Black feathers sliced through the thorns entangling Alice.
"Ah…"
Seeing Alice falling, Kirakishou hastily reached out both hands, desperate to catch her treasure.
But a swirl of red petals, carried by the wind, swept Alice away, gently depositing her beside Shinku, who had just arrived.
"Daring to lay hands on my medium." In the blink of an eye, Suigintou appeared behind Kirakishou, her sword already in motion.
White thorns burst into bloom from thin air behind Kirakishou, spiraling upwards to ensnare Suigintou.
"Elder sisters… why?" Kirakishou stared blankly at her own empty hands, not moving a muscle.
"Elder sister?" A crimson whip precisely snapped the thorns binding Suigintou. Seizing the chance, Suigintou pulled free, swiftly cutting down the new thorns already winding towards her.
Clenching her fist, Suigintou felt a trace of weakness.
But the next moment, her depleted magic energy was replenished.
Do these thorns absorb magic?
But so what?
"So you are the final Rozen Maiden." Pointing her sword at Kirakishou, Suigintou curled her lips into a haughty smile. "To not even greet your elder sisters first, but to do something like this instead."
Kirakishou finally snapped back to attention, her vacant gaze shifting to Suigintou.
"Why did you take my Master away?"
"Alice is mine."
Finished, Suigintou cast a disdainful look over Kirakishou's faint, ethereal form. "You, without even a body, dare call yourself a Rozen Maiden? You pathetic illusion, not even fit to be a defective—"
"Suigintou."Alice's voice cut off Suigintou's next words.
Suigintou frowned, confused.
"Alice, whose side are you on, anyway?"
Before Alice could answer, Kirakishou clutched her chest, speaking sorrowfully, "Such cruel words."
"Hmph."
"But it doesn't matter. No matter how vicious my elder sister's words are, it doesn't matter. But…" Kirakishou lowered her eyelids, her voice filled with grief, "But why must you stop me from seeking happiness?"
"Because there can be only one victor in the Alice Game." Suigintou laughed arrogantly.
"Me." Petals fluttered as Shinku softly refuted.
"Shinku, must you always oppose me?!"
"Ara, I merely stated a fact."
"You…"
"The Alice Game, whatever it may be, I don't care!"Kirakishou shouted agitatedly.
The squabbling pair instantly fell silent.
"...What are you saying?" Suigintou gritted her teeth, her voice low.
Her own sister was denying their destined purpose.
"What can the Alice Game possibly bring me?"
The tear in Kirakishou's left eye finally traced a path down her cheek. Her wail was like that of a child calling for its mother.
"More than the Alice Game, I desire a body." Kirakishou lifted her face, steeped in sorrow. "I want a body… that belongs to me."
"I have always envied you all, who were born with bodies and could move freely." She drifted slowly closer, her form flickering like a guttering candle in the wind.
"But now, hope has appeared before my very eyes." Kirakishou raised a hand to point at Alice. "Yet my elder sisters still try to stop me…"
She covered her face, weeping fragilely.
Charlotte, who had just arrived, had Sigmund bat away the thorns creeping up behind Alice. She averted her eyes, feeling a pang of sadness.
Seeing this scene, Shinku likewise felt a twinge of compunction.
"Had it not been in this manner, we could have discussed this properly," she murmured comfortingly.
"If Master is unwilling, then…" Kirakishou's voice was thick with tears.
"Then?" Her voice was faint; Shinku couldn't quite hear. She drew closer, gazing at the weeping girl before her.
Seemingly comforted by Shinku's words, Kirakishou slowly lifted her face.
"Then my elder sisters can leave your bodies here for me."
That delicate, tear-streaked, enchanting smiling face filled Shinku's vision.
As the words fell, a grand surge of thorns burst into full, rampant bloom.
"It must be because my elder sisters are near my master." Kirakishou giggled sweetly, sending the thorns rushing towards Suigintou and Shinku. "As long as I kill all my elder sisters, then my master will surely agree to make a body for me."
As she said this, she hugged herself in immense anticipation. "And conveniently, master will also have more materials."
The thorns swarmed forward.
Petals and feathers in the vicinity were shattered by the violently sprouting thorns.
Suigintou and Shinku were aghast.
"She has no medium, how can she possess such power?"
"She can directly absorb the magic from other mediums." Feeling the magic energy draining from her body, Alice raised her right hand. "Kirakishou, I can forge a body for you."
"Master, saying that now is against the rules, you know?" Kirakishou pouted, puffing her cheeks slightly.
"Alice, do you not believe in us?" Suigintou said discontentedly, cutting down a thorn with a single stroke.
Feeling Suigintou's anger, black feathers shot out violently, piercing through all the thorns in the immediate area.
Shinku nodded in agreement.
They thought Alice lacked faith in their combat abilities.
"I believe in you," Alice affirmed.
"This is not a compromise. I simply wish to do it."
The seventh Rozen Maiden. The doll without a body. Kirakishou, who seeks love.
"Cease this fight. Come. I can give you what you desire." Alice gestured for Suigintou and Shinku to stand down.
Though somewhat unwilling, they retreated to her side.
Kirakishou watched her elder sisters halt their assault in confusion.
Are my elder sisters this obedient?
But why stop now?
Could it be… Master is preparing to discard my elder sisters… for my sake?
Yes, it must be for me.
Thinking this, two faint blushes gradually rose on Kirakishou's cheeks.
"Master, please wait a moment. I will retrieve my elder sisters' bodies immediately. We will have sufficient materials soon."
"Unnecessary."
"Eh?" Kirakishou blinked, puzzled. "But the materials…"
"I have ample materials," Alice continued. "You've seen them, haven't you?"
Back when the mirror was in Alice's room, Kirakishou had indeed seen her take materials for making Rozen Maidens from a drawer.
"B-But… what if it's not enough?"
"It is enough." Alice's voice gradually warmed, her gentle words echoing in Kirakishou's ears. "I will definitely give you a body. Can you trust me?"
Kirakishou looked at Suigintou and Shinku standing behind Alice, hesitating where she stood.
A moment later, pressing her lips together, she took a step forward.
She drifted past the two wary dolls and came to a stop right in front of Alice.
"You wouldn't lie to me, right?" she ventured cautiously.
"Of course not."
"Can I really… have a body?" Kirakishou's voice trembled with emotion.
"Really."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
Alice's firm answer broke the dam. Tears streamed down Kirakishou's face as she threw herself into Alice's embrace.
Robin, who had arrived at some unknown time, fluttered his wings in the sky above.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.