"Nice to et you, Pinocchio. I didn't expect to see you here."
This is my third ti encountering a devil from a tale.
I greeted him.
Pinocchio looked at with his lifeless artificial eyes and then opened his mouth.
"I didn't expect to see you here. Are you really saying that after burning the doll? But since it was my wooden doll that did wrong, I'll let it go."
This was an act of self-defense, and if we were to be serious, it was an issue for which Pinocchio should apologize, but I didn't want to get into trouble for no reason.
He ca down from the top of the pile of machines and stood in front of .
"I have many questions, Pinocchio. First, how do you know my na?"
Pinocchio answered willingly.
"Well, if I don't tell you, it would seem like I was intentionally digging into your background. Getting information from the Institution is difficult... But you're quite famous, so there were rumors going around. That's how I learned your na. I didn't expect it to be a horror ga, though..."
This guy is like that too.
As expected, being in a horror ga seems to have an effect on first impressions.
It was unfair, but there was no way to deny it, so there was nothing I could do other than scratch my cheek.
"I see... Hmm... Ariel asked to join the Fairy-tale Tea Party. Are you interested?"
I wanted to talk about the most important details later, so I asked about the little things first.
Ariel wants to gather the tale devils.
Because she wants to find phisto Pheles.
Pinocchio must also want to find the person who turned him into a wooden doll.
There's no reason to refuse, right?
"No. It's not wise to trust a woman you don't know. And I have no intention of belonging anywhere."
But he doesn't seem to be particularly interested.
And it seems like he's already t Ariel and heard her proposal... I nodded.
"This ti I'll ask. What you have. Can I take a look?"
"Huh?"
P-122. Heart-shaped chanism.
This is an anomalous item that I received from Jas (Carol must have told him to give it to ).
I handed it over to Pinocchio.
"Hmm... I thought it was a chanical device, but it only looks chanical and is completely different. The anomalous ability is... Cognitive interference based on the distance of the relationship. It also has the ability to roughly grasp the emotions and location of people it's connected to by bonds. This... Isn't very useful."
Pinocchio shook his head as if disappointed.
It seems it wasn't what he wanted.
He returned P-122 without bothering to activate it.
"Pinocchio, what were you doing here?"
"Living machines. I've seen them sotis in the past, but this ti there were so many that it was suspicious. It would be difficult if there were too many of them, so I am using my dolls to handle them. I also took the useful parts."
Good. It seems that there is an antagonistic relationship with the Ruler.
It might be easy to get cooperation.
"You seem to know about the living machines. If so, have you ever t a self-proclaid Machine God before?"
"...The one who calls himself a Machine God... I think I know who you an. Have you ever t him?"
"Yes, we t. And I got caught by him. I destroyed his stage and blew up his factory."
When Pinocchio heard that the stage had been destroyed, it's as if the sound of gears turning furiously could be heard in his head.
He clicked his teeth and spoke to .
"Hoo... Destroy the stage. That would be really difficult... You have a favor to ask from , don't you?"
"That's right, Pinocchio. There is sothing I would like to ask of you."
"I don't grant favors for nothing. But if the favor itself benefits , that's a different story."
He seed to already know what I wanted to ask, so why was he being so roundabout?
"I want to defeat the Machine God. Can you lend your strength?"
Pinocchio nodded his head.
There's a creaking sound coming from his neck. I think it would be better to oil it up.
"Alright. I like it. That guy has been a major obstacle in my plans. The mass production of wooden dolls was partly his fault. In return, I'll take his parts."
"You don't need anything else?"
"The cooperation of another devil from a tale is quite a good deal. Especially if it's strong enough to have given him a blow."
"That's a relief. Honestly, I was worried, but it turns out all tale devils are pretty reasonable and decent. You can have the parts."
"..."
What is that silence? It makes feel like I said sothing weird.
"Consider yourself lucky. I've just completed a tool to defeat the annoying Machine God. If you want..."
"Wow! There is a real living machine!"
A boy's voice interrupts Pinocchio. This voice is Suho.
"Ah."
As we were talking, it was ti for the kids to arrive.
The fact that it arrived sooner than expected also played a part.
Pinocchio turned his head towards them.
"Are they young children? I don't like children. They're the epito of weakness. Hmm... Alice, what about you? I don't mind, but if you don't like them, I'll kill them. Consider it a simple favor."
"What?!"
I couldn't believe my ears. What kind of thought process leads to such a conclusion?
"It looks like you don't like it."
Pinocchio turned his body and took a step closer to the children.
At this mont, Suho must have sensed sothing ominous and tried to protect the kids by picking up a tal plate next to him.
"Are you trying to resist with a tal plate? That's amusing. Well, I could give you a better shield. After all, I am a blacksmith. I'll spare you for your spirit. Instead, I'll cut off one of your arms and make it into an integrated shield, so be grateful."
"...!"
Then, Slenderman appeared behind the kids.
They didn't notice Slenderman, but Pinocchio did.
Pinocchio, realizing that Slenderman's presence wasn't friendly, asked .
"...Is this guy your monster too? Why is he in the way?"
"Are you really sane?"
"...? I don't see the problem. If you don't want it, I'll stop. It's a reasonable issue."
Pinocchio turned back towards .
Feeling uneasy, I warned him.
"...Those kids are my friends. If you touch them, I won't let you go."
"Relax. Tale devils don't know what powers each other is hiding, so it's not wise to fight. Suffering a loss due to lack of information is a disgrace for a rchant."
That sounded like he was saying he would have attacked them if he knew everything about .
When I frowned, Pinocchio said goodbye and walked away in the opposite direction of the entrance.
"Alice, as long as humans use machines, the fragnted ntal entities of the Machine God will keep appearing. Living machines will multiply in large numbers using humans as hosts. There will be limitations with just my wooden dolls. If that happens, he will appear. In the middle of the city."
"..."
"Right. It's going to be a ss, so you'll have to make your own arrangents. I will prepare in my own way."
"Okay."
I didn't like what he tried to do to the kids, but I agreed because cooperation was necessary.
Cancel what I said about him being decent, he's crazy.
"Lastly, you should keep your friends far away."
"What?"
"I doubt you're planning to use the kids in your fight. Can they wound the Machine God? Can they dodge its attacks? Can they resist its abilities? If they can't do any of these, even the giant's pinky finger will crush them. Even if they can use firearms, they'll be a hindrance. This fight is too big for children. They'll die easily around you, even if you're fine. It's best for both you and them."
"You...!"
I felt a surge of anger.
Why?
Because I couldn't refute those words.
"Well. See you next ti."
Pinocchio disappeared into the darkness.
Cold as a machine.
He didn't seem to have a human mind.
What happened to him in the ga?
That would be another story.
"Alice...? What is all this?"
"..."
There is still one task left.
How should I explain Pinocchio to these kids?
I glanced at them.
'Should I erase it? No. Not yet.'
"Alice? Your eyes look scary. Are you okay?"
I didn't erase their mories last ti.
So this should be fine.
Just make an excuse.
"Actually. That human who looks like a wooden doll is my friend."
"What! Really?"
"...Then!"
"What are you doing?"
"So... He's a person who prepares unusual performances. Actually, there was no such thing as a ghost. He didn't have a better place at night, so he just practiced here. That's how the rumor spread."
I lied effortlessly without even batting an eye.
Maybe it's , not Pinocchio, who needs a longer nose.
"Sothing doesn't seem right... "
Eun-jeong is only sharp at tis like this.
So annoying.
I hugged Eun-jeong and silenced her.
This thod always works.
Even if you call a serial hugger, I can no longer refute it.
In the first place, it was because this kid kept snuggling into my arms even during my Ella days that my sense of resistance disappeared.
"Ahaha, really? Anyway, he doesn't like showing his practice to others. So, I tried to explain in advance, but... He got mad and left because I failed."
"Alice knew everything. Anyway, it's a pity. I never thought there would be such a aningless story behind it. But the makeup just looked so realistic. Do you know where the performance is taking place?"
"Uh... Um. The center of this city?"
"Maybe Alice will appear in the play too? She'll pop out from behind the curtain like, ta-da!"
"Ahaha... I wish."
I'm glad the kids are innocent.
And honestly, what can I do if they don't believe it?
Even a passing dog would know which story was more credible.
The children returned to their respective hos.
The night gets dark.
I was still concerned about what Pinocchio said at the end.
-They'll die easily around you, even if you're fine. It's best for both you and them.
"..."
Ti passed and it was two days after we parted ways with Pinocchio.
The Cathedral contacted .
"Hello. Miss Alice. We want to talk about the disaster that will happen soon."
I suddenly beca alert, like a criminal who saw a police car.
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