Hearing Lucian's words, Seluvis froze.
'…A demigod?'
He wanted to turn a demigod into a puppet!?
"You…"
You are a genius artist!
Seluvis was so shocked by Lucian's sudden declaration that he nearly lost the ability to sit still.
He was both alarmed and delighted.
Delighted because someone else actually shared the same lofty ambition as him.
Alarmed because Lucian had just openly told him about it.
This was their first meeting, and he was already revealing such blasphemous thoughts so casually?
Something was wrong. Far too wrong.
At that moment, Seluvis became deeply wary.
Logically speaking, Lucian shouldn't know him.
But people of overwhelming strength could not be judged by common sense.
Could this be a test sent by Ranni?
Originally, Seluvis had intended to enthusiastically converse with Lucian, but he abruptly changed his tone.
"Are you serious?"
"That is utter blasphemy!"
"To say such things to a loyal servant of a wise demigod… you should carefully consider the consequences."
The moment he finished speaking, even Seluvis himself almost couldn't keep a straight face.
Still, if this really was some kind of test, there was no such thing as being too cautious.
Yet after hearing him, Lucian nearly lost it too.
When it came to "loyalty," Seluvis truly stood in a league of his own within the Lands Between.
If Lucian hadn't needed to use the subject of puppets as an opening to get close to Seluvis, he never would have bothered discussing turning demigods into puppets with him.
Lucian struggled to suppress the smile threatening to surface, but the corners of his mouth still curled faintly upward.
"Heh. So you're just another mediocrity after all."
"With no resolve, this is all you'll ever amount to. You'll spend your entire life admiring nothing more than ordinary puppets."
Hearing himself called mediocre, the corner of Seluvis' eye twitched.
Someone as arrogant as him naturally couldn't tolerate those words.
But after looking at Lucian… forget it. He endured it.
Still, now that Lucian had said so much, could it be that he truly intended to make a demigod into a puppet?
Seluvis asked again.
"…Which demigod are you planning to target?"
"Let me make this clear first. I'm not trying to participate in your plan. I'm merely ensuring that the one I serve won't be affected."
"Yes. That's all."
Looking at Seluvis awkwardly trying to cover himself, Lucian thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'd rather not state that demigod's identity directly."
"After all, if you don't possess the ability to create the potion, then you're not qualified to be involved."
"In any case, this demigod possesses noble blood. Their father is Radagon, the second Elden Lord of the Erdtree."
"They hide dark secrets and schemes beneath a harmless appearance, and once manipulated the course of the Shattering War from the shadows."
"And most importantly, they should trust me quite a bit. The chances of succeeding are very high."
After hearing Lucian's description, Seluvis' heart instantly surged with excitement.
He was overcome with unprecedented exhilaration and ecstasy.
Based on Lucian's description, there was only one person Seluvis could think of.
Among the demigods around Lucian who could potentially become a puppet for appreciation… who else could it be?
Only Ranni.
So… you're into puppets too!
Lucian actually possessed such refined taste! Could it be that someone had finally appeared who understood him?
Struggling to suppress his grin, Seluvis smiled and said.
"Hm. It seems it isn't the one I serve."
"In that case, I have no burden whatsoever."
"Heh… hahahaha!"
In Seluvis' eyes, Lucian clearly didn't understand the actual process of puppet creation very well.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked a question like whether a demigod could be turned into a puppet.
Among puppet crafters, it was common knowledge that nobody could create a demigod puppet.
But—
He, Seluvis, was different.
He was a magic preceptor, and he poured unparalleled love into his puppets.
Love had allowed him to discover a method.
If starlight governed fate, then amber starlight represented the fate of the gods themselves.
As long as he could obtain the "fate" of those demigods, the amber starlight, then the potion would emit a beautiful, gentle radiance.
Surely even demigods would become intoxicated by such a potion.
Unfortunately, it was only a theory. His own power was insufficient to realize it.
But things were different now.
Lucian's appearance had allowed Seluvis to glimpse hope.
At that moment, Seluvis simply couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
His excitement wasn't merely because he had found the possibility of achieving his ultimate goal.
It was also because he had glimpsed the secret hidden beneath Lucian's upright exterior.
At first, Seluvis had assumed Lucian was another tasteless fool. Yet unexpectedly, he actually understood the beauty of puppets.
And originally, Seluvis had still been thinking about Lucian's cooperative relationship with Ranni…
Then again, it was only cooperation in the end.
Within the Lands Between, betrayal was such an ordinary thing it barely deserved mention.
Perhaps this unexpected betrayal would make the final fruit all the sweeter.
Besides, he had no right to judge Lucian.
After all, as one of Ranni's servants, he himself had fantasized countless times about turning Ranni into a puppet and savoring her beauty to the fullest.
'Ah… a puppet Ranni…'
Now was the time for fantasies.
Seeing Seluvis lower his head in thought while occasionally letting out disgusting little chuckles, Lucian knew he had taken the bait.
Everything he had said earlier had actually been describing Miquella the entire time.
Lucian had merely guided Seluvis into thinking about Ranni on purpose.
Only then would Seluvis lower his guard and help him create the amber draught.
Seluvis thought Lucian was on the first layer while he himself stood on the second.
Unfortunately for him, Lucian wasn't even playing the same game.
Lucian was a terrifying "player" from beyond the Lands Between itself. Unless Seluvis could break through the fourth wall, there was no point talking about what "layer" either of them occupied.
Lucian could practically see through Seluvis down to his underwear. What exactly was Seluvis supposed to use to compete with him?
Lucian coughed twice, interrupting Seluvis' fantasy session.
This guy really was mentally unstable. He genuinely couldn't tell who was the bigger threat here.
One glance was enough for diagnosis.
Too many low-quality puppets had rotted his brain.
Lucian had already found him revolting back in the game. After meeting him in person, it was even harder to endure.
This lunatic really was thinking about turning Ranni into a puppet?
The moment he got the potion, he was absolutely telling Ranni to put Seluvis down.
Lucian looked at him and asked.
"So, do you actually have the ability to do it?"
"If you don't, then stop pretending you're impressive and wasting my time."
Seluvis snapped back to reality, finally realizing how badly he had lost composure just now.
Now that he was certain Lucian needed something from him, Seluvis regained his usual arrogant demeanor.
He deliberately spoke to Lucian in a haughty tone.
"Then allow me to tell you this, you came to the right person."
"If we're talking about someone in the Lands Between capable of creating a potion that could intoxicate even demigods, there is only me."
"You appear to be of distinguished status, but if you're asking for help, then you should have the proper attitude."
"I won't make things difficult for you. I'll only ask one thing."
"Do you truly understand the beauty of puppets?"
Lucian smiled.
While he admittedly didn't know much about puppets themselves, his understanding of figurines and collectibles was another matter entirely.
This was the confidence granted to him by otaku culture.
"Of course. In my homeland, all kinds of puppets are among the most beloved collectibles."
"The terminology is simply different from that of the Lands Between. The most popular ones where I come from are intricately crafted miniature puppets scaled down for display and appreciation in one's hands. We call them figures."
"And there's no need to painstakingly search for suitable human material to create even more exquisite and flawless works."
"To put it bluntly, the puppets of the Lands Between wouldn't amount to much in my homeland."
...
As Lucian enthusiastically continued explaining, even Seluvis was stunned.
He considered himself a refined connoisseur of puppets, yet all he had ever appreciated were ordinary puppets made from human material.
His standards for judging quality had always been based solely on the excellence of the source material itself.
But the "figures" Lucian described came in countless varieties, many of which Seluvis had never even heard of.
Some of them were even called "models," seemingly unrelated to humans altogether, more akin to golems.
Alongside his confusion, Seluvis felt intense longing.
Thinking about it carefully, if puppets possessed such variety instead of relying solely upon the quality of their "materials," then what a wonderful thing that would be.
And in Lucian's homeland, collecting and appreciating puppets was apparently something accepted by countless people.
The mere thought of it was enough to excite him.
By now, Seluvis had been completely led around by the nose.
"C-Could you let me see your collection? No… could you let me see these things called figures?"
Lucian shook his head and refused.
What a joke. It wasn't like he'd brought anime figures with him when he got isekai'd.
"I've stored them carefully in the safest place possible."
"Even if the entire Lands Between were destroyed, they would remain untouched."
"So forget about the figures."
Seluvis inwardly lamented the missed opportunity before asking again.
"Then… if my puppets were displayed in your homeland, what kind of evaluation would they receive?"
He swallowed nervously, all traces of his former arrogance gone.
Lucian glanced at him.
"As for you…"
"To be honest, while your craftsmanship isn't bad, your taste is really quite average."
If people from the real world saw the puppets of the Lands Between, they'd probably trigger the uncanny valley effect on sight alone.
Seluvis immediately exploded in disbelief, losing composure as he refuted Lucian.
"Impossible!"
"The puppets I create are all perfect children!"
"Then tell me! What exactly is wrong with my taste!?"
The moment he finished shouting, Seluvis suddenly regretted it.
Speaking like that to someone vastly stronger than himself… was he tired of living?
If this body were destroyed, then without the identity of a magic preceptor, he would lose the means to continue collecting high-quality puppet materials.
But Seluvis genuinely wanted to know.
Why exactly did Lucian say his taste was terrible?
Lucian pointed toward the various puppets filling the underground chamber and said.
"It's obvious at a glance."
"There's no love here."
Seluvis stared at Lucian, his tone already growing irritable.
"Love?"
"What nonsense do you understand?"
"So many puppets, each soul unique in its own way. I cherish every single child here!"
"I've poured my love into them!"
Faced with Seluvis' rebuttal, Lucian merely smiled faintly.
Hook, line, and sinker.
Honestly, he couldn't stand people like this. A man doing filthy, disgusting things while pretending to be some refined connoisseur.
"It's simple. I'm not talking about your love for the puppets."
"I'm saying that none of the puppets here love you."
"Not this one…"
"Nor… that one."
Lucian first pointed toward the Jarwight beside Seluvis that had nearly suffered his "favor," then pointed deeper into the underground chamber toward one of Seluvis' treasured possessions.
At the very depths of the cellar lay a carefully preserved puppet, resting on a bed.
The puppet wore a practical hunting outfit, clean and efficient in design. A leather cap had been placed beside the bed.
Short hair draped naturally around her face, revealing handsome features that were cold and utterly lifeless.
Her appearance was striking, her style notably androgynous. Regardless of gender, most people would instinctively find themselves drawn to her.
She was Dolores the Sleeping Arrow Puppet.
Seluvis' breathing stalled.
He wanted to refute Lucian's words, but he couldn't open his mouth.
Because everything Lucian said was true.
The pitiful truth had been laid bare before him without mercy. Inferiority and shame swallowed him whole, leaving him unable to argue back.
Lucian shook his head and continued:
"How tragic."
"They hold no love for you whatsoever."
"If they had the chance, they would probably kill you with their own hands."
"Just admit it. Nobody loves you."
Seluvis lowered his head and clenched his fists, muttering almost to himself.
"So what if they don't?"
"How could anyone willingly become a puppet?"
"Isn't it only natural that puppets would never love me…?"
Hearing that, Lucian laughed.
For bastards like this, the best thing was watching them completely break down.
"Of course there are people willing to become puppets."
"It's just that… you may never get the chance to see such a thing."
"If you're still alive the next time we meet, I'll let you witness it."
"I think once you do, you'll never be able to tolerate these loveless puppets of yours again."
Seluvis took a deep breath.
"Fine… then I'll look forward to it."
Lucian nodded before deliberately steering the conversation back.
"Now then, let's talk about the demigod matter."
"To create the potion, is there anything you need?"
"Or have you already completed it?"
Seluvis weakly lifted his head and sighed.
"I haven't successfully created it yet."
"But I've already discovered the method. I'm only missing the final key ingredient."
"It's the fragments produced by fleeting starlight, illusory shards glowing with amber radiance."
"Amber Starlight. As long as I have that, I can create the potion."
Lucian nodded and turned to leave the underground chamber.
"I'll bring the Amber Starlight back."
"You just prepare the potion… and wait for the day it finally arrives."
—
After Lucian left, Seluvis stared at the cold, lifeless Dolores before him.
No matter how many times he looked at her, he was always captivated.
He had exhausted every possible method to finally obtain her.
Yet today, Lucian's words had torn open the wound in his heart once more.
Painful memories from long ago surfaced in Seluvis' mind.
In the distant past, Seluvis had once stayed at the Roundtable Hold for a period of time.
It was there that he met Dolores.
The way she carried herself, elegant yet independent, was mesmerizing. And when she interacted with him, she seemed completely different from everyone else.
Back then, Seluvis experienced one of life's greatest delusions:
That she liked him.
Just as he believed he had finally met someone truly special, Dolores' growing connection with Gideon Ofnir forced him to recognize reality.
In the end, Seluvis used every scheme imaginable to obtain Dolores.
But she would never belong to him.
Seluvis slammed his fist into the glintstone crystals embedded throughout the cellar, shattering the fragile crystals across the floor.
"AAAAAHHHHH—!"
"Why? Why!?"
"Do you hate me that much!? Can't you just love me!?"
Step by step, Seluvis walked to Dolores' bedside and gently touched her face.
"After some time… I'll move you to Caria Manor."
"I'll continue to love you properly… very, very properly."
—
[T/N: Dolores the Sleeping Arrow Puppet]
One of Seluvis's favorite puppets.
Use to summon the spirit of Dolores the Sleeping Arrow.
Spirit of a handsome archer who dressed in the style of a man. Called the Silent Hunter by some, she fires St. Trina's arrows from her shortbow.
Dolores once belonged to the Roundtable Hold, where she was both a critic and a friend of Gideon the All-Knowing. It was because of her that he and Seluvis went their separate ways.