After the introductions are over and the bland banter is over, the heads of the family get to know each other better. We return to our rooms early, having nothing to say to each other.

　When I return to my room, I fall into bed to catch my breath.

　Shortly afterwards, the sound of thumping footsteps echoed from downstairs.

''Alfried-dono Ooh!　Is this where Lord Alfried's room is!

　Viscount Doll opens the door without knocking and walks in.

''Whoa!　Hey, what is it?!

　The giant Viscount Doll entering the room causes me to jump up and get myself up.

''Oh, oh, please calm down, sir!　It's rude to go in there without knocking!

'I don't care about that little detail!　Now, let's see the puppet in action!　I've been putting up with this for a long time, and I can't wait!

　Tickle admonishes Viscount Doll, but his enthusiasm for the doll doesn't stop.

　Ah, this man has always wanted to see the doll move from the beginning. He's been holding it back for so long that he's been released and this is what happened.

　Father Nord and Mother Erna must have sensed this and released Viscount Doll early on.

　For now, just show them how to move the doll and they'll calm down for once.

I understand. Then let me show you how the doll works!

Oh!

　I hold Knight and Elizabeth on the table as I meet Viscount Doll's expectant gaze.

'Those are the dolls I gave you, aren't they? And what did you name them?

　Viscount Doll asks with a smirk. It seems that in his mind, it's only natural to give the doll a name.

　Well, I didn't have any trouble naming them so that I could get attached to them too.

''It's cheesy, but I've named them Knight and Elizabeth.

'Hmm, simple but good name. It's a good name for both.

　When I answered stagnantly, Viscount Doll nodded deeply.

　I felt like I got a good feeling from Viscount Doll.

''Mm?　Wait a minute. I see some unnatural stitching marks on Knight's neck?

Hearing those words from Viscount Doll, my heart jumps with a thump.

　There's something very scary about Viscount Doll's face and voice. I guess he can't forgive me for treating his precious doll poorly after all.

　Knight has been chomped on the neck by our sister. I wonder how peaceful the world would be if I could be honest about such things. Depending on how I answer, there's a chance I could get my head chomped by Viscount Doll.

I have to fake it somehow.

''I'm sorry, my neck got overloaded when I was practicing moving the Knight...''

''........I see. So Alfried-dono wasn't able to move the puppet dexterously from the beginning either. It can't be helped if it was an accident that occurred while practicing moving the puppet. If I had said that this was just a prank and it was torn to shreds, I would have let the same thing happen to me. Hahahahaha!

　Haha, I'm glad I didn't honestly say that it was the fault of sister Elinora or that I was playing a prank on her. Let's keep this a secret forever.

''Then I'll move Knight and Elizabeth around.

　As I rooted Knight and Elizabeth on the carpet in a cold sweat, I applied an unmagical psychic to them.

　Then I clothed them in magic and manipulated them, and the two bodies rose up in a whimper.

''Whoa!''

Huh?

　Viscount Dole as well as Tickle's mixed shouts of surprise and excitement.

　Not paying attention to it, he let Knight and Elizabeth stand up and walk to the front of Viscount Doll.

　Knight made her salute like a knight, and Elizabeth gracefully plucked her skirt and bowed gracefully.

　Now, what would be Viscount Doll's reaction?　

　When I asked about Viscount Doll's condition, he was crying wolfishly.

'Ni, the doll is moving!　It was as if one life had come to life........!

　Good. At least he seems to be happy.

　I think she's crying out of emotion, but I'm scared when the old man suddenly cries for real.

Yo, I'm glad you're happy.

More, more, more!　Let me see the puppet in action!

　Viscount Dorr wants me to show him more movement, so I let Knight and Elizabeth walk.

　However, it's not just a matter of moving them appropriately, but movements that fit each character and their personalities.

　It's not a good idea to have a cute Elizabeth wearing a skirt and walking with a crab crotch, isn't it?　Even if it is a doll, as long as you move it, it has a character and it has appropriate movements. In the days leading up to Viscount Doll's arrival, I realized this after much practice.

'I'm not just moving them in the dark, I'm moving them in a way that suits each of their personalities. If she is a Knight, she is a serious knight with energy and a crispness to her movements. Elizabeth is a daughter, a chaste, girlish gesture, and every movement shows sophistication. This is easy to describe in terms of just moving the doll around. This is an act that could be described as giving life to the doll!　Excellent!

　It's kind of close to my face, but I'm so glad that he understands exactly what I'm trying to do. He says that sister Elinora and mother Erna are cute too, but he doesn't notice those things at all.

'Couldn't you put a doll on my lap next time?

Of course you can.

　Knight jumps onto Viscount Doll's feet as he sits hunched over on the carpet.

''Oh!''

　That's all it takes to get Viscount Doll excited about just that much movement. He looks at Knight, who is standing on his lap happily.

　However, he wonders when he sees Elizabeth, who still hasn't jumped on him.

''Why hasn't Elizabeth come near me?''

'It appears that Elizabeth is too high for Viscount Doll's feet.

Well, then I'll have to reach out to them, being a man!

　I thought it was going to be a bit rude, but Viscount Doll rather happily held out his right hand.

　Then Elizabeth plucked at the hem of her skirt and put it in her palm.

''........Lord Alfried, I might as well be dead now. Just seeing the doll moving makes me happy.

　With Knight and Elizabeth on his lap, Viscount Doll was ecstatic.



　◆



　Viscount Doll played with the doll for a while. Viscount Doll asked him seriously.

'Lord Alfried, could you teach me how to move the doll?　This is true. I'll thank you as much as I can for teaching me!

'No, it's not like I'm using that much secret technology, I'm just going to teach you normally, so look up.

'No way!　When you don't use a great deal of skill while moving a puppet around so skillfully like this!

　When I tell him that I don't have the skills to keep it a secret, Viscount Doll looks up with a gabber.

''Yes, this can be done by anyone as long as they can use a non-attribute magic psychic.

'.........attributeless magic psychic?

Yes, I'm a psychic.

　When I answer once and for all, Viscount Doll gives me a look that says it's the end of the world.

''Noooooooooooo!　Why didn't the gods give me an unattributed aptitude!　Why oh why?!

'Yes, sir!　Don't hit the ground too hard or the floor will come loose!

　Ah, so Viscount Doll has no aptitude for attribution. Aptitude is the only thing I can't do about it.

　He's the Viscount Doll who loves dolls so much that he makes his own dolls. I'm sure that if he could move the doll, he would want to use his own magic to move it.

　But Viscount Doll, who wants to do so, has no aptitude for non-attribution.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the best out of it.

　Rather than recommending unattributed magic, God should just grant it to the Doll Viscount who wants it, too.

　As I watch with an indescribable feeling, Viscount Doll, who has regained some composure, asks me again.

''Is there any way to move it like this other than psychic?''

I don't know about that at the moment.

　You can move it if you can manipulate it with strings like a marionette, but I'm sure Viscount Doll wants the same kind of perfect movement I do. Unfortunately, I don't know of any way to make the doll move other than psychic.

'Noooooooooooooo!　I can't help but regret that I can't do it myself when there are such innovative ways to do it!

If you can't do it yourself, why don't you leave it to those who can?

...What did you say?

　Was I being a little too irresponsible with that line now? It might have sounded sarcastic when I said it, as I have no problem with psychics.

'No, it's nothing--'

I'm not mad at you, so let me know if you have another option.

　I was about to slurp my words, but Viscount Dorr closed in on me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

　There was no longer any way to escape.

''Well, if Viscount Doll can't use psychics, then why don't we hire someone who can use them and surround him with them?''

　If you can't do it yourself, hire someone who can use it to make it happen.

　It's not just a matter of doing everything on your own. It's not that you have to spend money to accomplish it, but it's one thing to accomplish it with everyone else.

　People are not so versatile that they can do everything by themselves. Let the people who can do the impossible do it, and let them do it themselves, and then you can do it in a different field.

I see, that's how it works!　Now, Master Alfried, I would love to have you as my personal puppeteer...

No, I'm sorry, but no. I don't want to work and I want to be free.

'If you come to my estate, I promise you that if you come to my territory, I will give you only occasional instruction in moving the puppets around, you will live unimpeded in the future?

I'll just consider it as a potential job opportunity.

　You never know what's going to happen in your future. It's not bad if you can guarantee food, clothing, and shelter with just the occasional instruction to move a doll. The more options, the better.

''Hmm, how hard is it to get them into the territory right now?

It's just that I don't want to work as a kid.

　I worked myself to death in a previous life and I'm not going to work for a while.