Wild Speculation

FrostNova ultimately did not offer her own answer.

The seemingly cold-hearted girl from Caster simply said that she couldn't make a decision, and then left the Hunter's Cabin.

Maria wasn't in a hurry.

After waiting for a while, she and several companions also walked up to Maria.

After a long pause, she silently pursed her lips.

"We... are willing to take the oath."

That's enough.

Having received the promise, Maria nodded.

She did nothing formally... In this world between reality and dreams, the Doll could take care of everything for him.

She just wanted an attitude.

After all, you can control a bird's body in a cage, but you can never control its heart that longs to fly.

Conversely, even a verbal promise is enough for Maria to keep him forever docile in his cage.

Thinking about it, she silently pushed the still-warm black tea beside her.

"Although I feel I have fulfilled his wish, what I promised was to give you my blood... I will not play with words, I will keep my promise, just as I promised you."

As Maria spoke, she looked again at the Big White Rabbit girl in front of her.

After hesitating for a moment, the other person also stepped forward and drank the tea in one gulp in a very rough manner.

Maria frowned slightly at the sight of the rough action.

Although this cup of black tea was merely a symbolic gesture, wasn't such a hasty way of drinking it somewhat inappropriate?

But she didn't say much. She just looked at FrostNova, who was staring blankly at the rising temperature of her body, and then spoke calmly.

"Then you can do it yourselves..."

"My own... action?"

FrostNova was somewhat stunned.

"Yharnam can no longer face the sun. Although your bodies will not undergo any changes, I don't think you would want to actively get used to not eating... You need to build your own resting place and food supply."

As Maria spoke, she turned her head to look at the other person.

"Do you... expect me to raise you?"

"... No."

FrostNova turned her head away, absolutely denying that she had actually had such parasitic thoughts.

After all, although Maria made it sound nice, allowing them to move freely in Yharnam, FrostNova probably thought that they would be concentrated in one area and monitored and kept like livestock.

But unexpectedly... Maria really intended to ignore them.

As long as they don't think about leaving Yharnam...

This left her somewhat bewildered.

Fortunately, the Doll on the side had anticipated all of this.

She quietly took the map out of the table beside her and placed it in front of everyone.

"You seem to be a people adapted to the snowfields... but unfortunately, there are no snowfields in Yharnam where you can live. However, in the north, there is an area with a temperature that might suit you..."

The Doll spoke softly, its gentle expression suggesting it had already made all the necessary preparations.

The members of the Yeti Squad glanced at it a few times and then nodded silently, setting an example of approval.

Since that's the case, FrostNova has nothing more to say.

After giving Maria a deep look, she silently turned around and chose to leave.

Maria remained seated in her place.

Beside her, the gentle Doll turned its head slightly and looked at Maria.

"A kind Hunter..."

"You always do things that I can't understand, Doll."

Maria turned her head and gently reached out her hand.

The Doll gently bent down and placed its face in Maria's cool hands.

Like a cat, she rubbed against it gently.

"Was it within your prediction that they stayed here this time?"

"I don't deny that I had that thought, but the fact that they actually stayed here was still unexpected."

The Doll spoke softly, and her eyes, which appeared to be full of maternal love to outsiders, could never suppress the restless desires and emotions she felt when she looked at Maria.

The intense heat made Little Regret, who was standing to the side, turn her head away on her own.

In a daze, even the grayish-white pupils appeared to be heart-shaped.

"Their condition is actually similar to yours back then... except that you are no longer that struggling Hunter."

"I know you don't want to admit your identity. In my eyes, you are still that gentle, kind, proud, but adorable Hunter isn't good at expressing yourself."

"I know you still intend to face the dangers of this world yourself... to hunt those beasts."

"I know these people probably don't even have the same level of ability as you did back then."

"Even so, I hope that you will have someone to accompany you on your hunting journey."

Doll spoke, for the first time, she took the initiative to reach out and grasp Maria's hand, which was stroking her face.

She gently removed Maria's leather gloves, and looking at her pale, slender fingers, she resisted the urge to suckle them. Silently, she removed the clothing that was in the way of her chest and pressed it against her own.

Soft, comfortable, with a smooth touch and a beautiful pinkish hue.

But it had no temperature.

"I am merely a Doll, a replica of you. I can never be by your side, never fight alongside you..."

The Doll spoke, then silently opened its eyes.

The eyes, which were originally just jewel-carved pupils, now revealed a hint of sadness.

She knew clearly what she could and couldn't do.

She was merely a tool that, by clinging to Maria, managed to avoid being destroyed along with the calamity that destroyed Yharnam.

If that day ever comes and Yharnam faces another catastrophe of extinction, she doesn't know if she will still be able to stay by Maria's side.

This kind Hunter has lost too much and gone through too much.

She didn't want to see Maria hiding silently in a corner again.

The existence of the Yeti Squad was actually an experiment for her.

Perhaps one day, she could train a Hunter no less skilled than Maria... to replace her and stay by Maria's side.

As for herself...

As long as Maria could remember that there had ever been such a Doll, she would be content...

As the Doll pondered, feeling that the hand it was holding remained still, it slowly prepared to get up.

But before she could straighten her back, a force suddenly came from her chest.

It hurt a little, so Maria grabbed the soft thing tightly and pulled it over.

"Huh?"

The stunned Doll simply lay motionless on Maria's knees, somewhat dazed.

A moment later, Maria slowly reached out and cupped her cheeks.

"What a... mischievous Hunter."

The Doll smiled helplessly, thinking that this was another thing Maria wanted to research.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Does Maria really think she'd fall for it again?

How naive...

The Doll's thoughts were not yet finished.

The delicate touch caused her pupils to widen slowly.

The two faces were pressed together...

Soft, tasteless, yet with an intoxicatingly sweet aroma...

Huh?

Chapter 174 Daydreaming

"I don't like replacing certain memories with things from another world... Doll."

After getting up and leaving behind this cryptic remark, Maria departed from the warm little house, leaving the still-stunned Doll kneeling on the ground, eyes wide and face full of confusion.

She hesitated for a long time before timidly reaching out her hand.

She gently touched the edge of her lips... She was so stunned that she hadn't felt where Maria's extremely restrained kiss had landed.

But she could feel a faint mist at the corner of her mouth.

Did they... kiss on the lips?

No... impossible, an awkward Hunter wouldn't be that direct...

But... she just kissed me first, which is unprecedented for her, so it doesn't seem impossible for her to express her feelings directly...?

Wait... Doll, what are you thinking?!

Stiffly raising her slender hands, the Doll stared blankly for a long time before slowly covering her cheeks with them.

She remained kneeling on the ground, her body slowly arching, her head bowed, not letting anyone see her expression.

Is it... is it true?

Was I dreaming?

No... I couldn't be dreaming, so... it must be real, the Hunter... really kissed me...

Ah?!!!!

The Doll felt like its body was about to collapse.

Her body wasn't driven by blood, so she couldn't possibly have any temperature... but in reality, she could feel her entire body starting to burn hot.

Maria...

Hunter...

The Doll blushed and raised her head from the darkness. A blush spread across her originally cool and charming face, making her graceful posture even more alluring.

But after a long silence, she slowly stood up, took a few deep breaths, and returned to her original posture.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the dark ceiling, and silently closed her eyes, recalling Maria's departing figure...

With a hint of haste and stiffness... this state shouldn't be seen on Maria, who is known for her physical abilities.

It seems that even she wasn't as composed as she appeared when she acted towards the Doll...

The Hunter... is shy too...

Thinking of this, the Doll couldn't help but smile.

After another pause, she turned her head and looked at Little Regret, who was covering her face with excitement.

Although she's now almost reduced to a maid who takes care of Maria and the Doll 'Hunter's Cabin, Little Regret hasn't forgotten why she chose a career in the systems field in the first place.

Isn't this the kind of scene that makes girls' hearts flutter?

Seeing the Doll, who usually kept her emotions hidden, acting so shyly like a young girl made her even more excited.

Upon noticing that her boss was looking over, Little Regret tried to cover it up by immediately turning her head away, pretending she hadn't seen anything.

The Doll was in a good mood at the moment, so she didn't pursue the other party's act of peeping. She just immersed herself in the sweetness for a while before turning her head away again.