Ch. 2 Uninvited Guests
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 2 – Uninvited Guests
“Phew.”
After finishing my bath and laundry, I sat at the dining table feeling much lighter.
If someone saw me now, they might find it awkward, but there was nothing I could do. I had washed all the clothes I owned.
It’s not like anyone would come to my house anyway, so it shouldn’t matter if I’m just in my underwear. I even locked the door.
“Now, let’s see how badly it’s damaged…”
With a towel draped around my neck to dry my hair, I opened my inventory and took out the broken remains of Doll 505.
Thud—The sound of wooden pieces falling onto the table made my heart ache, but it was too early to grieve.
“Please, let the core be intact…”
I muttered desperately as I opened Doll 505’s torso.
Inside the torso, which was thicker than the length of a finger, was a core the size of a thumbnail. This core was the most expensive item I owned.
While I could roughly make the doll’s body, creating a core was far beyond my current abilities. It was only available as a first-time bonus, allowing me to buy it without needing materials, but normally, I’d have to gather various materials to craft it myself.
But for someone like me, who couldn’t even properly kill a rabbit, that was impossible. So, the core had to be safe. Otherwise, Mari’s Floating Island adventure would come to an end.
“Phew, the core’s intact.”
Fortunately, Mari’s adventure wasn’t over yet. I wiped the cold sweat off my brow and stared at the dark-colored core.
It had stopped working because the mana supply was cut off, but after pulling out a thread with my fingertips and blowing mana into it, the core lit up brilliantly as if nothing had happened.
With that, the first step was complete. I placed the intact core on the table and sifted through the remains of Doll 505.
Thanks to the rabbit cleanly severing its neck, the damage wasn’t too severe. Some parts had fallen off during the crash, but they could be reattached.
I could say the losses were minimal.
“But the durability is still too weak.”
In the game, the wooden doll was the core of an early-stage Doll Master’s hunting. With solid durability and decent, albeit slow, attack power, it could easily take down monsters. But in reality, it was completely different.
If I didn’t move it carefully, the joints would snap, and its attack power was underwhelming. At least the dagger I had embedded helped compensate for the lack of attack power, but the durability was still the main issue.
Of course, I knew the reason. While the materials used to make the doll were important, the Doll Master’s skill was equally crucial.
One of the Doll Master’s unique skills, Mana Thread, allowed the user to strengthen and control dolls using threads made of mana. Right now, I could only control the doll—strengthening it was still beyond my reach.
If I could strengthen it, I wouldn’t have lost so pitifully to a mere rabbit.
“I guess I should be thankful I can at least control it…”
At least I could attempt to hunt. As I muttered to myself, the repairs on Doll 505 were soon completed.
“Doll 505, you’re back.”
After opening the torso and reattaching the core, I connected the Mana Thread, and Doll 505 sprang to life as if it had never been broken.
Although it was still missing its dagger and was one-armed, it moved energetically, clattering across the table. As I watched it fondly, a growling sound came from somewhere.
“Ah.”
It was my stomach. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t eaten yet. Rubbing my stomach, I opened my status window.
[Name: Marionette]
[Unique Skills: Doll Crafting, Mana Thread]
[General Skills: Handicraft Lv. 1]
“Marionette? Why Marionette…?”
Seeing the name on the status window made me hate my past self, who had decided that “Marionette” was the perfect name for a Doll Master.
If I had known the name would carry over, I would’ve chosen something prettier. Grumbling, I pressed the shop button below the status window, and the window disappeared, replaced by a long list of items.
“First, bread and soup… Ah.”
[Insufficient funds. (Current Gold: 500 G)]
Right. I was broke, which was why I had tried to hunt.
I sighed, pressing my hand to my forehead.
“I should’ve just eaten at the church…!”
I had run away because I felt awkward accepting their kindness, but I forgot that I wasn’t in a position to be picky.
If I went to the church now, maybe I could still get a meal. Sister Andreina, with her kind heart, would surely welcome me with a gentle smile.
“But that’s just too pathetic…”
After lying to escape, going back now because I was hungry? Besides, I had no clothes to wear since I had washed everything.
“Wait, I could wear the robe…”
I glanced at the robe hanging on the rack but then grabbed my head again.
Even so, wearing just underwear and a robe outside was a bit…
No, it was very inappropriate…! That’s practically being a barbarian!
Growl.
“Ugh…”
As I fumed internally, my stomach protested again. But with only 500 gold, there was nothing I could do.
Even the cheapest [Plain Bread] cost 1,000 gold. The [Warm Soup] I usually had with it was 1,500 gold.
I was sure I had started with 100,000 gold when I first arrived on the Floating Island. Where did it all go? I didn’t splurge—I only bought what I needed.
“40,000 gold for the core, 5,000 gold for the dagger, and the rest for food and materials for Doll 505… Huh?”
Thinking about it, I realized I hadn’t wasted any money. Muttering to myself, I stood up.
“I just have no income, so I’m broke…!”
No matter how much money you have, if you only spend without earning, it’s natural to run out.
It had been a month since I was summoned to the Floating Island, and I hadn’t successfully hunted even once. Of course, I was broke.
“If only I had killed that rabbit, I’d have at least 1,000 gold…”
Then I could’ve bought bread, or even scraped together the remaining change for a warm soup to warm myself up.
But regret is always too late. With another growl from my stomach, I slumped back onto the table and let out a long sigh.
“Even here, I’m…”
Still useless, holed up in my house.
A wave of depression washed over me, and I quickly sank into despair.
Ah, really. I promised myself I wouldn’t think like this anymore. It must be because I’m hungry. I tried to console myself with silly thoughts, but I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up.
At least crying like this in this form was less pathetic. A grown man sniffling would be more embarrassing than a little girl doing it.
Is this something to be grateful for? Or is it pitiful that I’m even thinking this way? As I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand—
Knock knock.
My body stiffened at the sound of knocking.
‘…Who is it?’
Who would come to this house? No, this house was located on the outskirts of the village, so no one would come unless they had a reason.
So, the person knocking on the door had come here intentionally. But why? Unable to guess their intentions, I held my breath and stayed still. Then, a woman’s voice came through the door.
—“Mari? Are you there? It’s from U.P.”
U.P? What was that again?
Ah, the people who published the strategy guide.
After a moment of thought, I remembered.
The person who wrote the Dungeon Encyclopedia (the official name for what I called the strategy guide) went by U.P. But why would U.P. come looking for me? I couldn’t figure it out.
Besides, I was in my underwear and not ready to receive guests.
For that reason, I held my breath, hoping the person outside would leave.
Growl— My stomach’s protest didn’t stop, though.
—“…Not here?”
—“That’s strange. Sister Andreina said she’d be home. Did she go out?”
There were two people? Hearing a man’s voice, I stiffened further and tried to make myself even smaller.
I covered my mouth to stifle even the sound of my breathing, but the voices continued.
—“Hmm, should we wait a bit?”
Huff.
They’re not leaving? Why? As my mind filled with question marks, the man’s annoyed voice answered.
—“Why bother? If she’s not here, we can come back tomorrow. It’s not like it’s urgent.”
Right…! It’s probably not urgent.
I’m not that important, and there’s no reason for the strategy guide publishers to seek me out.
Even if there was, it wouldn’t be urgent. Clenching my fists, I silently cheered for the man. But the woman spoke up, sounding exasperated.
—“There’s no hierarchy in meeting people. And Mari, stop pretending you’re not there.”
“Hieek?!”
W-What? How did she know?! Unable to hold back, I let out a scream at the woman’s sudden accusation.
Then, the knocking resumed, and the woman continued.
—“So you are there. Could you open the door for a moment? I have something to discuss with you.”
“I-I’m not here…!”
—“Don’t be like that. It’ll just be a moment. I’m sure it won’t be a loss for you…”
—“Huh? The door’s unlocked.”
What? At the man’s words, I quickly looked at the door. It was a habit to lock the door when I went out, so it shouldn’t be open.
There’s no way it should be open, so why is the doorknob turning? Why is the door opening?!
—“Wait, Ulrika!”
At the woman’s startled voice, the door swung open, revealing two people.
“You idiot! What do you think you’re doing, opening someone’s door like that?!”
“What’s the big deal? It’s not like we’re here to cause trouble. More importantly, where’s this Mari person… Ah?”
“Eek!”
Meeting the man’s fierce glare, I hiccupped involuntarily. The man, called Ulrika, scratched his head as he looked at me, my face turning bright red.
“Oh… Sorry. I didn’t know you’d be dressed like th—cough!”
“Before you say anything, turn your eyes away!”
The woman’s fist mercilessly struck the man’s face, sending him out of my sight.
But that didn’t stop the tears that had already started welling up.
Trembling silently, I began to cry, and the woman, looking flustered, approached to comfort me.
“A-Are you okay? I’m sorry. This isn’t what we came for… I’ll keep Ulrika in check—”
“Uu…”
“Uu?”
“Waaah—!”
Unfortunately, the woman’s comfort didn’t help at all. If anything, it felt like being slapped while already wanting to cry.
And so, for the first time since arriving on the Floating Island, I burst into tears.
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
No notes today, not a very talkative author it seems~Well, it’s fine, just think of the current situation of Mari and be glad you were born with human rights!
After all, TS girls have no human rights!
Or so, that was what the author’s previous novel was… (I’m not gonna pick it up, smh.)
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