Chapter 50: Sisters’ Rivalry

The crate that appeared before her was far too suspicious, but no matter what, Chirin’s senses just now told her that the other doll was most likely inside.

She’d read in the original setting collection that dolls could sense each other, but until now, she’d never imagined it would be like this.

For dolls without souls to maintain such a connection—was it because the creator had poured emotions into them?

Chirin didn’t know the answer, but she knew now wasn’t the time to hesitate.

If it really is in there, then I’ll strike first!

Her palm split open, and the tip of an iron bramble extended from within.

To ensure she pierced whatever was in the box, she raised her arm, aiming at the crate.

First, build up strength, and then… release it!

In the next instant, the iron bramble shot out at a speed faster than ever before, like a cannonball trailing a chain.

With a boom, the crate was shattered to pieces, and the violent impact sent a cloud of dust billowing around it.

But even without waiting for the dust to settle, Chirin knew this attack had been in vain.

How could it be… I didn’t feel any hit?

Tense, she stared fixedly at the spot where the crate had been. When her vision cleared, she saw that the box had indeed been smashed straight through, but there was nothing inside.

Chirin thought about getting closer to check, and took a step toward the box.

But she instantly regretted it.

This is…!

That single step brought her into the area of the parking zone.

She sensed her movement breaking through a thin membrane, and as it shattered, a convective surge of magic rushed toward her.

The way this magic operated felt eerily familiar to her.

It was stealth magic, or something very similar to it.

Chirin had no doubt.

At that very moment, something dropped from above her head.

Clang—scrape!

A claw formed from steel tendrils ripped a long, narrow gash across the concrete floor.

Luckily, Chirin had already been on high alert and sensed the attack in advance.

She leaped forward to avoid the strike, but in doing so, she ended up even deeper inside the parking area.

Looking back, she saw a petite doll blocking the entrance.

It had short, silvery hair like a sliver of moonlight, eyes that glowed crimson in the shadows, and wore nothing but a thin patient’s gown.

Chirin couldn’t help but think to herself: It’s exactly how I looked at the beginning.

The only difference was that at its shoulder joints, mantis-like claws extended—claws assembled from chain segments much like the iron bramble, only thicker in diameter and as long as the doll was tall.

To make room for the claw, even the entire arm had split open at the root, the remaining halves resembling two antennae compared to the massive claw.

This thing is “Chimeric Doll No. 1.”

In other words, “Chimeric Doll No. 0”—Chirin’s successor.

At last, Chirin understood exactly what had happened just now.

So the magic response at the logistics port was only bait, and the real trap was this parking area?

Laying magic to erase presence across the whole space not only prevented ordinary people from wandering in, but also further strengthened the dolls’ innate stealth abilities.

If Chirin hadn’t been so familiar with this kind of magic, she might’ve been in real danger earlier.

But now wasn’t the time to let her guard down.

While keeping a close eye on No. 1’s movements, Chirin remained alert for any other dangers nearby.

I know No. 1’s specs fairly well, but what other surprises could be hidden in this space?

As she thought, No. 1 was already charging at her.

It slammed its claw into the ground, using the tip to hook the floor and propel itself forward, then slashed upward with blinding speed, sending shards of concrete flying.

Chirin stabbed her iron bramble into the ground beside her, using it to drag herself rapidly to one side, narrowly slipping past No. 1’s attack.

At the same time, she yanked the bramble with greater force, pulling the tip free and swinging it at No. 1’s head with all her stored momentum.

Even though No. 1’s crimson eyes were still fixed forward, it ducked at the last instant, dodging the horizontal sweep.

Tch, as expected of an enemy from the Doll Series.

Chirin grumbled inwardly as she regained her balance, then took the initiative and closed in on No. 1.

She could still clearly recall the settings from the original work.

Compared to “No. 1,” the “No. 0” doll had a more efficient core, but since Chirin couldn’t fill her magic with “deficiency” like the other Bad Magi, that advantage was meaningless for her.

On No. 1’s side, its base specs were overall higher, but its agility was a bit inferior to No. 0’s—a weakness Chirin could exploit.

Before No. 1 could recover from its evasive movement, she swung the iron bramble in a half arc, then quickly shifted into a downward slash.

Again, at the moment before impact, No. 1 raised its claw to block.

But that didn’t mean Chirin’s attack failed—in fact, this was exactly what she wanted.

As the iron bramble and No. 1’s claw collided, the chain wrapped tightly around the claw several times in an instant.

The mantis-arm shape, which had been meant to strengthen its power, became a fatal flaw here, letting Chirin’s chain lock it in place.

Next, she intentionally shifted the chain’s form, severing her end and leaving only the part tangled around No. 1’s claw, then immediately transformed a new iron bramble into a short sword and stabbed straight for No. 1’s core.

But she hadn’t noticed—the chest of No. 1’s patient gown bore a faintly penciled-in “mouth” character.

The short sword she formed slid right into that tiny opening, and not only that, even her entire arm was swallowed up.

She could still feel her arm, and sensed a strange, unknown space inside the “mouth.”

But the situation was still far from favorable.

Because after her arm was swallowed, it was Chirin’s chest that ended up colliding with No. 1 as a replacement.

The two pressed together, and to any onlooker, it would look like twin sisters in a deep embrace.

Their faces drew so close that, were they not dolls, they’d surely be able to feel each other’s breath.

At that moment, No. 1 immediately bowed its head to inspect, locking eyes with Chirin.

Even though Chirin knew there was no soul within No. 1, this situation still felt unbearably awkward.

So she broke the silence: “…Hello, I’m Chirin.”

Maybe No. 1’s preset logic was also confused by the situation, because it froze for two full seconds.

That was enough time for Chirin to pull her arm free.

She finally wrenched herself loose and hurriedly retreated.

It was then that she figured out another problem that had been bothering her.

The fact was, the Doll Witch’s personality wasn’t nasty enough to set such a trap—so who was behind all this?

At the very least, one of them had to be that person—the “Window” Witch.

That signature “window magic” was the proof.

So troublesome! As expected of one of the original’s most mischief-loving characters…

Resentment toward the Window Witch began piling up in Chirin’s heart.