A long time ago, a teenager lived in a small village. He is about 13 years old and his name is Pedro. Although Pedro was thin and weak, his dexterous hands amazed everyone. The small chisel he often used is as flexible as if it has been enchanted, and a bird can be carved out of wood in an instant...
Young people rely on this craft to make money. One day, strange travelers came to the village, a sharp-eyed old man and a strong man in black. They inadvertently walked into the grocery store in the village and saw the lifelike wood-carved birds. From Pedro's latest work, they seemed to be able to hear the sound of flapping their wings.
After asking the owner of the grocery store for the way, the old man and the strong man visited the hut where Pedro lived, and then said...
"Get ready. Let's go to the capital!"
No wonder Pedro was dumbfounded, such an unfamiliar face suddenly gave him orders inexplicably.
"For no reason, what are you doing. You guys, what is it..."
Pedro was suddenly speechless, his gaze turned to the strong man standing behind the old man, and he took a breath.
"Well, did you notice it?"
From the old man’s fingertips, a transparent silk thread stretched out. With the dancing of the silk thread, the strong man in black bowed gracefully. The true face of the brawny man is exactly the manipulative doll.
"He is called "Black Mage" and he is my highest masterpiece."
The old man's face showed a smile like a prankster's child. He is the famous craftsman Capri Oratrio, the famous puppeteer on Whittle Road.
"If it were you, you should be able to make something stronger than this.
How, are you already excited? "
Needless to say. Put the commonly used chisels in your backpack and wear your favorite hats, even if you are ready to travel. Pedro left his hometown with the master craftsman.
Pedro came to work in a doll studio located outside the capital. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Under the guidance of puppeteer Capri, Pedro learned the techniques of assembling and manipulating puppets. As a result of his practice, he made a doll. It was a puppet wearing a gleaming armor. From the perspective of Capri’s masterpiece, the doll "Black Mage" is a fighting type that emphasizes mobility, while this cyan doll is a balanced swordsmanship type. From fending off the black mage's stabs and flying kicks to launching counterattacks, it is a gorgeous knight style.
"What are you going to name him?"
"Um, I haven't thought about it at all."
As a result, before thinking of a suitable name, this doll was temporarily called the "Blue Knight".
Not long after Pedro assembled the "Blue Knight", the king who ruled the capital died.
Since the king had been ill in bed for many years, he did not cause a commotion, and soon the mourning period expired. According to tradition, the king’s only daughter, Princess Tia
Will ascend to the throne to become the queen.
Pedro took the "Blue Knight" to the royal capital. Because the coronation ceremony was imminent, the streets were suddenly full of vitality. The pedestrians on the road cast their curious eyes on them.
"What a great knight-sama."
"It must be a famous hero."
``Is it here to attend the coronation ceremony?''
Pretending to be a serious expression, Pedro walking behind the blue knight couldn't help but dance. This is because he felt that he was one step closer to Capri, who could manipulate the "Black Mage" like a real person. Having said that, it is really meaningless to be treated as a follower.
Pedro hummed a small song and walked on the way back to the puppet workshop in the suburbs.
"Don't... please stop!"
There was an exclamation sound from among the bushes.
"Hey, how can someone come to save you!"
"Give up, be honest with me!"
Several men who looked like hooligans were pushing a girl to the ground. The slender body in a snow-white dress struggled desperately to get rid of the restraints. Pedro lowered his hat to his eyebrows and moved his fingertips to make the "Blue Knight" run.
The blue knight who suddenly appeared like a shadow from the depths of the forest stunned the men who were attacking the girls.
"Let go of that girl and leave quickly."
The blue knight issued a warning from his helmet. This is one of the puppet master's secrets, ventriloquism taught by the teacher.
"What...what are you?"
"Hurry up and get out while you are not injured!"
"It's stupid..."
The blue knight took a step forward and narrowed the distance. A fore fist knocked the man holding the girl unconscious to the ground, and then kicked the other two away.
"Isn't hurt, miss?"
"No, no. I'm fine."
"That's good. Get out of here quickly."
The blue knight finally drew out his sword. A man dressed in black with the appearance of a leader came over.
"Are you from a stranger? Good skills..."
It can also be seen from the posture that the black-clothed man puts forward that he seems to have a lot of experience in formal swordsmanship.
"However, the game ends here.
I will give you some money and give the girl to me"
"If you don't see what is right, you are not brave. Forgiveness cannot be accepted in the next.
"Then...Go to hell! !"
Accompanied by a sharp aura, the black-clothed man launched an attack.
The man in black launched an attack. He pretended to chop down diagonally from the upper right, then flipped his wrist and swept towards the body. Pedro saw through his feint and pulled the silk thread. The Blue Knight stepped back, avoiding the horizontal cut, and knocking the opponent's empty blade to the ground.
"No, it's impossible..."
The man in black was pale, holding his numb arm. Seeing this scene, the little hooligans immediately fled in all directions.
"thank you very much……"
The girl settled down, panting and thanking the blue knight. It seems that she should be a well-mannered woman.
"This is the duty of the knight. Please don't care."
"Excuse me, are you a foreigner?"
Pedro suddenly wanted to make a joke on a whim.
"I'm Pedro the traveling knight.
By the way, this young man is my entourage.''
"what……"
The girl seemed to have just noticed Pedro's existence, and looked at him with a bewildered expression.
But... Pedro was also taken aback. No, he was ten times more surprised than a girl. The turquoise-blue and clear pupils. From the front, the pitiful figure looks exactly the same as the one seen on the palace terrace during the ceremony.
"His Royal Highness, Princess?"
The girl dressed in white is her Royal Highness Princess Tia, who is about to be crowned after the death of her father Wang Fu.
"Can you protect me in the two weeks leading up to the coronation ceremony?"
In the audience hall of the palace. Princess Tiya made a serious request. Of course it was not against Pedro, but against the Blue Knight.
"You don't have to entrust someone like this, isn't there a guard knight?"
Before he had a chance to say that the Blue Knight was a puppet, Pedro, who had followed the palace all the way, felt that he would be involved in more troublesome incidents, and couldn't help but fight a cold war.
"The Knights of the Guards who defend the capital... To my uncle, the Duke of Gaston is obedient. I just left me alone and left without authorization."
The Duke of Gaston is a man of rave reviews. It is a well-known secret that he took advantage of the former king's serious illness to fill his pockets.
"The man in black who fought against Pedro-sama must be his uncle's adjutant. This is all designed..."
Princess Tiya's sky blue eyes were covered with a haze.
By now, the kind-hearted Pedro couldn't refuse the mission of escort.
"Understood. Accept your request below."
"It's great...Thank you very much"
A happy smile appeared on the princess's face. Feeling relieved, the princess turned her faintly rosy face to Pedro who was disguised as an entourage.
"Mr. Entourage, I would also like to ask you for your attention. How do you call it?"
"Districts and districts are not worth mentioning"
Pedro lowered his hat to his eyebrows again.
The work of guarding the princess is harder than expected. After all, you have to deal with bad guys almost every day.
During this time, perhaps because of the similar age, Princess Tia gradually got closer to Pedro, who was disguised as an entourage.
Although the princess's trust made him happy, but what would happen if the true face of the blue knight was seen through, Pedro was worried all day.
On the other hand, the puppet workshop in the suburbs also received a letter from Pedro.
"What are you doing, that guy..."
Between the lines of the vague words, Capri still inferred the approximate situation, and he sighed with a wry smile.
"But maybe it's a good opportunity."
Pedro is cheerful and straightforward by nature, but he only misses dolls. Although he lives in the suburbs and has no close friends, he does not feel lonely at all.
Although he really didn't dare to serve as the guardian of the princess, he might also learn some familiarity with this opportunity, and Capri sincerely hoped.
"This girl is so lucky!"
In the dimly lit room where the candlelight was swaying, the Duke of Gaston cursed annoyedly, and he could not feel the affection between his nephew and his uncle.
"How can she be crowned like this! That knight named Pedro, there is no way to solve it?"
"This is the first time I have seen such a master. Even if the Guardian Knights fight more and less, I am afraid it will be difficult..."
Recalling the humiliation of the sword being knocked down, the adjutant of the Duke of Gaston bit his lip.
"However, please rest assured. I have hired a powerful assassin, although it is a little different."
"Unusual assassin. Who is it?"
"...Hahaha, do you call me?"
The flames danced gorgeously and disappeared immediately. Something of incomparable weight flew down, shaking the carpeted floor a few times.
"Wha, who!?"
The Duke of Gaston was shocked and backed away. The huge silhouette emerging under the moonlight can never belong to ordinary human beings.
"Your Excellency, please rest assured. This is what I call the assassin, named Harekin. It seems to use a puppet to complete the task."
"Hahaha, I like hunting the most. If it's not a living prey, I can't look down on it."
The sickly laughter reverberated in the darkness, and the Duke also showed an evil smile again.
"Don't worry. This will definitely be a happy hunting J
The sky, stained crimson by moonlight, seemed to melt away, and the night was late.
The afternoon in the palace begins with the tea party in the atrium. The princess picked up the teapot as usual and filled the three cups with black tea.
"Come, please take your time"
"Greatful"
"You are welcome"
Pedro used his left hand to manipulate the movements of the blue knight, while sipping the princess's black tea. This is the happiest time of a busy day.
"Mr. Entourage, it seems to be delicious when you look at you. This way, it's worth making tea for me."
"Haha...too much panic"
Pedro smiled bitterly, while pulling the silk thread, poured the brewed black tea into the leather bag in the throat of the blue knight.
Princess Tiya sighed slightly.
"In contrast, Mr. Pedro doesn't seem to taste good at all. It's really boring..."
"It's really embarrassing. I don't know how to eat and drink."
Pedro was shocked, but immediately put on a serious expression for the Blue Knight to reply.
Up to now, this kind of situation that almost revealed identity has occurred many times, but Princess Tiya has no doubt about the identity of the blue knight.
The princess suddenly lowered her head lonely.
"Such a happy afternoon, tomorrow and after tomorrow. After the day after tomorrow's coronation ceremony, the two will leave the capital..."
Pedro's heart beats with the princess's lonely tone.
"Warrior training body... I'm so sorry."
"Where, I should apologize. If you care about such small things, you can't be a good queen."
The princess smiled. Pedro even forgot to continue manipulating the doll and lowered his head.
How he wanted to stay with the princess as a guard. No matter how noble the status is, Princess Tiya is also a lonely girl who has just lost her father. This point will not change.
However, she relied on the Blue Knight, not Pedro pretending to be an entourage. To the princess, Pedro is just an accessory.
Thinking like this, I don't know why I feel painful. This kind of feeling has never been experienced before when making dolls. In the end, Pedro made a choice. Even if you want to make the princess sad, you have to escape this unbearable pain...
"By the way, how about another glass?"
As if to ease the heavy atmosphere, the princess smiled and said.
"It's not bad, please buy me a drink too?"
Accompanied by the creepy laughter, a black shadow flew over.
"what…"
"what! ?"
A sudden gust of wind swept across the atrium, blowing the tea set apart. What followed the wind was a huge doll that looked like a demon with its red wings flapping.
"The elegant tea party is good. But play with me, right?"
There was a figure on the devil's left arm. He is the masked puppeteer, Harekin.
"I will let you guys have a good time and have a good time."
``Princess Tiya, go back!''
Pedro protected the princess behind him, while controlling the blue knight to run to the right of the red demon. There is a blind spot for the masked puppeteer. The Cang knight swung a heavy blow along the way.
The tip of the sword is inserted straight into the root of the wing. In an instant, the devil's right arm was swung upward, his claws brushed the sharp blade, and sparks came in and out.
The blue knight lost his balance and stomped on the air. The devil launched a chase, and its log-like tail swept over.
Surprised by the opponent's superb technique, Pedro made the Blue Knight somersault, avoiding the sweep of his tail.
[You have a good hand. I didn't expect to be a companion.''The masked puppeteer did not speak to the blue knight, but to Pedro.
The blue knight stabbed the puppet master with a sword as if to interrupt this sentence.
『What are you nagging about! If you can't come, I'm going to attack it?''
By now, Pedro had to continue to pretend to be ignorant. Princess Tia looked at this series of wonderful arguments with an incredible expression
[That's it. That's it...''The puppeteer seemed to perceive the cause and laughed quietly.[I'm not a good or bad person either. If you want me to keep it secret, I'll just keep it up. But..."
The voice of the puppeteer is accompanied by evil echoes.
You are so unpromising, and you want to overcome my "disaster", it is too naive!!
The demon doll "Disaster" kicked to the ground, and with the help of the reaction force, it instantly narrowed the distance between it and the blue knight.
In order to prevent the princess behind him from noticing it, Pedro's reaction was a little late. But the tiny gaps created in this way are deadly.
First, the sword was shot into the air. Then, fierce claws slammed down one after another, denting the blue breastplate deeply.
[Hey, what's the matter?''At the same time as the tail bends, the blue knight's slender arms snapped abruptly.
"Hahaha, I got it."
The hook grabbed the feather-adorned helmet and lifted the blue knight into the air.
[Stop, stop!"Seeing that the first puppet made with great painstaking efforts was ruined, Pedro ran over desperately.
[It's so impatient. Don't worry, I would have to return it to you.''The red demon lifted the blue knight high,
Threw it at Pedro.
[Woo...]Pedro was shocked all over, stacked with the blue knight, and fell onto the lawn.
"Enough, please stop!" The princess stretched out her arms and stood in front of the puppeteer in a large font.
[I can leave it to you. But as a condition, you are not allowed to do it again! ]"I can leave it to you. But as a condition, you are not allowed to do it again!''
Hearing Princess Tia's majestic words, the puppeteer licked his lips and said.
『A guard who actually stood up to protect myself? Hahaha, the princess is really moving.」
[No, no, your Royal Highness..."Although Pedro was about to lose consciousness, he still desperately squeezed out the words. It's just that he can no longer use ventriloquism.
[My master... Pedro is fine. Leave it to him here...Run away]"Mr. Pedro. Please don't go on."
The princess's tone seemed a little angry, which made Pedro open his eyes and stared at the princess. Because of the sentence just now, it is obviously facing the disguise as a follower
Pedro himself said.
The princess smiled lonely, then turned to the puppetist again with a serious expression.
[Come, take me to uncle's place''"Oh, what a great princess. Should have been able to become an outstanding Her Majesty. "
The demon respectfully extended his right arm, carried the princess, and began to flap his red wings.
"Mr. Pedro, thank you. This week, I am very happy..."
Words of parting permeated my mind.
Seeing the red figure disappear into the blue sky, Pedro's consciousness also plunged into darkness.
Pedro woke up the next morning and found himself in the room of the doll studio.
Pedro lay on the soft and hard bed he was used to sleeping, and thought that everything was just a dream.
"Oh, how's your physical condition?"
Capri's voice came from the studio.
On the workbench inside, there was a pile of scattered blue parts. Pedro hurriedly jumped up from the bed.
"It turns out that it's not a dream..." It seems that Kapu used the "Black Mage" to bring Pedro and the Blue Knight back from the palace.
[It's all my fault...] Pedro murmured in a dry voice staring at the remains of the Blue Knight.The turquoise-blue and clear pupils. A warm smile like the sun. The delicate finger for Pedro to make tea.
Pedro bit his lip tightly. "The Blue Knight still can't. If I had the talent of a puppeteer, I would be able to protect Princess Tia...!] [It seems that you still don't understand," Capri whispered in annoyance, with a serious expression on his face like never before.
[Here is what you lack!] He sternly stretched his hand to Pedro's chest, and blinked Pedro in horror."That, that is..." Suddenly, a memory flashed through Pedro's mind.
[Mr. Pedro. Please don't go on."When the princess said this, her expression seemed a little angry.
"I always pretend not to notice]
When the princess confessed so frankly, her smile was a little lonely. There was something hot in Pedro's heart, and he raised his head to directly face Capri's sharp eyes.
``Master, please! Please help me fix the blue knight!''
[The masked puppeteer who fought with you is also a demonic and fearful man in this line. Isn't it a half-hearted one that you can compare to?]"Even so, I will go. For the one who has always believed in me!" Then, Capri smiled happily.
This happened the day before the coronation ceremony. At this time, the palace was in a mess because of the disappearance of the princess.
Luxurious and extravagant room covered with crimson blankets. This is the villa of the Duke of Gaston on the outskirts...
[Really deserve it, Tia] Duke Gaston stared at the princess who was tied to the chair with a contented expression.
[What are you going to do with today’s coronation ceremony?”Princess Tiya asked calmly. The majestic gaze made the Duke fear in his heart.
"You will be absent. And therefore, as the heir to the second throne, I will be awarded a crown and a scepter.''
[Do you think the people will accept it?""Let's change the subject, Tiya. I have found a good husband's house for you.''
The Duke showed a shameless smile when he saw a wave of tremor flashing in his azure pupils. It's the second prince of the empire, this is really a match made in heaven.
[Leave the rest to me, you just have to go to Xintiandi to find happiness as a woman.''What a despicable means. It is indeed unreasonable to replace the princess as the first heir to the throne by the duke. However, it would be another matter if the princess gets married. The ascension of the Duke of Gaston will eventually be recognized as a fait accompli.
"Your Excellency, it's almost time."
Hearing the adjutant's urging, the Duke stood up.
"I have been attacked every day, so I must be quite exhausted. Please have a good rest here.」
The Duke said this shamelessly, and then he was about to leave the room. At this moment...
『This can't work!』
Accompanied by a sharp impact, the glass window was knocked off along with the window frame.
Like a cheetah, the tall knight in cyan armor slid into the house quickly and gracefully from the window. Of course, there are short teenagers with hats.
"Princess Tiya, I'm sorry. I'm a little late"
[Mr. Pedro...you really came.”The princess burst into laughter. The boy smiled shyly. The eyes of the two were tightly combined.
"Hey, pay attention to the time and place!"
The duke, who was completely ignored, spitted and yelled.
On the other hand, the Duke’s adjutant stalked behind the tied princess. Just as he stretched his hand to the shoulders of the princess, the blue knight approached like a crossbow.
"Wow!?"
The poor adjutant stubbornly ate the blue knight's palm and slammed into the wall and fainted.
"Really, what a mess..."
The Duke of Gaston was pale, and scrambled to escape the room.
[Princess Tia, please hurry up! The coronation ceremony is about to begin!''[Ok!"The two escaped from the mansion and chased after the Duke.
However, what prevented them from going was the red figure descending from the sky accompanied by the shaking of the ground.
[Sorry, I can't let you pass. The puppeteer is credit first, hahaha)The pleasant tone does not seem to be performing a task at all. This is the masked puppeteer Harekin and the red demon doll "Disaster".
Staggered white blades and fierce claws. The fighting between red and blue is dazzling. The battle has already begun.
『Oh, has the movement become flexible? 』
Surprisingly, the movements of the Blue Knight are even slightly better than the demon doll "Disaster".
[It was already falling apart, but it can be repaired within a day. The old man really has a good apprentice.''[Do you know my master?''"Before it was kind of predestined."
The disaster spreads its wings in the wind and slowly floats into the sky.
[Okay, how about this trick?''It roared and dived down. Pedro pulled the silk thread behind him, and the Blue Knight stepped back, avoiding the huge claws that hit from the top of his head.
``So, what about this trick?''
The catastrophe swept the log-like tail over Pedro and turned the silk thread to the lower right. The blue knight lowered the lower plate, holding the sword diagonally to block his tail upwards.
[How about this time!?]The calamity shook the head of the long horn and pushed it towards the body of the blue knight. Pedro flicked the silk thread to the upper left. The blue knight leaned backwards and swung a sword at lightning speed.
With a crisp sound, the crimson right wing fell.
The crimson wings fell to the ground. The masked puppet master hurriedly pulled away from the blue knight.
``Hey, let's truce now?''
Although he knew it was impossible, Pedro still suggested. Sure enough, the voice of the other party's answer was full of joy.
[That's not a joke. I haven't seen such an interesting thing for a long time!''Harekin seemed to be immersed in distorted joy, his hands began to move intricately, as if he was depicting a magic circle.
[Unexpectedly, I would be forced to use this trick..."Calamity folded his arms, hugged his body and shrank into a ball.
A trace of burnt smell passed over. Pedro felt a chill in his back. He hurriedly wanted to manipulate the blue knight and suddenly realized that the princess was behind him.
[Go to that world and regret it!''The red demon spread out and stood upright. In an instant, a red fireball spouted from the huge mouth.
A pillar of fire soared into the sky immediately where it was hit. The Blue Knight and Pedro, as well as Princess Tia were all caught in the scorching heat.
『Cut, is that all done, am I going too far?''
Watching the spread of the fire, Harekin whispered slightly regretfully. However, he squinted suspiciously right away. There is no smell of burnt flesh or molten metal in the air.
"how come!?"
As if to blow away the hot flames, a blue whirlwind swept up.
The blue knight stood in the flames. Behind him, Pedro and the princess were glamorous.
It is a two-handed giant sword that blows away the frantic flames. The broad blade spins like a windmill, and on top of the blue knight, flames fly down like a butterfly.
It was a dreamlike sight.
『Well, just use that kind of thing!?''
Harlek made a mark with his hands. It seems that he intends to send another fireball.
"Don't want to succeed!"
The blue knight split the flames and quickly approached the calamity. After a short while, the head of the demon's horns was cut in half.
"Hahaha...well done...beautiful]
The fireball about to be launched expanded and caused a small explosion. The Blue Knight was blown into the air by the air current generated by the blasting. Pedro tried to stabilize his legs,
Reluctantly let the Blue Knight land safely.
Although it is an enemy, it does not have to take the lives of others. Pedro was full of guilt. Princess Tia hugged Pedro tightly from behind.
[Don’t just treat me as dead.”A whisper came from the pillar of fire. It was a satisfying tone.
[This time, I will quit honestly. I really look forward to our next meeting. Hahaha..."Along with the vibration of the ground, the crimson figure appeared to leave from the opposite side of the pillar of fire.
Pedro and the princess looked at each other and burst into laughter.
The young girl and a doll walked briskly towards the capital...
At the same time, the masked puppeteer rode the charred doll straight into the deep forest.
He stopped suddenly and said to the shade of the tree.
[Are you there, old Capri?''[Ok. Has it been discovered...]Pedro's master Capri appeared there. As usual, the "Black Mage" is also together.
However, strangely, the arms of the doll are missing.
"Sure enough, as I expected, the arms of the blue doll were fixed with parts of the black wizard. No wonder the movements are so agile]
``Well, because Pedro is too far in strength compared to you, so you should make some concessions.]
Facing the nonchalant elderly puppeteer, Harekin shrugged.
"Oh, I'm having fun this time anyway, so let's just forget it. But if this matter is found by Shisan Kobo", wouldn't Pedro-kun be so easy to do it?]
Thirteen workshops. As soon as he heard this weird word, Capri's expression immediately became stiff.
"Hahaha. Then, see you again soon."
Laughing secretly, the masked puppeteer disappeared deep in the dense forest.
"The puppeteer will go this way someday..."
The old puppet master muttered quietly. It's as if you are talking to yourself.
The afternoon in the palace begins with the tea party in the atrium. The princess picked up the teapot and filled the two cups with black tea as usual.
"Come on, please use it slowly)
[You are welcome"
Behind the boy holding the teacup, a knight in blue armor stood. However, he never spoke.
``In the end, what happened to the Duke?''
On the night of the coronation ceremony, the Duke of Gaston hid with his retainers. After all, the princess has announced her ascension in front of many people. The Knights of the Guards who watched the development of the situation all knelt down and swore allegiance to the new queen. It's no wonder that the Duke will try to escape before being accused of kidnapping the princess.
``Uncle went to the empire. It seems that the second prince who planned to marry me has some way out.''
Having said that, the queen grinned.
"But... the other party obviously thinks he is a big trouble. It's a bit pitiful]
[No need to sympathize with such people. Really, Your Majesty Tiya is too kind)
To be honest, Pedro never thought that the Duke of Gaston would give up.
In addition, the movements of the weird masked puppeteer Harekin are also interesting. Although they seem to know each other, Master Capri has been vague and said nothing. Anyway, there will be a riot in the near future. Pedro is determined to transform the Blue Knight.
"Really, Mr. Pedro)
The slightly capricious tone made Pedro come back to his senses.
[The tea is going to be cold?”The refreshing and clear eyes reflected the blue sky, shining mischievously, as if they were saying "No problem", so reassuring.
The shy Pedro moistened his throat with lukewarm black tea.
Doll Knight End
