"Let me help, Master."
Hotaru approached Azlan who was preparing to remove the bandages still wrapped around his body. Not only her, Kamakiri and Himegumo also moved in unison, surrounding their master with attentive demeanor.
Thus, in the middle of the room lit by the rechargeable lamp, Azlan was surrounded by three young girls who with very careful and skilled movements removed the used bandages that were no longer needed.
Meanwhile, Akane watched from the edge of the bed with mixed feelings, relieved to see Azlan recovered, but also undeniable jealousy, accompanied by three other automatons who silently observed.
"By the way, Akane. How exactly does the Heal-Heal Fruit's ability work? Does it always require you to kiss the target you want to heal?" Azlan asked her, enjoying the treatment of a noble family's young master.
"Fufu... Could it be that Azlan-kun is worried I'd have to kiss someone other than you?"
"..."
"Eh? Is that true?! Oh my, I'm so happy you care about me."
His silence spoke more than words. Clearly, it was a tacit agreement. Akane, not expecting that what she thought was just a curiosity question could bear such a response, was surprised. A warm and sweet feeling suddenly flooded her chest. It meant her position in that man's heart wasn't just an ordinary friend or ally.
"..."
Hotaru and the other automatons looked at Akane with deeply contemplative gazes. Should they consider this human girl as their master's wife?
"Ahem."
Akane cleared her throat, trying to restore seriousness.
"Azlan-kun, don't worry. Kissing isn't the only healing method. Actually, my ability works by using fluids originating from my own body."
"Tears, saliva, sweat, and even my blood can be used as healing mediums."
The absurd healing method brought by the Heal-Heal Fruit made Akane feel like Monk Tang Xuanzang in legend, where every part of her body became precious.
"Body fluids, huh..." Azlan pondered for a moment. "What about... urine?"
Akane's face wrinkled briefly before a sweet smile—but somewhat creepy in his eyes—reappeared.
"I don't know, but technically, urine is also part of bodily fluids. Does Azlan-kun want to try it?"
"Sorry for asking this."
Azlan quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"Mm. Apology accepted." Akane nodded with satisfaction. "After Azlan-kun is completely healed, should we go home now?"
Azlan didn't answer immediately. He approached the window, pulling aside the curtain briefly. Outside, the pitch-dark night was battered by strong winds carrying snow fragments swirling wildly forming small local storms. Then, his gaze shifted to the six automatons standing ready in the room.
"Let's return tomorrow. Besides the storm outside, they don't have the ability to fly. The return journey can only be done on foot, and that's too risky in these conditions."
Akane nodded, not minding. She then entered first under the blanket of the bed that was enough for two people, then patted the spot beside her, signaling Azlan to lie there.
Azlan: "..."
For some reason, since he woke from unconsciousness, Akane's attitude toward him had become warmer and... 'closer' than before. Even so, Azlan didn't dislike it. In fact, there was a strange warmth that made him a bit confused.
To divert attention and maintain security, he gave orders to his Automatons.
"Hotaru, Tamamushi, Kamakiri, Kagerou, Himegumo, Mitsubachi. All six of you stand guard. Kill any threat that approaches."
"Yes, Master!"
Six voices echoed in unison in the room.
Hotaru, Kamakiri, and Mitsubachi immediately left the room, checking every corner of the house to ensure there were no hidden zombies. Meanwhile, Himegumo, Kagerou, and Tamamushi took strategic guard positions around the room, especially near the vulnerable windows and door.
Although they were automatons, not only did their appearance resemble young girls, but they also had independent thinking abilities like humans.
"If I didn't know the truth, I would think Hotaru-chan and the others are real humans."
Akane was amazed watching the perfect coordination of those girls. She was curious what kind of genius could create such masterpieces.
"I think so too." Azlan answered gently while finally entering the blanket and lying on the soft bed, maintaining a reasonable distance from Akane.
However, there was one thing he deliberately didn't tell Akane: those six automatons weren't ordinary dolls. They were Banned Dolls.
As the name suggests, this type of doll is classified as forbidden and must not be mass-produced.
However delicate, realistic, and human-like, in the end they are not living creatures. They are inanimate objects that only live because they are given magical power in their bodies that gives them pseudo-consciousness and intelligence.
Without magical power given by the puppeteer, no matter how fine the doll is, it won't function at all.
Only one type of doll is an exception.
That is the Banned Doll.
Because dolls cannot produce magical power, using human bodies that can produce magical power as their material can solve that problem. Thanks to human organs, the Banned Doll can produce magical power to a certain extent.
Because there are human organs inside its body, the Banned Doll can produce magical power to a certain extent. Thanks to human organs, the Banned Doll's magical affinity is very high. And the puppeteer can control it more easily.
What Azlan received from the mysterious Light Orb wasn't an ordinary Automaton, but a product from the darkest side of another world's humanity.
He chose to keep this horrifying fact secret from Akane. In his view, there was no need for the girl to know how evil and cruel creatures called "humans" could be.
Inside the warmth of the blanket, the snowstorm roared outside the window.
Akane, exhausted emotionally and physically, slowly fell asleep, her breathing regular and calm. Azlan lay on his back, his eyes staring at the dark ceiling, listening to the sound of wind and the footsteps of automatons standing guard outside.
His thoughts circled on that day's battle, the new powers obtained, and the responsibility that now increased with the presence of six Automatons and a "healer" who might be too bold in her treatment methods.
With the automatons standing guard, for the first time since arriving in this world, Azlan felt he could truly rest without having to always be vigilant.
Slowly, the tension in his body relaxed, and he too fell asleep, accompanied by the warmth of Akane's body beside him and the unconditional loyalty of six young girls who didn't need to sleep.
That night, in the midst of the raging snowstorm, a small and temporary oasis of safety was formed—a bright point in a world that had become so dark.