Ch.156Chapter 156 – Gateway City Sestas (3)

“It’s a doll.”

Beatrice, who had conjured a magic circle before her, said as she looked down at the corpse.

After killing the bizarre enemy that had been watching us, we couldn’t just leave it there, so we used the priest’s robe it was wearing to somehow clean up and hide the body.

Then, after Eve and Beatrice brought Sara and Christina out of the inn and met up with us at the warehouse, we brought the rest of the group to where we had hidden the corpse.

Naturally, the group demanded an explanation, and while Christina was briefly praying for the doll, I explained what had happened earlier.

‘I would have preferred to bring only Beatrice.’

However, I had no choice but to bring everyone along.

‘According to Ryut, there were three kidnappers.’

If this one I dealt with was included among them, then two remained.

In the worst case, if this one wasn’t included in that count, then all three were still out there.

Therefore, with kidnappers still at large, I couldn’t afford to be separated from the group.

“A doll?”

“How is it different from a golem?”

At Eve’s question, Beatrice fell into thought for a moment.

Then she promptly explained.

“When directly controlled, there’s almost no difference… but compared to golems, dolls are actually somewhat inferior technology.”

“Inferior how?”

“Generally speaking, you have to control them directly.”

Beatrice said this while picking up something from the corpse.

It was a piece of the thread I had cut.

“Depending on the puppeteer’s skill, some dolls can be controlled regardless of distance, but I understand that making them act autonomously like golems is impossible. You can think of dolls as a lower-tier technology compared to golems.”

Listening to Beatrice’s explanation, I thought about the golems I had seen before.

Those golems could act somewhat independently if their cores were well-made, but apparently dolls couldn’t do that.

Beatrice explained that every action had to be supported by magical power.

“Still, the advantage of dolls is that they don’t need cores, and since they’re usually made of wood, they’re incredibly cheap to produce. Because of that, unlike golems, they’re sometimes treated as art pieces.”

“Art pieces?”

“I’ve heard some people make them beautifully, dress them in pretty clothes or armor, and decorate them. Since they can move with just a little magical power.”

Beatrice added that she didn’t really understand people who collected such things.

In any case, if they couldn’t move without a puppeteer, the conclusion was simple.

“So the kidnapper might be a puppeteer.”

“That’s almost certainly the case, if they were watching us and attacked you.”

Beatrice nodded at my words.

And in the next moment, her eyes became very sharp.

“…The problem is that this puppeteer solved the doll’s weakness by using living people as materials.”

Beatrice quietly continued.

“When the puppeteer gives an order, there’s magic that makes the brain automatically carry out the command.”

“Automatically?”

“In a way, they’re using the brain as a receiver. The brain itself.”

Beatrice said with a disgusted expression.

“The person who becomes a doll can’t resist at all. When the opponent transmits commands to the brain using threads, the body moves accordingly.”

“Is resistance impossible?”

At my question, Beatrice smiled bitterly.

Then she quietly turned the doll’s head to point at a specific spot.

“If you look there, it’s connected to threads. Commands from the threads take priority over the person’s resistance.”

Beatrice analyzed that the person could probably at least think about not wanting to move while being forced to move.

At those words, Eve’s expression twisted as she spoke.

“…So the person who became a doll has no choice but to move according to the puppeteer’s will, without any ability to resist.”

“According to the helmet, it tried to bite the weapon frantically, right? The person inside was probably begging to stop.”

Beatrice added that they might even feel all the pain.

Then Christina, with a pale face, said:

“That’s so cruel…”

To comfort Christina, Sara gently patted her back.

After briefly observing the two, I turned to Beatrice and asked:

“Is there any way to return them to normal?”

“No.”

Beatrice stated firmly.

“The bones and flesh have all been replaced with wood or similar materials. Since we can’t completely recreate a human body, there’s no way to return them to their original state.”

“Damn it.”

Once someone becomes like that, it’s essentially over.

In such a situation, ending their life would be the merciful option.

“Can we track the puppeteer?”

“That’s impossible too.”

Beatrice shook her head.

Apparently having already tried, she explained:

“When the connection is severed, the parts that were connected immediately disappear. Some parts attached to the doll remain, but the connecting parts are gone.”

I shook my head at Beatrice’s words that there was no way to track them.

“If this insane puppeteer really is the culprit, then the fate of the kidnapped people is essentially sealed.”

Beatrice’s cold words echoed.

I unconsciously gritted my teeth.

“What do they think human lives are?”

I felt utterly disgusted.

+

The atmosphere was heavy afterward.

Since we had work to do, we drove the carriage to the warehouse, unloaded the heavy cargo, and Eve completed the transaction with a somewhat dark expression despite making a profit—all of it passing like turning pages in a book.

We couldn’t immediately identify the culprit, and given the circumstances, with the puppeteer and dolls still around, the risk of kidnapping remained.

Even at mealtime, Eve and Beatrice, who had earlier been looking forward to drinking merrily, quietly had a few drinks and ended it there. We were about to turn in early when:

‘I can’t sleep.’

Perhaps due to the constant tension, sleep just wouldn’t come.

Even now, my body was still reacting sensitively to any signs from outside.

Finally giving up on trying to sleep, I went outside my room with my weapons equipped.

I thought about getting some fresh air but soon gave up, and was looking out the window while drinking a glass of water when:

“Mr. Kay?”

“Sara?”

She must not have fallen asleep yet, as Sara was looking down at me from the staircase landing.

Seeing her, I unconsciously spoke somewhat harshly.

“It’s dangerous, why are you coming down alone?”

“Beatrice put up barriers around the entire inn, so it’s safe.”

“Even so. After seeing that doll earlier, aren’t you afraid of what might happen?”

“I am afraid.”

Sara answered seriously.

“If the puppeteer is the kidnapper, then being kidnapped means it’s over.”

I quietly nodded at Sara’s words.

If by some chance, one of our companions were kidnapped through a moment’s vulnerability…

Then it would be over immediately.

‘If that happens, I would have to…’

End it with my own hands.

That thought made me momentarily depressed, and when I tried to drink water, I found my cup was already empty.

-Thud

“I thought you might want another glass.”

Sara smiled as she set down a water cup.

Looking at her sitting across from me, I smiled wryly.

“It’s kind of funny doing this with water instead of alcohol.”

“It is.”

Sara took a sip of water and said:

“Mr. Kay.”

“What?”

“Are you scared?”

Sara asked quietly.

Looking into Sara’s serious eyes, I answered softly:

“I am scared.”

I took a sip of water before answering.

“If we’re not careful, we could end up like that doll we saw earlier. That horrible state.”

Sighing, I told Sara:

“Thinking that I could end up like that… it is scary.”

I could see Sara quietly smiling at my words.

“I think you’re more afraid of something else than becoming a doll yourself.”

“What’s that?”

“I think you’re afraid of not being able to protect us.”

Sara took another sip of water after saying this.

“I think you’re afraid of the situation itself—where we might suffer a fate worse than death, unable to even die cleanly.”

“……”

I took another sip of water.

She was right—being kidnapped and turned into a doll would be worse than death.

“Even though Beatrice put up barriers, you’re still tense, and I thought it was because of that. Am I wrong?”

“You might be right.”

Perhaps that’s why my body was still tense.

The risk we faced this time was a fate worse than death.

Unless we managed to leave tomorrow, the price of failure would be too horrific.

As I unconsciously clenched my fist, Sara quietly said:

“And I think you’re also angry.”

“Angry?”

“About people being used as tools.”

Sara’s eyes were looking straight at me.

“I think you’re furious at the puppeteer for trampling on human dignity.”

“…Maybe so.”

Perhaps it’s because I’ve experienced it myself.

The feeling of being used as a tool and having one’s dignity severely trampled upon.

Looking at me, Sara quietly said:

“When you think about it, we could just ignore this if we succeed in leaving through the warp gate tomorrow.”

“That’s true.”

Sara was right.

Honestly, we could just leave and be done with it.

“Still, I don’t want to let such an evil person live. Even in terms of eliminating future threats.”

Come to think of it, I’ve already destroyed one of their dolls.

They might come looking for us in anger.

“I thought you’d answer like that. Because you’re kind.”

“I don’t think I’m that kind of person.”

Kind people don’t talk about eliminating others.

Probably.

“Let’s say you are.”

Sara said with a smile.

“It’s because you’re like that, that everyone trusts you.”

“Trusts me?”

“You know what? Everyone else is sleeping soundly right now.”

Sara said, seeming a little apologetic.

“The reason they’re sleeping well is probably because they believe you’ll protect us.”

“…Really?”

“You’ve always been sensitive about our safety. And you never let enemies who threatened that get away.”

Sara said with a smile.

“Because you’re like that, everyone can sleep with peace of mind.”

Then Sara spoke softly, seeming embarrassed.

For some reason, I felt a bit embarrassed too and slightly averted my gaze.

“I don’t think I did it alone.”

“That’s true. Eve, Beatrice, and Chris all worked hard to help.”

“Don’t leave yourself out.”

At my words, Sara nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.

Then she quietly said:

“When you think about it, we’ve overcome crises together.”

“We really have.”

“Each of us faithfully doing what we could.”

Sara was right.

We’ve fought by each doing our best in our own ways.

“If a crisis comes, we’ll overcome it together.”

Sara said quietly.

“Trust us. Trust yourself.”

I quietly looked at Sara.

“We’ll do our best to help you, and I’m sure the Mr. Kay I like will protect us splendidly.”

After saying this, Sara turned her head.

Her face had turned red with embarrassment as she drank her water.

After a moment of silence passed and we both emptied our cups, Sara carefully spoke:

“You’ll protect us, right?”

I smiled slightly at the kindly smiling Sara and answered:

“I’ll protect you.”

Sara smiled brightly.

Seeing that, I nodded slightly.

‘I must protect them.’

Even in the worst case, if we encounter that puppeteer…

I quietly resolved that I would never let anyone else end up like that doll.

+

It was inside a building in Sestas.

“My, my~.”

A woman who had been bowing her head looked up.

The people around her were startled and stepped back.

“Ahaha, don’t be afraid.”

“But…”

“I just don’t want to bother looking at unnecessary people.”

A man who happened to be near her stepped back in surprise.

Looking at him, the woman laughed.

“Oh my, you seem to have misinterpreted. I meant I don’t want to make you part of my collection and have to keep looking at you.”

“Y-yes.”

The man would have been angry under normal circumstances, but he quickly restrained himself.

Otherwise, he would die.

No, he would suffer a fate worse than death.

“By the way, one of my collections has been destroyed.”

It was one she had just made before coming here.

The woman expressed slight regret and closed her eyes again.

“With so many dolls to handle, I need to maintain them one by one…”

The woman said this while twirling her finger.

A thread made of magical power gradually gathered and approached her.

“Show me what you saw.”

She closed her eyes.

She inserted the doll’s memories into her mind.

The person who became the doll probably didn’t want to share these memories.

“Hmm? Hmmmm?”

What the doll had seen was the house of a magician tracking it on the street.

A woman they had previously failed to kidnap, and the magician who had stopped them.

And three people entering with them.

“Oh? Ohhh?”

The woman focused on those three people.

“Ah…!”

An exclamation escaped the woman’s lips.

Drool flowed from her mouth.

“They’re beautiful… that silver hair, that black hair…!”

Among the three people who came into view, two women.

Her eyes were drawn to the woman with beautiful black hair and the woman with silver hair.

“Hehe, following at a distance as ordered.”

She had programmed it to follow when it found potential collection candidates.

Command execution possible because, unlike regular dolls, she used “living people” as materials.

When she sends commands directly to the brain, the doll’s body acts accordingly.

And then came…

“Oh, impressive physical abilities. And that’s a holy relic, isn’t it?”

The woman briefly searched her memory.

“I believe it’s a holy relic of the Jeolei Order?”

She could easily recall it because she already knew about the holy relic.

Meanwhile, the doll’s memory reached its end.

The last scene it saw was an armored man cutting off the doll’s neck.

From the surveillance earlier, he seemed very close to the silver-haired woman.

“Mmm, if I place him next to that beautiful silver-haired woman…”

The woman thought about that scene for a moment.

Then she smiled brightly.

“They would look wonderful in my display case!”

The woman genuinely thought she had found something good.

“I would have liked to see the man’s face too.”

Unfortunately, the man’s face wasn’t visible because of his helmet.

“Well, if he turns out to be unattractive, I can just tear off a handsome face from somewhere else and attach it.”

The woman said lightly.

Then she began to twist her body.

“Ah, my body is already tingling with excitement…”

She felt grateful to the broken collection.

After all, she had only liked its teeth and had processed it accordingly.

Thanks to that collection’s sacrifice, she might gain three new collections.

“Hehehehehehehehe…!!”

The woman laughed bizarrely.

The man watching quietly backed away.

“Mmph! Mmmmph!!”

Hearing a sudden noise, the woman turned her head.

“Ah, I needed to process that one too.”

It was a woman kidnapped a few days ago.

She had a gag in her mouth, so it was unclear what she was saying.

The woman looked at her with cold eyes.

‘Normally, her appearance would be acceptable for compromise… but unfortunately.’

After seeing the three potential collection candidates earlier, the “material” before her now seemed inferior.

“Well, she’s not too bad to look at.”

Still, judging that she was worth collecting, the woman approached the “material.”

“Mmmmph!!!”

“What are you saying?”

She removed the gag.

The “material” cried out:

“P-please save me, please! I was just, in the back alley…”

“Hm? Ah, you mean your body is defiled?”

So she was apparently someone who sold her body.

After thinking for a moment, the woman smiled and said:

“Don’t worry! I’ll replace your defiled body with a new one!”

The woman said with a bright smile.

“When I remake it, it will be brand new!”

The material continued to beg while crying.

“Please save me, please, pleeeease!”

“I won’t kill you. Don’t worry~.”

The woman approached her.

“You’ll just be reborn with a new body.”

“Please save me!”

“You’ll remain beautiful and never age, perhaps even become more durable.”

“Please!”

“Well, I’ll remove all unnecessary parts, but don’t worry! I’ll keep most of you intact.”

“Please save me!!”

The ‘material’ was too noisy.

The woman looked down at her coldly and gagged her again.

“I wanted to hear you say thank you.”

“Mmmmph!!”

“Oh well. Hmmmm…”

Soon, as she snapped her fingers, threads wrapped around the material.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Whaaaat?”

“As you ordered, the paladins have placed the jewels.”

“Ah, right. I came here for work.”

The woman said with a smile.

“Then, shall we begin right away?”

“What? But Count Metis’s territory…”

“I don’t care about that anymore~.”

The woman licked her lips once and said:

“When I want something, I can’t help myself.”

Let’s quickly get this over with and make my collections.

As if her body was heating up at the thought, the woman twisted her body again.

“Just wait a little longer, my materials…”

Thinking about the three people, drool began to flow from her mouth again.

Without even thinking of wiping it away, she shouted loudly:

“I’ll make you part of Phobia’s collection!”

The priest of the Emiris Order who heard her words fled, trembling.

Phobia, the puppeteer of the Emiris Order.

She had begun to move.