The next morning at dawn.

Looking at the spotlessly clean white beach as if nothing had happened, you nodded with satisfaction.

What could be more regrettable than the beautiful sandy beach being sullied by the remains of various harmful creatures?

As you were leisurely watching the rising sun, the carriage door opened and Dorothea came out.

She was wearing something like a white, fluttery shirt over her black swimsuit, and the stark contrast between black and white was impressive.

While the overall exposure had clearly decreased, somehow the allure seemed to have increased, and you inwardly nodded.

Thinking that this was how an evil female executive should be, of course.

Perhaps noticing your gaze, Dorothea’s eyes narrowed.

“Your gaze seems somewhat impure.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ expresses admiration, saying it’s a feast for the eyes!]

“Can’t you at least pretend to be flustered or make excuses?”

Dorothea shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it, but you were confident.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that 90% of those who pretend not to be are actually more lecherous inside!]

“Talk about nerves of… ah, never mind.”

Dorothea probably meant to say, “Talk about nerves of steel,” but realizing that saying that to you would be a direct insult rather than a metaphor, she hesitated.

You pondered.

Since when had Dorothea become more subtly considerate of your body, often showing small acts of thoughtfulness.

This recent modification was just one example.

Increasing mana capacity or enabling remote supply were directly related to your combat power, so it was a necessary modification even to protect Dorothea herself.

But allowing you to taste food was originally something with no meaning or use.

Yet Dorothea gave you this gift. Even postponing her original goal for a while to do so.

Was it because it was a rare leisurely morning for just the two of you?

Or was it because of the human sensations you were able to regain yesterday?

You did something you wouldn’t normally do.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests how about taking a morning walk!]

***

On the deserted sandy beach, the footprints for two people were neatly imprinted.

One small and light, as if barely there.

One large and heavy, sinking deep into the sand with each step.

Despite being the one to suggest the walk, the Tin Knight had been consistently silent.

Well, it was also a prejudice to say that one must chatter during a walk.

Sometimes, quietly listening to the sound of waves while strolling along the beach could be as precious as a jewel.

Step, step.

It was a leisurely time. A relaxed moment.

For Dorothea, who had always lived as if running frantically, this time of just walking without any particular purpose deeply resonated with her.

She suddenly recalled a conversation she had with Gale.

— The Tin Knight’s soul is not here. More precisely, it seems accurate to say that it’s ‘summoned here only while mana resides in the magic doll’s body’.

— Then, where is this guy’s soul?

— Somewhere that’s not here.

— Are you playing word games now?

— It’s not a joke, that’s all I can say. Even after using all sorts of methods to search, I couldn’t figure out where the Tin Knight’s soul comes from to reside here. If even one of the towers couldn’t figure it out after putting in all their effort, it means there’s no way to find out with ordinary techniques. If we’re talking about possibilities, maybe the Four Great Witches or that Kingdom of Heaven?

— About that guy—

— Oh, don’t worry about information leakage. Among the mages who participated in the modification work, I’m the only one who remembers anything about the knight’s soul. We entered the work after signing such a contract in the first place. Anyway, what the tower’s technicians are curious about is the knight’s body, not his soul.

— So, is that it? We don’t know the identity of the soul or where it is, is that all?

— Unfortunately, that’s all for now. For my part, I’d rather suggest that Dorothea ask the Tin Knight directly. He’s your knight, isn’t he?

Question.

A question, huh?

Who are you, what’s your identity, just ask outright, right?

…Easier said than done.

It wasn’t that she thought the Tin Knight would hide it.

Sophia had already proven that while he might not voluntarily disclose information, he would answer if asked about various things.

If he had seriously intended to hide his identity in the first place, he wouldn’t have randomly spouted all sorts of bizarre words, proverbs, and concepts summarized as “Tin Knight vernacular”.

But Dorothea was a witch.

Her teacher had carefully taught Dorothea the principles that a witch should follow.

— Unnecessary meddling is the root of trouble. Reach out carelessly and you’ll end up shouldering a burden you can’t handle.

— When giving something, always demand compensation. Kindness without a price will eventually be seen as cheap.

— When faced with malice, show fitting retribution. There are plenty of fools in the world who will see your mercy and patience as submission.

Of course, it wasn’t that Dorothea completely trusted her teacher’s words or considered them some absolute law, but it wasn’t easy to suddenly act in a way completely contrary to how she had learned and grown up.

Was that why?

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if it’s okay to ask something!]

When the Tin Knight brought that up, Dorothea answered almost reflexively, “I don’t mind. But just that is boring, no? How about a Q&A, taking turns asking each other? With no lies or silence allowed.”

One question in exchange for one question.

The scales were neatly balanced, and it was a suitable condition for achieving her goal.

She was truly capable and rational as a witch.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says unlimited is a bit much, so let’s limit it to 3 each!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests to ask first!]

“Alright then, what’s your question?”

And so, she inadvertently made a mistake.

She violated the absolute precept that one shouldn’t approach a madman rationally.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks why your usual clothes look like that, it’s something he’s always been curious about!]

“You have to ask that at this timing!? And what’s wrong with my clothes!!”

Dorothea flared up, but the Tin Knight just looked at her with a gaze that seemed to say, “Oh, really? Seriously?”

That reaction made Dorothea’s blood pressure rise even more, and she started to rant, “Do you know how much trouble I went through to make that? My teacher, that insensitive person, said ‘Clothes? As long as you can cover yourself, that’s enough, isn’t it?’ and sent her apprentice into the city on errands wearing rags, making me suffer all sorts of humiliation! I saved up pocket money from errands and bought new clothes, but they all crumbled, unable to withstand the miasma of necromancy! I somehow got materials that could withstand necromancy and made clothes, but then my skin started to peel! Materials that satisfy durability, practicality, and texture are so rare that I had to search through so many books trying to come up with the best design with the little cloth I had! And that person just snickered and laughed at my masterpiece!!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ directs a gaze of sympathy, asking if those books weren’t perhaps decades-old outdated magazines… no, that he was wrong and she should stop now!]

“Gyaaah!”

Dorothea roared and messed up her hair.

It was a conversation utterly devoid of any mood.

She took several deep breaths, then asked with a smile on her lips as if she was about to kill someone, “…So, what about you? If you’re going to meddle so much in the attire of another, doesn’t that mean you have some preferences of your own?”

It was quite unbalanced to ask about someone else’s preferences while exuding killing intent, but knowing that the intention was “to find out preferences and use them as material to tear into”, it was a question with truly transparent motives.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ answers evil female executive fashion!]

“…Then what was all that talk about my appearance at first?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ proudly puffs out his chest, saying that others finding it strange and his eyes enjoying it are separate matters!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ answers that with this, Dorothea has also used up one question!]

“This bastard, really.”

Dorothea clenched and unclenched her fist, but unfortunately, she wasn’t holding her staff, so it was impossible to beat up the Tin Knight as usual.

“Haa.”

Dorothea heaved a deep sigh.

Somehow, she felt all the strength draining from her shoulders.

It also felt foolish to carefully consider and ponder over questions.

So, she lightly opened her mouth, “I’ll start the second round of questions. You, what’s your identity?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says the question is too vague!]

“Then you can answer vaguely too. If you want to say a lot, say a lot, if not, just say a little. But, as per the initial rule, no lies or silence.”

The Tin Knight made a gesture of scratching his cheek for a moment, then said.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he’s someone who received a request from the old man who was the original owner of this body!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it’s difficult to explain what the old man’s identity is or by what principle he’s here!]

Suddenly, the Tin Knight turned his head and stared at Dorothea.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ answers that at first he thought this was a dream or a well-crafted game, but lately he’s not sure!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if Dorothea would get angry if he asked if this is really reality!]

Dorothea thought it was a strange question.

The Tin Knight seemed to have similar thoughts, as he had a puzzled look as if thinking, “Is this right?”

“It’s reality,” Dorothea answered.

Briefly, but with certainty.

While thinking that it might have been better to add various explanations, she also had an intuition that this answer was sufficient for now.

As the second round of questions was about to end.

In the forest inland from the coast.

At the sound of something rustling, both of their heads turned to the side.

In a place where dense trees cast deep shadows even in broad daylight, a young girl was staring intently at Dorothea and the Tin Knight.

“What’s this?”

As Dorothea muttered those words upon seeing the sight, the girl fled into the depths of the forest.

The Tin Knight and Dorothea exchanged glances, then silently pursued.

Even though the sun was blazing in the sky, the inside of the forest was bizarrely dark.

Despite Dorothea and the Tin Knight walking quite quickly, the distance to the girl hardly closed, and they could only catch glimpses of her back or side profile.

How long had they walked like that?

Suddenly, a cabin appeared before the two.

And, the hem of the girl’s clothes was briefly visible through the gap in the cabin’s door before disappearing.

When the Tin Knight pushed the door, it opened with a creaking sound, revealing the interior of the cabin.

Unlike its worn-out appearance, the condition of the building’s interior was extremely good. No, it was excellent.

While it couldn’t compare to the carriage of Dorothea’s party in terms of simple facilities, it was good enough to make an ordinary traveler or castaway’s face light up.

It was while the two were looking around the interior.

Bang!

Suddenly, the cabin’s main door closed with a terrifying force, and the next moment, it locked itself.

At the same time, the sound of a girl’s laughter came from the second floor of the building.

“Kyahahahahaha!”

Letters made of blood appeared on the seemingly normal walls, and the pictures hanging in frames distorted grotesquely and smiled creepily.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if it’s okay to break this!]

“Hmm, if it were physically dirty I would, but looking at it, it’s just for show. There’s no real blood and it’s clean, so if we just tidy it up a bit, it might be usable?”

The laughter from the second floor stopped. The figures in the frames made dumbfounded faces. Even the letters appearing on the walls ceased their movement.

Dorothea raised her hand.

The tremendous evil spirit gushing from her body swallowed up the mansion.

The evil spirits residing in the mansion finally realized they had messed with some strange people and tried to flee, but for earthbound spirits, the option of escape did not exist.

Exactly three minutes later.

A second base for the Tin Knight’s party was created at the resort.

***

https://ko-fi.com/genesisforsaken