The Domain Tree disappeared behind Qualia and Ace, and the magic dolls fell one after the other.
The knights of Clearance were still in disbelief over what just happened, but began to retrieve them. And they also walked towards Ace to retrieve her along with the others.
“You can leave Ace.”
Before Qualia could step in their way, they were stopped by Kernel.
And as they passed each other, he turned to Qualia.
“You’re going to look after Ace in Hello World, right?”
“Affirmative.”
“…You really made good on your word. And you even proved the existence of a heart in your own way.”
“Affirmative. Magic dolls have hearts.”
“Yes. We have a whole lot to figure out about magic dolls.”
Kernel’s convictions stayed the same. Magic dolls should be mindless weapons without hearts. They should be the ultimate weapons, that would have no thoughts about doing cruel jobs even if sent to a volcanic area or a black hole, or have any qualms about their own destruction.
“The moment a weapon decides who to attack, it is no longer a weapon. It won’t do as told. She is no longer a defective item, or even a magic doll. Still Qualia, are you going to use her?”
“Error. The definition of the word is wrong. The word use is not fitting to beings with vital activities.”
Kernel saw Qualia’s eyes, which looked as dignified and straightforward as they did the first time he saw them.
Perhaps he understood that there was no way to go against them, as he gently closed his own.
“It is an incorrect way to use magic dolls, but if you can cooperate with her… That might be all right… That was a wonderful flurry of cherry blossoms.”
As Kernel turned around, he whispered to himself.
“…Ace’s awakening could be seen as a birth of a sense of self. Is there room for discussion… More i-m-p-o-r-t-a-n-t-l-y.”
Ddos groaned unsightly on the ground near Kernel’s feet.
His broken nose was bleeding, but he still had the energy to bawl.
“Oh dear, how persistent you are, little piggy. Did your fat save you from passing out?”
“A-are you going to arrest me… The fanatics will crush you…”
“Oh? You are still on about that? Queen Route was simply using you.”
“Using…?”
Kernel could only smile awkwardly at how Ddos was persistent to the end.
“Queen Route wanted to divert magic dolls to her supporters, boosting their power. And furthermore, to reduce the number of beast people, whose blood is considered cursed by the ‘Truly wonderful fair skies church’. So even if we intruded, the magic dolls would cut down the knights of the Wirgin action. Any way you cut it, you were dancing in the palm of that witch.”
Kernel pointed to his palm to express it, and clenched his fist.
“But you failed as a magic doll merchant, correct? You couldn’t take down even one of us. And you lost all the magic dolls, did you not?”
Ddos unconsciously started looking around, and all he saw was knights of Clearance.
“And you really think that witch will protect you?”
“But my indulgence…!”
“It said ‘In god’s behalf, give the people magic dolls, and punish the beast people who disturbed the earth and misrepresent the blue heavens’. It said nothing about overstepping your boundaries.”
“Eh…”
“The ‘Truly wonderful fair skies church’ will say this… ‘Ddos did the extremely reprehensible act of using the church’s name to deceive! Merchants working for evil see not life, and god’s wrath will stop them.’ You know it as well, don’t you? You know how much those fanatics love their torture.”
“A-aaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Ddos’ face turned pale, as he was unable to stand up, and clung to Kernel.
“N-no! No! I don’t know! I’m not bad! The magic dolls worked on their own… I don’t know anything, I…”
“Don’t come to me for mercy you ball-less man!!”
Kernel said as he stomped Ddos mercilessly between the legs, and two souls exploded.
“My b-b-ba…”
“Magic dolls are tools… If so, it goes without saying that their owner is responsible for what they do!”
Endless male pain coursed through Ddos’ crotch, and as his mouth foamed, every male present except for Qualia ended up feeling sorry for him.
“And if you’re a merchant, respect your merchandise! Do your duty as a human! If you can’t even do that, that would put you below a tool, you ■■■■!!”
Kernel grabbed Ddos by the collar and yelled abuse at him like an erupting volcano. As he watched this, Qualia and Ace turned to one of the knights with a question.
“Request explanation, what is ■■■■?”
“■■■■ is not registered in my magic stone.”
“…You’re better off not knowing. It’s a dirty word for you.”
The knight avoided the question, sensing their innocence. It was too early for Qualia and Ace to learn that.
And then, the knights of Clearance tightly surrounded Ddos.
“Take him away.”
“Ah… Spare me, spare…”
“Don’t worry, the law will take good care of your white meat.”
Ddos still trembled due to the pain in his crotch, but he was grabbed from both sides and dragged away.
Kernel snorted, and turned to Qualia.
“Well then. If my instincts are correct, this is not yet over.”
“You are correct. There is a lot to do. It is presumed that Liebe did not actually die. If that is true, the risk of the Black Hole ancient magic stone remains.”
“Yes. That is the biggest risk presently. But although wicked, Ddos is second to none in terms of cheap tricks. I believe he would have prepared another trump card in case the indulgence failed, but…”
Kernel was still as cautious as before, as a knight ran to him from afar.
“D-Duke Kernel! We have a big problem!”
“There it is. What is it?”
The knight looked panicked, and Kernel listened to him closely.
“The nineteen magic dolls… Were taken by someone wearing a fox mask and a raincoat… Anonymous took them!”
This was also unexpected for Kernel. It was beyond what he expected.
“How could… Were they not guarded!?”
“…They were all taken down. Ten guards in two seconds…”
Kernel’s mouth remained open.
More importantly, it happened right after they left Ddos’ control. The timing was too perfect.
Qualia also thought about it, but could not understand what Anonymous’ goal or aim were yet.
Meanwhile, Ddos felt everyone’s attention turn away from him, and for a moment, laughed victoriously.
“Uu!?”
A violet smoke bomb fell from his sleeve, and the moment it hit the ground, it spewed violet smoke that surprised the knights.
“Tear gas… Damn…”
“Playing cheap tricks, are you!?”
Ddos closed his eyes in advance and ran as fast as he could. He looked straight ahead, and ran faster than ever before in his life.
“Buhihi, I still… Have the chimera… The monster among monsters that can take them out in one swift blow!”
He had not yet realized he was running to his death.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
