The Miraculous Treasure Hunting System

Chapter 161. Moving Dolls

Ed, back in his room, did not immediately begin to comprehend the spell. Instead, he opened his hand, and a wooden box appeared in it. It was the gift Jasmine had mentioned giving him. However, it was originally meant for Lucilia.

Lucilia emerged from the mirror and sat down at the table beside Ed, her face full of curiosity.

Ed walked over and placed the wooden box on it, then opened it. Inside was another book, with a doll-like object on top. The doll was encased in a blue outline; this was the most valuable item in the box.

Ed picked up the doll and examined it. It was very heavy, at least 10 pounds. The doll was humanoid, without any decorations, and covered in dirt and damage. It looked like something abandoned.

Lucilia shook her head, completely unable to discern what it was.

Ed set the doll aside and picked up the small booklet to read.

"Ah, so that’s it. It was indeed suitable for Lucilia."

The booklet introduced the doll’s usage and some basic research findings.

This doll might be what Lucilia had always dreamed of, or rather, what every soul dreamed of.

Ed turned to look at Lucilia behind him and asked with a hint of unwillingness in his voice, "How about it? Want to try it?"

Lucilia nodded without hesitation. "Of course I’ll try it. You have no idea what it means to be a ghost."

Her voice was tinged with excitement.

She had been watching over Ed’s shoulder the whole time, clearly seeing how interested he was and had read the contents of the booklet herself.

This doll was a vessel for a soul, somewhat similar to the Magic Mirror, but completely different.

It allowed Lucilia’s soul to enter and control the doll, making it move like a living body.

This was also why, despite Jasmine’s soul not being very strong, and her strength in life certainly not exceeding one spiral Toucher, she could still endure far longer than the Archbishop, who was many times stronger than her.

This soul vessel allowed Jasmine’s soul to hide within it, much like the Magic Mirror.

While hidden inside, the vessel would resist external damage and help repair and stabilize the soul.

The primary threat was the dark elements permeating the environment. Their harm was not intense but gradual and persistent.

This doll could effectively resist that kind of continuous, low-level corrosion.

Moreover, having a body, even a doll’s, prevented the soul from becoming distorted.

Otherwise, centuries of existence would cause unimaginable distortion and mental instability in any normal soul. The sheer boredom alone would be enough to drive most spirits mad.

Lucilia’s solution to this problem was to sleep inside the Magic Mirror, which had a similar preservation function, much like hibernation. That was how she maintained her sanity and remained unaffected by loneliness and darkness for hundreds of years.

The only drawback was that such deep sleep made it difficult to perceive the passage of time.

However, this doll was already tattered and dirty; it had been used for a long time.

A little more use and it would break down completely, which was why Jasmine had saved it, reserving it for her very end.

Perhaps dying inside the doll would prevent her from becoming an evil spirit.

Thus, the doll’s final period of use was the coffin she had prepared for herself.

The booklet contained not only an introduction to the doll, but also the manufacturing process, required materials, and the underlying principles behind its creation.

In short, it was a detailed manufacturing manual combined with research findings.

With this, anyone willing to invest the time could create their own doll.

It was a pity; if Jasmine’s soul had been slightly stronger, she might have been able to wear the doll, go out, and gather materials to make more, ensuring her survival.

After all, even as a soul, one could still use some of the powers gained in life.

Thinking of this, Ed couldn’t help but ponder.

So, magic circuits weren’t just contained within the body; perhaps the body and soul each occupied a part? That made sense, since much fictional knowledge suggested souls could wield magic.

He didn’t quite understand, he’d study it later.

Ed held two palm-sized dolls in his hands, looking at Lucilia before him.

Lucilia’s soul took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself, a habitual gesture, since she couldn’t truly breathe.

Then, without hesitation, she entered the doll.

As her soul entered, Ed channeled magic from his body and poured it into the doll.

Lucilia hadn’t been a Toucher in her previous life, and her magic had never been active, so she couldn’t enter and control the doll’s movements as Jasmine had.

At most, she could only use it as a temporary vessel, like the Magic Mirror, perhaps even less comfortably and safely.

After all, the Magic Mirror was a high-level magical creation of the elves, something this low-level doll couldn’t possibly compare to.

But now, with Ed’s magic infused into it, the doll’s surface changed.

Its previously plain head sprouted strands of green hair, cascading down to its waist.

Then, a pair of pointed ears grew, signifying Lucilia’s identity as an elf.

Exquisitely crafted, elegant clothing appeared on its body, shrunk to a gothic style that suited the doll’s form.

A pair of green, jewel-like eyes appeared on its face, along with delicate suggestions of a nose and mouth.

The eyes shimmered slightly.

With the movement of its limbs and the rotation of its large head, the doll came to life, transformed into a classic chibi-style figure.

Now animated, it rolled a couple of times in Ed’s hands, then began moving its limbs erratically, seemingly adapting to its new body.

After rolling around haphazardly for a while, it finally settled.

Using both hands and feet, it struggled to stand up, wobbling like a baby.

"Gua wa la la!" It seemed excited about finally standing.

"..."

Ed fell silent, listening to the doll’s sounds.

This doll didn’t have the ability to articulate speech; it could only make these baby-like noises.

Lucilia also noticed the problem, covering where its mouth would be with its round hands.

"Waa gu!"

Seeing Lucilia’s reaction, Ed stared intently at the doll and couldn’t resist poking its cheek.

A gentle poke caused Lucilia, who had just managed to stand, to immediately tumble onto the bed.

The sounds grew excited.

"Gua waa waa lu lu lu la!" The doll stretched out its hands and waved its fingers, alternately slapping them.

The soft, yielding touch struck Ed’s hands.

Then, it used both hands to hold Ed’s fingers, pulled itself up, took two steps, and fell onto the bed again.

Here goes my only source of eye pleasure, the one thing that satisfies my deserted heart, Ed thought.

Watching the Lucilia doll move, especially the flat area around its chest, Ed looked up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes.

On the ship, most of the time he could only calm his "little brother" and ruthless heart with the help of Lucilia’s spectral form, specifically her ample buttocks, since she couldn’t feel it and he could touch as much as he wanted.

Sometimes he could even coax her into letting him "research" her breasts, which she mostly didn’t mind. But now, with this tiny body, how could she possibly hang behind him as before? Don’t forget, when she was alive, Lucilia couldn’t walk due to illness. Now that she could, did he expect her to abandon this new toy easily? Not a chance.

Ed was already beginning to regret it. If he’d known, he would have thrown the doll into the sea before Lucilia even saw it.

Taking a deep breath and calming his hatred for that b*tch Jasmine, he looked at Lucilia, who was learning to walk but continuously falling down.

Sighing helplessly, he stretched out two fingers, pinched the doll’s back, and slowly lifted it. He walked away from the bed and placed it steadily on the table.

Gently supporting the doll’s back with one hand, he helped her slowly walk around the table.

With Ed’s help, the doll’s speed finally returned to normal, and soon it could walk steadily even when he let go.

And so, under Ed’s gaze, the Lucilia doll walked around the table, touching this and tapping that, seemingly curious about everything.

After playing for only a short while, she plopped down as if exhausted.

A wisp of white mist emerged, followed by more that transformed into Lucilia’s soul, settling into the chair beside her. Ed finally breathed a sigh of relief as he watched those two certain mountainous curves bounce before his eyes.

The doll, stripped of its magical features, returned to its ordinary form and collapsed onto the table.

Seeing Lucilia’s beaming smile, Ed couldn’t help but ask, "How did it feel?"

Lucilia turned to look at Ed, her smile growing even brighter, her excitement palpable.

"It was amazing! I experienced walking for the first time. Using the doll’s body felt a bit strange and sluggish, but it was still wonderful."

"The only downside is that my soul strength isn’t enough to control the doll for very long, and it can’t speak."