Chapter 241
What was the name of the Meredith Family’s private estate, the castle again? It was Mirror Castle.
The moment we arrived at the landing pad and stepped out of the aerial limousine, I felt like I understood why it was given that name. The floor and walls were made entirely of crystal.
glass trees boasted beauty in geometric shapes that could not naturally exist in the world, alongside patterns of structures where triangles, squares, and circles formed perfect symmetry.
The intention to overwhelm the family’s visitors and show off their majesty was clearly felt.
Between the metal and the transparent electrodes that flashed and captured different reflections every time light struck them, a figure shimmered into view.
While I was sweating and trying to escort Young Lady Alexandra - who was sulking and treating me coldly - out of the vehicle, I thought my heart was going to stop.
When I came to, a ghostly, pale-faced shape like an Egg Ghost was suddenly floating right in front of my eyes!
I was startled out of my wits, but after regaining my composure and looking again, it wasn’t some strange ghost, but an android. The pure white machine resembling a human form stared intently in our direction and quietly opened its mouth.
[Hello, visitors. I am a doll that manages Mirror Castle. Are you the visitor representative, Alexandra Amadeus Schneider?]
“Correct.”
As Young Lady Alexandra replied sullenly, the blue light emitting from the doll’s eyes blinked and scanned our companions once.
[Confirmed. Welcome, members of the Schneider Family. Thank you sincerely for accepting the Meredith Family’s invitation. I will now inform you of a few points to note during your stay at Mirror Castle.
First, physical violence involving visitors is not permitted. If confirmed, please understand that the dolls will step in for suppression and subsequently expel you from the castle. Second, entry into restricted areas by visitors is not permitted. Third, bringing in unapproved level VII or higher high-output weapons is not permitted. If confirmed, we will kill on sight immediately. Fourth, if you need anything, you may call for a doll. The dolls are equipped with the function to respond to visitors' requests anywhere within the castle. Fifth…]
The awkward and dry voice slowly recited the precautions. Some were obvious, and some were a bit bizarre. The part about those 'Dolls' was unsettling in particular…
[That is all. Do you have any questions?]
At the doll’s question, Young Lady Alexandra opened her mouth.
“How do we know which areas are permitted areas for visitors and which are restricted areas?”
At those words, the doll smiled and replied.
Pulled up at the corners of its mouth - kind, yet somehow feeling like a forced imitation - the smile made me feel even more uncomfortable.
[You will clearly be able to tell that the restricted areas are not permitted for visitors. If you are unsure, you may ask a doll.]
[Do you have any further questions?]
[If not, please follow me. I will guide you to the guest room.]
Saying so, it smoothly turned its body and drifted away lightly.
I wondered what on earth that unpleasant entity called a doll was. Was there anything like this in the information about the Meredith Family?
“Such unpleasant things.”
Young Lady Alexandra said so and followed it, so I followed after her in a startled rush.
I thought the exact same thing, but - even if she was a child of the Schneider Family, was it okay to say that right in front of them?
However, Team Leader Hank and Ms. Kali, who were walking behind us, showed no particular reaction, as if it were only natural.
It definitely must have heard those words, but the doll just quietly continued to guide the way.
Furthermore, there weren’t just one or two of those dolls.
Similarly shaped dolls were wandering around the vast landing pad, guiding other visitors. Just counting the ones visible right now, there seemed to be roughly a hundred of them.
It felt like there was something, something I didn’t know about, underground
I wanted to ask a bit about it… but Young Lady Alexandra had been maintaining a cold attitude toward me since earlier, so that was impossible.
Besides, while there were no eyes watching us inside the car, it wouldn’t look good for a mere newcomer To strike up a conversation with the young lady when there were other bodyguards present at that moment.
Team Leader Hank was out of the question to begin with, and I had zero rapport with Mr. Eres Shore… so the only one left was Ms. Kali.
Ever since she felt betrayed by me, she hadn’t given me a single glance. Damn it.
Should I talk to her, or shouldn’t I?
As I stuck close to her side and stealthily gauged her mood, Ms. Kali noticed and opened her mouth with a sigh.
“…Do you have something you’re curious about?”
It was as expected of the Angelic Senior, Kali Haywood. I believed in you, damn it!
I quickly opened my mouth.
“That doll… what is it? It’s not a raver. Right?”
Since Ms. Kali was an ever, there were parts I had to be careful about saying, but I could be certain of this. That thing called a doll was neither an ever, nor a Ladam, nor anything else.
Self-aware ravers never acted awkwardly like that. Their movements and actions were natural and human-like.
But that doll, true to the name doll, seemed not like a person, but like something imitating a person. Its smiling, its moving, its speaking were all part of the imitation.
Should I call it the uncanny valley? Because of that clumsy imitation, the more I looked at it, the more an alien discomfort welled up in my chest.
Beggar
Ms. Kali hesitated before answering.
“…Those Who Have Not Yet Become Human.”
“Pardon?”
“Just know that much for now. I’ll explain more later.”
Various emotions could be seen in Ms. Kali’s eyes as she said that.
Sorrow, pity, and… contempt.
* * *
Ms. Kali promised to explain more about the dolls to me.
However, I didn’t have the luxury to listen to an explanation right now.
because Team Leader Hank already had business with me before that… damn it.
“You bastard, what kind of son of a bitch are you?”
A room of such enormous size that it felt more appropriate to call it a guest house rather than a guest room.
At the exact same time Young Lady Alexandra went into her share of the luxury bedroom saying she was tired, Team Leader Hank rushed in at the same speed and grabbed me by the collar.
“Gah - T, Team Leader-nim, let go of this, and let’s talk with words…”
There was no way Team Leader Hank, who had been waiting for this exact moment, would listen to those words and let me go. He ignored it lightly and squeezed my body even harder.
Since it was a fully expected sequence of events, the other team members - Mr. Eres and Ms. Kali - were also just watching calmly.
“How do you know Young Lady Alexandra. No, I’m not even curious. I don’t give a fuck. Because that’s not what’s important.”
I’ll let it slide that you came in as a one-day substitute through a nepotism hire. But why did you follow us all the way here? Huh? Did I look like a joke to you? Did this look like some easy and simple job where it wouldn’t matter if a greenhorn like you tagged along? Do you really want to die?”
He couldn’t shout loudly like before for fear of making the young lady uncomfortable and was berating me in a low voice, but that actually made it even scarier.
His fist was trembling as he forcibly suppressed his boiling anger with clenched teeth, and his metal prosthetic leg was vibrating as if it would spring up at any moment…
It wouldn’t seem strange at all if he really beat me to the brink of death right here on the spot.
Thinking that way, my mind actually seemed to cool down and settle.
As I was placed in an imminent crisis, my brain spun rapidly.
With my neck constricted, I looked straight into the bloodshot eyes of Team Leader Hank, who was glaring at me as if to kill me, and spoke confidently.
“…You can’t kill me, can you?”
“What? You crazy bastard - !”
“Yes, I know the young lady. Therefore, Team Leader-nim, you cannot kill me. And if you can’t kill me anyway, and if we have to work together… let’s just talk. Let’s not waste each other’s energy. What happened has happened, and there’s no way to undo it, is there? This escort duty… we have to make it succeed. Somehow.”
At the words I barely spat out while gagging, Team Leader Hank pulled me in until our foreheads were close enough to touch.
He stared piercingly into my face with a brutal, hostile expression as if he really wanted to chew me up and eat me, then suddenly let go.
His words were directed at me as I sprawled out and gasped for breath.
“This is a real fucking bastard… but what you said is right, so I can’t kill you either. Hah. A Nepotism Hire bastard still has good guts? Or is it? Do you have good guts because you’re a nepotism hire? Because you have something to rely on?”
“Everyone does say that my guts are good.”
Tony also said that was why I was chosen as an employee of dragons.
Thinking this had worked, I answered boldly, and Team Leader Hank let out a scoffing laugh.
And then, he suddenly reached out a massive hand and slapped me across the cheek.
SLAP - !
For a moment, I thought I saw stars. Amidst the sensation of my vision spinning 360 degrees, my sight seemed to go black, and before I knew it, I was looking at the ceiling. I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.
Team Leader Hank looked down at me and spoke.
“You arrogant bastard. This is the only time. If you step out of my control again, or cause an unforeseen situation that could pose a danger to the young lady… you better believe you’ll really die. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
His words came after forcefully pulling me up to my feet as I groaned.
“Like you said, if we have to work together anyway, it can’t be helped. Shut your mouth and listen carefully. I’ll tell you the things you need to know.”