Chloe's Story

What's going on...? They're so serious... That's pretty uncommon.

Oh, hi, Ner! What's everyone talking about?

Moved in? Frightened? Frightened of what?

Grotesque dolls...? Could it be...?

Alright, Ner. Please have the Apostles calm down. I'll try to do something about this.

Dolls... There's only one little rascal that comes to mind... Looks like she moved in near the Headquarters now?

Arrgh! Chloe! What the hell are you doing?

D-Decorating? Your live-work space? Are you building a house of horrors or something?

Ugh... I'll never get used to her talking to that doll.

The dolls you've nailed... They are really frightening the Apostles!

Can't you do something less provocative?

Urgh... At this rate, the alley in front of the Order will look like something straight out of a horror movie.

I'll have to think of some alternative promotional ideas that Chloe will like.

Make the storefront sign larger.

Your... storefront sign! Yes, just make your storefront sign larger!

Urgh... not enough, eh?

Air a commercial during prime time.

Nothing is more effective than a commercial! I'll contact the broadcasting station and—

Hmph... Maybe I wasn't thinking outside the box. Is there something better...?

Advertise at the Order!

How about... handing out pamphlets at the Order when the service is over?

Ah... right. Ner would never approve that, would she...? Urgh...

You do?

What?! You're trying to get me to work for you, handing out flyers? N-no way!

Don't be ridiculous! What kind of kingdom sells its road as private land?!

I see... Yeah, I'm not surprised that she would do such a thing.

Her story is so plausible that I don't bother questioning it.

Ugh... Fine, I'll do it! But I'll only help during the week of your grand opening, got it?

Chloe's stubbornness and the Sprite Kingdom's complacency... I am once again caught up doing something bothersome.

Argh! I just can't get a break.

Sigh... So where should I go to hand out the flyers?

Is she playing with her doll or something...?

.........

Come again...?

Uhh... Wha...? Why do I have to get inside Sebastian?!

If I wear that in this weather... urgh... I need an excuse to say no...

Ah, that's right...!

C-Chloe? Did you hear what Sebastian just said? It doesn't want me inside!

Wh-Wha...? Urgh...

I guess resistance was futile...

Chloe stubbornly insists that I wear Sebastian to promote her shop.

Eventually, I ended up wearing the cotton-filled Sebastian as I stood handing out flyers.

Ooof! *Cough...*

As for me, Erpin's punch brings me to my knees, and I start regretting my life choices.

Erpin... How dare you use me as a punching bag to release stress... Ooof...

I can't do this anymore...! Who cares what I promised?! I'm done!

Chloe.

Chloe!!

Chloe! I can't do this anymore! I just can't!

H-Huh?

Wh-What's happening?

Uh... Okay... Maybe pretend to be Sebastian and follow her for now...?

Chloe is sniffling and waiting for me. Let's follow her into the house.

O-Okay, Chloe.

Who knew Chloe could be like this...? She's usually bad-tempered...

Is Sebastian that important to her?

Y-Yeah...!

Ah, right. That's how it started with Erpin.

I let her bite the doll and then she got more and more aggressive.

I don't know why, but it feels good to have Chloe kindly looking after me...

She'd be hurt if she realized it's actually me wearing Sebastian...

What do I do now?

What are you up to right now?

What are you talking about?! I said I've had enough!

Enough! Do I have to take off this puppet suit to make you listen?!

If I lift Sebastian's head and show her my face... then she'll come around, right?

Heeyaah!!

Argh... Chloe, she packs... quite a mean... punch...

Hmm... Huh? What?

Uh...

No...! Noooo!

Now that I look around, Chloe's house... no, her tailor shop...

It gives me the creeps, with doll parts scattered about everywhere.

Eeek! I... I gotta run away! Who knows what she'll do to me if I stay!!

Sigh... I feel like I didn't end things properly.

I should go and tell Chloe that I can't work for her anymore.

Ch-Chloe? Are you home?

No, I'm not here to work... Uhh... Why are you crying?

Huh? Uhh...

Uh...

...Ugh. Seeing her cry like this makes me feel like I've made a terrible mistake.

Wait, have I? I don't know what to think anymore.

Still... I gotta tell her about quitting, right...?

I mean, that's what got us into this mess in the first place...

Tell her that I'm quitting.

Um, Chloe? I know you're probably not in the mood... but I'm here to say I want to quit...

Urgh... I can't handle the tears...

I... Uh...

No, I gotta be strong! I can't back down now. I should make it crystal clear that I'll be quitting!

I-I'm sorry, but this job is so tough, I don't think I can handle it! I've got a lot of other stuff to do as well, so...

Huh?

That's it? A-Are you sure? Last time you went on about advertising this and advertising that...

Umm... Yeah, sure, let's just turn that spooky alley into some kind of attraction for the kingdom.

Since I'm quitting anyway... I'll nail the dolls on the wall for you on the way out...

Hey, that doll, Sebastian... It's really important to you, huh?

Is it like some sort of comfort doll for her? Hmm... She's more sentimental than I realized.

.........?

Does Chloe not see it as playing with her doll? Does she actually think she's talking to it?

Sebastian talks? But I've never seen it talk...

Why not just ask the elves and turn it into a robot?

.........

.........

...The doll is yours, not mine. You don't need to worry about what I think.

Okay, I'll leave you be now, Chloe. I'll see you later at the Order.

Huh? Money? Are you paying me?

Let's open the envelope and see how much is inside...

...Whoa...? Why is there so much?!

It's enough to make me consider putting the puppet suit back on... Calm yourself...

Oh... that? It's nothing, really...

Uh... Sure!

It was a bit rocky at first, but I'm glad I got to know Chloe better.

Me pretending to be Sebastian might have to stay a lifelong secret, but... I suppose all's well that ends well.

...Wait.

Speaking of which... how did Sebastian get back to Chloe's house?

I thought I gave Chloe the slip when I ran away...?

.........

S-Someone must've picked it up and returned it to her, right? Haha. Let's not dwell on this.

Today I've been asked by Chloe to model for a day.

I just need to stay still right here, right?

Got it.

Clearly, Chloe is very serious about her work.

But why are you using me as a model?

O-Okay. So, Sebastian agrees too.

Ugh... It's a little scary to see her always talking to Sebastian in such a serious manner.

Anyway... It's such a nice day to be outside, but it's a little embarrassing to be standing around.

It feels like all the other denizens passing by are staring at me...

Aackk!

Wh-What the-?! Mayo?!

Oh! S-Sorry!

Oh... Chloe wanted to use me as a model... so I'm helping her out for a bit.

Wh-What do you mean, "No?"

Yeah, Mayo. I'm not your collectible. Don't say something weird...

What...?? It says... "I acknowledge that the Master is the property of Mayo. - Erpin"...

Erpin! Again?!?! Ugh... AAAAAAH!!! How much did you pay for me?

What are you doing, Chloe?! Don't be tempted too!

Anyway, I can't accept this! This was permitted by Erpin! The least you can do is get Ner's permission!

Yes, thank you, Chloe! Save me from Mayo!

Ahhh... What did I even expect...?

That's enough, you two!

I'm not something you guys can just have!

These guys have no intention of backing down... Or acknowledging my "human rights" either...

What should I do?

Acknowledge Mayo's ownership.

Mayo... Okay, fine. I'll be yours first. Does that work?

But there's nothing I can do...? Is there anyone... who can save me from Mayo's clutches?

Chloe might be a better option.

I... I...! My body is my own! I designate Chloe as my owner...!

Ugh... I can't believe I said that out loud...

If you think you can buy me with cookies, you are mistaken.

Huh? Chloe! What the heck are you doing?!

Hey... Hey! What are you guys doing right now...?

Ugh...

I don't want to work for a designer who treats me like an object, that's all.

Huh?

Now that I think about it... You're not wrong.

This is Elias, where common sense doesn't apply... I guess it's okay to think of it that way.

Huh? Wha-What did you just...?

I... I must've misheard you. Hmm...

Mmm... Huh? No, Ner... I wasn't dozing off... I was... working...

Ack!! Chloe? What are you doing here?

Wh-What favor? You aren't gonna ask me to do some weird part-time work, are you?

You're not calling yourself a master artisan, are you?... Well, anyway, how do you want me to help?

I don't know anything about fashion.

I'm no expert; is that okay?

.........

I'm secretly offended. Tch...

When it comes to fashion, I might know a thing or two. Just leave it to me!

*Gasp* Do you think that highly of me?

No, that's not what I meant...!

Alright, then... Are we going to your tailor shop right now?

Alright...

Patterns...? Is that a technical term? I don't know that it is, so let's just go through the list.

Instructions From a Cute but Rather Picky and Unpleasant Customer...

Well... It seems like normal feedback.

Oh? There's more below, like irritated scribbling.

.........

W-Who on earth is this? Who made these outrageous requests...?

Oh? Umm... It looks pretty to me...

Uhh... I feel like the outfit reflects the actual input... But I'm not sure if it meets the additional ridiculous requests...

Ohh... Well... Um, maybe it doesn't quite give off that modern feel...?

Everything else should be fine once that's fixed...

Uh... Well, I sort of feel like it has lost a bit of its pizzazz.

Let's give it a little more... snazzz.

I don't even know what I'm talking about...

Ugh... This should be good enough...?

That's right, Chloe! Let's show it to her and settle this once and for all!

S-Speaki...?!

Sigh...

Speaki. Don't you just want her to make you something like Ner's?

Why did you bring me along?

Oh? N-Not at all.

Chloe... must think very highly of me...

I'm suddenly feeling all warm and fuzzy. Hehe...

Oh, is that right? I've been to Monatium many times, so... Hmm...

Recommend a restaurant that serves spicy food.

How about something spicy?

Recommend a cafe famous for its desserts.

How about a cafe that sells edible blocks... which taste like sweet cakes?

Ugh, Chloe... She's much pickier than I thought.

What am I supposed to recommend? They only sell edible blocks in this city anyway...

Yes?

Oh... Huh? How do you know about cutlets?

Oh... Yeah! They're pretty good.

You're in luck! There's a cutlet restaurant with cutlets that taste just like the ones from my home planet.

They are still edible blocks, though...

Did she already decide on her own... then wanted me to recommend it?

Ughh, that doesn't make me feel good.

Clothing? Are you working again?

Well, if that's the case. Fine.

What does that mean...?

Why does she look worried as she looks at me?

No way. Does she think of me as a pet...??

Wh-What is??

S-Sebastian? But Sebastian isn't a pet!

No... That's not what I meant...

Ugh... Okay.

Take Sebastian.

Sigh... I don't know what to think anymore.

She didn't bring me along on her holiday because she needed a personal assistant, did she?

Maybe it's because the doll is so big, but why is it so heavy?

Chloe!! You said it would just be a jiff!

Ugh... And this is the problem of those who live forever...

What is it? Why are you giggling like that?

Uh... Wut?

Oh...

It's that feeling of being rewarded for standing outside a store and waiting for two hours...

Oh r-really? Well then... I guess that's a good thing.

N-No problem...!

I'd love that! But instead of Monatium, let's go back to the Sprite Kingdom to eat! I'm a little tired of eating blocks.

Chloe's holiday was only for a day, so that evening, we went back to our own homes.

But I felt like I got a lot out of it.

At first, I thought she was an eccentric crank... but now that we're friends, she's actually a good egg.