“Dammit! What’s going on!?”
Meanwhile, there was rage flaring in a tent behind a stage.
The unforeseen situation was making the frustration boil.
“Why are sixty percent of the magic dolls not responding…? Were there any knights who could overwhelm them like this? Dammit! What’s going on?”
There were clearly not as many magic dolls in front of him as he expected, even though he gave the order for them to gather.
Fifty left, but only about twenty returned.
Even considering resistance from the beast people and interference by the knights, the magic dolls should be strong enough to not take so many losses.
“Dammit! My get rich scheme… Hey! What happened to the other thirty!?”
He asked the transparent crystal in his hands again and again.
It was a special magic stone that allowed him to control multiple magic dolls from a long distance, but it was not doing its job perfectly, because its power was not reaching at least thirty of the magic dolls.
Ace explained the situation, in place of the magic stone that could not speak.
“We cannot do that. Thirty magic dolls were lost from our network, and we are having issues looking…”
There was a high-pitched sound, as Ddos interrupted her with a slap to the face.
“You’re just things! You do what your master says! If I tell you to come, you do it! Even if you’re scrap!”
“…Yes. Noted.”
There was no sign of pain, or resentment. Ace simply learned what took priority based on her master’s anger, and took it into consideration for the future.
That was the only train of thought allowed for magic dolls.
However, the slap left a cut in her mouth. It did not bleed, but she felt the damage in her mouth with her tongue.
Suddenly, words escaped from her mouth.
“Not, tasty.”
“Ah? Did you say something, Ace!?”
“Detected bug in thoughts. Fixing.”
“…Dammit, my sales…”
He smacked his lips and peeked outside through a gap in the tent. There he saw a crowd of at least a hundred people.
“But… That’s a good turnout. A nice fat piggy bank. Well, twenty will be a nice profit…”
Ddos said, ignoring his own ‘fat’, as a smile formed on his face. Everything he wore was nice, practically stamping on his face that he had money.
But the others were that day’s esteemed customers. And the merchandise was the magic dolls behind him.
Ddos was about to conduct a magic doll auction.
First, he released beast people from Azure Skies near the upper area, with the help of knights he bribed. Then he fanned people’s fear by way of shills, and had the magic dolls quell that fear by taking the heads of Azure Skies.
And then, it was time for the auction. The turnout told him everything from planning to execution went well. People came looking for magic dolls to keep them safe in case Azure Skies rose again.
“…If someone were to disturb my business, it would have to be knights from the Wirgin faction. But I have two trump cards. I can deal with them in a flash, even if Wirgin comes after me.”
He said, as if telling it to himself, as he went to a place away from the tent and away from people’s eyes, to look at his monster.
“I’m glad I brought you just in case… Chimera Revision Theta.”
There was a monster in the cage. A quadruped reptile with a big head, and purple scales.
The size of the drooling jaw showed it could swallow several people whole. In fact, the blood splatters showed that it did so before getting there.
But that was not all, as its limbs were made up of rugged steel. It was clear it had abnormal strength. That was why even the strongest lock Ddos could find was bent.
But most importantly, the many magic stones around its body made it also a lump of abnormal magic energy.
But it obeyed Ddos with absolute devotion. This was all according to his plan.
Of course, this monster was new. It was funded by Ddos, and created unofficially. It was made by combining monsters and the power of magic stones.
A true chimera, one that was given the code name Revision Theta. And a dreadful biological weapon that would devour in seconds even monsters from the deeper parts of dungeons.
“Now be a good pet. I’m sorry to say, but I don’t intend to sell you. But if those vulgar knights come calling in big numbers, that’s a different story. That place will turn from a business venue to your feeding ground.”
“Gyaaaaah.”
A rupturing, dark howl that would make one’s heart shake echoed.
It had to be kept underground. Even just hearing its howl was reason enough to keep it quiet. That was how top secret Revision Theta was.
That was one trump card. But there was no reason to bring out the second.
“Well then.. Time to make some money!”
Ddos left the basement where the chimera was kept, took Ace out of the tent, and stood in the center of the square. There were nobles sat in the stands all around.
“Thank you for your patience. I, Ddos, am deeply moved that you all gathered despite the sudden events. As a merchant, it pleases me greatly to present you with the weapons you need.”
There was an ovation from the crowd.
He had them in the palm of his hand, and Ddos moved on to the main point, as over two hundred expectant eyes focused on him.
“Well then. Ace here may look human, but it is in fact a magic doll that surpasses even knights. Even knights cannot stand by you all the time, and since they are still only human, some have even ran away in fear of the lowly beast people. Leaving behind you, who they should be protecting.”
Ddos talked, each word serving as the lubricant to his plan to make money.
“But magic dolls are different. They use their overwhelming strength to defend you no matter what. From everything from the failed creations of god we call beast people, to disturbed individuals. Long gone are the days when you needed to cling to knights. We are talking about absolute safety, that you can purchase with just money!
As development of magic dolls progresses, a new age of maids, doctors, workers in dangerous fields, and more will be upon us. Will you purchase their precursors, magic dolls for personal protection… Hey, you over there.”
Called out Ddos, and the crowd could not hide their confusion.
After all, a boy with white hair and an androgynous face had just got up on the stage in the center of the square. Not to mention that he quickly dispatched the human guards by making them lose consciousness with one blow to the jaw each.
“Who are you!?”
Asked Ddos.
“This individual is Qualia, a member of the guardian knight chivalric order Hello World”
The response of the boy calling himself Qualia made Ddos feel like time had stopped for a moment.
“Q-Qualia!? The one who took down a salamander and subjugated the beast people in the upper area?”
“Excuse us. Oh dear. Making some ill-gotten money, Ddos?”
Time froze again, as Ddos heard a voice behind him.
“Geh. Duke Kernel.”
A man with slicked back black hair and thick lips cut through the vanguard of Clearance, and got on the stage.
Ddos did not move. He was trapped by Qualia and Kernel before he knew it.
An artificial intelligence from the front, and a feminine man coming from the back.
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