"Hey, cut it out! You’re making Iris uncomfortable."

While speaking, I gently pulled Flare and the others away from Iris.
Relieved, Iris let out a deep sigh of relief.

But it wasn’t long before she realized the sheer absurdity of what had just happened. Her head snapped up abruptly.

"What… what just happened? These people suddenly appeared out of nowhere!"
"They’re dolls. They simply shifted from their smallest form to their largest form in an instant."
"D-dolls…?"

Iris glanced around at Flare and the others, then shook her head vigorously.

"T-that’s impossible! Dolls can’t talk like that!"
"I thought the same until recently. But it’s real. They’re here now, fully sentient."

From here on, it was better to let them explain themselves.
I nodded toward Flare and the others, who stepped forward confidently.

"What Ike says is true, Iris.
We were originally just dolls.
But because Ike treated us with such care and kindness, we gained hearts of our own."
"…Hearts?"
"Yes. Ike never sacrificed us. On the contrary, he put himself in danger to protect us.
He always treated us with all his heart."
"…And that’s how you gained hearts, too?"
"Exactly.
It may sound unbelievable, but puppeteers have the power to create miracles like this.
There’s no need to be bound by common sense."
"…Really?"

After hearing their story, Iris turned to me with a trembling voice.

"Is… is this true?"
I saw a small light flicker in her eyes.
No longer just doubt—there was hope there, too.

I nodded firmly.

"Yes, it’s all true.
So let me say this once more:
Your feelings for these dolls are the most important thing a puppeteer can have."
"…I wasn’t wrong?"
"You weren’t wrong at all. In fact, you were absolutely right.
You’ll become a great puppeteer, Iris.
I’ll prove it to you."
"…Prove it? Not just promise?"
"Yes, prove it."

I knelt before Iris, lowering myself to meet her gaze.

"With the same heart you have, Iris, I—no, we—will become the strongest puppeteers and defeat Hydra.
And I’ll make sure we save your mother.
When that happens, I want you to believe in yourself and puppeteering."
"――――!"

Iris’s beautiful blue eyes widened, glistening with tears as she looked down.
Her trembling hand reached out and clung desperately to my sleeve.

"…Loving dolls isn’t wrong, is it?"
"Of course not."
"You’ll never betray me?"
"I swear. I’ll never betray you."
"…Can I believe you?"
"Yes, you can."

Her grip on my sleeve tightened.
I could feel the weight of her fragile hope, clutching at this new, uncertain promise.

Iris raised her face and looked straight at me.
Tears streaming down her cheeks, she shouted:

"Please, Brother—save my mother!"

Her heartfelt plea.
I gently wrapped both my hands around hers, which clung to my sleeve, and spoke with all my heart:

"Yes—leave it to me."

The resolve was set.
Now, all that remained was to face the greatest enemy we’d ever known.
But strangely, there was no fear.
Her wish felt like it was pushing me forward.

After confirming the request with Alto, we prepared to leave the mansion.
Alto and Iris came to see us off.

As he watched me and Flare, Alto began to speak.

"Even now, I still find it hard to believe.
Dolls gaining hearts and acting of their own will…
But with you all, it seems any miracle is possible."

After the events earlier, I had explained everything about the dolls to Alto.
Though initially shocked, he ultimately accepted it with goodwill.

"And Ike, there’s something I’d like to give you. Take this."
"This… is…"
"It’s a map of the fourth floor and beyond, left by two of Leen’s party members.
It’s not perfect, but it should be useful."
"This will help a lot. Thank you."

To be honest, I had almost no experience beyond the fourth floor.
Even an incomplete map was a great asset.

"Hey, Brother."
"Hm? What is it, Iris?"

Iris ran up to me as I stowed the map.
She removed a necklace with a clear stone and held it out toward me.

"Iris!? That’s—!"
"It’s okay. I want to do this…"

Alto raised his voice in protest, but Iris shook her head firmly.
She turned back to me with determination.

"This is a charm my mother gave me a long time ago.
I’m sure it will protect you."
"…Are you sure? It’s so important to you."
"Yes! But it’s just a loan, okay? I’m not giving it away."
"R-right."

I felt a bit relieved.
If she’d offered it outright, I might not have been able to accept it.
Even as a loan, it carried a heavy responsibility.

I took the necklace and put it around my neck.
It adjusted itself automatically to fit me—a magic item, apparently.

Iris nodded in satisfaction as she watched me wear it.

"Brother, that charm is very special.
So make sure you return it, okay?"
"Of course."
"…You have to come back safely, too.
It’s not enough just to save Mother.
Promise me—come back with everyone!"
"…Yeah. It’s a promise."

This was Iris’s way of encouraging us.
I couldn’t let her down.

We would all come back safely.
Me, Flare, Tetra, Lycia, Iris, Alto, Leen.
All of us, smiling together.

"Alright, let’s go."
"Right, Ike!"
"Mm, I’ll do my best."
"We’ll follow you, Master!"

And so, we departed Grace Manor, determined to defeat Hydra.