Chapter 23: Puppet, Status and Past Vulnerability
"...H-Hmm" My puppet embraces me, still holding me in the kiss as I try to pull away with weak force, my legs weakening as she maintains a gentle yet firm hug.
"Hmm..." My resistance fades as she keeps the kiss, inserting her tongue into my mouth, exploring it as I feel like I’m going to collapse to the floor.
But she skillfully holds me, preventing me from crumbling, although my legs tremble like bamboo, and then she stops the kiss, pulling her lips away from mine, leaving only a silver thread connecting our lips.
"Haaa..."
As the thread breaks, the puppet stops and steps back as I fall to my knees, my face completely red like a pepper. She stole my first kiss right after being created! This wasn’t how I thought she would be.
"W-What do you think you’re doing!!!" I point at her, speaking accusingly. How did this puppet think a kiss would be the first thing she should do with me?
"I just followed your request," she says elegantly, as if what she said was the most obvious thing in the world.
"M-My request?" I ask incredulously, standing up.
"Yes, your first mental request upon seeing me was for a kiss, and I simply obeyed," When she says this, I become even more embarrassed. I can’t believe it was something I wanted, but at the same time, it makes sense.
My puppets could never do anything against me without my order, even if they have freedom of choice, so she would never have kissed me if I hadn’t requested a kiss beforehand.
"And the h-hug?" I question, trying to maintain some control. I can’t believe it was my embarrassing desire that put me in this shameful situation.
"That was made by my own choice. You seemed to need a hug...you appear...sad," She says with a look of sadness, and I let out a tired sigh.
’My first kiss...stolen from me by a puppet...and one identical to me, how embarrassing...’ I look at her, a body identical to mine, but quickly avert my gaze.
"W-Wear a dress from my closet right away," I say, avoiding eye contact. I guess it’s no surprise that my puppet can understand me so well. I try to maintain an upbeat pose.
But the future is frightening, and there’s still the past of the original Evelyn that saddens me. I’ve decided to accept and live the life she deserves, but I fear failing her and myself. I don’t want to go back to being the failure of the past.
However, it’s difficult not to think about the past when looking to the future. I can only try to stop thinking about it for a little while.
"Hey...your name will be Eve," I say to her, still not looking at her body. Eve is the name of the first woman, of course, it depends on the culture and has many different versions.
But in some cultures, she is called Eve, and since she was the first woman, I decided to give this name to my first living puppet. Additionally, this name also reminds me of the original Evelyn, as it’s the beginning part of her name.
"Thank you for the name, Evelyn-sama," She says as the system opens up for me, showing Eve’s status.
[Status
Name = Eve
Race = Living Puppet
Title = None
Class = Duelist Swordsman (Description = A class focused on speed, has good strength and defense, but with a general focus on speed and prolonged fights against a target, or against multiple weaker targets, concentrates on quick strikes and light defenses)
Personality = Intelligent, Analytical, Critical, Affectionate, Elegant.
Classification of Status =
Strength = A
Stamina = S
Defense = A
Physical Defense = A
Magic = B
Magic Defense = B
Vitality = SSS+ (Vitality linked to the Master)
Total Skills =
Rapid Fencing (Description = A Fencing technique that allows the user to easily handle a sword, with an extra focus on quick attacks and rushes)
Dual Wielding (Description = Allows the user to fight with one or two swords with mastery)
Lightning Reflexes (Description = Ability to react to surprise attacks with impressive speed and sense the murderous intent of hidden targets)
Defense Break (Description = A violent thrusting technique that concentrates all the power of a single attack on a specific point, generating a great impact on the targeted area)
Basic Martial Arts (Description = Even without swords, the user can easily hold their own in hand-to-hand combat against enemies)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"..."
’She has an impressive status’ Having an SSS+ status doesn’t mean you’ve reached the maximum power, this status only symbolizes the strength you have in those characteristics.
However, it’s obvious that the higher the score, the stronger you are, and the more potential you have in those status classifications, and Eve has a very balanced and very good score. It’s made this way because there’s no level system like in RPGs.
"Your status...is impressive, Eve..." I say, truly impressed. She is stronger than I initially expected, and her personality is more or less what I wanted for a swordswoman.
Apart from her class, it’s exactly what I needed, and her Lightning Reflexes ability is a marvel, as with it, Eve will be able to protect me more easily than without it.
"Thank you, Evelyn-sama, I appreciate the compliments," She says as she comes to me with a simple but beautiful dress.
’She’s beautiful...well, it’s kind of me, so obviously she’s beautiful...’ Maybe I haven’t lost my first kiss yet? After all, she’s a living puppet, not a real living being, besides the exact appearance of myself.
"Eve, I need to get a sword for you..." I say to her as I wait. She quickly understands what I mean.
"I believe a long sword, not too thick and well-sharpened would be good for me...maybe a simple bastard sword to start, and then a customized sword for a precise grip," She speaks quickly.
’She knows her stuff’ It’s expected of someone created to be a swordswoman, and she’s intuitive. Just by seeing my room, she understood that I don’t have the means for an expensive or customized weapon.
"I’m sorry...as you can see, I don’t have the means to give you a quality weapon, but I’ll try to get a common bastard sword," I say with a smile.
"Your generosity warms my ’heart’, Evelyn-sama, but you don’t need to force yourself to give me what you can’t. I understand and will wait until I’m worthy of receiving gifts," She says with a big smile.
"Hahaha, of course..." I say as I sit on my bed. She stands there, observing me as I think about what to do next.
There are many things I need to do, and Eve needs a bed to sleep in, food that, although not necessary, I still want to give her, and also the sword that I doubt Clarissa can give me, as she has her own limits as a regular maid.
"Evelyn-sama, would you like a hug?" Eve suddenly speaks, and I look into her eyes and then down at the floor.
"..."
"I...don’t know..." I say as she opens her arms. I also open my arms, inviting her, and she comes to give me a hug as my tears fall.
"...You don’t need to feel this way, Evelyn-sama. I know something is weighing on your mind. Let it pass, I will take care of you," She says as I hug her tightly.
"Y-You’re so perceptive," I say, crying on her shoulder. I’m truly sad and have a terrible weight on my conscience.
This weight is my family, not the one in this world, but my real family. I’m sure they didn’t like what I had become, but they weren’t bad. My parents were good, and we had a good relationship before I isolated myself in my room and destroyed that relationship with them. Now that I’m dead, I’m worried about what they think.
Are they sad to have lost their daughter? Or are they happy to finally be rid of a burden in their lives? I don’t know. I was so isolated from everything that I no longer know how they saw me.
I can only put my perspective to try to figure it out, and in my view, I was a disagreeable parasite living off their money without contributing anything to them or to society.
In the end, my death didn’t affect anything, simply because I didn’t do anything. And that saddens me. I didn’t want to die as a burden to them. I...wanted to have done something good with my life.
Instead of wasting it on trivial things, all that remains is this bitter feeling that I was a failure as a daughter who only disappointed the two of them.
"You can cry on my shoulder, Evelyn-sama. I will comfort you as much as needed...I notice that you need this little moment to show your vulnerability," Eve says, stroking my head and comforting me as I dissolve into tears.
I never expected to show these ugly sides of myself in front of my first puppet, but the feeling of relief at finally having someone who can protect me, along with the feelings I’ve held back, simply explode like a dam that can no longer hold the water.
And again in this life, I will depend on others, but I swear to change. I won’t leave everything to others, even if I always remain dependent on my puppets. I will help them with what I can.
"T-Thank you..." I say, hugging her with all my strength as she hugs me back, whispering words of comfort in my ear, saying that it’s okay to cry and that she will always be here to help me.
Words that both I and the original Evelyn always wanted to hear. I know that as a puppet, she represents what I want, but she is free, and her words are honest enough to comfort my heart.
After all, she’s no different from a normal living being, except for the fact that I control her if I want to. So I know she’s genuinely comforting me, not because it’s my choice.