Mentioned Characters: Alice, Medicine, Narumi, Mayumi

Alice Margatroid is a magician who lives in the Forest of Magic. She's well-versed in doll-manipulation magic. She occasionally visits the Human Village to put on puppet shows, and it's not unusual for her to attract quite a crowd during festivals. ...Some say she's not the best in social settings, but perhaps that's just how magicians are.

In essence, a doll is a tool shaped like a human. While they are most commonly known as toys for children, objects with human forms have many uses, and a wide variety of items can be considered dolls. From drawing and store mannequins to character figures and ballistic dummies, their purposes may differ, but each is useful in its own way.

It's said that Alice is capable of using more than just doll-manipulation magic, but given how often she's seen with dolls, she clearly adores them. Her dexterity is second to none. She can control multiple dolls at once and even make dolls control other dolls. And yet, she still hasn't been able to create a truly autonomous doll...

Alice Margatroid longs to create an autonomous doll. Strangely enough, beings that could be considered autonomous dolls already exist. At the very least, Medicine Melancholy, Narumi Yatadera, and Mayumi Joutouguu are all inorganic, human-shaped entities that move by their own will. Yet, there's no sign that Alice sees them as the answer she's looking for. - Medicine moves using differences in toxin concentration and can also express thoughts and emotions. - Narumi uses magic to animate her stone body with fluid motion and can even wield life-manipulating magic. - Mayumi's ultra-durable ceramic idol body is home to an artificial intelligence capable of loyalty. Surely, she could use any one of them to create a truly autonomous doll...

The truth is no one really knows. But perhaps this world's Alice simply wasn't interested in doing so. "I hope you enjoyed that special solo performance of the play 'Hourai Dolls of the False Garden.' That ends today's show. Please follow the attendants' instructions as you exit. And be sure not to leave anything behind." "Thanks for coming. Yep, thank you, too. And you, little one. Bye, everyone! Maybe that's because she likes doing things with her own two hands.