Teddy Bear Doll (7)
Moreover, she wanted to keep the teddy bear doll's special nature a secret just for herself. If word got out, others might start coveting it.
'Can't go cutting open the goose that lays the golden eggs.'
So, she had no choice but to hide the teddy bear doll's uniqueness. But what if someone discovered the secret?
'They'd throw a fit trying to take it.'
That's why she had to meet him. Jin Haesol, the one who'd gifted her the teddy bear doll. He surely knew the truth behind this extraordinary toy.
Bianca calmed her pounding heart as best she could and waited impatiently for tomorrow.
The next day.
Bianca arrived at the meeting spot first. Ten minutes before the appointed time, Jin Haesol appeared.
Knock knock.
"Ah!"
"Hello?"
Jin Haesol came into view, removing his glasses as he sat down.
'When did he get here?'
"Come on in."
"Didn't expect you'd call me to a place like this."
Thump thump.
Jin Haesol, whom she was meeting again, still possessed that overwhelming beauty. Mindful of the stares around them, he slipped his glasses back on.
"Doesn't suit your taste? You'll change your mind once you try the food. This place is a total hidden gem."
"Is that so? Now I'm looking forward to it."
The teddy bear doll's advice had hit the mark perfectly! Jin Haesol seemed genuinely surprised that she'd chosen such an ordinary(?) spot.
They ordered two meals and, while waiting, conversation began to flow.
'Stay calm and chat. You can do this, Bianca!'
She worked hard to keep her expression neutral, took a sip of water, and broached the topic.
"Ahem. I heard you had some trouble with a woman named Noh Heekyung on Masked Singer."
"Masked Singer is super strict about performer privacy, yet you knew about it like it was common knowledge."
"Information like that's easy to come by for me. Melissa's the same. She found out about the bad blood between you and Noh Heekyung that day and took care of it."
"I've seen Noh Heekyung popping up in the news lately—is that what you mean?"
"Exactly. Every article about her right now? Melissa's handiwork."
Drugs, drunk driving, sexual harassment. Noh Heekyung's reputation had plummeted to rock bottom, a spectacle of utter downfall. And it was all Melissa's doing.
Not fabricating crimes out of thin air, of course. The woman already reeked of scandal; Melissa had just amplified that stench for the world to smell.
A simple task for Bianca, but to ordinary folks, it was the terrifying power of the elite.
"I wondered why those stories blew up all of a sudden. Had no idea I was involved. Should I send her a thank-you note?"
"She loves helping in secret and then bragging about it later. She'll probably take credit with you once the Noh Heekyung buzz dies down—claim she crushed her."
What would the person in question feel upon learning their foe's collapse was tied to her? Gratitude wouldn't cut it.
"She secretly wants you to fear her a bit. To realize how immense her power is, and all the perks that come with it."
A masterful way to toy with emotions. Especially effective at seducing proud men. That's why Bianca worried Jin Haesol might fall completely under Melissa's spell. She needed to warn him not to underestimate her.
"She's toyed with truckloads of guys. Don't let your guard down. This is just the beginning. You mentioned overseas activities starting? You'll get tons of help there too. She's got deep connections in that scene."
Bianca patiently laid out Melissa's patterns one by one.
"Impressive. The fact she can pull all that off."
"Hehe, don't get too scared. I promised to protect you, didn't I? Nothing bad will happen to you."
Jin Haesol's slightly intimidated look was so adorable, she couldn't help but let out a flirtatious laugh.
Wiggle!
Wiggle!
I'm suffocating. Let me out!
'Oh no!'
Caught up in chatting with Jin Haesol, she'd forgotten the teddy bear doll stuffed in her pocket.
Snapping back to reality, Bianca spoke up.
"Everything she offers? Feel free to accept it. Even if you take all the perks and then reject her confession, she won't retaliate. She knows it's all unsolicited favors. There was even a time when a guy she targeted rejected her fiercely, and she backed off gracefully."
That guy had no clue. Losing Melissa's interest was the revenge.
The benefits hadn't seemed so vital while he enjoyed them, but the moment they vanished, he crumbled and begged her. Pleading for her love again.
Melissa happily accepted. Restored the perks. Then, bit by bit, over time, she cut them off again.
The man realized she no longer loved him and cheated with another chaebol heiress who could provide the same luxuries. The affair was exposed, and Melissa's romance ended for good.
"If he was clueless, fine—but suddenly losing all those perks? Yeah, it'd drive anyone mad."
"She hates overly fierce rejections too. Loves it when men dance to her tune. So give her the feeling she's got you in her grasp."
Cater to Melissa's whims without fully surrendering. Bianca stressed over and over that giving in led only to tragedy.
She didn't want to see Jin Haesol fall for Melissa—a jealousy she hadn't yet admitted to herself.
Screeech!
Screeech!
"Gasp! Oh, no!"
In the midst of her nonstop warnings about Melissa, something caught Bianca's eye.
The teddy bear doll had somehow climbed onto the table, wriggling desperately! She'd assumed it would play the perfect doll around others, never imagining this.
Bianca lunged to snatch it, but someone beat her to it.
"H-Haesol-ssi!"
"This is the teddy bear doll I gave you. Wow, how'd it get so cute? It's even wearing a dress."
The teddy bear doll sat primly on Haesol's palm, bashfully posing.
Am I pretty?
"Looks like you've really taken good care of it. That's why the progress shot up so fast? What happens at 100%? It was stuck at 99% forever."
"Huh?"
Bianca stared blankly at Jin Haesol casually chatting with the teddy bear doll.
His overwhelming visuals paired with the adorable pink teddy bear doll were so captivating, they made her forget her surroundings.
Finally snapping out of it, Bianca spoke up late.
"So you knew all along. What were you thinking, gifting me a doll that moves on its own? How'd you even get it? Do you have some special power?"
She'd bottled up her questions about the teddy bear doll until now. But with Jin Haesol clearly in the know, no need to hold back.
"Didn't you hear me? Jin Haesol-ssi!"
"Does this finish it?"
Pat pat!
Was he ignoring her questions? Rudely, Jin Haesol kept talking to the teddy bear doll.
"Hey, Jin Haesol-ssi! I'm talking to you!! What's the deal with that doll?"
"It's going up!"
Beep~~~~
Eh?
In that instant, Bianca's mind went hazy.
Her vision spun. Her thoughts grew foggy, the air around her heavy as if sinking into the deep sea.
?
?
?
"It's complete, Master!"
Words she could never say slipped from Bianca's lips.
"Whoa...."
The pink teddy bear doll that had been toddling cutely moments ago now lay limp in my palm. And Bianca, who'd shown not a hint of smile before, beamed brightly.
Calling me "Master" so bubbly and bright—Bianca!
Even with the results right in front of me, I could hardly believe it.
"Is that really you, Teddy Bear?"
"Yes, Master! It's me. Well, not anymore."
"Incredible."
The teddy bear doll had taken over Bianca's body. And Bianca was trapped inside the teddy bear doll.
"I had no idea 'become a puppet doll' in the usage effect worked like this."
"Thanks to your extra customization payment. I'm grateful you trusted me."
From now on, I need to read item descriptions carefully before using shop purchases.
A teddy bear doll turning into a person? It imposed a powerful brainwashing curse, so I figured Bianca would just obey my commands perfectly. Never dreamed the doll would become her.
"What if I hadn't paid extra?"
"It would've become a doll with no personality of its own. Just a doll that follows Master's orders to the letter. I won't let you regret the extra payment—I'll make it fun!"
"So you'll impersonate Bianca from now on?"
"Yep. The core's swapped, but no one will think it's weird."
"Your personalities are totally different. You already sound nothing like her."
"Don't worry! I can mimic the target's personality perfectly from all the data I've gathered. Like... this. How's that? Still weird?"
In an instant, her expression and gestures shifted. The bubbly teddy bear vibe vanished, replaced by the haughty woman Bianca had been.
"Whoa, that startled me. You're imitating Bianca right now?"
"Exactly. Why do you think I stuck by her side all this time? All to gather this. Relationships, personality, habits, memories—everything absorbed. So no worries about getting caught, Master."
Now I get what the progress bar meant. As a Korean, the slow creep frustrated me, but it was necessary.
'Kinda creepy.'
The item's name: If I Can't Have It, No One Can.
The creator must've used it. The obsession queen probably turned her love into a doll and commanded it to adore her, claiming the shell at least.
"What happens to the real Bianca now?"
"As long as the teddy bear doll isn't destroyed, she's trapped inside forever."
"Her consciousness?"
Turning her into a doll while leaving her aware would be too cruel. Even knowing it was shady, guilt crept in.
"If Master wishes, I can awaken her consciousness anytime. This body is yours. Nothing's impossible. The creator recommended some playstyles—want me to share?"
"P-Playstyles?"
Bianca—no, the teddy bear—dropped the act and bubbled brightly again.
"Wake up the consciousness trapped in the teddy bear doll, then have sex with this body in front of it! Like loving lovers!! I'll play Bianca. Can you imagine how she'll feel?"
Kyahahaha~!
"......"
The teddy bear laughed innocently, pure as can be.