Chapter 29. The Living Familiar

My Sloth Force pierced through the air, replicating the shape of the receding carriage exactly.

"Waaah! Daddaa! Carriiaage! Carriiaage!"

Lulu bounced excitedly in my arms, her eyes sparkling.

The creation, woven from pitch-black Sloth Force, resembled Se Rena's carriage but exuded a far simpler, sturdier vibe—a jet-black carriage.

Satisfied with Lulu's reaction, I smiled and began designing the interior.

Let's see, space expansion to about 30 pyeong should do.

Drawing on modern sensibilities, I envisioned two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a neat bathroom. The windows got special attention. From outside, it would look like a crude carriage with a single small window, but inside, a massive panoramic window would offer sweeping views of the continent.

Crimson-black Sloth Force enveloped the entire carriage, rippling. The absolute authority to create something from nothing focused entirely on this one mode of transport.

"Yeah. Perfect."

I murmured softly and set Lulu down on the ground. She gazed up at me, unable to look away, full of wonder. I flashed a grin and said,

"Wanna tour the house now?"

"Ung! Loove it! House toour!"

Lulu hugged Mimi tightly and toddled toward the carriage on her short legs. But she stopped short. The door threshold was too high for a child, and the handle was out of reach.

"Oops."

I quickly flicked my Sloth Force, adding a sturdy step below the door and a low handle perfectly sized for Lulu.

I'll have to adjust the height as she grows.

Muttering it like a routine plan, I approached, grabbed the handle, and looked at Lulu, brimming with anticipation.

"Ready?"

"Ung ung!"

Lulu nodded vigorously, stomping her feet.

"Alright, opening it up."

Creeeak—.

The door swung open to reveal a plain, cramped carriage interior. But the moment I stepped in, space warped unrealistically, unfolding an entirely different world.

"Waaaah—!"

Lulu shrieked and nearly dashed inside, then paused and glanced back. Remembering the manners I'd taught her, she politely slipped off her worn shoes, lined them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up neatly, and bolted toward the living room.

"Waaaah! Daddaa! It's reeal biggg!"

I chuckled at her adorable retreating figure and took off my shoes.

Lulu's footsteps echoed cheerfully as I strolled leisurely toward the living room.

Straight ahead, the massive panoramic window framed the outside scenery like a painting. Dust winds still blew, trash heaps tumbled across the barren landscape—but we'd soon bid that farewell.

"Perfect."

I murmured, recalling memories from my past life. A house like this would've cost hundreds of millions, maybe billions.

"Bittersweet, huh~."

Humming, I scooped up Lulu lightly.

Time for furniture placement.

With Lulu in tow, I toured the house, summoning Sloth Force.

First, a plush sofa and wide table ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the living room. No TV made it feel a tad empty, but the grand window added its own charm.

Every time furniture popped into existence from thin air, Lulu squealed, "Waaah!" in delight.

We headed straight to the kitchen next.

Induction stove, vent hood, built-in fridge—all lined up sleekly.

Lulu chattered excitedly to Mimi.

"Mimiyaa, looook! That... coold box thingy!"

Her voice as background music, I moved to the bathroom and vanity.

Toilet, sink, tub, shower booth—every fixture got a sturdy step for Lulu's height.

I didn't need to wash, but this was about vibes. Lulu couldn't bathe alone yet, so I planned generously, assuming a nanny later.

Finally, the two bedrooms.

One for Lulu and me, the other for the future nanny.

Blackout curtains, soft lighting, desk—perfect setup. I explained each room to Lulu, then sank deep into the living room sofa.

Clatter clatter...

Lulu hugged Mimi, darting busily between living room and bedrooms, exploring.

Watching her joyful back, my thoughts drifted.

Hm... a familiar.

Servants summonable from Upper Demon rank onward.

Different from regular demon kin.

Living beings forged from my own mana—strength scaled with input, absolute obedience to the master. Personality, habits, appearance—all programmable per my will.

I instinctively knew how to make one.

Just... tediously bothersome.

The issue is... how it'll look to others.

I propped my chin, pondering deeply. But not for long.

Eh, whatever.

From Se Rena's memories earlier—summoned beasts and spirits with egos. That made it close enough to a summon. A rabbit doll form was quirky, sure...

High mages and elves have weird tastes anyway. If I say it's my style, who'll argue?

Tedious, yeah. But if it meant strolling hand-in-hand with Lulu, bringing her joy—worth the hassle.

Decision made, I called out.

"Lulu, come here?"

"Ung! Daddaa!" Lulu replied, clutching Mimi and toddling over.

I lifted her onto the sofa beside me and asked softly,

"Lulu, what does Mimi think? Like it?"

As I spoke, I subtly extended Sloth Force, scanning Lulu's memories and mind.

The personality, voice, and shared moments she'd given the doll washed over me like waves.

"Ung! Mimi loooves it suuuper!"

Confirmed, I stroked her head and continued.

"Good. But Lulu, does Mimi ever feel stuffy or sad 'cause she can't move?"

"Nuuu, it's fineee! Lulu takes caaare of Mimi. No saddd, promise? Nooo! Hehe."

Her plucky reply made me mutter like to myself,

"Hm, guess I won't make Mimi moveable then. She's okay as is?"

Lulu's eyes widened in panic, grabbing my sleeve.

"Nuuu! Lulu suuometimes gets suuuper sad... a liiiittle..."

Her sneaky backpedal was so cute, I burst out laughing.

"Alright then. How about Mimi holds hands, plays, eats, chats with you? Better?"

"Hold haaands with Mimi? Playyy? Suuuper... looove it! Mimi move too... pleeease!"

Lulu snuggled into my lap, eyes shining.

"Ung, looove! Hehe. Buuut... howww?"

"Leave it to Dad. Put Mimi here first? Next to you and me."

Lulu placed Mimi side-by-side with us on the sofa.

"Like thiiis?"

"Yeah. Close your eyes now, count till I say done."

"Ung, okaaay!"

Lulu squeezed her eyes shut, folding tiny fingers to count.

"Oooone... twuuu... oooone... twuuu?"

I panicked inwardly.

She only knew 'one, two.' My mistake. Math lessons first thing later.

As Lulu struggled with numbers, I conjured a translucent system window from past-life memories over my vision.

A personal design: translating magic into logical numbers for control.

Lulu's memory of Mimi merged with Sloth Force, taking physical form.

In the doll's stuffing, intricate neural networks formed; a thin but sturdy Sloth Force skeleton took shape.

"Oooone... twuuu... Hee, Daddaa, Lulu count good?"

Lulu's voice pleaded for praise, eyes still shut tight.

Smiling, my fingers swept through the air, tweaking complex equations and graphs.

Lulu's memory fragments converted to precise code, shaping Mimi's ego.

Has to be perfect. No mistakes.

I chanted inwardly. Not 0.1% error, not one logic flaw allowed.

Creating my daughter's friend—family—no room for 'good enough.'

I suppressed the rippling crimson-black Sloth Force, threading neural networks into Mimi's fabric lining.

Instantly, the limp rabbit doll's finger on the sofa twitched faintly.

I tapped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the air like a final confirm button.

"...You can open your eyes now, Lulu."

The floating system window dissolved into particles and vanished.

I exhaled long and secretly, sinking deeper into the sofa backrest.

Whew... not easy.

I wiped cold sweat from my brow.

Destruction? One finger. But scanning Lulu's memories, wiring logic circuits, embedding permanent bindings—leagues apart.

I'd ransacked my inner 'library' of preserved past-life knowledge, squeezing every drop of processing power.

But the reward outweighed the throbbing headache.

"...!"

Lulu's eyes flew open, locking onto Mimi slowly lifting her head on the sofa.

The stuffed rabbit wiggled her stubby arms, then sat up on her own.

A faint glow flickered in her button eyes, turning toward Lulu.

"Heeellooo, Lulu? Didja... finish countiiing?"

A clumsy, mushy voice—just like Lulu's. Exactly the friend from her memories.

"...Mimi?"

Lulu's voice quavered thinly.

Mimi wobbled onto Lulu's lap, grasping her tiny hand with cotton-puff paws.

"Ung, Lulu! Mimi can play with yooou now! Ung, ung!"

Mimi nodded fiercely, leaping into Lulu's arms.

The impact sent fat teardrops tumbling from Lulu's eyes.

Tears of pure joy, dreamlike bliss.

"Waaaah! Daddaa! Mimi's! Mimi's mooooving for reaaal!"

Lulu crushed Mimi in a hug, rolling across the living room floor.

As Lulu shrieked in happiness, Mimi wriggled free, dusting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her cotton paws.

"Uuuung, ung! Luluuu, let's go thaaat way and plaaay! Mimi's the biiiiggest!"

Mimi pointed to the kitchen, hopping away bouncily.

Her tomboyish back made Lulu's eyes shine brighter.

"Ung! Looove! Mimi biiiiggest! Gooo together!"

Lulu chased after.

I watched warmly, massaging my throbbing temples.

...Yeah, if you like it, that's enough.

Rewarding, sure. But not doing it twice.

I closed my eyes languidly, surrendering to the noisy happiness of Lulu and Mimi.

Empire of Barshak, Imperial Palace corridor.

Urgent yet restrained footsteps shattered the silence.

Intelligence Director Marcus steadied his ragged breath before the emperor's office.

The guarding knights were human weapons forged not by divine grace, but imperial rigor.

"Intelligence Director Marcus requests audience with His Majesty. Urgent matter!"

With the knights' signals, the grand doors parted.

Inside, cool chill mingled with candle-scent smoke.

Behind the desk, Emperor Gaius didn't lift his eyes from documents, commanding softly,

"...Enter."

Marcus knelt, bowing his head.

Emperor Gaius despised divine authority, trusting only human will—an iron-fisted ruler.

To him, Marcus reported in a trembling voice,

"Your Majesty, two reports from the front lines. First... the demon forces overwhelming the battlefield withdrew en masse, without warning."

The emperor's pen halted.

"Withdrew? Did the demon king's army surrender, or did the gods work a miracle?"

"Neither. No divine revelations, and the demons fled to their stronghold as if chased by something."

Gaius's brow furrowed.

A variable terrifying demons wasn't in imperial calculations.

But Marcus's next report tested the emperor's patience.

"Second... regarding the hero. Defying Your Majesty's order to pursue demons, he's left the battlefield alone, heading back to the Empire."

Bam—!

Gaius slammed the desk. The heavy table groaned.

"The Empire's hero dares move without my command?"

His voice chilled, trembling.

To Gaius, the hero wasn't a divine proxy.

Just a pitiable child—his subject—dragged into godly whims, forced to wield an unwanted sword.

"I hid that child deepest in the Empire to distance him from those loathsome divine voices. And yet..."

Complex emotions swirled in Gaius's eyes.

The gods had finally shattered the boy's mind, turning him into a broken doll ignoring his lord's orders—blood boiled at the thought.

"What whispers from those arrogant gods made the boy scream and race here?!"

Marcus held his breath amid the emperor's overwhelming presence and odd pity.

Gaius stared into the dark beyond the window, commanding coldly,

"Uncover the root of these anomalies: demon retreat, hero's rogue return. I tolerate no variables beyond my control—least of all those tormenting my people."

The emperor's icy decree crushed the room.

"...As you command, Your Majesty."

Marcus, sweating under the pressure, bowed deeply.

He backed away several steps, slipping out silently.

Clunk—.

The heavy doors closed; silence returned.

Gaius gazed at the blood-red dusk outside with unreadable eyes.

The hero racing toward the Empire. The unknown force repelling demons.

His fingers drummed the desk rhythmically.

"Gods have no place on this continent."

He scanned the sunset Empire horizon.

"Be it divine prank or continent-shaking calamity—all on my soil falls under imperial law alone."

Dusk frosted the emperor's cold eyes; the Empire's long night began.