Tsukaishi ④: Shardina
Shardina.
The first Minos Doll that appeared.
A woman with pure white skin. Her hair is long and golden.
Actually, this white skin was a mistake in the initial settings, and subsequent Minos Dolls have blue skin.
Since her appearance is based on Munieca-san, she resembles her.
She has blue bull horns and wears the same black and white maid uniform as Munieca-san.
According to Munieca-san, she looks like she did four years ago.
Apparently, Munieca-san was in a period of wandering and darkness around that time.
Unusually, Munieca-san said she didn’t want to talk about that time.
And Shardina… she was so scary in various ways that I banned her from the dungeon. I haven’t seen her since.
But… why is she here?
“Owaa? It’s Shardina, who’s banned! Did Munieca call me?”
“No. I did not call you. I should have summoned Cartaloveda. I haven’t released Shardina since Master told me not to. So she shouldn’t be able to come out.”
That’s right. She shouldn’t be able to come out.
But she’s here.
“Oh my, things are getting interesting.”
“I sense a will in that Minos Doll.”
“Hoh, that’s understandable why you’d ban her.”
The peanut gallery is so noisy.
They’re having a tea party a little behind me, taking it easy.
Shardina opens her eyes and stares at me.
I feel like her eyes are glaring at me.
I felt like she resented being banned, but something feels different.
…Challenging me?
That’s right. She’s been losing to me ever since she appeared.
She keeps losing. Isn’t she frustrated?
I’m also frustrated about losing to Alveld. Very frustrated.
But that’s because I have emotions. Minos Dolls don’t have emotions.
But looking at Shardina now, I can’t say that.
“…”
I use [The Silent One].
She should be able to hear it. The voice of her heart—if it exists.
(Push down… Push down Push down Push down… Push down… Death)
“Wait, wait, wait a minute!”
I shouted without thinking.
Everyone flinches. Shardina also flinched.
“Th-that’s not right, Shardina-san.”
(…What is? …Death?)
She tilted her head and asked back.
What do you mean, why does it have to be pushing me down in the first place?
“Shardina. Return.”
Munieca-san says quietly.
Shardina looks at Munieca for a moment, then returns her gaze to me.
She doesn’t seem willing to obey.
Munieca-san showed emotion on her face for once.
“Shardina!”
She still ignores her. It looks like she’s ignoring her on purpose.
Munieca-san takes a step towards her as if to use force.
“Munieca-san. Please wait a moment!”
At my voice, Munieca-san stops and looks dissatisfied.
“Can you leave this to me?”
“Understood.”
“…Shardina. Let’s have a match. But a little different than usual.”
(What will you do?)
“From now on, I will use a Relic on you. If you can withstand it, you win.”
(If I win, I want a reward)
“Well, okay, what do you want?”
(…I haven’t thought about it, so I’ll think about it if I win)
“W-well, that’s fine, I guess.”
“Hmm, Wof-chi. Have you been talking to Shardina this whole time?”
“Ah, ah, well, yes…”
Oops. Shardina isn’t speaking. She’s saying it in her heart.
I haven’t even told The Witch that [The Silent One] can read minds. I can’t tell anyone about this.
“Hmm, a voice that only Wof-boy can hear… I see.”
“It’s probably because he has master authority.”
“Eh? But isn’t Munieca-san usually the master?”
“I am the sub-master with the next authority.”
“Why…?”
“It is only natural that Master has master authority.”
“Ehh…”
I wonder how far she intends to make me her master.
I always thought Munieca-san was just teasing me.
But lately, I’ve been feeling it faintly.
She seems to be seriously treating me as if we have a master-servant relationship.
I don’t know why. Why so much…?
“Master. I have something to talk about later.”
“Y-yes.”
Munieca-san said that because of my expression.
I have a rough idea of what she wants to talk about.
(…Aren’t you going to have a match?)
It sounded somewhat sulky.
“Ah, sorry. Let’s start.”
When I said that, Shardina put both arms in front of her chest.
A defensive stance. I can tell it’s solid.
I hold out my hand.
I remembered how to use the original 【Vanish】 through the Awakening Water.
I unleash it.
“【Vanish】”
I chant and activate it. In an instant, the impact shook the air and erased the space.
It was only for a moment.
In this instant, Shardina and everything around her was erased. Nothing is left.
The range was as far as I could see, and the trees behind me were also gone.
“……………”
I remembered. Nothing is left.
This is the scene when I used 【Vanish】 for the first time.
When I was terrified and shouted that I couldn’t use something like this, that’s right.
My uncle, who was nearby, laughed and said.
“Then let’s make it so you can use it. I have something good. Something special.”
At that time, what my uncle took out was—’Awakening Water’… ?
Was it my uncle’s Awakening Water that made it easier for me to use 【Vanish】?
Speaking of which, Uncle, why did you have such an incredibly valuable thing?
The Witch commented.
“My, my, this is amazing.”
“Extremely dangerous.”
“Ugh… this is bad. I wonder if even Zomorodonegaru could cut through it.”
Zomo? What is that? Munieca-san opens her mouth and calls out.
“Shardina.”
Ah, Shardina!?
“Shardina!”
Completely erased, without a trace.
I’m stunned. This wasn’t supposed to happen… this wasn’t supposed to happen. At that moment.
The Minos Doll Infinite Proliferation Core System floating next to Munieca-san glowed.
Shardina is generated from the ground.
“Shardina!?”
Shardina looks around at herself and then makes eye contact with me.
As soon as our eyes meet, she comes towards me and hits me lightly with teary eyes.
(Push down… I’m pushing you down now Push down Push down Push down Push down!)
“Ouch, ouch, I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
It hurts a little, and Shardina is taller than me, so it hits my head.
Munieca-san sighs.
“Shardina. Please stop around there.”
Shardina looks at Munieca-san and stops abruptly.
Then she mutters regretfully.
(Next time I’ll win)
She glares at me and disappears.
Shiro-san says quietly.
“It was comical and funny, but we can’t use this.”
“…That’s right.”
What should I do? A difficult problem has arisen.
Suddenly, The Witch crosses her arms, raises her fox ears, and shakes her three tails horizontally in a row.
Then she grins.
“Well, well, it might work out somehow.”
“Really?”
“Yes, yes. Wof-boy. We’re one step away now. I’m going to check that one step.”
“Check?”
Saying that, The Witch said she was going out for a bit and left.
Shiro-san says, looking at her back.
“The shut-in of the century has become quite aggressive.”
“Ahahaha, but The Witch has changed, really.”
“I wonder if The Witch is the only one who has changed.”
“…Well, well. Someone like you is usually alone, but it’s rare.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know that you are Wof-chi’s…”
“It seems like you want to die. Okay. I’ll teach you a white, sweet death.”
“Whoa, wait!”
Something is going on over there. It’s like they’re calmly sparking. Is it just my imagination?
“Master.”
Munieca-san stands three steps behind me.
I can’t help but smile wryly at how far she’s going, but she’s serious.
That’s what her demeanor conveys.