The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 5
The deep lethargy and helplessness born from sleepless nights.
They had transformed him—naturally taciturn and stoic from birth—into someone utterly indifferent to the world itself.
So much so that even the birthday celebration of Lea Everett, one of his only two friends, felt like a tedious obligation.
There was no particular reason to return home.
My body felt impossibly heavy, having only recently returned from the war against the Demonic Beasts.
And throughout the entire campaign, I hadn’t slept properly.
Merely thirty minutes.
If I’d survived over six months on nothing but brief snatches of sleep—barely closing and opening my eyes—surely everyone would understand.
That’s what I thought.
Without deep sleep, my mind remained perpetually hazy and dizzy; it had become my daily reality.
I missed Blake.
Blake, are you doing well? How is it there? I heard you’d be returning soon. Shouldn’t you be resting now too? You’ll collapse if you keep pushing yourself like this.
…(excerpt omitted)…
Oh, and I’m planning to hold my birthday celebration. I’d love to see your face after so long. I know you must be exhausted, but if you have time after returning, would you come? Please?
I miss the way we used to be.
—Your eternal partner, Lea Everett.
Had it not been for that heartfelt letter from my dear friend Lea, I wouldn’t have left the Mansion at all.
To be honest, I’d planned to simply show my face and leave immediately.
But the Advisor’s words—that preparing a gift was the least I could do to uphold the honor of the Leblanc Duchy—stopped me from doing even that.
And the bear doll that the Old Peddler Woman I happened to meet on my way out of the Mansion had strongly recommended turned out to be quite a decent choice.
“Young master! Don’t you need this bear doll?”
“…No.”
“You’re a prickly one, aren’t you? I’m telling you, you’ll need it! This bear doll can change your entire world.”
“You have no conscience, old woman. Look at the condition of this bear doll.”
“Ahem, aha! Well, yes! But this bear doll is no ordinary thing. Sometimes you must learn to see what lies beneath appearances. What matters is the heart.”
“…The heart?”
That’s how I ended up impulsively buying the bear doll.
Of course, I’d hesitated somewhat.
I was aware it was quite different from a typical gift.
But in the scorching midday spring sunlight.
Faced with the efficient calculation that I needn’t waste more time on a gift, and overwhelmed by creeping exhaustion, I didn’t deliberate further and handed over the money.
“I’ll take it.”
Just as I was about to give the bear doll to Lea, Rein grabbed me and pulled me onto the Terrace.
I’d intended to simply hand over the bear doll and quickly escape this chaotic celebration.
“Hello, my savior!”
That bear doll, cheerfully waving its paws and bouncing about…
What on earth was it?
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Was this something created by the mad sorcerers of the Casthonia Empire?
Or perhaps one of those moving dolls that’s been trending in toy shops lately?
Did that Old Peddler Woman sell me a magical item?
Or could it be….
‘A magical beast?’
The sword I reflexively drew gleamed coldly beneath the moonlight.
“What are you?”
“Vivian. I’m Vivian Halloway!”
The bear doll that introduced itself as Vivian seemed absolutely delighted.
The rosy flush spreading across its cheeks might have been my imagination.
But I couldn’t let my guard down just because it looked adorable.
“Are you some peculiar creation made by mages? Or are you a magical beast?”
At Blake’s mention of magical beasts, my focus shifted to Rein’s emerald eyes, which had remained frozen like ice the entire time.
Rein, who had drawn his sword just as swiftly, emanated an aura suggesting he might cleave the bear doll in two at any moment.
“I shall slay it at once, Commander.”
“I’m not a magical beast! And I don’t even have a shred of magical power—this is too much!”
The bear doll, protesting its innocence, suddenly raised its round hands and asked us to wait.
It then fidgeted about, scribbling something on the ground with its paws, clutching its forehead with its hands, moving about in frantic agitation.
“Would you believe me if I showed you this? No, wait—with the magical power I have charged right now, that’s impossible. Sigh, what should I show you?”
It moved its bean-sized feet earnestly as it pondered the matter.
“…What is it doing?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
Blake, genuinely bewildered, stared at the bear doll in confusion.
“It doesn’t seem to be a magical beast, does it?”
“Right. Magical beasts have no sense of reason, but that thing clearly possesses intelligence.”
“Then what could that bear doll be?”
As this exchange continued, the bear doll seemed to have reached a decision, its round eyes crinkling into crescents.
“Alright, I’ve decided! Let me introduce myself properly. I’m the Grand Witch of the Western Territory from the Witch World, Vivian Halloway.”
The moment it finished speaking, the bear doll thrust its short, plump arms skyward.
“Fireworks!”
With a soft pop and crackle, tiny, pathetic fireworks burst into brilliant light above the doll’s small hands.
Of course, the flames were so minuscule that calling them fireworks was almost embarrassing.
….
“Wow.”
“Heh.”
Satisfied by Rein’s small exclamation of wonder, the bear doll crossed its arms and nodded proudly.
“Now do you believe me? I’m a witch, I tell you! I’ve lost most of my power right now, so I’m trapped inside this bear doll.”
The bear doll drooped its eyes sadly, explaining that it had poured all its remaining strength into that fireworks display and asking us to trust it.
Rein was now gazing at the bear doll with fascination, but Blake was not.
He still held his sword pointed at the doll, his eyes brimming with suspicion.
“A witch? That’s absurd. Witches disappeared centuries ago. Are you some deranged mage?”
“A mage? Those who borrow mana from others? I’m nothing like them! I draw out my own magical power directly!”
The bear doll, which had been shaking its head, paused in thought before holding out its palm again, asking me to wait a moment.
“Just a moment. Wait for me.”
“Why should I wait?”
“Blessings come to those who wait.”
At such an audacious response, Blake blinked slowly, utterly bewildered.
Every fiber of my being yearned to abandon this and trudge home to rest.
Yet Blake found himself inexplicably waiting for the shameless bear doll.
The doll’s eyes rolled about as it clenched its lips, clearly scheming something, before it struck its palm with its fist.
“Ah! That’s right. I can put you to sleep. Can mages do something like that?”
“Put me to sleep, you say?”
The shadows beneath Blake’s eyes deepened further.
“Oh dear, that’s a forbidden subject.”
Rein, muttering softly beside him, stomped his feet in distress.
‘To put me to sleep.’
It was indeed something mages could not accomplish.
They crafted magical artifacts using incomprehensible formulas and calculations, conjured fire and water, manifested defensive spells—but they could never make him sleep.
No magic, no medicine had ever succeeded in lulling him to slumber.
So what was this?
Blake’s lips curled into a smirk at hearing such absurdity, and he slowly sheathed his sword.
“How exactly would you put me to sleep? By cradling me and patting me? Or perhaps singing a lullaby?”
“Hmm, is that what you desire? But your inability to sleep isn’t because you lack someone to hold you.”
The gaze that had carried mockery—as if truly unable to make him sleep—transformed in an instant, sharp enough to slit a throat.
“Do you know about my curse?”
The bear doll flinched, its shoulders trembling, before deliberately averting its gaze and responding with feigned composure.
“A witch knows everything. Besides, I am Vivian, the Grand Witch of the Western Territory. I can help you.”
“….”
“In exchange, you must help me too. I need you. Together, we would be unstoppable.”
A con artist, then. Or perhaps a trap sent by someone targeting me.
Such was Blake’s assessment of Vivian thus far.
She detonates fireworks without warning to capture attention, leverages her innocent and adorable appearance to win favor.
And then extends an offer impossible to refuse.
A suspicious bear doll that suddenly burst forth with fireworks and introduced itself as a witch capable of breaking curses.
“Sir Commander, no matter how I look at it, that doll is extremely suspicious. Wouldn’t it be best to dispose of it right here and now?”
Yes, it was undeniably a suspicious and strange combination.
Yet Blake found himself unable to shake the Old Peddler Woman’s words from his mind.
‘This bear doll could change a bachelor’s entire world. Sometimes one must see beyond appearances and into the heart. What matters is the soul.’
“If anyone else were to come to the Terrace, this matter would only grow more complicated. Allow me to eliminate it now….”
Rein, whispering softly into Blake’s ear, could not finish his sentence.
“Very well.”
“An excellent choice, my lady. Shall I dispose of that peculiar bear doll at once…?”
“No, I like it. Take it with us.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Huh?”
“Why are you so surprised? I said I’d give you what you want.”
Round eyes resembling peas blinked slowly, deliberately.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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