Ch. 17 Increased Output
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 17 – Increased Output
Unable to resist Hosanna’s earnest request (or rather, pressure), I stopped walking and found a suitable clearing. Of course, there were already creatures living there, but with a single gesture from Hosanna, they were forcibly evicted in a burst of flames.
“Alright, don’t worry about the monsters. Do your thing.”
“Okay…”
At his considerate words, I took a deep breath and activated the Doll Crafting skill. Among the options that appeared, I selected the one at the very bottom.
[Core Repair]
[A core in need of repair has been detected. Would you like to repair it?]
[Repairing a Cracked Core (Basic) requires 20,000 gold and magic stones (quantity varies depending on type).]
[Marionette currently possesses 60,000 gold (60,000/20,000) and 10 low-grade magic stones (10/10).]
[You have the necessary materials for core repair.]
I hadn’t gathered the magic stones for this purpose, but it turned out to be a fortunate coincidence. Otherwise, I would’ve had to rely on Hosanna not just for gold but for magic stones as well.
I sighed in relief internally and then looked at Hosanna.
“…Then, I’ll try repairing it.”
“Sure. Do it whenever you’re ready.”
It’s not like I’m doing it manually—the system handles it. Why does timing matter? I gave an awkward smile and nodded slowly.
“I want to repair the core.”
[Repairing the Cracked Core (Basic) has begun.]
[There is an 80% chance of a perfect repair.]
“…Huh?”
What did I just see? 80%? That wasn’t mentioned in the options before.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, nothing. It just said there’s an 80% chance of success…”
“80% is pretty high.”
“R-Really?”
Is it okay to just accept that as high? Shouldn’t there be no chance of failure at all? As I panicked at Hosanna’s nonchalant reaction, something unexpected happened.
“Whoa?!”
Suddenly, my inventory opened, and the cracked core, the pouch of gold, and the magic stones flew out. Then, the magic stones began to circle around the core in mid-air, while the gold from the pouch filled the spaces between them.
Was such a flashy display really necessary just to repair a broken core? It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking that, as Ulrika, who had been watching with his arms crossed, spoke up.
“Is it always this flashy when repairing something?”
“W-Well, this is my first time, so…”
I hadn’t properly trained as a Doll Master before, but the games I played usually preferred simpler effects.
Even when enhancing items, pressing a button would instantly determine success or failure, and if it failed, the item would just break with a snap sound and turn into a broken icon. That was it.
Such a flashy display didn’t exist in the systems of those games. While I was panicking, Hosanna watched the repair process with great interest.
Soon, a bright light burst from the core. The light was so intense that I had to cover my eyes, and then I heard something drop. When I removed my hand and looked in the direction of the sound, I saw the core, which had been floating earlier, now lying on the ground.
After all that flashy display, why did it end so anticlimactically? I felt a bit dumbfounded. Still, I picked it up and examined it closely.
At least the cracked parts seemed to have been completely repaired. But since no success or failure message appeared, I couldn’t be sure if the repair was successful.
If they were going to make such a big deal out of the process, they could’ve at least given a clear conclusion. Why did it have to end so awkwardly?
“So, does it seem properly repaired?”
“Ah, well… there’s no result message, so I think I need to test it directly…”
“Then do it quickly.”
“Ah, okay.”
At Hosanna’s urging, I quickly pulled out the Mana Thread from my hand. The threads of mana extending from my five fingertips elicited an “Ooh” from Hosanna, but since it had been a while since I last used the skill, I felt like it might disappear if I lost focus.
Fortunately, the Mana Thread connected properly to the core without breaking. I didn’t stop there and immediately began channeling mana into it.
And then, the core, which had been dark for two weeks, began to glow brilliantly.
“Wow…!”
“So this is what it looks like when it’s active. The amount of mana it’s emitting isn’t much, though.”
Hosanna muttered something beside me, but I didn’t care.
Because I was feeling incredibly happy right now! If I were a bit more outgoing, I would’ve jumped up and down shouting “Yahoo!” right then and there.
Of course, I couldn’t do that, so the best I could do was glance at the two of them and shuffle my feet excitedly. Still.
Now I could move my doll again, Doll 505…! As I stared at the perfectly repaired core, I heard someone clear their throat.
I snapped out of it and looked up to see Hosanna smiling.
“Alright, so now that the core is repaired, you can move your doll, right?”
“Ah, yes! Thank you for lending me the gold…!”
“I didn’t lend it to you; I gave it to you. No need to thank me. I told you, it’s the fee for the commission I requested.”
“Ah, right…”
I couldn’t help but think that 50,000 gold was too much just to see a doll move, but for now, I took out Doll 505 from my inventory to meet Hosanna’s expectations.
Then, I opened the doll’s torso and carefully inserted the core into the slot. Feeling it click into place, I closed the torso and took a deep breath.
“Alright, I’ll make it move now.”
At Hosanna’s nod, I gently placed Doll 505 on the ground. Then, I extended the Mana Thread from both hands and connected it to the core inside Doll 505.
But this was where the real challenge began. The threads of mana connected to the core extended outward, spreading through Doll 505’s body.
Like veins spreading through a body, the threads of mana completely took over Doll 505’s internal structure, and finally, it sparked to life.
Now, I could control Doll 505 as I pleased.
“Doll 505, activate!”
With the shout that had become a habit, Doll 505 took a step forward. Though the movement was small and barely noticeable due to its size, the fact that it moved was what mattered.
Doll 505 didn’t stop at one step. It energetically moved its stick-like legs, bustling about.
After making a full circle around Hosanna and me and returning to its starting position, I stopped it and took a deep breath. Then, I turned to Hosanna and exclaimed,
“Did you see?! My Doll 505 is moving!”
“Ah, yeah. It’s cute. Right?”
“Hmm… More like pitiful—ow!”
Just as Ulrika was about to say something, Hosanna’s wand struck his head like lightning. As a result, I didn’t catch what Ulrika was saying and could only tilt my head in confusion.
Why did Hosanna hit Ulrika all of a sudden? While I was pondering this, Hosanna put Ulrika in a headlock and whispered something to him.
They spoke so quietly that I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but after the headlock was released, Ulrika spoke with an awkward expression.
“Wow, that’s amazing. It really looks like the doll is alive.”
“Right?”
I chuckled and nodded, and Ulrika gave an awkward smile.
“But it’s a bit disappointing. It seems too weak to use at full power.”
“Ugh, well…”
Hosanna’s words hit a sore spot, and I stammered. Meanwhile, Hosanna examined the doll closely and muttered,
“Can’t you channel more mana into it? Like increasing its output.”
“O-Output?”
“Hmm… I mean, something like this. Let me borrow your hand for a second.”
“Huh? Eek?!”
Before I could express my confusion, Hosanna grabbed my hand.
Startled by the sudden contact, I let out a yelp, and Hosanna put a finger to his lips.
“Don’t say anything. Just stay still.”
“O-Okay…!”
“Focus. I’m going to channel mana through your hand.”
I quickly shut my mouth, but I couldn’t focus. My held hand felt like it was burning, or maybe tingling—it had been so long since I held someone’s hand that it felt… no, it really did feel strange.
How should I describe it? It was like a prickling sensation, similar to when your arm falls asleep and the blood starts flowing again. In short, it was a very peculiar feeling.
“Ugh, ugh…”
“…Stop making weird noises. When you feel the mana I’m sending, channel it into the doll through the threads.”
“O-Okay…”
I exhaled shakily and began channeling the mana flowing through my held hand into Doll 505. I could feel most of the mana dissipating into the air, but since so much was coming in, it didn’t matter.
When the mana I was channeling reached the core inside Doll 505, something changed.
“Huh…?”
I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but I felt a change in Doll 505. It felt like I could easily defeat the rabbits that had always beaten me before.
Just then, a clueless rabbit hopped toward us.
I moved Doll 505 to block its path. The small wooden figure standing in its way seemed to anger the rabbit, as it thumped its hind legs before charging at Doll 505.
Doll 505’s response to the rabbit’s attack was simple. It raised its stick-like arm and brought it down at the perfect moment.
Thwack—!
The rabbit that had been charging was slammed into the ground, leaving me, Hosanna, and even Ulrika, who had been watching with great interest, stunned.
“…This should be usable now.”
At Hosanna’s words, I nodded without realizing it.
Author Note
A/N (Author’s note):
The flashback ends with this chapter!
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
Doll 505’s first win!Well, assisted win, but still a win.
Let’s correct the girlfailure as a reward.
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