In the common room of the Rowlettes' house, I continue to write as many stories as I can think of on the paper in front of me.

　A groundbreaking puppet show in which the puppets are moved by magic and their voices are infused with wind magic. Hearing this, it's clear that the story I've been dreaming about since I was a child will become a reality.

　Now all I have to do is keep writing the fantasy in my head to make it happen as soon as possible.

　How much time had passed since I did that kind of work? Before I knew it, the room had become dim. As expected, I couldn't write without being able to see the paper, so I turned on the light magic tool that was offered to me.

　Satisfied with the light, I sank back into consciousness and began to write the script.

　As I was writing for a while in this way, something green came in at the edge of the paper.

　When I turned my gaze on the thing that came into view, I saw that it was the Gekota I had just made with Alfried-dono.

　Mu?　This should have been placed in Lord Alfried's room...............................well, fine. If I have a doll in front of me, I'll just love it.

''Hmmm, you little bastard.

　I stroke the round Gekota with my fingertips.

'Haha, that tickles,'

..........

　Suddenly, I hear such an innocent voice and I stop my fingers from stroking Gekota.

　.......I seem to be hearing voices now, is it my imagination?

　Suddenly, I look around, but there is no one in my room.

　Naturally. The servants have been kicked out and locked away so that I can write the script for the puppet show. There was no way anyone could come in.

　In the room, a magic tool lit up a vague light.

''Huh, is it my imagination...''

Won't you ever pet me again?

"Whoa!

　I was about to start writing again when I heard a voice, this time loud and clear.

　Unbelievably, it was from Gekota, the man in front of me.

"Could it be Gekota who has been speaking to me earlier?

Yeah, it's me!

　When I ask him fearfully, Gekota dexterously moves his entire body and nods his head.

　I couldn't help but shout in front of the impossible phenomenon of a doll moving in front of me and even emitting a voice.

'Nonsense!　Puppets talk?

I'm not a puppet!　I'm Gekota!

　Gekota shouted in protest, bouncing dexterously on his short limbs.

　From my point of view, that's the ideal I've imagined since I was a little girl. But it never happens.

'No, but how do you talk--'

Can't I, being a puppet, speak?

　I wanted to beat myself up for asking such a question.

　The doll, Gekota, was moving and screaming in front of me. The doll was moving and screaming in front of me. There would be no need for a reason there.

'No, good!　I'm sorry!　I'm sorry I said something stupid!　Forgive me!

Uh, you know what--

You know what?

"...Nope, nothing. Don't worry about it, Gregor.

　Gregor. A doll I created called me by my name. It was truly a dream of mine since I was a child, and it sounded so sweet.

　The voice of Gekota calling my name reverberates in my brain over and over again.

　Oh, I'm just happy.

'Gregor?'　What's going on?

Call me again.

　I prompted the prompting, wanting to savor that sweet sound as often as possible.

'Yes, um, Gregor?'

Again.

Gregor.

Again.

How long will you keep calling me Gregor?

I'm sorry, I'm just glad to have a chance to talk to Gekota.

　It's like a dream, talking to a doll. Or maybe I'm just dreaming. But that's okay. I want to be happy for the rest of my life.

"What is Gregor doing in the meantime?

Hmm?　Me?　I'm in this room writing a script for a puppet show!

'Heh!　Oh, my God!　It's amazing that Gregor can write a script!

This much is easy to do when you have a love of dolls.

　Nuh-uh, Gekota praised me. I can't stop the smile on my face.

"Maybe a story featuring Gekota would be nice.

'What?　My story?

'Ah, in a certain forest there lived Gekota and other little creatures. There was clean grass, water, and good food, and they lived a happy but peaceful life there. But those days were suddenly lost and
Ruh!　The humans cut down the trees and try to build a big store. Suddenly deprived of their home, Gekota and his friends join forces with the forest creatures to fight for their place in the forest. This is a story of friendship between Gekota and his forest friends.
It's also a statement about the importance of being a good person!

Oh, my God!　Sounds like fun!　I want to see it!

　Gekota jumps up and down with joy when he hears what I have in mind.

　It's wonderful. Just by having a conversation with Gekota, I was able to improvise a story like this one. It has a proper theme and it's good. That's the kind of thing they put a lot of emphasis on in the theater in King's Landing. It might not be a dream come true for us to perform at the Royal Capital Theatre.

OK, then, let's get right to it!

'Yes!　Oh no, it wasn't!

Hm?　Was there anything funny or odd about it?

　This is a story based on Gekota. As long as it's based on him, we should do as much as we can to accommodate his requests.

'No, I mean, it's already dark, okay?　Isn't it time for dinner?　Let's have dinner!

　Surely Gekota was right. The light of the sun has gone down and the room is completely dark. It's probably time to eat dinner. I'm hungry, but I have more important things to do now.

'Yes, but I have to finish this script in a hurry.

　I have a duty to hurry and meet the expectations of Lord Alfried. Right now I'd rather finish the script than eat dinner.

''Does that mean you don't want to eat dinner with me?''

'No, no, that's not what I'm talking about!　I never thought of it that way--

So, will you eat with me?

　Gekota looked up at me with his eyes, and I said........

'Eat. I don't care about the script right now.

'Good!　Well then, let's go get some dinner!

Mmm!

　Gekota nodded happily as I stood up and jumped down from the table.

　I'm sorry, Alfried-dono. Gekota speaks in front of me and invites me to eat dinner with him.

　I eat dinner with the doll. How can I do such a sweet thing with impunity?

　The joy of sharing food that I dreamed of. And now it will come true, won't it?

'Gregor, open the door!

Yeah.

　I opened the door, and in the corridor was a somewhat embarrassed-looking Tickle and an awkward-looking Lord Alfried.

''Why are you two here?''

　As I was tilting my head, Gekota, who was at my feet, jumped up and down and settled into both of Alfried-dono's hands.

　As I watched it, stunned, Alfried-dono poked Tickle in the side with his elbow.

　Then Tickle squirmed and opened his mouth.

Come on, Gregor. It's dinner time and I'm going to the dining room!

　I said in a lilting voice that was exactly the same as Gekota's earlier one.

　The moment I heard that, I felt as if I had woken up from a dream.

''Ah, um........''

"...no, no, no. Thanks for the happy times.

　I knew. I knew that the doll, Gekota, couldn't possibly be talking. But I still wanted to believe in the miracle that was happening before me.

　So I pretended not to notice the minor questions and soaked in this happy time.

''Does this mean that Alfried-dono moved Gekota and infused Tickle's voice with wind magic?

'Yes, exactly. I thought this is what the puppet show would look like in its finished form.

　A puppet show as envisioned by the best puppeteer, Lord Alfried. I'm the lucky one who got to experience it first hand.

　Giving the puppets movement, giving them a voice. Now I understand how wonderful it is.

'But to think that the voice of the jolly Gekota belongs to Tickle...'

　When I say this, Tickle instantly blushes and lowers his head.

''Ugh, I'm embarrassed. Even though it's an act, I'm sorry for calling you names so familiarly!''

'No, don't worry about it. I was happy.

　The relieved Tickle, looking up at me, is his usual self, a completely different impression from the somewhat aloof Gekota.

"Acting with a voice........different from an actor.......just a voice actor?

'That's good. Voice acting. A profession that specializes in voice-only acting. It's the kind of person you need to bring a puppet to life.

　I muttered and Alfried-dono nodded widely and said.

''Hmm, a voice actor!　Nice!　That's a great profession, captivating them with your voice alone!　When I get back, I'll have to train my puppeteers as well as my voice actors!

　Puppet making, scriptwriting, puppeteers, and voice actor training. There's a lot of work to be done.

　But, as I just experienced, it's an emotional experience. If I want to recreate that, I don't think it's too hard.

　I'm glad I came to the Rowlettes, after all. My world has become even more vividly colored and exciting since I came here.

''Alfried-dono, we're going to discuss the profession of voice acting now--''

"But first, dinner!