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

Chapter 6: A Moment of Peace, a Glimpse of the Future

With Sakura safe and sound in our Pocket Dimension, trying to reconnect with her mother, Tamamo and I returned to the city. After our close call with Gilgamesh, it was reassuring to know our defenses were working perfectly.

This time, however, we weren’t here to rescue a little girl in need. No, our target was a sadistic murderer who took pleasure in killing—Ryuunosuke, the man who originally became the Master of Caster in the original timeline before my arrival.

Since Ryuunosuke was just a regular human, it didn’t take us long to track him down. I stamped him immediately, then reluctantly bit into his wrist—suppressing the disgust that surged up—to accelerate the capture process. Not wanting to take any chances, I had Tamamo place a curse on him to keep him unconscious until the stamp took full effect.

We returned to our Pocket Apartment and unceremoniously stuffed him in the closet, with strict instructions to the adults not to touch him.

Thankfully, this time we encountered no interruptions. We went, we came back—simple as that.

The whole affair had taken a few hours, and by the time we returned, it was already lunch. Tamamo asked me to help, and I agreed.

Now, I found myself quietly slicing vegetables and fish while Tamamo worked beside me, humming a strangely familiar tune.

“With that scum-san taken care of, what’s our next goal, Sieg-kun?” Tamamo asked, eyes curious but calm.

“There’s not much we can do right now besides wait,” I said, my thoughts drifting. “I also need to get a better handle on my abilities, but for that… we’ll need to expand this place.”

Tamamo’s ears perked, and her tails swished behind her, clearly delighted. “A bigger place does sound nice~” she cooed, turning to me with a mischievous grin. “Especially when you get that Life’s a Beach perk and we get our very own private island…”

Her grin widened. “Then I could finally show you my swimsuit~”

My ears immediately turned red. I had never even seen a beach in either of my lives, much less a girl in a swimsuit.

‘I wonder how Jeanne would look in one…’ The thought drifted into my mind before I could stop it.

A moment later, I felt my cheeks being pinched.

“Fufufu~ What’s this? Is my dear Master thinking about another woman when I’m right here?” Tamamo asked sweetly, eyes still closed in a deceptively serene smile.

“S-sorry, Tamamo. Just… old memories resurfacing.” I apologized quickly, genuinely.

That image faded, replaced by a more vivid one—Tamamo in a swimsuit. An enticing thought.

“I’ve never seen the ocean before,” I admitted, trying to change the subject, my tone softening. “I’d really like to. Just once.”

“Never?” Tamamo blinked, genuinely surprised. “That’s right… now that I think about it, I don’t really know much about your past, Sieg-kun—other than the small snippets you’ve revealed.”

Tilting my head, I turned to face her fully. Tamamo blinked at the sudden attention and grew quiet as I simply stared for a long moment. “Hmm…”

“W-what is it, Sieg-kun? Your stare is pretty intense,” she stuttered slightly, looking away while her ears twitched nervously atop her head.

“There’s not much to tell, really,” I said softly, pausing as I considered it. “Even with two lives’ worth of memories… I’ve hardly experienced life.”

Tamamo blinked again, her expression softening as she met my eyes properly. “I see.”

Then a smile lit up her face—gentle, bright. “That just means we can experience all those new things together, Sieg-kun~! Fufufu, I can’t wait until this silly war is over~”

Before I could reply, she suddenly pulled me into a warm hug, her tails swaying in delight.

Caught off guard, I blinked—but the genuine affection in her embrace made a smile slowly spread across my face. “…Yeah. Me too,” I murmured, wrapping my arms gently around her waist and returning the hug properly.

Tamamo giggled and snuggled closer, her happiness infectious.

We stayed like that for a while, quietly enjoying the closeness—until I felt a light tug on the back of my shirt.

Letting go (to Tamamo’s clear disappointment), I turned to find little Sakura standing behind me, staring up with her usual blank expression.

“Sieg-sama,” she said calmly, “Mother told me you were a dragon. Is that true?”

Pleased that she was opening up to me—even just a little—I kneeled down to her level and rested my hand on her head, brushing her hair softly.

“That’s right, Sakura,” I nodded. “I’d transform and show you now, but our little home isn’t quite big enough for me to fit. Just wait a little longer, alright? Once we expand this place, I promise I’ll show you.”

Blinking up at me with that same blank look—but thankfully not flinching at my hand—Sakura gave a small nod. “Okay, Sieg-sama.”

“By the way, Sakura,” I said gently, “you can just call me Sieg if you want. No need for the formal title.”

She shook her head lightly, her voice soft but resolute. “I can’t. Mother said that Sieg-sama is the master of this house and should be treated with respect.”

I sighed quietly, not wanting to push the issue. “Very well. Maybe in time,” I murmured, giving her head a light pat. “Now why don’t you go wash your hands? Lunch will be ready soon.”

Sakura gave another small nod before turning toward the bathroom. Just before she disappeared around the corner, she glanced back at me—silent, but no longer distant.

“Fufufu~ You’re a natural with children, Sieg-kun,” Tamamo cooed beside me, her teasing grin lighting up her face.

I gave a half-shrug, unsure how to respond. “I just treat her the way my parents treated me when I was little.”

“Exactly~ A natural,” she said with a giggle, clearly amused.

My gaze lingered in the direction Sakura had gone before I turned back to Tamamo. “Speaking of earlier—about expanding this place… I think I know a way we can earn a good amount of credits. But it involves you.”

“Oh?” Tamamo perked up, curiosity flashing in her golden eyes. Her ears twitched as she tilted her head playfully. “And what are the details, my darling Master?”

I had already told Tamamo about the mission that brought her here. She hadn’t been upset when she learned the truth—quite the opposite, in fact. She'd been delighted when she saw the mission’s specifics.

“There’s an additional objective tied to the mission I used to summon you,” I said as we finished preparing lunch together. “Apparently, if I brush your tails and collect twenty hairs to send back to the Company, they’ll reward us with 200 credits. Enough to expand this place and invest in more defenses.”

Tamamo blinked. Then her lips curved into a playful, knowing smile. “Fufufu~ My, my. So you’ve been eyeing my tails all this time, huh?”

I rolled my eyes, cheeks warming slightly. “…It’s for the mission.”

“Of course it is~” she sang, leaning closer with a teasing wink. “But I’ll allow it. Brushing my tails sounds like an excellent bonding experience~”

With that settled, we focused on the final touches for lunch. Not long after, we called everyone over, gathering around the table for a surprisingly warm, domestic meal.

Sakura, though still quiet, joined us at the table without resistance. She didn’t say much unless spoken to, but she responded to every question politely. Her presence alone was already a win in my mind.

“Hopefully in the next few days, I’ll be able to expand this place into the size of a private island,” I said casually, glancing around the table. “That way, we can all stretch our legs a little and not stay cooped up in this apartment.”

Kiara’s eyes lit up immediately, hands clasping together in delight. “That sounds lovely~”

Aoi nodded in quiet agreement, a faint smile on her face as she watched Sakura, who blinked at us with a slightly confused expression—probably not quite understanding what we meant.

“Oh!” Kiara said suddenly, turning to me. “By the way, Sieg-kun… I noticed the closets in the bedrooms had perfect replicas of our favorite outfits. I asked Aoi-san, and she said hers were the same.”

I blinked, then nodded as I had recently looked up that specific detail after my room had transformed with Tamamo joining. “Right, that makes sense. Each time someone new joins, the room adapts to match their preferences. The closets automatically fill with the kinds of clothes they’re used to wearing.”

Kiara gasped softly, her excitement rising. “That’s incredible! Does that mean the house is… sentient?”

“Hm. In a way, I guess?” I tilted my head thoughtfully. “It’s not quite alive, but it’s aware. Once I unlock the full house expansion, we should be able to learn more about its capabilities.”

“Fufufu~ That means I can try on different outfits for you, Sieg-kun~” Tamamo added sweetly, giggling as she wrapped herself around my arm with sparkling eyes.

And just like that, the rest of my afternoon was whisked away by a fox that was starting to worm her way into my heart.

=====

Following Day

“Whoa~ This place is huge~” Tamamo squealed, her voice filled with pure joy as she skipped ahead, tails swaying excitedly behind her. We’d just stepped out of our newly expanded home—and into a paradise that hadn’t existed mere minutes ago.

Lush greenery stretched out around us, vibrant and untamed, with soft, rolling hills and swaying trees. A clear blue sky hung above, and beyond the foliage, we could hear the gentle rush of waves. Our home now sat on a private island, completely surrounded by the shimmering sea.

“Amazing~” Kiara murmured next, eyes wide with awe.

“This is incredible,” Aoi breathed, her hand lifting slightly as if to touch the air itself—perhaps trying to confirm it was all real.

Even Sakura, usually blank-faced and quiet, stood frozen beside me with her mouth parted ever so slightly, violet eyes soaking in the impossible beauty around her. She knew this hadn't been here before.

‘I finally have a place to train properly.’ I thought with relief, my gaze sweeping across the vibrant landscape. I’d never seen so much untouched green in either of my lives.

Completing the tail-brushing mission had earned me 200 Company credits, and I hadn’t wasted a second. I invested in a suite of perks and protections: Dragon Thrall, Dragon Blood, Polymorph Defense x2, Wyldscape Defense x2, Corruption Defense, Destiny Defense, Sweet Home x2, Life’s A Beach, My House, My Rules!, Armory, and Demiplane.

The result? A reality-defying sanctuary tailored exactly to our needs—and far beyond.

On a whim, I'd also bought Template Stacking 1 & 2 of Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg and applied them to Aoi. It would give her the theoretical foundation and magical acumen to one day teach Sakura magecraft, if Sakura chose that path. I didn’t know why, but something deep in my gut insisted it would be important.

And finally… I picked up a Kusanagi Godou Template from the Campione! universe. I’d needed an edge—something that didn’t rely on transforming into Siegfried just to be battle-ready. Gaining the body of a Campione wasn’t just a step up—it was a game-changer.

Since the power was only at tier4 for the moment, I had only unlocked immense magical energy and magical resistance. In the future that would grow to immense vitality, pain tolerance, stamina, superhuman reflexes, superhuman durability, night vision and enhanced instincts. And that was just things with my body. Wait until I started awakening my Divine Authorities.

I took a breath of the salty ocean breeze, letting the sun wash over my skin.

We’d come a long way in just a few days—and this was only the beginning.

“Let’s enjoy a few days of relaxation,” I said, turning to everyone with a small smile.

A cheer erupted from the others—Kiara, Tamamo, and Aoi all lighting up with excitement. Sakura, as expected, only nodded slowly, still caught in the fog of everything she’d experienced.

She’d been fully healed now, just as I promised. After giving me permission to bite her hand—a necessity to accelerate the binding—her condition had stabilized. But her mind was another matter. One shock after another had piled up on the poor girl: first the healing, then the surreal reveal of this island… she was running on autopilot.

It would take time for her to process everything. Days, maybe more. I intended to use that time well—to help her adjust, to ease her into this new reality she now shared with us.

The war hadn’t started in earnest yet. My moment to act hadn’t come. But it would. And when it did, I’d have to reveal myself once again—risk everything all over again to bring it to an end.

I let my eyes drift across the horizon, to the ocean glittering beyond the trees.

‘I’ll cherish these days. Because once they’re gone… I don’t know what the future holds. But I’ll give everything—everything—to make sure the others survive. Even if it means giving up this new life I’ve just begun to enjoy.’

=====

Somewhere in Fuyuki

“Any sign of them, Maiya?”

“I’m afraid not,” came the quiet response from the dark-haired woman, her voice barely louder than the wind.

Kiritsugu let out a low grunt, his eyes narrowing as he stared out over the quiet city.

“I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about them,” he muttered, more to himself than her. “It’s not just their ability to vanish without a trace. There’s something about them that terrifies me.”

Maiya didn’t respond. She knew better than to offer empty reassurance. Her silence was her agreement.

“It won’t be long now,” Kiritsugu continued, voice growing distant, heavy with the weight of years and choices. “Soon, everything will end. And with it... humanity’s suffering.”

“I hope that day comes soon,” Maiya whispered, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him from behind. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t move. Only stared ahead, eyes as blank as the distant skyline.

=====

Matou Residence

The screams echoed off the stone walls—raw, unrelenting.

A man thrashed within a writhing pit of worms, his body barely visible beneath the mass of squirming flesh. Above him, from a shadowed balcony, a frail old man let out a rasping, wheezing laugh.

“Kehehehe... Now, now. If you hadn’t given that little girl hope, none of this would be happening, would it?” croaked the skeletal figure, his eyes hollow with malice.

Below, Kariya Matou gritted his teeth, the pain threatening to overwhelm him. His skin burned. His mind frayed.

But through the torment, a single name burned in his thoughts.

'Sakura.'

‘Did you really escape? Did you make it back to Aoi and Rin?’

If she was safe... then this agony was worth it.

‘I can endure anything... as long as you’re free from this hell.’

=====

Somewhere in Fuyuki

Somewhere in Fuyuki

“Wahahahaha! The food of the modern era is truly divine!” A deep, booming laugh echoed through the street as a towering man with fiery red hair and a matching beard downed another skewer of grilled meat, drawing the attention of several nearby pedestrians.

“Rider! Stop making a scene, you idiot!” hissed a black-haired teenager beside him, tugging on the larger man’s cloak in a futile attempt to make him shrink into the background.

“Don’t be such a spoilsport, Waver. Live a little and savor the moment!” Rider replied cheerfully, tossing another skewer into his mouth before laughing again with unabashed joy.

Waver Velvet groaned. “Why is this happening to me?”

=====

Fuyuki Church

“Have you discovered the identity of Caster and their Master, Kirei?” Tokiomi Tohsaka asked, standing tall beside a grand window as he gazed out over the city.

“No, Teacher,” came the calm, measured voice of the man in priest robes standing behind him. “Assassin has found no leads. It is as if they don’t exist.”

“I see.” Tokiomi’s voice held no concern.

“Do you consider them a threat?”

Tokiomi chuckled softly. “Hardly. With Archer as my Servant, this war is already won.”

Kirei remained silent, but inwardly, a flicker of unease stirred. Like a distant drumbeat, faint but persistent. Something about the Caster pair didn’t sit right with him.

And he had a gut feeling that they would be more trouble than his Teacher believed.