My master praises my housework.
My master praises me for being cute.
My master acknowledges me.
Being by my master’s side proves my worth.
If my master abandons me, I’ll become worthless again.
That, I hate. I have to keep meeting my master’s expectations.
“Misty. Your housework is already perfect. Your cooking has far surpassed mine. Thanks to you, my palate has become refined. I can no longer imagine a life without you.”
“…It’s an honor, Master.”
“Now then. It’s about time I explained the reason I created you. Of course, part of it was to challenge the limits of my own skills. But that’s not all. I desperately needed an existence that could move semi-permanently and carry on my will.”
Needed.
Just hearing that word made Misty feel like she was standing up straighter.
“I’ve created various magic items up until now. Among them, there’s a card that I’m proud to call my masterpiece.”
“A masterpiece card, you say?”
“Yes. It’s called the Seven Deadly Sins Origin Cards. As the name suggests, there are seven of them. They are cards with abilities based on the Seven Deadly Sins Origin established by the True Holy Church. To be more precise, they are cards that access the divine realm, give the power that fills it the form of the Seven Deadly Sins Origin, and summon it.”
“…I’ve only read a few magic books in this house, so I’m less than a beginner when it comes to magic. Even so, I understand. That card is something that humans can’t handle, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Even I, who created it, couldn’t handle it. The moment I completed it and tried to test it by channeling magical power, it went berserk. It released the power of the Seven Deadly Sins Origin chaotically, and all seven cards flew off somewhere. All I could do was calm the situation and return it to normal. And send an execution command for the protection I had set up in advance for the cards that flew away. Because I did those two things, I managed to prevent any human casualties. I don’t know where the cards went, but thanks to the protection, they should be sleeping unnoticed.”
“Then… those cards are okay now…?”
“For now, yes. But those cards are powerful. I don’t know how long the protection will last… I’m sure it’ll be fine for a hundred years. I think it’ll hold up for two hundred years. But three hundred years… I have no confidence at all.”
“That’s… too dangerous! Why did you make something like that!”
“It was youthful folly. I came up with the theory. It seemed like it could be a powerful weapon that no one had ever made before. I just wanted to try and see if I could really make it… That’s all. I didn’t think about what would happen if I failed. I didn’t even think I would fail. I was an arrogant little girl. Now I’m ashamed and regret it.”
“Regret… what are you going to do in three hundred years? If those cards start moving again and scatter the power of the Seven Deadly Sins Origin, how much damage will it cause? I think Master has a duty to stop it. But in three hundred years, Master will be…”
“That’s right. I’ll be dead. I was originally planning to transplant my soul into an Automata. But no matter how I calculated it, it didn’t seem compatible. I tried various things. And if the performance of the Automata decreased because of that, it would defeat the purpose. So I gave up on creating an Automata that would suit my soul. I decided to look for a soul that would suit the Automata. And that’s how I found you, Misty.”
Celine pointed at Misty.
“Your body has various functions. To detect, retrieve, and control the Seven Deadly Sins Cards. That’s why I created this Automata. You’ve become able to live a normal life with that body. Next, I’ll have you crush rocks with your monstrous strength. After that, how to handle magical power. Because your body is special, you probably won’t be able to learn normal magic. But through the interaction between your body and soul, a huge amount of magical power is generated. Just by slamming that down, you can easily defeat most Monsters. And regardless of your will, that magical power will repair you, and you also have the ability to detect when the cards start to activate.”
Then, Celine began to talk about how superior Misty’s body was as an Automata.
Doll. Machine. Creation. Means.
In the end, what’s important to Celine is ‘performance’. Misty is just a part to achieve that.
I was made to realize that.
But that’s fine.
Whether I’m a part or a component.
If I’m needed, that’s enough.
“Misty. I’m pushing my mess onto you. I’m entrusting the future to you. You can hate me. You don’t have the right to refuse… I don’t want people to die because of my inventions anymore.”
To have my name called. To have my eyes looked at.
For that, I’ll become a tool.
“Yes, Master. I’ll do anything. I’ll endure for hundreds of years. So please… please stay my master forever.”
“…? You’re saying strange things. Isn’t it obvious? Misty will always be mine.”
After that, Misty learned many things from Celine, even more than before.
How to use her body. How to use magical power. Knowledge of the world.
There were many difficult things, but just talking with Celine was fun.
We went out sometimes too.
If there was something we needed to buy, we went for a walk or even a trip.
I felt like I was part of a real family.
Of course, it’s not.
Because Celine and Misty aren’t related by blood. On top of that, one is a human and the other is an Automata. Creator and tool.
She’s being kind because she needs me.
If I don’t fulfill my role, I’ll be abandoned again.
Misty devoted herself to Celine.
Eventually, Celine’s white hair increased, her legs and hips weakened, and she spent more time sleeping. If I devoted myself, she wouldn’t die. I took care of her, telling myself that.
“Misty. This is the end for me. It pains me that I can’t tell you to be free… Please. If the Seven Deadly Sins Cards start moving…”
“Yes, Master. Please leave everything to me.”
“Thank you, Misty… I’m so glad you were here… You are my…”
Saying that, Celine closed her eyes and never woke up again.
Misty did the burial alone. She carved a tombstone and made a grave. Every day, she placed flowers.
She cleaned the house where she was now alone. Even though no waste was produced, she changed her clothes every day, muttered “Master, how do I look today?” and did the laundry.
Every day, she cooked for two, muttered “Let’s eat” alone, and did a one-person play, saying “Master, you don’t have an appetite again today? It can’t be helped,” and ate both portions.
That’s how she spent her days, self-hypnotizing herself that she was still needed as her master’s doll.
Even though the body that Master made is maintaining its highest performance, my heart feels like it’s about to break first.
That’s no good. I’ll be a disappointment.