Does a Doll Deserve to Live a Happy Life? (Patreon)

Chapter 2: Another Pink Haired Servant

A comfortable silence settled over the living room where we were still gathered, hours after we'd started planning and getting to know each other. It was a cozy little space, one we'd be sharing until I could upgrade it through the Catalogue.

Eventually, I stood, drawing the curious gazes of Kiara and Aoi. I waved a hand gently to ease their concern. “Please, relax. I’m going to cook something for us. After hours of nothing but talking, I’m sure you're starting to feel hungry by now.”

Almost on cue, Kiara’s stomach let out a small, adorable rumble. The sound made her stiffen in embarrassment, and I gave her a knowing look that only deepened her blush.

“And my point is proven,” I said with a soft smile as I turned toward the kitchen.

I hadn’t made it far when I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I found Aoi following.

I raised an eyebrow at her in quiet curiosity.

“Please, let me help you, Sieg-sam—Sieg-san,” she corrected herself mid-sentence, catching my other raised brow and adjusting the honorific with a slightly sheepish smile.

I shook my head softly. “I appreciate the offer, Aoi-san, but let me handle it this time. You see, I want to test out a perk I picked up. According to its description, it should let me make food that tastes... well, amazing.”

Looking curious now, Aoi tilted her head slightly. “Would it be alright if I watched?” she asked.

Seeing no harm in it, I nodded. “Of course.”

Once we reached the kitchen, I took a deep breath and let the perk guide me. Instinct took over as I moved with surprising ease, navigating the unfamiliar space like I’d done it hundreds of times. Every motion felt natural—efficient, even elegant. It wasn’t long before the dishes were coming together, and for the first time in my life, I was actually cooking.

I stepped back to let everything simmer and marveled at the experience, my eyes wide with wonder.

‘Astounding…’ I thought to myself. ‘To think I went from being blind to gliding through a kitchen like a five-star chef. And all from a perk that cost me just 10 credits. I almost shudder to imagine what the most expensive perks can do…’

A light, polite clapping snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Aoi watching me with open admiration.

“Wow~ You weren’t exaggerating, Sieg-san,” she said with a soft smile. “You moved like an expert.”

“Thank you, but this is all thanks to the perk.” I waved away her compliments easily.

As I plated the food and brought it over to the small dining table, the rich aroma filled the entire apartment, causing Kiara to practically float toward us with a dazed expression.

“I don’t know what you made,” she murmured, eyes sparkling, “but if it tastes even half as good as it smells, I might ascend on the spot.”

Aoi giggled softly, taking a seat across from Kiara. I joined them, serving generous portions before sitting down myself.

“Alright,” I said softly, just loud enough for them to hear, “dig in.”

They didn’t need to be told twice. The moment the first bite touched their tongues, the room fell utterly silent.

Kiara’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her fork hovered midair as her expression shifted from surprise to something akin to ecstasy. “Mmmmn~ What is this?” she moaned softly, visibly shivering. “This can’t be legal. You’ve weaponized flavor, Sieg-kun…”

Aoi had both hands over her mouth, her eyes misty. “I… I’ve never tasted anything like this. Not even the best chefs in Fuyuki or the traditional meals my mother made come close.” She looked at me, genuinely moved. “It tastes like home… like comfort,… safety.”

I blinked. “It was just supposed to be stir-fry…”

“Stir-fry?” Kiara turned to me, still chewing, her tone scandalized. “No. This is divine intervention disguised as dinner. You’re not allowed to call it stir-fry.”

“Right?” Aoi agreed, practically glowing. “It’s like a dish served by the gods. I don’t think I can go back to eating regular meals after this!”

I scratched my cheek, embarrassed. “I guess I underestimated the cooking perk a little…”

They continued eating in blissful silence, occasionally letting out little sighs of happiness that made me both proud and deeply, deeply concerned about what I’d just unleashed. At one point, Kiara even clasped her hands together as if in prayer, murmuring something about divine nourishment and salvation.

When we were finally done, Kiara leaned back with a dreamy expression, rubbing her stomach. “If I die in the Holy Grail War, I want this meal to be my last request.”

Aoi nodded fervently. “Same.”

I nodded. “Noted. But let’s not die, okay?”

Their eyes met mine, still sparkling with warmth—and full stomachs—and nodded with newfound determination.

“Deal,” Kiara said, grinning. “But only if you promise to cook again.”

Shaking my head at their antics, I picked up the dirty dishes and carried them to the sink, Kiara stepping in to help—even though I insisted I could handle it alone.

As we stood side by side washing the dishes, I let out a soft sigh and turned to her, only to find her already watching me with a knowing look on her face.

“What’s on your mind? You’ve been distracted since dinner started,” Kiara asked gently, her eyes warm and her smile soft.

Blinking in mild surprise at being found out so quickly, I let a small smile form on my lips. “As expected of a psychiatrist. Hah… I need to leave the safety of this space for a few hours.”

Kiara nodded quietly, not pressing me for an explanation. Instead, she simply asked, “Do you need my assistance?”

Her concern made my smile widen, though I shook my head, causing her to frown slightly. “I’m afraid it’s too dangerous right now. All but one or two Servants have already been summoned.”

“At the moment, I’m the only one who can open the portals that lead to this place. If something goes wrong, you wouldn’t be able to retreat.”

“I can’t afford to waste any more time,” I continued, my tone firm. “Like I said before, most of the Servants are already accounted for, so I need to summon mine soon. Hopefully, they’ll be compatible with me—and grant us the credits we need to get out of debt and purchase a few Company Defenses.”

I was referring to Information and Trace Defense—essential perks to prevent anyone from sensing our location or using divination or clairvoyance to find us. And considering how gifted someone like Gilgamesh was in that regard, we couldn't afford to delay.

Kiara’s eyes narrowed slightly in thought, her hands slowing as she dried the last dish. “So you’re heading out right now.” she murmured—more a statement than a question.

I nodded, drying my hands and setting the dish towel aside. “Yeah. The longer I wait, the greater the risk. I need to do this somewhere far from the city—remote enough that no one will detect the summoning.”

She pursed her lips, clearly displeased, then finally gave a small, reluctant nod. “I don’t like it,” she admitted. “But… I trust you.”

“Thanks,” I said, genuinely touched by the quiet conviction in her voice. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Leaning against the counter, Kiara folded her arms, watching me intently. “Don’t get yourself killed before making me more of that food, Sieg-kun. I might actually cry.”

I smiled—one I hoped looked more reassuring than it felt. “Noted. Feeding you has now become my top priority.”

But as I turned away, the smile slipped from my face, and tension settled in my shoulders like a weight I couldn’t shake. My heartbeat quickened—not from fear, but anticipation. This summoning wasn’t just about getting a partner for the war. It was the next step in securing the power to protect the people I cared about.

Activating the shimmering portal with a press of my Company Phone, I hesitated for just a moment before stepping through. “Tell Aoi I’ll be back soon.”

“Of course,” Kiara said, her voice softer than before. “And Sieg?”

I turned back to glance at her.

“…Come back with a smile, alright? A real one. Not something forced for our sakes.”

Not surprised she caught on to that detail, I gave her a thumbs-up—silent, but sincere—before stepping into the portal. A pulse of mana shimmered in the air, and just like that… I was gone.

=====

Outskirts of Fuyuki, 1994

It had taken me a good hour after arriving in Fuyuki to find a proper summoning spot—somewhere hidden from prying eyes and far enough from civilization to avoid drawing attention.

Luckily, I hadn’t been spotted yet… or at least, I hoped I hadn’t. I wasn’t exactly skilled in presence detection yet. And now that I was technically a Dragon thanks to the Heritage perk that had been forced on me, I generated mana just by breathing. If a competent Servant happened to sense that, this night could end in a fight I wasn’t ready for.

Without wasting any more time, I pulled out my Company Phone and navigated to the Missions section. It didn’t take long to find the one I was looking for:

Foxy Shrine Maiden

We've gotten a strange request—apparently there's not enough “Tamamo love” going around. So, we’re giving you a shot at summoning a free Tamamo-no-Mae… if you’re worthy.

We’ll provide you with:

A scroll embedded with a Servant summoning ritual

A catalyst attuned to Tamamo-no-Mae

Optional:Take 30 Credits if you choose to refuse the catalyst.

Conditions:

Must have a soul good enough for Tamamo-no-Mae to accept

Must touch Tamamo's fluffy tail once

Reward [Companions]: Tamamo-no-Mae

Additional Objectives:

Objective 1: Have Tamamo be accepted in the world you picked (no world rejection or hatred)Reward [Credits]: 20

Objective 2: Brush Tamamo's tail and gather hair for Company research (repeatable x20)Reward [Credits]: 10 per sample

Objective 3: Choose Nasuverse as your starting worldReward [Credits]: 100

Objective 4: Win a Holy Grail WarReward [Credits]: 40

Objective 5: Win a Holy Grail War using only Tamamo-no-MaeReward [Credits]: 80

That’s right.

The Servant I was about to summon was none other than Tamamo-no-Mae—a Caster-class powerhouse ranked as Tier 8 in the Catalogue. She wasn’t just a random mythological figure either. She was one of the eight aspects split from the Shinto sun goddess, Amaterasu herself.

Her original Master in the Moon Cell Holy Grail War was someone… surprisingly similar to me. An NPC with no memories, no name, no self-identity—basically, a homunculus.

Exactly what I used to be… before all of this.

Accepting the mission, I blinked in surprise when, with a sudden flash of light, a scroll and an old mirror appeared in front of me—landing softly on the grass. I crouched down to retrieve them, immediately recognizing them as the catalyst and ritual scroll provided by the Company.

Holding the items in my hands, I could feel a faint warmth pulsing from the mirror—old magic still lingering. This was it.

I carefully unrolled the scroll, revealing a summoning circle etched in red ink across the parchment. The arcane symbols shimmered faintly in the moonlight. Taking a deep breath, I laid it flat on the ground and gently placed the mirror in the center.

"Alright… here goes nothing."

I extended my hand toward the circle, the air thickening with power as words not entirely my own rose unbidden to my lips.

Let silver and steel be the essence.Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.Let silver be the color I pay tribute to.Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.Let the four cardinal gates close.Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.

I hereby declare.Your body shall serve under me.My fate shall be your sword.Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.If you will submit to this will and this reason… Then answer!

An oath shall be sworn here!I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven.I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell.

From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power—Come forth from the ring of restraints,Protector of the Holy Balance!

As the last word of the incantation rang out, the summoning circle erupted in a dazzling burst of light, engulfing the secluded grove in swirling winds and crackling energy. My hair billowed behind me as the mirror in the center floated upward, suspended in the air like a divine relic.

The light twisted, condensed, and then exploded outward in a flare of pink, gold, and white, forcing me to shield my eyes.

When the brilliance faded, I slowly lowered my arm—and there she stood.

A radiant figure with flowing peach-pink hair, dressed in the elegant robes of a shrine maiden, accented with touches of white and gold. Fox ears twitched atop her head, and a large, fluffy tail swayed behind her with enchanting grace. Her golden eyes sparkled mischievously, and a playful smile curled her lips as she struck a pose with one hand on her hip and the other dramatically pointing skyward.

With a theatrical flick of her sleeve and a wink, she declared:

"If there is an order, I will come immediately! Your dependable Fox Shrine Maiden—Caster has des~cended♡!"

The air shimmered with residual magic, and her presence was so vibrant, so alive, that for a moment, I was stunned into silence.

…I had done it. I had actually summoned her.

And she was looking right at me, head tilted with growing interest.

"Ooh~? So you're my Master?" she purred, stepping closer with a playful sway in her hips, her tail curling behind her like a question mark. "Fufu… you smell delicious. This might be more fun than I expected~"

I could do nothing but stand there frozen at her upbeat attitude, another servant with pink hair flashing to mind unbidden.

Tamamo stepped even closer, her nose twitching slightly as she leaned in and sniffed the air delicately—then again, more audibly.

"Sniff sniff… Mmmm~? Wait just a moment here…” she said, her eyes narrowing in sudden intrigue.

She circled me like a curious cat inspecting a shiny new toy, one hand curled thoughtfully under her chin. “That scent… that aura… no, no, this isn’t normal at all, Master.”

I raised an eyebrow, not quite sure where she was going—until she suddenly gasped, both hands flying to her mouth in dramatic realization.

“Y-you’re not human, are you?! No, wait… you're a dragon! A genuine, phantasmal beast, here in the modern era!”

She pointed at me as if accusing me of a great crime, though the effect was thoroughly ruined by the excited wag of her tail. “I knew I smelled something incredible! This changes everything~ My, my, it looks like interesting days lay ahead of us, Master~!”

Watching her dramatic antics and upbeat attitude, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, a warm smile tugging at my lips.

My reaction seemed to catch her off guard. She blinked a few times, her golden eyes wide with curiosity, before tilting her head slightly—her ears and tail twitching in a way that only made her look even cuter. “Hmm? What’s so funny, Master?”

“I apologize,” I said gently, the smile never leaving my face—causing her to flush a soft pink. “You just reminded me of someone very precious to me.”

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I bowed respectfully, missing the way her blush deepened even further.

“My name is Sieg," I said with quiet sincerity, "and it would bring me great joy if you would enter into a contract with me.”

For a heartbeat, there was only silence.

Then—

"Kyaaa~! So gallant!" Tamamo squealed, spinning in place with her sleeves fluttering around her like a fox caught in a happy whirlwind. Her tail wagged uncontrollably, and her ears practically vibrated with excitement. "A proper bow, such sincere words… Sieg-sama, you're too dangerous for my maidenly heart~!"

She pressed her hands against her cheeks, visibly trying (and failing) to calm herself down, her cheeks glowing a vivid pink.

“Ahem, ahem—compose yourself, Tamamo, compose yourself," she muttered under her breath, giving herself a little slap on each cheek before straightening up with a radiant smile.

Clearing her throat with a theatrical cough, she placed a hand over her chest and declared proudly, “If you would have me, then I, Tamamo-no-Mae, vow to serve you with all my heart, my body, and my infinite love! Your dependable Fox Shrine Maiden, at your service~!”

Her voice was like a song at the end, sweet and full of emotion. Then, with a giggle, she extended her hand toward me, palm up, a clear invitation.

“Now then, Master… shall we make it official?"

I gently took Tamamo’s hand in mine, feeling the soft warmth of her skin. A golden light instantly lit up my Command Spells, casting an ethereal glow across the quiet forest clearing.

Tamamo’s eyes widened slightly with wonder, then softened into something warmer, more tender, as she squeezed my hand in return.

In that moment, the contract was formed.

A slight drain on my magical energy followed, flowing steadily into her. I could now feel her presence tethered to mine—settling into my soul like a warm, comforting flame. Tamamo's tail swished joyfully behind her as she beamed up at me.

“Mmm~ I can feel it~ Your mana is so gentle, yet strong… Hehe, I think I’m going to be very spoiled from now on, Master~!”

With my task complete, a sense of peace washed over me. With Tamamo here, things felt lighter. Brighter. Hopeful.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

CRACK!

The sound was sharp and sudden, cutting through the stillness of night—a gunshot. A sniper round, fired with deadly intent.

Tamamo’s ears twitched the instant before it happened. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, pushing me hard to the ground.

BANG!

A searing pain lanced across my cheek as the bullet missed by inches, tearing through the air where my head had been a second ago. A lock of my hair drifted to the ground.

Tamamo landed lightly in front of me, her arms outstretched and a glowing barrier of shimmering blue light already forming between us and the unseen attacker.

Her playful demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a fierce, almost terrifying expression. Her tail bristled, her eyes burned with anger.

"How dare you aim at my Master right after such a sacred moment?!" she snarled, her voice crackling with raw emotion.

Energy flared at her fingertips as talismans spun into the air, each one glowing with ancient power. They hovered in a formation around her, humming with potential.

“Stay behind me, Master," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I'll show them what happens when they provoke a maiden in love.”

Getting back on my feet and pulling out the sword I had been gifted by Astolfo, I sharpened my senses, ready for anything.

‘And it was going so well, too,’ I quietly lamented.