The Doll, the Diary, and the Deal

"And finally."

Pila placed the doll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the workbench. It was the wooden puppet she'd shown me last time. But it had changed a lot. Now it had the intricate form of a ball-jointed doll, perfectly shaped like a human. The level of detail made it look like a shrunken living person. About the size of two palms held side by side. The joints in its limbs connected smoothly, making it seem like it could actually move. And it had a face. The eyes were closed on the face of the host whose body it had last possessed. Silver long hair, black gothic lolita outfit, a lace headband, puffed sleeves, and a long skirt layered with frills.

"This is what it turned into after sealing. Normally, if a soul can materialize its own form like this, it means the soul has a high rank. The doll reflects how the soul envisions itself."

Pila picked up the doll and turned it this way and that. "Pretty amazing, right? It moves just like a real person. See?"

She bent the doll's arm. It folded and unfolded smoothly. It wasn't wood, nor porcelain, nor assembled joints. There was a skeleton beneath skin like a human's.

"Want to take a look?"

I took the doll and moved it left and right, flipping it over top to bottom. No panties on the inside when flipped. It had a realism that didn't feel like a doll at all.

This is what attracts monsters, huh.

Pila watched my actions, her pupils trembling. "Why'd you flip it over?"

"It looked so real, I got curious."

Pila's cheeks flushed pink, seeming half-convinced. I tucked the doll into my bosom. This was another valuable item.

"I'll need to get a sheath made separately."

"Bring it by, and I'll enchant it for you."

I picked up the magic sword. "Pila."

"Yes?"

"I've got a favor to ask."

Pila tilted her head. "Can't you come with me to the forest?"

Her eyes widened. "The forest? M-me?"

"Yeah. I need the help of an excellent mage like you."

Pila fidgeted with her fingers. She chewed her lips, starting to say something several times before swallowing it back. "I-isn't it dangerous? If someone like me tags along, I'll just be a burden..."

"It has to be you, Pila."

"M-me specifically?"

She looked at me in panic, then nodded heavily. "O-okay, I'll go."

Her lips trembled. "B-but can I prepare a bit first? A c-customer's due soon."

"Sure..."

Knock knock.

No sooner had I spoken than a knock echoed from the workshop door. Pila jumped in surprise and pushed me away. Stumbling back, I ended up behind a curtain at her bed in the inner room.

"P-please stay here just a sec. I-it'll be quick."

Her face nearly in tears, Pila drew the bed curtain to hide me. The bed was a mess. Like last time, blankets were piled thick—more like a carpet than bedding. Without proper duvets, she seemed to use these rugs as covers. On top lay a notebook and quill pen, with black ink stains nearby. The notebook was open, illuminated by a small magic lamp inside the curtain, revealing the writing. Crooked handwriting. Her unique script was hard to decipher at a glance. But one line matched my memory, jumping out immediately.

I was closing the diary when—

Creeeak.

The door opened, and a woman's footsteps entered the workshop.

"Is the prepared item ready?"

A businesslike woman's voice.

"Y-yes! Here's the recipe and the finished product made from it. I packed it carefully too."

Pila hemmed and hawed but handed over the prepped items to the woman.

"Confirmed. Results will be notified once the review is complete."

"Y-yes. Thank you. T-take care!"

Pila bowed deeply, seeing the woman off. "E-Eck? She's gone. You can come out now."

Pila pulled back the curtain. As I emerged from the bed and glanced at the workbench, all the piled parchments were gone.

"Who was that just now?"

"Oh, someone from the Lord's Castle."

Pila pressed a hand to her chest and took a deep breath. "Today's the day they pick up my submission for the qualification exam."

"Exam?"

"Yeah. Every set period, I submit results to renew my direct qualification from the lord. Passing gets me funding from the castle."

Direct mage under the lord. A qualification given to mages recognized by the lord in the territory. It came with research funding and even immunity for experiment accidents.

Pila clasped her hands tightly. Her eyes sparkled behind her glasses. "This time, I'm really confident. I organized the recipe neatly, and the final product is stable. I think I'll pass. No, I have to pass. This is my last chance."

Then she looked up at me. "If I pass, it's thanks to you, Eck."

"What do you mean, thanks to me?"

"No, really. If you hadn't helped with the experiments, I couldn't have tested the effects properly. Trying an aphrodisiac on my female body—what good would that have done? Hehe."

Pila grinned like she'd already passed. Seeing that face, I smiled bitterly.

"..."

I shut my mouth. Pila would fail. Advancing her personal story revealed why she ended up traveling with Elena. When they met, her qualification grace period had only months left. Desperate for a way out, she latched onto Elena. I knew the reason for the failure too. Someone intercepted Pila's invention before review. Her submission was swapped, and she flunked the exam. Stripped of her qualification, she lost her status as a direct lord's mage.

Actually, it was for the best.

Not the greatest feeling, though.

And I'd exploit it. Pila was one of the rare companion characters who stuck with Elena until the late game. Keeping talent like this tied to the Lord's Castle was a loss. Even if something shady was attached to her position, with the chaos ahead, it was a petty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠issue—and disliking Pila was my personal hang-up anyway. She was no different from a pretty boy, really. Just me making a fuss.

Too much talent to waste on something like that.

"Just in case."

So I said this: "If you fail, for whatever reason, I'll sponsor you, Pila. Workshop, research funds, materials—whatever you need, I'll cover it."

"W-what? Huh?"

Pila's mouth opened and closed. "Y-you don't have to do that. I'll pass. But... thanks. Hehe."

She fidgeted with her fingers. Swallowed dryly, greed flashing on her face. "S-so even if I fail, you'll take me in, Eck? I'm... happy."

"So just wait for the results easy. No sulking if you don't pass."

"O-okay."

Moisture welled in Pila's eyes. She removed her glasses and wiped them with her sleeve. "Th-thank you, Eck. Really, thank you. You're the first person who's done this much for me since leaving home."

"I'm just averse to seeing talented people struggle over money."

"T-talented?"

"You're a direct lord's mage—you've already proven your skill. Pila, you're an amazing mage. At least, that's what I believe."

"Hehe. Uhahaha."

Pila turned away from me, rubbing her face with both hands. Drool dripped from her hunched posture.

Still weak to praise, as ever.

"Then get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ready to head to the forest."

"Yes! I'll be quick!"

She beamed dopily. But as she started to remove her robe, she froze, face reddening, and turned back. "W-wait, let me change... C-could you step out? N-not that I'm forcing you or anything... uh..."

"...I'll wait outside."

I left the workshop and waited by the door.

The streets outside the city gates were deserted. The area bustling with adventurers earlier was empty now, save for a few training in the parade ground. The path to the forest. Pila walked beside me. Matching my stride relaxed her face. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Excited for her first outing in ages, she surged ahead, her long pink hair swaying like a tail. Each time, her robe clung to her hips, teasing my eyes.

Gotta get used to that.

I repeated inwardly, Pila's a guy. But thinking of her only replayed her past in my mind. Combined with the diary I'd unwillingly seen, related memories surfaced.

Pila Emerson. Mage from the Crimson Tower. As top student, her talent was recognized, pegged as a future leader. But mages implant a "seed," a ritual formula into their bodies. The seed maximizes efficiency in related magic. Implant a flame seed, and you conjure fire without chants. Your choice sets your lifelong path.

Once implanted, a seed can't be removed—choose wisely. Pila chose explosion magic.

Explosion magic. Niche among niches. Top-tier power, but notoriously hard to control. Worst for research environments, risky for allies in combat too. Pila picked it. Or rather, was tricked into it.

"Explosion magic isn't so bad."

"You can handle it, Senior Pila."

"You're the top student anyway."

Seduced by warm words from peers for the first time. Pila, the loner, gloomy stutterer, soaked up professors' attention. That talent was a thorn to her classmates. Thus, the promising top student's future exploded pointlessly. From elite to dropout in an instant. A mage who couldn't research had no place in the tower.

Her own responsibility, too.

Pila knew explosion magic's flaws but fell for empty words. Regrettable, but no urge to console her.

Pity won't help anyway.

And I already knew her future. So what I could do was one thing.

BOOM!!!

Pila thrust her staff forward. A massive force erupted in the midst of the wolf pack blocking the forest path. Leaves scattered like in a storm, blood and flesh splattering messily onto nearby branches. Smoke cleared, leaving nothing behind. Surviving wolves tucked tails and fled.

Pila hugged her staff, shoulders hunched tight. "This is my magic. Lame, right? Doesn't even leave corpses—no materials or magic stones."

A servile smile tugged her lips. "B-but I can use other magic too. Might not help with hunting, but s-surely it'll be useful somehow."

Her excuse reeked of resignation toward her own magic.

I eyed the blast epicenter. "How much stronger can you make the power?"

Pila looked up. "Huh?"

"Saying that 'cause it looks useful. How much more?"

Her hand gripped the staff hard. Lips moved but words died unspoken. Behind her glasses, her pupils quaked. "N-never tried max output."

She raised her staff, voice trembling thin. "I-I'll try now."

"No rush. Can do it later."

"R-really...?"

Tension drained from Pila's shoulders. But her fingertips on the staff stayed white-knuckled.

Explosion magic was strong. Underrated precisely because of that power—perfect for the wars ahead. During this hunt, I'd fill Pila's lacking confidence. By the end, the way she looked at me would change.