The series revolves around a 200-year-old conflict originating with two brothers, , who traveled to Prague to study alchemy and puppetry.
: A mysterious, silver-haired woman who controls the powerful puppet Arlequin . She was tasked with protecting Masaru and has a deep, centuries-old connection to the Saiga family's secrets. The Lore of Puppets and Alchemy Karakuri Circus
: An 11-year-old boy forced to grow up quickly while navigating a world of assassins and bizarre puppet combat. The Lore of Puppets and Alchemy : An
The modern-day story begins with , a young boy who inherits a massive fortune of 18 billion yen following the death of his father. This inheritance makes him the target of various factions—including his own family—who utilize deadly, lifelike puppets (automatons) to kidnap or kill him. Karakuri Circus