Chapter 34: The Unwritten Rule of Magic Dolls

“Magic tools? Are they similar to those containers you mentioned earlier, the ones capable of storing the Holy Light?” Bai Zhi inquired, her face radiating curiosity.

“I had assumed that was your specific domain… You’re not, by any chance, attempting to make me do your work under the pretense of teaching, are you?”

“That container is merely one among countless magic tools, Bai Zhi. My teaching curriculum, you see, is far from being so superficial.”

Bastet offered a smile brimming with confidence.

“And how could you possibly claim I’m making you do your work? This is simply a practical segment, utterly essential for rapidly grasping the knowledge.”

“After all that preamble, aren’t you still just trying to make me do your work?!” Bai Zhi exclaimed, slamming her hands onto the table, her voice thick with indignation.

“Confound it! It’s one thing to exploit materials from me, but to have me handle the entire creation process myself? Are you some kind of heartless capitalist?”

“While I don’t quite grasp what this ‘capitalist’ you speak of entails, if you’re truly so disinclined, then we can certainly explore an alternative approach,” Bastet remarked, sounding rather unconcerned.

“In fact, I’ve prepared numerous contingency plans…”

“…Just out of curiosity, is the magic doll you mentioned previously also considered a type of magic tool?”

To Bastet’s surprise, Bai Zhi abruptly posed a question that seemed utterly disconnected from their ongoing discussion.

Bastet’s expression froze for a fleeting second before her innate teaching instincts took over, prompting her to begin an explanation.

“In a broad sense, magic dolls undeniably fall within the purview of magic tools… But tell me, why this sudden inquiry?” Bastet’s feline features were etched with perplexity.

“No particular reason, just a fleeting curiosity.”

As she spoke, Bai Zhi leaned back once more, resuming the relaxed posture she had adopted minutes prior, the resentful expression on her face dissolving in an instant.

“Still, I suppose… if it proves beneficial for combat, then exerting a bit more effort is hardly an issue, especially since it’s all for the sake of protecting Ranxin. Moreover, I do find myself rather intrigued by that particular magic tool.”

Her final words were delivered with a cautious undertone, yet Bastet’s keen hearing missed nothing.

“Is that so…?” Bastet fixed her gaze on Bai Zhi, her eyes suddenly narrowing with a keen intensity. “You… you aren’t, by any chance, intending to use that magic doll… for some nefarious purpose, are you?”

“How could you even suggest such a thing? I am, after all, a perfectly respectable individual,” Bai Zhi replied, her face beaming with an almost excessive smile.

“I’m merely a touch curious: the doll you mentioned earlier, the one almost indistinguishable from a real person—is it truly possible for humans to create such a thing?”

“…Provided the creator possesses a sufficiently high level of skill, it is entirely feasible to craft a doll that is a perfect replica of an actual person,” Bastet explained, her gaze at Bai Zhi taking on a peculiar cast.

“Furthermore, with the assistance of a necromancer specializing in souls, one could even enable the doll to move and behave just like any ordinary individual.

So long as the creator themselves does not confess, it would be virtually impossible for anyone to discern that it is merely an automaton.”

“Hooray!”

Bai Zhi let out a cheer of admiration, her face alight with an expression of triumph. Witnessing this, Bastet merely sighed.

“While I remain unaware of the schemes you’re concocting, if your intention is to craft a doll as a replica of any one of us, I strongly urge you to abandon such a notion.”

“What?! How did you possibly know I was planning to create a personalized Rena body pillow…?”

Bai Zhi gasped in shock. ‘Could her intentions truly be that transparent?’ she wondered.

“Considering your grin is practically reaching your ears, any sensible person would discern you’re undoubtedly scheming something. Nevertheless, I still believe it would be prudent for you to abandon this particular idea.”

Her cherished dream shattered by the critique, Bai Zhi’s ears drooped. “Is it truly going too far, then…?” she mumbled.

“…To be honest, I’m not particularly bothered by such things, as I am merely a cat,” Bastet stated, her expression utterly nonchalant. “However, what Rena might think is entirely beyond my knowledge.”

Bastet agilely leaped onto Bai Zhi’s desk, then gently ruffled the top of Bai Zhi’s head as she spoke in a soft tone.

“Nevertheless, I still urge you to abandon the idea. Firstly, as a body pillow, such a creation would prove excessively heavy, far less convenient than you might imagine.

Secondly… unless under truly exceptional circumstances, one should never craft dolls that bear too striking a resemblance to actual living individuals. This is, in essence, an unwritten decree among mages.”

“Why would such a rule exist…?” Bai Zhi mused aloud, before an expression of sudden realization dawned upon her face.

“Could it be that your world also has legends akin to ‘doppelgangers’? Tales of misfortune befalling those who encounter someone identical to themselves, perhaps…?”

“Such a notion entirely lacks any scientific basis, doesn’t it…?” Bastet retorted, pressing a paw to her forehead in exasperation. “As for the rule itself, it actually stems from a particularly painful lesson.”

“What lesson was that?”

Meeting Bai Zhi’s eager gaze, Bastet began to recount a tale from days long past.

“…Once upon a time, there lived a genius mage. Despite her exceptionally brilliant abilities, her disposition was profoundly introverted, causing her to perpetually sequester herself within her laboratory, shunning all contact with the outside world.”

“She harbored affection for another individual—a female mage with whom she occasionally crossed paths in her daily life, an almost goddess-like figure in her estimation.

Yet, owing to her solitary nature, she found herself perpetually unable to confess her feelings to this revered goddess.”

“Thus, to assuage the bitter anguish of her unrequited love, this brilliant mage made a rather audacious decision.”

As Bastet spoke, her eyes narrowed with a distinct look of disdain.

“She meticulously crafted an exceptionally exquisite doll, mirroring the very likeness of her goddess.

Then, leveraging her accomplishments in necromancy, she custom-designed a virtual personality for this doll—one that was utterly compliant to her every whim.

Following this, she would spend each day cavorting with that doll within the confines of her laboratory…”

“Wow…”

Bai Zhi could not help but gasp in astonishment. ‘So, even other worlds are this… progressive!’ she mused.

“…In truth, up until that point, everything was tolerable. After all, she was merely indulging in her own amusement, hindering no one. That is, until one fateful day…”

“The genius mage had departed for a period due to certain engagements, leaving the doll behind in her laboratory—for such an item was hardly something she could openly display.

Then, on the very day of her return, the goddess herself, the object of her constant admiration, coincidentally arrived at the laboratory, also seeking her for a specific matter.”

“And then the doll was discovered by the goddess?” Bai Zhi ventured, a speculative tone in her voice.

Bastet shook her head.

“Not quite. The doll, in an effort to conserve energy, had retreated into an inner chamber of the laboratory and entered a standby state. Consequently, the goddess detected no anomalies upon entering. However, when the genius mage finally returned…”

As she continued, Bastet’s tone grew decidedly peculiar.

“…She mistakenly believed that the goddess awaiting her in the laboratory was the doll, emerging to greet her. Thus, following her usual routine…”

Bastet covered her face, a flush of embarrassment coloring her features. “Even if I don’t explicitly state it, you can surely infer what transpired next, can’t you?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhi let out a profound sigh of genuine emotion.

“In essence, after that unfortunate incident, no one dared to create dolls bearing an extreme resemblance to living individuals anymore. After all, no one wished for a similar predicament to befall themselves.”

Bastet concluded, her gaze now fixed on Bai Zhi with a stern and cautionary intensity.

“Especially someone like you, who is constantly in Rena’s company, must be particularly vigilant about such matters.”

“Hahaha—I was merely curious, you see,” Bai Zhi chuckled dryly, swiftly changing the subject. “But even setting that aside, I remain quite fascinated by magic dolls. It feels akin to suddenly gaining an additional combat asset.”

“Regrettably, the vast majority of dolls are incapable of being utilized in combat.

After all, no matter how closely they resemble humans, they are ultimately mere shells, devoid of a true soul, and thus unable to properly wield supernatural powers such as magic or aura,” Bastet explained.

“Typically, mages craft dolls predominantly for the purpose of serving their daily lives, given that most mages disdain mundane chores.

A smaller fraction might create them to fulfill certain physical needs… but dolls specifically designed for combat are genuinely uncommon.”

As she spoke, Bastet’s paws were clasped behind her back, idly twirling a pointer, her eyes fixed on Bai Zhi as she murmured softly.

“Nonetheless, I am rather curious to see what kind of doll you would fashion with your own hands. After all, you are entirely unlike conventional mages; it’s quite possible you might create something truly remarkable…”

A joyful expression blossomed on Bai Zhi’s face. “Then teach me right away…”

“No, no, we must begin with other foundational concepts for now. After all, our time is hardly abundant,” Bastet stated, firmly rejecting Bai Zhi’s request, even as the latter’s eyes gleamed with eagerness.

Bastet then resumed her proper, serious demeanor. “Should the opportunity present itself, I will certainly instruct you on that subject in the future.”

“For now, let us begin by understanding the fundamental concepts of magic tools…”