Lynne was puzzled. He flipped open the first page of the booklet. The first thing that caught his eye was a meticulously drawn portrait of a puppet, and below it, densely packed text revealing information about the depicted puppet.
[First Puppet · Blue Moon]
Type: Cleansing Puppet. Possesses formidable sorcery abilities, excels in launching extensive attacks on targets using spells. Personality: Mature and eloquent. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: High.
Appearance: Female, realistic medium-sized sorcery puppet, adult form, long black hair, blue pupils. Right eye damaged, usually covered by a flower bud. Distinguished by a white robe and blue sash, 175cm tall.
[Second Puppet · Requiem]
Type: Combat Puppet. Exceptional close-combat abilities, with an ultimate assault and berserk capability making her a sharp blade on the battlefield. Personality: Maniacal and pathological. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Very High.
Appearance: Female, realistic lightweight puppet, young girl form, red hair, red eyes, often wielding a three-meter-long heavy scythe, nearly uncontrollable in battle. Distinguished by her scythe and red hair, 151cm tall.
[Third Puppet · Jade]
Type: Maid Puppet. Female, excellent household assistance ability, perfect butler-type puppet. Superior management and financial skills, quickly adaptable to any environment. Personality: Lively and endearing. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Low.
Appearance: Female, realistic medium-sized puppet, young girl form, blonde hair, blue eyes, often manages Puppet Manor in the lady's absence, the foremost maid in the manor. Maid outfit perfectly mimics human emotional expressions. Distinguished by her smile and elegance, 160cm tall.
...
Lynne flipped through the booklet, mesmerized.
Each page featured a portrait of a puppet with a detailed description, and without exception, each one was intricately crafted, life-like yet not human, carrying an indescribable, eerie beauty.
"These are all..." Lynne marveled.
Puppet Mistress leaned forward, smiling lightly as she rested her chin on her hand, "All of them are excellent puppets, each carefully selected by me from all over the world, cursed puppets, also my daughters. You must have noticed that each of them excels in a specific area, and after my meticulous crafting, they can be more readily accepted by the normal world compared to ancient wooden dolls like myself."
She continued, leaning forward, her face lit up with a seductive smile, "What do you think? Interested in any? If you want, I can rent one for you. They can serve as bodyguards or maids, and of course, if you're not afraid, even as dolls."
Lynne: "(꒪Д꒪)!"
Can... can these even be rented?
Lynne furrowed his brows, saying, "I don't feel it's quite right. Since you've already mentioned these are your daughters, renting them out like commodities seems somewhat…"
Puppet Mistress immediately smiled, replying, "Alright, let me put it in a more formal way. You can consider it a form of employment."
"Employment?" Lynne hesitated.
Puppet Mistress, arms crossed and eyes closed, with a slight smile, said, "Yes, my daughters excel in their respective fields. Many creatures of the Dark World are willing to pay a high price to hire my daughters to handle complex matters. Such as assassinations, warfare, bodyguarding, management, and other services.
My daughters also enjoy exploring different customs and lifestyles around the world through these engagements. Additionally, this serves as a vital source of income to maintain the manor's operations."
After listening to Puppet Mistress's explanation, Lynne nodded thoughtfully.
So, in a sense, this was like a security firm.
Puppet Mistress looked at him with a gentle smile, saying, "What do you think? Found a suitable one? Just tell me which one you like. And since it's a repayment, the first hire is free."
She continued to tempt him.
Lynne pondered upon hearing this. To be honest, he was somewhat interested. Not because they were exceptionally beautiful or pleasing to the eye, but purely considering his actual situation.
She was right in what she had said earlier. Once his teacher left, if an incident like the flesh puppet invasion happened again, it would undoubtedly be a big trouble. He couldn't always rely on the Blood Spirit.
And with the Blood Spirit often out hunting, facing any significant threat alone or just with his left hand was indeed challenging.
Perhaps... He should choose one?
Lynne was tempted.
As Puppet Mistress watched him with a smile, Lynne began to carefully read through each puppet's description.
But soon, Lynne found himself in a dilemma.
Because... They were all so appealing! It was like sitting in a club, watching one adorable young girl after another walk in, each so outstanding that he couldn't decide which one to choose.
"Can I have them all?" Lynne asked curiously.
Puppet Mistress's smile instantly brightened.
"Of course, you can~~~"
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +10]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +12]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +15]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress is overjoyed!]
Lynne shivered suddenly.
Something was off! Why did she seem happier when he said he wanted them all? Was she harboring some malevolent intent?
In an instant, Lynne remembered the curse within her. Could it be that her real aim wasn't gratitude, but rather to have him engage in bizarre activities with her puppet daughters, thereby breaking their curses?!
Lynne: "!!!"
With my body?! No, that's unacceptable! Unacceptable! Though occasionally deviant, I'm not my teacher!
Realizing Puppet Mistress's intentions, Lynne trembled inwardly, yet maintained a calm facade.
"Can I... not have them?"
Lynne ventured.
Buzz—
Puppet Mistress's smile instantly faded.
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you -10]
"I'll take them! I didn't say no! I'll look more carefully!"
Lynne felt embarrassed.
Puppet Mistress's mood brightened again, her smile beaming.
Lynne pondered, then asked, "I understand the combat ratings, but ma'am, what does this emotional development score mean?"
Puppet Mistress blinked, explaining, "It's based on my years of interaction with them. It indicates the difficulty of eliciting their emotions. The higher the rating, the easier it is, and the closer they are to real humans."
Without hesitation, Lynne immediately ruled out all puppets with high emotional development ratings.
The lower the better! He didn't want to get too involved!
"And the energy consumption?" Lynne continued.
Puppet Mistress chuckled, "Just like you flesh-and-blood beings. You eat when you're hungry; they need energy to function. Without it, they can become sluggish or even stop working. But my daughters are quite advanced. Whether it's flesh, cursed energy, or energy blocks, they can convert them into their own power source."
Lynne pondered upon hearing this, muttering to himself, "So... they need to be sustained..."
Puppet Mistress: "???"
Lynne shook his head, then asked, "Is there a puppet that... can move without eating?"
Puppet Mistress closed her eyes and clenched her fists with a crackling sound.
This guy...Is he really that stingy? Expecting the horse to run without feeding it?!
Puppet Mistress, visibly annoyed but composed, said, "There actually is one. My seventh daughter has a bit of a cleanliness obsession and doesn't like flesh or energy blocks. She has her unique way of recharging."
Lynne, curious, asked, "What is it?"
Puppet Mistress took a deep breath, extending her slender hand to place a bronze object on the counter.
Lynne was startled, exclaiming:
"A winding key?!"
...
[Seventh Puppet · Black Luna]
Type: Control and Cleansing Puppet. Female, tremendous combat and control abilities, excels in using secret energy threads to manipulate targets' movements, causing them to turn on each other or snap their necks. Personality: None. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Variable.
Appearance: Life-sized lightweight puppet, young girl form, silver hair, black eyes, Gothic-style gilded long dress with a black hat. No preferences or personality as of yet. Distinguishing feature: a winding key slot on her back, different from other puppets, compatible with various winding keys for charging. 146cm tall.
Lynne looked in amazement at the Gothic-style puppet girl in the illustration.
It was evident even from the illustration, compared to the other puppet ladies, that she seemed more like a real puppet, exuding a mysterious beauty and a unique sense of horror. She had less of a human touch than the other puppets.
"A winding key... Strong combat capabilities... No emotional complications... Lightweight..."
Lynne was almost immediately convinced! She was the perfect bodyguard, small and portable, low maintenance, and efficient. She seemed flawless for his needs!
"That's the one!"
Lynne declared earnestly, looking up.
Puppet Mistress was taken aback, then frowned slightly, somewhat reluctantly. Actually, she had hoped Lynne would choose either her eldest or third daughter, as they were more normal and had higher emotional development. This meant they were more likely to form a bond with the boy, potentially helping to restrain the curse.
Although the seventh daughter was extremely powerful in combat, In a full-strength 1v1, she even defeated her eldest sister. But that was because of her low emotional development; she didn't know restraint, attacking with lethal intent each time, thus gaining the upper hand. But still...
"Would you like to choose another? Or maybe pick an additional one?" Puppet Mistress suggested hopefully. "How about taking the third daughter as well? She may not be strong in combat, but she's thoughtful and can manage your shop well. Why not have both?"
Lynne, smiling, said, "No, one is enough."
Joking? The third puppet had such a high level of emotional development. What if, by chance, something developed and he got too involved? That would be disastrous! And he had reasons to suspect that his teacher's unspeakable issue might be due to excessive involvement! He had to avoid that at all costs.
"Alright then!" Puppet Mistress, with her eyes closed, took the booklet and hugged it to her chest, saying, "Since this is your choice, I won't interfere too much. You can try her out first, and if you don't like her, you can contact me anytime to switch. I'll lend her to you for thirty days, rent-free. Once I return, I'll arrange everything. How does that sound?"
Lynne smiled and responded, "It's a deal!"
[Ding! Congratulations host on achieving the achievement: Puppet Lady. You gain 200Experience]
[Puppet Lady] Stage Achievement: Obtain your own puppet through any means. Reward: Spirit +1, Physical +2.
Now, he just had to wait for the delivery.
...
In the morning, the potion shop was open for business as usual.
Groggy Bloodsaw finally made his way to the front room. Rubbing his head, he said in a daze, "Strange, am I that tired? Why did I sleep so heavily…"
Lynne quickly brought over a cup of tea, handing it to his teacher, coughing and saying: "Sir, you just finished surgery yesterday, it's normal to be a bit tired. Here, drink some tea I specially prepared for you, it's very nourishing and refreshing. Why don't you give it a try?"
Seeing his dutiful apprentice, Bloodsaw's mood immediately brightened.
Such a filial apprentice! Waking up early to offer him tea and even massage his back. His decision to take Lynne as an apprentice was undoubtedly correct!
"You're considerate," Bloodsaw said contentedly, drinking the tea and feeling refreshed.
[Ding! Bloodsaw's favorability for you +5]
"By the way, Lynne, I was thinking for a long time before falling asleep yesterday. Do you have any thoughts on this?" He set down his teacup and turned to Lynne with a serious expression. "Do you want to become a real doctor?"
Lynne was startled by the question and asked, "You mean…"
Bloodsaw smiled lightly, "A profession! You are currently just my apprentice, but if you want to continue developing in this field, you need to choose a profession that suits you as your main direction. My first profession is a Flesh Modifier, and my second is a Potion Master, also doing surgery on the side. But I'm not really a doctor in the true sense. So, if you want to pursue a career in medicine, I recommend joining a specialized association or organization. It will save you a lot of detours."
Bloodsaw's words were very sincere.
Lynne's mind stirred. He immediately remembered the rare class change task given by the system.
Seeing Lynne's expression, Bloodsaw smiled slightly, saying, "It seems you already have some ideas, don't you?"
Lynne didn't hide it and said seriously: "Sir... have you ever heard of the profession 'Night Doctor'?"
At these words, Bloodsaw was startled and then his face showed surprise.
"Night Doctor... where did you hear that term?"
Lynne was about to concoct a plausible excuse, but Bloodsaw didn't press further and said gravely: "I know of that organization. Night Doctors, also known as doctors who walk the night. They are a group of lawfully good-aligned madmen."
"Lawfully good?" Lynne exclaimed in surprise, "There's an organization adhering to that principle in the Dark World?"
After all, this is the Dark World. Hell! Lawful good is a quality rarer than winning the lottery!
Bloodsaw shook his head, his gaze serious, "Don't misunderstand, they are not lawfully good in the way you think, but it's a label they've given themselves!"
He looked up, his expression grave.
"If you ever encounter them, you better actually be ill. Because they believe every living being in this world is sick! Their existence is to bring redemption to the creatures of this world! In layman's terms, if you're not sick and encounter them, they will try to find something wrong with you. If they find something, they will cure you, but if they don't…"
Bloodsaw's gaze turned somber, looking at the stitches all over his body, he said through clenched teeth: "They will cut you open and continue searching until they find something!"
Lynne exclaimed in surprise, "That dedicated, huh?!"
[Ding! Bloodsaw's Sanity -2!]
Lynne was puzzled. He flipped open the first page of the booklet. The first thing that caught his eye was a meticulously drawn portrait of a puppet, and below it, densely packed text revealing information about the depicted puppet.
[First Puppet · Blue Moon]
Type: Cleansing Puppet. Possesses formidable sorcery abilities, excels in launching extensive attacks on targets using spells. Personality: Mature and eloquent. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: High.
Appearance: Female, realistic medium-sized sorcery puppet, adult form, long black hair, blue pupils. Right eye damaged, usually covered by a flower bud. Distinguished by a white robe and blue sash, 175cm tall.
[Second Puppet · Requiem]
Type: Combat Puppet. Exceptional close-combat abilities, with an ultimate assault and berserk capability making her a sharp blade on the battlefield. Personality: Maniacal and pathological. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Very High.
Appearance: Female, realistic lightweight puppet, young girl form, red hair, red eyes, often wielding a three-meter-long heavy scythe, nearly uncontrollable in battle. Distinguished by her scythe and red hair, 151cm tall.
[Third Puppet · Jade]
Type: Maid Puppet. Female, excellent household assistance ability, perfect butler-type puppet. Superior management and financial skills, quickly adaptable to any environment. Personality: Lively and endearing. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Low.
Appearance: Female, realistic medium-sized puppet, young girl form, blonde hair, blue eyes, often manages Puppet Manor in the lady's absence, the foremost maid in the manor. Maid outfit perfectly mimics human emotional expressions. Distinguished by her smile and elegance, 160cm tall.
...
Lynne flipped through the booklet, mesmerized.
Each page featured a portrait of a puppet with a detailed description, and without exception, each one was intricately crafted, life-like yet not human, carrying an indescribable, eerie beauty.
"These are all..." Lynne marveled.
Puppet Mistress leaned forward, smiling lightly as she rested her chin on her hand, "All of them are excellent puppets, each carefully selected by me from all over the world, cursed puppets, also my daughters. You must have noticed that each of them excels in a specific area, and after my meticulous crafting, they can be more readily accepted by the normal world compared to ancient wooden dolls like myself."
She continued, leaning forward, her face lit up with a seductive smile, "What do you think? Interested in any? If you want, I can rent one for you. They can serve as bodyguards or maids, and of course, if you're not afraid, even as dolls."
Lynne: "(꒪Д꒪)!"
Can... can these even be rented?
Lynne furrowed his brows, saying, "I don't feel it's quite right. Since you've already mentioned these are your daughters, renting them out like commodities seems somewhat…"
Puppet Mistress immediately smiled, replying, "Alright, let me put it in a more formal way. You can consider it a form of employment."
"Employment?" Lynne hesitated.
Puppet Mistress, arms crossed and eyes closed, with a slight smile, said, "Yes, my daughters excel in their respective fields. Many creatures of the Dark World are willing to pay a high price to hire my daughters to handle complex matters. Such as assassinations, warfare, bodyguarding, management, and other services.
My daughters also enjoy exploring different customs and lifestyles around the world through these engagements. Additionally, this serves as a vital source of income to maintain the manor's operations."
After listening to Puppet Mistress's explanation, Lynne nodded thoughtfully.
So, in a sense, this was like a security firm.
Puppet Mistress looked at him with a gentle smile, saying, "What do you think? Found a suitable one? Just tell me which one you like. And since it's a repayment, the first hire is free."
She continued to tempt him.
Lynne pondered upon hearing this. To be honest, he was somewhat interested. Not because they were exceptionally beautiful or pleasing to the eye, but purely considering his actual situation.
She was right in what she had said earlier. Once his teacher left, if an incident like the flesh puppet invasion happened again, it would undoubtedly be a big trouble. He couldn't always rely on the Blood Spirit.
And with the Blood Spirit often out hunting, facing any significant threat alone or just with his left hand was indeed challenging.
Perhaps... He should choose one?
Lynne was tempted.
As Puppet Mistress watched him with a smile, Lynne began to carefully read through each puppet's description.
But soon, Lynne found himself in a dilemma.
Because... They were all so appealing! It was like sitting in a club, watching one adorable young girl after another walk in, each so outstanding that he couldn't decide which one to choose.
"Can I have them all?" Lynne asked curiously.
Puppet Mistress's smile instantly brightened.
"Of course, you can~~~"
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +10]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +12]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you +15]
[Ding! Puppet Mistress is overjoyed!]
Lynne shivered suddenly.
Something was off! Why did she seem happier when he said he wanted them all? Was she harboring some malevolent intent?
In an instant, Lynne remembered the curse within her. Could it be that her real aim wasn't gratitude, but rather to have him engage in bizarre activities with her puppet daughters, thereby breaking their curses?!
Lynne: "!!!"
With my body?! No, that's unacceptable! Unacceptable! Though occasionally deviant, I'm not my teacher!
Realizing Puppet Mistress's intentions, Lynne trembled inwardly, yet maintained a calm facade.
"Can I... not have them?"
Lynne ventured.
Buzz—
Puppet Mistress's smile instantly faded.
[Ding! Puppet Mistress's favorability for you -10]
"I'll take them! I didn't say no! I'll look more carefully!"
Lynne felt embarrassed.
Puppet Mistress's mood brightened again, her smile beaming.
Lynne pondered, then asked, "I understand the combat ratings, but ma'am, what does this emotional development score mean?"
Puppet Mistress blinked, explaining, "It's based on my years of interaction with them. It indicates the difficulty of eliciting their emotions. The higher the rating, the easier it is, and the closer they are to real humans."
Without hesitation, Lynne immediately ruled out all puppets with high emotional development ratings.
The lower the better! He didn't want to get too involved!
"And the energy consumption?" Lynne continued.
Puppet Mistress chuckled, "Just like you flesh-and-blood beings. You eat when you're hungry; they need energy to function. Without it, they can become sluggish or even stop working. But my daughters are quite advanced. Whether it's flesh, cursed energy, or energy blocks, they can convert them into their own power source."
Lynne pondered upon hearing this, muttering to himself, "So... they need to be sustained..."
Puppet Mistress: "???"
Lynne shook his head, then asked, "Is there a puppet that... can move without eating?"
Puppet Mistress closed her eyes and clenched her fists with a crackling sound.
This guy...Is he really that stingy? Expecting the horse to run without feeding it?!
Puppet Mistress, visibly annoyed but composed, said, "There actually is one. My seventh daughter has a bit of a cleanliness obsession and doesn't like flesh or energy blocks. She has her unique way of recharging."
Lynne, curious, asked, "What is it?"
Puppet Mistress took a deep breath, extending her slender hand to place a bronze object on the counter.
Lynne was startled, exclaiming:
"A winding key?!"
...
[Seventh Puppet · Black Luna]
Type: Control and Cleansing Puppet. Female, tremendous combat and control abilities, excels in using secret energy threads to manipulate targets' movements, causing them to turn on each other or snap their necks. Personality: None. Emotional Development: . Combat Rating: . Energy Consumption: Variable.
Appearance: Life-sized lightweight puppet, young girl form, silver hair, black eyes, Gothic-style gilded long dress with a black hat. No preferences or personality as of yet. Distinguishing feature: a winding key slot on her back, different from other puppets, compatible with various winding keys for charging. 146cm tall.
Lynne looked in amazement at the Gothic-style puppet girl in the illustration.
It was evident even from the illustration, compared to the other puppet ladies, that she seemed more like a real puppet, exuding a mysterious beauty and a unique sense of horror. She had less of a human touch than the other puppets.
"A winding key... Strong combat capabilities... No emotional complications... Lightweight..."
Lynne was almost immediately convinced! She was the perfect bodyguard, small and portable, low maintenance, and efficient. She seemed flawless for his needs!
"That's the one!"
Lynne declared earnestly, looking up.
Puppet Mistress was taken aback, then frowned slightly, somewhat reluctantly. Actually, she had hoped Lynne would choose either her eldest or third daughter, as they were more normal and had higher emotional development. This meant they were more likely to form a bond with the boy, potentially helping to restrain the curse.
Although the seventh daughter was extremely powerful in combat, In a full-strength 1v1, she even defeated her eldest sister. But that was because of her low emotional development; she didn't know restraint, attacking with lethal intent each time, thus gaining the upper hand. But still...
"Would you like to choose another? Or maybe pick an additional one?" Puppet Mistress suggested hopefully. "How about taking the third daughter as well? She may not be strong in combat, but she's thoughtful and can manage your shop well. Why not have both?"
Lynne, smiling, said, "No, one is enough."
Joking? The third puppet had such a high level of emotional development. What if, by chance, something developed and he got too involved? That would be disastrous! And he had reasons to suspect that his teacher's unspeakable issue might be due to excessive involvement! He had to avoid that at all costs.
"Alright then!" Puppet Mistress, with her eyes closed, took the booklet and hugged it to her chest, saying, "Since this is your choice, I won't interfere too much. You can try her out first, and if you don't like her, you can contact me anytime to switch. I'll lend her to you for thirty days, rent-free. Once I return, I'll arrange everything. How does that sound?"
Lynne smiled and responded, "It's a deal!"
[Ding! Congratulations host on achieving the achievement: Puppet Lady. You gain 200Experience]
[Puppet Lady] Stage Achievement: Obtain your own puppet through any means. Reward: Spirit +1, Physical +2.
Now, he just had to wait for the delivery.
...
In the morning, the potion shop was open for business as usual.
Groggy Bloodsaw finally made his way to the front room. Rubbing his head, he said in a daze, "Strange, am I that tired? Why did I sleep so heavily…"
Lynne quickly brought over a cup of tea, handing it to his teacher, coughing and saying: "Sir, you just finished surgery yesterday, it's normal to be a bit tired. Here, drink some tea I specially prepared for you, it's very nourishing and refreshing. Why don't you give it a try?"
Seeing his dutiful apprentice, Bloodsaw's mood immediately brightened.
Such a filial apprentice! Waking up early to offer him tea and even massage his back. His decision to take Lynne as an apprentice was undoubtedly correct!
"You're considerate," Bloodsaw said contentedly, drinking the tea and feeling refreshed.
[Ding! Bloodsaw's favorability for you +5]
"By the way, Lynne, I was thinking for a long time before falling asleep yesterday. Do you have any thoughts on this?" He set down his teacup and turned to Lynne with a serious expression. "Do you want to become a real doctor?"
Lynne was startled by the question and asked, "You mean…"
Bloodsaw smiled lightly, "A profession! You are currently just my apprentice, but if you want to continue developing in this field, you need to choose a profession that suits you as your main direction. My first profession is a Flesh Modifier, and my second is a Potion Master, also doing surgery on the side. But I'm not really a doctor in the true sense. So, if you want to pursue a career in medicine, I recommend joining a specialized association or organization. It will save you a lot of detours."
Bloodsaw's words were very sincere.
Lynne's mind stirred. He immediately remembered the rare class change task given by the system.
Seeing Lynne's expression, Bloodsaw smiled slightly, saying, "It seems you already have some ideas, don't you?"
Lynne didn't hide it and said seriously: "Sir... have you ever heard of the profession 'Night Doctor'?"
At these words, Bloodsaw was startled and then his face showed surprise.
"Night Doctor... where did you hear that term?"
Lynne was about to concoct a plausible excuse, but Bloodsaw didn't press further and said gravely: "I know of that organization. Night Doctors, also known as doctors who walk the night. They are a group of lawfully good-aligned madmen."
"Lawfully good?" Lynne exclaimed in surprise, "There's an organization adhering to that principle in the Dark World?"
After all, this is the Dark World. Hell! Lawful good is a quality rarer than winning the lottery!
Bloodsaw shook his head, his gaze serious, "Don't misunderstand, they are not lawfully good in the way you think, but it's a label they've given themselves!"
He looked up, his expression grave.
"If you ever encounter them, you better actually be ill. Because they believe every living being in this world is sick! Their existence is to bring redemption to the creatures of this world! In layman's terms, if you're not sick and encounter them, they will try to find something wrong with you. If they find something, they will cure you, but if they don't…"
Bloodsaw's gaze turned somber, looking at the stitches all over his body, he said through clenched teeth: "They will cut you open and continue searching until they find something!"
Lynne exclaimed in surprise, "That dedicated, huh?!"
[Ding! Bloodsaw's Sanity -2!]
