Translator’s note: Italics here denotes the dolls’ lines.

＊

The monsters I first fought had two horns, and brandished a gigantic club. There was a book in uncle’s study that had a picture of such a beast. If I recall, it was called… An Orc.

In that very book, Orcs were exterminated by a strong swordsman. Because Orcs were evil beasts that put people in peril.

I forget, in what fashion did the swordsman kill the Orc?

I soar up to dodge the club swinging at me, before another hit comes, and pierce the Orc’s flank with my blade… Yes, Orcs aren’t one to be nimble. After all, they brandish one heavy club, they can’t be quick on their feet.

Drawing blood, the monster cries. The sensation of fresh blood splattered on me is unbearably disgusting. The unpleasant stench of blood. It’s not only blood, it’s the stench of something detestable mixed in.

Disgusting. I feel like throwing up.

Desperate to keep myself from throwing up, I swing my blade around with reckless abandon. If I didn’t distract myself like that, I felt that I wouldn’t be able to hold it in.

Because of my actions, the monster’s remains were all minced up. Splashes of blood, meat, innards and unidentifiable lumps laid all around me. The swordsman from that book, would never have such an unsightly technique. After putting in a few more slashes, I finished things off with one deadly blow.

There’s still four left but my blade had already been weathered and dulled. I won’t be able to fight with this… Or so I thought. The sword lit up. The bloodied and weathered sword turned into that of a pure white and sharp-edged blade. Now, with this, I can fight.

Next off, I should wield my weapon properly. I have gotten used to the stench a bit, I’m able to stomach the unpleasant smell now. My target, will the vital parts. If not for that, then it’ll be someplace that won’t spill too much blood. And also, to avoid the bones since it’ll dull the blade.

That being said, it’s easier said than done. If all four of them come at me at once, it’ll be difficult to aim for the vital organs.

In order to gain the upper hand, I’ll have to make them falter even for a little, even then that seems a bit difficult to execute.

Now that I’ve taken down the second and the third one, my sword reverberates and dulls. But it’s all right. The weathered sword will fade away like smoke and be reborn once more in my hands. It’s a touch heavy but, it assures me of its sturdiness.

I put in my all into the blade, beheading the monster. The blade didn’t yield but the same could not be said for my arm. Was it my shoulder? Or perhaps my tendon? Pain and shock charges through me at once.

One more left. I support my immobile right hand with my left, point the tip of my blade straight at the monster. I recall a soldier brandishing a spear. A soldier who hails from the Playing Card army of the Red Queen. If I mimic their stance, I should be able to fight even with one arm. Right, just like this, by piercing my blade straight through.

It was the right move. After a few charges, the monster fell. It’s big unsightly stomach had been dotted with holes.

“With this…. It’s over”

I inhaled deeply to fill my tired lungs. I prop myself up, using my sword as a staff to support myself. The ground of the Library had been dyed with blood, I did not want to lay my knee on it.

“It’s not over yet, you know?”“Did you really think that was truly it?”“Far, far from it”

Kanji seen is “Restriction”.

“More and more sacrifices are needed”

I know that, so, I answered them. There’s no way that by killing only five monsters that ‘he’ll’ come back alive. Just by remembering the weight of 'his’ existence, I can easily imagine the number of lives I must sacrifice in exchange.“Well, this bunch was just small fry after all”“Absolutely. Perhaps somewhere along the lines of a mountains-worth?”

“Why don’t we teach you a really efficient way to kill?”“Perhaps somewhere along the lines of killing one and go off in a mad spree?”

The dolls reverberated with their limbs rattling away. Were they clapping their hands? Or were they dancing? I couldn’t understand what they were doing.

“I don’t get it. What do you mean? Explain”

“To put it simply, all you gotta do is kill Characters from other stories”

“There are…. Others?”

“But of course. Oh my, don’t tell me that you thought that you’re the only special one did you?”“Oh my”“People do that, don’t they? How unsightly, how conceitful”

'He’ was the one who called me “special”. But, that didn’t mean I was special. It’s only that 'he’ who created me is special. 'He’ truly is, special. The stories 'he’ weaved together is what truly is special. Only 'his’ words are, special.

And yet, why? Why did 'he’ die? 'He’ was a special person and yet, why? Why did 'he’ disappear from the world?

No. That can’t be allowed. 'He’ really, really is a special person. For 'him’ to die, is a mistake.

Uncle, I want to see you. Hey, uncle. Please, one more time, say 'Alice’. Please, pat me on the head and call me a good girl again. Please, hug me again until I can’t breathe. I will take your hand and……

“Once I kill other Characters, will my wish be granted?”

“Yes”

“Where are they now?”

“I haven’t the slightest….”

“Go look for 'em yourself”

“And also, it seems you have misunderstood so we’ll tell you why”

“Characters from other stories are not just a single person”

I see. My targets are multiple. The most efficient way is not to kill the monsters, but to kill a few humans.

“What’s the matter?”“Learning that your targets are human, made you frightened?”

Such putrid dolls. Ever spitting out words that pluck my chords…..

“It’s not that I’m frightened or anything”

I will not ever heed my inner-conscious that tells me what is just. I ought to cast away such a thing especially when a grand reward is promised. Problems and solutions, and then reward. A promise of the fictional world.

“In order to meet up with a Character, you’ll need to go a little further”

“For now, go on and hunt the small fry”

The remains that were on the ground, disappears, in it’s place a new monster appeared. And, in my hand, was a new weapon.

“…. I got it.”

To put it simply, all I need to do is just to kill. All that appears before me. Such a simple thing.

Ahh, uncle! Uncle! My beloved uncle! In order to see 'him’ again, I’ll do anything. I will do any cruel deed if it’s for the sake of bringing 'him’ back to life.

Even if I have to get my hands dirty, even if I have to fall down in hell. If it’s for the sake of my beloved, I’ll do anything……..