[2] The Marionette Witch and Disciple?
Click.
Click.
Click.
The sound of meshing gears was the only rhythm in this domain.
This was the seam between worlds, the realm of the dead, the witch's Clockwork Cathedral.
Above, the vaulted ceiling was formed from countless interlocking brass gears.
In the void, enormous pendulums of bizarre design swung back and forth at a steady pace, releasing deep, muffled echoes.
At the center of the hall, atop a towering throne, sat a young girl–motionless, like a sculpture.
She was beautiful to the point of unreality.
Silver-white hair spilled down her back, contrasting sharply with the layered Gothic black dress she wore.
Along the hem, dark-gold rose patterns flickered faintly in the dim light.
From any angle, she looked like a perfect work of art.
Only...
The exposed parts of her body–her neck, wrists, and ankles–were fitted with exquisite spherical joints.
That made her resemble not a human, but a doll imbued with divinity.
Loviya's slender fingers gently traced the surface of a pocket watch.
She no longer knew how long she had been seated here.
Since he left, aside from endlessly and fruitlessly searching for traces of his soul.
Her life had come to a standstill.
Until today.
Nearly five hundred years later, she had once again heard the incantation.
The one that only that man knew.
"…Is that you?"
Her silent heart clenched violently. Unable to restrain herself, she rose to her feet.
Loviya's blue-gray eyes flared with light as her gaze pierced through countless layers of space, locking onto the source of the spell.
A Witch was the embodiment of concepts and laws.
The moment she cast her gaze, reality itself twisted in accordance with her will.
The moon hanging over the real world's sky transformed instantly, its form collapsing into the symbol of her authority:
Gears.
No mistake.
Impossible to be wrong.
Really…
It truly was him.
He was back.
He really came back.
Loviya felt her nose sting as tears blurred her eyes that had remained dry for five hundred years.
How wonderful…
Ever since you, you heartless villain, left, Loviya hadn't felt a single emotional ripple for five hundred long years…
Memories buried deep within her heart, sealed away by unbearable pain, burst forth like a broken dam.
That year, she had just come of age.
War ignited by the local lord spread to her homeland without warning.
Facing her, cowering in the cellar, the invaders chose to set it ablaze.
They enjoyed slaughter like this.
Her father burned to death.
Her mother burned to death.
And she… was almost burned to death as well.
Pain.
Despair.
Fear.
Or whatever one calls it.
It was him, who arrived just in time, who drove the enemies away and pulled her, barely alive, from the burning ruins.
"I'm sorry… I'm late."
The boy looked guilty.
"But I swear I'll save you."
Save… me?
But I was already half-burned, barely alive.. no different from a corpse.
"Don't be afraid," the boy said.
"I'm a puppeteer."
A puppeteer?
Loviya didn't understand.
She watched silently as the boy fought again and again, took on job after job.
Using the money he earned to purchase the finest materials.
To rebuild her limbs.
"Loviya, try walking."
Can I really stand?
"Yes. From now on, you won't need the wheelchair anymore."
…These materials must be expensive, right?
"It's fine. Anything is worth it for Loviya."
Why are you so kind to me…?
"Because I like you, Loviya."
Like… me?
If, back then, what lay in her chest wasn't cold brass and steel, but a real heart...
It would have been pounding uncontrollably fast.
–I like you too, Adrian Blackwood.
Very much. Truly.
I loved the days you cherished me so carefully.
They were… so warm.
Even though I was clumsy, never learning how to cook, unable to prepare a hot meal when you returned exhausted.
Even though I was willful, able to walk on my own, yet still craving the feeling of you pushing my wheelchair through the countryside.
Even though I was dull, keenly sensitive to magic, yet unable to cast even the simplest spell…
Still, you were always gentle, accepting all my flaws and little selfish desires.
Adrian… Loviya really, really loved you.
If only…
If only those days could have lasted forever.
If we could have married as we wished, lived out our lives peacefully…
How wonderful that would have been.
But… when did you begin to change?
"A doll should act like a doll!"
"Who allowed you to move without my command?! Are you trying to lose control, trash?!"
Why… would you say such things to me?
Weren't we… happy before?
My love… Loviya's heart hurts so much.
Please don't treat me like this… please?
But why…
Did you grow colder and colder… more and more unfamiliar…
Perhaps it was then...
That the light in my eyes, ignited solely by you, began to fade away.
Was it all just for this?
Did you save me, treat me well, only to enjoy the thrill of controlling a living doll?
If that's true…
Then what was the salvation I believed in?What was all the love I poured out?
Loviya would never resist you.
No matter what… deep in her heart, she still loved you.
But..
But Loviya… didn't want to live like that anymore.
Later, the boy returned from a campaign, afflicted by a strange curse, he became terminally ill.
…
That rainy night.
You lay in bed, coughing blood that soaked the pillows and sheets.
Loviya remembered, you reached out weakly, asking for a cup of water.
But she didn't move.
She simply sat there in her wheelchair.
Like a true doll.
Watching.
Watching you struggle in agony.
Watching the light in your eyes scatter.
Watching your hand fall limply to the bed…
I'm sorry, my love.
Let it end like this.
When you stop breathing, I'll dismantle my core.
Then we can rot together in this little house.
And yet...
The moment you died...
An immense surge of life flooded her body.
Her rigid mechanical joints warmed, softened, becoming supple.
She touched her skin.
It was real flesh.
Why?
Why was it that the moment you died… I truly came alive?
What was the truth?
From that day on, Loviya scoured every library and ruin across the continent.
Finally, within a shattered tome titled Forbidden Texts: Puppet Transmutation, she found the answer:
"…Beings who extend their lifespan through puppet modification will inevitably become true puppets…"
"…To reverse the process, the puppet must break free from the puppeteer's control…"
"…In short, once the puppeteer dies, the puppet's body will return, continuing life as a true living being…"
So that was it.
My love… why couldn't you just tell me the truth?
You… selfish bastard to the extreme.
You could cut everything away so cleanly and leave without hesitation.
But I was left behind in this world, bearing regret and longing alone.
How was I supposed to let go?
That day.
The Marionette Witch was born.
The world seemed terrified of Witches?
I didn't care.
From beginning to end, there was only you in my eyes, my love.
If gaining this power meant I could find you again.
"Since you're back…"
Loviya lifted her head. A feverish blush spread across her flawless face.
"Don't even think about pushing me away again."
"My love… I want to see you so badly. I'm going to see you RIGHT NOW."
She slowly raised both hands.
Countless silver threads descended from the void, connecting to her slender fingers.
With a gentle motion, reality tore open like a curtain.
Beyond the rift, the bustling modern city, towering buildings and flowing traffic came clearly into view.
"This time…"
Her lips curved into a smile.
"I absolutely won't let you slip away again…"
***
Lunaris City, somewhere within the city.
Bureau of Anomalous Life Management
Monitoring Center.
Three on-duty staff members were gathered around a table, playing cards.
"Three kings with a joker."
"Pass."
"Knew you couldn't beat that, hey, rookie, you playing or not?"
The rookie snapped back to attention.
He weighed the cards in his hand, hesitating.
"Senior… is it really okay for us to be playing like this? What if some anomaly occurs?"
The so-called senior waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax. Lunaris City is where the Bureau headquarters is. Strong specters wouldn't dare–"
Before he could finish.
The monitoring screens suddenly turned blood red!
A blinding crimson glow erupted as alarms blared:
Warning! Warning!
Extremely high-intensity magical energy detected in Area A-3!
Warning! Law-level fluctuation detected!
Warning! A [Witch] has cast observation!
"…?!"
The rookie's hand trembled, cards scattering onto the floor.
The two seniors weren't any better. After a brief freeze, sheer terror flooded their faces.
"Hurry! Notify the Director!"
"I'm connecting! I'm connecting!"
They fumbled with the communicator, but the Director's voice had already come through.
"…Headquarters just entered maximum combat readiness. What did you detect over there? An S-rank evil specter? Or?"
"Director… it's a [Witch]."
A Witch?!
Even the Director audibly inhaled.
"…Is it one already on record?"
"If it were Rimewinter or Tidevoice, we wouldn't be too concerned…"
"…Director, it's not a named Witch."
Not on record?!
"…Has it taken further action?"
"…No. The Witch's energy signature vanished completely."
"…So she merely observed reality?"
"That appears to be the case."
"…Anything unusual in the observed area?"
"One dead D-rank specter, one registered apprentice magical girl… and one completely ordinary young man."
"…Investigate the young man."
***
Adrian Blackwood's mood was complicated.
The wound on his neck still hurt, but his heart felt colder.
"So Loviya exists…"
"That means every girl I hurt before… is still out there too."
Why did I grind so many S+ endings?
One save file meant one Witch.
If they all came looking for him…
Peaceful coexistence was impossible.
As Adrian was spiraling.
The pink-clad magical girl rushed over, eyes shining.
"S-Senior!"
"Huh?"
She held up a cloth doll excitedly.
"Senior, look! This is the Slit-Mouthed Woman! Your magic turned something that terrifying into such a cute doll!"
"…Cute?"
And technically, that wasn't his spell.
"Senior! Senior!"
She introduced herself enthusiastically.
"My name is Anna Cloudwell! I'm a newly registered magical girl! I know I'm still a rookie but I'll work hard!"
Adrian was silent.
Anna continued without pause.
"I want to protect more people! And I want to learn stronger magic! So please accept me as your disciple!"
She bowed deeply, wand clutched to her chest.
Adrian blinked.
"…No."
"I can't teach you."
This was for her own safety.
If Loviya, the Marionette Witch, found out he had taken in a girl her age…
That would be fatal.
"But…"
Anna looked disappointed, then corrected herself.
"…Then can I ask you for guidance from time to time?"
"…As long as it's not too often."
She had tried to help him.
That counted.
And as a veteran Witch player, Adrian did know plenty.
Anna's eyes lit up.
"Really?! Thank you, Master!"
…When did I agree to that?
Ignoring his expression, Anna asked cheerfully:
"So where do you live, Master?"
"I live in–"
Adrian froze.
…Where do I live?
I don't have an ID nor money nor house.
"…You don't have anywhere to go, do you?" Anna guessed.
Silence.
"I knew it!" she smiled.
"I can provide food and housing!"
"No need its fin–"
"I have an empty luxury villa."
"That's still–"
"And I can pay you 20,000 a month in tuition!"
"…."
"If that's not enough, I can ask my dad for more!"
Adrian inhaled deeply.
After a fierce internal struggle, he smiled.
"Well, money aside… I mainly think you have exceptional potential, one in ten thousand."
"This disciple of mine I'll take you."
