Chapter 116: A Puppeteer’s Promise (2/2)

“Now, let’s discuss the general assembly. I have a favor to ask of you.”

‘A favor?’ I looked at Mauro with curiosity as he leaned his cane against the table and began speaking.

“Participation is voluntary, but unless there’s a big reason not to, most people take part. So, I have a request for you.”

“A request?”

“That’s right. I’ll make sure the reward is generous. Even if you fail, there won’t be much of an issue.”

For some reason, I felt a sense of déjà vu.

Tiena had asked me for a favor in a similar manner before.

It was a way of speaking that lessened the burden on the listener.

I quietly nodded, and Mauro gave me a thumbs-up.

“You’ve made a good decision. Now, let me tell you about the request. During the general assembly, puppeteers ranked below the fourth floor gather to showcase the dolls they’ve created. You could call it a kind of doll competition. I’d like you to win that competition.”

Mauro folded his arms as he spoke.

Then, clicking his tongue, he made a slightly annoyed face.

“It seems that puppeteers from other cities have been mocking us for not having promising new talent. So, we need to show them the skills of our new recruit, Evron. I believe you can do it.”

“The fourth floor… That would mean Amelia is participating too, wouldn’t it?”

As I spoke, I glanced at Amelia.

She was sitting at the far end of the table, hugging her doll tightly and sniffing softly.

Her gaze was fixed on the ‘gifts’ stacked in front of us.

“Oh my, you look like you’re about to cry. If you need it back, I can return it anytime.”

Mira said with a mischievous smile.

Amelia flinched, then quickly shook her head.

Seeing this, Mira’s grin widened even more.

“My, how adorable. Unlike Evron, you’re much easier to handle.”

Mauro shook his head slightly as he watched them.

Then, with an awkward expression, he turned to Amelia.

“As you can see, she’s too… much of a puppeteer. Whenever she enters the competition, she always gives up quickly.”

“But I’m only at the second floor myself…”

‘If someone like Amelia, who had reached the fourth floor, couldn’t win, could I really do it?’ That doubt lingered in my words, and Mauro looked at me intently.

Then, he suddenly burst into a hearty laugh and patted my shoulder.

“Haha, my friend, what does rank matter when it comes to handling dolls? You’ve seen how people admire the young lady next to you, haven’t you? You have a talent for making dolls, and I can vouch for that.”

Mauro smiled warmly.

His words touched me.

I never considered myself talented, but hearing someone recognize my skills like this was unexpected.

A talent… This was only the second time I’d heard such a thing since coming to the university.

The first was from Professor Heisen, who said I had a talent for manipulating shadows.

Now, Mauro was the second person to acknowledge my abilities.

I bowed my head slightly.

‘If someone had expectations of me, I had to live up to them.’

‘I will win. Absolutely.’

With firm resolve, I steeled myself.

Mauro helped me to my feet and spoke in a bright tone.

“There’s no need to feel too pressured. The competition isn’t the only thing happening at the general assembly. There’s plenty for you to find interesting. The lady of the house will be offering many prizes, and that’s what most people attend for.”

The lady of the house—he must have meant Tiena.

Her face naturally came to mind.

Mauro seemed to be thinking the same thing as he stroked his beard with a smile.

“I’m always grateful to her. She organizes these assemblies and brings all the puppeteers together.”

Mauro smiled faintly.

Oddly enough, it seemed his gratitude was solely directed at Tiena.

Professor On was not mentioned at all.

I briefly thought of Professor On, his emotionless face coming to mind.

I couldn’t help but nod slightly.

Indeed, someone like Professor On wouldn’t care about such things.

He was the embodiment of a true puppeteer.

“Hmm… I’d love to explain more, but it seems I need to go. That friend over there is calling me.”

Mauro cleared his throat lightly.

At the end of his gaze, I saw Dagon staring at him through thick lenses.

A steady stream of magical energy flickered around him, like threads connecting him to Mauro.

That must have been how he summoned him.

I nodded slightly.

“Understood. Take care.”

“You too.”

Mauro was just about to leave when Mira stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

She flashed a teasing smile and gestured toward the table, where a mountain of gifts was stacked.

“Oh my, are you really leaving just like that? Everyone else has expressed their welcome so generously.”

Mauro met Mira’s gaze and chuckled heartily.

Scratching his head, he leaned on his staff and gave me an awkward smile.

“Heh, I was hoping to slip away before getting caught. I can’t win against this young lady.”

“Getting caught? I merely brought it up in case you had forgotten something.”

The two of them laughed together.

Then, Mauro pulled a stone from his coat.

A strange magical aura radiated from it—it was the core of the lantern spirit he had acquired from Dagon earlier.

He placed it lightly on the table.

I blinked at the sight of it.

“This is…”

“I got it for you. It would be a waste for someone like me to use it. I believe you’ll put it to much better use.”

It felt like too extravagant a gift for a simple welcome.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Mauro quickly waved his hand.

Before I could insist, he tapped his staff on the ground and spoke firmly.

“Consider it an advance payment for the request. I’ll be counting on you.”

With that, Mauro left.

***

Mira picked up the lantern core, and a mist gently seeped from her fingertips.

As the strange energy intertwined with the mist, an eerie resonance formed.

“Hmm, I never expected him to just give this away. Mauro must really like you, Evron.”

Mira looked satisfied as she tucked the core into her coat, her movements smooth and natural.

She then turned to me with a soft smile.

“Shall we get moving as well?”

Mira turned her gaze to another part of the room.

I naturally followed her line of sight.

The group of people who had been whispering among themselves earlier still hadn’t approached us.

I clicked my tongue slightly.

‘Perhaps we should go and collect our “welcome gifts” from them as well. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to hand them over. Of course, that’s only natural. After all, puppeteers here are overflowing with love, aren’t they?’

Mira and I chuckled as we rose from our seats.

‘If they wouldn’t come to us, then we would go to them.’

With slow and light steps, we moved toward them.

***

As time passed, people began to leave one by one.

The first to go was Mauro.

Once the central figure of the gathering had left, the others followed suit, and the meeting naturally came to an end.

Since the gathering was over, it was time for us to leave as well.

There was no need to return to the city—we would head straight to the tower.

This meeting had been quite satisfying.

I had learned more about the association, met many people, and even received gifts.

‘Maybe I should come again next year.’

I absentmindedly fiddled with a card in my pocket.

The name “Dream Theater,” supposedly run by Coit, piqued my curiosity.

I examined the gifts that had been “offered” to me from the backs of those reluctant puppeteers.

Of course, none of them were particularly valuable individually.

But when gathered together, the story changed.

“The scent is nice. Selling these alone would earn quite a few points.”

Mira chuckled.

She was right.

While each item was worth only a few thousand points, together, they amounted to well over a hundred thousand.

I smirked wryly.

I had no intention of selling them.

These gifts from fellow puppeteers would all be put to good use.

Mira held out her hand, asking for a spatial pouch.

I handed it over, and she carefully stored everything inside before returning it to me.

“By the way, we came to this gathering, and now we’ve got another place to go.”

“You mean the general assembly?”

“Yes, and I’m quite pleased. I never thought Evron would start venturing outside so much. It’s truly moving.”

She feigned tears, full of mischief.

I let out a dry chuckle and nodded.

“It’s all thanks to you, Mira.”

Hearing that, Mira leaned against me, her smile softening.

“That’s nice to hear. So, which doll will you bring to the competition?”

Mira placed a hand on her chest and gazed at me with sparkling eyes.

Her meaning was clear.

“Who else but you, Mira?”

She giggled and playfully poked my side, clearly satisfied with my answer.

Our journey back to the tower continued smoothly.