Villain Saving System (BL)
Chapter 247 - 6.7 Doll Maker

Chapter 247: 6.7 Doll Maker

"General, fancy meeting you here." Cyrus stepped out of Luan’s wide back, the latter was whom Jillian had bumped into earlier. They were dressed in similarly formal yet outdated clothing that made them stick out like a sore thumb amidst the dilapidated area. Now that Jillian had a good look at them, the two didn’t look like royalties yet there was something about their aura that set them apart from any other commoner. How had Jillian only realized it now? "You..." Cyrus gave him a once over and instantly hit the nail on the head with his guess. "By any chance, are you here to look for the seer?"

The practice of making a living through spirit had long been frowned upon in the country ever since the people’s beliefs toward Gods slowly diminished. Long ago, seers used to be respected and they sat in a high position within the Royal Palace. But that was all in the past; now, they were considered as con artists, trickers of the innocent and in the end, they were banished from the heart of the country and could only live in this slum. Almost nobody would resort to seeking them out... well, except for the foolish and the desperate; which Jillian thought he should be included in both.

Jillian’s heart skipped a beat, flabbergasted. He was a General, he could be patrolling around the area or here on the King’s edict to investigate. So why, out of every choice, Cyrus could guess his exact intention?! Had he been more transparent than he’d thought he was?!

He had no idea what kind of expression he was making that Cyrus hastily added in a reassuring tone. "Oh worry not, General, I am merely guessing. Afterall, it has been brought to Sir Bassil’s attention that you have experienced some... supernatural disturbances." He gave a discreet glance to the empty space over Jillian’s shoulder but unfortunately, the Duke was too engrossed in his shock and anger to notice that.

Bassil! Jillian gnashed his teeth. He didn’t confide in Bassil only for the head servant to blabber it to everyone! How dare he! Jillian would make sure to have a long talk with him when he returned later.

"If that’s the case, then you have come to the right person!" Cyrus patted Luan’s shoulder good-naturedly. "My companion Luan is very experienced in this area. He can...err, see and hear things that ordinary people can’t. Right, Luan?"

Luan merely nodded without a change of expression.

"Really...?" Jillian turned his eyes to the taciturn man, suspicious.

In response, Luan merely stepped aside and gestured to the space beside Jillian as if gesturing for someone to join their circle. Like a cue, a cold sensation brushed against Jillian’s arm, prompting shivers to run all over his back. He froze in place. Goodness... w—what was that?! He couldn’t have hallucinated it this time, could he? Something — no, someone was there with him. Jillian’s heart thudded in his chest as he stiffly inquired, not even daring to turn in fear that he would scare the spirit away. "What... do you mean by that, Sir Luan? Is there someone beside me?"

Luan merely leveled him with a solemn stare. It was Cyrus who spoke. "I apologize, it’s inconvenient for Luan to speak for the time being. Allow me to relay what he wants to say." How could Cyrus even know what Luan intended to say? Jillian wondered. However his attention was soon drawn to what Cyrus said next. "What Luan means to say is, yes. In fact, someone has followed you back from the forest."

Jillian sucked in a breath. For some reasons, the mystique atmosphere compelled him to speak in a hushed tone. "And he’s here... with me now?"

Something flashed in Cyrus’ amber eyes, too quick for him to comprehend fully. "Oh General, you have no idea. He has been stuck to you ever since. He has... ah, grown fond of you. Don’t worry, he means no harm."

Jillian wasn’t worried. Hell, it was the opposite instead. He was almost beside himself with joy. He hadn’t ridden on such a high adrenaline spike ever since the first time he stomped over to the barbarians’ camp and sliced their General’s head. "Who is he? Does he have a name? Can I have a word with him, please? He has saved my life back there and I would like to convey my gratitude!" He almost shook Cyrus’ shoulders in a spur of the moment if not for Luan who stepped in front of the other, silently putting a distance between them. Jillian belatedly realized that he had crossed the line. His face instantly burst into flames from the sheer mortification. Stupid Jillian, what are you? A three years old kid who was ecstatic to receive his first toy? Where had you put your dignity as a General?!

"My apologies, Sirs." He clenched his fists and inclined his head, ashamed. "I was too... eager."

Cyrus lifted his wide long sleeve to cover the bottom half of his face and let out a sound too weird to be called laughter. It was more like the sound of teeth clicking together repeatedly. His eyes curved into crescents, mirth danced within his amber eyes. "It’s alright, General, I understand. Coincidentally, we are on our way to fetch a... vessel. The esteemed—I mean, the spirit needs it to sustain himself. He still doesn’t have enough energy to maintain a substantial form, you see."

He blurted out the words without thinking, surprising even himself. "What can I do for him?"

"Ah, that..." Cyrus tilted his head as if listening to something. Jillian’s eyes were drawn to the long earrings that dangled from his ears. It was a thin silver chain with a drop of ivory jem on each end. "You don’t need to do anything, General. Just... talk to him or do whatever you please."

Jillian furrowed his brows intending to ask more but Cyrus and Luan had walked ahead of him and he hastily caught up only for them to go straight into a... doll maker house?

As soon as he stepped past the threshold, it was like he was transported into a different realm. He stared in astonishment at the realistic dolls that hung on every surface of the wall, their beady eyes gleamed against the light, stitches sewn into wide smiles. Majority of them were small sized, but the deeper he walked down the dark hallway, the larger the dolls were. Body parts were strewn across the floor, and it gave him the impression of corpses. It was ironic how real corpses didn’t scare him but this... this whole thing was giving him an ominous feeling. He suppressed the urge to bolt from that place and was adamant on following behind Luan and Cyrus’ Steps.

Jillian had no idea if he was imagining it or not but he felt as if the dolls’ eyes were following them ever since they entered and he fought the urge to glance at the limbless doll beside him. After what felt like half a lifetime, they finally walked out of the cramped hallway into an open space filled with light. Jillian not so discreetly heaved a sigh of relief.

An old man was bending over the table, carving into a piece of flat wood when Cyrus greeted. "Grandmaster Dynn."

"You’re here?" Dynn answered without lifting his head. Thick goggles obscured his face, rendering Jillian unable to see his features clearly. But how weird... he had been patrolling around this area for years but he never even realized such a place existed. "Luckily, I have just finished your order this morning. You can retrieve it there." The old man gestured toward the floor to ceiling wooden cabinets paired with name plaques each.

Cyrus and Luan bowed in thanks and Jillian awkwardly mimicked them. Then, Cyrus proceeded to look around until he spotted his name then beckoned to Jillian. "General, this way."

Jillian hesitantly stepped forward. "You want me to...?"

Cyrus gave a gesture of ’go ahead’. Jillian swallowed and turned his gaze at the cabinet in front of him. It was winter yet somehow, the air felt humid and warm to the point where he felt sweat damping his clothes and sticking to his skin uncomfortably. Jillian wet his lips and exhaled through his mouth. Goodness, why was he so nervous? Exactly what would he find inside? As if spellbound, Jillian reached out without any further thoughts and unclasped the lock, tugging the frame open.

When he laid his eyes upon the doll inside, a surprised cry escaped Jillian’s lips.