58. Doll

Your suggestion to ''send more people to help the refugees'' is the opposite of what God wants. The lambs need to be put through trials and tribulations before they can receive enlightenment.

And... luring out the instigators and purging them all over again is in the Church's best interest. So as for what you suggested, you should put that notion out of your mind.

...Understood.

Okay, back to the subject. Aside from your routine patrol, I take it you have something else to report?

Yes, Your Holiness. Gryph... former captain of the Holy Knights and now a high-ranking leader of God Eaters... tried to assassinate me during my patrol.

You mean those rats who betrayed the Church? They've truly stooped to a new low... Wait, they're really after your life?

Yes, they even resorted to using powerful magic. There has been little I can do...

You haven't activated ''that thing''? Never mind, forget I said anything. Anyway, I hear you.

(Your Holiness... you don't about care about my circumstances? But you are my...)

The situation about refugees and the assassination is duly noted. For now, you should stay put in the shrine. Don't do anything until my say-so.

But... I am one of the inheritors of the Three Sages. Please let me do more to help!

...Do more to help? My dear Vivi, you still don't understand what your role is? Do you remember what I always tell you?

, That I am the prettiest doll, the most precious gem. That I shouldn't have my own opinions or human weaknesses.

Exactly. Your perfection is the reason the people believe in the perfection of God. Therefore, the emotions you've been displaying recently are unacceptable.

Dolls don't cry or hesitate about anything, neither do they have preferences. Your have one job and that is to show people the smiling face of yours that represents God. Don't ever think of yourself as a human. And always refrain from human emotions.

...Yes, Your Holiness.

Good, now go. And remember, my dear Vivi, that I will always be watching you.

...Okay, you've been standing there long enough. Show yourself or I'll make you.

Alright, that's enough warming up. Anything you do next will be deemed as a provocation, dear creator of Vivi.

...You made me hide nearby just to watch you scold Vivi?

I just wanted you to see for yourself how far she had strayed from the plan. Looks like it was a mistake to let her have emotions and independent will.

That appears to be the case now, but... her growth has far exceeded our expectations.

Okay, you convinced me. Dear... oh, I just remembered that you didn't want me to address you by your name.

I'm just worried about premature exposure of her identity, that's all. The only problem right now is Vivi's faster-than-expected growth. Everything else is easy to take care of.

Ugh, you're right. Besides ''the prettiest doll'' and ''the most precious gem,'' her other title, the one that captures her true value, must not be revealed to the other factions, not yet anyway.

, Wouldn't you agree, creator of ''Vivi the Ultimate Weapon''?