Chapter 6

A knock sounded, and a maid with a pale face rushed in.

"The magic tool room! Something's wrong with the magic tool room! The door...!"

This was no ordinary situation. Could it be that doll?

Dirk and Reuben exchanged glances and simultaneously dashed out of the infirmary.

Yuno hurriedly got out of bed, holding her aching nose, and headed for the magic tool room.

When they reached the end of the dim corridor,

(What's going on?)

She could only be dumbfounded. From inside the magic tool room, a dull thudding sound was continuously heard.

"Could it be that doll...? No way. Magic tools have never moved before... Not like this..."

Reuben muttered in shock.

The sound grew louder and stronger, and each time, the iron door began to creak slightly.

(The doll is ramming into the door...?)

It was hard to believe, but from Reuben's expression and the nature of the sound, it seemed to be the only explanation. An eerie and unusual noise echoed through the dim corridor.

Stunned by the situation, Reuben stood rooted to the spot, while Dirk pointed at the door with a curious look.

"Can you do something about this?"

"I don't think so... This is the first time. Magic tools moving... and to this extent..."

"But if we don't do something, the door will be broken."

As Dirk said, the sound from inside was almost like noise. The center of the iron door was bending with each impact.

Dirk turned to Keira, who was standing next to Yuno, looking like she might collapse.

"The High Priest is on his way, but tell him to come as quickly as possible."

"Yes!"

Keira ran off as if rolling. Dirk smiled at Yuno.

"Stay back from the door. Otherwise, you'll need more gauze."

He was referring to the gauze on her nose.

Even though she knew she shouldn't be depressed at a time like this, she couldn't help but feel down. She hated feeling this way.

Lowering her head, Yuno gently touched the gauze. Dirk, noticing her distress, turned his gaze to the door with a serious expression and reached for the sword at his waist.

"If the door breaks, I'll cut off that doll's head."

"But... it's a magic tool! It's a mysterious object filled with powerful magic. I have no idea what will happen if I cut off its head, whether the situation will improve or worsen..."

"Then I'll cut it to pieces. That should stop it from moving, at least."

Just then,

"Sir Dirk, are you alright!?"

"What's going on!?"

The knights and mages in the palace gathered, murmuring at the unusual door.

However, they seemed unable to do anything about the magic tool, and their gazes turned to Reuben.

Reuben seemed to have made up his mind.

"I'll open the door and try to seal the doll directly."

"Understood."

Reuben placed his hand on the door. He turned to Yuno, as if remembering something, and looked at her intently, as if he wanted to say something.

Yuno was confused. She knew he wanted to say something, but she had no idea what.

As she stared back, puzzled, Dirk frowned and interrupted them.

"Hurry up."

"Unlocking the door."

Reuben placed his hand on the door. The same faint, dry sound Yuno had heard before reached her ears.

As everyone held their breath, the door began to creak slowly—then, in the instant a narrow gap the size of a thumb opened, the doll flew out.

Without a moment's hesitation, it headed straight for Yuno, even though she was at the far end of the corridor.

In the blink of an eye, the doll was right in front of her.

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, she could do nothing but shrink back in terror.

"Yuno!"

Suddenly, something stood in front of her. At the same time, her left shoulder was pushed back strongly, and she stumbled backward.

It was Dirk's back that stood in front of her, and it was Dirk's hand that had pushed her. By the time she realized this, Dirk had already drawn his sword and intercepted the doll.

The sword swung several times, and the doll, which had been swept away, crashed into the corridor wall and stopped moving.

Reuben rushed over and desperately began to seal the doll that had fallen to the floor. Light emitted from Reuben's palm, enveloping the doll.

(It's over...?)

Her heart was pounding, but she finally felt relieved.

As soon as she felt relieved, the back in front of her seemed so large that it made her want to cry. He had protected her. Her heart was filled with gratitude and disbelief.

He was so close that she could touch him if she reached out. It had been a long time since he was this close.

In the past, when she called his name, he would smile gently. But now, she couldn't even call him casually.

With her trembling right hand, she touched her left shoulder. The left shoulder that Dirk had pushed was hot. When she gently pressed it, her whole body felt hot.

She knew that Dirk didn't think of her in that way, and that the beautiful girl next to him was someone she had no right to speak to, especially after she had broken off their engagement. Yet, she couldn't stop the feelings that overflowed.

Even from a distance, she wanted to see Dirk. She wanted to see the person she loved—

As if sensing her gaze, Dirk suddenly turned around. Seeing Yuno on the verge of tears, he widened his eyes in surprise.

But he quickly turned away, facing forward again, and said,

"I told you to stay back."

The voice that came from behind him was extremely cold and hard.

Feeling rejected, her heart felt as if it had been torn apart.

(Of course... )

He had protected her from such a terrifying magic tool. If Dirk hadn't protected her, Yuno would have been hit by the doll and injured again. She should be grateful for his protection.

"Sorry... Thank you."

"No, the doll...!"

Reuben's cry was heard.

Startled, she looked up to see the doll, which had escaped Reuben's hands, slowly standing up. The seal had failed.

"What's going on!?"

"What is that doll!?"

The gathered knights and mages, though pale, tried to stop it but were repelled by an invisible barrier, unable to get close.

"It's the doll's magic..."

Reuben gasped.

(Magic? This powerful?)

Despite being only the size of Yuno's face, it was indeed a magic tool said to be possessed by a demon. What could they do with something like this?

The doll turned to face them.

(It's going to fly again...!)

Yuno braced herself in fear. Suddenly, Dirk pushed her back with even more force than before. Dirk's hand on her left shoulder was extremely hot, as if it held the same heat as Yuno, if not more.

The doll glared angrily, but its target was not Yuno, but Dirk.

"Wait... stop!"

She shouted at the doll without thinking. It might have been the first time she had raised her voice so loudly. She was surprised herself.

At home, she had always been quiet to avoid upsetting her mother and Cindy, and since coming here, she had only diligently done her assigned tasks, never raising her voice.

The doll was scary, and the surprised gazes of the people around her were also frightening.

But she didn't want Dirk to be in danger.

Four years ago, she had hurt him, but now he was protecting her.

She didn't want to make Dirk unhappy. That's why she had broken off the engagement back then—

"Please, stop...!"

Dirk also seemed surprised by Yuno's sudden outburst. He turned to her with wide eyes.

But he must have realized who she was pleading for. He tightly bit his lip.

At that moment—

'Marie'

The voice she had heard in the room that time echoed in Yuno's head again. The voice of a young girl. The doll.

As if jolted, she raised her head, and an unfamiliar image flashed in her mind. Unseen scenes flowed vividly.