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Chapter 25 - So This is What a Doll Feels Like

"Super Strong Sword is super cool…!"

"Just be careful not to swing it around until we get back. We don\'t know what might happen."

"I will! Thanks so much, mister, and you too, Julia!!!"

"Uh-huh…"

Charlotte ran ahead, hugging the sword’s sheath joyfully, while Julia, who was slung over Aslan\'s back, wore a scowl.

"It\'s so annoying. Having to be carried by you…"

"We don\'t have a choice. Sylvia\'s hands are full, and Charlotte\'s carrying a large sword. If you don\'t like it, I\'ll put you down. Can you walk on your own?"

"I-I think I\'m fine like this…"

Julia bit her lip in frustration.

No one mentioned in the manual that mana exhaustion would be this painful.

She had thought it would just make her a bit tired and weak.

But every muscle movement brought intense pain, rendering her unable to move a single finger and making her reliant on Aslan for transport.

\'Why do I keep ending up relying on this man?\'

It was frustrating.

I always handled things on my own.

I was always the one others relied on, not the other way around.

Why does it keep ending up that I have to rely on this man?

It\'s annoying.

It\'s annoying that I need to see him to fall asleep.

It\'s annoying that I instinctively look for him when I\'m scared.

It\'s annoying that I can\'t resist being carried like this.

But most annoying of all is that I find his broad back inexplicably comforting.

"Stop fidgeting. Moving around too much in your mana-depleted state will only make it hurt more."

"How would you know? You can’t even use mana."

"..."

"Oh! I didn\'t mean to be sarcastic! I was just… genuinely curious, that\'s all."

Startled by her own sharp words, Julia stammered an explanation.

Aslan gritted his teeth to stifle a laugh.

"It\'s just really intriguing… To be honest, I initially underestimated you. I thought you couldn\'t handle mana or knew anything useful. But you seem to know a lot. …"

"Someone has to know these things. If all of you are beginners with no adults to guide you, you\'ll make mistakes. That\'s all there is to it. Just focus on growing up healthy and being useful."

"..."

Was this man really just hoping for us to grow up?

With no other ulterior motives?

Julia felt a bit foolish for her previous thoughts.

\'Oh. A doll shop. It\'s closing…\'

As Aslan and the group passed by, Julia’s gaze fixed on a doll shop.

The lights flicked off as the store closed.

Seeing the dolls in the display reminded Julia of an old memory.

On a clear spring day, while she was attaching eyes to a doll as per the director’s instructions, she felt envious of the good weather.

That day, a child had been called out.

A couple stood outside, holding a large teddy bear.

They had come to find a child they lost in an accident long ago.

It was the first time Julia had seen actual parents come, not just for an adoption.

She vividly remembered the child’s face, crying in the embrace of their parents, and the joy on their face as they left the orphanage with the teddy bear.

It was the happiest expression Julia had ever seen.

"I understand why you\'ve been so grumpy. You wanted some praise for your accomplishment, right? Just say it. Speak up."

"What…?"

"Didn\'t you want to be praised for your achievement? Talk about it. Keeping everything bottled up won\'t get you any appreciation."

"Huh? Ha!? That\'s ridiculous! What nonsense…! You’re so annoying! Put me down! Put me down! Ahh!"

"See? Throwing a tantrum only makes the pain worse. Just stay still. If you want some praise that badly, how about a reward? How about a doll from that shop?"

"…You think I’m a child."

"Judging by your reaction, you seem to like the idea."

"…"

How does he know?

It\'s unsettling. It\'s annoying.

Julia pouted.

"Excuse me."

"We\'re closed… Ah, Aslan sir!?"

"Delay closing for a bit. It won\'t take long."

"Of course. Take your time."

"Pick one. Which do you like?"

"…The teddy bear."

Julia muttered in a tiny voice.

She didn\'t like this situation, but she might as well choose.

She wanted the teddy bear.

A completed teddy bear, not a blank one like the ones at the orphanage.

"I\'m sorry, but we’re all out of teddy bears right now."

"Not even one? How can that be?"

"They\'re very popular…"

Ssssh.

The shopkeeper froze as Aslan’s presence exuded a subtle menace.

"Shouldn\'t you keep at least one teddy bear for emergencies like this?"

"What kind of emergency is this?"

"A situation where the young master needs to reward his servant with a teddy bear. You should have anticipated this."

"What…?"

"Next shipment?"

"Not until next month at the earliest…"

"Then I\'ll choose something else. How about that shark?"

"…I wanted a teddy bear."

"We have no choice. Here, take this. I\'m dropping it."

"…"

Julia squeezed the large shark between herself and Aslan’s back, hugging it tightly.

It was a blue shark that looked somewhat goofy.

I don’t like it.

The look and color are completely different from a teddy bear.

"A doll!? Can I get one too?"

"Did you do anything to earn one? The sword you have is thanks to Julia. Earn your rewards like she did. The Vermont family is strictly merit-based."

"So if I achieve something, I get a doll, right?"

Eyes sparkling, Charlotte ran to Sylvia, pleading for amazing sword training.

Meanwhile, Julia closed her eyes slightly.

So soft. So this is what a doll feels like.

I couldn’t hug one at the orphanage because I’d get scolded.

With eyes closed, she thought maybe a teddy bear felt similar to this.

"I’ll get you a teddy bear once they restock."

"…This is enough. Now that the annoying voices are gone, I can sleep hugging this instead of you."

The shark doll seemed cuter upon a second look.

***

\'What a tumultuous journey…\'

A necromancer who sees ghosts.

And now a dark knight who wields a cursed sword.

How did it come to this?

Thinking about it made my temples throb.

\'It’s like I’m the Demon King.\'

Weird.

I brought the hero’s companions here.

But when I unboxed them, they turned into dark and shady characters like the Demon King\'s aides.

But it’s not like they’re entirely dark.

One fears ghosts despite being a necromancer.

And the other…

"Hiya! Hiya! Strong downward slash! Bam! Bam!"

"…She’s going to train all night at this rate."

She named the Holy Sword absurdly and yet works harder at training than anyone else.

She doesn’t seem like a villain at all.

But her talents have turned her into a villain.

Of course, I, Aslan Vermont, am the one responsible for that transformation.

\'What would Yuri say if he saw them?\'

My perineum tingled, sending a chill through my body.

I planned to raise and teach these two well before returning them to Yuri.

But in this state, I can\'t return them.

They look like hero’s companions corrupted by Vermont and turned into villains.

Though they’re kind at heart, many people judge based on appearances.

If left as they are, they’ll be feared as a necromancer and a dark knight serving the evil Vermont.

\'I need an image change.\'

The answer is an image makeover.

If Vermont’s image is the issue, change it.

Though I’ve already made many reforms like ending oppressive rule and cutting taxes significantly, it’s not enough.

Ruining a reputation is easy.

But restoring it takes a hundred times more effort.

Changing Vermont’s image will be a tough journey.

The first step is…

"Sylvia."

"…"

"I know you’re hiding in the shadows. Come out before I dock your pay."

"You called, young master? What can I do for you this late? I was about to go to bed."

"Go to the archives and bring me all documents related to… no, containing the word \'royal family.\'"

"…"

Getting close to the royal family.

In this Empire, with its absolute monarchy, that’s the best path to success.

Though Vermont has been almost at odds with the royal family.

Today’s enemy can be tomorrow’s ally.

You never know.

First, I need to catch the Emperor’s eye to ensure Vermont thrives.

"I have a lot of work."

"Yes."

"I have a lot of work."

"I know."

"And now you’re giving me more?"

"I thought you were idle, hiding in my shadow. If you’re really busy, I’ll cancel the task. But if I catch you slacking off, you’re getting docked pay."

"I’ll start right away."

Good. That’s the spirit.

I don’t know what she’s busy with, always lounging around.

I work until bedtime.

\'And get Charlotte to bed on your way.\'

I added that as I sent Sylvia off.

"Maybe I should close my eyes for a bit."

I don’t sleep, but my eyes feel dry from staying open too long.

Leaning back in my chair to rest my eyes, the door creaked open.

"What is it?"

"I need your hand…"

"…?"

It was Julia, hugging her shark doll tightly.

Why again?

Hasn’t she already controlled the voices after awakening as a necromancer? More accurately, isn’t she now able to subconsciously control them?

"Didn’t you say the voices were gone? Is there a problem?"

"No, I just can’t sleep… It seems I can’t sleep without your hand."

Unbelievable.