Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1782: The World Of Sentient Toys

-----

"So these are the saviors?" Christine murmured, a hint of wonder in her voice. "I’m sorry for being so rude earlier. It’s truly nice to meet you all."

"Wow, you’re so pretty!" Nyx exclaimed.

"You’re a doll?!" Alma gasped.

"Whoa..." Arachne whispered.

The three gazed at her in fascination, captivated by the exquisite details on her face and body. Christine resembled a cherished toy from a luxurious brand.

"Yes, I’m a Toykin, just like everyone here," Christine replied with a warm smile. "Most visitors never ask how we came to exist. Are you curious, perhaps?"

"Very much," Maria nodded.

"How about we head into the city and share some drinks while we talk?" Christine suggested.

"You can eat?" Lucifer asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course we can eat. How else would we have the energy to keep moving?" Wrecker snapped.

"Ah, okay..." Lucifer rolled his eyes. "This is getting stranger by the minute..."

"I mean, it’s nice. Let’s just go with it," Jonathan laughed lightly.

"Anyway, welcome to the 39th Floor," Bobby announced. "The Tower names this world ’Minimundi,’ but we Owners call our world Earth. We’ve heard some Players come from an Earth too, so there must be multiple versions."

"Our Earth is better anyway," Wrecker grumbled.

"Yeah! Everything is huge!" a praying mantis-like toy laughed.

"I actually plan to leave this place one day," said another Toykin, a fuzzy spider with springy legs and a comical cartoon face. "Oooh? Wow, you have spider legs too!" He bounded toward Arachne.

"Huh? You’re supposed to be a spider?" Arachne asked, bewildered.

"I... I am supposed to be..." The spider toy sighed, eyes glistening as if on the verge of tears. "Uuugh..."

"D-Don’t cry! You’re definitely a spider!" Nyx said quickly. "Right? Let’s not upset them..."

"Hm," Arachne nodded. "Okay."

"You’re so fluffy!" Celes reached out to stroke him. "Arachne isn’t fluffy. She’s hard as steel in spider mode."

"Oh, I see! You can transform. That’s like those robot Toykin that change shape," the spider chuckled. "My name’s Itsy."

"Nice to meet you, Itsy!" Nyx beamed.

"You remind me of my Owner... she was a kid just like you," Itsy said softly, a gentle smile forming. "Anyway, want a ride on my back? I’m tough enough to carry all of you!"

"Really? Thank you!"

Itsy lowered himself, letting the children climb onto his fuzzy back. He dashed around playfully, bouncing high with his spring-like legs.

Maria watched with a quiet smile, warmth filling her heart as the children enjoyed themselves.

As the group settled near the couch, the Toykin began sharing more with Maria and her family.

"You’re wondering how we exist? Well, we do! What kind of dumb question is that?" Wrecker groaned.

"Ignore him. He’s all brawn," Christine sighed. "We Toykin are born from Imagination, poured into us by Owners who love and play with us over many years. Millions of us live hidden across this world, out of their sight. Yet we band together in communities to handle problems our Owners can’t solve for us."

"A lot of us are abandoned too..." Itsy added sadly. "Owners grow up, become adults, and leave us behind. We’re either tossed into the trash... ugh... or we escape and find refuge in forgotten buildings, underground hideouts, or the wilderness. But the wilderness is dangerous. Large animals prowl there, drawn to feed on our energy."

"Imagination..." Maria echoed thoughtfully. "So it’s not just a concept here, but a real power? In my world, toys like you exist, but without any supernatural spark."

"Yes, we’ve heard that from Players of the other Earth," Itsy nodded. "Some even tear up, saying they miss their teddy bears or building toys..."

"Haha, I suppose some would," Maria giggled softly.

"So that’s it? You’re living toys, brought to life by years of Imagination from your Owners—giant humans?" Lucifer clarified.

"You can see them through the window if you’d like," Bobby offered. "Go fly up there."

"Bobby, flying is prohibited!" Wrecker barked.

"Aw, shut up. Let them. They’re our heroes," Bobby laughed. "Go ahead."

Maria nodded and soared toward the distant window with a few family members, moving at blinding speed. The distance proved far greater than she had expected.

When they finally arrived...

"Wow..."

Maria gazed upon an entire human neighborhood. People walked the streets—young men jogging, mothers shopping with children, massive cars rumbling along roads.

No one carried smartphones, and their clothing suggested the 1990s. This was not the modern Earth she knew.

"So what country is this, Bobby? Where are we?" Maria called down.

"Country? Hm... I once heard an Owner mention Seattle," Bobby replied.

"Seattle, Washington, United States of America, then," Maria said with a nod. "Interesting."

"Were you from there?" Lucifer asked.

"No, not really," Maria shook her head. "Anyway, let’s head back."

She descended swiftly. Though no clouds filled the sky, the shifting air pressure made the plunge feel like hundreds of meters.

Near the couch again, they noticed a long line of varied figures entering the hidden opening. Among them were the third intelligent inhabitants of this world: Bugs.

These were ordinary insects, small and numerous. The clever ones formed colonies, coexisting peacefully with Toykin and Dust Bunnies—who lacked full sentience but remained friendly.

"Bed mites, flies, even a few ants," Maria observed. "So that’s where some Insectoids originate?"

"No, that’s a common misconception," Ferleen explained. "Insectoid peoples arise from many worlds. Ours has insect tribes too."

"There’s also a world of vast underground caves filled with gigantic ant colonies," Melianna added with a smile.

"And then there’s this one..." Ferleen continued. "I’m sure there’s yet another source..."

"Yeah, but that covers most of it," Melianna agreed.

"Fascinating," Maria said, eyes sparkling with wonder. "The more I learn about the Tower, the more astonished I become. There truly is no limit to its wonders, is there?"

"You haven’t seen everything yet," Bobby laughed heartily. "Come on, let’s go inside."

As they approached the entrance, a pair of action figures peered down—strikingly similar to Bobby, as if from the same line.

"Bobby?!"

"You’re back!"

"Yeah, friends. I’ve returned with those I believe are our new saviors. Can you let us through?"

"Hmm, saviors, huh?"

"Even so, the entrance fee is a thousand system points."

"That’s fine. I’ll pay."

Maria reached to cover it herself, but Bobby insisted, his voice firm with gratitude. He wanted to repay their kindness; however small it seemed compared to the immense favor he sought.

-----