The room was a traditional Japanese-style sitting area, with a tall mirror leaning against the wall.
Furniture was sparse, only a low table placed in the center of the room.
Accompanied by the fluttering sound of a robin's wings, Alice slowly made her way to the low table.
Suigintou and Shinku followed closely behind her.
Souseiseki and Suiseiseki, holding hands in the middle, glanced uncertainly at each other from left and right.
After a moment, Souseiseki tugged Suiseiseki along and moved to stand beside the purple-haired woman.
"Souseiseki…"
"For now, we're still on Shouko's side."
"Oh."
Hearing their exchange, the purple-haired woman's eye twitched slightly, and she couldn't help muttering to herself.
What a pair of little rascals.
Ignoring them, the purple-haired woman fixed her gaze on Alice.
Even after Alice had taken her seat, the woman's eyes remained locked on her.
Alice knew exactly what she was trying to confirm but chose instead to first observe the two dolls standing behind the purple-haired woman.
Was one of them the one who had awakened Suiseiseki and Souseiseki?
Under Alice's gaze, the red-haired doll averted her eyes slightly, avoiding her stare.
The silver-haired doll, however, met her gaze calmly.
No, that didn't seem right.
And seeing how Souseiseki and Suiseiseki stood by the purple-haired woman…
Alice narrowed her eyes slightly and shifted her attention back to the woman herself.
Could it be… her?
Was she a doll?
A quiet stillness settled over the room as they sized each other up.
A few seconds later, the purple-haired woman suddenly curled her lips into a pleased smile and let out a long sigh.
Half-closing her eyelids, she slowly produced a pipe.
"Do you mind?"
Alice shook her head quietly and asked in a soft voice, "Finished confirming?"
The woman placed the pipe between her lips and gave a slight nod.
"Completely, utterly human."
She waved the pipe gently and smiled again. "Just with Magic Circuits inside her body."
Her words sent a shockwave through everyone present.
All eyes turned to Alice at once.
Alice's expression darkened slightly.
Most magus families didn't possess large Magic Crests—even the Tohsaka family's only covered a forearm.
The Aozaki family's Crest, which took up an entire arm, was already considered massive.
But the amount of Crest etched inside Alice's body was even more extreme—covering all her internal organs, even her bones.
So that's why they had mistaken her for a Banned Doll.
Ignoring Alice's glare, the purple-haired woman grew even more excited. "The method for creating a Banned Doll involves using human organs and integrating them into a doll's body."
"Not just Banned Dolls—some organizations, in pursuit of greater magical power, even use machinery to replace human organs."
She gazed at Alice, intoxicated stroking her own cheek, her face flushing. "But engraving magic circuits directly onto the internal organs of a living person… I've never seen such a technique."
"Ahh, I really want to keep you here."
As her words faded, the room fell into complete silence.
Suigintou silently spread her wings, while Shinku began to be surrounded by swirling petals.
Souseiseki and Suiseiseki quietly retreated toward Alice.
The red-haired doll nervously clutched at her master's sleeve; the silver-haired doll's gaze grew stern, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
But Alice, unhurried, glanced at the purple-haired woman and let out a soundless scoff.
Amusing.
She calmly turned her head and began straightening Suigintou's dress.
Seeing that her act hadn't intimidated Alice, the purple-haired woman waved a hand in regret.
"Just kidding, just kidding~ Irori, please serve the tea."
The tension broke instantly. The silver-haired doll stepped forward gracefully, lifted the teapot from the side, and set it on the table.
The purple-haired woman leaned sideways against the table, pipe held level in her right hand, and asked curiously,
"Aren't you afraid at all? This is still my territory, you know."
Without turning her head, Alice replied softly, "How cute."
"…What?"
"You act threatening, but it comes off like you're spoiled."
"..."
"I have a few children here who are always hungry. It would be a good chance to let them eat their fill."
Alice offered a faint smile.
The purple-haired woman's hand, holding the pipe, trembled slightly.
Alice went on, "And I never expected the legendary Karyuusai would look like this."
"…Shouko Karyuusai, at your service." After a brief silence, Shouko lifted the corners of her mouth into a soft smile. "You figured it out?"
"Yes."
During this time, Alice had looked deeply into the state of doll craftsmanship in this world.
Though there were many fascinating magic circuits, the dolls' appearances were rather plain.
Even next door, at the world's top magical academy, most of the dolls were crudely designed.
Robin sometimes slipped in to chat with Charlotte, and she'd often share tales of the strange dolls she'd spotted.
The dolls the students owned came in all shapes—sword types, dog types, you name it.
Very few possessed humanoid dolls.
And most humanoid dolls lacked realistic skin, often leaving their mechanical structures exposed.
But the two behind Shouko were nearly indistinguishable from real humans, from their lively eyes to their breathing rhythm.
If you didn't look closely, you'd hardly realize they were dolls.
That level of bio-realism, executed so meticulously—
Aside from the rumored strongest doll maker of the era, who had a noted fondness for women, there really was no one else it could be.
Also, do Japanese people not like wearing underwear?
Alice glanced at the two prominent points visible through the silver-haired doll's top before returning her gaze to Shouko.
Sensing Alice's look, Shouko smiled meaningfully and bent forward, leaning her body over the low table.
Two ample curves pressed against the table's surface, slowly deforming and spreading.
Ignoring Shouko's display, Alice spoke coolly, "Moreover, the era's greatest doll maker is herself a doll."
Shouko's movements froze instantly.
The two dolls behind her also grew tense.
After a few seconds of silence, Shouko flopped onto the table with a soft thud.
She shook her head and pouted. "You caught that too?"
Having repaid the slight, Alice closed her eyes quietly and said no more.
"Alice."
As the atmosphere eased a little, Suigintou behind her spoke up suddenly.
Hugging her chest discontentedly, she said, "Even if we use a lot of magic, you don't have to put it like that."
Alice blinked in confusion. When had she ever said—
Then her eyes widened in sudden understanding.
This child… must have thought she meant Suigintou and Shinku were the "hungry ones."
How cute.
Alice's gaze softened, looking affectionately at the fuming Suigintou.
She didn't respond, only reached out to stroke Suigintou's hair before falling silent again.
Alice's expression is so irritating.
Suigintou clenched her fists. She felt like hitting someone.
But since she couldn't very well hit Alice…
Her gaze drifted slowly toward Shinku beside her.
Just then, Shinku sighed silently, stepped forward, and shook her head as she patted Suigintou's shoulder.
Suigintou's temperature rose again.
Good. It had been a while since the two sisters had a proper… exchange of feelings.
They'd been too busy lately dealing with Suiseiseki.
Covering her smiling lips, Shouko chuckled lightly. "Your side is quite entertaining too."
"Speaking of which," she blinked slowly, her eyes seductive, "how about letting big sister here… examine your body~"
"No."
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.