The Bear Doll Craze
It was on the third day after I'd finally regained my freedom that she came looking for me. Sure, I still had to manage the tower and prepare lectures, but amazingly, even after all that, I had time left over. Four whole hours of leisure time, including sleep. Compared to the old days when I could barely rest and had to drag myself to the infirmary for forced recovery, it felt like paradise.
I was flipping through a magic book for the first time in ages when someone summoned me. It was from doll number 134. I ran through my mental list of dolls. Who was it again? 134... 134... Ah, Kasian. During the second treasure hunt, we'd exchanged names, and I'd learned who she really was. The incarnation of talent who'd beaten me, reaching the 2nd Floor in just one year of enrollment. Rumors said she was studying directly under a professor. True or not, she remained an awkward presence for me.
Still, she'd called, so I had to go. She and her sword gang had claimed three empty rooms on the 2nd Floor. Excluding classrooms and the infirmary, there were eight rooms total on that floor. Snagging three showed their strength. And no one dared mess with them. During the second treasure hunt, they'd hunted down vengeful mages, hacked off their limbs, and hung them from pillars—right up until lectures ended. Who'd cross them after seeing that? Not me.
I knocked carefully on the door of Kasian's room. A vacant-looking face popped out. Kasian. She spotted me and stepped outside quickly, with doll 134—marked on its shoulder—trailing behind her.
"You called, Ms. Kasian?"
"Old man, change this for me."
Her finger pointed at doll 134. I took control and inspected it swiftly. But I had to tilt my head in confusion soon after. There was nothing wrong with it.
"No issues at all. What's the problem?"
She pointed at the number etched on its shoulder and shook her head.
"When it's covered like this, I can't tell if it's mine or not. I don't like it."
She had a point. All the dolls were made to identical specs. The only way to tell them apart was the numbers on their shoulders. Back when I made them, I hadn't thought about looks at all. I just wanted out of that hell as fast as possible, so I'd mass-produced them for efficiency.
"Sorry. I've used up all the materials; I can't make new dolls."
I bowed my head. It was true—I'd poured every point into making them, so no more materials.
She pondered, then extended her hand. A ring gleamed on her finger.
"One hundred points."
"Hm. While materials are gone, I've thought of a way. We can remake this one as a base. What form would you like?"
I smiled. She pulled a paper from her bosom. A crudely drawn bear filled it—head and body almost the same size.
"Can you do something like this?"
I took the paper and examined it. Nothing special, just an odd-shaped bear. Changing the exterior was simple, especially adding bulk like this.
"Of course. Wait thirty minutes, and I'll bring the new doll."
I bowed, took the drawing and doll, escorted her back inside, then hurried to my workshop.
Now to study the drawing properly. The bear's face was rough lines, body lacking detail. Proportions off, limbs too short—awkward and twisted overall. But the intent shone through: cuteness. This hand-drawn sketch brimmed with the desire to capture an adorable bear. I could feel it in every stroke.
So I'd craft the doll to match. First, I disassembled 134 perfectly, handling each part and circuit with care until it was done. These pieces would live again in the new bear doll.
Next, the body. I carved wood to mesh seamlessly with the doll parts, centering the torso. I reconnected 134's components, restoring functions step by step. Then arms and legs—short as in the drawing, barely meeting at the chest. Attached them to the torso.
The head came last, nearly torso-sized. This was the core: big round eyes, tiny mouth, stubby snout. I fine-tuned every detail meticulously.
Assembled, the doll had bizarre proportions—head and body equal, limbs half that. But it was cute. Inefficient as hell, but that's what she wanted. For the points, I'd deliver exactly that.
Finally, I added monster fur for lifelike texture, blending bear and beast hair naturally. Seeing it finished, I knew Kasian would love it.
I infused mana. Its Mana Heart pulsed anew. It stood awkwardly. Still needed tweaks.
After checking every function, I took it back to the 2nd Floor. Kasian waited at the stairs. Her eyes sparkled as the waddling bear doll descended behind me. She watched it approach without a word.
"This the one?"
Her gaze stuck to the bear doll. I smiled warmly. I'd always optimized for perfect proportions before; this was new. But from inefficiency bloomed fresh value—something I'd overlooked.
I handed over control and gave warnings.
"Modifying the form deleted some functions—it can't do certain things now. Mana consumption's higher too, so no overexertion, or it'll stop by day's end."
"Yeah, I love it. Thanks, old man."
She offered her ring. I touched mine to it; mana flowed—100 points. A drought-ending rain for my empty score pool.
She took the doll back to her room. I returned to the workshop, buzzing with inspiration. With this leisure, why not make a new doll?
Soon, she paraded the bear doll everywhere—1st or 2nd Floor, friend or foe—flashing it with a grin. Her natural promo drew others to me.
Just as I'd hoped from her mod. They asked prices. I had a standard: 100 points. Less would irk Kasian, and first customers set the benchmark for credibility. Plus, it covered the dolls' base cost—they were still mine. Thirty points per in materials alone; I wasn't giving them away.
I explained to each visitor. Many shook heads and left. Fair enough—just a cosmetic change, no function boost. Even I wondered why Kasian spent so much.
Days passed. She kept showing it off; they came, heard the price, left. Then Jun requested first mod.
With his space box treasure, he'd gathered low-rank mages into a group. Mostly underdogs carving territory in the tower. They'd snagged one corner room on the 1st Floor. But Jun wasn't satisfied. He seized the 1st Floor while elites moved up, thanks to his treasure's power.
Then he charged non-joiners usage fees. Most joined to avoid the burden. Half the lecture attendees now belonged to him—another major faction propping up the class.
I admired his savvy. Turning every chance to gain—cunning I'd spotted when he stole the treasure. That quiet bulk hid a fox.
Knowing his game, I guessed his visit: show off first. Being the pioneer screams elite.
I greeted him, burying my guess deep. Confidence radiated; no trace of prior weakness. He handed me a drawing.
"Make this into a doll."
I examined it. An elegant woman, so refined even in sketch I couldn't look away.
"Who is she...?"
"Portrait of my late wife. Not a mage; gone long ago."
He smiled bitterly. I offered brief condolences.
He left points and drawing. Back in the workshop, I studied it. She sat primly at a table, one hand on a teacup, sipping gracefully. Dignified smile, leisurely eyes—beautiful, poised.
Hard to buy as Jun's wife. He was pathetic before; now bold. But true or not, irrelevant. Points paid; deliver.
Unlike Kasian's, no full rebuild—just reshape to her build. I analyzed, adjusted the doll accordingly. Based on the drawing, her form took shape quickly. I poured effort into the face: deep eyes, relaxed smile, mimicking the sketch's essence on the doll's "canvas" for 3D effect.
After failures, she emerged from the page. Awkward, but my best. A faint lifelikeness stirred.
What clothes? A dress suited her—and Jun's intent. The drawing provided perfect reference: antique gown hugging her curves, embroidered skirt to knees, exuding nobility.
With my fabrics and leathers, I couldn't replicate perfectly, but close enough. Dressed, she radiated poise—like sleeping serenely.
Mana to the heart. It beat; eyes opened. Perfect.
I tested movements. Natural, since minimal changes. But lacking. Efficient paths felt wrong for her.
What suited her? The bear doll came to mind—value from inefficiency. Grace felt similar: uniqueness from deliberate waste.
I refined motions, referencing Eily—most elegant I'd met. Long time thinking of her. Where was she now? Unimaginable.
Finished, the doll oozed elegance. I smiled. Jun would love it.
Spot on. He beamed, added fifty points as bonus, left.
Requests flooded. Kasian's bear tempted; Jun's lady convinced—they offered extras for theirs.
Points poured in. I grinned happily, plotting more sales. Not just looks—functions too. Tea-serving, scented, expressive faces. Low-point add-ons.
Leisure vanished to mods, but who cared? Scores multiplied. Bliss.
The unease hit after the fiftieth mod. My one-year university anniversary.