ISEKAI NANPA ~Hitting on Elves, Nekomimi Girls, and Loli Dragons as an Unemployed Hikikomori~

Chapter 4: The Doll Princess of Ys Coral

“Now then, let’s replace the body of that artificial spirit…… It’s still sitting at that charging base, isn’t it? ‘I want you to come down.’”

“I want you to come down,” Shion said, as he stepped off the spiral staircase, entering the first floor.

Perhaps it was some sort of magic summoning to call Zomgoyle charging up above. 

Yuuki peeked through a gap in the piles of junk.

“Replacing Zomgoyle’s body? Why do you need to do that?”

Shion didn’t answer and started the job. 

First off, Shion made a space in the center of the hall, pushing aside the junk. He set the table leaning by the wall down to use as an altar.

Shion took a small crystal and pedestal out of a box collecting dust in the corner.

He called out coldly at Zomgoyle, who just arrived from the spiral staircase. 

“I think I’ll be replacing your body. Is that alright?”

“If I must,” Zomgoyle nodded, standing by Yuuki’s side.

“Why so cold? He’d be happy if you just called him ‘Zomgoyle.’”

Yuuki heard a small voice from Shion. Shion whispered into Yuuki’s ear.

“……Dark mages are fated to be killed by their creations, as you often see in literature. I don’t want to die like that. This spirit has been passed down for generations, but it can still rebel at any time.”

“You’re overthinking things, aren’t you……?”

“Yuuki, you should be careful not to get too close to that spirit as well.”

“…………”

Shion avoided Zomgoyle as much as possible, while walking around the area. He collected what was needed for the body transfer, and placed it on the altar.

At last, Shion took a female joint doll sitting in the back and placed it at the front.

“That thing’s pretty creepy if you ask me.”

Fufu. This is the body we’ll be using so that artificial spirit can get into the city. Compared to the one used for housework, it’s more human, don’t you think?”

“Rather than human, it looks like a mannequin. Though I guess it is kind of pretty……”

The beauty was reflected in a corrupted way to the point was scary. 

Yuuki took a step forward, being charmed by the doll. 

Wondering what it was, Shion started talking about the past. 

“Fufu…… There was once an elf king of the past by the name of Ys Coral. He fell in love with Sartrena, the human songstress, and vice versa……”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just hear me out. ……Elves and humans have different lifespans. The songstress hid her fate from the king; that she would die within his lifetime. During a state of grief, King Ys Coral, teamed up with a famed dwarf craftsman and the best mage among his people. The result of his delusions is this. “Ys Coral’s Doll Princess.”

“Seriously? So, isn’t this thing cursed?”

“The curses have all been removed.”

“So it was cursed after all……”

“Those who look into the eyes of this doll will fall in love, as they get weaker by the day. It seems that’s the kind of curse she had.”

“Ugh……” Yuuki stepped away from the doll.

“Hey, in the first place, why does Zomgoyle need a new body to go into town? I’m fine with how he is now.”

“There are several reasons why we need to. First off, we need someone to send you to the city. You’ll never make it through ‘The Lost Forest’ on your own.”

“I guess so……” Without a smartphone map, Yuuki would get lost in a normal forest.

“And I can’t leave the tower. Without me, the tower would collapse from the loss in energy balance. That’s why Zomgoyle will take you to the city.”

“I see.”

“My regards,” Zomgoyle said. He placed his claws on Yuuki’s shoulders. 

Shion explained further as he continued the ritual on the altar. 

“As the head servant, this artificial spirit can avoid the curse of The Lost Forest.”

“Got it. So I have no choice but to go to the city with Zomgoyle.”

“That’s right…… However, if the artificial spirit’s housework body goes near the city, it’d be hunted as a monster. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah…… Well, now that you mention it……” Yuuki’s gotten used to that zombie gargoyle body, but there’s no doubt he does look like a monster.

“There’s also something I need for that artificial spirit to do in the city.”

“What is it?”

Shion pointed at the giant sickle on the floor. The blade was red and rusted.

“I want you to get that sickle repaired. The weeds around the tower are growing at an alarming speed. We need a sharp blade in order to prevent the tower from collapse.”

“I understand,” Zomgoyle said while nodding. 

“If you can, I’d like you to retrieve some money too. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

“Now then…… I’m going to start the switch.”

With his hand glowing red filled with magical power, Shion grabbed a screwdriver and spun it behind Zomgoyle.

A green-yellow gem was shined on Zomgoyle’s gray back. 

“First, we must remove the artificial spirit’s core from this housework body.”

Using the tip of the screwdriver, Shion rolled the gem on Zomogyle’s back into his hand. 

Zomgoyle’s gray zombie gargoyle body fell onto the floor. 

Dust scattered. 

“Hey, is that okay? He just fell over!”

“Fufu, it’s fine. This housework body’s endurance is comparable to that of a red dragon.”

“I am fine. Do not worry,” Zomogoyle’s voice resonated in his head.

“Where did that voice come from?” Yuuki asked looking around. 

Shion showed the green-yellow lit gem in his hand.

“Fufu…… The true form of the artificial spirit is this gem. The artificial spirit is speaking from there.”

“I- I see.”

“I’d like you to lend a hand in our next task. Can you hold onto “Ys Colar’s Doll Princess” and turn it’s back to me?”

“Are you sure I won’t be cursed touching it?”

“Fufu, it’ll be fine.”

Yuuki lifted the mannequin-like doll from the floor.

The entire body was smooth and was hard to grasp. However, it was made of wood and was light.

“Turn it’s back to me……” said Shion. 

He carefully set the gem into the socket on the doll’s back. 

He tapped the gem’s surface with the tool in his hand several times. 

A dazzling yellow-green light flooded the room.

“Woah, it’s bright……”

When the light calmed down, Yuuki felt the doll in his arms relax.

At the same time, he heard Zomgoyle’s voice. 

A sound wave came from the mouth of the doll. 

“Please leave. I have to change.”

“Ah, s- sorry!” 

Yuuki quickly let go, as the doll ran into the halls. It disappeared into the back and behind the junk. 

“…………”

After a bit, Zomgoyle came out of the shadows and appeared before the men. 

She wore peasant clothing, plain colored and thick. 

A dull looking outfit with minimal skin exposure. 

However, from her eyes came a strange power. 

“Ugh, what is this……?” She was too beautiful. Yuuki stepped back in fear. Though, he couldn’t look away from the doll’s eyes. 

Was this was the curse born from the delusions of the elf king?

Even lowering the charm with peasant clothes, every movement Zomgoyle made had a terrifyingly enchanting beauty to it. 

Though……

“Don’t look at me so much.”

After Zomgoyle pulled down her headwear and hid her forehead, she went off and loaded the cart.

In embarrassment, her cheeks were bright red. 

Yuuki whispered to Shion.

“Hey, she’s blushing. Is that doll capable to do that?”

“……I- It’s my first time seeing it has well. It could be an evolution created by the core’s mysterious life force interacting with the doll…… What is this……? It’s creepy……”

Shion showed fear in his voice.

The peasant clothes hid the joints of the doll. Zomgoyle seemed completely human. The materials scattered throughout the hall were picked up into the cart. 

“But she really is too beautiful. Don’t you have a more plain doll?” Yuuki whispered. 

Shion replied to Yuuki’s ear. 

“The output of the core is too strong. An ordinary humanoid doll wouldn’t have the capacity to take it. We have to use an artifact.”

“It’s like a completely different person.”

“I only inherited that from a previous tower master. I don’t know the details.”

While the two whispered, Zomgoyle continued to collect materials into the cart. 

“What’s that leather bag for?” Yuuki asked. 

“It’s for carrying your drinking water, Yuuki.”

“And what’s that fur?”

“It’s the fur of an animal I hunted. Use it to sleep warmly. If we sell it in the city, we can make good money.”

“What’s that black dried thing?”

“The gallbladder of a crimson bear. It’s worth a lot.”

“What about this hard block, and the flakes in the cloth bag?”

“Dried meat and grains.”

“And that box?”

“A tool for fire. We need it for camp.”

“What’s this pot?”

“A warm soup for you to eat along the way.”

Shion loaded two lithographs onto the cart. 

“Hey, what’s that?”

“Lithographs for telecommunication. The connection will get worse the further you go, though I’d like you to hang on to it for the time being.”

“Alright.”

“And…… let me give you this ring.” Shion took a ring out of his pocket and gave it to Yuuki.

“What’s this? Looks kind of plain and simple.”

“With that, you’ll have proof you’re an ‘Universal Agent’ of this tower.”

“Since when did I become one of those?”

“You aren’t yet. You’ll become one once you put that ring on.”

“Is there some kind of benefit to becoming a ‘Universal Agent’?”

“You can activate relics in the Arcelon Prefecture left behind by Master Exodus. And not only that, use the power of the Tower of Darkness to your aid.”

“Seems like a pretty big deal. Are you sure I can borrow this?”

“The tower’s in danger. It’s not like I have a choice.”

“I see.” Yuuki accepted the silver ring, and placed it on his right hand’s index finger. The size fit perfectly, as if it was made just for him. 

Finally, the three headed off to prepare for Yuuki’s journey.

Zomgoyle piled several farming tools and the rusty giant sickle into the cart. She touched the automatic door switch at the end of the hall. 

Magic flowed through the pattern of the giant door, but like last night, the door ended up stopping midway. 

The three pushed the door until there was enough space for the cart to get through. 

Sunlight spread through the space they had made. 

It was the first time he saw the light of the other world.

Yuuki felt the open world in front of his eyes, literally. 

There was a new world beyond this door!

Saying their farewells, Yuuki and Zomgoyle exited the tower. 

“I’m expecting good things from you!” shouted Shion. Yuuki looked back at his other-wordly gesture, under the dazzling sunlight.