Battle on Front!

Ever since that day with the princess, I've felt like someone's watching me. Whenever I look behind me, there's always a doll on the ground, Ryota said, unable to concentrate. "This is getting creepy now," he added, pointing at the doll outside his window.

"Master Ryota, are you scared of dolls?" Yui asked, focusing on drawing the manga panel.

"Not entirely, but that thing is just way too creepy," Ryota replied, feeling a shiver run down his spine.

Yui sighed and headed to the window, opened it, and grabbed the doll. "It's cute," Yui mumbled before throwing it away. "There should be no problem, right?" She looked back at Ryota with a reassuring smile.

But Ryota's eyes widened as Yui looked back at him. "Master Ryota?" she asked, sensing his unease.

Then Ryota pointed at the window. "Yui, it's there," he said, feeling his heart race with fear.

"Eh? What do you mean? I already threw it," Yui said, looking back at the window and seeing the doll sitting at the edge.

"Eh? It's still here..." Yui grabbed the doll and inspected it, feeling a sense of dread wash over her.

"Yui, can you throw it towards me?" Ryota gave her a serious face. "Eh? What's with the serious gaze... I mean, here," Yui said, throwing the doll at Ryota, her hands shaking.

Ryota pointed his fingers to the doll mid-air and cast a small "Fire Magic: Fireball," burning it, then used "Wind Magic: Float" to throw the doll using the wind, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.

"So in the end, you burned it," Yui sighed, closing the window and returning to her seat to continue drawing the manga, still feeling a little uneasy.

"Hm?" Ryota immediately looks at the window, seeing the doll again on the window. "I'm starting to get pissed off..." Ryota says as he walks to the window and grabs the doll. "!?" His hands then feel mana flowing into the doll. "Magic? Is this...puppetry?" Ryota holds the doll and closes his eyes to concentrate. His mind wanders as he tries to locate whose owner the doll is.

After a few moments of intense focus, Ryota's eyes snapped open. "It's far away, but this mana is familiar," he murmured to himself. Then, he finally found the owner of the doll. "Found you." He opened his eyes. "Why would the princess send a creepy doll? But you know what? Since I'm pissed, I might as well give her a small warning." He then charged a bolt of lightning from his hand and electrified the mana from the doll. "That should do it."

Ryota then threw the doll out and stepped back from his seat. "Master Ryota, what did you do?" Yui asked as she drew the panel for Ryota.

"Oh, it's just a small shock for the doll's owner," he replied, returning to his manga drawing. "So, who was the owner?" Yui inquired.

"I cannot tell you," Ryota responded a hint of secrecy in his voice.

To those who don't know, Puppetry magic is a type of magic that involves controlling objects or creatures from a distance, as if they were puppets. The user of puppetry magic can manipulate the movements and actions of the target, often using mana or threads to do so.

Yui looked at Ryota curiously, sensing the secrecy in his tone. She knew better than to pry, but her curiosity got the best of her. "Why can't you tell me?" she asked, looking up from her drawing.

Ryota paused for a moment, considering his response. "Let's just say that the owner of the doll is someone I'd rather not talk about," he finally replied, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Yui nodded, sensing that it was a touchy subject for Ryota. "I see. Well, I won't ask any further than that," she said, returning to her drawing.

Ryota continued to work on his manga, his mind still preoccupied with the strange doll and its owner. A few moments later, some knights appeared at the front gate. "Ryota Kaneko! Are you there!?" they shouted.

The Fairy Maids were all terrified and hurried inside the mansion. Synthia stepped forward to greet the knights. "Hello, my name is Synthia," she began but was interrupted by the knights.

"Where is Ryota Kaneko?!" they demanded.

Synthia stared at the knights for a moment before responding. "Ryota-sama is not here at the moment. May I ask why you knights are looking for him?" She smiled politely.

As the head of the knights stepped forward, his armor clanged with each step. "My name is Ley, the head of the Order of Knights. I came here to speak to Ryota about the doll."

Synthia raised an eyebrow. "The doll? It seems that you knights have made a mistake. There is no doll in this mansion, I can assure you of that."

Ley's expression turned serious. "Then we'd like to run an inspection in this mansion."

"I believe that's not gonna happen," Synthia replied firmly.

Ley hesitated for a moment, then commanded, "Knights, we have no other choice! Force your way in and find Ryota Kaneko!"

The knights shouted "Sir!" and started forcing their way in, breaking down the gate.

"Knights, Ley! Please stop this!" A girl with an elegant dress surrounded by dolls appeared. "It is my fault that I sent a doll to observe Ryota Kaneko."

Synthia's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? So it was you who was spying on Ryota."

"Yes, I am. My name is Sylviana Le Eleanor IV," the girl said, her voice trembling slightly.

"My name is Synthia, the head maid of the mansion... May I ask why you were spying on Ryota-sama?" Synthia asked, her tone calm but curious.

"I am interested in his magic!" Sylviana said with a hint of fascination in her voice.

"Interested? Why?" Synthia asked, eyeing Sylviana warily.

"Because of his ink magic," Sylviana replied, a note of excitement in her tone.

"...Sorry, but he's not here," Synthia said firmly, trying to steer the conversation away from Ryota's whereabouts.

"Please! Let me talk to him!" Sylviana begged, desperation creeping into her voice.

"I won't let you," Synthia stated resolutely, her gaze unwavering.

"You're just a slave of that commoner!" Ley interjected, his tone full of contempt as he broke through the gate.

"Hmmm, you'll be paying for that," Synthia said coldly, her expression turning steely.

"You'll be coming with us," Ley commanded, his voice ringing with authority.

"You're trespassing on these premises and damaging the property. Looks like I won't tolerate this action," Synthia retorted,

"Then, be grateful as I will show you my magic. It's been a while since I've fought a human,"

"Hmph, you're fighting us, the knights?" Ley scoffs.

"Don't say that. After all, I'm stronger than you all," Synthia retorts.

"Say that again!" Ley takes out his blade and starts swinging it at Synthia, who expertly dodges the attacks. "See? You're weak. Are you the head of the knights?"

"Heh! You're too slow to see," Ley smirks.

Suddenly, Synthia starts bleeding a bit. "Huh?... Since when did he... No, it's because of that blade," she mutters, noticing the wound.

"That's an interesting blade you've got, but..." Synthia steps back and forms a bright light from her hand. <"Light Magic: Radiant Blade"> she chants, forming a blade out of light. "I won't lose to a magic blade like yours."

Sylvianna watched both of them in awe. "She noticed the blade was made with magic... She's also incredible..."

"What is going on here?!" Yui exclaimed as she walked outside with papers in her hands. "What's wrong, Synthia?"

"Ahh... Yui, please go back inside, and do not let anyone out of here," Synthia urged.

"But... I want to know what's going on."

"Then let me tell you, they are looking for Ryota-sama, and this princess is the stalker." Synthia's voice was firm and serious.

"Hey! I'm not a stalker! I'm only curious!" the princess protested.

"How?" Yui asked, then noticed the dolls surrounding the princess. "Oh, it was you... the one who is controlling those creepy dolls."

"Eh?" The princess looked surprised and confused.

"I see how it is... Then... I'll join the fight," Yui declared, determination in her voice.

"Yui, your magic affinity is low, remember?" Synthia reminded her.

"I'm fine... Plus, I'm a bit mad at those dolls that distracted me while drawing the panels." Yui's frustration was palpable.

"Hehe~ I guess you can take your anger out on those dolls," Synthia chuckled.

"I will..." Yui's voice was cold as she took out her knives from the small pocket under her long skirt. "I will show you my powers right here, right now!"

"Interesting... then I'd like to see that power of yours," Synthia said as she prepared the dolls that were surrounding her. The dolls had swords and crossbows equipped, ready for battle.

As Sylviana commanded her dolls to attack, Yui swiftly drew her knives and engaged them in battle. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air.

Meanwhile, Synthia and Ley's swords clashed with a loud ring, sending sparks flying in all directions. Ley sneered at Synthia, his words dripping with contempt. "I will be your opponent today, slave!"

Synthia's eyes blazed with determination as she faced off against Ley. "Keep barking like a dog," she taunted, her mana pulsing through her veins. "You will regret facing the head maid of this mansion."

Ley's smirk only grew wider as he sensed the raw power emanating from Synthia. "Then... Show me, Miss Head Maid," his mana surging to match hers.