Doll

Biodata

Background

Doll developed a curse in her youth that made living beings terrified of her appearance and voice. Her family abandoned her, and she wandered the wilderness; even beasts, bandits, and Void Realm monsters avoided her. Years later, an official expedition brought her to Giant City. She became an East City Branch handler, but continued to conceal herself in full-body costumes to work alongside others 22.

Her curse kept her largely at the branch and left her unable to speak face-to-face with colleagues. When Li Yèlái saw her uncovered face without fear, she gained a chance for ordinary conversation. They began meeting for meals, and she helped him move with his sister, Li Yúnyān 13 22 24 25.

Appearance

Doll is a young woman whose face Li Yèlái finds beautiful. Because exposed skin triggers her curse in others, she normally wears a costume that covers her completely 13 22.

• Costumes — Seen in frog, panda, snowman, bear, and dinosaur outfits 5 13 22 23 24 29.
• At lunch with Li Yèlái — Removes her bear costume in a private room, wearing a white floral blouse, black pleated skirt, and white shoes 24.

Personality

Doll is lively when communicating by signboard or online, but nervous when speaking directly to Li Yèlái after years without normal conversation 13 25. She wants companionship and takes his casual offer of a meal seriously 22 23. She also looks out for him: she offers to help during his move, gives him a means of defending himself in the Black Prison, and checks on him after its riot 23 29 41.

Abilities & Skills

Fear-Inducing Curse

Doll's uncovered appearance instills fear in living beings; her voice can cause even more severe terror. Her curse affects powerful psychics and Void Realm creatures, but Li Yèlái can see her and hear her without fear 13 22.

• She keeps all skin concealed and avoids speaking around others to prevent the curse from affecting them 13 22.
• Her severed hair retains its fear-inducing effect for about ten days. She gives Li Yèlái a bag of it because he can handle it safely 29.
• Li Yèlái uses the hair to drive back the Black Gargoyle and panic pursuing cavalry during the Black Prison riot 34.

Gravity Manipulation

Doll suppresses the Black Umbrella Youth during the handlers' ambush, pinning his body down and preventing him from controlling his umbrella 21 22.

Psychic Techniques

• Psychic text display — Makes words appear on the sign she carries, allowing her to communicate without speaking 6 13 22.
• Psychic Barrier — Learned the technique in ten minutes, a benchmark cited when Li Yèlái trains 7.

Equipment / Items

• Full-body costumes — Conceal her appearance so she can interact with colleagues and go outside without triggering fear 13 22 24.
• Signboard — Displays her written messages, often with emoticons 6 13 22.
• Bag of her hair — Given to Li Yèlái as a defensive measure before his Black Prison assignment 29.

Relationships

• Li Yèlái / Night General — A fellow handler unaffected by her curse. They share meals and agree to meet weekly; she worries about his safety during the Black Prison incident 22 25 29 41.
• Li Yúnyān — Li Yèlái's sister. They discuss their opposing fear-related curses, and Doll helps with her move to the Family Apartments 24.
• East City Branch colleagues — Treat Doll kindly despite the limits imposed by her curse; several handlers arrange support for her lunch outing with Li Yèlái 13 24.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Black Umbrella ambush — Joins Moon Shadow and Melting Furnace against the Black Umbrella Youth. By uncovering her face and suppressing him, she helps the handlers defeat his body; the umbrella itself escapes 21 22 50.
• Black Prison riot — Her hair helps Li Yèlái's group pass dangerous Forbidden Items and reach the Mobius Ring Diagram. Afterward, Li Yèlái credits her contribution to its suppression 29 34 41.

Notable Quotes

[My hair still has curse effects for about ten days after it's separated from me. … You don't fear me, so you can use it for defense.] 29

[I was late, are you okay?] 41