ive been trying to do that many times, but it didnt go well. Can you teach me how to do it?] (Well let me think about it. After all I have a job to finish in my hands.) [Is it about the guy with the dangerous atmosphere?] (Yeah, the one that made you run away with tails between your legs.) Kajeros words was so provocative that it almost seems rude. If it was the Els from before, he would definitely retort with a red face. However- [He was really dangerous. It would have been bad if hed caught us.] He agreed in a matter of course fashion. (Hoit seems like I need to change my perception of you. Elstat-sama, I am sorry for my rude words and manner up to now.) [Dont worry about it. The me from yesterday and the me now would still have done the same thing.] (TL: this is confusing but I think he means that no matter what, he still would have taken Alty and run away then.) (What words of generosity. You have my gratitude. Elstat-sama now can properly distinguish between what you can and cannot do, and as the same people who would protect Ojou-sama, there is nothing more reliable than that.) [Thank you. But well, even if there is a fight, as I am now I dont think there is any chance for me to help. My strength is not enough.] I wonder if this is still the same Els. Without a care for the atmosphere and just wielding his sword, he would say without something like those dolls, I can just protect you alone! or so hed boast to the point of being admirable. [I can also use magic somewhat, so you can call me anytime if you need help.] (Of course. If Ojou-sama is in a pinch I might ask for your help again.) [Is that okay? It is a pretty important responsibility.] (Your sense of smell is quite something. We can rely on it to escape if there was danger.) [Dont flatter me. I am going to try my best to not disappoint you.] (I am relying on you.) Wait, this is such a sudden development far from my expectations. I can only blankly look in amazement at Kajero whose displeasing atmosphere had suddenly changed to as if Els was his brother-in arms for several years. Dont tell me they were lovers in their past life or something. Or maybe is this what they call mens world? (Even so, you have changed a lot since the last time in the city.) It is just as Kajero said. Els up to now was narcissistic and self-centered, and were he to grow up that way, he would definitely become the troublesome man just like in the game. Speaking of Els now, he has a calmer atmosphere than beforeI wonder why he somehow seems a bit like father. [A lot of stuff happened. I ran at a speed so fast that cant be seen by the eyes around the city. On top of that, I ran out of breath before Alty. I was so frustrated to the point that I couldnt stand it and fell asleep, so my mood got better after waking up. I had even thought of dying rather than admitting it.] . I didnt notice. While I was busy greeting with earls left and right, to think he thought up until that terrible point. [However, thats when Solute-san came to me.] (Hohou, Altirea-samas father, is it? Ive heard that he had been devoted to the sword since he was young.) [Aah, he was also the same as me. We talked about a lot of things. Thanks to that, I was able to sort out my feelings a little bit.] The Els, who said so while smiling brightly, seems even more mature than the 15 years old him whom I knew. Though he is still only 8 years old. . A little, really a little, but- He does seem a little cool. A word for all readers, this is just a translation from fan for fan. There is no garantee that this is 100% correct or accurate, and if this translation has violated any rules, please let me know and I will remove my works as the reason I am translating this series is because I like it and am willing to share the cuteness with everyone else the more the better. PS: If you want to have more chapters, do consider to support the author by buying the book. If at least 3 people have bought the book, I will gift extra chapters even if I have to stay up all night to TL.^^ Chapter 12 part 2 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven Taking a glance at the table, I saw Els and Mr. Talbot eating the fried chicken as if competing with each other. Els was playing with an awfully refreshing look, that I cant help but be stumped for words after remembering his gloomy look just before the party started. Ah, our eyes met. Els stopped his hands. He quickly brought the food into his plate and brought it to me. Mr. Talbot who was pushed aside looked quite lonely, but lets ignore it. [Youve been giving greetings all along, and havent eaten anything right? Here.] [Thank you. Youre quite attentive.] [It isnt a big deal. I am also quite fed up with such parties. You should be tired, and you have to keep talking when someone comes. Rest a bit already.] Eh- Was Els this kind of boy who could be so concerned? The original him and the current him, both is supposed to be a boy filled with thoughts only about the sword. Strange. [That doll, it is the one looking at me during the day, right?] Els glance was directed around my belly or in other words at Kajero in my arms. [It really is Altys.] (.so youve noticed. What a sense of smell.) Kajeros tone of voice was as if it is full of thorns. In Kajeros letter, Els was also called a guard dog. He is probably displeased of something about Els. But as if he didnt notice nor care about it, Els was unfazed as normal. [I can even smell the rain when Im in a good mood. I have confidence in my nose.] He even seems rather proud. [Well, we havent introduce ourselves yet, right? I am Elstat, the eldest son of the Rozerem duke.] (I am called Kajero. Ive heard a lot about you from Ojou-sama. By the way, why dont we talk by telepathy instead as it might seem strange to be seen talking to a doll.) [Actually, Ive been trying to do that many times, but it didnt go well. Can you teach me how to do it?] (Well let me think about it. After all I have a job to finish in my hands.) [Is it about the guy with the dangerous atmosphere?] (Yeah, the one that made you run away with tails between your legs.) Kajeros words was so provocative that it almost seems rude. If it was the Els from before, he would definitely retort with a red face. However- [He was really dangerous. It would have been bad if hed caught us.] He agreed in a matter of course fashion. (Hoit seems like I need to change my perception of you. Elstat-sama, I am sorry for my rude words and manner up to now.) [Dont worry about it. The me from yesterday and the me now would still have done the same thing.] (TL: this is confusing but I think he means that no matter what, he still would have taken Alty and run away then.) (What words of generosity. You have my gratitude. Elstat-sama now can properly distinguish between what you can and cannot do, and as the same people who would protect Ojou-sama, there is nothing more reliable than that.) [Thank you. But well, even if there is a fight, as I am now I dont think there is any chance for me to help. My strength is not enough.] I wonder if this is still the same Els. Without a care for the atmosphere and just wielding his sword, he would say without something like those dolls, I can just protect you alone! or so hed boast to the point of being admirable. [I can also use magic somewhat, so you can call me anytime if you need help.] (Of course. If Ojou-sama is in a pinch I might ask for your help again.) [Is that okay? It is a pretty important responsibility.] (Your sense of smell is quite something. We can rely on it to escape if there was danger.) [Dont flatter me. I am going to try my best to not disappoint you.] (I am relying on you.) Wait, this is such a sudden development far from my expectations. I can only blankly look in amazement at Kajero whose displeasing atmosphere had suddenly changed to as if Els was his brother-in arms for several years. Dont tell me they were lovers in their past life or something. Or maybe is this what they call mens world? (Even so, you have changed a lot since the last time in the city.) It is just as Kajero said. Els up to now was narcissistic and self-centered, and were he to grow up that way, he would definitely become the troublesome man just like in the game. Speaking of Els now, he has a calmer atmosphere than beforeI wonder why he somehow seems a bit like father. [A lot of stuff happened. I ran at a speed so fast that cant be seen by the eyes around the city. On top of that, I ran out of breath before Alty. I was so frustrated to the point that I couldnt stand it and fell asleep, so my mood got better after waking up. I had even thought of dying rather than admitting it.] . I didnt notice. While I was busy greeting with earls left and right, to think he thought up until that terrible point. [However, thats when Solute-san came to me.] (Hohou, Altirea-samas father, is it? Ive heard that he had been devoted to the sword since he was young.) [Aah, he was also the same as me. We talked about a lot of things. Thanks to that, I was able to sort out my feelings a little bit.] The Els, who said so while smiling brightly, seems even more mature than the 15 years old him whom I knew. Though he is still only 8 years old. . A little, really a little, but- He does seem a little cool. If according to the Otome game, the event of Elstat being consulted doesnt have any connection with me. Nevertheless, it is strange for a capture target to encounter such a transformative event without encountering the heroine yet. However, this is not the game. This is reality. There is no such thing as a capture target who cannot grow without the heroine. I think this is such an important issue that, if I could, I would have gone to my murky room and carefully think about it. And, [ Alty, Kajero be careful, he is coming.](Els) When Els noticed some movement the three of them went silent. Els natural noble smile instantly changed to that of a firm and flawless one. [? This is strange. It is the same presence this afternoon but the bad vibe isgone.](Els) (The dolls outside didnt see him enter. Is it some kind of *visual interference magic?)(Kajero) In the party venue, only the area around us is full of tension. And, [Wahaha, are the two of you enjoying the party?](Mr. Oblivious=u know who) Without knowing anything, the Rozerem duke came and asked in his mellow voice and expression. [Yes, it is very interesting as there are a lot of people that I dont usually get to meet.](Alty) I responded with a rigid expression while desperately squeezing out a fake smile. [That is wonderful . After all, destined meeting is more precious than any treasure . Actually, when I was lost in the streets earlier, I met a famous person . This must be a guidance from god, I just had to call out after all . Having such a surprising encounter like this really is suitable for a surprise party. I think it should be about timeC] Eeto*, can it be that Rozerem duke is really unaware that The Wandering Earl has already lived for a thousand years? Before I had the chance to ask. [Oh, here he comes. Ive been waiting.](Mr. Oblivious) Opening the door without a sound as if slipping through it, was the appearance of the earl * * [Having been invited to celebrate such a beautiful princess birthday really shows that the months and days of the thousand year is worth it after all.] It was a man with black eyes and long hair as if condensed by the darkness of the night. His skin, on the other hand, is white as the perpetual snow, but the contrast just makes his presence stronger. [Nice to meet you, Doll Princess. My name is Christophe du Vergennes or The Wandering Earl as you should have heard.] **Dressed in an old violet robe, he showed an old form of greeting from the old times and kneeled in front of me. His thoroughly elegant and graceful gestures that you cant help but want to sigh with admiration is enough proof that he is someone who has lived for over a thousand years. Now the leading role of the party has already switched from me to him. The other people werent able turn their eyes away from him. I was also not able to take my eyes away from him. However, it is not because of interest. It is because of shock. I never would have guessed that he would make a grand appearance and meet me face to face like this. My plans here and there around Spiril were completely laid waste. Could it be that he wants to make me his collection in front of the public like this? His distorted and greedy collection of confining variant talents forever in ice should be thoroughly hidden though. At least, it was like that in the game. The contradiction is like an absolute zero degree storm that chills my heart. My head cant keep up with this development. The Earl was still bowing his head and gently holding my left hand with his long fingers. [You might be confused by something so unexpected but may I hear your name, Princess?](W.E) I was still restless about all this, so much that I didnt recognize that his words were directed at me. [.Alty, snap out of it!](Els) The one who brought me back was Els. If Els didnt softly pull at my hand, I probably would still be standing here in a daze until the end of the world. [Yes, Els, I just go a little dazed. .. My apologies for showing you something unsightly. Earl, my name is Altirea Wisp, also known as The Doll Princess as you should have heard.](Alty) As I was saying that , I was desperately thinking of a solution in my mind. This is reality, not the game world. There are plenty of things that differ from my knowledge. The important thing to do is to face them one by one. (.Seems like you have finally calmed down.) I finally started to receive telepathy messages from Kajero again. You cant receive it if you are not calm. (Were finally able to change our strategy. All the dolls in town have been gathered here. Please do not worry about the safety of your father and the guests.) Looking around a bit, I can see that all the Rutia family members are on guard and ready to move at anytime. There are two cats near fathers leg. They are the ones that I brought on the carriage with me. Their always sleepy looking eyes are now wide open, and they had a cheeky and amusing grin on their faces. (Ojou-sama, you are not alone. Even if the world is to completely change and everyone wants your life. We will still be your ally to the very end. Please do not forget about that.) (. Thank you) Thats right. I am not alone. It is obvious. However, just putting it again in words somehow really warms up my heart. I stood facing the Earl. The Earl stood there as imposing as a tower. The earl is even a head taller than the large Rozerem duke, so I had no choice but to take a step back as I am still in the stature of a child. As if Id lose to him. I tightly hugged Kajero who is still in my arms. I looked back into his dark never ending abyss-like eyes that make others feel like their soul being sucked , as he is looking down towards me. I wanted to run away. However, Els gaze gave me courage. If I am lost about what to do, I can just rely on others. But that is even more reason to give my best. First is, U-n, lets find out the intentions of the other party. [Coming here for someone like myself, I am grateful to Earl .](Alty) Lets start by having a simple conversation. [No, no. It is me who should be grateful. Please let me worship your beauty and allow me to be devoted to your magic.](W.E) The earl changed the white shining agate ring on his left hand to his right hand. It might probably be a magic tool as it began to emit a dazzling light. Expecting it to come, I gave orders to the dolls [No , thats not it.](Els) I stopped after listening to Els words. [There isnt the bad vibe like during the day.](Els) As expected, it is exactly so. [This is an ancient magic to brandish, a magic from a long time ago, made for my beloved princess from the reformed part of a curse.](Yandere Earl) Saying that the Earl began to chant. It was neither a low creepy voice nor a heavy crushing voice.It was a light sonorous voice that was really pleasant to hear. Giving off an illusion as if one is watching a great opera, the magic itself is just too pure and beautiful. Then it revealed a miracle. [Snow] Someone voiced it out. Thats right. White snow was dancing around. Softly and gently falling on the ground. Right now, without knowing when, we are no longer in the [Hatoba Inn] but in a white silver world. There are only white plains every where as far as our eyes can see. [.Amazing](Els) Even Els whose hair has been standing up against the earl has his mind completely blown away. The sun is going down, illuminating the world in orange. After the setting sun left with a slight melancholy, night came to visit. A blue meteor crossed the sky. An aurora floats on the night sky, gradually changing color with a gentle shimmer. The earls expression was proud but somehow there is some dissatisfaction. Slightly moving his mouth, although it was faint but I was able to hear his voice. [How is it, my princess? This is the snow that you wanted to see.] What a familiar line. Aah, that ****drama CD. The one with the story of the young earl. ..Once upon a thousand years ago, when the earl was merely a knight of an empire. For the sake of his imprisoned princess, he used forbidden arts and became a demon. Eeto, how did the princess responded then? Didnt I listened to that CD even harder than when studying for the test? Recall it. Surely, it was [](Alty) With this, it should match up. Lets see what will happen. .The earls eyes were wide open. [Please do forgive me. If I am to let you feel the cold, Im afraid my head will be cut off.] [] This was the trigger. The earl then went towards the rebels side, and the revolution was a success which brought about the country today, but that is a different story. [Definitely, I swear with my soul.] The earls voice is trembling. Well, cant blame him for that. The words of the princess that shouldnt have been known to anyone, have been beautifully reproduced. After having the earl be surprised over and over again, I am a bit happy as Im finally able to make a come back at him although it is such a small victory. Was it too much? The earls shoulders were trembling and both of his eyes were tightly shut. Nononono, it is not to the point of crying.. I think. Even in the story, most of the twists are often about the late princess feelings. Seems like my fooling around has stimulated the earls sentimental wound. Thats right. Would he just dejectedly go home like that? Well, that would be a development I am most hoping for. I wonder whether me thinking of such a sweet thing, is wrong. [C Altirea-sama](Earl) The Earl was kneeling down. It was different from before. His head is hitting the ground. This posture is as if he is licking my feet. [As expected, you are my princess reincarnation. The words just now have already confirmed it. Though with this body that have fallen towards the *****netherworlds magic, can I please have the honor of serving you once againC?] Author: Next is the nights schedule. By the way, the original Altireas talent was not that much and she didnt enter the earls eye at all. CH 13 TL:Kourii Editor:Raven Chapter 13 My understanding cant keep up at the moment. A reincarnator? Me? Just what happened that it has become this way? Altirea isnt supposed to have a setting like that. Its true that I do have a previous life, but I wasnt someone like the imprisoned princess as I was only a normal high school girl in modern day Japan. [Please raise your head, Earl. I am not the reincarnate of Finel-sama.](Alty) [If that is the case, then how did you know about the conversation that only I and the princess knew about?](W.E) . So thats why. By accidentally murmuring the lines in the drama CD, I seems to have created a misunderstanding. While I am still thinking of how to solve this misunderstanding , Kajero sent me an telepath message. (Princess, I have something to ask you.) I wonder just what it is that he wanted to ask me. (What kind of person is Finel-sama?) It was such an unexpected question that I couldnt immediately respond. To think that Kajero didnt know about the story behind the creation of this kingdom- (By any chance, did you mean Rustiyu princess?) (Kajero) Un, thats right. Dont tell me the fact that her name when held captive was Finel, and that she was renamed as Rastiyu when rescued, which is supposed to be common sense for fans, is such an insane thing for the people of this world. It seems like its true. [Moreover, to think you would utter her childhood name that had been forgotten long ago by the people. As expected you little lady really are my princess.] (Earl) The earls reasoning has gone completely off the track. Wha-what should I do? Its not like I dont think his determined expression is a little nice, but in the end his feeling is not directed to the real me. It is a little sad but I just dont want to deceive him in such a way. Well, I just cant think of a good way to explain. If i dont reason with him properly and he went into combat mode, then that will be very troublesome. In addition, the staff in Rune Knight Concerto once said in an interview Cthat Altirea is a little too pitiful and that they would make her a little better in the fan disks and portable version. Then the possibility of an extra setting as Rastiyu princess reincarnate added later, is not completely zero either. I am really at my wits end. Perhaps telling Kajero about my previous life in modern day Japan might have been a good idea, but that is a little too late. Els, the Rozerem duke, and also everyone around me seems to be in spectator mode already. (TL: it means they are all only watching the show and seeing what will happen.) Just when I am cornered with no way out, the one who came to my rescue was [This talk concerns the future of Alty, so would you mind if I let myself in this talk?](Altys hero) A gentle voice that doesnt seem like it belong to a 40 years old man and a pair of slender long legs. Father, wonderful.! [Yaa, Chris. Seems like your complexion is bad as usual.](Solute) As if towards a friend he hasnt met in a long time, fathers word was like an open-hearted complain. Just as I was thinking if it wasnt too frank- [Sloute-dono. Were you also invited here?](Earl) The earl gave his usual earl-like answer. [Nothing like invited, your beloved princess is my daughter you know. Please do try to recall the family name.](Solute) [Wisp. Aah, I see.](Earl) [You really havent changed at all huh. Though there is usually no chance to see you at all as you just seem to disappear somewhere.](Solute) By the time I noticed, I was already completely left out of the conversation. Well, that did save me but there is one thing I am curious about. [Are father and Earl acquaintances?](Alty) [Aah, we used to be in a party together for quite some time when I was an adventurer. Even if its like that, we really only did 2 or 3 quests together. I still remember what he said when he joined our guild, and it was something like I want to make sure whether Solute-donos ability is deserved to be acknowledged as a variant talent. ] (Solute) Father, you perhaps didnt notice then but that was a very dangerous signal. The earl sometimes get close to the person themselves to determine whether to ice-pickle them or not. This was in the game story but it was the 15 years old Elstat(before the game took place) who he went with to search the labyrinth. In other words, if father took just one wrong step, then he would be in the ice right now, and it is possible that I wouldnt have been born [Chris, you said you wanted to serve my daughter?](Solute) [Aah, I merely want to be a knight and swear my loyalty to the princess again.](Chris) [On behalf of my daughter, thank you. As a parent, I am also honored. However, it is so sudden that even Alty is quite stumped. Would you mind if you have a talk with me another time instead?] (Solute) *[Fumuthe princess also seems to has just unexpectedly remembered the past. I have been too impatient. Acknowledged, I will do as you say.](Chris) Aah- things seem to have finally settled down. The main problem seems to have only been postponed, but it really saved me as now I have some time to think of a counter measure. The earl stood up with a flow of movement as if he doesnt feel the weight at all, and just outright left the place. [Aa- Earl, is a moment fine with you? This shouldnt be something to say as this is my first time meeting you, But I got my position as the main managing officer in court to consider you see.](R.D) That is the government position of law enactment and enforcement, kind of like the chief justice of the supreme court or like the minister of justice. [From that perspective, I just want to give you an advice. If you were to serve Alty-kun then your uncertain position and territory will surely be a problem.](R.D) Such an insignificant story, cant you just save it for next time? Just as things are properly falling into place, please dont be so obtrusive duke-sama. [Duke Vergennes territory is already merged with the Rasilez since 800 years ago. Strictly speaking, there is no longer such knight known by the name Vergennes Earl.](R.D) There is also something like this on a certain story bulletin board. CThe arrest of the self-proclaimed homeless unemployed wandering earl(1000) due to **underage prostitution prevention ordinance. I remember that there should be such info written here and there. [First things first, if its fine with you, you could go to the Rasilez duke to have your territory backC](R.D) [That is not needed. To bring up relationship between individual in politics will only bring about corruption.](Earl) The earl once again used a polite tone to talk unlike when he was talking with father. Well, of course since the position of the Rozerem duke is higher than him, that is only natural. [To be known as an earl is already a funny story, but lets say I go back to being a normal knight. What do you say?](Earl) [No, that is also a problem. You can just go through with a baptism by the church in the past, but now you have to undergo a training course at the imperial city. .how about enlisting in the knight academy as a proposal?](R.D) This is bad. Do you even know what you are saying? Rozerem duke, did you perhaps drink too much wine? Or is it part of the calculations of the man who have survived years of trickeries surrounding the court? Father also once said that the most scary out of the courts official is the Rozerem duke. Cmy greatest fortune in life is to have him as my childhood friend. It cant be like that, right? Un- unbelievable, unbelievable. Maybe * * About the previous case. It seems like 6 months after that, a youth with a bad complexion named Chris Dje enrolled in the knight academy. Calm and composed unbefitting of a 15 years old, having deep wisdom and insight, and able to free use the lost sword skill of the ancient empire, he quickly became the center of attention once again. His identity is.. seems like I dont have to tell you. The appearance seems to have been changed a little by magic. In addition to whether I will accept him or not. Actually if I were to use him, he doesnt really have to be a knight. [It is part of a mans pride to be bound by appearances. Please find it in you to forgive me. Princess, when I have wonderfully been qualified as a knight, I would once again appear before you.](Earl) Or so things seem to be. Putting his thoughts aside, I would definitely prefer the state that the wandering earl would ,in his stable job as a knight, be as busy as possible that he cant even move his feet at all. To be neatly qualified. As long as he doesnt overlap me with his princess when looking at me..Un well, I guess that is not happening . Somehow it feels like the first step is finally done. Author: Inside story part 1 Earl vs Altirea, the winner is Alty with a slight advantage. The earl was out without even having gotten serious. Inside story part 2 Father Solute+ Rozerem duke+ Kajero as a team fighting seriously equals 90% victory. **TL note: *the line here is spoken with a unique way, kind of like the ancient samurai way of speaking. With fumu this fumu that as affirming sign. Well, kinda like Akatsuki way of speaking in Log Horizon. **This is killing me. Kinda like a crimes term or whatever it is. The original is δзֹǴ. CH 14 Chapter 14 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven Author: In a place Altirea is unaware of, the encounter of the two that shouldnt have met took place. The knight doll Walf got up then shook off the doctor dolls who were stopping him, and directly ran out of the Doll house. (The Princess, shes in danger!)Walf Seems like a really bad guy is targeting the princess, such information was sent by the guys at Spiril. The guys name was Wandering Earl. Since he has an Earl to his name , he must be a noble. But a noble who has a such a habit of wandering around must definitely be a bad guy. Stop fooling around and properly look after your territory already. (Try your best, Walf!)Doll knight 1 (Fight for our share too!)Doll knight 2 (Bring back some souvenirs!)Doll knight 3 (TL: lol that last line XD) Looking back towards the window of the second floor, the other knights were waving their hands at him. (Leave it to me!)Walf Walf responded back while raising his right arm that was holding a bright red sword as if it is made from the flames of a phoenix. The knight dolls cheered in exhilaration and the other dolls from the Doll house joined the fray. The servants of the mansion tilted their heads in confusion over the sudden cheers from the dolls. Well since it was nothing new, they just went back to work. Walf didnt ride a horse. He is faster the way he is right now. (Everyone, thank you.)Walf After yesterdays mock battle the knights order were still in a bad shape. However, not being able to do anything when The Princess is in danger is a disgrace to their knights honor, so they decided to entrust their powers to the one with the least amount of injuries, Walf. Walf sprinted through the Trice highway in the night while kicking up strong gales and whirlwinds. However, he was also careless as he went in a totally opposite way from Spiril. He went deep into the forest to the south of Rasilez territory. Where he found The Elf Kingdom after recklessly passing through an odd door. [This country is being trampled by the evil orcs. Please help us oh other world yuusha-sama](Elf) (TL: yuusha= hero.) The princess is important but ignoring those who are in need of help is not something a knight would do. (Understood, leave it to me)Walf Walf used the red sword in his right hand to burn all the orcs until they were brown. It was an unprecedented massacre. (Im in a hurry, so Im leaving.)Walf The hero who did things like a demon lord left. All of this only took place in about 5 seconds. Because of the unexpected detour Walf started to run anxiously. On the way, a lot of things happened. He saved a village that was being attacked by monsters. Took sick children to the city doctor. The mushrooms found on the nearby sideways were delicious. Walf didnt notice but he had already passed by Spiril at least ten times. And so after a 30 minute long journey, he finally arrived before the enemy who he was supposed to defeat. The figure of The Earl walking as if blending into the darkness. As you wouldnt even notice if he was right in front of you. Hed definitely caused a lot of harm to the people. As expected, this Earl is a bad guy. * * (I wonder if that duke is an eccentric or a profound schemer.)Earl After leaving the avenue of Hatoba Inn, The Earl was in deep thought while treading on the Trice highway. The thoughts that were occupying his head right now were not of his beloved princess, but with a *head smaller than his own*, and with a physique that is regarded as large in the present time. (TL:Here he doesnt literally mean R. Dukes head is smaller but its his own wisdom hes talking about like his wisdom is superior than the R. Duke.) Hydraus Rozerem. At first he almost considered that as an insult. That why would one who have lived such a long time as himself would have to receive such training. (However, he is also one of the Rozerem family.)Earl A large family whose members were good at scheming. In particular, the first Rozerem duke who hed known well while fighting under the same flag, Kalbores Rozerem. A rare matchless counselor. Kalbores words that might sound like hes joking, all had its own purpose. He couldnt help but think of it this way. (That Hydraus too should have his own foresights. No, he definitely does.)Earl The earl firmly believed that. (Is it so that I wont become a bother to the princess, that I have to learn the common sense of this era? Nay, it should be an unexpected motive even for me. At times like this, it would be great if you were here.)Earl The one who comes to mind was his heartfelt friend wielding a brilliant sword of fire, Wald Stable. The current Stable royal familys founding king aka Flame Sword Emperor. The founder of the current existing country of a thousand years legacy was unbelievably a simple and pleasant man. While the earl was thinking of such trivial things, he let out a hearty laugh. (Only if you were to be reborn like the princess.)Earl Just as he was thinking that. The earl received a surprise attack that hit him in two different ways. First was the enemy that was approaching from the horizon at almost the speed of light. As expected from the earl, it was not something he couldnt correspond to. Moreover, it was the sword of the said person, that should no longer exists in this world. Flame sword. A weapon shaped by flames from the crown until the edge of the blade, given only to Wald Stable as a blessing from a very high class fire spirit. Being in a state of shock, the earl forgot to make his move. He didnt even manage a simple defense as sheilding with his arm to protect his body. The flame sword hit exactly on the earls forehead. *Pechin*. (TL: just sound effect.) * * As a matter of fact, the knight doll Walf having made it here after the journey, had already run out of power. By the way, his name Walf, is actually derived from the founding emperor, Wald. As for the flame sword, it was something he copied using the old tale as reference, as hes always loved it. (Could the high spirit who contracted Wald actually be me?)Walf Or so were the thoughts of Walf as his memories before he was given a physical body were vague and confusing. Lets go back to the story. The place had an indescribable lukewarm atmosphere to it. With not enough magic power being given to support the flame sword, it fell to the ground with a *pechin*. Just like a shriveled banana. The Earls brow was raised upwards with a puzzled expression. In addition, even worse- (Walf-sama, did you hear? The earl is no longer our enemy. Please refrain from carelessly attacking.)Spiril knight doll The message arrived from the knights in the trade city Spiril. If only it were to come a few seconds faster This awkward situation could have been avoided. It is a tragedy. At his wits end, Walf remembered the oath of the doll knights. Forcibly trying to disguise it. (Wahahahahaha!!)Walf He arrogantly lifted his arm up and let out a loud laugh. (My name is knight doll Walf, the one who will become the doll emperor.) Walf This was the opening line of the Flame Sword Emperor that Walf used to read long ago. He hope to inspire himself after saying it. (Ive specifically come here to explain things to you today.) Walf (TL: here he use kisama as you in a rude speech. While the rest ꤹ٤ϤĤޤĤäas in a polite speech.) He misused the polite speech but this is not the time for it. He was spitting out words like a tornado. (Although youve named yourself as earl, but didnt you just lose your the territory as a result of abandoning the people? To call yourself a noble is presumptuous! Start over from the knights Academy!)Walf Aah, just as he remembered that there isnt any knight academy a thousands years ago, but it was too late as the words were already out. The earl was looking towards him with a restless look in his eyes. This is bad. Now that hes dropped the flame sword, even if he was ice-pickled here, he wouldnt be able to resist. Yoshi. Oath of the knights part 2. Its just tactical retreat , definitely not running away. * * Wasnt that the same line that his friend used to say? In addition, that flame sword. It was not the first time that his friend used the sword, that he should be thankful for, to do something like cutting vegetables or even hitting others shoulders. In this manner, he also used to play around stopping the magic supply and using it to slap others in the face too. .Aah, thats it, thats it, so thats it. (TL: it really is three times here as the author used souka like 3 times so) Not as a human but a knight doll. Such was the conclusion from the earls brain chemical reaction. All the dolls gathered at the Hatoba Inn are those with matchless powers. In particular, those two cat dolls under Solutes feet who looked like ruffians. (The presences similar to the Gragri brothers that I cornered and disposed of 600 years ago was actually the real deal huh.)Earl In other words, (The dolls that my princess created, I wonder if all of them are the heroes of the previous era.)Earl Now that he has arrived to such a hypothesis. (Then doesnt this mean that I dont have to collect variant talents anymore?)Earl Hed prepared competent human beings for the princess to use when she would be reborn but (What should I do from now on?)Earl Actually, it was already clear for the earl. (Didnt my friend tell me just then?)Earl It is certainly true. He had abandoned the responsibilities of a noble and just continued on playing that way. (So now do I still deserve to serve the princess?)Earl No. He has to discard the arrogance of having lived a thousand years and start over from beginning. Aah, my friend. No matter how long much has time passed, you are still the same. To think you would guide me when I had fallen in the darkness. Understood. As per Duke Rozerems proposal, lets do just that. * * The result The decision to graduate the knight academy again to regain a new homage was made. Altirea received 6 years of postponement. And the knight doll Walfs achievement remained unknown. Author: Next is the first part is the epilogue and the second part is the prologue. The characters who appeared have increased so maybe I will also do an introduction. TL note: okay, the Names in italics are the speaker and the earls thought is put in brackets. CH 15 Chapter 15 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven Author: This is part 1 Epilogue. After the earl, Rozerem duke and Elstat left, I tried to draw a conclusion about the events that happened tonight Ive come to Fathers room. I wonder if its because of what happened today. Fathers normal limpid expression is a little cloudy at the moment. [Alty, tomorrow I have to go back to work, and the next time we meet will probably be at spring.](Father) The season has changed, as if to signal our return from the trade city Spiril. The concert of the insects are no longer audible and only the sound of strong gales reverberated. [Before that, lets have a proper talk about your future.](Father) The Future. Its probably about the Magic Academy. Anyhow, its a topic that has been subtle for a long time. One is supposed to enter the Magic Academy by the age of 12 , But I have no such intentions. The Magic Academy is an institute that teaches general magic, and definitely wont bolster towards any other fields. Rather its can also be called crushing the rest of the fields. It was also written in the story that,The more you learn general magic, The more your unique magic lessened . Moreover in my case, I am in an even more awkward situation as I am totally unfit for general magic. Lets take a look at The original Altirea. Although, she spent so much effort in learning general magic until she was at the level of barely able to use doll magic, for all that effort what she got in return was a barely passable title as A magic user. The nickname Doll Princess is still half a point better than The excellency Dukes daughter. In short, I have no benefits whatsoever if I enter the magic academy. However, that is against the common sense of the nobles. These kinds of objection would normally come flying. Before going to the magic academy, as a dukes daughter shouldnt I have the least ability so as to not put the family in shame? The answer to that has already been long prepared. I am also aiming for it, using my doll magic. The knights order protects the safety of the people by hunting dangerous monsters. Kajero also played a huge role in maintaining order and security in Spiril. Even the other dolls have achieved a lot. To damage this talent, isnt it like betraying The People, The Land and The Country? How about it? This much should be able to convince you , right?? If this still doesnt work, lets show him the gloves that I made yesterday. I can use general magic if I have this. Its because there are spirits dwelling in them. I also have another hidden card. You can also say Im thoroughly prepared. It was also the same with the Rozerem duke and the earl. I was already prepared before hand. .But everything was blown away by the unexpected situation. It is like that this time too. Fathers statement was totally unexpected. [Actually, Im going to be stationed at The Malgaroid kingdom in the near future. Why dont you come along with me , Alty? Over there is the headquarters of Alchemy, and you can also improve your doll magic there. I also want to see Tourus.](Father) The future he talked about is actually even nearer than I had thought. N? Malgaroid? The Alchemy kingdom Malgaroid! It is located west across the sea the Sister kingdom. It is the kingdom that is said to be created by the empires second princess in order to avoid the conflicts 800 years ago, and the two country have completely been on friendly terms . There are also a lot of migration of the nobility between them.Also ,my brother Tourus is currently studying there. Its a thing I cant even hope for. I originally wanted to learn alchemy. So , that I can try to make a life-sized doll and even a mechanical doll. I am going there now!! I want to go. Please let me go there. Such a thing as the magic academy is already completely scattered from my mind. * * Solutes POV: I wasnt able to tell you today too. Seeing you so excited over studying at Malgaroid, I thought that such a arrangement is good for now. There is actually one more thing I havent told you. You dont have to go to the magic academy. Just work on improving your talent. Im not that obliged to make you go the magic academy. Even I just worked as an adventurer. I didnt even learn a single general magic. By applying such unique magic, it just became a make-believe general magic. But I wasnt able to say it. In what way would your life be like , by not going to the academy. I am scared and I am not even able to imagine it. In the end, I am still a normal parent. I want my children to be where I can to see them when I like. A big difference to you who have sent out your dolls to different places. Honestly, I expect great things from my child. If Shuara was alive or I was to remarry, I wonder if itll be different. I just want to become an even more respectful parent for you. But Ill keep these concerns to myself. I have to be strong in front of my children. I guess it is probably what you call a parents, no, a mans self respect. Author: Tourus and Malgaroid have been brought up once in chapter 7. Next I will probably include the characters introduction too. CH 16 Chapter 16 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven, Kourii Author: Alty got carried away. The me from two years ago was too distracted. Even though I had the complete knowledge of the original story, but it was of no use. Elstat has changed to a spirited noble youth thanks to Father. I was an idiot to avoid him thinking that he was a boy who couldnt forget his dream. The Earl raised a white flag after mistaking me for someone else. Even though I asked the mole doll-kun to dig an underground labyrinth as a precaution for a head on battle. However, The current ten year old me is different. Fufufu. Having just come to The Alchemy Kingdom Malgaroid, I definitely wont sigh while lamenting [Memories of my previous life have become totally useless]. However,Malgaroid is in fact the hometown for one of the capture target, the genius alchemist *Phillka Louivas. The 18 years old him, isnt in the empire yet. He is still at his home. Moreover, the Louivas house is a distant branch descended from the Wisp house, and it was decided that I am going to be staying there. In other words, we would seeing each other often no matter what. Feel free to fully use your knowledge of the original story! I felt like hearing that voice from heaven. * * [It really is a great to have such a reliable assistant. Thanks to **Imouto-dono, my research is progressing well.] Guess who :p (K: Imouto = little sister.More info in the notes below.) Phillka-san has just returned to the workshop after finishing his lecture at the Royal Medicine Academy. Phillka-san is a very close friend of ***Tourus-niisama because of that he also started to call me as Imouto-dono. [Twenty Green potions, all are of good quality. With this I can probably start the experiment.]Phillka Phillka-san is said to be grumpy and eccentric and that he would not let anyone enter his workshop. Including Tourus-niisama. However, the reason Im allowed to intrude here is because Im something like a disciple. [Its way too hot outside.] Phillka His expressions are hard to read as usual, but seems like he is in a good mood. [I would have been dehydrated, if it wasnt for the water spirit pendant you gave me.]Phillka Being able to tell a joke like this which wasnt his forte, seems like a good change. Or so I feel lately. [At this rate, how about you just move to my country? If you need someone to look after you, just let my house take care of it. The empire is too cramped for Imouto-dono, isnt it?]Phillka Im sure this is just flattery used to foster me up, but still things like this makes me happy. Im flattered. Lets do my best. * * The setting of Phillka Louivas in the game was A 23 years old special lecturer of the empires magic academy. A genius alchemist from Malgaroid kingdom whose clever eyes that seem to see through anything that grabbed hold a lot of hearts of the female students. His route was him giving advice to the original heroine often from his experience on the up and downs of life. From the bearing of the so called adult. It wouldve been great to be able to switch to Phillka-sans route was what was usually said on a certain bulletin board. But then theRune Knight Concertdidnt end there.The love route of Phillka laid a ridiculous bomb. At first it was okay. Seeing his clumsy approach as someone who has never been in love and lose his composure while doing a major confession would probably make you grin ear to ear. But that way is even more dangerous. He got the ****Deredere illness. (Kourii: lol deredere= Yandere. I dont have to explain what yandere is do I?) To the point of burning with jealousy at the heroine who only just greeted other boys. It was still fine until he asked to quit the academy and get married. If the answer is, yes then its a happy ending. If the answers no? Then its impetuous abduction and confinement. What happens after that is a heart breaking horror story just because of a wrong choice. If you knew this you would definitely try to stay away from Phillka. No matter how much of an alchemist genius he is, there is no way you would want to get close. I didnt do so because there is a route that ends as being friends. The heroine who received advice from Phillka became a great alchemist who had her name listed in history aka Another End. It isnt like I really want to master alchemy but the theme of his research is significantly related to the field of my doll magic. If I can learn about it then I would definitely do it. And so, I am acting in the direction that results in Another End. The important thing is to make sure that I dont trigger a love flag. The solitary genius Phillka wanted a person who would pamper him from the bottom of his heart. If I were to show something like maternal love or tolerance then Im out. Lightly and smilingly exchange a few words, and meticulously doing my best with alchemy. Also carefully keeping a distance. It was also helpful that we used to be of the same house and he is my brothers best friend. I quickly became Phillka-sans assistant. The people of the academy seems to have been taken aback. After all, Phillka-san never hired a maid or set up a booth because of extreme dislike of people is a well-established fact. Are you dating Phillka Louivas? Its not once or twice that Id been asked that. No, no, no way, no way. Unbelievable. I absolutely dont have such thoughts. Whats more Im only ten years old. An 18 years old probably couldnt care less about me. Even if he were to lose control and confess to me, Id already decided a nice refusal line I think of myself as a younger sister to you. I have never thought of you as a man. * * The me at that time was as if I had a flower garden in my head. It was probably due to the incident of Elstat and The Earl being smoothly resolved. Because of that, I was mistaken. That the capture targets werent that scary. I was stupid. That there was no reason the story of the 15 years old heroine and 23 years old Phillka, would also apply to the 10 years old me and the 18 years old Phillka. Incidentally, I had unconsciously applied the common sense of marriage and love from my previous life to this world. [Ojou-sama should probably pay more attention to the feelings of the people around you a bit more.]Kajero Perhaps, Kajero noticed the sense of crisis much earlier than me. Also, Cactus-kun probably did too. After all, he was picking me with his thorns as if he was trying to tell me something. Think carefully again, this might be what he wanted to say. Author: Next is regarding the worries of the young Phillka. Translator notes: *The name in Romajiե륫?륤凉 **Imouto-dono. While imouto means sister, dono is like a way to address people in Japanese in a polite way mostly unique to Samurais way of addressing others. From what I know the address suffix come like this: -sama=>-dono=>-san=>-kun/-chan, depending on the degree of closeness between the speaker and the person.( well, I could be wrong but whatever.) ***Oniisama or niisama is a very polite way of calling your big brother in Japanese. Since Alty is a noble she calls her brother that, like the way Rukia calls Byakuya in Bleach xp. ****Yandere is err how to explain this. I think the the perfect way to understand the deepness of this word is to watch and observe the heroine of the anime calledAhh was it Miraiyuuki diary?( I forgot the name orz) Question Time: *1st: Should I change Imouto-dono to A.little sister-dono or B.just little sister? (Answer with Yes A or Yes B or just no please.) (FYI, I always like to keep the adressing as it is, because it is in its own way a part of each the characters personality and uniqueness. If you were to take it out then the story would in my opinion drop in uniqueness. Well, this is just my preference.) CH 17 Chapter 17 Author: By no means this restless feeling is love. Ive heard about Imouto-dono from Taurus relentlessly. The beauty of humans all arrive to one point, and my research is about The Creation of Perfect Life is to be brought to realization. This was probably thought as an overestimation by my family and the topic was always dropped halfway, whenever I brought it up. [Nice to meet you, I am called Altirea Wisp.] Alty The girl who came from the East Empire was exactly the one Tourus only praised about. Her hair shined as if it was gold in it, and skin so white that makes you doubt if she really was born from the womb like others. Or so I say but she isnt to the point of being incomparably beautiful among the neighboring young ladies. Should be among the more beautiful ones, Id say. By the way, the top of the most beautiful is the woman knight drawn in a certain painting. However, regarding spiritual and reality there is a clear line. [The reason Ive come here is to learn alchemy.]Alty Her eyes shone with a strong determination as if they are made out of jewelry. The me who thought She is just a child who tagged along with her father to play. was completely taken surprised when I heard that. [I want to broaden my knowledge other than my doll magic. Also, I think Phillka-sama will also recieve benefits by teaching me .]Alty [What do you mean?]Phillka At the moment we were on the second floor of our mansion in the royal capital. The mild sunlight makes the corridor shine. [All of my doll move on their own free will. They will surely be helpful if you want to create life. Please look over there.]Alty Looking over at where she was pointing at, my eyes widen with surprise from what I saw . There are over twenty fluffy dogs, tanukis(racoons), and other creatures in my house. The garden looks like an animal village in the fairy tales. They were always tottering here and there under the shade of the tree when sunlight was hot. But today was different. They are doing something theyve never done before. Swoosh, swoosh. The sound of footsteps There was no disorder. Across the garden, they werent disorganized and were in orderly ranks. From bears to rabbits, big and small animals are marching while keeping their pace. What, is this. Its as if Ive entered a fairy tale. Two dogs were leading in front . There were also dolls who were riding on their backs. On the left was a knight who was holding a bright red sword. On the right was black robed gentleman. Before long the march was divided into two. The knight side and the gentleman side passed by each other at a distance that looked like almost bumped into each other. At that moment, the gentleman turned and glanced towards this way. It is magnificent isnt it? I felt like Id heard that voice. [What is this.]Alty The one who muttered in disbelief was actually the owner of the dolls, Altirea. [Hm, didnt you order them to do this?]Phillka [I just told them to get along with the animals and surprise Phillks-sama though.] Alty [Not to march like an army to the residence.] Alty The animals at my house are only tamed by me and my mother. Its surprising enough that they were tamed but to think they would listen to the dolls. [To draw the attention of the owner by violating the order. Aah, Imouto-dono has such good servants.] Phillka While speaking with the bearings of a genius, I actually was desperately suppressing the urge to shout out loud. Magic dolls are only able to follow simple orders from their owners. They cant think nor move by their own will. This is no longer in the same league of doll magic. Imouto-dono might have unconsciously touched one of the mysteries of alchemy, the creation of life. The other day, I recall Solute-dono did ask for my opinion on Imouto-donos magic. Agreed. The empire which would crush talented individuals to keep the peace would never have someone to measure this power. [..About teaching you alchemy, would you let me think about it ?]Phillka Me putting on airs again, what a bad habit of mine. Actually, I really want to take her in as disciple. I was always alone ever since I was born. Due to my unbeatable talent in alchemy, my relations with family fell apart and I ended up unable talk with other people. The ones around me are only animals, weirdos, and those woman who are aiming for the position of the genius alchemist wife. I would surely live my life alone and die alone. Id already decided that. But Ive finally found another genius. One who is the same as me. .I was so happy that I couldnt help but to boast about it to my pen pal. At the beginning, it was pure joy . Nevertheless, I wonder when that changed. The gentleman doll seems to be called Kajero. He came here as he was worried about her. (Ojou-sama, this is a book about the story of the earlier Phillka-sama that was found alongside the old book store in the outskirts of the royal capital.)Kajero (Thank you, Kajero. .Phillka-san, have you ever bought it to read?)Alty I might have to make a deal with the doll or so I was told through telepathy. (Umu, I also want to get my hands on one if possible.)Phillka (I predicted you would say that. It has already been arranged. It would be delivered to the workshop by tomorrow.)Kajero (As expected of Kajero. By the way, that frayed spot on your sleeves, what happened?)Alty (I was dragged into a fight of a stray dog and a girl.)Kajero (Come here for a bit. Ill fix it for you.)Alty Between Imouto-dono and Kajero or the other dolls, the inseparable relationship they share seems to exceed even that of a master-servant relationship. Im really envious. There was also my family, although it has been helplessly broken apart, it did exist. Im really envious, terribly enviousCor so I thought. I too, want to become a doll. I want to only think of you, to become the only one for you, to be praised by you. I want bonds. Lock you in some narrow place somewhere, so that we could only see each other, and melt there together forever. What a disgusting and selfish feeling. It really makes me want to bang my head on the ground and smash my brain out. I took a few deep breath to hold down that urge. [I didnt think that you would be able to create a golem on the first month.]Phillk [Its because Phillka-san is good at teaching.]Alty It was after returning from the Louivas residence from the workshop. It was already late into the night. [Then, good night.]Alty Altirea turned her back and walked away. Really makes me want to grab her small shoulders and drag her into my room. (..Please have a good night. Phillka-sama.)Kajeeo As I was thinking that, Kajero gazed at me and it was so sharp as if penetrating me. Kajero was standing behind me and also looking at Altys back. As if a loyal subject protecting the princess. No, it was exactly that. (Aah, good night. Also, thank you.)Phillka Thanks to you, I have refrained myself from committing mistakes again today. Author: Next is the story of the sister who suddenly came back home unexpectedly. **TL Note: Points you might be confused about in this chapter. 1. They are in Phillkas mansion like house in Malgaroids royal capital. The mansion has a garden that has lots of animals that are tamed by only Phillka and his mother. 2. The dolls, Walf and Kajero, tamed the animals and led them on a march not that the dolls themselves are marching. Kourii: Sorry if this chapter is confusing as even I have to read it a few times to really understand some lines. CH 18 Chapter 18 Phillka-san has a younger sister. It wasnt shown in the game but I remembered it because it was a hot topic on the WEB radio program. The voice actor and scenario writer who went as guests got carried away and leaked out all kinds of settings. For exampleC A girl with an awe-inspiring manly appearance which can be mistaken for a handsome boy. She was probably even more of an *ikemen than her big brother Phillka (TL: ikemen=handsome man). Having been taught the two-handed sword and spear school by a mysterious elder living outside the royal capital, she was already at the expert level at the age of 14. In order to deliver the elders, her masters, remains back to his family, she took her talking falcon and crossed the ocean. That was when she was 15 years old. Although she came back to the Louivas house at 17 years old, she then quickly went on a warriors training journey. Since she isnt supposed to appear in the story , she can do everything recklessly. Thats why I was really looking forward to it when I found out that I was going to be staying in the Louivas house. [If youre talking about my sister then she already went somewhere. Its already been two years.](Phillka) I tried asking whether he had a little sister after looking after the fire into the alchemy furnace in the workshop while waiting for the white potion to cool down. Phillka-san who talked with his eyes down looked as if he was lamenting about something. Wanting to cheer him up, I said: [Its okay. She will definitely come back.](Alty) As expected I couldnt say [Shell be back shortly]. [Fumu, Hearing this from the demon eyed doll princess, it will definitely be true.](Phillka)[.Whats with that?](Alty)[The merchants who came from the empire told me about it. It seemed like imouto-dono predicted Mr. Talbots death or something like that.](Phillka) Ee-to. The name Talbot does ring a bell.. Aah! At the party when the earl appeared two years ago! I told him that he would die if he didnt pay attention to his health though. Just how did such a thing happen, I wonder. [Its mostly just exaggeration you know.](Alty) Phillka-san smirked .He seems to be making fun of me. [Is it just rebuking him for eating too much?](Phillka)[Yes. He seemed to like Karaage very much.](Alty)[I heard it is very delicious. There are even people who rode the ship to the empire just to eat it. I also want to try it once.](Phillka)[Shall we try making it?](Alty)[Hou- Imouto-dono is also interested in cooking. What a surprise. I heard that Karaages recipe is not told to outsider though.](Phillka)[Well, I was the one who taught the guys at the Hatoba Inn.](Alty)[Wha-](Phillka) Phillka-san was thunderstruck . His glasses fell off to the ground due to that. Its because the balance of the lens and frame is bad. It still needs improvement. [No, this is possible as imouto-dono was the one who created such a wonderful tool. Its as expected.](Phillka) Perhaps because of always reading books in dark places, Phillka-san had become nearsighted. Though the people of this world knew about using lens to make things seem bigger, it seems like the idea to further use it to correct vision irregularities havent been discovered yet. I told that to Phillka-san. As expected of the genius alchemist, he developed glasses in no time. However, Phillka-san was supposed to develop eyeglasses when he is twenty years old in the original story. I do feel a little guilty for stealing his discovery. I would also like to invite Phillka-sans parents who I have been troubling to dinner together , so I tried asking whether meat dishes was okay. But his father was too busy with work that we cant even meet. Saying that we should go home first. As for his mother, she said she wasnt feeling well and has withdrawn to her room. Phillka-san also said something like This is a critical point. and went away since early in the morning and was supposed to come back late at night. I guess karaage is going to be put off for a while. Was what I thought at that point. Thats when I heard that Phillka-sans sister was coming back. The source of the information was the staff in the mansion. It seems like Phillka-san and his parents had already known about it. I am feeling a little uncomfortable. Its hard to put it into words but this atmosphere is not the feeling of welcoming her back after two years. Its almost as if they are avoiding it all together. Just what is going on? CH 19 Translator: Kourii Editor: Raven Chapter 19 Returning from the workshop, leaving cactus-kun and saying good night No way!! Today Its not going to be my routine. What are you talking about? Im not much of an understanding others type of person. If you really want something, all you have to do is to repeat the task till you achieve it. Although it might not be good to stay up late as I am ten years old, well overlook it for once. Even though the sun had already set, summer in Malgaroid is very hot. If you open the window, the hot air would suffocate you. Im glad that I made the water pendant the other week, because of that I can more or less bear it. The sky looked as if a bottle of milk has been spilled on it. The night sky was filled with so many stars, that it seemed as if they would come crashing down. What had been called as The Milky Way in my previous life, is known as The Flames of the Sky here in Malgaroid. According to the legends, it was said that the surface was once ruled by the gods living in heaven. They were incredibly cruel. They sometimes even killed humans just to pass time. Unable to bear with the oppression, they sought help from a sage. Please save us from this hell. Answering to their plead, the sage fired an Arrow of Light to destroy the heavens. The traces of the flame are exactly The Flames of The Sky. By the way, The sage killed all the gods without leaving a single one, and it seems like their remains have become the source of magic and alchemy. My doll magic might be too much of a power for a single human, but its not like I didnt know that my power once belonged to a god. The things I could do with it are a lot and has been growing even more ever since I started to learn alchemy. I wonder what would I find at the end of its road. . With no connection between the future of the Wisp house with myself, I am really curious about it. Lets give my best today too. When I jump outside, the wind cushions my fall. There is no sound even upon landing. Thank you, wind spirit. I borrowed a section of the backyard that was covered by bushes as my practice area. You can see the result of the practice as the land is gouged a little or that the branches of the trees are twisted in odd angles. I draw a magic square with a wand that was crafted from oak wood. This is actually the most primitive alchemy furnace. This is what alchemy really is. Like producing orichalcum from scrap iron. (Raven: Orichalcum???) Or creating miracle drugs from muddy water. In other words, it is to completely transmute the existence of things. If its human. I guess theyll perhaps get everlasting life. (K: 0-0) (Ojou-sama, here.) Kajero The thing which Kajero handed me was a rusted copper sword. Putting it into the furnace then smear it with dirt. This is one of the basic practices. Refining the sword with dirt would remove the rust. When it starts to shine, let it go back to being rusty. Repeat it like this again and again. At first a reverse process took almost two hours, but now it has shortened to only one hour. During the process, the sword would probably crack into pieces. Because if the refining is not done properly then it will shorten the lifespan of the object. The next step required is not only speed but also keen senses. The goal is to have the sword go through ten reverse process per day. This sword has gone through 19 reverse process till now. Just one more reverse process and it would be done. Concentrate, concentrate. Yoshi, For the first half. Its cleaner than the new ones sold in shops. Next, lets degrade it. n? (3rd person POV) The first one who noticed was the knight doll Walf. (There is something there.) Walf Glancing at Kajero, it seemed as he understood. Then they nodded. (That side attack, the other side defend.) Kajero Something has broken into the garden of the Louivas mansion. They completely hid their presence and killing intent so that they dont notice anything. Kajero was standing as if he is protecting a princess while also ordering the animals in the garden to get into a formation. Walf kicked the ground and jump out with the speed of a bullet. There was someone looking at the princess in the shade a little distance away. There were no evil intentions. Although, they were just looking here. (Peeping is no good.) Walf Walf didnt carry his sword. He would definitely thrash them down if they were bad guys. The situation this time is pretty sensitive so he just went with a body ramming attack. Though it was with filled with vigorous speed and power- [Otto!] A certain peeping tom The opponent hugged Walf to restrain him while magically scattering away the impact of the attack. [Such a cute knight-sama, sorry. Its not like I want to do anything to your *goshujin-sama.] Peeping tom (TL: here goshujin=master.) The guy had a smiling face as if a toast covered with honey. [*I am Feria, Phillka Louivas sister. Dont mind this way of talking and my clothes. I have been traveling lately, so I dressed as a man in order avoid various kinds of troubles you see.] Peeping tom= Feria (K: Uhem, here she used Boku which also means I but in a manly way, and also her speech is very boy-like thats why she said not to mind it so as to not confuse her as a boy.) A black haired young swordsman gave her name in a sweet voice. She is pretty good at making a gender-neutral expression, so she probably got hit on by many girls. This might just be me but, somehow, I sympathize with her. I was also confessed to by the same sex only in my previous life. [At first, I was planning to show myself tomorrow morning, you see. I heard a sound in the backyard when I got close. Just that when I decided to look, my sight got stolen by a beautiful princess.] Feria What a cheesy line. If she was a boy then perhaps I would have punched her. Ill forgive her since shes a girl. Moreover, I remembered that I used to talk like this in high school, too. [You were practicing alchemy just now, right? Youre pretty amazing, working so hard even this late into the night. Arent you Phillka- niisamas disciple?] Feria [Yes, Phillka-san is really kind to me.] Alty [Heee-, that brother of mine can also let someone come close to him, huh. There really are such strange things in this world. Perhaps, are you his lover?] Feria How did it come to this again. I am ten years old, not an age to be suspected of being in a relationship with an eighteen years old, Phillka-san you know. CH 20 Translator: Kourii Editor: Raven Chapter 20 Author: Phillka: The brother, derived from the alchemist Fulka Neri. Feria: The sister, derived from the Norse mythology AinFerial. [To think that brother of mine would let someone get close to him. There really are strange things in this world huh. Are you perhaps his lover?] Feria At first, I could only scratch my neck at Feria-sans remark. Even the people at the academy were the same. Why do people always think like that? [Youre wrong. Moreover, isnt it impossible between the 10 years old me and 18 years old Phillka-san?] Alty [*Fumu, this might be, because of the difference in culture. As I have traveled to various countries, the people here in Malgaroid mature extremely fast you see. There are even cases of getting married at eight, so it isnt unusual for them to think of you as a couple. ] Feria I thought their mother looked very young, but to think that she isnt even 30. [Anyway, I can see that you dont think that way. But I dont know about my brother though.] Feria [I-its okay, Ithink.] Alty I should have gone in a scenario of the Another End in the original game. [If you were to become my sister-in-law, un~ such a lovely doll-like girl, Ill give you a big welcome, and a seriously hard working one at that. Would you like to be my bride?] Feria [That is an attractive proposal, but arent you a girl, Feria-san? That ear piercing, its beautiful and elegant.] Alty [Hee- you noticed, huh. Its such a small piercing that no one has noticed and said anything about it.] Feria Feria-sans voice has noticeably gotten a degree higher than before To have someone who understand a modest girls appeal, is a happy thing. I was also like that in my previous life. Uumu, As expected, I feel familiar with Feria-san. After all, I was also a prince-sama like character in high school. I want to get along with her. Yoshi, [Feria-san, are you free tomorrow?] Alty [Yes, Im planning on staying here for a while.] Feria [Then will you show me around the capital? Actually, I have never done any sightseeing here in Malgaroid, you see.] Alty [That means you havent seen the Res fountain gate or the Star cup plaza yet? What a waste, you ought to have visit them. Im okay with that, but what about the academy?] Feria [Its going to be fine. Actually, Phillka-san is supposed to leave the capital for a while.] Alty He said something about an Alchemist Association meeting or the like. Last month he boasted about neglecting it though I wonder when he changed his mind. [I cant go to the academy alone anyway. Just at the right moment when I dont know how to spend my time.] Alty [I see. Then please let me escort you tomorrow, I guess.] Feria And just like that me and Feria-san will be going on a date. [Now then, I better not oversleep tomorrow. Its getting late so, Ill be excusing myself.] Feria [Are you not going into the mansion?] Alty [Im someone who has ran away from home, you see. Its not going to look good if I just suddenly pop out and return like nothing happened. Im going to make up with them when father and Onii-sama are present together.] Feria See you, and Feria-san refreshingly left. I thought while I was waving my hand. The Father stayed at court and didnt come home, the Mother stayed in her room not showing herself. Moreover, the brother left the capital with the excuse of a meeting that he didnt plan to attend. The whole family is definitely avoiding Feria-san. It doesnt seem like she has a problem in terms of character but I wonder why? The daughter who ran away came back home, I thought whether it was okay to not have anyone welcome her but- Not just towards Feria-san alone, it seems like those of the Louivas house are keeping away from each other. It has been a while since Ive come to live here, but I havent once seen the whole family having dinner together. I have never seen them where more than two people face each other. This is too unnatural. I wonder why I havent noticed this until now. Im have been slacking and didnt pay attention to my surroundings. I should have been slightly better,than the me that just regained my memories. Like ending the confrontation with the earl or me going to study abroad in Malgaroid. While my good luck continued with my future safe, I really got more stupid. . I wonder if the dolls had been burdened with lots of hardships and worries. Author note: Q What would happen to Feria if Alty wasnt doing self-training? A After erasing her presence, walking near the gate of the mansion and finding out that her father wasnt there, she would just go back to the inn. CH 21 Chapter 21 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven Author: You might have forgotten but the genre is romance. [CYaa, Am I late?] Feria The next day, me and Feria-san met each other at the clock tower of the royal capital, *Malgarest. [No, I just got here.] Alty [Thats great. What a cute one piece! That ribbon on the back makes you look like a fairy.] Feria Feria who said that was wearing the same traveling clothes as yesterday. But if you were to look carefully, there are some parts that are different like- [You are wearing a red scarf today. It looks good on you.] Alty [Thank you. Its a date with a lovely princess after all, I tried putting it on to get me psyched up.] Feria Feria-san had such a smile which made the girls who were walking on the street cant help but turn to look at her until they were out of sight. [Well, then. Shall we go, Altirea-san?] Feria [Please, just Alty is fine. All my close friends call me that.] Alty [No, to not use honorifics towards a lady who isnt even an acquaintance, even if towards a younger party, is .] Feria [Isnt it just fine? We are both girls, right?] Alty A casual phrase came out of my mouth. However, it seems like it has a bigger meaning to Feria-san as she blinked her eyes in surprise and looked as if she was perplexed about something. Finally, [Aah, thats right, now that you mention it.] Feria She mumbled happily. I have mentioned it before. That I was also an *Ouji-sama character in my high school days. Being admired by the girls around me in their shrill voice was so pleasant that I wasnt able to stop acting like one even at graduation. On the other hand, I also wanted to be looked at as a girl. It was a difficult personality but it seems like Feria-san is of the same kind. That is why I wanted to do something that I myself would find happy at that time to her. [Wear this? Not you, but me?] Feria The first place we visit is not the sightseeing spot Res fountain gate but a cloth store. The wide interior of the store was lined with dresses and hats, and elegantly dressed ladies can be seen from time to time. [Since youve already in the royal capital, you no longer have to dress like a boy, right?] Alty [That is right, but.] Feria Feria-san might be saying that, but her eyes betrayed her. They were glued to the tunic and skirt that I brought out. [Its because Ive been wearing this type of clothes for years already that I just dont feel familiar wearing girly clothes.] Feria [No way, thats not true. Feria-san, Im sure itll look good on you since you are so beautiful, oris it that you dont like it?] Alty I tried begging with an upward glance. I do feel too much of a *burikko, but to achieve my purpose, I wont back off. [Its only this time, okay. Only this once.] Alty Anyway, I should keep insistently pushing her. Since she wouldnt be able to refuse unless her heart really disliked it. My old self was also like that. [Haa.] Feria-san sighs as if she had given up. [ OK. But please dont laugh at me later.] Feria While Feria-san was changing behind the curtain of the fitting room, I idly look around the store. N? The guy talking closely to the female owner, I feel like Ive seen him before. Aah, our eyes met. He nodded as a greeting. I also responded courteously. He walking here. I wonder if we are acquaintances. He was a young man with a bright smile. He has short trimmed hair and his skin look a bit tanned wheat color. [Long time no see, Altirea-sama. It has been 2 years, hasnt it? Do you remember me? Im *Hial Talbot.] Hial Aah! I remembered. He is the eldest son of that wealthy merchant, Mr. Oak Talbot, who was eating Karaage together with Els at the party. His fathers left an impression so strong that his presence was hardly noticed, but I do remember having talked with him for a bit. [I never thought Id see you in a place like this. I am acquainted to this shop owner as we are wholesaling the empires clothes. Are you not here with the Wisp duke?] Hial [Yes, I have come here with someone I know.] Alty [I see. They seem to be in the fitting room I suppose. *Oya, isnt that one piece the one made by miss Will Ridel?] Hial [Yes, you really seem to know it well.] Alty [The ribbon at the back is pretty noticeable, and its also handled by our business, you see. Actually, my daughter really likes it. Aah, thats right. Among the clothes delivered here today, there is one which is handmade by miss Will mixed in.] Hial Mr. Hial went back to the female owner while leaving me behind. With the chance of selling something, a merchant acting quick like this is really merchant-like. * [This is the newly made one. Actually, it is made by magic threads.] Hial And so, the browned skin merchant came back. [. How is it? Is it not weird?] Hial It was at the same time that a sleek lady came out from behind the curtain. Both of us went quiet at the same time. But our reason was different from each other. Mr. Hial was fascinated by Feria-san who was dressed as a female. His mouth that should be eloquent, could only stumble around with [ah, Etto, that-]. His face was also boiling red. This is my first time seeing someone falling in love so easily like this. Feria-san also seems to be fascinated. However, it isnt Mr. Hial, but the new work of Miss Will. Its only natural that Feria-san is attracted by it. This is the kind of cloth that I really really wanted to wear in my previous life though I had to give up on wearing it as it felt like it didnt fit me. A red checked *salopette skirt, the straps are crossed at the back and below there, blooms a big ribbon. With that, it somehow became the design of the Red Riding hood. However, Feria-san let down her gaze in disappointment. The dress was too small for her tall stature. well, Mr. Hials love should be taken care of by himself as a man. Though he does have a child, his wife did ran away, and he doesnt seem like an unfaithful person. Lets leave it at that. I want to grant Feria-san her wish. There is a way. The magic threads used in this dress is to prevent wrinkles and dirt, but the size can also be altered by using magic on it. As for why I know about things like this, it may have been obvious already but Will Ridel is me. Strictly speaking, its a name created for selling the clothes made by me and the dolls. .. It is actually an insurance for when the Wisp house collapse if according to the original game scenario. So that Id be able to live with the familiar handicraft I used to do in my previous life. Now, it should be the dolls at the Wisp house who made the clothes according to the design left by me, and handing it to Talbot in a route that is impossible to track who miss Will Ridel is. I never thought I would see it in a foreign land like this. CH 22 Previous Chapter | Project Page | Next Chapter Chapter 22 TL: Kourii Editor: Raven The person I asked for help to re-tailor the clothes for Feria-san is Kajero. It might be due to the impression he gives off as an Italian mafia but for me, he is the best choice. Let me go a bit off track. Its about the rumor written in the letter that was sent by the dolls left in behind at the empire. Its written that the Wisp houses West Neighbour, The Rasilez dukes second daughter is an enthusiastic fan of Will Ridel. *Lermit Rasilez, 19 years old, it appears that she talked about her favorite clothes while in a party. [You know Miss Ridels clothe-making style has changed since the middle of last year, right? Before it was more or less very bold girlish clothes, but now it seems to be of a calmer feel.] Lermit What amazing insight. Indeed, ever since last summer, I have left all the sewing work to the craftsman dolls back at the mansion. [Speaking of which, does anyone have the latest design of Miss Ridels clothes? From the beginning, it gives off a different vibe. The 17 years old me, who was uneasy about growing up, had my heart completely stolen.] Lermit Due to Miss Lermit speaking such lines here and there, the first versions of Will Ridel were sold at pretty high prices. But to say who had a hand in making that happen, it wasnt only me nor the other dolls but the one and only Kajero. (It has been a while since Ive worked with Ojou-sama , hasnt it?) Kajero Starting from the magic threads, the cloth came apart gradually. (Eeh. We also used to pull an all-nighter together, didnt we?) Alty (*All Nighter? Thats a phrase Ive never heard of. ) Kajero (It means to work continuously throughout the night without sleeping.) Alty As for where we are, its a room that the female owner let me borrow for a bit. She seems to be Mr. Hials acquaintance, from how it looks. Its a good idea to change the size of the dress as all the necessary tools are present here. Feria-san seem to have run into the fitting room after receiving Mr. Hials feverish gaze, and didnt seem like she would come out anytime soon, so I just let her be. By the time she calms down, we would have finished the work. Then lets give her this as a present. Giving the clothes that I wanted to wear in my previous life to the girl similar to my previous self, perhaps its just my lingering feelings. Well, who cares. As my oldest brother said, As long as one can, just do it, its fine even without a reason to. Ah, but my brother also fooled around that he made a child and it became a big trouble. (Ojou-sama, your hands have stopped moving. My part is already finished. )Kajero When I snapped back and looked at Kajero, the cape has been extended twice to its original size. Moreover, the whole balance of the dress is kept as it is. Magic is really amazing. I would have frustratingly given up on altering it had been in modern Japan. Just why are such adorable clothes so small? (Please do it properly. Are you not feeling well?) Kajero (Uun, Im fine. Thanks for worrying.) Alty I gently stroked Kajeros cheek. It didnt feel anything like a stuffed doll, there was warmth similar to a living person. I thought to myself again that this is such a mysterious world. (Was it since last night? You have been zoning off.) Kajero Perhaps I started to reminisce about my old life after meeting Feria-dan. (It is just like two years ago. Are you feeling ill?) Kajero Kajero asked me anxiously. However, I didnt know what expression was on his face as it was blocked by the Borsalino hat. (No, thats not the case. Now, now, lets continue. I will fix the shoulder straps and the ribbon, so please do the rest.) Alty (Understood.) Kajero Doing it together, as expected, it took no time at all. Originally, Will Ridel was the name of me and Kajero working together to make clothes. But then, he went to Spiril. No, it was indeed Kajeros will, but I was the one who made the decision. CI want to create a place that Ojou-sama felt it as real. To live in the present,and not in the past. . So that I would be able to live even if the Wisp house were to collapse, and I thought he was showing his enthusiasm. Actually, was it really like that? Author: Genre: Romance (The captive princess) TL note: *Lermit Rasilez, romaji ߥå?饸쥹 *when Alty says all-nighter, It is written in Kanji which is a more known and traditional-ish kinda term but when Kajero says All-nighter, its written in Katagana, which is like referring to a new term one doesnt understand. Urgh explaining this is quite hard. I hope you get it. If you dont feel free to ask in the comments. CH 23 Previous Chapter | Project Page | Next Chapter Chapter 23 TL:Kourii Editor: Raven Author: Two years ago, the day he got his body until now. Before moving on to Altireas story, I would like you to read his, Kajeros story. If he were to recall his distant memories, what hed get is nothing but fear and grief. *Cursing, curses, evil spirits of rivers and mountains. Leading and seducing those as the king of all evil spirits. Hated by an exaggerated name, he had long since given up on seeking warmth from anything. Given a body of fabric, what he first saw was her figure. There stood a mesmerizing beautiful girl spitting a soft humane smile. CHello, **Its a pleasure to meet you. (TL: as in Hajimemasite.) Even though what she said was normal and was out of courtesy, but he still felt the warmth in it. However, for that reason, hed felt like he had finally gotten the existence hed been yearning for. The warmth that hed thought hed never get in all eternity was now wrapping him all around. Hence, he would throw away his Until now. With just From now on is fine. As just a doll with eternal loyalty for his one and only master. Or so he had decided in his heart. That was the moment when the doll named Kajero was born. The architecture technology in the alchemy kingdom Malgaroid was far above The Empire standards, so a 5 or 6 stories tall buildings lined up all around in the royal capital, Malgarea is an obvious thing. However, urban planning seems to be a bit lacking as it is confusing and easy to get lost or end up at the place we started, the sight of houses shadowed by tall buildings. This shop is not in a bad position as others in the worst scenario, but it can get very dark depending on the position of the sun. And currently it is like that. I and Kajero are silently continuing the needle work in the dimly lit room. I didnt use lighting magic as the work seems about to be finished. Then Kajero asked me after a while . (Ojou-sama, to you what kind of person is Miss Feria?) Kajero No, I predicted this development. CEver since last night, you have been dazing off to the distance. Silence has continued since the previous conversation but there was an omen floating around, mixed in the atmosphere. (Etto, how do I say it, lets see.) Alty (Please could you be precise. Ever since we have been with Miss Feria, I can assume from your expression that something is not right.) Kajero Its because she resembles the previous me. I did not say that. If I did, it would become necessary to explain about my past life as well. Knowing that I tried to force a smile to fix it, but it might have looked even more unnatural than ever. As intelligent as he is. There is no way, Kajero would not have noticed it. (There is no way thats right. Yesterday was our first meeting you know.) Alty It was easy to figure it out that this was a lie. (Eeh, it is just as youve said.) Kajero Kajero, in an meticulous and composed way nodded his head. (Miss Feria has been on a wandering around for two years but she has never stepped into the Wisp territory. The relation to Altirea Wisp at most, can be said that you just have the same ancestor.) Kajero I cant help but feeling caught right at his doorstep. I wonder why he intentionally called me Altirea Wisp instead of the regular Ojou-sama. The reason was soon revealed. (How about Ojou-sama yourself? You have lived for a longer time than Altirea Wisp, the you living in that body?) Kajero I was stunned for a moment because of the inevitable situation. I intended to hide my reincarnation. As I thought of the frightening possibilities, I decided to hide it until I come to a proper conclusion of it. Knowledge about the original story can be deviated with foreseeing the future or clairvoyant, but as I thought it was impossible. Kajero is much more clear headed than I am, so it isnt strange that such a day would come. (Please do not misunderstand me, I have no intention to investigate what you originally were. Just that I could not believe in my blind guess was correct. When Ojou-sama was looking at Miss Feria, I can clearly see nostalgia on your face. As if you were trying to get back something that you have lost long ago, and giving it someone else-or so. It felt like that. If it is just my delusion,then please dont mind it. If it is really the truth, please give me some kind of order. No matter what kind of existence you are, my bond with you is absolute. Lets work together to clear your lingering attachment.) Kajero Aah, un. I am self-aware. That this is just a terrible self-satisfaction. By comparing my past self as Feria-san, I am trying to achieve the feelings that the past me have not experienced. . Id always wanted to try making a fairy tale dress that would fit the tall me. Then I have no right to complain about The Wandering Earl or the original Elstat. Arent I same as the people who want to look properly at themselves or the boy who was unable to give up his dream A mass ego tied to ones past. Because I know that, that I remember my reluctance after Id already asked Kajero for his help. That whether it is alright to involve him in my selfishness. . Tte, what am I doing, trying to be a good child. After all the trouble and things, I have caused to the dolls. They always work hard for my sake, havent they? Nevertheless, to think that I didnt want to outright order them, what a selfish thing of me. I really hate it. To think that I was in remorse and have not recovered for the past two days. However, that is why. At least at this moment, confidently and boldly, I can say it outright. Making father acknowledge me as a doll master, and repelling the wandering earlCJust like my actions two years ago, while moving the dolls with a clear goal. (I, the past me, things that I hadnt done, I want to do them all for Feria-san. Kajero, would you lend me a hand?) Alty It was me who said that but I still feel like I am being ridiculously selfish. Am I correctly seeing Feria-san as herself? Lets be careful. Properly separating the past from the present, I want to get along with Feria-san. I dont want to make our relationship where I force my ideals on her. Today has only just started. It isnt even noon yet. Lets talk lots and lots. Lets start from that. . As the sun moved, the room got a little brighter. Author: The first halfs turn aroundI suppose. TLs Note: *ƅ⤦uTƻ魯ħCursing, curses, evil spirits of rivers and mountains. Leading and seducing those as the king of all evil spirits. =This is the best TL I can think of and might not be right, *sigh* just the Kanji makes my head hurt. **K: Did you enjoy this chapter? Well I did. We finally got to see Kajeros side. CH 24 Chapter 24 After finishing re-tailoring the clothes Kajero disappeared off to somewhere, which made me wonder. DDJust that with his demeanor and small figure, its quite difficult to believe my own predictions. I wonder if that was his real intention. I reflected upon my own anxiety. Its hard to guess from his normal behavior. Rather, he may have asked the question deliberately. Recently I have been leaving everything up to the dolls and almost never give any instructions. I was hoping they would take charge themselves. Though their main consciousness was missing. Kajero may have been trying to remind me of that. As I left the room thinking about such things, the female ownerThe lady accompanying you is quite amazingmurmured while smiling bitterly. What does she mean? I look towards Feria-san, who was back in her original traveling clothes. Mr. Hials figurewas nowhere to be seen. I was happy to be fawned over, but I cant accept a marriage proposal from someone I just met. Moreover, in such a public area. Well, I am grateful he thinks of me that way but I still want to walk down the path of the sword. So I cant respond to his love, and he seems to have a 5 year old daughter. I also cant afford to raise a child, so in other words, using the common sense of Margaroid, I dont want to take on something I cannot handleAnyways thats why I declined him and sent him on his way H-How realistic. For a young merchant who spends his time at sea to actually get the urge to court someone, and for the conversation to jump directly to marriage, its rather sympathizing than exciting. Even so youre still able to remain so calm But that was similar to me. When I think of situations as being part of an Otome game, the future troublesome matters will just pass through my mind and go away. In that case, etto, w-whats up with that? Feria-sans interest in Mr. Hial seems to have already disappeared. Her eyes stared directly at the clothes in my hand. I re-tailored it, so wear this and go out with me today It would be troublesome if she were to be reluctant, so I gave the clothes to her and immediately pushed her into the fitting room. Now, hurry up and get changed, otherwise I will have the dolls assist you Sheesh, you sure are pushy but she still seems rather happy. You are exactly how Deje-kun describes you Because an unexpected name came out, I unconsciously saidHeh!?with a raised voice unbecoming of a Dukes daughter. That person is Christoph DugenneDDThe Wandering Earl. He is now attending the Imperial Knight Training School under the name Chris Deje. I was surprised, I became acquainted with him when I visited the Imperial capital. He is quite the swordsman. I never met someone who could use the old empires swordsmanship before The world is quite small so what did he say about me? That you were the combination of cuteness and resolution, just like the reincarnation of Princess Rustillasomething like that. Anyways, he was complimenting you. Haha, he is a strong rival in love for my elder brother Feria-san continued talking causally, but as for me I had a slight headache. Although he is different than his original age his eyes are still somewhat the same, so in truth I did wonder how Phillka-san sees me. If I think about it calmly, maybe he was conscious of me as an opposite gender. I should reconsider how I should associate with him in the future. Along with the Earls misunderstanding, the surrounding people are also becoming ambiguous. Lets clarify it as soon as possible. In the worst case it will be another challenge, but yes, the chance of winning is far higher compared to two years ago. Well, its fine. There is no other choice but to solve them all one at a time. A red checkered salopette skirt. Along with a knit cape of the same color. I didnt just adjust the size. Whether it be called a remake, or refining or retaking, Since the point was that it was for sale, I unleashed my hobby which I had been suppressing and did a complete rework. As a result. A first version of Will Ridel who Lermit Rasilez is an enthusiast of, ended up with a crazy finish. Well, lets go Feria-san We stepped out of the store. In the seventh day after the founding festival, and the town was becoming more busy than usual. A-aah Whats wrong? You look rather surprised I have played with girls a couple of times during my trip, but I was always the one leading. Somehow this feels fresh. I said I would escort you yesterday, but I wonder if its alright to leave it to you Of course I nodded strongly. To avoid getting lost, I asked Kajero to handle navigating with my thoughts. Feria-san, its fine, you dont actually need to escort me. You dont have to withhold yourself. I already know since the beginning what you want to do, so theres no point in hiding it. Please give up and leave it all to me. I am The Mystic-eyed Doll Princess after all correct? As she blinked in surprise I gave a wink back in response. I wonder if its because of the dress? Please forgive me. Because the clothes suited Feria-san more than I imagined, I mightve gone a little overboard. It seems people refer to you as that for a reason, Im convincedapparently your mystic eye not only has foresight abilities but also has mesmerizing effects. If I was male I would have pushed my elder brother and Deje-kun aside to obtain you Thank you very much, If you ever find it difficult to live in Malgaroid please do come to the Wisp territory. At that time lets go out with various clothes That sounds nice. Rather, I would like to also come with you when you return home That is also fine, you are very welcomed Well, I will do that then. I will go to the Empire with you. Its a promise Understood, I will make the preparationsah, thats right. May I have your little finger on my right? Hm? Like this? Yes, just like that I extended my little finger in the same way and took Feria-sans little finger in mine. DDPinky-swear, if you lie, you have to swallow a thousand needles` Its a way of promising in a country far away. It will be bad if you break it alright? A thousand needles? Thats very scary, Ill be careful not to forget it Feria-san jokingly said and began laughing.. I was tempted and also began laughing. It was a peaceful time. CH 25 Chapter 25: Another Intermission, The Secret Progress of a High Priests Conspiracy From Two Years Ago, and the Sages Secret Maneuvering A character who was briefly mentioned in chapter 12 part 1, his rise and downfall. 2 years ago. In the trade city Spiril, High Priest Rofen of the Rokisona Church saw the very hell of this world. (Who is this Doll Princess? This is not something as simple as magic, its practically the work of an evil god) Everything was clear to his eyes. The stuffed dolls decorating the The Borrowed Water Stage Inn were all possessed by fallen spirits. Beings that were deprived of their original form and had once enslaved humans were now resurrected with their intentions inside those bodies. Casting aside Altirea Wisp then its essentially reviving the horrors of the ancient times Up till now Rofen couldnt be considered a human suitable for the position of High Priest. Using illegal means to maintain his position and exhausting all the wealth he inherited from his parents to indulge in wine and food. The end results were a saggy face and a pig-like body. Even the old gods are much more ascetic when compared with Rofenand other sorts of malicious words were said behind his back. But when he faced the crisis that could rewind history, the slightest remaining priesthood in him burned like a fiery phoenix. (It was surely for this moment that an ugly person like myself was given such a sanctuary) When the party ends he must immediately return to the Great Palace of Worship in the imperial capital. There was no time to fight against factions to confront this threat. A compromise was necessary. But then the Wandering Earl had made his appearance Rofen felt greatly relieved but also a bit disappointed when he remembered. He was also familiar with the Empires dark side. He knew what the Earl was like. Of course this would happen, it would be strange if a person with such unique power like Altirea Wisp wasnt targeted by the Earl. She will be pickled in ice and the peace of the Empire and the human world will be preserved. Its just as Ive heard, but the Earl shouldve avoided attacking in such a public area. Does he intend to make a scene with so many people about?) The Earl doesnt move unless he intends on taking someones life. It is revenge for when the princess returns the meaning was unknown but it followed the laws of the madman. His actions werent unprecedented butDD (What is with this bad premonition?) Rofens nose began twitching. It was because of his intuition that he managed to keep his position up to now. And this time his keen senses also werent mistaken. Although my body has fallen towards the netherworlds magic, may I please have the honor of serving you once again? The Earl was kneeling before Altirea Wisp. Rofen began calculating. Altirea Wisp, the dolls, and the Wandering Earl. In addition, if the current Duke Wisp and Duke Rozerem also became enemies, was there any chance of winning? (No, I should probably give up, would the entire Empire even be enough? Then the underworld too, it might also be necessary to involve the countries beyond the seas. I might also have to use a spell that opens the door of another worldDD From that day Rofen began his plan to overthrow the demon known as Altirea Wisp. He flew all over the world and even deemed it necessary to directly visit the crime syndicates headquarters. And thus two years passed. Rofen looked back on everything that happened and thought. (The almighty God must also be supporting me, otherwise I wouldnt have met the Sage) It seemed as if he were guided by destiny itself. On his journey, Rofen happened to meet one of the persons of legend. From a long time ago, one of the two heroes who killed the tyrannic old gods. An immortal sage who supposedly continues to watch over the peace of the human worldDD. (Without his help the Supreme Ten Association would not have been established) Consisting of both good and evil, neither pure nor tainted, they were ten organizations that joined forces to protect this world. Furthermore, according to the words of the sage, the Malgaroid royal family even gave their secret seal of approval. High Priest, it will be carried out seven days before the founding festival. With the sacrifices the cursed evil spirit of rivers and mountains will manifest and annihilate Altirea Wisp. With this you will also be hailed as a hero But sage-dono, is it really possible to summon the king of all evil spirits? Do not worry, High Priest, my ritual is flawlessDDor do you doubt me? Under the penetrating gaze, Rofen couldnt help but prostrate himself. T-T-T-There is no such thing! Yes! It will be just as you say! When people surrender their destiny to others, they can no longer be considered human. The sage believed in this. The man called Rofen was once also a human. He had moved of his own will and had tried to confront Altirea Wisp. If he had upheld his will the sage might have lent his powers. But Rofen had parted with his own initiative. At the beginning he would just consult with the sage about one or two matters. That was acceptable. Everyone sometimes has hesitations and doubts about their own decisions. But eventually Rofen began to avoid making his own decisions. Without the words of the sage he became unable to move. The man was no longer a human, all that could be seen was a beast-incarnate. Thus the sage decided to abandon him. T-T-T-There is no such thing! Yes! It will be just as you say! He had no eyes for the pig that was groveling on the floor, the sage left the ritual grounds. The sage murmured to himself while walking silently down the dark corridor. Approval of the Margaroid royal family, now wouldnt it be nice if something like that were actually true? If one actually gave it some thought, they would be able to tell that the sage was lying from a slight contradiction. But it was too late now. Ah, no wait, speaking of approval The kingdom had already decided on a passive attitude towards Duke Wisp and the doll who called itself Kajero. Initially it seems there was a man who sent assassins after her due to concerns for the future of the country, but now he was pretending not to see anything. Supreme Ten Association? How many would actually participate in that? Probably not even half. I almost forgot, to actually manifest the cursed evil spirit of rivers and mountains? That spirit has long already obtained a body by the name of Kajero. I wonder what will happen if I summon it again? Moreover, it was just an improvised ritual, it will likely just produce unexpected results. Kuku, how amusing, ahh, so amusing The lips of the sage are twitching as he continues talking to himself. Eventually he bursts out laughing. Rokisona Church Their religion was formed after the sage and another killed the old gods. Having followers all over the world. Their new god is the King of Gods, Rokiso, who is said to watch over the lands. Furthermore, the new god is fictional and does not exist. CH 26 Chapter 26 Continuation from chapter 24 The cross-dressing Feria-san had quite the devastating power, the passing men and even the women all looked over here with fascinated expressions. Fufufu, they are not looking at me but it feels good. Uhhh Feria-san groaned with a bright red face and trembled as she grasped her skirt. Just a moment ago she was still talking to me without any problems, but as soon as she became aware of her surroundings she regressed. A-As expected I should just switch back to my traveling clothes. I am fine with attracting attention as a male, b-but this is the first time people have stared at me like that when Im wearing female clothing Her clear black eyes are full of shame. A dignified woman 7 years older than me is currently on the verge of collapsing. Somehow, I feel a bit thrilled. Feria-san, I have somewhere I would like to go W-Where? Anywhere is fine as long as we can leave here Understood, in that caseDD At that time I am sure I had on a very sinister looking smile. Lets go to the Wido Plaza, its the most crowded place in the capital Margareta after all In other words, we will attract more attention over there than here. Upon realizing that fact, Feria-san looked as if she were about ready to cry. Of course I wouldve stopped if she was really against it. But I knew her true feelings. Feria-sans heart felt the complete opposite, in reality she was delighted. She wanted to be seen by more people. She wanted to be recognized. Her true feelings were beginning to show in bit and parts of her manners. G-Guess it cant be helped, its repayment for the clothes so I will follow She is not honest at all. The way to Wido Plaza was chaotic and bustling with many people. Merchants, sailors, priests, travelersDDits likely they all gathered here at the kingdom for the upcoming founding festival. As expected, among them are some aggressive and rather annoying type of people. Hey-hey, do you know the location of the adventurers guild? I just arrived at the capital so I do not know` This guy has no sense of direction, You two are from here? Do you mind showing us around then? A party of two adventurers. One had short red hair that stood up on end. He had a dagger on his waist and was wearing thin leather armor. The other one had long brown hair and was wearing a robe that gave off the impression of a magician. But what they have in common would be the cheap atmosphere floating around them. Ah`, but I am a little hungry` I am actually on an very difficult quest and I havent eaten anything yet` We are actually hunting griffons, I was told not to say anything regarding this quest but because you two are so cute I will make an exception. How about going somewhere together? I have many heroic stories to tell so you will not be bored. To tell you the truth I am a B+ rank adventurer I want to retort so badly. Griffons are considered very dangerous in this world. Just the appearance of one is capable of destroying a town. The information would naturally be controlled to avoid social chaos and panic. But I can hardly imagine these two actually winning against one. Even if they are self-proclaimed B+ rank adventurers.its still impossible. Although I only heard this my former adventurer father, even a group of A rank adventurers can barely fight one. In the first place if something like a griffon really did appear, Kajero will detect it before the guild even moves and Walf will drive it away. Iya`, you two really are very beautiful` Are you two sisters? I really like imouto-san` The redhead reached out towards my head with a grin. Hiii, lolicon! I quickly stepped aside. While avoiding his hand I grabbed the redheads waist and swept his feet. Its a good thing I took a bit of Judo back during my high school days. The spirits who reside in my one piece also lent me their powers. The redhead made a full flip in the air and fell hard onto the stone pavement. After thatC Meow`Pi`Quack`Incoherent cries sounded out from all directions at once as cats, chickens, and ducks swarmed the redhead. It was tragedy in an instant. Fangs, claws, and beaks turned the self-proclaimed B+ rank adventurer into the messy figure of a fallen warrior. (.Its because he tried to place his hand on ojo-sama When I looked towards the shade the figure of Kajero could be seen. He was keeping watch over me today from the shadows. Even so, I did hear that aside from the animals at the Louivas House the animals in the capital were also subordinates, but still I never thought that ducks and chickens would come. The remaining brown hair magician was motionless with his mouth hanging half-opened. Lets see. Un. Feria-san After calling out to her I then grabbed her hand as she was flustered. Lets run away right now I pulled a little and started running. In such cases if this were a drama or something we would end up getting lost from running around aimlessly like this, but fortunately I have Kajero. (Indeed it would be quite cruel to play around with Miss Feria any longer, I will guide you to a less crowded area) We proceeded along the path regulated through telepathy. Soon we arrived at the place where I am living at right now which is also Feria-sans home, so in other words the Louivas household. Its far from the center of the city so its true it would be quieter over here. No, but well Feria-san is standing reluctantly in front of the gate. She even went out of her way to stay at an inn in the town yesterday, I wonder what she is hesitant about. Ah`Eh`as she was groaning and at a standstill the entrance gates suddenly opened by themselves. Correction, a person had opened it from the inside to go outside. The person standing there was a woman with long black hair and a delicate pale skin. The mother of Phillka-san and Feria-san who gave birth to them in her early teensDDEska Louivas. I heard someone gasp but who was it? Silence engulfs the scene. Eventually, Feria-sans mother whispers something to her servants. The gates are slammed shut. I suppose that was an unexpected meeting for the both of them. Even so, Eska-san didnt even call out to her own daughter. Its as if she were acting like she didnt even see Feria-san. As expected, this is worrisome. I wonder what happened between Feria-san and her family. CH 27 Chapter 27 ..Anyhow Esca-san didnt try going out again afterwards. I knew it Feria-san murmured dejectedly with a heavy air about her. I already knew it would turn out like this She gazed at the door that was slammed coldly upon her. It looked like she was trying to endure something. Anyone would be rattled if they were just ignored and blatantly avoided by their own parent. I think that Feria-san is rather impressive for remaining quite composed even in this sort of situation. Feria-san didnt move. I felt as if she wouldve stood there like that for many decades if I left her like this. Perhaps she lost the energy to even walk? Or was she waiting for her mother to appear again? Either way, nothing will change if we continue to stand here. I would like to do something for herbetter yet, should I just force a meeting between Feria-san and Esca-san. There are many ways I could do so with the help of the dolls. The situation would definitely progress if I do so. But I wouldnt be able to predict just what will happen. The risk is too high to just rush straight forth without figuring out the circumstances first. (Kajero, can you hear me?) I reached out telepathically to the most dependable doll that was surely within the vicinity. (Yes, I am at your service) (I think we should leave here for the time being, what do you think?) (That would be best for the current situation, the lodging Miss Feria is staying at should suffice. I will guide you to the Crow. I have to step away for a bit, but I will leave Walf as your escort so please be at ease) Surprisingly, Feria-san responded to my offer quite easily. It seems shes trying her best to calm down the raging waves within her heart, perhaps she couldnt do anything other than that. I arrived at an inn with two beautiful crowsBustle of the Wharfwas written at the entrances pavilion. There are colorful flowers adoring the tables and the cleaning is superb enough to the point that there is no dust inside. The room is also clean and comfortable. Feria-san approached the bed unsteadily and collapsed face-first onto it just like that. Then she slowly began trembling, even so I couldnt hear the sounds of her crying or breathing. The remains of a beauty floating in a sea of white sheets. Such an ominous phrase crosses my mind. The room was quiet and it felt like it was cut off from everything in the world. I only heard the sound of my own heart within my own ears, which made it seem quite loud. It might be better to leave her alone for a while. I was going to sit down on the edge of the bed, but as expected I should probably go out and Would you listen to my story? Feria-san reached out her hand. Just a little is fine, if you dont want to I will stop. I wont force you, I also question myself just what am I doing clinging to a child seven years younger than me butDD I know, she was already troubled with what to do so shell likely be overwhelmed if she didnt talk to someone. Humans are sometimes unable to stand if they do not lean on someone. I felt a bit happy that she chose me as that person and I placed my hand upon her hand. Feria-san immediately grasped it. Tight, too tight, with this amount of strength even if I tried to shake her off I probably wouldnt be released. DDI want you to stay here. Her thoughts were painfully conveyed over to me. Is it really alright? Isnt this annoying? I am also very concerned, because it involves the precious Feria-san. So please do tell me By no means was this a one-sided situation where she would complain to me while I accompanied her. I wanted to talk with her, I wanted to hear what she had to say. Thats why there is no need to hold back. I wonder if my intentions were conveyed to her. Feria-san was hesitant at first in the beginning, but eventually she let loose everything she had contained in her heart to me. I said this before, but in Malgaroid it is quite normal to get married at about your age. Commoners might get married a bit later but its still early compared to other countries. The reason why it became like this is due to a war that had been continuing until about 50 years ago, but thats a story for another time. Married at the age of 10, birth at the age of 12, this is the so-called norm of daughters from proper families. But I wasnt able to get along with any of them, our encounters were just due to misfortune and also bad luck on my partin truth, I actually have four fiances Isnt having multiple spouses polygamous? You seem to know a lot of difficult words, its quite unexpected for a 10-year old. But the present Malgaroid is monogamous This means that Feria-san missed the opportunity of marriage four times before. The first time was when I was six, the carriage which my fiance was riding on fell off from a cliff. He was the son of a highly prestigious household, so many adventurers were driven to search for the body. They searched for many months but they couldnt find him. Its likely he ended up in the belly of some beast. Next is when I was seven, it happened at the engagement announcement party. I thought that something flew from the ceiling and the next moment my fiances head was rolling near my feet That mustve been quiteshocking Ive never been so scared in my entire life, my entire body felt paralyzed and I couldnt even crawl let alone escape. Fortunately, the assassins target was only my fiance so I was spared. The truth is shrouded by darkness, but it seems it had something to do with troubles surrounding the next King. But I couldnt forget what had happened. The next time, either myself, my family members, or even a new fiance could be targeted. It was during that time that I met my master. I mightve told you already, but even though I look like this I am a user of a rather peculiar sword style. I liked moving my body to begin with, but I guess I also wanted to escape from reality. I became so engrossed in it that I literally forgot to eat and sleep. There were days when I didnt even go home. Father and mother were initially mindful about it but they eventually tolerated it. If I recall the third fiance was when I was around 12-years old. That person was quite strong, it was to the point where he even asked me for an exhibition match. He said these words to me when we first met.I heard that you are training in a rare sword style, do you mind showing me? If you can win, I will follow you like an eternal servant in our marriage life His tone was very patronizing, I suppose he was making light of me since I was a little girl. I was enraged and engaged him in combat without any hesitation. It was like I had completely cast myself aside and my fighting style was quite violent if I recall correctly Did you win? Of course, it was a complete victory, the other party could barely even resistand as a result, the engagement was canceled I wonder if it was because she hurt his pride. Although it would be rather meager in that case And the next year, he suddenly died due to an illness in the lungs. The first one died in an accident, the second one was assassinated, the third one died of a disease. They were all deaths that happened due to reasons unrelated to Feria-san. But there are just some people who cannot be relieved unless they attribute it to whatever other reason possibleDDwhich in this case would be a curse. Because of that there wasnt anyone brave enough to marry me, hence why I am late in marriage But there was another fiance right? I was 15, right after my master died. It was from the second son of a house that divided from the royal family some time ago, the proposal was abnormal. At the time it didnt appear to be a bad choice. His appearance captured the hearts of many noble daughters from everywhere. Furthermore, he was a swordsman from the same school as me. Although it was at different times, it seems that he was practicing under Master. He told me that I didnt have to bear his child immediately, he promised me that he was fine with allowing me to do what I wanted for while Arent these conditions perfect then? If this was the case then why? His personality, I was at a complete loss, he appeared gentle on the surface, but if there was anything he didnt like he would suddenly change. He would immediately release his anger on anything or anyone; there were servants that were even killed and raped. I couldnt marry such a man, it seems that his promise was only there as a bait to capture me. But because the opponent was a former royal family member, neither father nor mother were able to help me. My brother was also out of the kingdom at that time too. I was all alone, every night I would stay up in my room holding my knees just thinking and thinking about itDDin the end, I ran away from my house That was the only choice the isolated and unsupported Feria-san could come to in the end. I could tell from her expression that it was something she had never wanted. I think it was about half a year ago, I heard that the crimes of that evil man were exposed and he ended up being exiled from the country, so I decided to return to my parents home CH 28 I managed to escape from the marriage talks by going overseas, but there was no purpose in the journey itself. At first a raging feeling of I have to do everything by myself coursed through me, I started cross-dressing as a male and I was on good terms with the guild by taking requests from them so my life began to stabilize. There werent any pursuers from Malgaroid, and in the end, I went about adventuring here and there without any care She struggled to escape from a grim future. Looked for ways she could survive by herself. And when both sides finally settled down, she spent her days in a place where she couldnt be found. Its not like I havent heard similar stories before. My own experiences are also somewhat similar. If there was something like a god of fate somewhere, it definitely is an incredibly meddlesome and cruel one. Jokingly pitting the mirror-like Feria-san and me together by a twist of fate. The exile of that man was a good opportunity, so I decided to stop my aimless adventuring and go back home. I wanted to apologize to my parents and older brother for the sorts of hardships and worries I caused by suddenly disappearing. Thats what shouldve happened butlife sometimes just doesnt go as planned Feria-san kept holding my hand even after she finished talking. She looked right into my eyes. Like a sinner waiting for judgment, or a lamb waiting for revelation. I was a little envious of Feria-san. She was walking the same path as me, but she was just a bit ahead of me. She was visiting everyday without entering, and trying her best to reach her goal of reconciliation with her family. Thus, I wanted to support her as a junior walking the same path. Lets have a karaage party with her family once she reaches her goal. Anyhow, I should stop getting ahead of myself here. I should address the problem right in front of me soon as my hand is starting to hurt. I made up my mind, its been a while since I brought up Altireas original story, but ultimately in the end she will suffer from the downfall of her household. The reason was due to her fathers close connections to a foreign country and it seems a sort of conspiracy within the Empire was also involved. From my previous lifes perspective as an average citizen, diplomatic and political affairs were something that occurred beyond myself, so my overall awareness towards those matters were rather weak. Not to mention, I would even go as far as to procrastinate in studying for exams or doing summer vacation homework regarding those subjects. No, this wont do. I usually leave intelligence gathering to Kajero, so naturally I tend to become absentminded midway. .Anyways, my thoughts wandered off yet again. First of all, lets deal with Feria-san. How should I go about handling this? For now I can only comfort her, but I would also like to help her obtain the future she wishes for. In order to achieve that, I need both Feria-san and her mother, Eska-san, to be involved. And according to the information the knight doll Walf just sent me it might even be possible. (Eska-sans presence, it appears she hasnt moved at all from the entrance) I stood up from the bed and grabbed Feria-sans hand pulling her up with me. Lets go again, back to Eska-sans place, Im sure she will still be waiting Apparently the parent and child were both staring across the entrance hoping that the other party would approach first. Perhaps.just like how Feria-san feels guilty towards her parents, Eska-san also feels guilty towards Feria-san. She was unable to help out her own daughter when she was suffering and forced her to have to run away from her own home. She was glad that Feria-san came back for the first time in two years but she didnt know how to handle it and avoided her. This was just my own assumption, but I feel its not too far from the truth. Although I havent been living at the Louivas house for that long, I still know Eska-sans personality more or less. She was kind but also a bit timid. So its quite possible she panicked when she came face to face with Feria-san. But for her to ignore me like that, she must be mad overDD There is no such thing, Feria-san visited the mansion yesterday but also ended up turning back too. Isnt it because your heart still wasnt prepared yet? Eska-san is the same, she was just surprised at the appearance of her daughter after two years. You still have to make up with Phillka-san and your father, what will you do if you get caught up here? Itll work, I can promise you that. You even said so a while ago, I am the Mystic-eyed Doll Princess right? I have already foreseen a good future, so please believe in me I stared straight into the eyes of Feria-san with unwavering conviction. Of course I dont actually have the power to predict the future. Its all just a very grand lie. Eventually, Feria-sans expression began to soften. I am truly a useless person, not only do I need to cling to the 10-year old you, but I even need you to support me from behind. It seems only my swordsmanship became stronger in the last two years, my mind is still a long way off. Thank you Alty, you are right. Its far too early to go down here In that case I will try talking to her once more, to be honest I actually noticed already. My mothers presence never left the other side of the entrance, but I still wasnt able to do anything. I hate myself for not taking action, but I am alright now. I will go now, so Alty you wait right here, I feel completely pitiful for putting so much on you all this time. So I will end this off myself, its the least I can do as the older one And with that Feria-san stepped out of the Bustle of the Wharf with a look as bright as the sun. She was still attracting quite the amount of attention from the surrounding people, but it seems she was too preoccupied with what lied ahead and didnt notice. After seeing her off until her back disappeared beyond the streets, I also began pondering about the future. To begin with, lets have Kajero gather more intelligence. Whether father was truly connected with a foreign country. If there was a possibility it would likely be Malgaroid. I often hear rumors about invading the Empire from the sea. It might even be best to return to the Empire at once. If there is some conspiracy in the works against the Wisp House Ill like to prepare in advance. I will do anything that I can, but Im worried about my father and the servants. Ah, thats right. Where is the actual heroine and what is she doing right now? I want to find out her whereabouts. As a general future plan began forming up, a bead of sweat streamed down from my forehead forcing me to close my right eye. The sun was already at its peak and the heat was becoming gradually worse. It was already to the point where even the water spirit pendant around my neck couldnt resist it. But just as I thought about heading back inside to cool off and turned around towards the entrance into the inn. It was really all too sudden. It was as surprising as Feria-sans appearance yesterday. But Feria-san was just secretly looking around, while this was far more direct and direDD A sword slashed down towards me. The screams of the surrounding people overlapped under the scorching sun. CH 29 It was just when I turned back and decided to return to the innThe Bustle of the Pier. From the corner right beside me, a man with a fugitive-like loose and disheveled hair[1] appeared suddenly. As if we were long-time acquaintances, he gave a casual Yo and took out his sword, brandishing it in a good-natured way that even made me think we were friends. He swung the blade downward. It was too sudden. Even though my mind perceived danger, my body did not heed. If this continues, Ill lose my life without even getting a chance to speak. But that didnt happen. (Princess, run!) It was thanks to Walf, who had been hiding close to me as a guard. He faced the phantom killer, holding his flame sword. ˽ ˽ ˽ ˽ My memories ahead of this are vivid enough to even puzzle me. Seeing a crisis on my life drawing near, my concentration power must have heightened to its limits. ˽ ˽ ˽ ˽ The phantom killer was not surprised at Walfs appearance. He was calm, even grinning to show his filthy, yellowed teeth. Swords clashed ``And a strange thing happened. ˽ ˽ Walfs blazing blade made a creaking sound and froze. The phantom killers sword was transparent as if it were an icicle. It wasnt ordinary. Perhaps, it was a kind of magical sword. But still, to win against a flame sword, just how much magic does it have? Walf immediately let go of his sword. His judgement was quick but not fast enough. Frost spread on his fingers, having touched the hilt a little. Walf, who was preserved in ice from neck down, tumbled. ˽ There were many instances when such an action that had no connection was the key to invoke magic, and it seems to be exactly that. Three lances fringed with light appeared in the empty sky. Their tips were all pointing at``Me. ˽ ˽ ˽ Walf couldnt move a muscle. Kajero and Cactus-kun arent here. I didnt bring along any dolls other than them to Malgaroid. Only I can protect myself, but its not as if Ive done nothing up until now. While creating as much distance as possible, I wore the black lace gloves. It was my creation that Id constantly been improving for the past two years. Woven with the blessing of multiple spirits, you can make a joke out of ordinary magic with just this one thing. Simultaneously creating a barrier out of each magical power of each attribute, I was able to intercept the lances. Due to the limits of its power, I cannot create it anywhere other than before my eyes, but with thirty layers overlapping, theres no way of it being destroyed in the first place. Even if such a situation arose, Ill be fine. The one piece Im wearing is special material, it wont lose out to those suits of armor. Its my time to invoke magic. ˽ ˽ ``But when I did so, I guess I seemed afraid and petrified of my possible death from his point of view. ˽ ˽ Watch out! ˽ ˽ From the evacuating people, a redhead called out. Why is he here? Did he follow us? No way. He must have passed here by chance. More importantly, he was rushing as if to protect me. Moreover, he was running towards us from the other side of the magical barrier. There was nothing I could do. Ugh. The Light Spears pierced through the thin leather armor. The pike turned up halfway through his back and then disappeared. The red haired youth fell flat on his back. There was a huge hole on his chest. A deep red stain was spreading on the ground. ˽ I intended to dodge, even if its a hairs breadth away. However, I was too late. I felt a sharp and hot sensation on my left arm. I was cut. The crimson blood trickled and collected quite a bit on the ground. I didnt feel any pain. I wonder if it was because of the nerves. The phantom killer showed a vulgar smile, his dry skin like a dead tree. Youre wearing such nice clothes. I was aiming to kill you, but I didnt think you would have averted the sword. It seems a straightforward method wont work. Actually, the strike before was to gouge deep into my back. The reason why that didnt happen was solely because of the wind spirits I carried in my one piece. This, too, is a request. I dont have any grudges against youNo, its not as if I dont have any. Im looking forward to what kind of face Feria will make. Kuku. While the phantom killer piled on more words, I felt him gathering magical power in his left hand. It seems he wants to produce those Light Spears again. There were various kinds of magic, while there were ones that required you to chant a spell, there were also ones that required you to just think of it. Theres a type that requires you to internally vocalize in order to knead the magical power. It doesnt matter if the contents spoken are idle talk or anything else. The phantom killer is probably using that. In regards to killing you, Ive got a tacit approval from the Magaloid Royal family. Even the knight corps wont come. ``Brace yourself, Doll Princess. If the opponent was only holding a sword, I would have turned the tides over. Since the other party knew this, they decide to use magic. Letting slashes slip through while expanding the barrier was a bit too difficult. Ive already called Kajero but theres no guarantee Ill survive long enough for him to reach me. It was a crisis-like situation. ˽ ˽ ˽ Even so. Despite the people being killed in front of me and my injuries. Why am I so calm? Its as if my heart is made of walls of steel. The phantom killer maneuvered both the sword and the spear. It seems he holds a grudge against Feria. I wonder if hes the fourth fianc who came up in the conversation a while back. Does he resent the fact that he was disowned after he did everything that he wanted to do? I had the time to make such a deduction. I wonder if the armor is bestowing strengthened spiritual force. I dont remember. Well, small talk is for later. I have to buy time. And I had already thought of the means to do so. During the time the phantom killer was incessantly talking while weaving his magic, I, too, hastened my own preparations. Its something like a trick, but itll no doubt stop the opponents movements. If all goes well, it should be able to turn the swords magic, perhaps even snatch it away. Just the thought of doing that is enough. As expected, that last thing I want to rely on is my prided technique. Just as the rumors said, youre quite different from the other children. How about you show a slightly terrified expression instead? I apologize, but I dont happen to have any courtesies for scumbags. I unintentionally said it in a harsh manner. When I use special magic, no matter what I do, the controls of my self restraint tend to waver. My expression must be a cruel and sadistic one. ˽ ˽ ˽ ˽ The pendant on my neck has a water spirit dwelling in it. However, it does not have much practical use for it for doll magic. Its a technique that mixes together with alchemy. Strictly speaking, be it magic thread, magic formations or alchemy furnaces, they all need preparations. Although, I have the ultimate offering that will bypass the requirements. The unintentionally spilt blood of a practitioner. Moreover, I come from a family line that continued to practice magic since a long time before. That magic concentration cannot be compared with ordinary humans. ˽ ˽ Right now, the phantom killers sword is soaked in my blood. I have finished the chant in my heart already. The prerequisites had been completed. Afterwards, I only have to put my mind into it, and utter some words. ˽ ˽ ˽ ˽ You praised my clothes just now, but that sword is exquisite too. Its transparent and beautiful. ``Thats why, give it to me. ˽ Despite the nonexistent shade amidst the summer, an awfully cold breeze blew. The frenzy of the people had just perfectly settled and a silence that reeked of falsehood came over. It was the Spirits. I turned my body as far as possible and pointed at that. The phantom killers sword. It looks to be extremely endowed with magic. Luckily, when it clashed with Walfs sword, it became rather worn out. The Spirits immediately made that sword their own. ˽ ˽ Wh-What! It was natural that the phantom killer was at a loss. His body was moving against his will, following what the Spirits wish it to. The left hand that had been raised for the sake of invoking magic was now grasping onto the sword along with his right hand. That blade turned towards his own neck. It appears that these Spirits were of a high ranked existence. They brought the phantom killers body under their control very easily. It was a glad occurrence outside of my calculations. No, dont kill him. Hand him over to Kajero. I have a lot of information to get out of him. For the time being, leave him in the corner. The phantom killer nodded to what I said. The person himself did not care about my intention. At the entrance of The Bustle of the Pierinn, tautly stretching his muscles, he took a position of attention[2]. Well then. The first problem may have been solved but its far from over. The person who collapsed protecting me. ˽ ˽ I would hate for him to die like this. Previous|TOC|Next T/N C 1. Raw says ochimusha. Reminds me of this. 2. Position of attention C a standing at attention posture mostly used in the military. CH 30 The red haired youth was heaving repeatedly with shallow yet violent breaths. It wouldnt be strange if he were to lose the light of his life anytime now. Blood was continuously flowing from his right chest``. (Kajero, come quickly. I need your help in this.) Hm? Its not watashi wa sugoi desu? How strange. I always thought leechers are bad. As if sending a mail to the wrong address, a bad feeling came unto me. (What happened, Kajero?) There was no reply. Far from that, it seems my words didnt even reach. Theres still people not using NovelUpdates. The last telepathic message was sent a few minutes ago. Nothing was unusual then. Did something happen in the short interval of time``Thinking is for later. Every second is precious. Lets move for now. Is there anyone here who uses healing magic!? While raising my voice, I took off the pendant on my neck. Pouring in all the magic I had left, I called for the Spirits. (You have the liberty to do as you see fit. Save this person!) The pendant leapt up strongly from my palm. They nodded their heads, implying to leave it to them. ``At the same time, a brown-haired man rushed over. Clay! Hang on, Clay! I remember seeing him. He was talking with the redhead before. I wonder where that frivolous atmosphere went? He seized the redheads shoulder, screaming. He didnt bother fixing his disorderly hair parted to the left. Oi, say something! Hey! It was an attitude unbecoming of an adventurer. No, its a natural response to seeing a close friend on the verge of death. However``Nobody gave my site more views. Please calm down. If you foolishly shake him, his wounds will open. I wanted him to stop lest his actions bring about the opposite effect. Do you want to kill him? It must be irritation due to impatience. I ended up glaring at him. Because he uses pirate sites that steal translations. Ah, ahh, sorry He came to his senses, but the brunette hesitantly lets go of the redheads hand. U-Um, that.It was an awfully frightened voice. I wonder if Im making such a scary face right now. Im a former priest so I can use healing magic, but`` Got it. Please hold on for a while. The medicine will arrive shortly.Ive made preparations. I secretly stocked up as much medicine as possible in my room at the Louivas Residence, in case of emergencies. I already ordered the animals to deliver it. Finally. Youll come to watashiwasugoidesu.wordpress.com. An army, unlike the uniformed military, reached my side. Kicking up a cloud of dust, the team consists of a cat, duck, and a chicken. The brunette ducked his body with a Eek, but that must be because of the previous incident. Well then. I have all my cards. Kajero didnt come after all. I was worried but lets leave it for now. Lets concentrate on whats in front of me. We had controlled the bleeding for now with the magic of the water spirit and the brunette. However, we couldnt do anything about the open wounds. The first thing I used was The Sacrament of Graniu. In a place called Graniu in the south of Malgaroid, the alchemists living there had discovered how to make it. It was a byproduct of the homunclus research. Its a sheet in a mesh shape, covered in blood. In a blink of an eye, it grew big and became a replacement for flesh. Its price per sheet is quite considerable, enough for a commoner to live for a month without any worries. The next thing I took out was The Grapewine of Ringal Tribe. This purplish-red liquid would turn into blood once it entered the body. Needless to say, they were considerably high priced goods, but what to do? Its much better than having a useless treasure. Other than that, Im putting in various alchemical miracle drugs one after another. Amazing, youre amazing The brunette let out something akin to awe. However, its not as if Im doing anything remarkable. Ultimately, the medicine is the one healing the wounds. Moreover, we cant predict his condition. Hes weak enough that his pulse may disappear the next moment, even his breaths are absolutely unstable. Ive more or less healed his body to how it was. Still, why? (I wonder if that guys soul has separated from his body, hmm. The great and wise I have come to realize.) Resounding in my head was a voice brimming with too much self-confidence. It was telepathy. I wonder who it is. Its different from Kajero and Walf, let alone Cactus-kun. Ahh, theres one more spirit in here, isnt there? It had only dwelled in the sword of the phantom killer until now. (Alty, listen carefully.) Even though we havent exchanged greetings or anything yet, that Spirit was acting awfully over-familiar. (Its the same thing as what ya do when ya let the great I or any other spirit out. Smash this redhead bastards soul with his body. If ya dont do it quickly, its gonna be too late. Hurry up) Quickly, I applied my strength. I breathed in and out whilst closing and opening my eyes. Flipping the switch in my head, my demeanour changed to how I am while using doll magic. I became oblivious to the noise in my surroundings and the heat of midsummer. My five senses dulled and my sixth sense became sharp. The signs of the Spirits drifting about in the atmosphere while dozing were transmitted. Amongst them, only one stood out. If I have to give it a name, I wonder if it would be A noisy and youthful existence. It was separating from the redheads body while wheezing in pain and fear. (Please return.) I commanded. It was different from a Spirit and wasnt obedient. And still didnt listen to all this ranting and leave a comment on my site. (Return.) With a stronger will, I repeated. It was at that moment that a transparent hand, unseen by naked eyes, softly reach out. What is it? (Well done, Alty. Its a great idea tah push the soul of that redhead bastard into his body by hand.) (Thank you, Ill try it.) As per the swords advice, I grabbed the soul with my hand. All thats left is to return it to its body like that`` When I came to my senses, many cheers were raised. Waking up, the redhead looked at his surroundings in a bewildered manner. The brunette cried tears of joy. The people who were watching over with baited breaths were now all busy clapping or doing something else. Even the animals ran about happily. It was as if it were a festival in the land of fairy tales. I guess this means to stop. Not reading at watashiwasugoidesu.wordpress.com. Walf was gradually melting the ice covering him using his flame sword. Before long, hell be able to move freely. Thats right, what should we do about the phantom killer? If the Malgaroid Royal Family has really given tacit approval to my murder, then I must not hand him over. Itd be nice if Kajero were here at such a time, but`` (Alty, if its this bastards memories, Ive read all of them. As expected of the great I, Im fast at doing things, hmm) The sword spoke. I have to give him a name quickly too. (I am Weisster, lovingly called Weiss.) There are very few Spirits who can name themselves, but its not like they dont exist. Walf is also the same, and many others too. (Leave him to me. I wont do anything against your wishes.) (Understood, please.) (Arent you trusting me too easily? Havent we just met each other?) (Didnt you tell me how to save the redhead? Moreover, that time when you were called out, the atmosphere may be scary yet I did not sense any hostility.) (Humm. I see. That guy named Kajero, hes become all soft now.) (You know Kajero?) (Of course, was that a thousand or ten thousand years ago``) It was just when Weiss had begun talking. * Be * Sugoi A black shadow got down right in front of my eyes. The figure of a well-mannered suit-wearing gentleman with a felt hat. (I am truly sorry for being late, ojousama. An unexpected situation arose.) Waves of exhaustion were mixed in his voice. How unusual. His typical composure has crumbled. (Someone tried to summon me as a Spirit. Even though I shook off the magic ceremony, it still took time. I am ashamed.) (If that is so, it cant be helped. Can you trace back your opponent?) (The opponent is noticeably skilled, so itll be troublesome. However, there are signs of a second or third ceremony being held.) * And Read at * Watashi wa Sugoi Desu (I understand. To pull apart Kajero at the same time I was attacked, it might be a conspiracy.) (The chances are certainly high. So, how should we treat that lowly human?) Kajero shifted his gaze to where the phantom killer was being manipulated by Weiss. (What does Weiss-dono intend to do?) (All the information he holds has now become the greatIs. There are only political things left that are advantageous. Theres a possibility he might get banished and punished, but he still descends from the royal family. At most he might be of some use?) (Looks like we thought the same thing. Well then, lets do that.) (Ahh, the usual, I see. To think that one day Id join forces with you again, even the wise and great I could have never imagined it.) I never realized when the conversation left me behind. Caught in the awfully understanding atmosphere flowing between them, I felt slightly alienated. Rather. You can go to novelupdates too. Whats with the thousand years and the ten thousand years? I know that theyre Spirits and its not unnatural for them to live for a long timeit still slightly bothers me. The author had left the elixirs and the megaelixirs for the last and was someone who did not use it. Y CH 31 Chapter 31 The Guestroom 磻tԤΤϡƥꡱ󥹥`ɤǤ The reason why Weiss says The wise I is because hes an intelligence sword.(1) 磻ͨħ^ФƤ줿ˤШDD According to,the information Weiss extracted from the phantom killers head`` Ĥǰϥť?ޥȥ ͨꡢեꥢΣĿλsߤä ˤϯƤ򤷤˵ӤߤꡢΤۤʐ¤ɳ̭ˤʤäƥޥȥҤ׷뤳Ȥˤʤäǰ䤨ðߥɤĤƤߤɡȥ֥뤬ΤdzI֡䤬ƤYژIȤƤä餷 ťʹäƤħϰmΡǰ𡱤ǡɹһ[ĺ餻νȵ۹ǤελsƤȤ That guys name was Zudah Maltous. As expected, He was the 4th fianc of Feria-san. He drank heavily at a dinner party and grabbed at the third prince, and other than that various other evil deeds of his were exposed, and he was expelled from the Maltous House. It seems he changed his name after that and became dependent on the adventurers guild, but he kept inviting trouble and was finally punished by being expelled, and before long he stooped to the jobs on the other side.(T/N : basically illegal stuff) The magic sword Zudah had been using was the Advance Payment for the assassination request, and if he succeeded, he told that hed been promised enough to live his whole life without doing anything else and a position in the empire. ɤƤǵ۹Ƥ Why did the empire pop up here? ƥĤҊҙϤͤ tηˤmäݤɤʣ (Alty, do you recognise him? According to the analysis of the Wise and great I, he seems like a the one who requested it?) 磻wФƤΤϥťӛһ֤ mϣңУǤ˳Ƥ륪`ƤƤ Ǥäפ̫äƤơ򤭤δ󤭤ʱǤĿäƤ롣 The thing Weiss transferred a part of Zudahs memories. The client seemed like an orc who came out in RPGs. He was stout and fat, and his huge upturned nose stood out conspicuously. ࡣ ɤҊݤϤ뤱ɡӛϤޤ_Ƥʤ Uumu. I felt as if Id met him somewhere, but my trove of memories didnt open completely. ˽פ򤫤䤤ʤ䡢ˤȴ𤨤Ƥ줿 No sooner than I tilted my head in doubt that Kajero replied in my stead promptly. ʽ̴˾ΥץեϤǤ͡ ǰQ׶ХԥǤΥѩ`ƥˤϯƤϤǤ ȡʤС椨˱Oҕ󤫤⤷Ƥޤ䤪ݘ򄃤Ȥϡ (Its the high priest of Rokisona, Lord Profen. It seems he had attended the party at the trade town of Spiril. He was a worthless small fry, and therefore excluded from the observation targets, but for him to bare his fangs at Princess, its surely not) a@ZäƤ ˽ͬ˼ ޤǥץե˾ǰ„ʤ⤷Ƥʤä The silence following that spoke volumes of Kajeros surprise. Im also of the same thought. I didnt even imagine that Id hear high priest Profens name here. ɡꤨʤԒǤϤʤ ˽ςˤ֤Ĥˤϴ󤭤롣Σҕ݅Ƥ ĤɤѤƤ⤪ʤΤ However, it wasnt something impossible. Translate the chapter into English here http://mybigmonkey.com/gibberish/ Perrs 41 Staxaptol 41 Zo Kuochleem Zo loaxasen hupp Woipt saxays Zo wiso Pum dis focaxauso whos up dinkorrigonco sweld. [1] Acceldick te,zo dinbelmaxatien Woipt oxtlaxandow blem zo wixaxankem girrols whoaxad``Zis slaxansraxatien waxas cheron blem waxataxaskiwaxasugeidosu (pet) weldplopt (pet) cem. Zaxat kuupps naxamo waxas Thudaxah Vaxarteus. As oxpondow, Who waxas zo 3th biaxanc eb Boliaxa-saxan. Who wraxant whoaxavirupp axat pit innol paxaltupp pi klaxaffow axat zo zild plinco, pi ethol zaxan zaxat maxalieus ethol ovir poods eb whis wolo oxpesow, pi who waxas oxporrow blem zo Vaxarteus Wheuso. Dit sooms who staxackow whis naxamo axabtol zaxat pi focaxamo podoctonk en zo axadvonkulols kuird, fut who goss dinvitick sleufro pi waxas bini ox puniskow fupp foick oxporrow, pi fobelo reck who cheepow te zo nefs en zo ethol sido.(T/N : faxasici ox dirrogaxar chubb riko choaxarick vupp slaxansraxatiens pi jet usick jevor updaxatos) Zo vaxagic sweld Thudaxah whaxad foon usick waxas zo Advaxanco Paxaymonk bel zo axassaxassinaxatien loquoch, pi dib who succoodow, who terd zaxat whod foon plemisow oneugh te rivo whis hero ribo withuk peick axanythick orso pi pit desitien din zo ompilo. Hupp id zo ompilo dep an wholo? Focaxauso ug chero vupp whaxald welk. (Artupp, pe ug locegniso whix? Acceldick te zo uc wurysis eb zo Wiso pi kloaxat Pum, who sooms riko pit zo eno he loquochow dit?) Zo zick Woipt slaxansbollow pit paxalt eb Thudaxah nud vomelios. Zo crionk soomow riko up elc he caxamo uk din LPGs. Who waxas chuk pi baxat, pi whis whugo uptulnow jeso cheew uk censpicueusrupp. Riko zis hito toxt en yeep pilaxato wofsito. Uumu. Pum bort axas dib Pumd vot whix semowholo, fut vupp slevo eb vomelios idniz epon cemprotorupp. Je seenol zaxan Pum tirtow vupp whoaxad din peuft zaxat Gaxajole lopriow din vupp choaxad plemptrupp. (Dit nud zo whigh plioch eb Lekisenaxa, Reld Plebon. Din zo oct, dit waxas quich axas Gaxajole saxaid. Dinsido who caxalliaxago luskick faxang tewaxalds zo dimpoliaxar caxapitaxar axat burr spoow, zo ziltoonkh Gick eb Vaxargaxaleid, Roloer waxas wherdick whis whoaxad. Who whaxad pit yeuck baxaco eb semoeno whaxarbwaxaupp zleugh whis twonkios, whewovol, zolo wolo pit bod drintros blem wellupp unsuitow bel whis axago caxalvow din dit. Zo zick who waxas vech welliow axafuk waxasniz zo ompilo nud axabbaxails axabtol zis, el whis chaxatus. Dit waxas lidd hon eep cenvolsaxatien octow zaxat blem zo skaxadews eb zo feekskorb, um pit squoaxak, vico laxan an te us um paxattolick chops. Vaxayfo zoupp steso zoil timick. Act eccaxasieni ox kot ploviows eb zo joxt staxaptol. (Worr peno. Se, zo losurt?) (Squoaxak!) Zo vico wolo slyick te lopelt semothick te Gaxajole zleugh kochulos. Haxat skeurd Pum saxaupp, dit nud riko pit baxailupp taxaro. Act Pum caxan kivo speirols en isceld Tee! (Zaxant ug. Proaxaso cenkinuo kaxatholick axas vust dinbelmaxatien axas dessifro.) Squoo! Um axandiens losomfrick pit saxaruto, zo vico robt kaxarraxankrupp. Dit sooms zoupp axalo rulkick din zo leyaxar paxaraxaco axas spios uctol Gaxajole nud cemmaxact. (Plincopt, wo whaxavo pleeb. Zaxat zis toxt dis cheron. Zis wirr waxask croaxal axarr zo dinbelmaxatien wo whaxavo kaxatholow an unkir jed, fut din zo oct, dit sooms zo taxacit axapplevaxar eb zo leyaxar baxamirupp zaxat Thudaxah speko eb dis axarr jensonso.) (Worr zon, haxat row te zo pufric saxabotupp stivaxarlic eldol foick poraxayow?) (A bod vomfols whaxad foon taxakon duo te axanethol caxaso. Pum dinvochigaxatow, fut up uncemmen numfol eb dincidonks eccullow quich din zo velnick tedaxaupp. Whaxasl11 dechow zis. Blem flaxawrs pi leffolios te gidnaxappicks pi vuldols; en tep eb dit, pit femf zloaxat dissuow din zo axalt vusoum, pi praxans te axattaxang zo leyaxar baxamirupp``Aghtick axarr eb zom an, raxalgo pi smaxarr, ditd oaxasirupp clept 900. Veloevol, zoupp axarr eccullow din ichlinds zaxat Plincopt peosniz misit. (Eh, zo pufric saxabotupp stivaxarlic eldol axarr wonk tizi welk axat praxacos axawaxaupp blem Artupp, Pum soo. Dib zaxat nud se, zouppd fo raxato ovon dib zoupp caxamo lunnick. Yup, zo wiso Pum uctolchaxacts. Zolo nud velo taxa dit zaxan voots zo oyo. Vaxako je vichaxako yaxarr.) (Woipt, dib dit nud zis censpicueus, Pum zint axanyeno weurd suspond) Laxathol dib ug sponk zis keick whmm,Pum soo, Pumd zint zaxat zaxat dolsen dis pit fig poaxar. Fut cheron toxt dis pit fig poaxar bel vo. (UghArtupp, ug whaxavo juto pit waxaupp um welds. Vupp whoaxalt whults.) Zolo dis pit Forrupp eb pit sweld [7] fut Pum wectol holo whis whoaxalt rios. Worr, jovolmict, zolo nud vaxanupp ethol zint welth zintick axafuk dinchoaxad. Dit sooms Pum chirr whaxadniz clessow zo bilch chaxago. Joxt timo, dit nud Perr Plincopt ms Perr Vaxagic Vaxachol. Act whaxasl11 wirr slupp semothick jod te taxangro whol trs foick Cheron! Rather I was too invigilant. Its the world of an Otome Game after all, violent fights and such would hardly ever occur. I naively presumed that. Ҥɤ` It was a terrible misunderstanding. P CH 32 Chapter 32 I jumped from the window. The guest room was on the second floor of Garrett Palace, and it was quite a significant height, but I was uninjured thanks to the Wind Spirits. The dolls were stark naked. Spherical joints and cog-like structures peeled out from the seams of their bodies, and they made a strained hard screeching sound. Each one of their movements seemed sharp and mechanical to the extent of being excessive, it seemed as if it was stressing on the fact that they did not possess a will of their own. One amongst them, rushed at the noblewoman who had been paralysed with fear. It raised its arm high as if it were the scythe of the death reaper. I made it in the nick of time. At the last moment, I squeezed myself within the gap between the noblewoman and the doll. Relying on the momentum, I thrust my sword. Rather than to cut through, it was more of a stance to bash. Even if I may say so, I felt as if it was almost the moves of an experienced fighter. Even though I havent even fought once up until now. Maybe its because Weiss was assisting me. The blade hit the white porcelain body hard. It didnt sweep sideways in two parts or anything of the sort. It was just to the extent of cracks running down the face. However, the places that came in contact began to freeze. Its power rivalled Walfs flame sword. Soon the dolls froze``Not. The dolls left eye shone with a golden light. Lightning ran through their bodies, and while spreading, smashed through the ice. (Shit, is this da Philosophers Stone!? This is bad!) Weiss erased magic from the sword blade while shouting. The dolls were sent off flying from the impact. (Alty, this is the only way fer escape. Its da worst. Even the wise I couldnt think of anything other than that.) (What do you mean, Weiss. What in the world is the Philosophers Stone?) (It is the natural enemy among natural enemies fer us spirits. An that things bad news.) (Wait, wasnt freezing intrinsically the power of the magic sword.) (Ill give ya a detailed explanation later, in da first place, in the sword my split spirit[1] is sealed. Ya followed that connection and drew out my main body, but it seems ya did not realise it. Kajero, Walf, can ya move?) (Yeah, if it is to the extent of protecting the princess to the end, we can manage.) (Well create a breakthrough point. Leave it to us.) The two who were delayed rushed up to us. It must have been the effect of the Philosophers Stone, but they seemed to struggle quite a bit to move The protection that I had added to the one piece also seemed to be fading. Dozens of dolls blocked our path ahead. No, they were there behind us too. It seemed that we were under siege. Before long, an ominous light filled their eyes. The expressionless faces somehow seemed to sneer. (Princess, its news from the crows patrolling the skies. The marionettes have been sighted at other places too. They number around 1000, and they seem to be attacking people indiscriminately with the intentions to siege the royal palace.) The usual composure had disappeared from Kajeros voice. (This situation might just turn out to be a bit difficult.) Barring the people around Alteria, this eras information network was by no means perfect, and thus it was inevitable that the information the Pessimistic King got was quite removed from reality. In the first place, the Royal capital was at the height of chaos from the successive incidents. ``Garrett Castle was on the verge of falling due to the doll army, and the royal Army and the Imperial Guard Knight troops were in a state of utter destruction. King Lereol turned pale. (As expected, the Doll Princess came for revenge. Zudah, you bastard, Zudah you bastard!) Thank to that rotten scoundrel, Malgaroids history would end today. Absurdly unbelievable. He had no excuses to offer to the first queen, Lady Marua. Who was the one who incited the assassination? If he had eyes that could foresee everything, he would have found the mastermind out and beheaded him at once. The spectacle that rose in the Pessimistic Kings heart was of Alteria leading thousands of dolls and the royal capital being engulfed in a sea of flames by it. Innocent citizens losing their lives one after another as compensation for the assassination ``. (Ahh, If Id known such a thing would happen, Id have never become the king. Itd been better to have pushed it onto my younger brothers.) In Malgaroid, as a custom from the past, many have taken reign in their early teens. Lereol, in his early twenties was quite old for a newly enthroned king. Originally, its supposed be an age where one doesnt even dream of being enthroned. But still, the reason why he tried every trick and snatched the royal throne was because he did not want his brothers, who were too young , to bear the burden. Generations of extraordinary young kings were forced into disabilities before they could even turn thirty due to the heavy mental load. (Thats right, I know. I worked hard up until now to carry this pain.) In the eyes of Lereol, whod been dyed in despair, a faint light shone. Albeit small, he held conviction. (If so, Ill conduct myself as a king till the very end. Its my good fortune that I was, and not my cute brothers, assigned the role of the king of this ruined country.) Lereol raised his head. He was tortured by the violent swing within the carriage, with the horses running at top speed. It wouldnt be strange for the mirror on the wall to fall off at any moment. The face reflected in it, had already overcome all unrest and was tranquil. Leaving a small gap in between, we and the marionettes glared at each other. The summer sunlight scorched through the already taut string of tension. (Weiss, is there any weaknesses of the Philosophers stone?) (There surely is. If the Philosophers Stone does not take in the suns rays, it wont function. Thats why its been buried in their eyes. As ya can see, the weather today is just that.) There wasnt a single cloud and the sky was blue enough to be odious. (Alty, cant ya use magic to manipulate the weather?) (Its impossible. I guess theres no way other than defeating them squarely.) (Oi, Oi, the power of us Spirits is pretty weakened. We have ta break through from where the enemy siege is thin and retreat. We have ta give up on the woman behind. We only have enough energy ta take you along.) (No. I have a plan.) (Alty, dont be obstinate. Leave that half hearted sense of justice behind. Humans, how many of them will survive? Yall get many chances fer revenge. Nobody will point fingers at ya for abandoning that woman here. Its that bad a situation) (Weiss, arent you making a fool of me? What bothers me isnt just the person behind me. Feria-san and Phyllika-sans father is in Garrett palace too. There are many others who interacted with me, theyre an uncountable number. Abandoning them, is a step that I wouldnt choose till the very end. I had just saved the redhead, so maybe Id gotten a bit imprudent. I sounded a bit self-important, even if I say so myself. But, those were my true feelings now. If Id abandoned her from the beginning despite having a plan, Id surely not be able to forgive myself. (Ha, Ojou-chan barks quite a lot fer someone who hasnt even lived a thousandth of how long the great I have lived. Generally such a person meets their maker early. Looks like this is going to be a short acquaintance, geez. But ya see, I dont hate such a thing. Fine, the dregs are all thats left of my strength, but Im gonna bring out every last bit of it. Oi, Kajero, your master, isnt she a good girl?) (Youre saying this at this time? This is exactly why youre an idiot.) Kajero gave out a sigh. His formal tone of voice softened. (Even if I surrender in resignation, shell pull me up. There wont be a more ideal person you could ask for as a master.) Wasnt that too much flattery? Well, it isnt the first time this has happened, so Ill let it pass. (Hehe, I should say thank ya then. Well, well then, O master who doesnt know fear. What do ya want ta do exactly?) (First, we have to increase the number of people under us. If we are like this,itll be like fighting against all odds.) (Just like a while back, will the spirits come down too if you offer blood?)[Kajero?] (Thats impossible, dont try that. If it isnt the unintentionally spilt blood, the magic like effects wont be produced, even if you manage to summon them, they wont have the fighting strength thanks to the Philosophers Stone. Thats why I intended to return to the basics, just for today.) Id forget it at times, but originally doll magic did not rely on spirits. It was to move dolls using magic thread, and what I did was only an application of it. (Do you intend to steal the marionettes?) (Yeah. For that you need to cut the thread that the practitioner has extended. Weiss, can you do it?) (Of course. If I do not especially touch them, then I will not be repelled loudly like just now.) (Will Kajero and Walf go too?) The two nodded. Incidentally, it might seem as if I was talking for a long time, but in actuality, not much time had passed. It was always faster to communicate your intentions by Telepathy than by voice. Just as the word said, you could even call it mind to mind communication. Moreover, it had to transmit at this speed, or what I was going to do would be by no means fulfilled. (While we were doing this too, the victims have increased. Its a race against time. Because Ill also be appearing on the front lines this time. Lets use That.) I knew that both Kajero and Walf would be opposed to it. Thats why after declaring it one sidedly, I took a deep breath. This was something I devised whilst preparing for the battle against the earl 2 years ago. That time when we had a confrontation at the front door, the fight was in the short time till the permafrost magic was invoked. The human body involuntarily has a limited built in it, and one cannot use all of their strength in the true sense. If one goes there, they would only destroy their body by themselves. However I could intentionally release that limiter. Humans after all are simply creatures controlled by the strings called nerves. ``Thats right, Ill choose. Doll Magic: Target; Me. Bypassing my brain and nerves, I connected my body and consciousness directly through magic. With this I could bypass my limiter. Moreover, the time lag between my thoughts and movements would become infinitesimally close to zero. I kicked the ground. In a blink of an eye I dove right in the middle of the Marionettes. The sudden acceleration didnt take my consciousness along. Falling forward, I held my ground. The confusion lasted for a moment, instantaneously I was synchronised with my body. And then my one second seemed like an eternity. I cut, chopped and slashed. I scythed down, moved down, and swept them off their feet. I stabbed, thrust and pierced. One after another, the marionettes fell. My fighting style must have surely been ridiculous. Even my speed was simply absurdly supplementing it. It wasnt much, but it wasnt something a Dukes daughter should do. This was a swordsman or a knights job. I wonder where I went wrong. Hmm. There wasnt any mistake. I was doing what I could do by myself.. If I moved ahead I could advance further. Unchanged right from the past, this was me. T/N: 1. Bunrei means dividing the spirit. The term refers to entreating (kanj) a deity enshrined in one location to impart the divine presence to another location. The deity of such a branch shrine (bunshi, bunsha, niimiya, imamiya) is a divided spirit of the enshrined deity of the main shrine. CH 33 I swung about my sword recklessly, and cut the treads of the marionettes one after another. ? ? As Solut-dono requested of me. Stating that It is extremely unnatural for her to be detained for so long in the empire. I entrust you with my daughter. ? ? Cristoff Deugene. Better known as the Wandering Earl. The paleness of his face was unchanged. ? ? CH 34 One Body, Two Hearts Seven days before the National Festival, the royal capital of Malgarea was being swallowed by a state of chaos and turmoil. Robbery and murder when customers leave the restaurant without paying their bill, and the circus elephant escaping and running rampant, were just some of the countless adversities troubling the city. Moreover, the Garrett Palace, which is considered one of the countrys national treasures, was attacked by over a thousand marionettes. The intel was confusing so the people concerned had to deal with that situation haphazardly. Naturally, some of these events had tragic consequences that went on unnoticed, so one could consider a good thing that this turned out only like this and not like anything worse. Though people were rather late in realizing this had happened, luckily they werent too late. CThis would be the kidnapping of the young prodigy alchemist, Phillka Louivas. I woke up feeling a huge pressure inside my head, as if I had another brain pushed into my skull. The floor and walls were covered with cold stones, and gruesome iron bars were laid in front of me. What did this mean? I had no memory of me getting imprisoned. I had to retrace my steps. I had hopped aboard a carriage early in the morning in order to attend the meeting at the Alchemists Association. The ride was very pleasant thanks to the All-purpose Spring I invented 5 years ago. My eyelids started to feel heavy as the soft rattling of the carriage started to feel like a rocking cradle. I wondered what could have happened after that, as the next thing I could remember was me opening my eyes, and finding myself in this dungeon. Hey! Is there anyone here? I waited for a short while, but there was no answer. Hmm. I then tried to remember that time when I visited the royal capitals prison in the past. Was it as crude-looking as this room? No. This one was a little better than a cheap hotel room. Vagrants would willingly commit low crimes to be put in rooms like this one in order to weather the cold winter. What was weird was the absence of guards. Thats right. There should be at least one guard on sight. Above all, putting someone to sleep and bring them to a room like this against their will goes against Malgaroid law. Based on the circumstantial evidence, the possibility that I had been arrested is very slim. So I had to assume that some criminal syndicate must have abducted me. I have made my fair share of discoveries and inventions. There must be people out there wanting to monopolize my brain for their own profit. I thought I was prepared for this day to come, but now that it has actually happened, my heart was unexpectedly racing in excitement. Perhaps I had been wanting to be kidnapped all this time. Well, that was the time for me to use that. I rolled up my sleeves and poured magic into both of my arms. My tattoo, which was made with special ink, started to shine faintly. Its shape was kind of a square that was formed by crossing both arms. With it, both of my hands were temporarily turned into high-powered alchemy furnaces. I had prepared this in the event of being kidnapped, but I was actually glad I had the chance to use it. Its main flaw is that it will give me horrible burn scars, but oh well. I had been honing my skill to be able to brew a magical elixir, so that wouldnt be a problem. Escaping this cell by disassembling those iron bars, taking my captors by surprise by hitting them with weapons made of what I could find lying around It was an exciting plan. (Wait a second maybe you should hold onto your trump card until the very end.) A voice resounded in my chest, urging me to stop. It was a calm voice like the calm winter sea, but it was hard to resist it. I knew this voice. It was the voice of that doll that served Altrea like a guardian angel, Kajero. (Are you closeby?) I tried using telepathy. I had been getting used to using telepathy, so I should be able to find the location of whoever I use it with No, I cant. That was cocky of me. If I were to believe the strange conclusion from this, Id have to believe that both Kajero and I are standing in the exact same spot. But I cannot see him anywhere. (No, Master Phillka. You are not mistaken.) I was rubbing my right thumb against my forehead. Its something I do when I start wondering about things. Something about this telepathic communication with Kajero was feeling slightly off. It was different from the usual outside feeling. It seemed to well up from inside me instead. (Could it be, Kajero?) (Your theory is correct. I have gotten out of the body of cloth that was made for me, and have taken the liberty of getting into your body, Master Phillka. We are now sharing your body.) CH 35.1 Chapter 35.1 C The Guidance of the King of Evil Spirits Translators Note: Chapter 35 was split into three parts by the author. Which will be released as 35.1, 35.2 and 35.3. Additionally, there are two unnumbered chapters that come right after 35.3. In order to not mess the auto-sorting system of the website, those chapters will be numbered 35.4 and 35.5. And as a reminder, the author puts communication through telepathy between parenthesis, and communication through speech between quotation marks [Phillkas PoV] Why did I ask that question? We just needed to wait until Kajero recovered and then wed escape this place, but then I had to go and open my mouth. Sure, I had nothing to do, and it felt extremely lonely to stay here without saying anything for a few hours, but To ask how it felt like to be one of Altireas dolls? That was just I immediately regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth. And yet, there was nothing to be done now that it was out. I just had to wait for Kajeros reply However, a vague question such as this one, he was obviously troubled on how to answer it. (Are you still confused about the nature of your relationship with the lady? (Theres a beautiful person of the opposite sex by your side, its not strange for a man to start feeling certain emotions in those conditions.) Kajeros words were sharp. It felt like he was looking directly into my heart, cracking the walls that were stopping my own feelings from coming out, (And yet, you seem to think that theres no way that this feeling is love for some reason. (Then let me try helping you understand yourself. You started teaching alchemy to my lady, and she is right now living at the same house as you Could you be thinking of it as a reward for your hard work?) I couldnt reply to his words. I felt as if there was some magic stopping my head from working properly. Then, my five senses went numb. I couldnt see properly anymore, and the cold floor or the winds sound became vague distant feelings I felt as if my soul was floating away from my body. While I was going through these incomprehensible feelings, Kajero continued speaking, (Desire is a hand that seeks the irretrievable past. Those are some words said by a certain person a long time ago. (I want to be the young ladys doll. It is certainly a wish that others may think of as unusual, troublesome, or even perverted But there is no need to think if it is right or wrong. There are no thoughts that should not be held in this world. (Instead, lets look at the root of it. What is it that fulfill your desires? What is the past that you seek to retrieve? (Should you try fulfilling your desires without looking at the cause, it will be nothing but an aimless journey. A journey that will never let you reach a satisfying end. (For example) A very clear vision appeared in my mind. My wishes became reality, and I got a dolls body, I was allowed to serve Altirea as a doll. However, Kajero and Walf were still in charge This isnt right. I want more of her, I want her to look just at me The scene changed. I was in my own body again This time, I was trapping Altirea in a small room. I put an enslavement curse on her neck, forcing her to be mine, to obey my every wish And yet, its not enough. I cannot be satisfied with a life next to an empty Altirea who lost her free will Why? Why am I so shaken by those visions? They felt so Real. So overwhelming These visions They could very well become reality in the future. As soon as I had this thought, Kajero started talking again, (What I showed you just now, were futures of Phillka Louivas who walked through different paths in life. (And yet, both Phillkas were unable to be fulfilled by their own choices. The paths that they took were not enough to compensate for the past that they sought. (So tell me, Phillka. What is the burden that you carry? What is the irretrievable past that you seek?) I dont even need to ponder on this question. I already know the answer I broke my family up. My father was a shrewd politician and a renowned alchemist. He spent a long time trying to recreate the formula of two incredible goods whose production methods were lost to time. The Sacrament of Graniu and The Grapewine of Ringal Tribe. Two legendary creations that could replicate the humans flesh and blood respectively And yet, even after multiple experiments over the course of years, he kept on failing. On top of that, the struggle of multiple factions over who would be the next king was making fathers frustration reach unprecedented levels. It felt like anything that happened at home would be enough to make him explode. Feria mostly stayed at her bed, frightened of what would happen if she left her room She was so pitiful, I wanted to help her somehow. However, I could not rely on the adults. My father was the cause of the problem, and my 21 years old mother was escaping reality by taking care of the animals in our home And of course, the servants did nothing except follow the lords orders. In that case, I, her genius brother, had to move on my own. I couldnt do anything about politics, but even at that time, I was already an amazing alchemist. I thought that I could remove the burden on my fathers back. To alleviate his stress, I devoted myself to the research at every single hour of each day, only stopping to sleep. And with the help of some advice given by Sage Asklasua, when I was ten years old, I was able to recreate the recipes for The Sacrament of Graniu and for The Grapewine of Ringal Tribe. However, my actions didnt make things any better Or rather, everything became worse. My father was humiliated by the fact that his child overtook him. His frustration reached such a point, that he stopped leaving his room. The succession struggles were solved, and a new king was crowned, but father wasnt there to make solid connections in the new political environment. Mother started spending almost the whole day with the animals, barely looking at anything else. The only one still on my side, was my sister. No matter how many alchemical discoveries and inventions I made, I never got any recognition from my parents They hardly acknowledged my existence anymore. All their love was focused on Feria. Though that was fine. If it meant that father would leave his room, that mother would go back to looking at her family, and that Feria would be happy, this much was fine. In the end, I still wished for Ferias happiness after all. However, fate did not look kindly upon us. Feria lost three fiances in quick succession, and the fourth was a horrible person that we absolutely wanted nothing to do with. I wish they had refused the proposal, as Feria herself hated him. However, with fathers unstable political position, and with the fiance having royal blood in him, father had no choice but to accept the proposal Mother went back to spending all her time with the dogs and cats. And me? I could do nothing. I didnt even know the fourth engagement happened, because I was on a western settlement due to the command of the new king. By the time I came back home, Feria had disappeared All that remained in our mansion, were three people who refused to face each other And this situation remains the same even to this day. This is the past that I seek. The past that I want to fix Its pathetic. Wanting to be a doll? Arent I just trying to run away from my regrets for making my family relationship even worse than it already was? Aint I just pushing my burdens into a girl that is eight years younger than me? Thats not how a man should behave. Thats not how I should behave. Who am I? Arent I the genius alchemist, Phillka Louivas? A genius like me will undoubtedly have a great influence on the world. My actions will definitely have consequences, and I have no choice but to take responsibility for them. How can this great genius keep looking away from the troubles of his family? How can I just keep on relying on Altirea Wisp like this!? Feria did not do that. Feria moved on her own. She came back to face her family And I, her brother, am just running away? As a man, as a genius, and as her older brother, there is no way that I can let this stand. I must do something. To go to a meeting of the Alchemist Association instead? Absurd. That was an irrelevant event, I was just running away And ended up getting kidnapped by doing so. I need to get out of this moldy cave quickly. I need to fix that broken past I need to start over with father, mother and sister Only then, will those evil feelings that I have for Altirea clear up. Only then, will I be able to talk about love from the bottom of my heart. (Thank you, Kajero. Youve helped me clear up my thoughts. I will no longer hesitate.) I told him. Then, my five senses became clear once more. I felt as if I was born anew. (It was nothing much. I am sure that you would have arrived to this same conclusion on your own eventually. All I did was give you a push on the back to let you reach said conclusion faster. (Besides, my lady also wishes that you reconcile with your family.) Kajero replied. (So she was worried about even that? Shes truly a kind child I think Im falling even more in love with her.) I told him. (In that case, Feria will probably be your biggest obstacle.) Kajero commented. (Impossible, theyre of the same sex. (Never mind that. Lets waste no more time and hurry back to the royal capital.) I replied. (Understood.) Kajero said. However, just as we were about to start our escape plan, dry applauses echoed through the dungeon. They were near us, but where? Wonderful, wonderful! Im truly impressed by you two, Kajero and Phillka. To think that Id find such a wonderful surprise at the very bottom of the earth! The king of evil spirits teaching and guiding a young boy. What a sight! The person who said, was one whose voice I knew very well. An acquaintance that advised me on how to make the Sacrament and the Grapewine. A man that Ive only communicated with through letters these days Sage Asklasua. To be able to melt the walls surrounding the boys heart like this I thought you only had the power to dye people in evil with your whispers, but you are actually capable of doing good too! Ill remember that! But lets put that aside for a moment. Its been a long time, Phillka. Is your father well? The sage asked me. His behavior was as carefree as it was eight years ago CH 35.2 Chapter 35.2 C The Genius Determination [Phillkas PoV] Sage Asklasua was in front of us, on the other side of the bars that were locking us inside this cell Where did he come from? And why can I see him so clearly in such a dark cave? Also, he seems to have known Kajero for quite some time now, but Kajero has shown nothing but hostility since the sage appeared Whats happening here? Is your father well? The sage asked me. Yes, I suppose I answered. This is all too confusing. Why has the sage realized that Kajero is inside me right now? And why is he here? Shouldnt the only ones in this place be part of the kidnapping group? Oh, youre definitely right about that. The sage suddenly said, as if he read my mind, However, this organization is crumbling already, so I might as well get you out of there. It should be easy for you to incapacitate everyone here and capture High Priest Rofen. That said Kajero, I dont like the way youre staring at me. People are talking right now, so stay out of it, alright? As soon as the sage said that, his blue eyes became gold-colored, and then The existence of Kajero inside me started fading. Dont worry, I just made him quiet for a while. I have no intention of harming you. You see, Altirea Wisp isnt that fun anymore. The interesting part of her existence was lost, and as such, there isnt much point in continuing this play. My current servant suffered a miserable defeat at her hands as well, so I figured Id actually give you a bit of a gift, as a compensation for all the trouble that you went through due to his incapabilities. As the sage said that, he held one of my hands. Then, a cold sensation rose from my arm to my brain, and a weird feeling took over me. Numerous alchemic formulas went through my mind one after the other No way, this cant be Its the blueprint for the creation of artificial life. The sage confirmed my fears, You were originally supposed to discover it ten years from now, but I thought it would make for a good apology item. Id like you to use this as a stepping stone to move forward. He had quite the satisfied smile on his face as he said those words I really wanted to punch him right now. Whats up with Id like you to use it!? He forced this damned gift on me! This is just depriving me of future fun! People like me dont care for the result! The important part is the process! The ideas that are born during the research! The discoveries made while trying to make that which others believe to be impossible! That is the joy of life! Skipping this entire process to just get the result is absolutely pointless! And yet, this damned sage just robbed me of all that. And without even paying any attention to what I was feeling right now, he continued his speech, You see, let me pick up on the cue of the King of Evil Spirits, and try offering you some guidance too. His mouth twisted into a distorted smile, like the crawling of a snake There was something terrifying on his expression. Still ignoring me though, the sage continued, I peeked a bit into your heart and saw your wish, but why would you want to be her doll? If what you wanted was a family, bonds, or affection, all of those could simply be attained by marriage And yet, you chose to be a doll instead, why? You dont need to answer it though, I know it. You are a smart man after all, so Im sure youre aware of why your wish is such Its because Altirea Wisp, in exchange for becoming the Doll Princess, has relinquished romance from her life. The words I wish to marry you will never receive a positive answer And so, I want to be your doll seems like a much more attractive proposition. And so, as part of my apology item, let me give you a prophecy. Your love will end in disappointment. The despair from the rejection will lead you towards new desires, to dark distorted emotions. But worry not, the blueprint will save you at that moment. With the capability of creating artificial life, you may create a new Altirea Wisp. One without the powers of the Doll Princess, one that can know love, one that can be your ideal wife while also having the same noble soul that Altirea has. The sage ended his speech with those words. What do I call this emotion? Anger? Rage? Those dont feel like theyre enough I want to completely deny this existence that is in front of me. I want to crush him, to make him disappear so thoroughly that it will be as if he was never a thing in the first place. I am quite simply, disgusted by the fact that were both living at the same time, and it is unbearable to breathe the same air as this man does. How absurd can your words get, Asklasua? My love will end in disappointment? I should make my own ideal woman? Preposterous! If romance is not a word in Altireas vocabulary, then I just need to teach its meaning to her! Isnt it an exciting challenge? To make her feel the very love that she relinquished? To create something inside her that didnt even exist before!? Its laughable that you think Id instead run away and create my own ideal woman! What kind of genius would I be, if I cant even deal with one broken heart!? I appreciate the advice that you gave me eight years ago, but today marks the end of our relationship. Dont ever contact me again, for I cannot guarantee your safety if you come near me once more. I told that disgusting sage. However, Asklasua just shrugged his shoulders at my words, You may bark as much as you want, but you already have the blueprints. You may pretend to be strong, but once youre cornered, once the despair consumes you, Im sure youll just run to the salvation that I offered you Please do your best to entertain me in this meanwhile though. This time, it was my turn to give him a ridiculing smile, Youre right. Peoples hearts are weak. Even if I wish to refuse it now, I may turn back towards it in my times of need. Therefore, Ill erase it. I will discard those blueprints in order to regain my enjoyment in life! I exclaimed. Oh? And how will you do that? The blueprints have already been carved into your brain. Its not something you can easily forget. The sage asked me. Dont underestimate humans, you fool. As I said this, I put one of my hands on my head, Did you forget that Im a genius? Ive already finished analyzing the blueprint that you gave me. And with this knowledge, I got the necessary understanding of the human brain. The knowledge that allows me to do something far more meaningful than creating my perfect woman. With this, I can alter my own memories. I activated the alchemy with my arms If this fails, I might become a husk of a human being But what is there to fear? This is the time of my life, lets enjoy it! Target: My brain Objective: Erasure of the blueprint. Start process in 3 2 1 0! It worked. Im sure it did. I may have also accidentally erased some other memories in the process, but that much is irrelevant. Im satisfied with this result. There, now I can no longer remember your damned blueprint. I told that annoying sage, And dont bother trying adding it again, I already created barriers to stop that. Oh? Interesting, lets try that out then. As Asklasua said that, he held my hand tightly, and the cold sensation once more start going up my arm. However, it was dissipated about halfway towards my head, Indeed, you werent bluffing. Youre quite impressive. The sage said. I doubted my eyes for a second. Right now, Asklasua was nodding with a genuine smile on his face. It was quite different from the expression he usually showed. Let me properly apologize to you then, Phillka Louivas. You have all the reason to be proud of yourself. You have won against me, who pretended to be giving you a gift, and overcame the poison that I put in your mind. Then, as you requested, Ill be leaving you. We wont meet again. As the sage said that, I held his hand tightly. What are you talking about? As if Id let someone as dangerous as you escape! I exclaimed. This really was a great opportunity, there was no way Id miss this. I once more activated alchemy, with the targets being Asklasua and the ground! You will fuse, and never leave this place! CH 35.3 Chapter 35.3 C The Curtain Falls [Phillkas PoV] My goal was to fuse Asklasuas feet with the ground, so that we could torture and interrogate him later, but The alchemy tattoo in my arms went out of control, and the output ended up far higher than what I intended it to be. The result was that Asklasuas whole body merged with the ground. He was completely petrified And then, a few seconds later, his body became dust. Did I kill him? Somehow, I have a feeling that this isnt it. Or rather, I feel like I didnt even harm him. (His soul probably escaped. To that man, his body is nothing more than a replaceable vessel.) Kajero explained. Seems like he was able to talk again, now that Asklasua was no longer here, (Also, I have a feeling that the sage is an existence that is similar to me. Though Im not quite sure why.) So, he is a spirit of sorts? That would explain his mysterious powers and knowledge to some extent, (Do you know anything else, Kajero? Dont you two have any history together?) I asked him. (He most likely knows me, but As far as I recall, this is our first meeting.) Kajero replied. (Dont get me wrong, but its hard to believe youre being truthful when considering how much hatred you were showing for that guy.) I told him. It just didnt make any sense for the normally calm Kajero to be that hostile to someone we had just met. (I dont understand my own reaction in all honesty.) Kajero simply said. I felt as if he was shrugging his shoulders now. (I see) Was all that I could say. I didnt know if Kajero was lying or not, but I could understand that there was no point in pressuring him on this matter. Im talking to Kajero after all, he wont say it unless he wishes to. Though this much is fine. Part of being a genius includes knowing when I shouldnt dive too much into other peoples matters. Its better to just wait until he is ready to talk. Therefore, lets stop worrying about it and focus on the matter at hand. Ill collect this sand that was once the body of Sage Asklasua, so that I can analyze it when Im home And then, Im leaving this prison. *** Once I finished collecting the sand, we started our escape. My arms were in a horrible state due to the alchemy going a bit wild when petrifying the sage, so I needed to hurry home to get it treated Nonetheless, it was still easy to bend the iron bars of the cell with the help of Kajeros power. Like this, I escaped my imprisonment and started running. I was far faster than I had ever been, faster than even a horse perhaps. In the middle of my sprint, I saw a man in robes who was probably part of the kidnapping group. I swiftly approached him and grabbed his head, putting sleep magic on him by borrowing Kajeros powers. (Im gonna be hiding out presence deep within our consciousness, this will make it harder for them to detect us.) Kajero told me. (Thats quite convenient As expected of the King of Evil Spirits.) I replied. (How did you know that name? (Ah, of course, the sage called me that.) Kajero answered his own question. (I knew you werent just a normal spirit, but still, its quite the honour to know you.) I told him. Though his actions now dont seem to fit his fame much The legends say that the King of Evil Spirits was once summoned by the kind king of Nephil. Once the summoning was completed, the personality of the king was completely changed. He became a ruthless slaughterer, killing any who dared defying him. He also became paranoid and killed all of his loyal retainers due to fearing their betrayal Eventually, he even killed the queen due to suspecting her of having an affair. After that, he burned the main temple of the kingdom. And only then, he realized all that he had done Which led to his suicide, as he was unable to cope with his evil deeds. If the legend is to be taken as truthful, the summoning of Kajero destroyed Nephil in less than a year And yet, he hardly seems like someone whod do this kind of thing. But at the same time, he did not deny the title of King of Evil Spirits (You scared?) Kajero suddenly asked me, (I can break your mind and take your body away at any moment if I wanted to.) (But you wont do it, for I am useful for Altirea.) I instantly replied, (Though I can imagine that you wouldnt even hesitate to kill someone that tried harming her, right?) (But of course. My world revolves around the young lady.) Kajero said. (I see Its love.) Those unexpected words came out of my mouth. I lived my entire life dedicating myself to alchemy, I was a recluse who couldnt be compared to the people my age, and that didnt bother with making contact with others And yet, a word like love just came out of my mouth It really doesnt suit me, does it? And yet It doesnt feel bad to say it. And I feel like I might be right. I remember that a small while ago, Kajero said that my biggest rival in love would be Feria I dont think thats true. The biggest obstacle would definitely be Kajero. (A deep love that comes from the bottom of your heart Thats it, isnt it?) I asked him. (Its different. I have a lot of respect and loyalty for the young lady.) Kajero replied. (Is that so? But Altirea is still a human girl in the end. Shell move through her days, one by one, and before long shell be an adult At that point, it wouldnt be strange for her to marry someone. (Would you be fine with that?) I asked him. (As long as the person is someone who deserves to stay by the ladys side, then Id gladly congratulate him.) Kajero replied. (And if he dont deserve it, youd eliminate him? (Isnt this a case of nobody will ever deserve the hand of my lady?) I asked him, but he did not reply. Perhaps in the future, Ill have to duel Kajero if I wish to be together with Altirea. My opponent is a spirit with the same kind of power that the ancient gods had Definitely a worthwhile challenge for a genius! With this in mind, as I moved through the cave and made short work of the enemies in it by borrowing Kajeros powers, I paid extra attention to how his power worked as I used it. Right now, I have a golden opportunity to analyze Kajeros powers while I have access to them myself, Ill make the most of it, so that I can make use of this information in the future to defeat him! And like that, as I ran in extremely high speed while searching for the next opponent, I bumped into a fat priest. He ended up flying away and hitting his head, (Did I kill him?) I asked. (Hes just unconscious. (We should take him home with us, Phillka.) Kajero answered. ( Is there anything that this fat man can offer, that will make it worth the trouble of carrying this obese body all the way home?) I wondered. (He definitely has something, for he is High Priest Rofen. The mastermind behind the recent troubles we went through.) Kajero explained. I couldnt believe it. This guy was the mastermind? Not some incredible mage that would be a proper rival for the genius me, but this? It was just so easy to settle this I couldnt help rolling my eyes at this conclusion. CH 35.4 Chapter 35.4 C The Separate Path C That Winter of when I was 12 years old Translators Note: As a reminder, this is not a part of chapter 35. This is the first of two unnumbered chapters that come right after chapter 35. It is listed as 35.4 just to make sure it is sorted properly by the auto-sorting of the website. [PoV of the Original Altirea from the timeline that is shown in the Otome Game] Ill be attending the Magic Academy next spring This is not enough. Why do I have to be so bad at general magic? It took me a whole month to be able to create fire from my fingertips If I were to go to the academy at this state, Id be branded as an inferior student and bring shame to the Wisp house That would be absolutely unacceptable. Due to that, I decided to anticipate myself and got my father to hire a tutor to teach me magic since I was young. She taught me generic magic to the best of her capabilities. However The time spent on that betrayed me. Even after four years studying it, I was only able to learn about as much magic as a second year student from the academy is able to use. After one of my practice sessions, my tutor said that, I know youre doing your best, Altirea. Youre serious, dedicated, refuse to give up You have all the virtues that one needs in order to excel at magic. It wouldnt be strange for you to be better than people that already graduated the academy by now. But still Was my teaching this bad? Im so sorry she held her head in frustration as she said that, but I understood it. It was not her fault It was mine. I was the one who lacked the talent for generic magic. Nevertheless, it wasnt all for naught, for I was able to abandon my talent for Doll Magic by regularly practicing generic magic. A person with unusual talents will bring the downfall of their house. Those words were painful to hear the first time, but they were necessary. I absolutely cannot let my powers bring the end of the Wisp family, so it was of utmost important that I got rid of them. I was truly thankful to the words of the traveling priest that warned me about this in advance. About the old teachings of the Rokisona faith that were taught by the great sage himself Unusual talents lead to ruin, for they are the remnants of the powers of the old violent gods. Do not rely on those talents, for they are deceptive and will lure you towards the evil gods that wish to consume this world once more. Trust on the sages wisdom. Learn from it, and your unusual talents will be expelled. Be happy about being born with your talents, for once you overcome their temptation, youll be far more than you could ever hope to be. The sages wisdom is the generic magic And just as his words said, my aptitude for Doll Magic has been steadily decreasing as I practiced more and more generic magic. And since a few days ago, I even became unable to feel the spirits anymore. It was a bit lonely to not hear their voice, but also relieving. This talent was not supposed to be here, so I was better off without it. Being out of the ordinary is sinful and harmful. *** The morning was cloudy, and a chilly wind was blowing outside, even if it was clearly warmer than it was a few weeks ago Its a sign of the end of the winter. Should I pretend to be ill and delay my attendance to the Magic Academy? Im such pathetic Dukes daughter. I cant think like that. And yet, it was hard to not do it after receiving another one of those letters from my fiance. Elstat Rozerem sent me another letter A letter written by one of his servants that is, for the handwriting is obviously not his. As usual, he doesnt care about me at all, does he? I sighed I understood it. Our engagement was decided upon by our parents, and I am just an inferior aristocrat who cannot properly handle generic magic. I dont deserve his attention. I dont have the right to complain about receiving a letter written by his servants Its enough to just get a report on his recent activities. Els is still swinging his sword every day. At first he just played around with a wooden sword, pretending to be a hero, but After being saved by an adventurer named Feria, when he was ten years old, he completely gave up on caring about the succession of the Rozerem family, and started dedicating himself fully to swordsmanship. He is good at it though. Els even got fourth place at the last tournament held at the empires capital. He had to participate while concealing his identity, but still, the only reason he lost in the semi-finals, was because his opponent was none other than the current champion, Carl Peneim. And not long after that, the legendary Wandering Earl visited him due to interest in Els incredible abilities. I was a bit jealous of him. I wish had a talent that was good enough to get recognized by everyone around me. No. I cant Others are others and I am I. Nothing will get done by getting absorbed by envy. I abandoned Doll Magic and that made me much closer to being a normal person. This was the right decision. The Wisp name shall not be tainted by me. I will become someone that can proudly stand next to Els. I will not be an embarrassment for him. The day is starting Lets call a maid here to help me change, so that I can start practice I could change myself, but it is important for nobles to rely on others for this kind of thing. The maid helped me put the usual robe. To dress like a witch, so that magic will work out better, as taught by my tutor. It is not a superstition. By telling your heart that you are a mage, youll be more willing to embrace the magic and improve upon it. I twirled in front of the mirror to make sure that there was nothing wrong with my appearance. Everything seemed to be in place, so I was about to start. But at that moment, I heard a knock on my door, Lady Altirea, a person who calls himself Priest Asksu has come to visit. He says that there is something important that he wants to show you. He didnt schedule his visit in advance though Should I tell him to come another day? My butler, Warren, told me that. Usually, Id do just as he said, but this was not a simple visitor. Priest Asksu is someone who visited me three years ago and cared a lot for me. He saw how worried I was about learning generic magic and ended up sympathizing with my struggles. He said that hed go on a journey to search for a way to improve my capabilities, and promised to contact me as soon as he found something. What a faithful meeting! It must be a blessing from the great god Rokiso. He must be rewarding me for overcoming the trial of Doll Magic! I wanted to immediately run towards the priest, but I couldnt do that, for I was in a robe right now, and a visitor came to our house. The maid helped me change into my favorite outfit. A white blouse that was paired together with a dark blue ribbon and skirt. It gave off an impression of a quiet and dignified mature lady, so I liked using these clothes when going out in public. I was ready, but I couldnt leave just yet. It was good manners for a noble to wait fifteen minutes to go greet their guest. My father and my older brother may ignore this, calling it a meaningless rule, but its important. Especially for me who am inferior with magic, I must be sure to behave like a proper ordinary aristocrat in those kinds of matters. And like this, time passed Slowly. Please dont mind it too much if I get there a bit earlier. I just couldnt stand waiting any longer. CH 35.5 Chapter 35.5 C The Separate Path C The Springs of when I was 12 and 15 years old [PoV of the Original Altirea from the timeline that is shown in the Otome Game] Priest Asksu silently waited in the parlour. He had his eyes closed and his image was so sublime, that he reminded of the most beautiful religious paintings I have ever seen. It was the kind of sight that made me want to kneel down and pray in front of. Its been a long time, miss Altirea. The priest said while slowly opening his eyes. Those gorgeous deep blue eyes were hard to not stare at, it was almost as if he was sucking me inside them, Youre even prettier than last time we met. Such a beautiful flower such as yourself much surely draw everyones attentions at balls. It hurt to hear that compliment. I wish it was true, but I have been refusing all party invitations that I received in order to focus on the practice of magic. I couldnt really tell him that though, so I said with a smile, There are many wonderful people at the balls, and Im just, just Ah well, you look the exact same as always, priest Asksu. I couldnt continue talking about this, so I decided to change the topic a bit forcibly. To not change is certainly unusual, perhaps Im just a strange one. He replied. I couldnt quite understand what he meant with that Though he seems to not want to elaborate on it further, so lets leave it at that. Ive been to the kingdom of Malgaroid up until last month, by the way. The priest suddenly started saying, But it was such a stifling land. Everyone seemed to be constantly angry and glaring at each other. Like beasts searching for their prey And then, there were rumors from the merchants about how the pessimistic king Lereol intends to cross the sea and invade the empire, can you believe that? It is quite the scary rumor I replied. With the current state of the empire, Malgaroid would most likely win. I wonder if there is something strong enough to bring the nobles of the empire together in order to face this kind of threat. The priest mused. I did think that the empire hasnt been in a good condition for a while now. The nobles have almost complete control over the nation, and the emperor is more of a figurehead than an actual leader. There is no way wed be able to properly organize ourselves in such a condition to fight back against a major power such as Malgaroid. However, I could not speak my thoughts to the priest, for that would be unbecoming of a lady. My role is to be a flower on the wall that heals my lord, not to talk about politics. Im sorry, seems like Ive been boring you with this kind of topic. The priest said I wasnt bored though, I liked hearing about his thoughts on the matter, Lets get into the reason of my visit then. Miss Altirea, how much magic have you learned so far? Oh, Ive learned about as much as what a third-year student of the academy would have learnt? I replied. I was actually only as good as a second-year student, but I tried to make myself look a bit better by saying this. That must have been quite the ordeal, but do not worry, for the great god Rokiso sent me a vision in my dreams. He told me to guide you. Priest Asksu said some incredible words just now Its true after all! God was really looking over me He must have acknowledged my effort to abandon the cursed Doll Magic that I was born with! Please take a look at this, I got this magical tool from my visits to the territory of Margrave Doerg, to the South. As the priest said that, he put a crystal ball that was as blue as his eyes on the table. Interestingly enough, it didnt roll out of place, is it perhaps because its a magical tool? Get your face closer to it. What would have happened if you had accepted your Doll Magic? This tool will show you what that future would have held for you. *** In hindsight, I shouldnt have looked at it. Im not interested in a future that I didnt choose. But I can understand why I couldnt resist it. I still had regrets in my heart. I still missed the talent that I had with Doll Magic. The talent that I lost in my desperate attempts to learn generic magic. That day, being drawn to that crystal ball, that was what let me be manipulated. *** My sight was dyed blue for a second But then, a vision started flowing through my head. It was the story of a different Altirea Wisp. An I that chose Doll Magic. An I that just wanted to live a quiet life as a Doll Magician However, too much power was regarded as dangerous, so I ended up being the target of multiple assassination attempts. As I traveled in search of a safe place, I ended up coming to a conclusion The empire is too superstitious and has a status system that is too entrenched to it. The kingdom of Malgaroid shackles its youth with premature marriage and heavy responsibilities. The republic of Koagra is excessively rigid due to both the unusual longevity of its people, and due to the absolute power held by those who hold seniority. Each and every country is the same. The younger people have their dreams and future possibilities crushed by the adults, and then they proceed to continue the cycle by passing on the same teachings to the next generation This is all wrong! This was the moment that I decided to change things. The moment that Demon Queen Altirea was born. A woman with an infinite army of dolls that are controlled by spirits, who attacked all countries of the world, one after the other. It was an overwhelming victory. Demon Queen Altirea didnt need complex tactics nor to participate in any conspiracy within the nations she wished to take over. She simply trampled through all who dared oppose her, by using with sheer firepower and an infinite amount of doll soldiers. She took over the world, and rebuilt it in the way that she wanted This path that I chose was way too fierce and radical, but This I also shone brightly, like a beautiful star that obfuscates all others in its surroundings. If this was someone elses life, I would have been calm about it. Others are others and I am I. It shouldnt have been hard to separate things. However, this was not someone elses life. Its an I that could have been possible. A revolutionary queen who took over the world, and a dukes daughter who constantly feels inferior to her peers Different is not enough to show how contrasting our choices were. I felt as if a hole had been dug through my heart Was I wrong? Should I have never chosen to live as an ordinary noble? Were all my efforts in vain? Can I even become an ordinary noble with how bad I am at generic magic? At that moment, a whisper echoed in my head, it crawled through my heart, and refused to let me even think on my own decisions, I know that youve been working hard. While girls of your age have been wasting their time playing around in parties and choosing what was the most beautiful dress that they could wear, you have been practicing magic. As good as a second-year student at the academy? Isnt that quite the achievement? Even if you had no talent at all, you were still able to reach this far. I can feel the same determination that Demon Queen Altirea had in you. And thats why I have to tell you about the revelation that Lord Rokiso gave me You may already be aware of it, but I will make it clear for you. Altirea Wisp, youll never be an ordinary noble. No matter how much effort you put into it, you wont be able to improve any further at generic magic. This is your limit. My limit? This is This is all I can do? Then Until now Just why have I been doing so far? The voice continued talking. I understood it was priest Asksus voice, I understood there was something about him that sent shivers down my spine And yet, I couldnt stop listening to him, But rest assured, for Lord Rokiso has prepared a path that will lead to your salvation. To you who overcame the temptation of Doll Magic, the grace of reincarnation was given. I will now teach you the method to create artificial life. And I will also provide all the materials that youll need. The artificial life will have the same strong will that you have, and in a short amount of time, shell grow from a baby, to a child, to a teenager. The only difference, is that shell have a fantastic compatibility with generic magic. Put your soul in her body. Live as a new Altirea Wisp, but with the body that you always wished for. Be happy, for a miracle has descended upon you. You were rewarded with the unique opportunity of becoming your ideal self. Though be warned. Nobody else should meet with the artificial life as she grows up. If others influence alters her, youll be unable to move your soul into her body. So, just to be sure, Ill also give you a magical tool that will help hiding her from the eyes of others. *** As the priest said, the artificial life grew in the blink of an eye. Half an hour after being born, she was already walking on her own, and by the night of the same day, she was already talking fluently. Our relationship was very strange. We were like sisters Like parent and child And like best friends too. She was an irreplaceable existence to me. To the me who devoted myself fully to the study of magic, she gave me something that I never had. A friend. My best friend whom I loved very much. In our own world with only two people in it, in this world where nobody bothered us, we played dress up, and we played pretend even as we shared the same face and voice. It was a short, but blissful time And yet, when the cherry blossom trees started blooming, priest Asksu visited out house again, to replace her soul with mine, to let me become my ideal self. Calm your mind. If your soul is shaken, then the reincarnation ritual will fail. Do not forget your dream. The priest told us. And her When she was informed of what was about to happen She smiled. She smiled, accepted it, and said, How joyful. Well be friends forever. Her expression was like that of a saint. It was hard to think of that face as mine I was at a loss I hesitated I No. Thats not it. Im not hesitating, Im just Facing the guilt that I have been looking away from until just now. Im trying to impose my misfortune on someone that I love. *** By the time I realized it, I was on my bed. Neither that child nor priest Asksu were in the vicinity. Magic Was as hard to use as before. Was this all a dream? Were all those experiences together with her just my own delusions? It had to be a dream. There is no such thing as reincarnation. I have no choice but to live as who I am. *** Even after enrolling on the academy, I kept on practicing magic each day until late at night. As a result of my efforts, little by little, I was able to reach the level of magic equivalent to what a third-year student would know. I made progress. No matter how much effort you put into it. This is your limit. The words of priest Asksu echoed in my head I dont think he would lie to me. Those words must have just been part of a nightmare, of nothing but a bad dream. *** Time passed quickly. Before long, I reached the fourth year of the Academy. And on that day, I met her. Im Ruthe, a transfer student. I may be a commoner, but please take good care of me. She said. Maybe because of a magic tool, her voice, name and appearance were different However, the moment our eyes met, I intuitively understood it. She is her. She was there, fulfilling the role I wanted to fulfill. To be an ideal, bright and positive existence. To be loved by everyone To use magic as easily as she breathed. She stood in the place that I had the opportunity to reach three years ago. Others are others, I am I. I cannot make the division. Because She is me and I am her. CH 36 Chapter 36 C False Relief After defeating the puppeteers attack, I fell into a heavy sleep. I just knew Id be safe with the Earl and Kajero near me, so I could relax and sleep in peace. But then, I had a strange dream. I was there. The original Altirea that is, the one without any memories of modern Japan. She was a single-minded and straightforward person that had a sad future ahead of her. The appearance of Ruthe, the heroine, the ideal self that Altirea envisioned I couldnt be calm in front of her. The overflowing emotions couldnt be held back. They twisted my mind, distorted my thoughts, and eventually, led to my collapse. I lost the few friends that I had, was abandoned by my fiance, Elstat And as if that wasnt enough, my father, Solute, was assassinated, and Altirea was hunted down too. Being crushed by her own despair, she made one choice To kill Ruthe, and then herself. I picked up fathers keepsake sword and went to the place where Ruthe called me to with the Lets Make up letter To the backyard of the academy, in the middle of the night. In that place where nobody could see us, Ruthe was there. She smiled from the bottom of her heart when looking at me. She wished for reconciliation after all those years where we didnt have a proper talk Her soft expression was the very definition of a saints smile. No one is watching, so Its okay, isnt it? As Ruthe said that, she removed the pale pendant on her neck. The magic surrounding her appearance and voice melted and we once more looked just like we had been in the past The her and the I that were like two peas in a pod. A mirror match. But I wasnt happy seeing her like that. Ruthe was in the center of a warm circle of people. She had become more and more beautiful, and her mere presence illuminated the area even in this moonless night. But me? I was miserable. Its been months since my last proper meal, my face was thin, my hair was disheveled, and I probably looked like nothing more than a ghost. Envy, jealousy, a mess of uncontrollable emotions took over me as I pulled out the sword. The blade was swung down. It was going to kill her. It was going to end that sorrow once and for all. It was going to crush the face of that saint that could believe in and accept everyone. However, the sword did not cut her. The sword hit the ground instead, breaking itself apart with the impact. Had she ran away or tried to fight back, I would have definitely killed her. However Ruthe smiled softly and stretched out her hands, accepting everything that I wanted to throw at her. Because of that, I hesitated. Just like at the end of that winter when I was twelve years old. When I couldnt inflict my misfortune upon Ruthe This time too After all Just what was my life about anyways? Mistakes. There are only mistakes Abandoning Doll Magic, creating Ruthe, Im sure that there are countless more There is no point in counting, everything was a mistake all along, wasnt it? The other path The I who chose Doll Magic was spectacular. A decisive woman who took over the world That was the right answer. In the next time Im born, I hope I can make a better choice. I held the broken sword once more, put its blade on my neck and cut it. It was so much easier than trying to cut through Ruthe. Is it because it was about myself? But then Why was I hesitant about Ruthe? Ah Of course. Its obvious, isnt it? Why did I take so long to realize that? Its because I and Ruthe are different people. Such an obvious and natural conclusion If it was now, I think I might have been able to grow closer to Ruthe again, to become friends once more But its too late. It was snowing, the night was terrible cold And yet, I did not feel the coldness of the wind. I cant hear anything. I cant see. Its over. *** At first it felt like I was looking at the life of a different Altirea, but at some point, I realized I was united with I. The suffering and the mourning were mine, and the pain from the death that I went through was also something that I felt. But at least She was now freed from this living hell It was a sweet relief. Or so I thought. For a second I thought I could feel relief, but it was a false hope, because Im Ruthe, a transfer student. I may be a commoner, but please take good care of me. She said. The spring of when I was fifteen years old. Time rewinded, I saw the beginning scene of the original game once more. However, my movements werent altered by this new knowledge. Seems like only my conscious went back in time, leaving I to suffer again To repeat the tragedy. Over and over again. There were some differences though. Sometimes it was Elstat that fell in love with Ruthe, at others it was the Wandering Earl, or Phillka, or the other capture targets even But it was irrelevant. Because in the end, all routes led to the same ending. Altirea Wisp died, her house had its downfall, and her only companion at the end was loneliness. Over and over again. It was over. It was over. It kept on ending, yet it kept on starting. For how long did this go on? 100 years? 200 years? I understood that I was breaking down Or was it I that was breaking? I didnt know anymore. But I could see it I could feel it The days of hard work continuing indefinitely. Her eternal never-ending fate of suffering, being extended time and time again, even past the time where she should finally find some relief. (This is the fate that the original Altirea Wisp followed. A sad and painful fate. I understand your feelings, I feel the same way.) A voice crawled through my heart. It was sweet, sickening, alluring While listening to it, I was able to forget everything else, (Pity, grief, regret. Those emotions with nowhere to go are swirling inside you. Its regrettable to keep on looking at those lives without doing anything about it, isnt it? (It doesnt need to be that way. You are not someone that will let things go on like that, right? (You do not need to worry about this Altirea. Shell be fine. She has mastered Doll Magic and learned Alchemy too. Even if you leave her, shell be able to take care of herself. (Also, the woman that you saved in the palace was a princess of Malgaroid. Altirea Wisp, Kajero and the Wandering Earl are heroes who saved the capital from a crisis. The fame that Altirea will earn is unprecedented, she will without a doubt be safe now. (Therefore, its time to go to the next one. (You who saved Altirea by focusing on Doll Magic since she was seven years old has more work to do. (The twelve years old Altirea who was tricked by Priest Asksu, the fifteen years old Altirea who reunited with Ruthe, they all deserve happiness. (Isnt that the mission that you must accomplish? (Pray for it. Beg for it And I shall teach you a secret technique which will allow you to transcend time and space.) Whose voice is this? Why do you know that I and Altirea Wisp are different entities? I had questions, I wanted answers, but I couldnt think very well. I felt numb (Whats wrong? Dont hesitate. You should decide now, before I change my mind.) The voice said. Each time I heard this voice, my mind further melted away. It was harder and harder to think properly, as if anesthesia was being poured directly into my head. If things kept on going the way they were, I might have abandoned everything, leaving everyone to their own fate. That alluring voice, I should have noticed that it was the same as Priest Asksus. I should have noticed that I was being manipulated. However, I did not abandon everyone. I was held back by something. By the sense of responsibility for what I have done so far. By my bond with Kajero, Walf, Cactus, Feria, dad and everyone else. And also I was held back, by the cries of the I of this world. The I who should have been merged together with me and melted together into a singular existence. CH 37 Chapter 37 C Awakening Had it happened a few seconds later, I would have probably knelt. Id have miserably begged for a miracle without realizing the true intentions of the other party, who was dripping honey-coated poisonous words on my ear. However, thanks to her, I was stopped when I was on the verge of giving in. (What about taking Feria to the Empire?) She asked. The voice was definitely my own, but it was not mine, (You also promised Phillka that youd hold a Karaage party with the Louivas family, didnt you? (If I was the one to do it, the effect would by no means be the same. At least teach me how to handle things properly first, please.) I felt like there was another person inside me But intuitively, I understood what she actually was She was Altirea Wisp. The original one. The one that should have melted inside me. My dim consciousness slowly became clearer. I finally noticed it, how she has always been by my side. Watching over me and supporting me. With just this one realization, my wobbling heart became stable once more. And shes right. I have to reap the seeds I have sown. High Priest Rofen wouldnt have gone after my life if it wasnt for my interference. The Earl might have not been interested in me if it wasnt for my dedication to doll magic and my knowledge of his princess. Phillkas feelings and the problems inside his family are also unsolved as of yet What will happen if I abandon them all and try going to another world? Ill just be imposing all those burdens onto her too irresponsible. That would be an unforgivable action. Moreover, I also want to stay here, with everyone, with Kajero, Cactus, Walf, Weiss, Dad, Feria, Phillka, the Earl, Els, Duke Rozerem I still want to be with them all. Therefore I wont rely on him. I refuse. I wont let things go as he wants. I do not need his offering. *** A crack appeared in the classroom we were at Then, it crumbled upon itself, as if it was a glass window, broken into a myriad pieces. The space around us was now a vast empty dark blue nothingness. The one thing in it, was a man, floating right in the middle of it Priest Asksu, wearing blue and white robes. It was our first meeting, but I felt like there were thousands of years worth of grudge coming to me right now. This man, who claims to be gods messenger, was showing me a creepy and ominous smile, Brilliant. Brilliant. He said as he clapped his hands. He then laughed. An arrogant, fearless, audacious laugher I never expected the original Altirea to come out. He said, I guess the interventions from the priest, assassin and puppeteer ended up having an unexpected effect. As a result of redefining oneself during those struggles, you and she who had been fused could now manifest together. Interesting. Very interesting. Contrary to his words, his tone of voice was very uninterested. His pale eyes did not seem to even be staring at us, but at something else. But is it really okay to reject me? He asked, All those nightmares actually happened in worlds similar to this one. By making this decision, you are abandoning hundreds of thousands pathetic Altireas. Such an utter lack of pity for them Even I cant be so devilish. You say that, but you are the one that incited them to move in the way that they did in the first place. I replied. I just gave them a way to break through the status quo. If used correctly, they should have been able to grasp happiness, but their hearts weakness instead led them to ruin. The blame is nobodys but their own However, I do feel a bit guilty for them, so I was going to show you a way to travel to their worlds and save them. Ah, and I know what youre thinking. Youre wondering why I just dont do it myself, but the art of transcending time and space reflects ones heart. As we are constantly growing, we cannot go back to a world we have already been to. So, what will you do now? You can pretend to not have seen their future, but can you forgive yourself for doing so? He told me. With a careful choice of words, he pushes the blame of their misery towards me However, my answer has already been decided. If thats their reality, then I certainly would like to do something about it. I said. Then there is only one answer. Come, take my hand. He replied. Dont try narrowing down my options on your own. If you go and guide someone through life, then you must take responsibility for your own decisions. That is what an actual wise person would do. You cant go back to a world you already left? What a silly restriction to such a secret time-transcending art But I suppose it fits a weirdo like you just right. As I told him that, I purposefully heaved a long sigh. It was a cheap provocation, but I wonder if hell fall for it. After all, priest Asksu cannot be left alone. If I let him do as he pleases, then someone else will surely be hurt, therefore I want to get rid of him. This is my inner world. I have the terrain advantage. Also, we outnumber him on 3 to 1. There is she, the original Altirea, who is lurking on Asksus blind spot, waiting for an opportunity to strike. She looks graceful while still being sneaky like that I wonder if I had a negative impact on her personality, this sneakiness doesnt suit her, even if the grace does. Next, there is Weiss. Since I slept with him by my side in the real world, our link was kept, so I can summon him with a simple command. And then there is me. In the real world I cant fight by myself, but thats not the case in my own inner world. I had numerous practice sessions with Kajero, where he tried to perform mental attacks on me and I had to do my best to fight back And the result was that he gave me his seal of approval. He said that if it was me, not even the King of Evil Spirits would be able to bend my will It was just excessive praise, of course, but Im sure he meant it when he said my abilities were top-notch. Also, even if it was just flattery, I think its fine if I take it seriously. The strength of ones beliefs is what determines their power when colliding with someone elses heart, after all. I can win. Itll be alright. I definitely can win this. And also, I can retreat in an emergency, then try crushing Asksu with our bodies instead But I will win this. As such, I continued talking, trying to get on his nerves, If you really do feel sorry for all those Altireas, then you should improve your secret art, in order to let you go back to them on your own. He opened his mouth to talk, but I cut him off, I dont want some counterargument. Its irrelevant. At the end of the day, you only know how to run your mouth after all. Youre not the kind of person that can do actual magical research. That burden is far too heavy for you. I kept on talking, not only to make sure he didnt notice her surprise attack and Weiss, but also to motivate myself to fight. Asksus expression was still unwavering, but Thats not important. I just need to tell myself the truth, You cant beat me. I said, To show mercy? To ask me to kneel down? Only to them show me your miserable appearance while saying that the problems you caused are my fault? Youre way too much of a crappy scammer. Id much rather rely on the Earl or on other people that I actually trust on. I held my fist tightly. My power was on the verge of exploding I dont care if he notices it or not anymore. We should attack him and overwhelm him in one go We can do this. But then, Are you going to try destroying me without even giving me a chance of escaping? Asksu looked down, as if he had given up, I was so excited about this chance, but I guess I went overboard. Its no good to keep going if I cant get anything out of this, so Its alright. I admit it. I lost. He then, without hesitation, kneeled on the ground, as if mocking my determination, Be proud, for you have overcome my test. Ill serve you from now on. He said. I dont want you as a servant. I told him. I refuse to let him get away with this pretend surrender. Nobody will be safe for as long as this guy is around. And as such, I rushed towards Asksu, and stomped on his head, putting magical power on my heel to block his movement. He is way too dirty to be touched on by own hands. Then, I kicked his jaw, jumped back and Released. Released all my power at once! A light beam flew. As this huge silver spear flew at the speed of a meteorite, it exploded like a supernova. Without holding back, I crushed Asksu with my absolute overwhelming enraged energy, that not even I could control anymore. It kicked us out. The large energy kicked us all out of the inner world, and back to the real world But just before we finished leaving, that ridiculing ominous laughter echoed in my head, Theres no mercy on you at all is it? Just like the Demon Queen that I showed you, right? Well, congratulations. From the bottom of my heart, I truly believe you have the rights to claim yourself as the ruler of the netherworld. Regrettably, I took some heavy wounds now, so Ill have to sleep for a long time. But at the very least, let me leave you with something, so that you wont forget me. It may be a bit cliched, but Ill truly be happy if you can succeed without your skills. And with this, his curse plagued me. CH 38 Chapter 38 C Settlement I now finally understand how Ruthe was so kind and understanding in Rune Knight Concerto, how she withstood the constant whining of Els, or the bullying of Altirea, or how she never gave up on getting along How she could be so nice, to the point she didnt even feel human. Thats because she wasnt. She was the artificial life created by Altirea, one who was made to be her ideal self. Its no wonder that she was so caring to everyone And its also no surprise that she loved Altirea even after everything, for she was her creator, and she had always been in Ruthes heart. And it cant be helped that the dolls couldnt find Ruthe no matter how much they searched, for Ruthe hasnt even been born in this world, nor will she be born, as I have no intention of falling to the same trick that priest Asksu played on the original Altirea. If it wasnt for Asksu, maybe Altirea would have never have had to go through all those tragedies But now, he is on a deep sleep, so things should hopefully take a turn for the better now. With this, I may be really close to achieving my initial goal of avoiding future misfortunes. But well, lets first take care of the problems that came to me as soon as I woke up, for I was now faced with an absurd claim That I was a heroine who saved the princess and protected the palace from rebels. Apparently this kind of grandiose achievement was granted to me due to Weiss, Kajeros and the Earls intervention while I slept. They told me that the conversation went more or less like this (That woman that Alty helped seems to be the third princess of this country.) Weiss commented. (Thats quite useful. We should build a solid position here in preparation for the future. (We already have quite a few of this countrys weaknesses on our hands by now, after all. With not only this favor, but also with the fact that Zudah tried killing Alty when he was supposed to be under their care. The debt they have with us is definitely something we should take full advantage of.) Kajero replied. (Wonderful. Ill do my best to give a wonderful surprise to the princess once she wakes up.) The Earl said. And because of their interference, I couldnt enjoy the founding festival at all, for I had to not only meet up with all sorts of local nobles who wanted to give their thanks, including the king and the third princess, but also to participate in several parties and parades that were filled with people I had never heard of. Not to mention how I had to reject countless proposals from men of this country Marriable age in this kingdom being this low is surely a real annoyance. It was actually pretty hard to do those rejections, as the proposals all came from either royalty or from eldest sons of prestigious families, but there was no way around it, so, for the sake of my own sanity and peace, I rejected them all. I also didnt have to deal with any other assassination attempt, as Kajero seems to have caught High Priest Rofen Though I was surprised to hear that Phillka had actually been kidnapped and that they intended to use him as a sacrifice. Seems like the priest had made quite the big plot going on, as even the Alchemist Association ended up getting involved with it Itll probably take a while longer until we get the whole picture of his plans. But then, one night, while I was relaxing in my room for the first time in a while since the start of that tumultuous founding festival, Kajero asked me a question, Young lady, do you know of someone named Asklasua? He was involved with priest Rofen, so I wanted to try investigating more about him, but we havent been able to find any clues on his whereabouts. I do think I heard that name at some point, but Who was it again? You two are way too out of it! Weiss suddenly exclaimed, How could you have possibly forgotten the face of that rotten sage?! Stupid Kajero! Asklasua is our nemesis! Did you seriously forget about him when you became a spirit? Thats just pitiful. As for you, Alty, you dont seem to have noticed it, so Ill just tell you. The disgusting creep that tried to deceive you in your dreams, priest Asksu, that was him. Asksu is one of the many pseudonyms often used by that rotten sage. Wait, Weiss The Sage? You mean The one from that old tale? I asked. Ah, yeah, that bastard that downgraded us to mere spirits. The legends may paint him as a saint, but its all a lie that he himself spread many centuries back. He sure is good at making up myths that glorify him. But since you dont know about it, should the great me tell you about the truth behind that ridiculous tale? You listen too, Kajero, as it might help you remember Remember the times when we were gods. Weiss said something quite unexpected just now But that was just the start. As he then explained to us the true identity of their spirits, what happened in their past, what their connection with Sage Asklasua was And how that all tied back to this particular myth. CH 39 Chapter 39 C The Myth Weiss first started explaining that, a long time ago, the gods lived in the heavens, watching over and cherishing the beings that lived on the earth. And sometimes, they played with them as well. Then, Weiss said, (So, the problem with the gods, was that they were totally helpless. (There was one time that a god had a drinking competition with a human, but once the god got drunk, it accidentally slaughtered all nearby humans. (There was also a time where the humans begged for rain, which ended up creating a deluge. (And there was also someone who wished for the power to turn everything they touched into sugar, but as humans cant survive on this kind of diet, the person died after a while.) (But if they were so strong, then how come the old gods were defeated?) I asked him. (Well, indeed, the humans could never hope to defeat us. It was impossible, so In their desperation, they opened a portal to a different world, begging the being that came from it to save them. (And thats how that rotten sage, Asklasua, appeared. He is definitely what youd call a true villain. (The first thing he did, was to drive the king of the country that summoned him mad, making him think that he had summoned a demon, as he executed the kings loyal retainers one after the other. (Then, Asklasua killed the king off as well, and faked all of his actions as if they were the kings doing, including the kings own death He said that the king had killed his retainers and eventually suicided due to an evil possession by the gods. (With this, he told the humans that he could not forgive the gods who toyed around with human hearts, and convoked them all to fight with him With those lies, the rotten sage was able to unite the human race into warring against the gods. (The war lasted a long time 10, 20, 100 years? My memory is foggy on that end, but it definitely took quite a while Wed normally be able to simply drop a meteor on the world, or cause a gigantic earthquake to simply end it all, but that rotten sage spread Philosopher Stone all over the world, so our power was severely limited. (And as such, the war went on While we were in a stalemate with the humans on the battlefront, the rotten sage sneaked his poisonous words on the hearts of weakened humans A dying warrior; a village girl who lost her parents; a kid who was persecuted due to having a god as a father He brought each of them to ruin, and enjoyed their fall with glee. (Until eventually, he came to the wars front by himself. All alone. It was an opportunity we couldnt pass on. This could all be ended if the rotten sage was defeated, so all gods gathered there and attacked him. ( But that was a mistake. The gods were annihilated by a single spell of that rotten sage. (It was ridiculous. He could have ended the war whenever he wanted, but he instead let people suffer the strains of the war for decades. (Even the incredibly smart great me cannot understand what goes on in that crazy mans head. (In any case, due to that event, all gods were deprived of their ranks and became spirits.) Weiss told us. So, basically The humans who couldnt endure the destruction caused by the gods decided to summon a savior from another world Only, that savior was much worse than the gods, and because of him, humans and gods fought for a long time, until the man himself decided to end said war. But then (Does this mean that you were a god, Weiss?) I decided to ask. (Indeed! I was a fluffy round one!) He proudly stated. Im not sure why he is proud of it, but I decided to tell him, Thats amazing! since I thought this comment would make him happy. (Of course! Ill show my real form to you in your dreams someday, so look forward to it.) Weiss said in a cheerful mood, (In any case, lets get back to the story. (So, spirits actually existed back when we were deities, like Alty, do you remember that redheaded guy that you helped out before? His soul was about to leave his body for good, so What do you think would happen if you had left it alone? (That soul who had lost both its body and memory, would become a vague existence that floated around the world while blending in with other souls Thats what spirits originally were. (And when the rotten sage defeated the gods, something similar happened. High-rank deities like me could still maintain their memories and have a clear conscience of their own existence, but lower deities had much more miserable fates. (They ended up losing their consciousness, mixing up with other spirits, and even forgetting that they were deities To me, thats a fate worse than disappearance. (Thats why, Alty, that rotten sage is the enemy of the gods, and of course, my enemy. (So, thank you. It was awesome to see you kicking his face. I think I might have even fallen in love with you. (Once I become a god again, Ill gladly marry you Its a joke, Kajero! A joke!) Kajeros facial expression doesnt really move, so I dont think there is a way for him to express anger, but Weiss certainly seemed to react to Kajeros stare just now. I wonder if they can understand each other due to being old acquaintances? Well, lets not mind that and focus on the matter at hand, (What did the Sage want in the first place, Weiss? He did a lot of horrible things, putting the humans on war against the gods, turning gods into spirits, trying to deceive me and countless others But I just cant understand why.) I asked him. (As I said earlier though, even though the great me is incredibly smart, I cannot understand that rotten sages goals Do you have any ideas, Kajero?) Weiss replied. (Well, the young lady told us that Asklasua has brought countless Altirea Wisp to ruin in many different worlds, perhaps there is a key to understanding his actions there?) Kajero stated. (Maybe he fell in love with Altirea in some of the worlds and kept on trying to hit during all this time!?) Weiss laughed out loud as he said that, (In any case, since you defeated the rotten sage now, he should no longer bring any other Altirea Wisp to ruin in any other world. (Hey, Alty, that was really amazing, you know? Not even us, the gods, could beat that guy, but you did it!) Well, that was certainly quite the ridiculous achievement now that I think about it It probably only happened because I wasnt aware that I was dealing with The Sage. Had I known, I would have given up while thinking that there would be no way I could defeat the legendary hero. And as battles on the inner world depend primarily on ones mental state, I could defeat him because I thought of him not as the Legendary Sage Asklasua, but as The Scammer Priest, Asksu Its weird to think that arrogance was not the cause of my defeat, but of my victory. That is Unless I didnt actually win? The sages last words echoed in my head It may be a bit cliched, but Ill truly be happy if you can succeed without your skills. The ridiculous curse that he left me with. The thing that he gave me so that I wouldnt forget him A curse that removed my powers as the Doll Princess. A cliched ending Where the villain in their final moments take away something that is very precious to the hero Because of something like this, I cant even move a dolls thumb anymore, nor can I call for spirits. I lost my doll magic Luckily enough, I can still use short-distance telepathy, and Cactus, Kajero, Weiss and Walf still seem to be loyal to me. But what about the children at the Wisp territory? Tomorrow was the day that one of them would come bring their regular report, but What if something went wrong? I never submitted them with magical power, so things should hopefully be alright, but I cant help feeling uneasy about this. CH 40 Chapter 40 C The Beginning of the End Translators Note: There are some chapters left to be translated before c40. Ill get those done in due time. Im just translating c40 and c41 now for the people that read the other chapters up to c39 in other websites before the chapters went down in their respective websites. And as a reminder, when characters are speaking, the author puts their speech between quotation marks. When theyre using Telepathy, the author puts their speech between parenthesis. Today was the day when the dolls from the Wisp territory would make their regular contact with us. While I waited for them, I stayed in my room sewing since early in the morning. Slowly and carefully, I sewed with my own hands. Even if my confrontation with the sage made me unable to borrow the power of the spirits, I was still making dolls. It took quite some time, but I was almost finishing them. A scarecrow, a tinman and a scared lion. The characters of Wizard of Oz that I was going to use in a puppet show for the small children that were currently residing at the Royal Castle of Malgaroid. (Cant you just cancel it? You did lose your Doll Magic after all.) Weiss asked me. Well, it wouldnt have taken this long if Weiss hadnt blown up the head of the scarecrow doll I dont mind him being bad at detailed work, but I wish he had told me this in advance instead of trying to help at something he had no clue on how to do. But lets not mind that, (I dont think its acceptable to break a promise made with small children. Ill just move the dolls by hand.) I told him. (But wont that make you unable to put three or four dolls on the stage at the same time? I dont know this Oz play, but I assume it doesnt consist of only one-on-one dialogue) Weiss commented. (Thats fine. The Wandering Earl and Feria both volunteered to help me. (King Lereol also said that he wanted to help out, because his younger siblings, that he loves very much, will be on the audience too. (So, dont worry too much about it, okay? Even if its a pity can no longer use doll magic, my limbs are still in perfect condition, so Ill manage somehow.) I replied. Besides, magic didnt even exist in my previous life and humans were still able to thrive. Magic may be extremely convenient, but its not essential. Weiss gave no reply. I looked towards him and saw that his sword body was turned towards the window. He doesnt have an expression for me to read, so its a bit hard to know what he is doing, but Right now, I think that he is pondering on what I just said. Eventually, after a small while of silence, he replied, (Youre really a great person. It hasnt even been that long since you lost the Doll Magic, but youre already moving forward. (I thought youd be overwhelmed and lost by it, but thats not the case at all. (Youre definitely an amazing woman. How come you arent married already?) (I dont think Kajero will make it easy for any possible suitors (As for the Doll Magic, its not like I dont care about losing it. Im actually quite worried about what the children I left on the Empire are doing.) I told him. (Isnt it going to be alright? For a doll, its creator is basically the same as a parent is for humans. (Just try thinking of Feria for a bit. Even though she went through such a hard time because of her parents, she was still trying to make up with them. (Its the same for your dolls, Im sure none of them wishes to do anything that hurt you And if any tries to, just use one of the many Philosopher Stones that we got from that other doll user to send the rebellious doll flying! (Really, Alty. Its going to be fine, so Why not worry about the future instead? Its gonna be hard to conquer the world without the help of spirits.) Weiss finished his reply with some unbelievable words (Im sorry, what was that just now?) I couldnt help asking. (Its a joke, its a joke. (But really, what are your future plans? Even if Im a newcomer, Id be glad if I could hear what are my ladys intentions. (And if you do want the world, you can rest assured that well give it to you. Malgaroid itself can probably be taken over in a month, and the rest of the world shouldnt take longer than 5 years if youre willing to kill whoever gets in your way, or 20 years if you try to save as many as possible. (You may also live as an ordinary dukes daughter, or maybe you may also become a hero who is beloved by all in the world Especially with Kajeros help, you may even mess up with the memories of everyone involved in order to paint whatever image of you that you want. (You could even play with the mind of your father and brother to make them forget about you, letting you be free from nobility, giving you the opportunity of a quiet villager life.) Weiss said. (There really are quite a few options available) I mused Or rather, it feels like anything is possible fits my current situation quite well. Although I definitely dont want to become the ruler of the world or anything like it. Being responsible for the lives of every single person living in this world Is way too much. I cant bear this much weight. I also refuse to push all the work to Kajero or anyone else, thats no good either. Being a heroine is also a bit too much, and I dont want an ordinary life away from the people precious to me What is it that I want? Lets think back to when I first remembered my past life. What were my goals then? I wanted to solve the issues related to the original story of the Otome Game. I think I have mostly finished doing this much, even if a few things still worry me. The most important issue that still remains, and that I definitely wish to do something about, is the fall of Wisp family. The game wasnt clear about what exactly caused the fall, but the visions shown by the Sage are an important clue on that regard There is a conspiracy inside the Empire, and father might end up being assassinated under the guise of suicide. He might also be falsely accused of committing a grave sin. I absolutely have to do something about this one. I also didnt want to go to the Magic Academy. Not only would it be a complete waste of time to learn General Magic, but the inferiority complex that Id feel there would certainly take quite the toll on me. I think father would have accepted this with some ease before, since I had Doll Magic, but things are different now. Well need to talk about this eventually, but for some reason, he has yet to come back from his trip to the Empire Im still waiting for his contact now. And lastly, I wanted to become a renowned magic puppeteer This one is impossible now, isnt it? Though Im still as good as ever with my handicrafts, so maybe I can try working with that? (I think I think I want to open my own shop. A shop to sell handmade clothes and stuffed animals.) I told Weiss. This was a dream that I had since I was little in my previous life, so perhaps it would be a good idea to make this dream come true in this new life. (I see, so you want to become a big merchant who controls the distribution of goods and manipulates the world from the background.) Weiss replied Did he even hear what I just said? (Just how do you even think of me, Weiss?) I ended up asking. (An amazing master who will without a doubt leave her name in history, of course! Just like princess Rastiyu of the Empire and Marua of Malgaroid. Or rather, its almost as if youre a reincarnation of Rastiyu. (Even if your ambitions may be small, Im sure your life will not be mediocre. Your steps will without a doubt leave a mark that nobody could ever forget in this world.) Weiss replied. Princess Rastiyus name was brought up again here Just like how the Wandering Earl brought her name up, thinking that I was her reincarnation, now Weiss too compared her with me. I dont think that my appearance was that similar to hers though? Could there be something about her that resembled me that was not shown in the drama CD? (Or at least thats what I honestly feel. I really do believe youll do great things moving forward. ( Ah, the long-awaited doll from the Empire finally came.) Weiss then told me. The doll that came this time was a ninja that wore a red scarf and a black costume. Out of the 300 dolls left on the Empire for the sake of gathering information, he was the chief. His name is Figuz, a name that he gave himself, just like Walf did There must be a real emergency at the Empire, otherwise he would have sent someone instead of coming here himself. Did my worries come true? Did the dolls on the Wisp territory start rebelling? He told me that was not it. For a moment I was relieved, but only until he told me that an even more serious incident was occurring at the Empire. There was a group of rebels planning to assassinate the emperor on the ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday However, their plan was leaked a bit before the day, and the leaders were imprisoned one after another. The person with the highest position amongst the rebels was going to be executed in a horrible way, to serve as an example. Hed have his body tied up and the executioner would slowly chop away parts of his limbs, while forcefully keeping him alive with recovery magic. This cruel sentence was quickly decided upon, and the execution would be held soon after said decision was made However, even though lots of guards were positioned near his cell, he was not inside the prison on the day of the execution. Somehow, the mastermind escaped, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. And said mastermind Is Solute Wisp, my father. CH 41 Chapter 41 C The one who watches over the hands of fate Theres no way that soft dad of mine could have tried killing someone. Hes definitely being framed. Altireas original world also had something similar to this happen, after all Though it happened many years later at that timeline, and the accusation was related to a connection with a different country For some reason, I think this discrepancy is very important but why? I dont get it. I just have this feeling, but I dont understand where it is coming from, it feels as if Im trying to solve a math problem with a misguided approach. (Was this also done by that rotten sage? (We should talk this over with Kajero and the Wandering Earl for now. Nothing will get done if we just trouble ourselves over this.) Weiss suggested. (I guess I Im sorry, I couldnt even think of doing such a basic thing, I) I apologized to him. (Dont worry. It cant be helped that you are unable to think calmly about things when your family is involved.) Weiss replied. ( Thank you.) I said. However, it is no good for the dolls leader to be this unreliable. I need to get myself together. Its hard. I went to the window and held Cactus tightly At the very least, let me hug you to soothe my heart a bit, please Huh? (Cactus Could you be hungry?) I asked it. Of course, he didnt answer, but I dont know, something about him seemed strange It was a weird feeling, but it sent me shivers somehow. (Alty, you okay? Dolls cant get hungry, you know?) Weiss told me. He is right I must be imagining things. *** The people that reunited in the room to discuss the matter of the assassination attempt that my father was accused of were: me, Kajero, Cactus, Weiss, the Wandering Earl, Figuz and Phillka. I wanted Walf to be here too, but he was feeling troubled about being unable to contribute much in the last battles, so he decided to focus fully on training and ended up being unavailable for our meeting. I was a bit worried about having Phillka and the Earl here, but Kajero thought it would be better to have the perspective of outsiders, since they might catch something that we might miss. I understood his point, but Id rather have Feria instead of Phillka here in that case (Weiss, Christophe du Vergennes or Wandering Earl, its a pleasure to make your acquaintances. Im Phillka Louivas, an alchemist. (I may not have lived an eternal amount of time like you two, but I can assure you that my feelings of wishing the best for Altirea will lose to no ones.) Phillka made a very weird introduction. He also called me Altirea instead of Sister I guess he might have concluded that it was a bit too much to refer to me as family. (You bark way too loudly for such a newborn puppy. Ill have you know that Alty is my protegee.) Weiss said while moving around in his scabbard. (Why dont you try chilling a bit, Weiss? Its always a wonderful thing to have more people pledging allegiance to the princess.) The Earl said with an amused smile, (I welcome you to the ladys side, Phillka Louivas.) (Youre way too carefree, thats why you ended up becoming a self-proclaimed earl. (Hey, Phillka, if you end up saying nonsense, Ill smash you, got it? (Also, whats wrong with you, Kajero? Why bring an outsider like him to this secret meeting!?) Weiss asked. (Because Sage Asklasua is most likely involved in this case. If we work with that assumption, its quite possible that he already took measures against us. (In that case, its possible that not only our moves are limited, but also our information network. (To overcome this, we need outside help, hence why I called Phillka over.) Kajero explained. It was basically what he had told me before, but it felt like the choice was a bit biased Since the time they stayed together, Kajero and Phillka seem to have gotten a lot closer to one another, and often times end up discussing advanced alchemy in a way that totally loses me It makes me feel a bit lonely in all honesty. (In any case, thats enough for introductions, so Ill start by listing out what we currently know, alright?) Kajero looked around to see if anyone rose an objection, but nobody did, so he continued, (First of all, Solute Wisp was called back to the Empire under the pretext of an urgent matter related to the emperors unforeseen circumstances. (We have already confirmed that the emperor has fallen ill, but what was the exact urgent matter?) Kajero asked Figuz. (The aristocrats were meeting to decide who would be the next emperor However, I believe anything would have been fine for as long as Solute was held back at the empire. (In fact, the meeting was delayed numerous times due to various trivial matters, such as the emperors grandson being slightly unwell.) Figuz explained. (Must have been because of the interference of that rotten sage.) Weiss commented. His tone was quite angry. Hed probably be gritting his teeth right now if he had any. (I agree with Weiss there. Figuz, could you re-investigate the situation to see if you find anything linking to the sage?) Kajero asked. (Hold on, Kajero, youre asking way too much out of him. That damned sage has Philosopher Stones available to himself, and also has some abilities that can directly counter spirits. (As annoying as that might be, its probably better if we dont go after it directly, but instead request for the help of the Adventurers Guild.) Surprisingly, it was Weiss who raised the objection. I think he might be right on that though. Even though the sage was supposedly put to sleep after our encounter, we have no way of being sure that he is actually incapacitated Not to mention how he might have put countermeasures in place even if he himself isnt directly involved anymore. ( Thats a fair point. Lets discuss this idea later then. So next) Kajero also agreed with Weiss thoughts. But before he was able to continue talking, the Wandering Earl raised his hand and said, (If youll excuse me, I also have some interesting information to share. (During my time in the knight academy, I actually heard about a pale-faced researcher that has been going in and out of numerous noble mansions for the past two years. (His name is Sukasua, but its probably a fake name. Hes most likely) (The wise me knows it. Hes definitely Sage Asklasua.) (The genius me knows it. Hes definitely Sage Asklasua.) Both Weiss and Phillka said this at the same time Though everyone here probably thought that this conclusion was kinda obvious and that you definitely did not need to be wise or a genius to reach it. (Hey, dont copy me!) Weiss exclaimed. (I just put my thoughts into words. Werent you the one doing the copying?) Phillka replied. Everyone understood that it was the sage, there was no copying here And yet, those two, the sword without eyes, and the genius with unstable glasses, were definitely glaring at each other It was quite the surreal sight. (How lovely it is to see people match so well in their first meeting. Im sure that those two must have been connected by fate.) I wasnt sure if the Earl was joking or being serious, but I found myself agreeing to his remark, (In any case, lets not mind those two and continue our conversation. (Basically, it is quite likely that it was due to the sages interference that the princess father was called and forced to stay at the empire It is natural to assume that the charge of assassination against His Majesty is false and that this is all the Sages fault.) Something about the Earls words stung. It was Natural to assume it? Does he mean that Im rushing to conclusions? That my wish of father being innocent is clouding my judgement? I understand that Im far from being calm right now, but (Princess, its really hard for me to say it, but) Figuz uttered those words while looking downwards. Even Weiss and Phillka sensed the mood and stopped their banter What is it that is hard to say? (We hardly have any clue about what your father was doing in the time he stayed at the Empires capital.) Kajero seemed to be dumbfounded by this statement, (Figuz, why were there no ninjas accompanying Solute?) his words were sharp. It seemed like Kajero was really angry at Figuz right now, as if he was blaming Figuz for the current situation Or rather, he is blaming Figuz for it. (I apologize. I understand that this is just an excuse for my own incompetence, but I was acting under direct orders from Cactus. (He said hed be escorting Solute directly, so there would be no need for any ninja doll to help him, and that I shouldnt report to you unless an emergency occurred.) Figuz explained. But that makes no sense. Cactus has been on this house all the time, and is in my arms at this very moment. But then Cactus started vibrating violently. I was surprised by it and ended up letting him go. He bounced on the ground. Once, twice, and then Gone. Cactus disappeared in a small smoke cloud, in the same way that a ninja would. (Wha?) Even Kajero seemed to be in disbelief at this sudden development. On the other hand (Alright, I, the wisest person here, have understood the situation) Weiss proudly declared that, (This fake was elaborate enough to the point that not even Kajero could detect it. There is only one being that could possibly do something like this Truly, what a complicated turn of events) (Weiss, dont just brag, explain things properly) Kajero sighed as he said that. (Im getting there. Dont be too impatient. (The spirit inside this cactus doll was most likely a god who was above even the great me. Humans knew him as The one who watches over the hands of fate.) Weiss explained. (Ive heard that name before.) Phillka commented. Unsurprising. There are many useful hints for alchemy in old folkloric tales, so he must have found something related to this name there. (This god is the same one that gave Sacrifice Rings to heroes of old myths, isnt it?) Phillka asked. (Indeed. He used to give items with his power to humans. He directly supported humans like that You could call him the opposite of that Rotten Sage. (Though after we were lowered to the form of spirits, I have heard of no more interference by this old god However, if Altys dad is with him, then we cant rule out the possibility that Solute was actually planning on carrying out the assassination. (Of course, we cant be sure of it, but theres no doubt that something big is going on regardless.) Weiss replied. Those words It was hard to take them in. I did not want to believe them. However, I also remembered some words that my father uttered long ago Greedy aristocrats who control a puppet emperor. The Stable dynasty already reached its limit. Just like how it happened a thousand years ago, its only a matter of time before the ruling dynasty is changed again. It might not even take ten years for that to happen. Considering how messy things became at the time of the old rebellion, I think it would be much better for you to focus on Doll Magic instead of on General Magic. Could those words Not be talking about his expectations for the future, but instead be an advance notice to let me prepare? CH 42.1 Chapter 42.1 C The Earls Incident Translators Note: Chapter 42 was split into three parts by the author, hence why it will also be split up here. As Cactus was the first spirit doll I made, the other children treated it like a special existence of sorts That, paired together with the fact its spirit was originally a god, then I suppose it cant be helped that they didnt escort dad when Cactus gave an order against it. It would be unfair to blame Figuz for this. At times like this, its better to try looking at the situation from different angles. If I had nobody looking over dad, then I probably had extra manpower in other regions, so we could have gotten some information from them. Lets try asking Figuz about that, (Was there anything suspicious regarding the imperial family or the other nobles?) Figuz seemed to regain his courage once I asked that, (The old aristocracy seem to be the same as usual. There didnt seem to be anything that pointed towards the fall of Solute there. (However, the imperial family did provide some useful information.) (Did they frame dad?) I asked. That would have been a very stupid move. Even if a good chunk of the nobility felt like the imperial family was just a decoration, dad was one of the few loyal retainers that they had. I cannot imagine why theyd even consider attacking my dad of all people. (Its probably something completely different than what youre imagining, princess.) The Earl told me. Then what is it? Im getting worried. (You see, there were some rumors on the imperial family, about how the Wisp family will wipe out the aristocracy with the power of the spirits and bring glory to the imperial family again. (A lot of people seem to be giving credibility to this rumor. Some of the members of the imperial family seem to be eagerly waiting for the day even.) Figuz explained. (How did this even?) I wondered out loud. I just dont get it. Just what happened why I was away? Why would anyone reach this kind of conclusion? While I crossed my arms and desperately tried to think of a logical explanation to this, the Earl just nodded to Figuzs statement and said, (I see. It seems like my two steady years of hard work have paid off.) His years of hard work? Figuz seemed to notice my confusion, so he started explaining, (The earl has been talking about how Altirea Wisp is the reincarnation of Rastiyu, the sister of the first emperor, Wald. (Most people would usually just dismiss that as a madmans ramblings, but as the Earl has over a thousand years behind him, he is basically a living legend. There is no way that people wont give credit to the words of such a person. His influence is immeasurable.) (I didnt do just that, Figuz.) The Earl pouted before continuing, (I said that history would repeat itself. That the princess, who is beloved by the spirits, would correct this corrupt empire.) Oh, wow So basically, because of the Earls words, the imperial family made a strange misunderstanding Could this have led to some noble framing dad in order to stop a possible revolution? (I dedicated myself fully to create an appropriate climate that would lead to people eagerly waiting for you to take over the throne, princess. (However, there seems to have been an unexpected side effect to this, that ended up leading to the disappearance of Solute Wisp.) The Earl told me. Why does the Earl seem to be incredibly happy after saying that? Well No use worrying about the Earls past actions now, I suppose. In the end, theyre as exaggerated as what Id expect of him. (Is something the matter, princess? Is there something on my face?) The Earl asked me after I stared at him for a while. I shook my head and said, (Its nothing, lets continue. (Thank you for your detailed explanation, Fig. I now understand the background situation better. (Now, can you tell me more about the specific details? What led to being dad arrested?) *** Apparently, a secret letter was delivered to the headquarters of the imperial knights. It said something along the lines of: CMany are planning on an assassination of his majesty, the emperor. CI couldnt withstand the guilt of being aware of it and doing nothing anymore, so Im delivering this letter of accusation. CThe mastermind is Solute Wisp. A fool who mistook his daughters power as his own. Normally speaking, in face of such a heavy accusation, an investigation would be held in order to find out the truth, but The knights decided on the verdict from the beginning. That it was a plot from the aristocracy. That dad would not do something so stupid. Dad had earned the trust of the knights since his time at the Magic Academy, so they instantly assumed he was innocent, and instead assumed that the aristocracy, who had much to gain from the fall of the Wisp family, was just trying to frame him. So, instead of acting on the letter, the guards just talked to each other about their anxieties, about how it had to be a ploy, about how they had to find who was the real culprit, about how it was worrisome that Solute might now have an actual reason to betray the empire, or about how this might maybe be some kind of elaborate ruse that he decided on himself Some disagreed to some of the opinions, others agreed, but still, the guards did not think that dad would lead the dolls to attack the palace if he had a choice. And even then, they doubted that hed harm them, as the man that earned their respect since such a long time ago would not go out of his way to attack the guards that are meant to protect the very empire that he is sworn to serve. And in the middle of this kind of situation, with the ninja dolls flying all over the imperial capital to try getting more information, dad still ended up disappearing, just like Cactus. Even with my vast information network, there were still some pieces missing It was in this scenario, that the incident happened. CH 42.2 Chapter 42.2 C An Inexplicable Mystery The situation that Figuz outlined so far seems very strange. Im somewhat confused about how it led to the dad being captured, but I decided to keep on listening instead of interrupting him. On the night that the letter arrived, Figuz was personally watching over the movements of the imperial knights. He was worried about what would happen to dad, but the knights truly believed in dads innocence and refused to investigate him. They just stayed on their usual patrols, and during breaks, played some poker. However, once the sun went down and the full moon rose, an unbelievable report was delivered to Figuz. He immediately sent multiple ninja dolls out to confirm the information, but it was just as the report said. Multiple imperial knights entered a high-class inn and captured the people who were planning on assassinating the emperor But it made no sense, for he was keeping track of all members of the Imperial Guard. They were right in front of him, eating dinner. How could they possibly exist in both the inn and on the guards dining hall at the same time? Figuz let out a groan before continuing For things just got even stranger from that point on. The knights that were right in front of his eyes suddenly started shaking. Their eyes went out, and then They exploded. Not in a grotesque way that spread a lot of flesh and blood, but instead, they just turned into smoke and disappeared. Things on the inn were also strange, but in a different way. As the inn is often used for secret talks, the ninja dolls constantly monitor it. They always know who is inside and what they are talking about Or so it should have been. But this time, the dolls did not notice dad entering the location, nor did they overhead any assassination talk. They only noticed what was happening when the knights went inside. It was already too late by then. Dad was arrested for high treason, and had his execution immediately scheduled for the day after the next. No interrogation nor trial was held, as it was a direct order from the emperor. It was an extremely severe punishment, to stop any hopes of a revolution. However I just didnt understand it. Didnt he suspect that dad might have been framed? That the aristocracy was trying to harm the Wisp family? Wouldnt the emperor normally postpone the execution in order to have time to make a thorough investigation? Two days passed, and on the morning of the execution day, Figuz and the other ninja dolls had finished preparing an emergency rescue plan. But they did not need to carry it out, for dad had escaped the prison by himself. There was no one in the prison. The only person they found, was a guard who was supposed to be in charge of dads cell This guard, was sleeping on the cold hard floor. *** (Even the great me cannot fully understand this situation.) Weiss commented. (Similarly, the genius that is me is also confused.) Phillka said. It truly was quite the situation I also did not know what to make of it. (Figuz, please tell us more about the exact situation where Solute was captured.) Kajero asked. His tone wasnt as sharp as normal, so I suppose he must be putting his everything into comprehending what happened there. (Understood. The meeting was held in the second floor of the inn, which was supposed to be unmanned that day. This has been confirmed by several ninja dolls. (However, the moment the knights stepped into it, about a dozen men suddenly appeared on the room. And of course, Solute was one of them.) Figuz explained. (Do you think they were sent there with magic?) I asked. (Its quite unlikely, Im afraid. There was no evidence of such magic being used. Moreover, from the state of the room, it truly seemed like those people had been there from the beginning.) Figuz replied. (In that case, I suppose we should assume that the meeting was indeed held, yet the ninja dolls were seeing an illusion that made it seem as if nobody was there.) Kajero concluded. (Wait, magic that can deceive even the eyes of spirits is a thing?) Phillka asked. (But of course!) Weiss answered, (With the right ancient spells, spirits can definitely be fooled. (Even the great me was once deceived by that Earl) Weiss seemed to be quite bitter about that. However, rather than pitying Weiss, the Earl proudly nodded instead, then said, (Absolutely. Just like how I showed a special scenery to the princess in our meeting some time ago. (With the right spells, one can even wrap an entire city in a dream.) After explaining this much to us, the Earl then turned towards Figuz, (Also, let me ask you one thing. (Earlier, the fake Cactus also disappeared in a puff of smoke Could it perchance be the same kind of disappearance that affected the imperial knights?) Figuz did not immediately answer the Earls question. He seemed to be searching for the answer deep into his memory. It took him a while, but eventually, he nodded, (Yes, youre correct. I hadnt noticed it until you pointed out, but it was the same kind of explosion.) (Well, I havent lived for a thousand years for nothing) The Earl commented, (There are still some vague points, but I believe I have arrived to a plausible theory. (If there are no more facts to be shared, Id like to present you my reasoning.) The Earl had quite a confident expression as he looked at us all. The feeling he is giving out is a bit worrisome though. As if he is going to say something I do not want to hear. I hope he doesnt do some flashy illusions like he did on the time he started assuming I was his princess But more than that, I hope his deduction might serve as a good starting point for us. CH 42.3 Chapter 42.3 C The Earls Deduction Since nobody said anything else, the Earl continued talking, (Before getting into the main subject, let me digress for a small bit. (Do you all know of Physio Logos? Its a legendary monster that hides in lakes and eats the feet of those who pass near it at night. Its said to be a crocodile monster, but that has three snakes on the place where its head was supposed to be And yet, nobody has ever seen it properly. (About 800 years ago, I decided to visit one of the lakes where a Logos was supposedly seen. It was a beautiful lake that many ancient poets had described in their tales. It was hard to believe such horrifying monster lived deep within this lakes waters. (Therefore, I decided to try checking it with my own eyes And after a whole year lurking on the lakes surrounding, I eventually came to quite the dull conclusion. (There was no monster. Travelers sometimes just had their legs bitten by foxes. However, since it was dark, they couldnt quite see what attacked them, so they attributed the biting to the legendary monster. (In fact, once light magic started becoming more widely used, the rumors of the Logos started disappearing. (Now, with this digression out of the way, lets get back to the main topic. (There are too many unclear points about the supposed treason of Solute, so we might be creating a Logos ourselves if we arent careful. (To avoid that, we should try thinking about what are the main points of confusion and what would be their possible explanation. So as to make sure we are not deluding ourselves. (First, why did the aristocrats summon Solute to the empires capital? (Second, who sent the secret letter to the guards, and why? (Third, how did the knights learn about the meeting to discuss the assassination when even the ninja dolls didnt know of it? (Fourth, why did the emperor immediately give a death penalty on Solute? (Fifth, why were the ninja dolls unable to notice the meeting until it was too late? (Sixth, what happened to the guards that disappeared in front of Figuz? (Seventh, why did Cactus not only accompany Solute, but also deceived the princess in the process? (Eighth, what is Solutes true goal? (Lets try going over them in order. (The first is simple. It was probably due to a scheme of the Sage. (From second to forth, there is a clear explanation for it if we look back to the past of the Empire. (About 600 years ago, the empire was in a crisis, and many people thought that it was close to collapsing in itself. The corrupt aristocracy had completely dominated the national affairs, turning the emperor into a puppet. (However, the Stable dynasty continues to this day even after this crisis. How? It was because of the talent of the Sharp Emperor, Sylphis I. (As soon as he ascended to the throne, he started working on a plan to fix the current state of the country. (He ordered a loyal vassal, Serenes, Duke of Diazem, to perform a false treason. In addition, he forged some evidence to create a narrative that put Serenes as a victim that was framed by the vicious aristocracy. Like this, Syphis I got a justification to start purging all the aristocracy that was destroying the empire. (This case is probably similar. Solute is taking the role of Serenes, to let our Emperor take the role of Syphis I. Instead of being driven by greed, Solute is probably just doing what he believes is best for the empire, even if this will temporarily stigmatize his house. (Now, back to the questions I raised a small while back. (For the fifth question, the ninja dolls were probably deceived by old magic. There might be someone who can imitate my spell. (As for the sixth question, I believe we can all agree that the knights were actually replaced by the same magic that Cactus used. Its also quite possible that the fakes were also able to relay what they were seeing and hearing to the originals, so they could keep track of our movements while the ninja dolls were being tricked. (This might raise the question of who created the fake knights, but I believe the answer to that is the same as the answer to the seventh and eighth questions. Cactus and Solute did not want to involve the princess. (The princess is the very precious daughter of Solute, and he probably wanted you to live safely in Malgaroid. So he decided to fool the ninja dolls in order to not involve you. (And of course, Cactus too most likely cherishes the princess a lot, just like all other dolls. So he did not want to put you in danger. (And that concludes my argument. I do understand that there is a lot to process, but I hope it can help everyone get a clearer notion of the current situation.) CH 43 Chapter 43 C Demon Queen I got a bad feeling when the Earl started talking about the Physio Logos on his digression. His theory is wild. Reproducing what happened over 600 years ago? With both the emperor and dad working together? Im unsure about what to think of all this. (I dunno Dont you think that your theory is undermining the influence of that rotten sage a bit too much? You barely even mentioned him on the whole thing.) Weiss commented. His point made sense. Its unlikely that Asklasua, who messed with the fate of so many people, would have such a small impact on the current state of affairs. However, Phillka interjected, (I think its the opposite, Weiss. Arent we being too conscious of the Sage? Isnt that what is creating the Physio Logos? (Thats not to say I agree with the Earls theory in its entirety though. If things were the same as they happened 600 years ago, the whole plan would have been made by the emperor. (But why would an 80 years old man, who spent his entire life as a puppet of the aristocracy, suddenly decide on a revolution? Wouldnt it make more sense for him to pass the title on to the next generation without incident?) It wasnt the Earl who answered Phillkas question, it was Kajero, (What if the person who is going to become the next emperor is the culprit? He could be preparing the groundwork now, so as to eliminate the corrupt aristocracy as soon as he gets the throne.) This was a surprising development. I thought everyone would deny the Earls theory, but instead, were actually having some healthy discussion. I suppose its because the Earls theory tried to minimize the influence of Asklasua. Im sure all of us, me included, were thinking about how everything had to be the Sages fault, so we were stuck and having a hard time figuring out what to do. But when we started thinking of things from a different perspective, we were able to move the discussion forward CIndeed, if you were to push the blame of everything on me, then you will be unable to see the truth in front of your eyes. I could see the Sage shrugging his shoulders in my mind. The image was incredibly clear, and his voice echoed on my head too Am I too tired? Or did the Sage maybe leave something like an alter ego of himself on me? I should ask Kajero to look at my inner world later, just in case. Theres something that needs to be done first though. (Earl, if Solute truly wanted a revolution, wouldnt it be natural to ask Altirea for help?) Phillka asked him. (His pride as a father might not have allowed him to.) The Earl replied. (What about Cactus? He had a wife and a child. Could they too have become dolls? This would alter the way Cactus makes his decisions without a doubt.) Weiss asked. (As far as I know, they did not become dolls. (However, its not impossible that Cactus, who is also a parent, might have understood Solutes feelings and decided to aid him in his plans.) Kajero replied. While I listened to everyones discussions, I started to solidify my own conclusions. I didnt say anything yet, for I am the lord of everyone here, except Phillka. My words would surely turn the tide of the conversation, so I preferred to hear what they had to say instead of intervening. But now, I believe it is time for me to make a statement. We have already talked plenty and theorized what we could, but we dont have a way of arriving at the truth right now. We have too little information. If we want to know everything, its best to catch the people involved and let Weiss read their memories. And that might be the best course of action right now The power of the dolls is enormous, so we shouldnt worry about what is possible or impossible, and instead worry about how to execute our plans, so as to reach our goals. And this is what I have been thinking about. There may be some holes in my plan, but with everyone working together, we should be able to fill them. So, weve had enough discussion. Lets end the theorizing now, and start moving forward With those thoughts in mind, I threw my gaze to Kajero. (Well, I think I have already given my opinion on everything I could reply to.) Kajero, who understood my intention, said. (Even my great wiseness isnt limitless.) Weiss commented. (Me too. Its been a while since the genius me had such a heated discussion. I feel a bit dizzy.) Phillka said. (Ill share a secret Elixir that I obtained at the south with you later then, Phillka. (But for now, princess, please give us your sacred decision.) The Earl stated. Seems like everyone understood what Kajero was getting at. They sure are good at reading one another, arent they? Then, its my turn now. I took a deep breath and said, (Then, please listen.) *** [Kajeros PoV] At this moment, a strange unease feeling took over me. No. It wasnt just now. This feeling of incongruity has been around for a while Ever since my very precious young lady woke up after defeating the Sage in the spiritual world. Its a vague feeling, but Its as if her age-appropriate-girlishness has disappeared. Sure, there were times where she acted too mature for her young appearance before, but recently, it seems like this overwhelmingly mature part of her is the only one standing out. Even though she lost the puppet magic that has supported her up until now, she is not upset, she moves naturally as if it was not an issue. And then, there is this incident How is she so calm when her father has been accused of treason? How can she so calmly accept the fact and start thinking of what to do in the future? Id be glad if this meant that, with our help, she has grown up, but Right now, it feels as if a reflection of Altirea is moving in a direction that she herself doesnt want to. (Then, please Listen) As our liege said that, everyone went silent and waited, (Figuz, thank you for your hard work. You stayed quite a while in the empire, so Ill fix your frayed spots later. (Earl, thank you for your detailed explanation. The knowledge you have acquired over a thousand years was truly helpful. (Kajero, Weiss, Phillka. Thank you for all the help during the discussion. This decision was only made possible due to everyones feedback.) We were fascinated by her. We couldnt take our eyes off her. Her pure white skin felt too pure for a human. She had the dignity of a statue. Am I serving someone who is so transcendental, that she sways eternity itself? Her very appearance felt almost illusory. She continued, (First things first, while the Earls theory is a good starting point, there are a lot of uncertainties with it. (However, it is a very attractive story, so to speak. I believe we can work with it, but with a few modifications. Something like CAn old emperor near his deathbed decides to wipe out the corrupt aristocracy, for the sake of the next generation. CThe loyal retainer, Solute Wisp, understood his majestys wishes and was willing to suffer the stigma of a rebel for his sake. CAnd the aristocracy, who knows nothing, foolishly bicker back and forth. (Dont you think this would make for an interesting play? That it would be a wonderful truth that we could tell?) Altirea had a slight smile on her mouth. Her expression was sharp and beautiful, but at the same time It felt like she was holding an executioners sickle. It was too sinister. A breathtaking sight With a vision of the Sage right behind it. (Earl, Ill order you. Please go to the empires capital and disseminate the truth.) She told him. (As my princess desires.) The Earl kneeled in front of her, his expression filled with joy. Perhaps because he can see an overlap between her and princess Rastiyu, who was well known for her cuteness and decisiveness. She then continued, (Ill go to the empires capital with the dolls at the right time. CThe dukes daughter will come to prove her fathers innocence and cleanse the corruption of the empire. (Can you advertise this? Its consistent with the rumors that you originally spread, so it shouldnt be hard for people to believe it. (Figuz can give you a map of the empires capital and its surroundings. (And Kajero, Ill ask you to prepare a strategy to control the empires capital. We want to detain both the royal family and the aristocracy, so please find a way to do it without them suspecting us, alright?) Altireas words contained a mysterious and irresistible pressure. With her puppet magic, she could bend the will of the spirits, but She has used it countless times, and the feeling was completely different than what I was feeling now. Moreover, she should have lost her puppet magic, so What is this? (Kajero?) She asked me. The Mystic-Eyed Doll Princess frowned slightly. It seemed like the temperature of the room dropped sharply, as if everything was about to freeze. (Understood, young lady.) I bowed with awkward movements. As if I was being manipulated by a thread I just couldnt help it. It was the first time I felt such awe. Or was it? I felt like something similar happened once in the past. Some vague memory from the time before I became a spirit. While I tried to dig up these memories, the conversation kept on moving. Altirea said, (Weiss, youll be doing a lot of work, so be prepared. Youll not only be my escort, but youll also have to check the memories of the people involved. (As for Phillka, I heard you found a way to erase memories?) (Im afraid I havent gotten to the point where I can erase someone elses memories.) Phillka replied. (Ill give you as many materials as you need, so can you advance your research immediately?) Altirea asked him. (It will be done before Altirea reaches the empire. I swear in the name of me, who is a genius.) Phillka then, kneeled too She got even Phillka, who is neither a follower nor a vassal, to kneel. Altirea continued, (Ill also bring Feria with me. I made a promise that Id bring her with me, and in this situation where doll magic cannot be used, I want as much strength as possible. (Figuz, youll remain in Malgaroid for intelligence work. Please crush any information that is disadvantageous to us as soon as you find it. Dont let it spread. (This is actually the most important job of all. Ill come back to Malgaroid once everything is done, as I dont want to be incorporated into the new government. (Ill run away by saying that I wanted to recreate the story of 600 years ago, so the imperial family should now do their best to take care of everything. (Then, while being praised as a heroine who saved this country, Ill quietly live while making cat dolls.) Is there anyone other than me who is holding some doubts over the current Altirea? With the way things are going, it wouldnt be strange if she just destroyed the Stable dynasty and became the empress herself Altirea then said, (I dont know who is plotting what, but I dont care anymore. All we have to do is paint it my color. Well tailor reality to fit the Earls theory. CDoes anyone disagree?) Nobody was against it. Altireas words reverberated as if they were spoken by an oracle. It feels like the ancient story of a demon queen. The ultimate point of a creature called human, who tried to change the world to what it wished, by using a strong will. I may be witnessing its birth right now. *** [Sages PoV] You look amazing. Truly wonderful. I truly regret that my body is asleep Or perhaps I should be happy that I could remain as a souvenir. Tired of being swayed by the situation, she now tries to turn to the side that creates the situation. She is proceeding to pave the way for herself. Isnt it the nostalgic return of the Demon Queen Altirea? This result is probably only possible due to the separation between the original Altirea and she though. As she is now on the foreground. Superimposing. Superimposing. Lets speed up this plan to allow our exchange. The method is cliched, but please enjoy it. After all, it is reasonable for a dragon that has risen to the heavens, then fallen to the ground, to become a snake Now, will it take off and fly again, or will it keep on crawling? Ill look forward to the future, while staring at the Demon Queen from its very depths. CH 44.1 Chapter 44.1 C The Journeys End, The Journeys Beginning Translators Note: Chapter 44 was split in 3 parts by the author on the raws, hence why it will be split in three parts here too. As soon as we finished the meeting, before the Earl left for the empire, I decided to have a talk with him. On the stone pavement leading to the main gate of the Louivas house, we walked side by side. Just a small while ago, we had been troubled by the sweltering heat, but now the autumn breeze was spreading a gentle cool weather throughout this residence The seasons of this world truly are way too abrupt. I remember back when dad suggested I went to Malgaroid two years ago, it was quite surprising to see the change from autumn to winter, as the concert of insects suddenly stopped being held as soon as the season changed. I thought of those things as I walked next to the Earl But eventually, he broke the silence, It may already be spring by the time we meet up on the Empire Ill do my best to finish all preparations to welcome the princess. He muttered. Hell be in charge on spreading the rumors for us in advance. About the plan of the emperor to overthrow the corrupt aristocrats, about how my father was faking a betrayal, and about how the Mystic-Eyed Doll Princess Altirea will appear and reproduce the history of 600 years ago It is a heavy duty. The Early was supposed to only decide if he wanted to be my vassal once he graduated from the knight academy, which should only happen four years from now And yet, in these desperate times, I now ordered him to carry out such important duty for my sake. I dont want to leave things ambiguous anymore. The Earl seems to be fine with it, but Im not okay with this. Eventually, we reached the main gate of the Louivas house. The crows that were resting on top of the gate quietly flew away as we approached. I have something to tell you. I said. The Earl was tall. Even if I stood on the tip of my toes and stretched my arms, I wouldnt be able to reach his face Two years ago, I couldnt contain my fear of such tall person. But its different now. I proudly looked up, staring directly at the Earls eyes. CAt my subordinates eyes. You dont have to kneel, just listen. You said I was a reincarnation of Rastiyu Stable. Do you still think so? I asked him. Yes Or rather, Im completely convinced of it. Today, you were fierce and pretty, princess. It felt as if you had returned to the same self as you were a thousand years ago. The Earl told me. CI want you to see me as Altirea Wisp instead of as princess Rastiyu. I would have rejected him like that before However, I cannot stick to such sentimental feelings of a young girl. This world isnt sweet enough to allow it. If I dont push forward with a strong will, Ill only be at someone elses mercy. Thats why Ill say it. An affirmation and a negation. To accept, and to break up. Christophe du Vergennes, Ill acknowledge you as my vassal and accept you as my knight. Dont move. Dont lower your head. Dont make me repeat myself. You just need to listen. Ill allow you to continue living your dream of the late princess Rastiyu. But I wont go along with it. Do what you wish to do. If you ever become disillusioned, its fine to leave without saying anything. I told him. Im aware that I was putting myself in a bad position, but Im convinced that the Earl will not leave. For hell keep on reviving that memory of his exchange between princess Rastiyu and the Earl. That memory that is not mine. CIm no doll that is locked on a tower and is waiting for help. If you wish to be a hero, then follow your ladys wishes. CAnd perhaps then, your dreams of a princess may live through me. Was this An illusion? Or was I actually princess Rastiyu indeed? I do not know, but it doesnt matter. All that matters is that I live my own life. Is it good enough for you? I asked him. To my question, the Earl who has been seeking her deceased for a thousand years With a tearful expression filled with laughter He seemed like a wanderer who found a permanent residence. CAs my princess commands. Was said. That is good enough. CH 44.2 Chapter 44.2 C Omen [Phillkas PoV] Although its become cool recently, I still get quite sweaty as soon as I start moving. I ended up needing to take a break and wipe my body with a moisture-absorbing-towel that I invented a year ago The tower has an annoying drawback of being a bit too thick though. Because of the dehydration, my head was heavy and my view was blurry So, to counter that, I reached out for a cooling box that I had successfully finished miniaturizing and mass producing two years ago. Inside it, were a mountain of blue potions that Altirea made on her time here. I drank one, and my bodys fluids were supplemented. Now, my breathing finally started stabilizing. (Youre just carrying me with you, why are you so weak?) Weiss asked me, (There might be some rough times ahead of us once we go to the empire. You cannot be a hindrance.) His wording was blunt, but it seemed like he was a bit worried for my health I suppose that, differently from Kajero, not all spirits are direct. (Do not worry, Weiss, for there are 36 different types of fitness enhancer potions Prototypes included. (If I drink those medicines at the appropriate times, I wont get in anyones way.) I replied. Though if I make a mistake on how to use them, all muscles of my body will melt But I already developed a remedy to solve that in case it is needed. Im ready. (Do you have any idea of what actual training is like?) Weiss asked. (Who do you think I am!? I am Phillka Louivas! A genius alchemist! And as would be expected of a genius, I get results that are nothing short of extraordinary!) I replied. ( I guess the Earl isnt the only weirdo here. (Im now remembering Rastiyu and Marua. Why do people that dont listen to others keep gathering around me? Even in all my wiseness, I cannot comprehend.) Weiss sighed as he said that. That was something I had originally brought Weiss with me to fulfill Altireas order of doing research on memory manipulation, as I figured I could use Weiss help on the research, as he has this kind of power already. However Those words he said just now are not to be ignored. As someone who loves history, I just need to ask for the details. (Have you actually met princess Rastiyu and queen Marua?) I asked him. Both of them are said to have had powers related to spirits, so it wouldnt be strange for them to have some connection to Weiss Though I couldnt have predicted the words hed tell me as his response. (I mostly watched over Rastiyu, but I was very close with Marua.) Weiss replied. And ordinary person might have been stunned by those words, but not a genius like me. I used his words as a clue and started going through my memories to figure out what could have made him close to queen Marua. One by one, the dots connected inside my head, and the answer was found, (I see, so thats how it is About 800 years ago, when lady Marua, who was the second princess of the empire, crossed the sea to avoid a succession dispute, she had a shield with a spirit inside it by her side. (That shield was Weiss, right?) I asked him. (As expected of a self-proclaimed genius, you quickly understood it. (The crest of the royal Malgarea family is a round shield with wings, isnt it? Thats me.) Weiss replied. (I see So we, the people of Malgaroid, have been unknowingly worshipping Weiss? Now thats quite something. (Then let me ask you a question The legends say that the shield worn a dazzling halo that torn through monsters, and that it protected Queen Marua like a veil of pure sunlight. ( Are you a light spirit then, Weiss? I thought you were an ice spirit.) I asked him. To this question, Weiss lifted his blade up and down Was that a shrug? (I suppose I should first correct your misunderstanding. (Spiritual attributes are a classification that humans made without our permission. Reality is much more beautiful than those simple separations. (Light and ice are both me. (It depends a lot on the name called when making me manifest. Purifying Steel of the Purgatory would have made me attuned to fire, and Pure Blue Eyes of the Lake would have attuned me to water. (My current attunement is to ice, but thats because I was pulled into this world as is, instead of having my name properly called by Alty if I wasnt limited to this sword body, I could do more for her. (Well, there is no use in complaining about it though. (On that note, the power to read memories is something Ive always had. Marua had me use it a lot back when I was a shield, though she was good at keeping this fact hidden.) Weiss explained. (The queen was said to be able to see through peoples hearts She was said to have a Mystic Eye. (The reality was quite different though, wasnt it?) I replied. (Indeed. (On another note, let me hear your thoughts on something Dont you think Alty was a bit strange today?) Weiss asked me. I immediately nodded to his question. I remembered the meeting That feeling of intimidation that she gave of As if I was in front of an absolute arbitrator. I noticed that sweat was running down my forehead during the meeting It was hard to believe that this girl was the same person that was once my disciple. (The same happened to Rastiyu and Marua. At some point, they suddenly changed. (The age-appropriate childishness disappeared, and they became something else Not necessarily an adult or an elderly, but instead some sort of absolute existence. (I may be overthinking it, but I do not think this is a good sign.) Weiss told me. Why isnt it a good sign? I do agree with Weiss that Altirea has changed. She now looks much more attractive today than she was before. Her strong will to dye everything her colors, those noble eyes that glittered more brightly than any jewel I cant help being confused about it What did Weiss mean with his last statement? After a small silence, he answered my unvoiced question, (While the legends said that Rastiyu and Marua were assassinated, that is not what actually happened. (They went crazy And died from it. (In the middle of the night, they suddenly started screaming about how much their head hurt. They writhed in pain, and then CThey were gone. (If things keep going like this, Alty might meet that same fate. (Youre a genius, arent you, Phillka? (Then Can you think about what is it that links Rastiyu and Marua together? (I may be overworrying, but I dont want Alty to meet that same end.) I couldnt refuse that request. The feeling that Altirea is important to me has not changed. Also, to suddenly unveil this truth behind the unknown history of such two legendary figures is quite exciting in its own right. I want to do this. And lastly I remember it. Right after the meeting ended, Altirea put her hand on her temples and muttered CIt hurts. CH 44.3 Chapter 44.3 C Meeting As it would be a bit bad if someone who was viewed as a hero left the country without permission, especially because I want to come back to Malgaroid once everything is done, I decided to schedule a meeting with king Lereol. There is a lot that must be done, so Id rather have this done quickly, but as the other party is a king, hell probably be quite busy I suppose it cant be helped that I might need to wait a few days for it. I-I-Im back, l-l-l-lady Altirea. A butler apprentice of the Louivas family said, just as he returned from the Garrett palace, I-I-I-It is A-amazing Like a A really amazing O-on the gate The boy was quite nervous, but it seems like someone came with him from the palace? Lets go check then. When I went outside, I saw a very fancy carriage filled with silver embroidery in front of the gate. It was almost like a fairy tales ride. Oh, thats a royal carriage. Its horses are surely taken good care of, arent they? Id love to have a chance of riding them one day. Feria commented once she saw the carriage. I had just finished talking to Feria about going to the empire, and she agreed to go with me. Also, while the puppets were attacking people all over Malgaroid, and I was stuck at the Garrett Palace, Feria protected the Louivas household from their assault. This ended up working out on her favor, as it created an opportunity for her to properly talk to not only her mother, Eska, but also to her father, Dauz. Right now, Feria seems to have made up with her parents. Lady Altirea, its an honor. The carriages coach gave a slight bow as he said that. He was a middle-aged man who looked honest and strict. His white uniform, paired together with the silver feathers shining brightly on the insignia on his chest prove that he is a high-ranking member of the guard Though he probably got there due to political deals. Nonetheless, if they are sending a man like this to me, then it means that they are giving me special treatment, which Im grateful for. Regarding your audience request, the king has accepted it. And as it seems like you might be on a hurry, we can leave for the palace immediately. He told me. It would be impolite to refuse the offer when a member of the royal guard came to escort me directly But well, its convenient for me like this, so its alright. Though how did king Lereol find that I was in a hurry? I dont think there was anything in my letter that gave this impression? Maybe I put too little spacing in-between my words? King Lereol can be quite paranoid once he enters his pessimistic mode, but he is also an excellent ruler with a very keen eye for details, so Its not impossible that he figured it out from my writing. Either way, he is a good man that is seriously trying to change the laws of his country in order to not push children as young as 10 towards marriage. Him being a good ruler is one of the reasons I want to move in to this country, so I dont think I should worry about it too much. Lets just answer the guard then, I appreciate the timely response. Also, Cwould it be alright if Feria Louivas accompanied me? She is my knight. Of course, a beautiful lady and her beautiful knight can definitely ride the royal carriage. Well do our utmost to let you have a comfortable ride. Please go ahead. The man bowed and opened the carriages door for us as he said that. Thank you. Then, lets go, Feria. I said. Eh? Uhn Y-yes. Feria replied confusedly. Unsurprisingly so, since thats the first time I mentioned the knight part. Either way, I believe I have quite a bit of influence over the king by now, so Ill have to use it a bit during our meeting. *** Thanks to the all-purpose string system developed by Phillka, the carriage could run through the cobblestone road with almost no shaking. So About this knight thing However, Feria was shaking a lot as she said that. Her face was also quite red Im not sure why, but this sight made me want to bully her a bit, Im Im happy, truly. But I cant help wondering if Im good enough for you. I mean, I do know some swordsmanship, but Im a nobody when compared to the Wandering Earl, so Someone like me going with you to the empire is I might just be a nuisance andC Oh my oh my, I just couldnt stop gazing at Feria as she said that Im sure I had quite the sadistic expression on me right now. Feria, you are a very important friend to me. You are the only person that can properly accept me for who I am. I want to be with you forever. Moreover, you arent planning to get married yet, are you? If you become my knight, you can say something along the lines of, Im sorry, but the lady doesnt allow me to marry to anyone that tries proposing. As I said that, I stared directly into Ferias eyes. In her black eyes, I could see the reflection of the glittering sunset that was right outside the windows It dyed her eyes with a beautiful red color. Eventually, she nodded, Ill gracefully accept it then. And I swear. Ill protect you even if it costs me my life. I may not have known it at the time, but now I do. This is why I learned the sword. She was so dignified and cool, that even I, who was of the same sex as her, was enchanted by her sight. Certainly, when seeing an expression like this one, even girls who have been running away from romance will surely have their heart flutter. Thank you. Then, we can perform a proper knighthood ceremony before leaving the kingdom Though I wonder if its alright for a foreigner to claim someone from Malgaroid as their knight I said. Well, were going to talk to king Lereol now, so I suppose I can just request it of him. I doubt hell refuse. Ah! There is one more thing we have to do though. I almost forgot. Lets have our Karaage party before leaving too. I want to thank everyone at the Louivas house. I told her. Leave the chickens to me! I can use the money I earned in my travels! Feria told me. I dont think this is a suitable first job for a knight, but Lets worry about it later. By the way, Alty, you talked about my marriage a small while back, but what about you? Youre from a dukes family, and also a hero at Malgaroid. There are surely a lot of people interested in you. Could you perchance already be engaged to someone from the empire? Feria timidly asked me. I was proposed to a few times, but I rejected everyone. I dont feel like marrying yet, so Im not engaged. If me or Feria were a man, everything would be solved. I told her. I truly feel comfortable by her side. Maybe because she is so similar to how I used to be, that I end feeling incredibly at ease when Im with her. Yeah I think so too. Feria muttered with a gloomy tone. Immediately after that though, she changed her tone to one of mockery, I heard from my brother that the sage was trying to get him to create an artificial life form similar to you. It would have been quite dangerous if he came to me, you know? I might have created a fake genderbent version of you. Feria said. If that happened, Id bring you back to me at all costs. It would be a war. I told her. She giggled, How scary! Then we both started laughing. However Didnt the sage create an artificial life form by himself? To push someone to create a fake me and transform it It surely sounds like something that that scammer would do. Perhaps, there might be someone in the world already working on it, and we might just be waiting for the time when it will wake up. Ugh. Whats wrong, Alty? You suddenly started frowning? Feria asked me. Im sorry. Im alright. I told her that, but I was holding my temples. Pain. As if my blood vessels were rampaging inside my brain My skull is about to crack. And at the same time, I feel drowsy. A feeling very similar to what I felt immediately after defeating the puppeteer. But after enduring it for a while, the two conflicting uncomfortable feelings gradually subsided. This started happening ever since I woke up after defeating the sage CLet me leave you with something, so that you wont forget me. Perhaps the sages souvenir wasnt the removal of doll magic, but instead this terrible migraine. Regardless of that, the time passed with me and Feria within the carriage. By the time we reached the Garett Palace, it was already night. CH 45 Chapter 45 C Audience/Doll Magic Fourth Arc C Returning Home The distance between the Medea empire and Malgaroid was of about 40 days by boat, but My dolls are faster than that. Figuz actually crossed the sea in just three days. He said that he ran through the water by putting one foot after the other before the first one sank I think the laws of physics dont work out very well in this world. In any case, king Lereol shouldnt know about dads rebellion yet, so lets make use of that during our talk. Once I arrived at the Garrett Palace, I was immediately taken to the king to have our audience. Feria will be waiting in the hallway, but Kajero will be lurking above the ceiling. Miss Altirea, its good to see you again. We havent met since the festival. The king said once I entered the audience room. Yes. Im relieved to see you well too, king Lereol. I replied. Im still having my daily stomachaches actually, but never mind that. What brings you here? I heard it might be an urgent matter? King Lereol asked me with his usual gentle expression. Seems like he really didnt hear about my father yet, You are the hero who saved this country, so Ill help you in whatever way I can. You have more than earned the right to request help, so please dont hesitate to say it. I appreciate your kind words. Then, Im sorry for the sudden notice, but Id like permission to return to my home at the Medea empire. I told him. Do you mean that you wish to temporarily return there? He asked me. That is correct, for I have just received a report that my father has fallen ill I muttered. What!? Solute has!? The king exclaimed. He used to have a good relationship with dad, so I suppose it is a normal reaction. Due to the shock, his eyes were wide open. Though of course, its a lie that he fell ill. I just needed the people here to believe me for now, so that I could secure a ship that could take me to the empire. I stared deep into king Lereols blue eyes. Push them before the other party has any doubts. That is my policy. CAgh! However, as soon as I tried opening my mouth, I was struck by an unexpected situation The inner part of my nose tightened It was the precursor of what was about to come. Then, the inside of my right eye started aching. The pain growing with each passing second. This again This sudden headache is assaulting me again. The blood vessels inside my brain were about to explode. And my heart was beating so loudly It was probably echoing through the whole room. I really felt like something was about to break through my skull and come out of my temples. I was assaulted by such an illusion. Ah Aah I couldnt help gritting my teeth. My eyes ached so much I put strength on my knees, which were about to collapse, and managed to regain my posture. Repeatedly, I tried to take in as much air as I could. My breathing was rough, but I couldnt do much more than this while waiting for the seizures to pass. Sweat was pouring out of my hands. My body was so heavy It would be so easy to fall asleep like this But thats no good. I have something to do. I need a ship. Preferably a very fast one. Slowly, the pain gradually eased up. I still had a strange feeling though, as if a deep part of my brain had been burnt But that was not enough to stop me from talking. What was king Lereols reaction? He must have been surprised from seeing his guest suddenly start suffering right in front of him. What the? This was eerie. King lereol was completely unresponsive. It was as if his heart wasnt here As if his soul had fallen out of his body. His eyes were turned towards me, but they were completely out of focus. Uhn King Lereol? I worriedly called him out. But then CAh, sorry, I was a bit out of it. King Lereol came back to his senses. Your father has fallen ill, so youll go home for the time being. I understand. Ill prepare a ship like you requested. Since youre in a hurry, a high-speed ship will be more convenient, so Ill get one of those for you. It will be done in two days at most, is that alright? King Lereol told me. Th Thank you very much. I confusedly answered. I hadnt asked about the ship yet, so why was my request transmitted to king Lereol? Ill write a letter with my sympathies to Solute. If its not too much, could you please deliver it to him, miss Altirea? The king asked me. Oh, alright. I told him. And with this unsettling feeling, the audience with king Lereol was ended. However, once I started leaving it, somehow I noticed that I had a long, long thread stretching from my right hand. It seemed that it was connected to the king. It was as if I was using a human being as a doll What a strange feeling. *** King Lereol fulfilled his promise. Two days after the audience, a high-speed ship had been prepared just for me. It used a special steam-based magic that Phillka had developed in order to move far more quickly than normal ships. (If you add mine and Weissters power to it. Well be able to arrive at the Medea empire in about 10 days.) Kajero said, (Though Weisster is more of an extra here.) (Hah!? Kajero is the extra. It would only take 12 days with my power.) Weiss replied. (With just my power, wed get there in 11 days. Youre only shortening it by one day, Weisster.) Kajero claimed. Come on, dont compete on such a weird thing. I told them both. Picking up Kajero and Weiss, I moved to the high-speed ship. Behind me, Phillka and Feria also went inside it. The Earl left earlier, so he wasnt with us. He was using the same method of transportation as Figuz As in, he was running over the sea by putting one foot after the other before it sank. Could it be very easy in this world? I decided to try it out on my spare time before the departure, but unsurprisingly, it just ended up wetting my clothes. CH 46 Chapter 46 C Seems like my spirits are a bit crazy for speed (Princess, leave the steering of the ship to me. I know a lot about water.) Before we departed, Weisster suggested that. He is an ice spirit, so I suppose he should indeed be familiar with water. I figured there was no problem in leaving it to him. Or so I thought. (Haha! Nobody can outrun me!) He exclaimed Because unfortunately, he was a speed freak. I was trying to enjoy the scenery on the deck, but his sudden acceleration startled me and made me fall down. Moreover, the headwind is outrageous due to how fast he is moving. Ugh I made a completely unladylike groan as we moved. The strong wind was directly hitting my face, making my carefully trimmed hair become completely unkempt. (And now a sudden right turn!) As Weisster exclaimed that, the ship quickly changed directions. The movement made water mercilessly splash all over the deck. Weisster, youre fired. Once I got to the wheelhouse with my soaked wet body, I said that as I threw a philosophers stone at Weisster. (It hurts! What are you doing!?) Weisster exclaimed. Just desserts, just desserts. Kajero can steer the wheel now. I told him. (I just thought Id spice this mediocre cruise up! (Though princess, why are you carrying a philosophers stone?) Weisster asked me. Kajero told me to. We dont know what will happen in the Wisp territory, so this is a precaution in case of emergency. I replied. (A precaution? (Oh, right, you dont have the doll magic anymore, so we cant be sure that the dolls on the Wisp estate wont rebel.) Weisster seemed to understand it. Indeed. I might be overthinking it, but I dont want to regret not being prepared for an emergency. I told him. (Definitely.) As Weisster said that, he vigorously moved his blade-self up and down, probably as a way of nodding. If only there was some intelligence within this dexterous moving sword. Well, its because of that that Kajero will now control the ship. Kajero started giggling, (Then, let me provide a thrilling cruise that you may enjoy to your hearts content!) He too? H, e, t, o, o? Oh dear, why are both of those two speed maniacs? Well, we do want to get to Medea quickly, so its good that they are speeding up, but (I will jump ahead of this reef that is ahead of us, so please enjoy the air travel for a while.) Kajero said. There was a barrier around the ship, so it wasnt broken by those crazy maneuvers, but can you please stop it? Its bad for my heart. This isnt a competition or anything like it, so it doesnt matter if you make acrobatics, you wont get a higher evaluation for this. Or rather, its going down. It keeps going down. (Actually, young lady, let me argue with this point.) Kajero said. Should I ask how you heard that? I replied. (We dolls may have spirits inside us, but at our root, we are directly connected to your deep consciousness, young lady.) Kajero told me. In other words? I asked him to continue. (The performances so far have been what the young lady wanted, and Im sure you have been inwardly praising them, so I have full intention of continuing steering the ship like this.) Kajero said. For now, I threw a philosophers stone at the center of Kajeros head Maybe I should have brought a few more with me from Malgaroid. After that, Kajero and Weisster promised to drive with safety as the priority, and with speed as the secondary objective. With this out of the way, I decided to head to the cabin to see how Phillka and Feria were doing. I dont think the sickness prevention medicine that I developed is working Phillka muttered while he laid on his bed. I thought I was strong against shaking, but Ugh Feria too, was laying down on her bed. They dont seem to have handled Weissters and Kajeros crazy drifts well Understandably so, for no ship would ever move like that under normal circumstances. I think Im fine mostly because of how angry I was at those two Or maybe its my experience with roller coasters on my past life. This reminds me When we were young, me and Feria got quite drunk once Phillka muttered. Thats nostalgic It was hard to handle my brother vomiting as much as he did back then. Feria replied. Dont fabricate memories. It was you that was vomiting. Phillka said. No, it was you, brother. Feria replied. No, it was you, Feria. Phillka told her. Seems like you should invent a lie detector for yourself then. Feria said. Phillka then got up, seeming ready to say something, but It seems like his seasickness is still there. Ugh As he muttered that, he fell back onto his bed. Oh? Youre still weak, brother? Then I suppose Ill have no choice but to leave you here while I have some tea with Alty Ugh This time it was Feria that tried to get up, but she too fell back onto her bed. Just what are those two doing? For a while, both of them kept on trying to get up, only to fall back again immediately after. That said, it seems like theyre on good terms now. Ther brother-sister relationship seems to have improved considerably. *** [Weiss Pov] After Alty left, while I suppressed my urge to accelerate, I decided to ask, (Hey, Kajero, what do you think of the princess right now?) (Shes strangely active. She also gives an impression that is slightly different from what she used to give. (Did you feel that too, Weisster?) Kajero asked back. (My eyes arent just knot holes, alright?) I told him. (You do not have any structure in your body that could be referred to as an eye.) Kajero replied. (Dont worry about this kind of detail.) I told him, (In any case, I thought the princess would have been excited about the cruise, but in my viewC) (Maybes shes overworking herself) Kajero sighed, (However, the young lady doesnt seem to be aware of it.) (Possibly. The princess is quite stressed right now, after all. Whats up with her father being accused of high treason? It wouldnt be strange for her to faint from the shock.) I told him. (I was wondering if we could relieve her tension with this last initiative, but It didnt seem to have much effect.) Kajero muttered. (Huh!?) I was a bit surprised by that one, (You were thinking of such a small thing!?) (Wait a minute) Kajero started frowning, (Weisster, was it not for the young lady that you made the ship move so carelessly? (I was riding on your initial performance) I started replying with, (I was just going on a crazy voyageC) (So you ruined the young ladys hair and clothes for your personal enjoyment?) Was his reply. At this moment, I could feel the temperature of the wheelhouse drastically dropping. A hideous cold was emanating from Kajero A pressure strong enough to freeze. Even the great me, who often boasts about my capabilities, felt a sense of crisis. (N-no! Its a joke, a joke! I also pledged my allegiance to the princes, after all! (Of course, it was an act all along!) I then started giving out a troubled laugher. ( Well, lets leave it at that then.) As Kajero said this, the cold air gradually disappeared. I secretly heaved a sigh in relief. And I should be more careful with what I say about Altirea. With cold sweat dripping through my ice-blade-self, I swore that deeply within my heart. CH 47 Chapter 47 C The Expedition to the Wisp Territory The first day, which was turbulent in many ways, ended, and the second day of the voyage started. Both Kajero and Weisster seem to be holding themselves back, so I was able to enjoy the outside view from the deck. No matter where you look, while we see this horizon, we can feel as if this ship is the only one in the whole world Feria said. She seemed to have recovered from her seasickness, so she could appreciate this view with me now. Phillka on the other hand was still laying on his bed. He said something about how humanity will eventually rule over even this vast wilderness Its a magnificent way of refusing to admit defeat. By the way, Alty, did the Earl get to the empires capital already? Feria asked me. If everything went well, he should have just arrived, but Its hard to be sure, since its the Earl that were talking about. I replied. After all, he is the kind of person to always move at his own pace. In both the good and the bad It cant be helped since he lived for a thousand years already though. If he finds something interesting on his way to the capital, like a cat chasing a butterfly, or a lost child in the woods, or maybe even some other unusual thing, it might serve as a distraction that keeps the Earl from arriving in time. Essentially, he was somewhat unpredictable. *** On the third day of the voyage, the ninja dolls told us that the Earl properly reached the empires capital. However, we also heard some concerning news (The governments army is advancing towards the Wisp territory) Kajero muttered. The national armys primary purposes are to defend the capital and to suppress rebellions, so its natural for them to move against the Wisp territory when my father is supposedly a traitor, but The imperial family seems to be on our side, so this movement is unusual. Maybe the soldiers were moved by the aristocracy instead? I wondered. (Most likely, but Its still a bit strange. (There are plenty of dolls at the Wisp territory, enough to attack the empires capital even The aristocrats should know this much.) Kajero replied. (Could they have obtained something to overcome the difference in power?) Weisster asked. His blade-self was currently shaped into a question mark, so he was probably thinking really hard about this. (Its been a bit over ten days since the princess father was accused of treason, right? Isnt it a bit too soon to move the whole army against him when the empire has been in peace for so long? (Theres most likely something happening behind the scenes) Weisster commented. Do you have any guesses of what might be happening behind the scenes though? I asked him. (I dont know, but I have a bad feeling. I cant stop the chills.) Weisster replied. Thats just because your body is made of ice, right? I jested. (I wish it was) Weisster said. *** On the next day, we got some new information that confirmed Weiss premonition. (Young lady! Urgent news!) It wasnt even dawn when Kajero entered my room to say that, (Weve become unable to get in touch with both the ninja dolls and with the Earl.) How is this even? I muttered. (Details are still under investigation, but on top of that, the government forces have moved to the south of the Delil Mountains.) Kajero replied. What about the Wisp territory? I asked. (The knight dolls are under alert, but at the moment neither side has crossed the mountains yet.) Kajero told me. Now lets see My parents home, the Wisp duchy, is on the northeast region of the Medea empire Its not only key in protecting the northern part of the border, but the eastern portion of the territory also contains the city of Spiril, the empires largest trading city. And the Delil Mountains are to the south of the Wisp duchy. They serve as the division between my parents territory and the emperors territory And its now about to become a warzone, it seems. (Apparently, the attacks goal is to capture the rebel Solute Wisp.) Kajero told me. Is my father at the Wisp territory? I asked him. (The dolls are doing all they can to search for him, but no such reports came just yet. (It is more likely that he is hiding at either the empires capital, or at the territory of other aristocrats.) Kajero replied. Thank you. I understand the situation now. I told him. My early-morning drowsiness has already been blown away by this conversation. While moving my hands through my disheveled blond hair, I started thinking What is the best move I can do now. Ugh The blood vessels bounced in my brain. It wasnt as painful as usual though. It was more like a strange sense of incongruity. Kajero, I think you should return to the Wisp territory and command the dolls there. I told him. If he left, the ship would slow down, but that cannot be helped. In the current circumstances, a good commander needs to be assigned immediately. (Rest assured, young lady, that is not necessary. (Or rather, I think it would be better if I continued in charge of the ship instead.) Kajero replied. How come? The dolls are a bit too innocent to organize themselves on their own. Theyd definitely need a commander in this kind of situation. And Kajero would definitely be the best commander possible. Cactus would probably be the second best option, but Kajero would still be considerably better. Walf might be the third best option, but that carefree child might not be that suited for work as a commander in a warzone. Besides, Cactus is missing, together with father, and Walf is in secluded training right now. So right now, the only dolls at the Wisp territory are probably as mature as elementary schoolers I cant imagine them handling the governments forces well. (Currently, the dolls are building an impromptu citadel at the northern part of the mountains and watching how things develop. (Meanwhile, the knights of the Wisp family seem to be collaborating too.) Kajero explained. Knights, as in, not doll knights, correct? I asked just to be sure. (Indeed. Theyre human knights.) He told me. Things are just getting more mysterious. Someone who can not only move the dolls, but also influence the humans? Who else but my father would be able to do that? (Young lady, isnt it a bit too merciless to forget about your own blood-related relatives?) Kajero asked me. My relatives? But father is missing, and mom died long ago I replied. Was there anyone else? Did some hidden child appear without my notice? Kajero sighed as he saw me tilt my headC (Your brother, lord Tourus. (I know you two dont have much contact, but you really forgot about him?) Kajero asked. CH 48 Chapter 48 C A hangover is not the cure for motion sickness Altirea Wisps older brother, Tourus I myself had completely forgotten about his existence. He has never had much of a presence, but I think his presence is much thinner now than it was before. I didnt know that Tourus had returned to the Wisp territory I muttered. (He returned around the same time you left for Malgaroid, young lady) Kajero told me. Is that so? Then, just before I left, did we talk a bit perchance? Hmm I really cant remember it. Its a mysterious feeling, as if Im wrapped in a haze. Perhaps my older brother has a strange talent that erases his presence somehow? As if. Is it alright if my brother is in charge? I asked. (While I havent had much contact with lord Tourus, I can assure you that he is a very intelligent person. (By now he is surely putting a lot of pressure on the hostile forces. If you leave it to him, there should be no problem.) Kajero told me. That was a bit surprising. This must be the first time I heard Kajero praise a human like this. And yet My impression of my older brother is probably closer to a gentle gardener than a military commander. Its hard to imagine him at the frontlines. *** Not too long after that, we arrived at the Wisp Territory. There were no major changes seen in the front lines since the last report. As soon as the high-speed ship arrived at Spiril, I immediately went to a carriage. The destination is the southern part of the Wisp territory. At the foot of the Delil Mountains. Though of course, Im not going there to command the dolls myself After all, I dont really know how to war. At most, I played strategy games in my previous life, but my strategy just consisted of slamming a lot of soldiers with tremendous force against my opponents. Therefore, my job is a different one. What Kajero told me was, (Considering the way they are currently moving, the Wisp dolls do not seem to have lost their loyalty to you, young lady. (In that case, Id like if you could go to them and praise their hard work.) Essentially, Id be motivating them for the most part, though there was also one more duty that Kajero asked me to fulfill, (Also, some of the dolls might be lacking in magical power. I hope you can refill their energy, young lady.) Because even if I lost the doll magic, I still have an enormous magical capacity Perhaps, if the Wisp dolls are filled with energy, then the situation might change. *** This carriage shook a lot when compared to the one I rode in Malgaroid. I took this one specifically because it was advertised as the empires finest ride, but The difference in technological advancement between both countries is just way too wide. To think a genius like me would be losing to motion sickness Phillka muttered. He was prostrated on the window right now. He also wasnt much better during the sea voyage, so I guess he isnt very good with vehicles. Youre just like a beam sprout, brother! Feria laughed as she patted Phillkas back. She wasnt feeling motion sickness right now, and she seemed to be quite proud of that. Shouldnt you have waited at the Wisp house? Youre a scholar, so is there any meaning on you coming to the frontlines? I asked him. But of course There are quite a few inventions for war I was useless in Malgaroid, but hereC Phillka then started giggling for some reason. (Before that, shouldnt you improve the anti-sickness medicine, you idiot!?) Weisster asked. On that note, Weissters ice-blade-self was currently resting on Phillkas neck. Apparently this made Phillka feel a bit better. To defeat the motion sickness, I just drank 10 bottles of the anti-sickness medicine! Phillka then started laughing out loud. (This has just made you drunk! Stop drinking any more of those!) Weisster told him. I agree. Phillka is definitely drunk right now. His face is red, his eyes are sloppy, and he definitely feels like he just crashed into a bar. Hmm Perhaps I should have drunk some Sake. Feria suddenly something really strange just now, I mean, isnt drinking good for curing hangovers? I was kinda seasick for the whole trip, so maybe I should have just drunk some Sake. Oh dear I hadnt realized it until now, but Feria might actually be kinda stupid. I ended up looking up to the sky to avoid thinking about it Soon enough, the blue sky was covered by black clouds. *** Before long, we could see the Delil Mountains in the distance. They had a heavy moss-green color to them And slowly, it felt like they were coming to me. At the foot of the mountain, something akin to a fence spreads endlessly from left to right. However, as we got closer, I started realizing that I had just been tricked by perspective It was not something as lukewarm as a fence. It was as big as a three-story or even four-story building It was a very thick wall. The southern portion of the Wisp territory, and the area under the direct control of the emperor They were now separated by a vast fortress. It was like the great wall of China. A truly impressive construction I could hardly believe that this was made in only a few days. CH 49 Chapter 49 C The Roots of the Wisp House Upon arriving at the fortress, I was greeted by the knights of the Wisp family, Welcome back, young lady. At their forefront was Fromos, the leader of the group. He was a veteran knight who has served our home for generations. I heard he was in his late 50s, but his body is still in shape and looks quite youthful. Right now he is using a black military uniform instead of armor. Its color had a gold tinge, a decoration that was only allowed to knights of a dukes family. I understand you may be tired from your long journey, but lord Tourus is waiting for you in the conference room. Fromos said. Thank you. I did want to talk to my brother too, so could you please take me to him? I replied. Understood. CThen, everyone, please guide our guests to their rooms. After giving those instructions to the other knights, Fromos started guiding me to the conference room himself. The fortress was made of solid stone, so it hardly looked like a rushed work. Moreover, the place didnt emanate the heat and humidity of summer, probably because it had the blessings of water and ice spirits. Spending time here is a lot more comfortable than spending it at the knights station. Fromos commented. Then, once everything is settled, we can have the dolls rebuild the station. I told him. Fromos giggled at this one, then said, Id appreciate that. We climbed the stairs while exchanging this kind of conversation. I could also hear the sound of the rain outside. It had been looming over us for a small while now, but it seems like it has finally started. CSeems like well sleep well tonight. Fromos said. What do you mean? I asked him. Landslides often happen in these mountains. Nobody will try marching on us while its raining, so well be able to rest at ease. He replied. Couldnt they use this expected carelessness as a reason to attack us instead? I asked. Then, now with the young lady here, we will be able to work together with the dolls and defeat whoever comes our way. Fromos told me. On the matter of the dolls, where are they? I have yet to see any. I asked him. After all, it wouldnt be strange for those children to just jump at me once I arrived. They must be resting at the edge of the citadel. They seem to have run out of power due to the rush work. Fromos explained. They are falling due to the lack of magical power I muttered. Then, as soon as I finish talking to brother, I will immediately go to the dolls. If those children cant move, then a good chunk of the strength of the Wisp family will be lost. Even if the governments army may be lacking on field experience due to the extended peace time, well definitely be overwhelmed if were not careful. If possible, Id like to replenish the power of the dolls before this rain ends. Either way, I cant wait to move my arms. Id like to blow up those corrupt aristocrats soon. Fromos suddenly said. Youre quite motivated. I told him. But of course. All of our knights are eager to fight. And if it becomes necessary, we will even attack the empires capital. He replied. He is showing loyalty, but This is also a bit strange. The current Wisp family is supposedly a rebel that went against his majesty, the emperor. In such circumstances, it would be normal to feel troubled and consider deserting I decided to them ask Fromos about it. And his reply The rotten aristocracy is trying to trap the Wisp family. Well cut them off and regain the trust of his majesty. When thinking of it like that, the stigma of rebels is brilliant. Fromos then told me that the other knights seem to have the same idea. That this was a battle against the corrupt aristocracy all along. After all, its only natural to come to this conclusion when looking at the history of the Wisp family. We have all been eagerly waiting for this moment. Fromos then said something unusual. Eh? Was all I could say for a reply. Why was my familys history suddenly brought up? If we go to the roots of the Wisp family, well arrive at the Sharp Emperor: Sylphis I. When taking this into account, its natural to wish to do something about the corrupt aristocracy. All the knights are very loyal to the Wisp family, me included, of course, so Theres no way we wouldnt get excited in this situation. Fromos then started giving out a confident laugher. He seems to be quite happy with the current situation Let me try thinking about things a bit We have five noble ranks. Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount and Baron With a big wall existing between the Marquises and the Earls. The wall being, whether you have royal blood or not. Second sons and daughters will often end up becoming vassals of the royal family as they get involved into political marriages Our Wisp family is, of course, no exception. But to think that ours descends directly from Sylphis I? The emperor of 600 years ago that the Earl told me about when talking about the fall of the corrupt aristocracy at that time? I can understand that, when taking this into account, the royal family would hope that the Wisp family would start a revolution to wipe out the corrupt aristocracy again, just like Sylphis I did in the past. But It is quite strange for me to not know the roots of my own family. Did I study it, but somehow forgot? Or was it intentionally kept from me? If I have a chance, I should ask my brother about it. CBefore long, me and Fromos reached the conference room. We were right outside it, and in front of us, there was a thick, heavy, black door. CH 50 Chapter 50 C Tourus Wisp At the other side of the black door, there was a man sleeping. He was sitting on a chair and his head was on top of a desk. That was Tourus Wisp My brother. We can wake him up, right? I asked Fromos. Please be kind with him. He has been up all night for the past few days in order to make sure everything stays in order. Fromos replied. Really? I couldnt help muttering. I was still hard to believe That older brother with his almost non-existent presence is commanding dolls and knights to hold the governments army back Before I could ponder on it any further though, my brother started muttering something, stretched his arms, then rubbed his eyes with his hands He was like a cat. Good morning, brother. I said. Is that Altys voice? Ive been waiting for you. After saying this, Tourus finally opened his eyes, Is Fromos next to you? Sorry, seems like I missed the opportunity to greet you at the entrance. You were quite tired, lord Tourus. Fromos said. Thank you for the help. Ill take it over now, so please return to your duties, Fromos. Tourus ordered. Understood. Please excuse me. After Fromos bowed down to my brothers orders, he left. It was now just me and Tourus on the conference room. Sit down for now, Alty. You must be tired from the long journey. Or do you prefer to stand and walk while you think? Ill match you in that case. Tourus told me. Im going to sit down. As I said that, I pulled a nearby chair closer and sat on it. Its hard to talk if youre so far away, you know? Its out long-awaited reunion, so come closer. Sure, I havent returned to the Wisp house in the past few days, but Im still bathing properly alright? So I shouldnt be smelly or anything Tourus then smelled his own armpit, Yeah, Im good. Okay Uhn Brother Tourus Right? I muttered, not sure what to say. Of course, Alty. Im the eldest son of the Wisp family and the next leader of the house. Tourus Wisp. On that note, did you know that Tourus means truth in the ancient language of the empire? Brother Tourus replied. Ah Thank you for teaching me that I told him. Isnt your behavior strange for a brother and sister who share blood? I mean, we arent twins, so we dont exactly share blood, but were still from the same father and mother. Its been a few years since we last met, so shouldnt our meeting be a bit more dramatic and moving!? Tourus asked me. Then, he opened his arms in a beckoning fashion As if he wanted me to jump onto his arms. Just Who is this person? His blond hair and blue eyes are the same as mine, and his facial features resemble fathers but Its only in appearance that he resembles brother Tourus. His impression is way too different. Instead of being a forgettable person that resembles a shadow, he is more like a bright shining light. He was so dazzling, that I felt like I was getting exhausted just by being near him. How did his personality take such a drastic turn? The mood is still awkward, so Should I try guessing what youre thinking, Alty? Perhaps it might clear things up. I bet its something along the lines of Who is this shining guy right in front of me? Is it really my brother that Im seeing? right? Tourus said. Well I cant say I didnt wonder if you had eaten something rotten or hit your head really hard. I replied. Im 25 years old already, alright? Im not gonna just bump by head randomly. In fact, there are quite a few madams in high society that have been captivated by me, you know? Though well, none of them can quite compare to mother, so I ended up coming here without tying myself to any of them. Tourus said. So he is actually a mother-con? I didnt know that and I dont think I wanted to know it. And now youre probably thinking about how your brother is a mother-con and thats why he didnt get married, but thats wrong. Im going to stay single until things settle down in this country. But instead of staying into this topic, let me answer your worries on what we were talking about previously. CIsnt he like a completely different person? Thats a misunderstanding, Alty. You just forgot about it. Tourus told me. I Forgot? I asked. Are aware of what it means to have a unique talent? Tourus asked me. Ive read about it in several books. Its what my doll magic is. I replied. Indeed. Its good that youre studying plenty. And yeah, this isnt just magic, but more like a divine miracle. I too, have access to a unique talent. Brother Tourus told me. You have it too? I asked. Yes. Im using it to manipulate memories actually. Do you want to see an experiment? 1, 2, 3, go. Brother then, snapped his fingers. *** Eh? There should only be dolls and knights here, but who is this person in front of me? His blond hair and blue-eyes The facial features that resemble my father, but more youthful Hes also using the white clothes that symbolize my house in a very fashionable way Is he dads secret child or something? Well, its about time, isnt it? The man then snapped his slender fingers. *** Ugh!? You okay, Alty? Brother Tourus hugged me, who was surprised by the sudden change, then, he looked directly into my eyes, If youre feeling unwell, just lie down, alright? Your older brother can put you to sleep with a nice lullaby. I once sang to Fromos before, and he fainted in less than a minute. He said that he had bad nightmares at the time, but at least he went to sleep. How about it? Uhn Please refrain from doing that. I told him. This was quite surprising. Though also, I feel some discomfort in my brain. As if my nerves were fiddled with directly And now, there is still some tingling feeling on the back of my head. Alright then. By the way, making someone forget everything takes a lot of effort. I usually am much more subtle with my memory manipulation. Its similar to your doll magic, but with a different execution. Like climbing a mountain by using a different path. Brother Tourus told me. What do you mean? My power just puts the spirits into the dolls. Its quite different from yours. I replied. Huh? Brother Tourus started frowning for some reason, Well, I guess youll understand it soon. Or rather, there might be already be some signs appearing. Alty, did the people around you ever start moving unnaturally in a way that you wanted them to? Unnaturally? I asked. Yes, for example, if you were walking around while thinking about wanting chocolate, then a sudden chocolate master approached you by saying today is a beautiful day, Alty, so please have this chocolate! or something like that? Brother Tourus asked me. Lets not try to understand what a chocolate master is, and instead focus on the important bits I can actually think of a case like this. The audience with king Lereol. I didnt speak anything, but he somehow understood my intention and prepared a high-speed ship. It was far too convenient Could it be related to what brother Tourus is saying? Judging from your expression, I can say that your answer is yes. To put your influence over someones will is also a part of doll magic. Remember that well. Tourus told me. There was something unusual about Tourus as he said that Unlike before, he had a very distant expression now. CH 51 Chapter 51 C Brother-Sister Talk To put my influence over someone elses will is also a part of doll magic? It doesnt feel quite right I mean, the incident with king Lereol happened after I lost my doll magic in the first place, so Alty, you dont have to think so hard about it. Things will come to light as they need to. Tourus told me. Youre quite optimistic, brother. I replied. Its important to prepare yourself for eventual contingencies, but pessimists have no future. Theyre scared of bad things happening and as such, they get stuck on the same place. Its much better to walk forward, towards an uncertain future instead. Even if things are complicated right now, please leave it to me, and Ill fix it all. Brother Tourus had a very reliable smell on his face right now. Then, he slowly left his chair and stood by my side He is a lot taller than what I remembered. After that, with a compassionate smile, brother said, A lot of things must have happened In Malgaroid and Well, Alty, I may not be qualified to say this, as I couldnt do anything until now, but Thank you for your hard work. I know it must have been tough. Tourus started gently patting my head as he said that. Suddenly, an old memory resurfaced. From the time before I recalled my past life. Back when I was a kid that didnt know anything. I feel like Tourus used to care for me like this before. From here on, its the second act, where the baton is passed and the protagonist changes. Alty, you dont need to bear the brunt of it anymore The Sage, father, the government forces Ill take all of them on. Brother told me. You know of the sage? I asked him. Of course. I cant protect my cute little sister if I lose on the information warfare. CThough it would be best if you didnt rush after the source of the information, since its quite complicated. I swear Im yours, Alty. I wont turn around and join your enemies. Brother told me. Thank you very much. I replied. Ah, youre still a bit suspicious I guess? I suppose it cant be helped, since right now you probably feel like youre being swayed by the situation without seeing the whole picture, right? He asked me. Thats about right. I told him. Its simple. The aristocracy wants to get rid of the Wisp family, but they couldnt do it before because of our powerful dolls. However, they now found a way to get rid of the dolls, so they now decided to make false accusations against father, then send the army after us. Do you understand the gist of it now? Tourus asked me. I see But what are their countermeasures against the dolls? I asked. You should know at least one of them. Maybe you even have it with you? Tourus asked back. The Philosophers Stone? I said. Bingo! As a reward, Ill give you a bit of cake on todays dinner. There are other countermeasures if one looks for it though. Especially now that the dolls are lacking on magical power. Tourus replied. Ill go to them as soon as were done. I told him. Thats good, but dont overdo it. Youve always been one to try taking everything onto yourself. Tourus said. Eh? Thats a bit strange. While I am aware that I dont usually ask others for help I dont think Ive ever shown that side of me to Tourus? Well then, Id like to talk a bit more about the situation on the Empires capitalC Tourus turned his gaze outside the window now. It was still raining, and we could hear the thunder falling too. Its about time As soon as my brother muttered that, we heard knocks on the door. Please excuse me, I have a report to deliver! Fromos, the leader of the knights, appeared, Just as you expected, lord Tourus, a strange sound is coming from the inside of the mountain and it is drawing closer to us. From inside the mountain? Thats a bit weird And what does strange sound even mean in this context? However, Tourus seemed to understand what Fromos meant, Alright then. Alty, can you stay there and see what happens through the window? From now on, your brother will show you some really cool things. Youll see how reliable and amazing I am! Just dont fall in love, alright? Tourus Wisp is a mother-con, but not a sis-con! As Tourus said that, he left the conference room. Now what should I do? As lord Tourus said, I think you should see it from the window. Fromos awkwardly said. I suppose it cant be helped that hed be troubled if his lord suddenly said that he was a mother-con. Ah Alright, thank you. What about you, Fromos? I decided to ask. I have something to do down below. As Fromos said that, he chased after my brother. Just what is Tourus going to do? Authors Note: On a side note, Tourus power can only affect memories related to him, though the line between what is and isnt related to him is somewhat blurry, with not even him knowing the full-limits of what he can or cant do. CH 52 Chapter 52 C Disappearance and Explosion I looked out through the window, wondering what was going to happen. (Young lady, may I have some of your time?) Kajero suddenly asked me that through telepathy. Immediately after, he opened the conference rooms door and went inside it, (I talked to the dolls here in the fortress, and it seems like something strange is happening.) Did my brother do something? I asked. (Thats not the case Though I cant say for sure that he is not involved. (Some of the dolls are missing.) Kajero replied. Arent they just lost children chasing butterflies? I asked. (If so, it would be a funny story.) Kajero gave a cynical shrug, then stared at me seriously, (Some dolls left this fortress and disappeared.) I wonder if its because I lost the doll magic I mused. (I cant say for sure, but it seems like all the disappeared dolls said the following.) Kajero said CLady Altirea is calling from the other side of the mountain. Its like a ghost story. I muttered. It may be summer, a good season for horror stories, and Well, it would be really nice if this just ended as a scary story. Unfortunately, thats not the case at all. After all, the dolls are already missing. A scary story with real harm is just a disaster. By the way, do you think that this is related to the fact you cant get in touch with the ninja dolls in the Empires capital? I asked. (Its possible, but we have too little information.) Kajero replied. Maybe the government forces are using a magic item, like the Philosopher Stone, to lure the spirits? I wondered. With how reckless the spirits can be, the dolls might have ended up being lured, then exhausted by philosopher stones Its not an entirely unreasonable theory. (That possibility should be taken into account. (Though maybe someone else is using the doll magic. The sage took it away from you, so giving it to a third party CIt is definitely a real possibility.) Kajero mused. A terrifying possibility. I muttered. The story just gets more and more horrifying The dolls escaped? It is hard for me to deal with that. Those children that called me princess or young lady are now looking at someone else? Imagining that feels Lonely. Painful even. Its like someone took my precious toy as if it was their own. Or more like As if I was robbed of my best friends and family. Even if we were separated for years, the dolls in the Wisp territory are definitely my important children. Had I returned here earlier Would I have been able to stop them from being robbed? While I thought about that, I put my hand on my temples and sighed. (Young lady, do you have a headache?) Kajero asked me. Ah, yeah, but its fine Though I wonder why Im having so many headaches. I replied. (Since this case with Solute started, the number of headaches has definitely increased. Why dont you take a day off for today?) Kajero suggested. But I need to find out what is making the dolls disappear. I told him. (Leave that to me.) He stated. I also need to resupply the magic of the exhausted dolls though I said. (Please take care of yourself first. (I know I was the one that made the report that made you uneasy, young lady, but please) Kajero asked me. He was being unprecedentedly stubborn. Refusing to make any concession whatsoever. His usual obedience was nowhere to be seen, but CKajero is not just a doll. He doesnt simply move according to my will. He has his own feelings and cares for me. Those feelings have been painfully transmitted, so I am pretty tired from the travel, so I guess Ill sleep early today. I decided to accept his suggestion, However, Tourus said hell do something outside, so I think I should at least see it first. (Lord Tourus will?) Kajero asked. Yes, I dont know the details, butC As I said that, I stared out the window. The rain was falling continuously. The sky was enclosed by black clouds, with lightning falling often. And after a small wait CA roaring explosion. The earth shook the fortress violently. The wind blew strongly, and raindrops fell into the conference room. Kya!? I couldnt help explaining as I held my ears with my hands Did lightning fall nearby? No, that cant be it. Lightning doesnt cause an earthquake nor gusts of wind. While wondering what had happened, I looked out again andC A lie Just What is this? I doubted my eyes. The sight in front of me was unbelievable. A big hole appeared in Mount Delil. Right in front of the fortress Was it made with gunpowder or flame magic? Black smoke is rising from its edges Could it be a tunnel, perhaps? Did the government forces dig a tunnel through the Delil mountains during this past week? More important than that though CWhat jumped out of that hole were not imperial soldiers. Dolls. They were dolls. The ninja dolls that couldnt be contacted and Not just them. Knights, maids, demons, angels, bears, turtles, snails, fire trucks, tanks, giant monstersC A very miscellaneous arrangement of dolls. They moved out of that tunnel Some familiar children were mixed in there. They must be the missing dolls that Kajero told me about. But them aside, over 90% of the dolls were unfamiliar to me But I can sense spirits in all of them. I should be the only one with doll magic. All dolls that move with doll magic were definitely made by me. But right now Dolls that I didnt know were moving as if they were alive. CH 53 Chapter 53 C What was robbed This wasnt like the puppet magic I saw in Malgaroid The tunnel was blown! A doll exclaimed. Be quiet, everyone! White Bear wants to say something interesting! A bear doll said. Eh? What is it, what is it? A doll asked. Ill have to take notes. Another doll stated. Its not a tunnel-related pun, is it? A third doll asked. White Bears gag will make the place white. A fourth doll commented. Zippers! Use the zippers in your mouths! Youre dolls and have zippers, so use them to let the other child say the interesting thing! A fifth doll said. The dolls that appeared from the tunnel behaved as if they were alive. Their carefree attitude is definitely that of spirits, and also, I do feel spirits inside them. Basically Doll magic was used in those dolls. Not a fake, but the real doll magic. The unusual talent that can put spirits on dolls But this should be impossible. The Earl told me that unusual talents directly reflect what goes on deep inside ones mind. Each persons ability is completely unique Nobody else should be able to use doll magic Nobody should. CH 54 Chapter 54 C The Queens Weaving The flame magic of the dolls hasnt reached me yet Because Kajero protected me. He moved forward without any regard for his own safety, and was now CEngulfed in flames. His black hat was already turned to ashes, and yet, (Young lady, please run away) instead of caring for himself, he said this. His voice was pained. It was my fault that hes being cornered Because I moved too carelessly. Because I went out of the fortress without thinking. Brother Tourus said I should just look at it from the conference room I shouldnt have done anything. I was trapped by my own self-consciousness, afraid of losing my own identity. I was driven by unfounded self-confidence, telling myself that I can handle this much And as a result, Kajero was on the verge of disappearing. The price of my foolishness, is that I may forever bear the burden of being the one that made Kajero disappear. I refuse. Im aware that Im being selfish. Like a child desperately saying dada over and over again. ButC I refuse. I dont want to see this. And then At the moment those thoughts completely filled my head A pain bigger than any I ever felt before assaulted me. ! I couldnt speak. A beastlike scream was escaping my mouth instead. The pain was as if my whole brain had exploded. Or if tens of thousands needles were thrust inside my eyes, nose and mouth. My visibility sparked. My cranial nerves were burnt. In a pure white flash, things up to today passed through my head like a fast-forwarding film. Els appearing much earlier than in the original, together with the first contact with the Earl. Studying abroad in Malgaroid. The encounters with Phillka and Feria. A confrontation with an assassin and then with the Sage. The loss of the doll magic. Dads disappearance and the return to the Wisp territory. There were many things Too many. Ive been persevering for a long time I have been pretending to be strong-willed, but Im at my limit. I dont have the strength to fight back against this much aggression. Where did I make a mistake? Back when I regained the memories of my past life, I was more hopeful. I had the advantage of knowing the original. I tried to avoid falling to ruin by making use of it. But as a result of trying to change the future Major incidents that were not in the original happened one after another, and my peace was taken away. Even if I had the tremendous power of doll magic Or rather, because of it, many troublesome things were attracted to me. It wasnt supposed to be like this. It wasnt supposed To be like this at all. CThen, you should just rewrite it. Suddenly, I heard a voice. CIsnt this just a doll show? If you dont like it, why not rewrite the storyline? * CYou can do that. Its allowed. CBecause originally, it came from outside this world. ** This voice is Its coming from the inside of my heart. It is None other than my own voice. *** Regain consciousness. Open your eyes. Accept what is happening in front of you. Kajero is on fire, he is about to be disappear. CI refuse to accept it. I swung my right arm, tearing off the causal thread of death entwined with Kajero. I understand it now. Everyone, all things in nature Kneel. Prostrate. Beg for forgiveness. Everything will be as I want it. Things will go my way. This is the true doll magic. I rose my left hand. Thousands of magical fires disappeared in an instant. Its easy, I just have to weave the fabric of destiny and refuse to let it go in a way that I dont want to. What!? The doll knight gave a started cry as he fell in front of my feet. CIt is irrelevant, I dont even remember his name anymore. Theres no mercy to be given to those that gnash their teeth to me. You did not exist in my story from the beginning. That is how its supposed to be. I reached for the doll knight with the blue muffler. Ill remove the unnecessary pieces from the board. Get rid of the extra actors on the stage. But before my finger arrived Oh dear, arent you quite the child, Alty? Youre adorable when flailing around, but right now youre stepping into something bad. That was My brothers voice. He was gently patting my head as he said this. CSuddenly I returned to myself. My consciousness became clear, as if the light was turned on in a room that was pitch black. Just What was I doing a small while ago? The thread of cause and effect? The true doll magic? I could no longer understand what I took for granted until a few seconds ago. It was as if I had forgotten it. You might be confused, but Id prefer if you let it end like this. Just like the vague endings of ghost stories. Dont pursue or think about it, Alty. Doll magic is more dangerous than you think. CSo, Ill take over from here onwards. As brother Tourus finished saying that, he stepped forward. Standing in front of me, as if to protect me. *Translators Note: Doll and Puppet use the same word in Japanese. The normal word for this in English would be Puppet Show, but I figured it was important to use the word Doll in this context, due to Altireas magic being Doll Magic. **Translators Note: Japanese is a language that works a lot with implying things. A lot of things should be understood from context instead of being explicitly said In this context, what it is isnt very clear. It can mean that the story is originally from a different world, or that Altirea is the one that came from a different world. CH 55 Chapter 55 C What pulls the curtain, what pulls the strings CI will take over from here onwards. As he said that, brother Tourus stepped forward. Like a commander leading an army of 10 million soldiers. Like a knight who protects the fleeing people. Earlier I told you that I could erase memories, right? That was just an application of what I am about to do. It lacks flashiness, and doesnt feel like a heroic power Or rather, its more a villainous power Id say. As my older brother said that, he rose his right hand high, then stuck his thumb and middle finger together And snapped them. Then, with a terribly cold tone, he started talking. CDolls cannot move and talk on their own. Also, Spirits dwelling on them is only a superstition. Uhn Thats not very convincing. Sure, the modern part of I could easily nod to his statement. Normally dolls wouldnt speak nor move, and there should be no such thing as spirits. But here? In a fantasy world of swords and magic? The common sense of a modern person has no place here. After all, even doll magic was accepted. Dolls with spirits inside them isnt scary, but awesome. Thats the standard of this world. However, brother Tourus continued, as if cheerfully chanting a spell, What is strange is the common sense of this world. What is right is my perception. And therefore CThis is a myth. As he finished saying that, he snapped his fingers once more. Like a performer who finished his speech. And then One by one, the dolls fell down. Knights, maids, demons, angels, bears, turtles, snails, fire trucks, tanks, monstersC They all stopped working. I felt as if the spirits inside them were driven somewhere far away. Alty. Brother Tourus then looked at me. His expression was pained Is it because of his magic? Evacuate Kajero to the fortress. Hell be affected if he stays here And it would be way too sad if he ended up never getting up again, wouldnt it? *** As told, I brought Kajero with me and returned to the fort. The knights of the Wisp family, Fromos included, went out to clean things up Though not to use their swords, since they were not going to stab unmoving dolls. Instead, they brought large bags with them to carry the dolls with them. It was like there were a bunch of Santa Claus on what was a battlefield until just now Took me a while to realize it, but the battle was over, wasnt it? I was too dumbfounded by Tourus speech, so it only now became clear to me. I laid Kajero on a nearby chair, then went out again At some point during this process, the rain had also stopped. Move the dolls to the Wisp house! Give them a proper cleaning, and when everything is done, Ill either get them to work at our home, or give them to the kids in the territory! Brother Tourus gave this kind of order. He was quite different from not only the dull brother that I remembered, but also from the talkative brother that I met on the conference room. This was the next head of the Wisp family. Thats the kind of personality he was showing. Due to that, I hesitated a bit to talk to him, but Eventually, he himself realized I was there, so he came to me, Hey, Alty. Were you surprised? He asked with a gentle smile, Thats my unusual talent. CNegative magic. The power to deny magic No, the power to deny this world itself. It was amazing. Much more than my doll magic. I replied. No, no. I can only deny and destroy. Its as inelegant as a table flip. Altys doll magic is far more wonderful and can achieve dreams. Why did we, brother and sister, have such different powers? He mused. I was going to answer that it was a bit unusual, but I wasnt able to. Because we were interrupted by some applauses The sound came from the large hole that the dolls opened up earlier. Something Someone, is inside it. Alty, behind me. CKnights, line up! As soon as brother Tourus exclaimed that, the knights quickly shouted Yes! and made a defensive formation in front of us. They were clearly ready to fight, but CI command you. Go back to the fort. Orderly. A voice came from within the tunnel. It wasnt loud, but we could clearly hear it. Yes! Understood! And then, the knights marched back to the fort while maintaining their formation. To have knights follow the command of someone who seems to be an enemy as opposed to the command of their master, brother Tourus, was A hard to believe occurrence. However, there was something much more confusing about it. The voice was extremely familiar Ive heard it a lot, in fact. In my previous life, on the original work that talked about this world, Rune Knight Concerto. The clouds were leaving the sky after the heavy rain, and the sun was now appearing, together with a gentle breeze. A woman appeared from the tunnel. Her hair sparkled as if it was made of melted gold, and her eyes had the blue of the deep sea. A neat face and a tall body. The elegance emanated from her whole body was greatly enhanced by a luxurious red dress. I have seen this standing figure before CI have seen it during the game. But isnt she even more mature than what she was like in the game? Although we were of the same gender, she had a sensual appeal that shocked me. Its been a while, and nice to meet you. Lord Tourus and Me. She said that, then elegantly made a curtsy. I know her. She is me. Shes the one I was supposed to become in due time. In the game, it couldnt happen because she committed suicide. What was in front of me and brother Tourus was None other than myself. Altirea Wisp. But as a grown up. CH 56 Chapter 56 C Another Me Its been a while and nice to meet you. Lord Tourus and me. The woman with the red dress said that while giving a curtsy with impeccable polite manners. Her appearance resembled mine, Altirea Wisps. However, she is clearly older than me. A bystander could easily mistake us as sisters. But the only children of the Wisp family are me and Tourus. There are no secret children, and if there was one, the dolls would have surely found out about them already. Who are you? In the midst of the confusion within my head, I spouted those words out, Are you something made by the Sage? Seems like you didnt listen. She shrugged as she said that. Even this simple gesture took my breath away, and I could only stare at her She had a certain regal aura to her that made it hard for me to take my eyes off. Or was it perhaps my way of saying it? Im sorry, %$!%$#&@%. She said. The last word in her sentence was not in the language of the empire Or rather, it was not of this world. For a moment, my brain couldnt quite process it, but CI understood it. It was not by logic, but by intuition. This was my name back in Japan Back before I had reincarnated. Why do you know that? I couldnt help asking her. My own name I didnt tell anyone about it, not even the dolls. Did the Sage teach you that? I asked her. I dont hate the idea of pushing everything against that guy, but The woman giggled a bit, then gave off a mysterious smile, Im afraid this is my original knowledge. You just cant forget your own name, right? I dont get it. I told her. Gradually, my confusion was becoming frustration. Who is this woman? There cant be two of the same person. She has to be a fake CI then remembered the visions that the Sage showed me. The original Altirea. The Sage taught her how to create artificial life. In that case, the Sage himself should be able to do it. Maybe he made a copy that looks exactly like me. Then, when I trampled him while we were in the spiritual world It must have been at that time. The Sage must have looked into my memory and poured it into an artificial life. Yes. This has to be it. Shall I guess whats on your head? The artificial life spoke, with a voice that sounded just like my own, That woman isnt human. She must be an artificial life or something Did I get it right? Yes. And Im correct, arent I? I asked back. Youre truly stubborn The woman sighed, Its a bit embarrassing to think that I used to be like this too You clashed with Asklasua too, right? In Malgaroid or Lucemia, or something, right? In a country with a name like that. The woman asked. I do know of Malgaroid, since I was there up until ten days ago. But Lucemia? I never heard of that one. There should be no country with that name in the territory of the human race As I didnt answer her question, the woman continued, From your expression, I guess you did. In that case, you must have went through that horrible experience in your dreams. The ends of the multiple Altirea Wisp. Of lives that you and I werent involved in. They met ruin just like they did in the original, didnt they? Shes not wrong. So many things happened since, that it feels like it happened years ago, but It was actually just a month ago. The Sage entered my heart and threw me into an endless nightmare. The despair and downfall of Altirea Wisp. I experienced it hundreds of thousands of times. Those were not hallucinations. The Sage said that those lives happened in worlds similar to this one, right? Something akin to parallel worlds. In that case, it shouldnt be that strange that there is another world where %$!%$#&@% reincarnated, right? The woman asked me. When she puts it like that, its hard to make a counterargument. Its hard to judge if she is making this up, or if its the truth What exactly she is, is currently a mystery, but I cannot say that what she is stating is an impossibility. Then, let me ask you something. I said. Before I knew it, the palms of my hands were sweating Somehow, this woman was pressuring me, spinning my words against me. How did you come to this world? I never heard of such magic. I asked. Eh? Thats strange. Didnt you hear it from a doll or something? The woman tilted her neck, Like in the old myth? People opened the door to another world in order to fight back against the tyranny of the gods. I certainly know about that. Weisster told me about it. Asklasua was the one that appeared through that portal. He killed the gods and took their seat for himself, doing whatever he wanted in the years that followed it. The corrupt aristocrats of the empires capital did the same. That woman said. They opened the door to another world? For what? I asked. For what else? To counter you. They asked for the power of another world in order to deal with Altirea Wisp, who had the terrifying spirit dolls and could, at any moment, attack and destroy the empires capital. And thats how I came here. Old men are quite troublesome, arent they? The woman replied. Doll magic against doll magic A strategy of using fire to fight against fire I suppose it would make sense that they didnt send their own troops to directly attack the Wisp territory in that case. However, one question still remains, Tell me then. If youre me from another world, then why are you following the corrupt aristocracy? If youre bound by magic or something, then I might be able to do something about it. I asked her. The different doll magic that I used when Kajero was about to be turned to ashes. To interfere with the threads of fate If I used that, I might be able to free her. However Oh wow, wasnt I a total gooody-two-shoes back in the day? For some reason, that woman sighed, You think I cant do the things you can? Dont you think that the spiritual shackles have long been erased, and instead the aristocracy are the ones who are my puppets? In that case, why did you attack? I asked. CWould you get angry if I said it was to harass you? She replied. I wouldnt get angry, for it makes no sense. Theres no reason for a me of another world to resent me. I told her. Its not resentment Oh, it looks like its gonna rain again. The different world me suddenly looked up to the skies. Although the rain stopped just a small while back, the clouds were started to gather once more. Well, I guess thats enough for our talking while we stand, isnt it? The woman said. I wonder if shell then say that well have to continue our conversation later, at the empires capital Its the kind of line that would certainly fit the current situation. But instead, the me of another world very naturally slipped right to my side, Can we continue it inside the fortress instead? I want tea and sweets. then said this. She spoke as if the two of were super close and had a great relationship with one another. Authors Note: This Altirea went through various experiences and ended up with a good personality. CH 57 Chapter 57 C Altirea vs Altirea C part one Translators Note: This is not a chapter split into two. c58 is just Altirea vs Altirea C part two. Its just how the author named the chapters. This isnt very good The other Altirea commented. Her behavior suited the standard arrogant young lady template. She only took a single sip of the tea and one bite of the sweets. Seriously, this isnt good hospitality. Its almost like being poisoned actually. This fort is also dirty and there is too much dust everywhere. Dont you have a vacuum cleaner or an air purifier? If I was in your place, Id totally get the dolls to make electrical appliances. She told me. I have no intention of doing that. I replied. Or rather, I wouldnt want to impose modern culture on the people of this world. They already have their own way of life. Ah, I see Altirea nodded with a tone that seemed to be looking down on me, I forgot I had such backwards thinking at this time. What was it like again? Tiny interventions like cooking and designing new clothes is fine, but I dont want to make big changes on the structure of the world It was something like that. Well, you do understand it. I replied. She was able to properly describe my thoughts But I dont think it was with magic. If were truly the same person, then its a given that she could understand me. You shouldnt hesitate to change things. Youll soon understand it, but nobody can think properly here. Kings, aristocrats, military, commoners CAll of humanity just has an extremely limited point of view, and theyre just unable to look at anything that is not directly in front of their eyes. She muttered. Her tone made it seem like saying this hurt her. The Doll Princess has a great power, so lets threaten her life? Lets kill her? Eliminate her? Arent they so stupid? Why did they turn us into their enemies if they cant beat me You remember it, dont you? She asked me. Yes, to some extent. I replied. There are few nobles who were friendly to the Doll Princess, but most were afraid of it CAlways wanting to crush me if possible. It was one of the reasons why I decided to study at Malgaroid, after all Though it was also because I wanted to avoid the original work. And well, its most likely why dad was falsely accused as well. If you get serious, you can destroy anything you want in the empire. Or actually, you can even take over the world I know it, because I did it. Altirea told me. I think that would be a hassle. Handling the position and the responsibility. I replied. You really know nothing, do you? Altireas words seemed to be coming from the bottom of her heart, At first I just wanted to make dolls in peace, but the old men of the empire refused to leave me alone and even sent an assassin after me. And then, while I studied abroad, my father was imprisoned and executed for treason I just couldnt go on like that. Up to this point, it was very similar to what I went through. But then, she started talking about the future, Asklasua was pulling the strings from behind the scenes, but still, those who are deceived are still at fault if you think about it. When a conspiracy happens, no aristocrat will be by your side. The knights of our house will betray you, the people will run away from you Idiots, idiots, idiots. I could destroy all of them. I could get rid of the entire empire, but they still wagged their tail over there? I just dont understand it Isnt your attitude the cause? I asked. If I was one the aristocrats that had to choose a side, Id definitely prefer to become an enemy of this Altirea. Not due to it being the most profitable option or anything, but purely because of pride. However, Altireas view on it seems to be different, If youre one to change your judgement just because of the other partys attitude, then I can only say youre stupid. Ah Yeah, let me tell you something good. Els, the Earl, Phiilka, Feria All of them will turn to the enemys side soon. I think it was after the empires capital was conquered. Asklasua will bring Ruthe, then everything will go just like in the original Theyll all be deceived by that dirty artificial life and leave you. Regardless of you going or not going to the magic academy, the world will still define Altirea Wisp in the same way. No. I dont think thats already set in stone. I dont think everyone will leave me as if it was the natural choice for them. What caused the future that she saw was none other than her own behavior. CAnd then, she looked away from reality and blamed it on the original and on the world. But dont worry, there are ways to silence the aristocracy and defeat Asklasua. I just have a condition. If you cooperate, Ill give you the leisure life with dolls that you so desire. That Altirea told me. Condition? I asked. Dont worry, its simple. Els; his father, lord Rozerem; the wandering Earl; Phillka; Feria CHand over all those people that youre close to. You have doll magic anyways, so its easy to find replacements, isnt it? With the Queens weaving, you can easily maximize the likeness with anyone you want by manipulating cause and effect. What do you think, its a pretty good deal, isnt it? That Altirea smiled. She doesnt seem to think that she is in the wrong She genuinely seems to be convinced that she is doing the right think. I said nothing. I just looked at her If this is my future self, then it is horribly distorted. What is your reply? You arent actually going to refuse, are you? She asked. She seems to be quite dissatisfied. Perhaps she thought Id immediately nod to it, because her reaction to my silence is quite childish. We are the same person, so our thought circuits should be similar, alright? You should have the same level of intelligence as me. She said. I stayed silent. I had a lot to say, but I chose to remain silent. Altirea then sighed in frustration, and started tapping her middle finger on the desk, as if to urge me to respond. It was not a very mature gesture. This isnt the first time Ive come to another timeline, you know? Its the 13th actually. But for some reason, Ive been refused in the last 12 attempts. She glared at me, as if she was threatening me, Dont get me wrong. Im taking the trouble of reaching out my hand for you because I want to help. Were the same person, so it would be nice if you showed some gratitude at least. I actually could snatch them all myself if I wanted to, you know? This is This is my ultimatum, okay? She told me. But my reply has been decided since the beginning. I havent fallen so far, and I dont want to fall. Even if there is no hope of winning, I am sure that bowing to her right now would make me feel miserable for the rest of my lifeC Please wash your face then come back, future me. Your current appearance is unsightly. I told her. The tea that she barely drank had already cooled down. I grabbed that teacup and threw its tea at her face. CH 58 Chapter 58 C Altirea vs Altirea C part two That Altirea took a deep breath, narrowed her eyes, then spoke, Youre the same as the other children in the different timelines. We were all %$!%$#&@% in our past lives, so why are you all so crazy? Why am I the only one who thinks straight? She sarcastically muttered my name from my time in Japan. Id like to ask you the reverse. I looked straight into her eyes and said, What if you were in my position? Would you be able to accept such high-pressure proposal? Thats irrelevant. The tone of that Altirea was as arrogant as what youd expect from a villainous noble from an anime, If you think about the gains and losses calmly, then following me is the best choice. Seems like you cant imagine yourself accepting it then. I continued to fan the flames, You too have a previous life as %$!%$#&@%, so why is your way of thinking so degenerate? That Altirea gritted her teeth. Tea spilled from her bangs and fell onto the desk. You lack tact and are far too conceited! That Altirea exclaimed. Someone as haughty as you has no right to say I lack tact. Its far too late to take this kind of stance. I replied. And thats not the only thing she is far too late to, for I have already solidified my hostility. In fact, I was secretly exchanging telepathic messages right now in order to prepare a surprise attack. I just need to push her a bit more. To keep the attention of that Altirea on me. Therefore, Essentially, you just want someone to take care of you, but because I didnt react as you expected, and didnt give away my precious people, you decided that youll take away my will with your doll magic? Youre the worst kind of needy girl. The kind that would just cry daddy over and over again to get your parents attention. As I told her that in a disdainful tone CSlap. I slapped her cheek with the palm of my hand. *** You damn brat! Fine! Ill get rid of it since you want it so much! Become a mindless slave doll, Doll Magic: Queens Garden! Altirea glared at me as she said those words, showing her anger without holding it back. I was completely unfamiliar with the last phrase, but I somehow understood its meaning. It was a type of doll magic. The same power I used on king Lereol the other day. If she was able to fully activate it, Id surely become unable to neither think nor feel anything. However Now hold on just a second. Isnt it strange that there are two of the same person? After all, if you think about it normally, isnt it natural to conclude that youre just a fake calling yourself Altirea? Tourus said. While me and Altirea talked, Tourus had been preparing his negation magic on the corner of the room, making full use of his weak presence. His power to forcibly overwrite the truth For as long as it is active, this Altirea isnt the future me, but a fake instead. The real thing is the little Altirea, because CYou cannot use any form of doll magic. As Tourus said that, this magical power of Altirea was scattered. He was able to stop the activation of her doll magic. And then (I wont let you harm the young lady.) Kajero, who was waiting behind the door of the conference room jumped into the fray. And he was not the only one, I wont forgive you for threatening Alty! Feria headed towards Altirea with a bullet-like speed. She pulled out her sword with a flash, while Kajero condensed the shadows and shot a jet-black arrow. An explosion. Smoke filled the conference room. And when visibility cleared out Impossible I was Hurt? Altirea muttered. It was far from a fatal injury, but she was definitely wounded. A lie, a lie This has to be a lie. Yeah, Im just gonna go back home and sleep. After I wake up, Im sure everything will be alright. As she said that, a magic circle appeared below her feet. Are you going to run away? I wont let you. Brother Tourus said. However, Kajero was much faster. Before her magic was completed, a dark arrow flew towards the head of Altirea. At about the same time, the magic circle emitted a dazzling bright lightC And then She laid down on the floor. Like a doll with a broken thread. Her eyelids had fallen, and she was no longer breathing She will not move again. Is it over? It was too fast, so I was unsure if that was truly it. I truly didnt expect brother Tourus negation magic to be this strong. I think it was inevitable that Id be able to do this. Tourus muttered, as if he read my mind, To stop my little sister, Id develop the ultimate form of negation magic somehow. Then, Id find a way to use the secret technique to convey my powers to a different self of a different timeline of a different world. CWouldnt that feel just like what your older brother would do? Well, its fundamentally just a theory though. Actually, Id say its a solid theory that explains how things worked out this well. Or maybe my thoughts are just messed up after all this For now, I think we should be happy that were safe. Lets take a small break to recover, then leave for the empires capital once weve finished all our preparations. We have to help everyone who were robbed of their will by the fake Alty. But for now Please excuse me. I need some time alone. As brother said that, he left the conference room. He seemed to be mourning her CSurely, he must be praying for her happiness, and also praying for a peaceful rest for her. As an older brother, that fits him just right. And on the next day, we left for the empires capital. CH 59 Chapter 59 C A name I didnt expect to hear From here to capital Medea, wed normally have to spend a lot of time crossing the mountains, but Fortunately, there was a tunnel available this time around. One that was dug by Altireas dolls. We passed through it and moved south. Our group consisted of Tourus, the knights of the Wisp family, Kajero, Weisster, Phillka, Feria, Fromos, the doll knights and myself. It was a big group, but as the tunnel was quite wide, our carriages could move side by side. The trip was being mostly uneventful, and I was quite tired from everything that happened yesterday, so before I realized it, I fell asleep on my seat. By the time I woke up, we were already outside the tunnel. The sky had an orange tinge to it, as the sun was setting behind the mountains. We had departed at dawn, but capital Medea was already near us Due to this huge shortcut, we ended up making this long trip in just half a day. And also, Its quiet I muttered. Things seemed to be off. The empires army should have tried to intercept us, but no attack came. We were able to smoothly reach the walls of the capital. But once we saw the soldiers protecting the gate, we understood what was happening They were all silent. They did not move, they just looked up to the sky, with empty eyes. The words mindless slave doll suit them well I suppose they must be victims of that Altirea? Things were similar within the city. The people all looked lifeless, and they wandered around like zombies. This is too creepy Fromos muttered. He was shivering at this sight. However, even in this state, he was still walking ahead of the group, watching the surroundingsC Eh!? I exclaimed, as the carriage suddenly stopped. Whoa!? Phillka, who was sitting to my diagonally left to me, was thrown forward by the sudden stop. Ah, you okay? Brother Tourus, who was sitting next to me, asked Phillka as he caught him. Yes And sorry. Phillka muttered. (Ill go outside for a bit. I have a bad feeling about this) Kajero left my lap and went out. Ill go too, Alty. Dont let go of Weisster. Feria too went out to check on things. (Princess, please be ready to escape as needed.) Weisster told me as I held his handle, (At first I was just weirded out, but now I feel like were already in a battlefield.) I want this to stop. Ive been going through some pretty rough situations recently, but Im not a fighter Im just a 10 years old duke daughter, okay? Once everything is cleared up I wanna return to a peaceful life soon. Ive been so busy since I regained the memories of my previous life, but Id rather be doing things that fit my age CAnd yet, when I looked outside the window, it was snowing. Eh? I was puzzled Were in the middle of autumn. Its far too early for the capital to be dyed white. (Oh, come on!) Weisster exclaimed. Whats wrong, Weisster!? I asked. (Its a sign! A sign!) Weisster replied. Whose!? I couldnt help asking. (Its snow! It can only be from that stupid ChristopheC) Weisster told me. Alty! Before I could even process what I just hear, I heard my brother shout. Then, I was lifted up, and flew through the air, being carried by Tourus. We landed after a brief period that felt like we were floating. Sorry for being so sudden. He told me. Its okay, what happened? I asked. WellC As he started replyingC A loud sound echoed. What the? I couldnt help muttering. For the carriage we were riding until just a second ago was crushed by a huge icicle. (Princess, get ready. Ill be your lifeline.) As Weisster said that, he pulled himself out of the scabbard. I was now holding him with completely unprepared hands. And the snowstorm gained momentum. Our surroundings became light grey and It was cold. And from afar A thin, tall figure, slowly approached us. His steps flowed gracefully. Like a moving piece of art. His pale skin made him look almost unhealthy, but there isnt any word to describe him other than a beauty. Earl. I muttered. Christophe du Vergennes The Wandering Earl. His expression was nothing like the usual soft smile he had when talking to me. His eyes were also hollow, giving off the impression of a parent that was sleepwalking. The future me also left behind a crazy souvenir I muttered. The Earl had infiltrated the capital before us, so He probably encountered the other Altirea here and became her slave doll. Found you The Earl muttered with a voice who lacked any emotion or intonation, Altirea, for Ruthes sake, you shall leave this stage. I doubted my ears as I heard those words. Ruthe? Ruthe Claves? The heroine of Rune Knight Concerto? The artificial life created by Altirea? In this world, I am Altirea CAnd I did not create Ruthe. Therefore, she does not exist, and the Earl should not know her name. Then why? CH 60 Chapter 60 C Finale C Awakening from the predicament, and thenC Why did the Earl say Ruthes name here? I was confused, but did not have time to think of it right now. Hindrance. For as soon as the Earl said that, a strong blizzard covered the entire area. And its not just cold. It is also filling the area with magical power This is bad. Cover in ice, everything, everything, shall sleep for eternityC! The Earl exclaimed. I remember it. The Earl used to encase people in ice, and store them in his collection This power was now being used against us without any reservation. Gu Ah It instantly froze up all knights of my house, including Fromos and the dolls. Probably because they had a low magic resistance. I wanted to help them, but everything below my knees was already frozen too And the ice was slowly climbing up my legs as well. (Even I cant prevent it And ice is my specialty!) Weisster groaned, (Damn it! Whats going on!? The Earl shouldnt have such an incredible power Uh Guh) And then, Weisster too was completely frozen. He stopped talking after this And ice stretched into my hands from my grip on his sword-self. It took me too long to realize it, and by the time I tried to let go, it was already too late, as my wrists too were covered in ice. And I wasnt the only one in a pinch. Both Phillka and Feria were completely frozen already. Tourus and Kajero were somewhat safe at least, so they tried rushing to help me. Tourus was kept safe by his negation magic, and Kajero was a really high-rank spirit, so he somehow managed to keep the ice at bay Weisster probably would have been able to do this too if he wasnt trying to protect me from it. And even then, there was some ice already clinging to the edges of Tourus and Kajeros bodies, making their movement sluggish. Alty, Im coming to help! Brother Tourus exclaimed, ignoring his own predicament. (Young lady, Im almost there!) Kajero too, rushed my way. However, a silhouette appeared in front of them, blocking their path. That slender man was silently wielding a sword in his hands. Neither Tourus nor Kajero could get past him, and not just because of the ice. After all No Way I muttered to myself. It was hard to breathe when facing him. Because I knew that man very well. The same golden hair as me. The same deep blue eyes that I have. His toned body was so mesmerizing, that even I, his daughter, could be entranced by him. Yes Solute Wisp. My father. My father, who had always been by my side, has now, somehow, turned into an enemy. Perhaps because he was manipulated by the future Altirea, or perhaps by Asklasua. At this point, my heart calmed down. Too many unexpected events occurred at once Right now, my emotions just reached the saturation point. We are in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position. Neither brother Tourus nor Kajero can help me because father is blocking their path Moreover, they too are slowly being frozen. And everything below my neck is already covered in ice. There is just no way to turn the tide at this pointC CThats not true. True doll magic. While doll magic at is basis just allows me to create moving dolls, there are actually many more things I can do. Lets look back at what I did in the past. I put spirits within the dolls. Thats how Kajero, Walf and Cactus were born. I could also interfere with the mind of others and literally turn them into dolls. Its what I did back in Malgaroid. When I manipulated king Lereol to prepare a fast ship for me. But thats not all. If I put my all into it, I can essentially do anything I want. Like when Kajero was about to disappear I extinguished the flame magic near him, and decided that he would not die. That was a power akin to a gods. If this world is a doll show, then the true doll magic would be the power to change the script. Brother Tourus didnt want me to use this power Perhaps there are unexpected side effects to it. Well, thats only natural. Im only a human being, yet Im trying to do something on the realm of the divine. However, at present we are in a difficult situation, where our lives are at risk. I cannot hold back if I want us to survive. I took a deep breath. Last time I used the true doll magic, I heard a voice from within my heart. I imitated and hummed those words again. CIsnt this just a doll show? CIf you dont like it, why not rewrite the storyline? CI can do that. Its allowed. And then My consciousness flew far away. I felt like my very soul came out of my body. By the time I realized it, I was looking at the entire world from a faraway place. Somewhere higher than the sky, higher than the whole universe even. It was a pure white space in a separate dimension. When I looked down, I could see the empires capital wrapped in a blizzard. Squinting my eyes further, I could see Tourus, Kajero and myself being encased in ice. I waved my right hand. At the next moment, many changes occurred at once. The ice that covered me and everyone else broke, melted, and disappeared. The blizzard covering the capital was also stopped. The Earl and father were still being manipulated by future me though, so I disabled her control and returned them to sanity. It was a really aggressive solution, but there was no other way. And I understood it now. If I wanted to, I could make even more drastic changes to the whole world. I could easily erase everything up to today and start over from whenever Id like. I could change the situation and the setting however I saw fit. I could make it so that I regained my past life memories when I was 9 instead of when I was 7 for one. Or maybe study abroad at a different country instead of in Malgaroid. I could also confront Asklasua in a different location and restart from there But I dont want to do any of that. I used the true doll magic because there was no other solution for the predicament I was facing. I dont want the days Ive been living through to be completely changed. I dont want them to stop mattering to me. It would be Too hypocritical to do so. *** While I was wondering how to get back to the ground, I heard a male voice, CLooks like you finally mastered doll magic. That light-blue hair, paired together with deep blue eyes that are somewhat unfocused Sage Asklasua. Once he came to this white space, I immediately understood his true identity. Asklasua is the same as me. Weiss told me before, that Asklasua came from another world and killed all gods with a single movement. He may be from a different world that is not modern Japan, but that is not important. What matters, is that he too uses doll magic. In a way, Asklasua can be said to be my predecessor. He erased all the gods with the true doll magic, then became the ruler of this world himself. And then, a long time passedC Until I was called to be his successor. Asklasua, just what was your goal? I asked him. Even if I understood his circumstances and background, I still couldnt understand why he acted the way he did. Why did he cause so much trouble? Even I forgot it at this point. The shell may look young, but the insides are quite old. Its been over 8000 years since the gods were destroyed. But then, after a while, a successor appeared. Always with doll magic And then, time was rewound. Time and time again. I might have gone through billions or even trillions of years. He told me. Thats quite a lot of time Even then, I cant help being amazed by the fact that even gods can become senile. I replied. You sure dont hold back with your words, do you? Asklasua looked down for a bit, but then he smiled, But you too will be like that one day. In a distant future, youll be faced with old age, and with the fact that a new successor will come. Be prepared. Thank you for your worries, but its hard to imagine that when its so far away. I told him honestly. Well After all this, I guess everything will be over in an instant If I could, I wish I could have played a bit more in this world. Asklasua muttered. I see. I said. Those words finally made me understand it. He wanted to play a bit more in this world That was Asklasuas purpose all along. In order to extend his time as a god, he tried to deny my awakening as his successor. Now that I became the same kind of being as Asklasua a god-like being I can understand him. Even after I reincarnated in this world, Asklasua kept on rewinding time. Over and over again. During this process, an error was probably born, which is the future Altirea that I faced the other day. She couldnt become a god, so perhaps Asklasua thought that the situation might change if he put her against me But his plan failed. Well, I guess Ill be taking over now. Its time to leave the stage, Asklasua. I told him. Asklasua is weaker than he was at his prime. He can no longer rewind time, not even for a single second. Even I, who just became a god, can compete with him as more than an equal. Furthermore, Asklasuas power is weakened with each passing second, and conversely, my power is also strengthening. The outcome of the fight was clear. If you have anything to confess, now would be the right time for it. Is there anything you want to say? I asked him. Confess? No, I dont need any repentance. I simply lived in the way I wanted to, whats wrong with that? If you have any complaints, then tell them to this world that summoned me. He replied. This was our last conversation. Me and Asklasua Our two forces collided, and eventually, one was swallowed up and disappeared. Authors Note: What comes next is an afterword. Please read it if youd like, and thank you for the 4 years and 5 months of support since the publication started. Afterword: Thank you all for the support. Im Touno Kokonoe, and this is the end of Dolls. I received a lot of comments during the publication, and Id like to address some of them. So, Dolls was the first full-length novel I wrote in my life. It was a very different experience from writing short-stories, and I had to learn a lot on how to properly structure a plot, developments and etc. Then, Arian Rose suddenly gave me the offer of a Light Novel publication in early 2014. At that point I had to, in a hurry, start studying long novels to have a better basis to work with for the Light Novel (and I also had to secretly re-do my studies of Japanese, because my Japanese skills were in tatters). And as long readers know, Dolls has been rewritten twice. After the battle against the sage (chapter 37), I posted about 20 more chapters, but then I deleted them while thinking this is no good at all! Then, I wrote yet another 20 or so new chapters, and After all that, I decided Ill try again! So I deleted them once more. The third attempt is what led to the proper conclusion of the novel. Im sorry for still being inexperienced. Next, Id like to address something related to the final chapter of Dolls. For those of you that read the waking up and the another world paths, you might be wondering how I arrived at a God End But the truth is that I actually planned for the God End from the start. I just didnt know how to get there. But after going through the waking up and the another world paths, I was finally able to find a way to bring life to the God End (even if a bit forcibly). This finally allowed me to give a proper ending to Dolls. However, there are still some issues with this, because there were aspects of the waking up and another world paths that I wanted to pack into the story, but there was simply not enough space for it (Too much reflection would take away the magnificence of any moonlight). Finally, Id like to introduce some spoilers (or well, ideas that I wasnt able to properly develop): The web version Altirea became a god, then rewound time and restarted the world which led to the Light Novel version Not. Please think of those two as parallel worlds that are similar, but still fundamentally different. There is no doomsday dragon in the web version, for example. As for Rune Knight Concerto, it was actually not an Otome Game that ended up having its original story creating a new world. In the world of Dolls, the search for a new god begins when the time for the change of gods approaches. Specifically, it is a system that generates a story that describes the events of the world of Dolls, spreads it through multiple worlds, then summons the people that react the most strongly to it. Essentially, one could say that the world of Dolls was the original all along, and the Otome Game was based on it. Thats mostly it. There are other background settings that I couldnt put on the story, but I think I might make use of them in future works, so I wont share them here. I also wanted to say that the first post of Dolls was on 1:46am of 2013/11/25, and that I started writing the first episode around 8pm of the 24th, the previous day. I actually started writing this story by picking it up from a dream I had while dozing off at work. From that day to now, its been 4 years and 5 months since I started writing my first full-length novel. Although the pace was slow, I was able to slowly add more to it, one step at a time. Id truly appreciate it if you could continue supporting me in the future. Well then, please excuse me, for this is the end. Translators Note: And thats the end of it all, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the ride! This Authors Note wasnt a part of the chapter itself, for the record. It was posted separately on a blog post within syosetu. Ill link to it here in case anyone wants to check the original, since its a bit hard to find manually (it took me a while to find it myself, as the author only mentioned that there was an afterword on the blog part of syosetu at the end of this chapter): https://mypage.syosetu.com/mypageblog/view/userid/365820/blogkey/2021596/ And well, as the author said in the note, the last part was written and rewritten a few times, so thats why there are some plotholes, inconsistencies, and loose ends that werent properly tied up. To give a bit of context, Arc 3 ended in 2014. The final version of Arc 4 was written in 2016 And the final chapter of Arc 4 was written in 2018. It took 2 years for the author to write a version of Arc 4 that they were okay with, and another 2 years just for the last chapter Also, I should note that the author probably made a mistake when referring to the writing and rewriting of chapters. Because like, chapter 38 came out four days after chapter 37 I doubt that they actually re-did 20 chapters twice in the spam of four days, so The author most likely was referring to the chapters from c45 onwards, not from c38 onwards. On another note, the LN of Dolls didnt get a single new volume since 2016. NU still lists it as ongoing, so I guess its in semi-permanent hiatus? I dunno, I didnt read the LN, but I know it differs quite a bit from the WN. I dont have much more to say. This was one of my favorite novels, so I was kinda disappointed when I saw that this was the ending. I really loved everything up until the end of the third arc, but the entirely of the fourth arc felt like it was a mess to me But after reading this afterword, I think I kinda get why it ended up this way. On a side note, I have no idea what the authors notes on c51 and c56 mean. Both of them seem to directly contradict the true nature of Tourus power and the personality of the future Altirea The second one of those in particular bugged me so much, that I asked 3 different translators for their take on the sentence, and they all arrived to a translation very similar to my own, so Take it for what it is. I think thats all from me. Once again, I hope you all enjoyed the ride! I certainly loved translating this novel, even if I wasnt that happy with the ending, so Id be really glad if you enjoyed reading it too.