Chapter 17
-A Pure Soul, Yet Firm and… Gooey(?)
The Vice-Commander had the appearance of a gentle puppy. Unlike Young Master Lupin, with his cold and sharp features, the Vice-Commander’s round eyes were cute, and his delicate features were adorable.
Of course, in my opinion, our young master was the most handsome man in the world. If you asked anyone in this world, you would get the same answer.
Because anyone who dared to disagree would have a fateful encounter with Estella’s mighty fists.
Anyway, the Vice-Commander was indeed handsome.
“He’s, he’s handsome, but…”
His smile as he greeted the young master was innocent and beautiful. His hands, however, were not. They were like carriage wheels, to exaggerate slightly.
“Vice-Commander Lano. It’s been a while. This is Estella, my creation and maid.”
The Vice-Commander was like a giant. No, wait, wasn’t he actually a giant?
He had the delicate face of a young boy, but his body was muscular and enormous, like a mountain. The young master’s stone golems were about that size, I think.
Weren’t paladins supposed to be mages? I thought the young master was quite well-built for a mage, but this was excessive.
I had never heard of a muscle mage like this.
“Estella, what are you doing?”
The young master nudged me, urging me to greet him. My instincts screamed: He’s… strong!
I shouldn’t act rashly.
“Greetings…”
I bowed more respectfully than usual.
The paladin who had been so bold with the young master earlier was now cowering like a hamster. His earlier courage had vanished, intimidated by both rank and size.
But I didn’t feel any sense of satisfaction. The Vice-Commander’s massive physique had intimidated me as well.
“My sister is waiting. You’ll need her permission to enter Sector 43.”
We followed Vice-Commander Lano to the Knight Commander’s office. He was Edna Raguel’s relative.
If the Vice-Commander was this huge, how much bigger was the Knight Commander? I was both scared and excited.
“Young Master Lupin, you’ve heard the explanation from His Highness Umbram, haven’t you? Raguel City is having a hard time with the zombies lately. They appeared suddenly. There haven’t been any civilian casualties yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“I understand that Sector 43 contains the cemetery of past generations of scientists. Have they become zombies?”
“…Probably. The Magic Society is claiming that the scientists are spreading some kind of zombie plague, but we think differently.”
So the mages and scientists were fighting over the zombie situation as well.
“The zombies are definitely the work of dark mages.”
The young master’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Do you have any proof?”
“The proof will be in the zombie cores.”
“The cores you asked me to collect a hundred of.”
“It’s best you hear the details from my sister.”
We arrived at a massive steel door. Vice-Commander Lano pulled down a thick lever next to the door.
Instead of opening sideways, the steel door scattered into multiple pieces, like a puzzle being pulled apart.
“Welcome, Count Zepetto. We’ve been waiting for you.”
The paladins standing guard on either side lowered their spears. The person sitting at the desk in front of the large window was also wearing a Knight Commander’s uniform.
The gold epaulets on her short jacket were ornate and antique-looking. The staff in her hand looked like a long, white snake. The snake, entwined with golden vines, bared its fangs and glared at the world.
Dazzling platinum blonde hair, sunset-colored eyes.
And a normal-sized body!
“Perfect! Are you single, by any… Mmph!”
My mouth was suddenly covered. The young master leaned close, his voice a low growl between his teeth.
“If you do anything unnecessary, I’ll put you in a display case.”
“Are you trying to impress Commander Edna? Are you smitten? I’ll tell Head Butler Godo… Mmph!”
The young master pushed me behind him and walked forward nonchalantly.
“Are you alright?”
Vice-Commander Lano’s concerned smile was polite, but his size was still intimidating. I mumbled that I was fine and scurried behind the young master.
“I heard from His Highness Umbram. You’ve been appointed as the special investigator for this zombie outbreak? As expected of Lupin Zepetto. Truly a genius recognized by the Magic Society.”
“You flatter me.”
“Not at all. I’m the one who recommended you to His Highness Umbram. You’re a top-tier mage that even the Magic Society wouldn’t dare to trifle with, and you’re a gentleman who doesn’t mock scientists.”
My eyes widened. Her words sounded like a proposal to Young Master Lupin.
Head Butler Godora, the young master is finally getting married!
“You’ve gone to unnecessary trouble.”
…I think he’s not getting married after all!
“I won’t be of much help. I have to return to my earldom after this mission. I have people I need to protect.”
The young master’s response was incredibly bland, considering the beautiful woman before him. I was burning with impatience.
“The cemetery in Sector 43 mostly contains commoners. People with no family or organizations to care for them. Many of them are unrecognized scientists.”
“Have they become zombies? Hmm. The nobles wouldn’t bother to deal with this, would they?”
“Exactly. There’s a limit to how many paladins we can dispatch. Every sector has a cemetery, and we don’t know when or where zombies will appear, so we’re having a hard time allocating our forces.”
“So, Knight Commander, you not only need the zombie cores, but you also want me to exterminate all the zombies in Sector 43.”
Knight Commander Edna smiled brightly.
“As expected of Lupin Zepetto. I like how quick you are on the uptake. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re also intelligent. The gods are unfair.”
Her lips curved into a charming smile. It was a clear flirtation!
I discreetly nudged the young master in the ribs with my elbow. He glared at me and tried to pinch my arm.
But it was no use. I was a doll! My skin didn’t stretch like a human’s.
Realizing this, he looked slightly frustrated. I felt triumphant.
“It seems the beautiful Knight Commander Edna holds you in high regard, Young Master.”
“Hmm, what about you?”
Her attention turned to me. I bowed respectfully to the woman who might become my future mistress.
“I’m Estella, Count Lupin Zepetto’s one and only doll maid. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ma’am… I mean, Knight Commander Edna Raguel.”
The young master tried to push me back again. This time, I obediently stepped back.
“You there, maid.”
Knight Commander Edna called out to me.
As I stepped forward, a strange shimmer occurred. Although there wasn’t a breath of wind, her hair floated upwards before settling back down. I thought her eye color changed for a moment as well.
‘What was that? Did she use magic?’
The young master placed his hand on my shoulder, his arm wrapping around me protectively.
“I’ll leave the preparations to Estella.”
I looked up at him. His expression was clearly displeased and uncomfortable.
“Wait a minute.”
Knight Commander Edna raised her hand, stopping him.
“What exactly is this doll?”
“As you can see, it’s a doll animated by magic.”
“Ah, I see. The opposite of a zombie.”
She hopped down from her desk, where she had been perched rather unceremoniously. She grabbed both my wrists and pulled me closer.
“A doll with a soul.”
Both the young master and I were startled.
“A soul, you say?”
The young master’s hand on my shoulder tightened.
“Yes. Didn’t you know? Well, it’s difficult to discern this energy unless you’re a white mage of my caliber.”
Had Knight Commander Edna seen through me as well?
Perhaps I could use this opportunity to convince the young master that I was Anna…
“I can feel it. Incredible potential. The potential to create a powerful weapon!”
Her eyes sparkled.
“What?”
“Huh?”
The young master and I exchanged bewildered glances.
“I’ve never seen a soul so… firm and gooey. It feels like it could easily separate, yet it doesn’t. Like cookie dough. Can it inhabit other dolls? Machines? Can it understand machines?”
“Inhabit other dolls…?”
“Yes! Not just dolls! Machines, animals, even humans!”
Vice-Commander Lano, who had been standing silently behind her, intervened.
“Sister. Calm down, calm down.”
“If we study the zombie cores, we can definitely uncover the secret of your soul. Oh, I’m so excited, my heart is racing!”
The young master chuckled awkwardly and pulled my hand away from her grasp.
“We’ll be going on our mission now.”
“Zombies aren’t important right now! Lupin Zepetto! Let’s do business! We can mass-produce weapons by studying zombie cores!”
“Sister! Calm down! The zombies are the important thing right now!”
We took advantage of their argument and slipped away.
As we rode the tram to Sector 43, the young master, for once, gently stroked my hair.
“I…”
He said in a serious voice.
“I won’t mass-produce you.”
“Huh? Oh, okay…”
“Edna is crazy. Definitely crazy.”
He shook his head.
“Let’s return immediately after completing the mission.”
“Yes! We already have 47 zombie cores. We just need 53 more.”
“I’ll handle the zombies this time, so you focus on collecting the cores.”
“Aw, I wanted to exterminate zombies too. You’re giving me all the boring tasks…”
The nobles-only tram car was practically empty. Even so, the young master leaned close and whispered,
“I’ll give you a reward if you’re a good girl.”
“Too many rewards can be demotivating.”
“You don’t want one?”
“No! I do!”
I recalled what Knight Commander Edna had said. That studying the zombie cores would reveal the secret of my soul?
I rubbed my hands together. With her help, I could get what I wanted.
“Hee hee hee—just leave it to me. As a reward, I definitely want ‘that’…”
“…How can a doll make that kind of expression…?”