I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 54

Chapter 54: Dottore

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“Dottore…Nice to meet you. I am your Master. Let’s save the world together.”

With those words, I awoke. The girl before me… Loki… She was the Master who had created me, and I understood that I was made by her for the purpose of defeating the Demon Lord.

And so, together with my Master Loki, as well as the Hero Tooru and the Holy Knight Athena, I set out on a journey to defeat the Demon Lord Surtr. As a golem, I was the perfect disposable tool, or so I thought…

“Look, Dottore. It’s a flower field. Isn’t it beautiful, even though they’re wild flowers?”

She would lead me to the blooming flowers, and together we danced…

“Try this. I made sure you have taste buds, you know. It’s delicious, I promise.”

We even went around the stalls at rural village festivals, eating the local specialties. Treated as if I were just another companion, I once found myself wondering and asked her:

『Master. I was created for the purpose of defeating the demonfolk. Experiencing such pleasures is unnecessary… Or perhaps… Is it because you are lonely, and that is why you want me with you…?』

“Wrong! That’s rude!! You’re my companion in defeating the demonfp;l. So I want you to experience not only the hardships, but also the joys along the way.”

I still remembered how, even as her face flushed bright red at my words, my nonexistent heart grew warm. After that, I began speaking more actively with the others. Though surprised at first, they welcomed me kindly.

One day, however, I noticed my Master looking sad, and I spoke to her.

『What is the matter? Has something troubled you?』

“It’s… It’s nothing, really.”

It was clear she was putting on a brave front, so I pretended to sulk.

『I see… Of course, you cannot share your worries with a mere golem like me… In the end, I am only a tool for battle. A disposable thing. Please don’t concern yourself with me.』

“Hey, don’t say it like that!! That’s unfair!!”

I thought her puffed-up cheeks were adorable, and then she began to speak in fragments.

“This is just between us… But, I like Athena. I know it won’t work out, since we’re both girls, but when she’s so openly showing her feelings for Tooru, it hurts… It really hurts.”

Watching my Master sit on the bed, holding back tears, made me feel sad as well. Perhaps that was why… Without thinking, I embraced her.

“Dottore?”

『Master. If you are lonely, then please use me… If you wish, I can even recreate that ‘knight and wicked sorceress play’ you often wrote about at night.』

“Wait, how do you know about my notebook!?”

I remembered how I pushed her down onto the bed and we experienced many things together. And in the end, we defeated the Demon Lord and received our reward.

But there was one problem.

It was the cursed sword that Surtr had wielded. This demonic sword granted immense power, but in exchange devoured its wielder’s soul. Once fully consumed, the person would become nothing more than a puppet to the sword’s will. And it was so powerful that it could not be destroyed. If only we had a saint within our ranks…

“Then why not have that golem guard it?”

When one noble suggested this, the others agreed. Of course, my companions who had traveled with me tried to stop it, but I accepted. I did not want to cause them any trouble.

And so, in a building not far from the castle, I was sealed away together with the sword.

“Then, Loki-sama, please.”

“…Dottore. Until the day someone strong enough to master this sword appears, protect it.”

『Yes, leave it to me, Master.』

I smiled at my Master’s pained expression as she gave me the order. Or at least, I tried to smile… And so, within that building, I was left to guard the cursed sword, Laevatein…

『Master, is it not a problem for you to come here every two days?』

“It’s fine. The castle is so stuffy. Anyway, listen. This time I’ve been ordered to go on an expedition. I’ll bring you a souvenir, so look forward to it.”

Since my Master frequently came to visit, it was not lonely. Sometimes Tooru and Athena also came, so I was never truly alone. But that did not last long.

『Loki-sama has been gravely wounded in the war…?』

“Yes… She is surrounded by enemies. I plan to go rescue her, but… Will you come too?”

『Of cour-…』

As I was about to answer Athena-sama, now a grown woman, a voice echoed in my head.

『…Dottore. Until the day someone strong enough to master this sword appears, protect it.』

Yes… I had to obey my Master’s command.

『No, I cannot leave this place.』

“…I see. That’s unfortunate.”

I wanted to call out to her as she turned away sadly, but no voice came. Yes, golems could never disobey their Master’s command. And so, days passed.

“Dottore… Loki was saved, but she’s gravely injured. Won’t you come with me to visit her?”

『…Forgive me. I cannot leave this place.』

I wanted to go. I wanted to care for her at her side. But each time, that voice echoed in my mind.

『…Dottore. Until the day someone strong enough to master this sword appears, protect it.』

It was a curse. A curse that consumed me. I could not leave, even to tend to her, even to visit her grave. I hated that all I could do was refuse Athena-sama and Tooru-sama each time they invited me. And when they eventually died of old age, no one visited me again.

Lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely—

But whenever I tried to step outside, the voice echoed again.

『…Dottore. Until the day someone strong enough to master this sword appears, protect it.』

And so I continued to guard the cursed sword. If I had been human, I could have gone mad, but as a golem, I could not even go insane. Time itself lost meaning, until one day, two men appeared.

“What the hell are you talking about!? I’m a hero! No one else is more worthy of that sword than me!!”

『Forgive my late introduction. I am Dottore, a magic doll created by Sage Loki-sama. My primary duties are to support and serve Loki-sama, and to fight.』

The man who called himself Cain was disappointing. I defeated him, and when I turned to deal with the other man… He had changed into a young girl.

『Impossible… Master…?』

“Yes, it’s me, Dottore. Give this sword to him. And then, will you fight once more for my sake?”

That was impossible. She had long since died and she would never order me so gleefully to fight like a mere tool. But still…

『Understood, Master. Command me as you will.』

Even if she was a fake, I was happy. Because my Master was smiling before me once again.

And so, I became the subordinate of this person whom I knew to be an impostor.

By my Master’s command, I then traveled with a girl named Henrietta—who in some ways resembled Athena-sama—in pursuit of the demonfolk. She treated me kindly, despite me being a golem, so I felt favorably toward her. But her complexion was poor, and her spirit seemed somewhat unstable, which worried me.

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

『Understood. Please take care not to catch a chill.』

After a battle against demons and their allies, we rested in camp. Then, Henrietta decided to step outside. I hoped she would clear her mind soon…

『I’ll do what I can in my own way…』

As a golem made for fighting demons, I had detection abilities. Focusing my senses, I faintly perceived demonic power.

『A demon!! I must destroy it!!』

I opened my eyes and searched for Henrietta, but she was not nearby. So, I went alone. Victory didn’t matter. My Master’s command was absolute. I rushed ahead—only to encounter an unexpected sight. Henrietta. Together with an elf woman…And the very demon I hated.

“No!! Dottore, listen to me!! I know you can understand. We’ve been deceived!!”

『Henrietta-san. Forgive me, but my Master’s command is absolute!!』

When I tried to strike down the elf, Henrietta cried out in anguish. And yet, why… Why did her expression resemble Athena-sama’s, filled with concern for me? My chest ached. Then the ground, unable to withstand the shock, crumbled beneath us, and the three of us fell together into the depths below.

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