“Sure! That’s the one where you can’t even buy it with money in the capital!”
The man spoke with a twinkle in his eye.
“I remember seeing something similar when I was begging over there before…”
The man, who had been just sipping beer beside, showed interest as he observed the doll.
“This is much more impressive. What I saw back then wasn’t as intricately made. It just moved its arms and legs a bit.”
“Exactly! This one supposedly moves and jumps on its own. Ah, my daughter’s friend bragged about it. I didn’t look into it because I wanted it; definitely not.”
“Oh really? It was not a gift for my daughter but for you.”
“No way!”
So, summarizing it…
This doll is not a simple one.
It’s a masterpiece.
A magic doll that moves with precision.
It’s only the shell that’s made in the form of a human.
Of course, it’s not a perfect human form, but… whatever.
‘I’ve heard stories about toys moving with magic from past lives.’
I’ve never played with that. I’ve been neglected by parents in every life.
So, I didn’t really understand at first, but as I listened, I felt like I knew what they were talking about.
‘So, do they just think it’s a doll? Moving with magic?’
When this conclusion came, I felt somewhat relieved.
The aesthetics of humans who don’t find it scary to look at such bizarre dolls were quite suspicious, but well.
“But selling something this remarkable in such a rural place like this?”
“Right? And for just one gold coin!”
“With this level of skill, they could sell it outside, couldn’t they?”
“Well, I asked the owner, but they said they don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“They say they like it here.”
That makes sense.
Because the owner might be a demon… where else would they go…
“The owner has quite unique tastes. What’s there to like about this rural place?”
“Oh really? If you don’t like it, just leave. Who’s stopping you?”
“Ah, who said I want to leave? It’s just talk.”
The man mumbled with a click of his tongue.
“Are the people living here just staying because they have nowhere else to go?”
Right.
Most of you are wanted criminals or slaves.
You’re hiding because you have nowhere else to go.
“Everyone likes it here. I swear allegiance to the Daemon Lord! Well, isn’t this it?”
Wow. Talking like this without shame and telling lies.
Impressive.
‘The humans living here…’
It seems a bit strange.
Despite a strange unease, I dismissed the thought.
Then, discreetly turning my gaze, I looked at Lyat sitting across.
“Is the golem talking? That thing is a golem?”
As if testing the waters, I sought confirmation from Lyat.
“Yes, it’s a golem.”
“Hmmm.”
I calmly tidied up his mouth, which seemed to be trying to smile.
‘The aura is familiar.’
The aura I know well was emanating from the doll.
But Lyat seemed oblivious to it.
That’s true. Lyat is just a vampire who has lived for a few hundred years.
‘Shall we meet him for now?’
I smirked.
“This vampire, quite impressive. It’s not easy to make it so small and intricate.”
“Vampires can do anything. Don’t think in the eyes of those pitiful humans.”
“But to extract magic purely from the impure magic of this barren human realm and create a magic doll with pure magic, isn’t that something?”
I said provocatively.
“And not just one, but several? Mass production?”
“Hmph!”
Lyat spat out a wry laugh.
“… Talk to that guy.”
“Sure. If it goes well, consider it a deal for a whole battalion.”
“What?”
Lyat laughed as if amused by my words, but I had no intention of taking it lightly as a joke.
I couldn’t just toss away the pumpkin that had rolled in.
“Give and take. I also came here and went through all this trouble.”
“Huh?”
Lyat chuckled as if perplexed, but he didn’t show anger or objection. He would accept it. Surely.
‘Why am I so confident?’
Well,
[SYSTEM]
‘Lyat Noah’ is observing you carefully.
Fluctuating favorability? Will he acknowledge it or not?
Because this system window appeared.
Would someone like Lyat, who harbors hatred towards humans, show such a reaction?
‘He won’t kill me.’
He won’t, unless I make a colossal mistake.
So, this was the reason I could act like this.
With a harmless childlike smile on my face, I propped my chin in my hands and looked at Lyat.
“For now, do these humans here not find this strange at all?”
Lyat seemed to share my thoughts as he nodded.
“Seems like it.”
“Seems like they have eyes on their toes. That’s why they don’t find it strange.”
It was fortunate for a demon, but truly peculiar.
Just then, as if to address my question, Lyat muttered.
“Perhaps because this place is close to the demon realm.”
“… What?”
What’s close to where?
“Isn’t that a useless statement?”
“Who knows?”
Lyat’s expression turned puzzled.
“Seems like I keep forgetting that the input isn’t working. It won’t do. I’ll have to educate you on everything from the beginning. Got it?”
Oh, teacher. How old do you think I am to start from scratch? Even though I may look like this, I’ve lived here for 60 years, and I know more than you do…
“This place, Daimon Margrave’s territory, was once called the Second Demon Realm in the past.”
… I see. I know nothing.
‘Well, the game didn’t properly explain the demon or demon king side of the story.’
The <Raising a Warrior> game strictly unfolded only the hero’s story. The past of the demon king or the narrative of demons didn’t come up. They were merely antagonists blocking the path of the hero.
‘In my past life, I never encountered demons.’
1Living as a normal count’s daughter, a novelist’s daughter, a knight’s daughter… How would I know about demons? I only found out about these guys using Homunculus when I reincarnated.
‘So, let’s listen quietly.’
With that thought, I perked up my ears and leaned towards Lyat.
“Seems like you have the will to learn.”
Lyat chuckled softly.
“The Second Demon Realm. This place was a sanctuary and shelter for monsters. However, it was destroyed due to the rampage of one monster. Everything froze. So, the monsters returned to their original demon realm, and this place was sealed.”
The rampage of that monster probably refers to the one trapped in the ice wall.
“But stubborn humans wouldn’t leave this place alone. The humans who sneaked in settled down, built villages, and even chose a lord. As a result, it became what it is now.”
The game didn’t reveal who killed the ice-encased monster. But judging from the story…
‘Was it the demon king?’
It seems that part wasn’t mentioned in the game’s story.
“Aha.”
Having understood everything, I clapped my hands.
“Maybe because they’ve seen a lot of monsters, they don’t find it so intimidating?”
“Probably. They’re ignorant fools.”
Now it makes sense.
Seeing fresh blood from the beginning is scary, but after witnessing severed entrails, blood seems less frightening.
It’s like watching an R-rated crime film and then switching to a PG-13 action movie.
“Hmm.”
Having fully accepted this strange situation, I quickly changed the subject.
“You know these humans here are peculiar.”
“Yeah.”
“But the priests won’t be like that, right? Even the humans who migrate here won’t be like that?”
Lyat’s eyes narrowed.
He knows what I’m getting at. I smirked.
“If we make the golem dolls a bit prettier, will the humans accept us? Right now, everyone can tell we’re demons.”
“Two arms?”
“Legs intact.”
“Shall we continue making golems?”
“Not golems, dolls. Beautiful dolls.”
I laughed brightly, mixing mischief into my gaze with Lyat.
“Giving pretty dolls as gifts on the priests’ way back would be just perfect. That’s what we’re making, right? Agree?”
Ha!
A sigh of resignation escaped from Lyat.
