it's not broken?" As he peered tentatively at the doll, her eyes snapped open. She tore off the Ducking Stool's leather belts, then leaped over the water tank and landed in front of Kaito. Kaito braced himself for death, and the doll acted. The doll knelt in front of Kaito, sinking to one knee. "Huh?" "I apologize for keeping you waiting. O my dearest, my darling, my destined one, my master! My one true love! O my eternal companion!" The doll shouted, overcome with emotion. It was the first time he'd heard her voice, but it was oddly pleasant. She clasped his hand in hers and looked up at him. Her face was surrounded by silken silver hair, and it wore the first expression Kaito had seen out of her. Her emerald-green eyes drooped, becoming soft and viscous, and her white skin grew flush with blood. Her features were clean yet somehow amorous, and the expression on her sweet face was nothing short of enraptured. She stroked Kaito's palm with her cheek in a deeply human display of affection. Her smooth skin was as warm and as soft as a human's. With an expression of absolute bliss, she whispered ecstatically. "Henceforth, until the moment these limbs are plucked from me, and my head is removed, and my steel heart stops beating, I shall be your companion and your lover. I shall live only for your sake, and I shall break only for your sake. For whether you wish to love me or destroy me, both privileges are now yours and yours alone." She looked up into Kaito's eyes, then gave a small, bashful smile. "By your own will, would you please cherish me until the end of time?" Her words piled up like roaring waves, and Kaito and Elisabeth were as stiff as boards. Unconcerned with their reactions, the doll continued stroking Kaito's palm with her cheek. Her adorable actions were like those of a fawning puppy. Eventually, Elisabeth whispered quietly. "Um... Well, you seem to have pulled it off successfully. Are you...pleased?" "...I dunno. This is a little..." He felt that this was somewhat troublesome in its own way. But after looking at the doll's blissful smile, he swallowed his words. 4 An Envoy from the Church "This is delicious!" Fork and knife in hand, Elisabeth burst into a smile. It was the first time Kaito had seen her smile without even a shred of malice. The situation was so abnormal, he was getting goose bumps. It wasn't just her, either. It was the entire table. The long table had been furnished with a stately arabesque tablecloth, and the empty seats were decorated with colorful flowers. The line of alternating gold and silver candlesticks was all lit, gently illuminating the silverware. And the aroma of a number of elaborate dishes wafted up from the plates. There was hog's-head jelly with brioche. There was a delectably sour salad with intestines, a bowl of lamb tripe minestrone, and a golden-brown kidney pie. And the main course was finished off with some foie gras terrine. Finally, for dessert, there was a tart, topped with thin apple slices in the shape of a flower. Elisabeth stuffed her cheeks with the freshly prepared dishes one after another. Large, exaggerated tears of joy welled up in her eyes. "This is delicious, I sayâ€”truly sublime! True delicacies! You have my praise, doll!" "For it to have met your tastes is an honor, Lady Elisabeth, master of Master Kaito." The automaton stood at the ready by Elisabeth's side. Her emerald-green eyes gleamed kindly, and a gentle smile appeared on her face. Between her long, classical maid uniform and her adorable little maid cap, she gave the impression of having served in this castle for many years. It was hard to believe that she was the same person who had been going on a rampage the day prior. Although he was still somewhat afraid of her, Kaito asked her a question. "So you don't just fight, but you can cook, too?" "Indeed. In addition to combat data, my Self-Recording Device contains thousands of recipes, as well as many other useful skills. From cooking and cleaning to playing games and accompanying you at night, I can fulfill any of your desires, Master Kaito." "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, you don't need to go that far. I don't need that kind of extra service." Kaito waved his hands from side to side. Whenever he interacted with this doll, he often found himself at a loss. And whenever he did, the doll hung her shoulders with such dejection that he could practically see dog ears and a tail drooping from her head and waist. "Is that so? Well, should you ever change your mind, please do not hesitate to instruct me as you see fit. I exist solely for your sake, Master Kaito, so no matter the time or place, doing whatever you want with me is my ultimate pleasure." "Wait... 'No matter the place'...? You mean, like, outside?" "Of courseâ€”outside is fine, too!" "What in the world might you two be going on about?" Munching on a huge slice of pie, Elisabeth raised her voice in exasperation. After enjoying the delicate blend of the sweet, crunchy crust and the gaminess of the meat, she finished eating. She courteously wiped her mouth with her napkin, then turned to the doll as if to praise her. "See, when my irredeemable butler booted you up, I thought I'd have little choice but to destroy the two of you together. But your aptitude for cooking proved quite splendid. Every cloud has its silver lining, they say. My congratulations, Kaito. Your life may yet continue." "Geez, I had no idea I was on the verge of death for such a stupid reason." "In short, you are saying that I was of use to Master Kaito? My deepest thanks. I can think of no greater honor, no greater joy!" "But enough of that. You are a servant of mine. Nay, in respect to your desires, I wish to welcome you once more as a servant of my servant, but... Hey, Kaito. Give this thing a name." "A name?" "You would do well to stop being befuddled by contrivance. All things need names. And it is most inconvenient to be unable to call for your possessions." "I mean... I wouldn't call her my possession. Even if she's a doll, she's still a girl." Kaito shook his head vigorously. Owning something that was practically human was too big a responsibility for him. But the doll stepped forward, her fists balled up and her cheeks puffed out. Curling her lovely lips into a pout, she pleaded with him. "While it may be imprudent of me to say, I am most certainly your possession. Ever since the fateful moment you chose me as your lover, I have been your eternal lover, your faithful companion, your soldier, your weapon, your love outlet, and your sex doll. Come what may, I shall forever remain yours and yours alone. I beg you to remember that always." "A-all right, I get it. Just try not to say stuff like that. But yeah, either way, it would be nice if you had a name. Uh..." Kaito scrunched up his forehead as he thought it over. He fumbled through his memories for something to use as a reference. But he'd never so much as named an animal before. Also, he hadn't been allowed much social interaction. He could recall the names of a few of the women who had spent time with his father, but none who he had any desire to use as references. Even the woman who had made him purin had left in the end. It was then Kaito recalled a soft, nuzzling sensation. ...Oh yeah...her. There was that one time. There was someone who loved me unconditionally. A snow-white puppy floated up from the depths of his memories. She had belonged to one of his neighbors. She had become attached to him, and every time he visited, she would wag her tail and lick the tears off his face. He had been able to play with her for only a short period before he had to move again, but Kaito felt that was for the best. If his father had found out about his affection for the dog, he would have likely tried to kidnap and kill her. She had been a good, kind girl. And her large, droopy eyes slightly resembled the doll's. Despite some reservations, Kaito recalled the dog's name and spoke it aloud. "'Hina'... How does 'Hina' sound?" "It sounds incredibly arbitrary, much like you plucked it from a hat." "Hey, I put a lot of thought into that!" "You're brilliant, Master Kaito! It's the finest name in all of heaven and earth, surpassing that of any human, demi-human, beastfolk, mythical beast, or god! My deepest thanks! From now on, I shall bear the name Hina. Hina... Hina. I am Hina. The name that Master Kaito blessed me with... Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee." Hina's shoulders began quivering oddly. She seemed to be happy, but her reaction was a bit frightening. Just as Hina's christening was complete, the Butcher made his appearance. Elisabeth purchased a large quantity of organs from him, then handed it all to Hina. While she dealt with that, Kaito began piling the plates from the table into his arms. Apparently, having a good cook around loosened Elisabeth's tongue. After bowing to Elisabeth, who was engaged in a lively conversation with the Butcher, Kaito and Hina headed for the kitchen. Once they reached the kitchen, Kaito carried the dirty dishes to the sink. Hina, using the meat she'd received from the Butcher, began making preliminary preparations for dinner. Watching her line up with utter certainty the jars of seasoning she would need, Kaito called out to her. "So wait, you can tell which ones are which flavors?" "Oh yes, I have registrations for most of the seasonings that exist in this world. I can also use their scent to analyze whether or not they've degraded over time and the minor changes in flavor resulting from the manufacturing process, so I can adjust the quantities I use as necessary." "Wow. That's really impressive, Hina." Kaito nodded in earnest admiration. Hina's cheeks went flush with embarrassment. "I receive your praise with great honor. On a related note, um, Master Kaito, what kinds of dishes do you like?" "...Uhhh, I don't really have preferences when it comes to food. As long as it's not rotten or poisoned, I'm pretty fine with whatever." His eating habits in his previous life were more survival based, after all. He'd simply been grateful whenever he got his hands on something edible. Hina nodded earnestly in response to Kaito's half-hearted answer. "I understand. Then I will give it my all to cook something you find delicious, Master Kaito. And then, perhapsâ€”and this would be terribly augustâ€”were you to possibly find my cooking to your liking, Master Kaito... Ah, my heart would be so full with honor and pride that I would surely die!" "Settle down there, Hina. Please don't die over something like that." "Understood! Then I will live forever!" Hina nodded, her cheeks still red. Vaguely muttering something to the effect of "by your side forever" and "Master Kaito," her body swayed from side to side. As he watched her plump breasts bob up and down, Kaito felt somewhat embarrassed. But he'd spent so much time alone in this claustrophobic dungeon of a kitchen, and now... It really is nice to have someone to talk to. Nodding, Kaito turned on the sink's faucet. The castle's water supply was linked to a reservoir full of undines. He was glad for the limitless source of water, even if it was sometimes annoying that it didn't come hot. As he washed the dishes with cold water, Hina stood beside him, preparing the offal, her knife constantly moving. In the blink