As Luke stepped out of the dollshop after his conversation with Merlin, Third, who had been leaning against the wall outside the shop as if guarding it, approached Luke and spoke.
“Master, did the discussion go well?”
In response to Third’s question, Luke nodded silently.
Though there had been a minor misunderstanding at first due to differing understandings about dolls, ultimately, Merlin had accepted his proposal.
Between training fifteen random individuals into capable assassins and creating over fifteen dolls within a month, it goes without saying which task would be more challenging.
And Merlin had no reason not to accept an assignment far simpler than what she had initially expected. The idea of creating an army of assassins from dolls was, in fact, quite intriguing for her as a dollmaker.
While, in reality, that concept might seem far-fetched, it wasn’t an issue considering Luke’s personal magical prowess in specific fields—such as temporal magic theory, computing operation technology, circle-based authorization theory, and golem creation—easily surpassed that of an entire nation’s technological capabilities.
Luke stroked his jaw as he thought.
“Good, the doll-making has begun. What’s the next step I need to prepare?”
Almost immediately, his mind turned to the magic stones to be used as magical cores.
No matter how many dolls were made, without the magic stones to imbue them with sentience, they would remain nothing more than lifeless pieces of fabric.
Moreover, these stones were essential in developing a new device to link with Arinseia’s computer.
“The raw stones are in Arinseia, but the challenge will be finding a craftsman capable of refining them.”
Luke knew all too well that he lacked the necessary craftsmanship to accomplish that. Designing and crafting were two entirely different skills.
In a previous life, he had entrusted such tasks to dwarven artisans. The armor and magic cores forming the Living Armor protecting Arinseia were crafted by dwarven artisans, despite the designs being his own.
“Dwarves, dwarves…”
Luke suddenly thought of Umi. Could she or her family recommend a competent artisan?
Just then, Third asked,
“Well, what’s the next step you have in mind?”
Luke smiled lightly and replied,
“I should head home. The task here is done.”
“So be it.”
“Therefore, you should also return home and rest well today. You’ve worked hard. And don’t forget to apply your ointment.”
“…”
As they spoke, Third suddenly stopped midstride.
“Third, why have you paused suddenly?”
“Master.”
After a short silence, Third continued,
“Are you truly intending to confront ‘him’?”
Luke looked at Third for a moment before shaking his head slightly and muttering,
“…Ah, I didn’t mean for you to eavesdrop. I had you guard the door so no one else could interrupt.”
Luke had instructed him to prevent interruptions for that very reason, but now it felt as if Third had been left out in the cold unnecessarily.
Luke reluctantly nodded and said,
“If that’s the case…”
“Master, I can be of help.”
Third’s expression was resolute. Luke immediately recognized the sincerity in the boy’s eyes. He had seen the same expression far too many times—on the faces of those prepared to sacrifice themselves.
However,
“It’s unnecessary.”
Luke smiled and declined.
“Third, I don’t want to lose you. You’re my precious disciple.”
“But I’ve already resolved myself. I became your disciple to assist with this very plan! You can’t turn me away for that reason alone.”
“Is that so?”
Luke’s eyes widened slightly. This was the first time he was hearing that from Third. Yet, even with this revelation, Luke’s intentions remained unchanged.
“I didn’t take you as a disciple for such purposes. I merely hoped that as a human being, you would learn from me and improve.”
Indeed, Luke had never once viewed Third as a means to an end. Quite the contrary, he wished for the boy to let go of his bitterness and resentment and lead a normal, happy life. In a way, he even considered it a fortunate development that Third had lost his memories through the use of circles.
But now, even if Third wanted to be drawn into his plans, Luke could never willingly place him in such obvious danger.
Besides, this was a burden for him—and him alone—to bear.
“However! The one who turned me into this—I carry a dragon heart in my chest, injected with various drugs, made into an abomination! The same one who… And now you say I can’t help?!”
In response to Third’s anguished cries, Luke firmly said,
“Third, you’re throwing a tantrum like a baby. Let me speak plainly?”
Luke stared directly into Third’s eyes,
“You’re no help to me. That’s all there is to it.”
Third stood silently, unable to refute the blunt statement. While he had suspected as much, there was a vast difference between suspecting it oneself and hearing it confirmed by one’s own master.
Watching his disciple’s defeated stance, Luke, as the teacher, felt uneasy but understood it was necessary.
“Alright. Let’s return home.”
“But, Master…”
Third clenched his fists and shouted after Luke’s retreating figure,
“However, Master! It’s true my magic might not help, and I can’t even reach the level of your footsteps. But didn’t you say the enemy has a way to render your magic useless!”
That “bullet” his master had demonstrated—if struck by it, even someone as powerful as Luke would struggle to retaliate. No matter how gifted she was, one cannot excel equally in both magical and physical combat abilities.
Indeed, that was why she sought to use dolls to fight in her stead, and Third, who wasn’t reliant on circles or magic, had considerable battle experience.
“But I can protect you in those situations!”
At that, Luke halted his steps. Third’s face brightened, thinking his words had reached his master, until he saw the stern expression turned back at him.
“Third, you think you can protect me?”
A cold expression, one an adult might give to a child for acting irresponsibly.
Luke thought to himself: Had Third never witnessed him in physical combat before?
True, there had been no need for it. Since Third’s weakness lay in magic and circles, and Luke had already trained Third sufficiently in those areas, there was no reason for Luke to demonstrate martial skills.
That’s why Third made such claims.
Convinced of the need for this teaching moment, Luke lightly twisted his ankle.
With a sharp sound, magical circles began to rise in the alley.
“This alley is now isolated from the outside world. Whatever happens within won’t be known to the external world.”
Luke had cast the high-level magic, “Silent Room,” which not only blocked sound but completely severed all external awareness of the internal happenings.
Luke confirmed the proper functioning of the magic circles and spoke.
“Third, you said you can be of help without using magic?”
Leaning back with one hand extended towards Third, Luke continued,
“Prove it.”
The alley was now a testing ground, the air heavy with tension.
