Medea

Witch's Backyard

Mash:
So, you want us to defeat the Doll King?

Medea:
Well, to put it simply, yes.
I am requesting your involvement.


Fujimaru 1:
"The Doll King?"


Fujimaru 2:
I don't quite follow you...


Medea:
...Must I explain it again?
I brought a 50-centimeter diorama.

Medea:
It's a miniature garden I've made. To put it in terms you'd understand, it's a kind of Reality Marble.

Mash:
Um, well... I mean it's just a small model of a house with figures lined up in it...

Medea:
What a rude human you are. This diorama is something that, little by little, day by day, with layer upon layer of precise spell...

Medea:
I finally succeeded in creating. The ultimate Bounded Field. Well, I guess the likes of you wouldn't be able to comprehend it.

Mash:
You're right, I don't get it at all. My studies have been insufficient. I must reflect on this.


Fujimaru 1:
Caster, you like things like this, don't you?

Medea:
Oh, is it that obvious? I enjoy bottle ship models the best, but isn't it nice to try your hand at something grander?

Medea:
This time I got excited and made it without considering the profitability. Hehehe.


Fujimaru 2:
I don't think anyone could understand, Mash.

Mash:
...Yes, I was beginning to feel that way.
This appears to be Medea's special hobby...

Mash:
Holed up in her room, concentrated yet gloomy.
I guess you can call that a nerdy hobby in a sense.

Medea:
Please refrain from calling it a nerdy hobby.
Some people might get hurt by that comment, like me.


Mash:
True. I take back my words.
This isn't just any model, it's an exquisite diorama.

Mash:
...Well then.
Is the "Doll King" perhaps—

Medea:
Yes.
I'm referring to inside this small world.

Medea:
Inside this diorama is what one might call another dimension. To put it into terms amateurs like yourselves could understand...

Medea:
...you could even call it the world of dolls.
The dolls inside this house are literally alive.

Medea:
Of course, this is because these are dolls I personally take the time to create.


Fujimaru 1:
How capable is this Witch from the Age of Gods...


Fujimaru 2:
She's got a lot of free time.


Medea:
You there, what did you say?

Medea:
I already said this, so I'm sure you got it.
I want you to perform some maintenance for me.

Medea:
The doll I gave administrative rights to over this world is ignoring my orders and has begun to act without permission.

Medea:
Seriously! He has forgotten the debt owed to me as his creator and bitten the hand that feeds him!

Mash:
...Ah well. I don't fully understand, but couldn't we just remove that doll from the outside?

Medea:
If I could have done that, I already would have.
If we intervene from the outside, everything will break.

Medea:
It may be easy to add or alter, but removing takes several times more skill and sense.

Medea:
There are many people who can revise a completed novel, but very few would erase the characters, no?

Medea:
That is what it means to draw elements from things that have been completed.

Medea:
Even by removing a single doll, the damage would be far greater.

Medea:
This is why the beings that humans think of as gods have not laid a hand on the world since it was created.

Medea:
No matter how much damage spreads, the creators can only look on from the outside.

Medea:
In order to minimalize damage, it is best to go in and involve oneself.

Mash:
Quite right, but...
how would one enter...

Medea:
Rest assured, I will show you the way.
Now, calm your minds...hehehehehehe.


Fujimaru 1:
That's not reassuring at all...


Fujimaru 2:
I-I feel kind of light-headed...


Mash:
Senpai!?
...Senpai!

Mash:
...Senpai!
Are you awake?


Fujimaru 1:
What is this place?


Fujimaru 2:
Where are we now?


Mash:
Thank goodness, you're all right. I lost consciousness and the next thing I know, we're here...

Medea:
Well?
Rise and shine.

Mash:
Medea! What just...
I mean, where exactly is this?

Medea:
I TOLD you. Inside the box.
How is it, the world I so carefully constructed?

Medea:
"Imaginary Earth: Social Plan World"
For short, "Jason World: Japan!"

Medea:
I have prepared a variety of attractions here!

Medea:
Basically, any man with a pretty face is set to meet with a terrible fate♡

Mash:
...Um, Senpai?


Fujimaru 1:
Talk about a hostile theme park.


Fujimaru 2:
How did things get so complicated?


Mash:
Medea, putting aside the explanation of these "attractions," could you tell us exactly how we got here?

Medea:
Oh, you still don't understand?
I prepared some dolls here to be used by guests.

Medea:
I shifted your consciousness here.
Just think of it as a consciousness-only Rayshift.

Mash:
Just our consciousness...
Isn't that a big deal?

Medea:
It's all right, I've set it so you can return once you've defeated this world's administrator.

Medea:
Oh, don't worry about the entry fee.
It was my idea, so this time it's free!

Mash:
...Uh. It looks like there's no choice but to give in to Medea's request.

Mash:

Senpai, someone carrying a sword is approaching!

Medea:
That's a Level 10 general soldier, a Jason Hunter.
It's programmed to attack normies on sight.

Medea:
There are also Jason Killers who rampage when they see couples, those who bring friends, or more than two people.

Medea:
And Jason Aces who challenge any girl under twenty on sight.

Medea:
Not to mention, Naked Jason who won't rest until he destroys anything and everything around him.

Mash:
Medea, that's overkill!

Medea:
Oh, and if you die here, you'll be able to return to your body... But some of the pain will carry over, so be careful.

Medea:
If you receive enough damage and die, you'll feel pain worse than death when you wake up.

Mash:
Simply outrageous...
Anyway, Master, prepare for combat!

--BATTLE--:

Mash:
...Whew. We managed to defeat them,
but those aren't just soldiers, they're monsters...

Medea:
How strange... The dolls I made are mutating?
...I wonder what happened?

Automata:
Eradicate... Eradicate all outsiders...
Eradicate! Eradicate! Eradicate! Eradicate! Eradicate!

Medea:
What? When did I ever make anything like THIS?
No, this attention to detail, the smoothness of their movable parts—

Medea:
They've achieved a level superior to my own...
I-I haven't been this embarassed in a long time! How mortifying!


Fujimaru 1:
Pull yourself together, Caster.


Fujimaru 2:
How about changing from Caster to Modeler?


Mash:
I completely agree, but for now, let us concentrate on the battle! The enemy is formidable, Master!

--BATTLE--:

Mash:
Whew... We managed to hold them off,
but there'll be no end to it if we can't cut off their head.

Medea:
...It seems you won't have to worry about that.
Here comes the head... Wait, wh-what is this?

Doll Princess:
–You dare to trample my dream?
What kind of rude human are you?

Mash:
That's...Medea's shadow?
...But doesn't it look a bit smaller?

Doll Princess:
–Now, my cute dolls. Exterminate these pests who seek to destroy this world of dreams.

Shadow Servant:
–For our Princess Medea.
–For our Princess Medea.

Mash:
Um... Can this be...
Medea's...


Fujimaru 1:
So this is...Medea's miniature garden.


Fujimaru 2:
So this is Medea's wish...


Medea:
N-NO! That's just a doll!
It has nothing to do with me! NOTHING!

Medea:
I mean what is this "princess" nonsense? Wanting to be a princess... I mean, I am not an adolescent child anymore...

Medea:
Y-You understand, don't you Fujimaru? I'm not such a hopeless woman, right?


Fujimaru 1:
Uh... Right...


Fujimaru 2:
Dolls are your friends...


Medea:
NOOOOOO!
DON'T LOOK AT ME WITH THOSE EYES!!!

--BATTLE--:

Medea:
It's over... It's all...over...

Doll Princess:
–Curse you, ganging up on an innocent princess like myself and causing me bodily harm!

Doll Princess:
What do you take a maiden's flower garden for?
Can you really live with yourselves if you kill a sweet princess?

Medea:
Rule Breaker!

Doll Princess:
AAAAHH!
You princess killers! (Flop)

Mash:
It looks like...it's over.


Fujimaru 1:
Yes, everything...


Medea:
...(Glare)

Medea:
Nothing happened! Absolutely nothing happened here!
None of you saw ANYTHING! Understood?

Medea:
Fujimaru, UNDERSTOOD?


Fujimaru 1:
Now that's asking a little too much...


Fujimaru 2:
Well, I guess some people are into that kind of thing...


Medea:
What? You have a problem with that?
I can't dream of being a princess?

Medea:
No matter her age, every girl is a princess!
What's so wrong with that? Huh? WHAT?!

Medea:
Yeah, that's right! I'm a poor, pathetic, lonely girl who has dolls for friends!
Kill me! I'd rather you just killed me!

Mash:
No, I believe that, someday, you too, Medea, will find someone to love.

Medea:
Spare me your worthless sympathy! Just you watch,
someday, I WILL find happiness, no matter what!