Sudden Potato Attack

The doll’s lies last far shorter when the strength gap between opponents is large,

But the doll didn’t need long.

One second was enough!

“Because you were sleeping so drowsily, you called me ‘Master.’”

“Ma—”

The words stopped at her lips as Florina extended a finger, delivering a brain-crush to the doll.

The force was so strong, the doll flipped over several times.

“Damn it, the gap is so huge it can’t even last a second?”

The doll lay sadly on the sofa.

Florina appeared calm, but inwardly thought, That was close. The little one is clever. If I hadn’t reacted in time, it would’ve said it.

“Do you remember how long your lies used to last on me?”

The doll counted on her fingers, “About two or three hours.”

Back then, her user had used the lie “You cannot perform divine magic” on Florina, and then Florina had chased them with a giant hammer for a long time.

Looking bruised and battered, the doll thought it would have been better to just be hit with divine magic.

“That’s right. Like the duration of lies, people also change.”

Florina coaxed gently, “The past me transformed into the present me during adventures; you don’t need to be bound by the past either.”

Hearing this, the doll fell silent, understanding the meaning in Florina’s words.

She had harbored full hostility toward Florina, intent on revenge.

If not for fearing the saint’s overwhelming strength, she would have acted long ago.

Yet every lie ability had the Pain Witch’s insurance; who could say that this vengeful thought wasn’t another layer of insurance set by the witch?

“You awakened self-awareness not long ago, yet even your memories from years past are intact. It’s easy to be trapped by the past.”

Seeing the doll start to reflect, Florina was pleased.

The eyeball couldn’t help speaking.

【Did you fool it?】

“How can a cleric’s work be called fooling? It’s guidance.”

Florina lightly tapped the book cover with a smile, signaling the eyeball to stay quiet.

“I neither need the doll to bear a grudge, nor must I destroy it out of necessity. That’s a clear double win!”

【Indeed.】

The eyeball agreed, but quickly noticed something odd.

Right… isn’t winning twice yourself also considered a double win?

Florina then turned to the doll, “It’s okay if you don’t understand everything now; first, tell me about the collector.”

“About the collector, I actually don’t know much.

From the moment I awoke, I found myself in the collection room. The items around me were bizarre; object-type items were few, most were living creatures, like monsters or humans.”

The doll could never forget that scene: countless beings placed on oval platforms, posed in various ways, unable to move, expressions ranging from fierce to crying.

Whatever their state, they were frozen in that instant, like lifeless sculptures.

The doll didn’t know if they were dead or conscious.

The former is sad but not terrifying; the latter is sad and far worse.

“I had just gained consciousness and didn’t want to live like a sculpture. So I escaped the collection room.”

The collector probably never imagined one of their items running away.

Florina pursed her lips, “Using monsters and humans as collectibles, no wonder you said they’re perverse.”

【Unable to move, but conscious… that must have been unbearably boring.】

The eyeball shivered. When Florina sometimes made it disguise as a book, it couldn’t endure that; imagine being still for ages.

“Have you seen the collector?”

“She wore a top hat and a monocle with gold rims, leaning on a cane. As for her appearance…”

At “appearance,” the doll froze. Florina immediately looked toward the window.

【What did she look like?】

The eyeball wanted to ask more, but the doll panicked, “I can’t say. She sensed me!”

Before the words finished, the window was pushed open by an invisible force, and a white pigeon flew into the living room.

“Miss Florina, casually prying into Master’s affairs is very impolite.”

Florina spoke calmly, “I’m not casually prying, but investigating deliberately. Your master is very sensitive, not even allowing discussion of appearance.”

Her caution toward the collector increased. Florina knew gods could not have their names or appearances spoken, or they might detect it, and severe breaches could incur divine punishment.

But the collector, being as powerful as a god, didn’t care to merely be a monster king; they probably possessed a similar ability.

“If Miss Florina can select exceptional collectibles, Master would naturally allow you to know her appearance.”

Faced with Florina’s chatter, Potato (the pigeon) didn’t get angry, staring straight at the doll, “Before that, how about handing the Doll of Lies over to me?”

The doll hid fearfully behind Florina, “I don’t want to go back.”

Finally escaping, and now being dragged back? She would have wasted all that time in the sewers.

“You have no choice.” Potato lunged at the doll, but a barrier blocked it, forcing an abrupt stop in midair.

“As you can see, she doesn’t seem willing to return to the collection room.” Florina protected the doll.

Hearing this, Potato’s expression darkened, “Miss Florina, you don’t intend to return the Doll of Lies to its rightful owner?”

It seemed Florina already knew the situation of the collection room.

“‘Return to owner’ isn’t correct. I know her creator. Did your master obtain the creator’s consent when collecting the doll?”

Florina subtly signaled to the eyeball and the doll.

Familiar spirits could communicate with their masters in real-time; collectors could sense their state.

Under these circumstances, she couldn’t just knock Potato out and had to rely on the doll to first control Potato using her lie.

“To my master, I belong to my master. Why consider others?”

“How domineering.”

“You’re a pigeon with a rebellious streak; whatever your master wants, you must oppose.”

While Florina distracted attention, the doll began using lies on Potato.

But Potato sneered, “I am loyal to my master; I would never betray them. Doll of Lies, your power has no effect on me. You’d better go back obediently.”

The collector, daring to send Potato, had surely considered the doll’s ability.

Florina sighed, thinking, Looks like I’ll have to act myself.

Even if the doll’s lie failed, capturing Potato wouldn’t be difficult.

But doing so would make her relationship with the collector entirely hostile.

There have been enough recent troubles already; Florina had no desire for another monster king incident.

The doll was slightly unwilling, “If only there were a way to shake its will.”

Even for those with firm wills, shaking their resolve can make lies effective.

【Try with some fries.】

The eyeball patted the doll, giving advice.

Though she couldn’t figure out what a pigeon and fries had to do with it, the doll didn’t dwell.

Trying was better than nothing, she said, “Because the collector eats fries without ketchup, you developed a rebellious feeling toward them.”