“Weren’t you curious? There are much fewer magic dolls than we expected.”
Magic dolls had been disappearing in a different section than the one where Qualia and Ace were.
Clearance had been destroying them, but fewer than anticipated.
The number certainly did not match what they expected from the number of beast people freed, and the battle information they received beforehand.
“The low number of magic dolls has been registered as a motive for concern. In one hour, we were only able to make contact with three magic dolls, including one that was already destroyed. That is far less than we expected.”
“There is more to this.”
Kernel continued talking and walking with Qualia to their destination, when a knight from Clearance offered a report.
They came across a magic doll fighting a one-sided battle against beast people, and about to neutralize innocent boys and girls.
But suddenly, someone wearing a raincoat and a fox mask came down from the sky.
This person instantly made the magic doll go unconscious without destroying the magic stone, and without slowing down, held the magic doll and shot up to the cloudy sky.
That was all the knights saw, but that was the reason why there were fewer magic dolls than expected.
“Princess Lobelia contacted me about this person. Apparently their name is Anonymous.”
“Analyzing situation. Anonymous was the one to offer Lobelia information about the ancient magic stones.”
“And apparently visited Lobelia earlier… Ah, but both Princess Lobelia and the maid with the cat ears are unharmed.”
Kernel added that consideration at the end because he was already aware of what preoccupied Qualia.
“Request explanation, who is Anonymous? Why is Anonymous retrieving magic dolls?”
“It’s a complete mystery at this point…. But there are two things I can say.”
Kernel held up to fingers, and then pointed to the sky.
“First, somehow Anonymous learned about the ancient magic dolls being diverged before anyone else.”
“Affirmative. That matches Qualia’s understanding.”
“Second, Anonymous is related in some way to Princess Lobelia’s friend Love.”
“That is not registered in Qualia’s knowledge.”
“Then update it.”
Kernel rubbed the stubble on his chin and continued.
“Love was a magic doll, but with kind of special origins… I would understand if it had ‘irregular’ connections.”
“Request explanation. What does that mean?”
“…You will know if you ask Lobelia anyway, so I might as well say it.”
Kernel said while shrugging.
“The magic stone embedded in Love was an ancient magic stone, Dragon.”
“Request explanation. Ancient magic stones can be the cores of magic dolls?”
“In theory. It was a prototype to prove just that. But it was unable to use the power of the ancient magic stone, and so, it was branded a failure when it came to combat.”
“That is wrong. Fighting power is just one of the facets of magic dolls. She should not have been valued as a ‘failure’.”
“Unfortunately, that is not the place to bring ethics.”
Qualia could not accept the harsh reality.
People who knew nothing, labeling others as ‘failures’ was completely worthless. It was this label from the Sandbox family that led Qualia to hang himself when he was fully human.
But on the flip side, he came to know the girl filled with kindness. He came to know the girl that pulled him back from being a weapon to being human. The girl who stuck with him even if he was a failure.
“Ancient magic stones still hold a lot of mysteries. Who knows if they could create a sense of self.”
“That is wrong. Love’s heart did not come from it being an ancient magic stone.”
“You seem awfully certain of that.”
“Magic dolls have hearts. Qualia learned it from Ace.”
Said Qualia with a monotone voice.
Still, Kernel felt enough emotion from it to know those words came from the heart.
There was no doubt in them. They most certainly did not come from Lobelia telling him about her experiences.
That theory came from interacting with Ace. That magic dolls could have hearts.
“Analyzing situation. We should put Anonymous on hold for now. We should also deal with Liebe if we can confirm a reaction on the radar, and put it on the highest priority if it happens. Qualia will go to Ddos, and look for the intentions behind the protocol inserted in the magic dolls to kill beast people. If necessary, Qualia will neutralize them while safeguarding their vital activities, and secure them away from Ddos.”
“I see. It’s true that Ddos is at the heart of this issue. If we pull the roots, the rest will come with them.”
Qualia, Kernel, and the elite Clearance knights all stopped.
They arrived at a wide meeting area, similar to the one where Qualia faced Arrows. Although it was in the capital and not in a more remote area like the Sandbox domain, so it was larger.
Although this was a place where people gathered, all those present were beautifully dressed, to an unnatural degree. They were all nobles of upper class people.
They looked to where these people were going, although they could not see it yet.
“No doubt about it, this is that man’s house.”
“Situation understood. Ddos and Ace are here. Moving out.”
“Hey, wait! Don’t just take action alone!”
Maybe Qualia heard it, maybe not, but he pushed through the crowd and moved forward.
The black clad knights of Clearance were taken by surprise, but quickly chased after him.
Their leader, a middle aged man, stayed, and watched Qualia go, along with Kernel.
“What a strange boy.”
“Yes, but he will grow. That will be the next generation of knights.”
“Should we invite him to Clearance?”
“If we could take him, we would not need him. The moon is beautiful because it shines in an unreachable place… That strength comes from having a core and a spine.”
“…Well, he doesn’t seem to be one to follow others.”
“He should stay in Hello World, and protect Princess Lobelia.”
Kernel also followed Qualia through the busy street, and sighed as he thought about where he was headed.
“But he is still a frog in a well, with much to learn about the world. He’s only just stepped into the entrance of reality. Once he learns about the world, will he break, or will he grow? I hope to see it.”
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So… I guess my hypothesis that Kernel is the one in cahoots with backdoor is wrong… at least for now.