My wife is an immortal black snake.

Page 146

"Mmm." Yang Hao touched her cheek, smiled, and gestured for Monica to turn off the room light. He then picked up his wife, carefully changed her sleeping position to a more comfortable one, covered her with a blanket, kissed her forehead, and said, "Then you should get some sleep. I'll take care of it."

"...good."

Exhausted, Koschei fell silent. Soon, in the company of her most trusted person, the kitten began to purr softly and contentedly. She had fallen asleep.

While she slept, Yang Hao, under the cover of the blanket, gently rubbed the tip of her tail, which would likely disappear soon, and said to Monica, who was still in the palace:

"Monica, has our duchy been impacted by refugees recently?"

“Refugees? There have always been... but recently there's been a growing trend.” Monica nodded, deep in thought. “Ever since that count killed all the people in his own territory... the number of refugees fleeing from the Sherlock Holmes territory has been increasing. Although not many refugees have come to our Duchy of Koschche for various reasons... it seems we'll soon see our first real wave of refugees.”

"Refugee crisis...sigh, what's the situation in our medical and resettlement areas?"

"...The situation is not very good."

Every mobile city has its own resettlement area—these areas are generally used to accommodate outside caravans or refugees in emergencies. However, now, with the Ursus Empire embroiled in civil war, Yang Hao seriously doubts whether the resettlement areas of the Duke of Koschei can withstand the upcoming influx of refugees...

After all, Duke Nikolai has stopped pretending. Even the most loyal people will have to pack their belongings and escape before being conscripted, right? Sigh...

“Okay... I’ll get it sorted out tonight. But Monica, could you please keep a closer eye on Koschche’s condition lately? I feel like she’s really exhausted.”

"Yes, I've been keeping an eye on it. But you should also be concerned about your health, Lord Yang Hao."

"Ugh..."

He sighed,

I've decided to go see Miss Elegy this afternoon to see if she has any good ideas on how to get through these two crises.

Chapter 67

That afternoon, while Koschitch was still fast asleep due to mental exhaustion, Yang Hao, under the care of Head Maid Monica, entered the House of Elegy, hoping to obtain from Miss Elegy what he needed to break the deadlock.

His puppet stage wasn't invincible after all. Even if he could generate a large number of Martian soldiers using political points, the Martian soldiers Yang Hao could recruit were still too weak compared to Duke Nikolai's army. Sarkaz mercenaries were a good thing, but without knowing the maximum number of mercenaries Therese could provide... haha.

It's better not to place your expectations on things with a high degree of uncertainty.

"So, Miss Elegy, do you have any ideas?"

Yang Hao wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the House of Elegy was changing more and more recently.

Specifically, Miss Elegy's body became increasingly clear. Previously, Yang Hao could only sense through the mist that she was a woman in a long dress; now, he could clearly see that she was a lady wearing a black lace dress and holding a scythe.

She stood barefoot on the ground, and although her face was still shrouded in mist, Yang Hao thought she must be a very beautiful woman.

"A way? Heh... Of course there is. But Mr. Yang Hao, do you know that the 'method' that can destroy Duke Nikolai's forces might also destroy you and me?"

Faced with Yang Hao's question, Miss Elegy simply smiled. She extended the hand that wasn't gripping the sickle to Yang Hao, and Yang Hao, as if used to it, also extended his hand, letting her take his arm.

Because their senses were connected, Yang Hao's hand now felt twice as warm and soft. The inexplicable, electric-like pleasure made him shudder involuntarily, but he quickly regained his composure.

They walked in the courtyard created by the House of Elegy. The cold light of winter fell from the sky.

"what is that?"

"Well... you could try using the power of a [Sichen] to destroy everything Duke Nikolai owns—but as a price, the Sichen might destroy us in return. That's the first method."

"Isn't this price too high? Sigh, don't you have anything good in your shop?"

"They're all things with huge side effects, or they're completely ineffective, you know?" Miss Elegy chuckled. "But—putting aside those extremely costly methods, I can recommend something good to you."

"nice one?"

Yang Hao was somewhat curious. Miss Wange hadn't recommended anything good to him besides the products, had she? But being cautious, he still asked, "So, what's the price?"

“You need to come here every five days. That’s the price you pay.”

Having to come here every five days? Hmm... I guess that's an acceptable price to pay.

At best, it would simply stabilize the previously unstable schedule. Yang Hao felt he could accept that.

"I understand. So, can you tell me what that good thing is?"

She smiled, didn't answer, but simply gestured for me to come over.

Yang Hao followed her pace. Before long, he arrived at a mysterious place within the House of Lament. It looked like a dilapidated temple, or something else entirely. A mysterious symbol was carved in the center of the space, and above it floated a strange box.

"This is?"

Yang Hao examined the object, which looked more like a coffin than a box, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"The thing that can change your current predicament—do you know? In every world, there are countless dead. The vast majority of those souls cannot find peace, and in the end, they can only disappear into the dust of the world, filled with injustice or anger... The being housed here is the one that can control the souls of the dead. Duke Nikolai burned, killed, and looted on his own territory; perhaps the souls of those dead are filled with resentment towards him?"

"You mean we can make the souls of the dead cause trouble, and then let the dead kill Duke Nikolai themselves?"

“That’s right.” Elegy nodded in satisfaction. “But the details… will still require paying a price—perhaps political points, perhaps your influence, or even a drop of your blood, who knows?”

"So, can I open it now?"

Yang Hao frowned, but his brows quickly relaxed: after all, now was not the time for him to be picky. He did need this little gadget that could cause trouble for Duke Nikolai, and if possible, he could also use it to cause trouble for the world.

Therefore, he needs this.

"of course can."

Miss Elegy released his hand, then took his palm and pulled him to the front of the coffin. She pressed a button on the front of the coffin, and with a creaking sound and dust falling, the coffin opened by itself under Yang Hao's gaze.

He curiously peered inside and discovered that what lay flat in the coffin was...

A white-haired doll.

He was somewhat astonished—he had originally thought that it contained something similar to the "artifact" in the game, but it turned out to be... a small doll?

He examined the petite doll. She appeared to be about the height of an average 12-year-old human child. Her eyes were closed, and she wore a black gothic dress. In a recess beside the coffin lay her weapon—a small scythe.

"This is...?"

"What you need."

Guided by Miss Elegy, Yang Hao somewhat bewilderedly hugged the doll to his arms. He stroked the doll's waist-length straight hair, and after taking the small scythe from the coffin, he looked at Miss Elegy blankly:

But I don't know—

"You are a puppeteer, aren't you? Please gently stroke her forehead after you return to reality. You can treat her as a tool in the future, or you can regard her as your own child—after all, as a puppeteer, it's practically impossible for you to have children with an ordinary person, right?"

"So this is why I can't have children?"

"To be precise, it's not that there's 'no way,' but rather that 'the possibility is extremely low'... If you do have a child with someone, that child is destined to be special."

Miss Elegy gently straightened the doll's clothes. She smiled and said, "Don't forget to come back every five days," to which Yang Hao simply nodded blankly.

He wasn't prepared to suddenly face a doll... but under Miss Elegy's guidance, he still left the House of Elegy with the doll.

And it was right after he left that Miss Elegy smiled as she watched the spot where he had gone:

"...Please treat our child well, Mr. Yang Hao."

She silently closed the coffin again.

The doll's name was written on the coffin in a place that Yang Hao hadn't noticed before.

Hela, the Doll of Death

Chapter 68, Part 5

When Yang Hao returned to the real world, he was still holding the small doll in his arms. He looked around the room blankly and found that Koschitch was still resting his head on his lap and had woken up at some point. The head maid was also looking at him with concern, and after glancing at the doll and scythe in his arms with a surprised look, he came to his senses.

"what time is it now?"

"It's 5:20 PM, sir. Welcome back. But what's that in your hand...?" Head Maid Monica looked at the doll in Yang Hao's arms, and then at the scythe he was holding, with a puzzled expression.

"...The little doll I found there, and her weapon. They said it could help us get through this crisis? But Koschche, could you get off my thigh first...? My leg is so numb..."

"Yes, yes, sigh, I didn't say anything even when my legs went numb from being used as a pillow by you before, is my husband really that heartless?"

"It's not that I'm heartless! It's just that we have important business to attend to... Alright, alright, Koschche, get up..."

As Koschei got up, he secretly bit Yang Hao's inner thigh through his pants, which instantly roused him but also subjected him to a strange and impulsive look from the head maid. Afterwards, while tidying Koschei's clothes and hair, the head maid, on behalf of the still somewhat drowsy Koschei, asked:

"So, Lord Yang Hao—what is the puppet in your hand...?"

"Hmm... I don't know what's going on either, I need to figure it out... Ah? I remember touching her forehead when we got back to reality, right? Hmm. Monica, go turn on the room lights first."

“Is that so?” Monica nodded, then got up and went to turn on the lights in the bedroom.

After turning on the lights, Yang Hao carefully placed the doll's scythe on the bed, making sure it wouldn't get in the way. He then looked at the petite doll in his arms, about the size of a twelve-year-old human child, and at her waist-length white hair...

Then, he turned to look at Koschich, who had regained consciousness, and saw that Koschich was also looking at the little doll with great interest. He then said:

"By the way, Kosichek—if you're free this afternoon, shall we deal with the mercenaries first?"

“Alright. But my dear, I don’t think the Sarkaz on Kazdel’s side can provide us with a satisfactory force.”

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it... so we can only pin our hopes on this little doll."

"Little puppet...sigh, I really don't understand the workings of your puppet stage. But judging from the name, it should be directly related to your abilities, right?"

"Maybe."

As Kosicche leaned closer, Yang Hao gently touched the doll's forehead. How to explain this?

Rather than calling her a "doll," she's more like a "person." If the doll weren't so exceptionally beautiful, brimming with artificial charm, Yang Hao probably wouldn't have been able to mistake her for a doll rather than a person.

If Margarita and Kosiché's appearance is 6, and Sonia's mother is 7, then this little doll has a beauty level of over 9 at first glance.

so, what happened?

Yang Hao stroked the doll's forehead in confusion, and then, while he was still puzzled—

The doll opened its eyes.

Those were eyes that opened in an instant. Yang Hao didn't notice the process of her opening her eyes, but Koschie did: the pupils opened and closed in a flash, changing unnaturally, and finally forming a strange ring.

Her eyes are heterochromatic; her left eye is red, and her right eye is blue.

After she opened her eyes, she kept looking at Yang Hao, who was standing there in a daze, and didn't even glance at Koschke, who was curiously looking at her.

"It was a living doll!" Just as Yang Hao was marveling at something and turning around to say something to Kosiché—

"--dad?"

------

A single sentence from the living doll instantly transformed the atmosphere of the entire palace from its zenith to its peak.

It turned into an indescribable winter.

Not long after the lights were turned on, Monica, the head maid, who was returning home, froze in mid-air. She stared in astonishment at the bewildered Yang Hao, her mouth agape, unable to utter a single word.

Koschei, who had been quite interested beside Yang Hao, also changed her expression. The look she gave the doll in Yang Hao's arms was now the terrifying expression of the world's most dreadful witch. Was she now considering simply throwing away or destroying the living doll? Perhaps not. However, her gaze towards Yang Hao was exceptionally dangerous, not just ordinary dangerous, but dangerous with a hint of questioning, but even more so with the danger emanating from a preconceived plan after understanding.

So, what about Yang Hao?

At the same time, feeling the dangerous gazes from Monica, the head maid, and his wife, he was sweating profusely. He hesitated to speak, and then hesitated again. Finally, after the living doll reached out and wiped the sweat from his face with her sleeve, he still couldn't come to his senses.

He wondered if something was wrong, or perhaps the doll's opening of its eyes was similar to the chick effect—like a newly hatched bird mistaking its parents for the first thing it sees? Haha, that must be it, right? Probably—

But so what?!

My dear wife?! Monica?! Don't look at me like that... I'm really scared...

He managed a weak smile.

And just as he was smiling, trying to say something, the invincible puppet stage conveniently delivered some great news to him.

Hela's Elegy:

An imperfect living doll, she is not as powerful as a true ascended doll in any aspect, but as a doll, she has unlimited potential and can be strengthened and educated at any time.

As a living doll, she possesses characteristics of both a doll and a living being: her body will not grow unless replaced, but at the same time, her mind can be educated. She will not die from biological diseases such as food poisoning, nor will she contract Oripathy; although she bleeds, she is not afraid of fire. However, as a doll, if she is damaged, recovery is exceptionally difficult.

This doll is named "Hela Elegy," and she represents "death." She possesses the ability to directly extract the souls of the dead for other purposes. Her combat capabilities in the material world are not particularly strong, but she can easily overwhelm ordinary secret forces.

She can enter the spirit world at any time and kill people's "souls" directly at the spirit level. She can do many things, but all of them come at a "price."

'She sees you as a father, and what about you?'

He swallowed hard.

He glanced at the two women around him, and through their silent hints... he made his decision.

"...Yes, it's Daddy."

The increasingly intense gazes from both sides made Yang Hao shrink back. However, despite being covered in sweat, he still awkwardly held the living doll in his arms.

Whether I'll die in bed later is another matter. Right now, let's figure out how to resolve things here...