Customizing My Mary
What's this? Why no hole?
"What's this? Why no hole?"
I had no idea who made Mary, but shoddy workmanship like this made my blood boil. If you're going to make something that looks like a person, shouldn't you at least drill a hole or two? That's just basic decency, right?
Pushing her soft brown hair behind her ear revealed not an ear canal, but a flat expanse of hard plastic. This kind of careless oversight ruined what could have been perfect beauty.
Break free from prejudice.
In a flash, my lifelong creed flickered through my mind, and enlightenment struck.
This wasn't laziness or sloppiness. It was deliberate. Intentional empty space.
Like letting players choose the game's ending, they'd left the ear for the owner to customize to their taste.
I'd been so narrow-minded.
Just as meticulously carving an ear was one right answer, leaving it uncarved was another.
"In that spirit, I guess I'll have to make one for her myself."
I stroked Mary's soft brown hair. It felt just like real human hair. She could've had a touch of the anomalous to match her nature, but no matter.
A thorough check confirmed no dents or damage. Good.
Thank goodness.
Capturing Mary hadn't been hard.
[I'm Mary. I'm right behind you...!]
The moment I picked up the phone, she appeared behind me. A backspin blow into a one-two combo left her groggy, and I finished her off with a steel pipe.
Since she wasn't human, I didn't hesitate much. She went down at just the right moment—any longer, and I might've had to damage her to preserve her intact.
I wanted to savor her charms a bit more, but...
No time left.
Anomaly 'Mary' has been contained in the Containment Facility.
Mission success!
You have gained control authority over the Containment Facility.
The Shop has been unlocked.
A bunch of new stuff had appeared. Before checking one by one, I hopped into the gallery to express my thanks.
Notice? There it was, pinned at the top.
Containment Gallery Usage Guidelines
1. Use a fixed nickname to avoid confusion.
2. Try using a unique speech style different from others. Individuality is good too.
Nickname, huh. Someone had snagged "Newbie." Everyone else's seemed to reflect their personal spin on running a Containment Facility. Mine should be Management Director. My facility wouldn't just contain—it would manage with genuine affection and care.
What the hell with these people?
I wanted to nibble her all over because she's so cute? I was going insane thinking about customizing her to my tastes and giving her a good spanking right now. Am I the crazy one?
Suddenly, I faced a mental pollution test. The questions were so basic they weren't even common sense.
Q. How many fingers? A. 5.
Q. Order of eye, nose, mouth? A. Eye, nose, mouth.
Once I aced the no-brainers, the gallery folks relaxed.
Our tastes in beauty differed, but they didn't harp on it. Fair enough—beauty is subjective.
But what did "farm coins and hit the shop" mean?
I stared at the comments in horror.
Subdue? Break them?
For a bit more reward, they'd do something so horrific?
Even if I skimped on food and gear, I'd care for and cherish them properly. Wasn't locking them away from freedom and desires punishment enough?
I'd come to adore Mary, not break her.
Mary's containment cell.
A note sat in front, detailing her info.
Name: Mary
Adult mannequin resembling a large doll for girls. Has brown hair. Attacks and kills whoever answers her call.
Caution: No communication devices allowed in Mary's cell. She gains superhuman strength if present.
The note missed every bit of her charm.
Brown hair, unblinking painted eyes. The eerie mannequin frame clashing with frilly lace that kids would love—gap moe perfection.
Just thinking brought it all up, yet the note was trash.
I needed to add more myself.
*
Mary was a man-eater. From kids to elders, no discrimination—nearing triple digits in kills.
It was fun.
The displeasure, tension, fear from phone victims—pure ecstasy, incomparable.
Mom hiding behind the kid who answered. Middle-aged man clutching family photo after tossing the phone. Youth dreaming big, elder wrapping up life.
The thrill of dragging humans to ruin would always be hers.
Until she met the man scribbling in the notebook before her now.
Now Mary lived in despair.
"Mary, thanks for appreciating my hourly care? I know."
Mary's eyes trembled ever so slightly.
"Mary's eyes flutter when she's happy."
The man muttered, jotting it down.
"She seems to have some intelligence..."
Can't let him find out she has a mind.
Instinct. If discovered, things would spiral uncontrollably.
Mary feared the man.
His baffling acts hid pure goodwill and love. Poison that strangled anomalies beyond death or erasure.
Their sole weakness. Their ultimate terror.
Worst: no matter what, he wouldn't kill her. That drove her mad.
Please kill me. Please!
Mary had no mouth. But she needed to scream. Maybe someone would hear, come, get caught—splitting his attention.
*
XX:XX Mary repeats one-way speech via comms device. Gender unknown. Cognition unknown. Deemed impossible for rapport.
XX:XX For management preserving individuality, see Appendix 1-A.
XX:XX Noted oddity: salty taste near eyes after spanking. Repeated: same result.
XX:XX Director customized Mary's look per whim. Prior appearance: see 20-page Appendix 1-B. Changes: 1-C.
XX:XX Brown hair decolorizing. Cause unknown. Isolated from outside contact.
XX:XX Returned to brown. Will monitor periodically.
.
.
.
.
XX:XX Fully white-haired. Suspect cyclical like seasons. Will check regularly.
Anomaly 'Mary' has been completely subdued.
Soul Imprint 'Mary's Broadcast' acquired.
1 coin acquired.
First subdual! +5 coins bonus.
First Soul Imprint! +5 coins bonus.
"What the hell."
Special case with Mary? Needed to catch others and check.
Really weird.
I'd just cherished her.
"Don't be like that, Mary?"