episode_0070

The branches at the top of Yuren are no longer burdened with the same amount of work as before, as the Somerset Goods Shop, which specializes in selling goods, has opened.

But even they had to be nervous when new comic books or fairy tales were released.

We had to manage the waiting list to get the limited edition, and we had to prepare for the exhibition for at least a week after the release due to people trying to get the hardcover and general paperback.

A wooden doll wearing a pointed straw hat placed in front of each branch of the Yuren.

The doll, whose nose was particularly prominent, had the appearance of a young boy.

And the words written on the wooden sign next to it filled people with anticipation.

-Rupert Somerset’s new children’s book, , released!

His works were so popular that, while there were many people across the continent who did not know the Earls of Somerset, there were few who did not know Rupert’s name.

Of course, now there are many cases where fairy tales are published from other upper levels as well, so fairy tales of various stories are spreading throughout the empire.

It was still like a firefly in front of the sun compared to the popularity and influence of the children’s books that Rupert had drawn.

Especially because his last published children’s book, A Dog of Flanders, had a tragic ending that brought tears to the eyes of both adults and children.

One can only look forward to what kind of storybook they will create this time.

“Is the main character a wooden doll?”

“It seems a little different from the fairy tales I’ve read so far.”

“That’s right, this is kind of interesting.”

In fact, the Pinocchio that was released this time is a work that is different from the fairy tales people have seen so far.

People who expected the story to be simply beautiful or tragic were intrigued by the story of a wooden doll who wanted to become human.

Especially, it is an exciting setting and story about a boy who grows a nose when he lies, or goes on an adventure into the belly of a whale to save his grandfather Geppetto, who created him and whom he thought of as his son.

proved that children’s books are not just for children.

This became the opportunity to completely solidify that.

Children, who were the original biggest customers of children’s books, especially boys, naturally responded enthusiastically to .

also gained popularity among adults.

This was possible because the content of itself contains a much more profound story than expected.

Especially in the last part of the book, when Pinocchio saves Grandpa Geppetto and sacrifices himself, people recalled terrible memories.

The ending of , which was expected to be a happy one, was shocking as the main characters, Nero and Patrasche, froze to death.

Because of that, people became afraid and wondered if this work could also be a tragedy.

but,

『“The courage to sacrifice yourself to save others is what makes you human.”

The Blue Fairy tapped Pinocchio’s forehead with her magic wand as he lay on the floor.

Then something amazing happened.

Warmth began to return to Pinocchio’s wooden body, which had become cold.

And Pinocchio’s body gradually changes into human skin starting from the tips of his fingers and toes.

Finally, all the parts of the small pine wooden doll were transformed into the body of a complete boy.

The boy opened his eyes.

Pinocchio, now human, calls Geppetto, saying, “Daddy.” The old man, who was shedding tears in sorrow over Pinocchio’s death, turns around when he hears the voice and hugs Geppetto in joy.

The final scene of brought everyone to tears.

Not out of sadness, but out of emotion and joy.

“What makes a person human is not money or material things! It’s the heart! No, it must be something inside the chest!”

This story in particular created a great stir among the intellectuals of the empire.

While children and the general public simply enjoyed the exciting adventures and happy ending of Pinocchio, it became an interesting topic of discussion among the educated people in the empire.

“How is a family born? Look at Pinocchio. He has no blood relationship with Geppetto, who created him, but aren’t they the truest family of all?”

“That’s interesting, but I’m curious about the author’s philosophy. He seems to be claiming that people are not born, but made.”

“Yes, there are some people like black magicians who act like beasts even though they were born as humans. Pinocchio was a puppet, but he acted better than a human.”

Until now, people who had ignored children’s books as just books of interest were enthusiastic about .

This was because the metaphors and analogies hidden in the book were a masterpiece that expressed in a very sophisticated way the topics they had been contemplating for a long time.

In particular, the trials that Pinocchio, the main character of , goes through to become human are all metaphors for the virtues that a human being should possess.

To educated people, Pinocchio seemed like a heroic epic rather than a fairy tale.

In this way, gained explosive popularity in all walks of life and became a topic of conversation among people.

***

“Ada loves her dad the most in the world!”

Earl Bradley, who had been feeling dispirited by the cold stares people had recently given him, raised his drooping eyebrows at the words of his beloved daughter Ada.

“Is that really true, Ada?”

“Yeah!”

Ada looks at the count with a bright smile.

This is probably why the saying that raising sons is useless spread among nobles with children.

The eldest son said that he wanted to test his limits, so no matter how much I tried to stop him, he would still rush into battle.

The second one, whenever he gets a chance

‘Get in.’

He was just saying unknown things to himself.

What on earth do you want me to ride? I wondered if I should ride a horse and exercise, but when I looked at Rupert’s cold eyes, I knew that wasn’t the case.

Of course, the Count had recently become financially well-off and had spent some money to buy back the family heirlooms that had been sold off before, but he still gave me such a cold look.

On the other hand, the youngest daughter, who is the only one, usually whines but shows such a lovable side, how can one not love her?

The Count was so touched by Ada’s declaration that her father was his favorite that he tried to hug her with tears welling up in his eyes.

However, Ada simply turns the Count’s two arms to dodge.

The movements were so smooth, flexible, and quick that it was hard to believe they were coming from such a plump body.

“Eh… Ada!”

Ada disappears without even looking back at the Count’s pitiful call.

The place Ada headed to was the full-length mirror in the center of the mansion.

“Ada’s nose will now grow like Pinocchio!”

Ada was absorbed in the children’s book she had recently read, Pinocchio.

She was so into it that she lied whenever she got the chance because she wanted to grow a nose like Pinocchio, and now the people in the mansion turn a deaf ear to anything Ada says.

‘Oun likes Sena!’

Oun, a new knight, was terrified by Ada’s lies.

‘This crazy guy is targeting a 12-year-old girl?’

‘When selecting a knight, you should have checked his character.’

‘Come to think of it, I was watching Sena last time….’

Thanks to O-un’s fierce protest and explanation, who was met with cold stares and misunderstandings from people, the suspicions were dispelled.

Oun still had nightmares about the eerie gazes from that day.

Now that most people know that Ada’s lies were because of Pinocchio, the Count became the last sacrificial lamb, leaving no one to be fooled.

Ada’s favorite things in the world were her brother, Ratch, Alain, a nice-looking branch owned by a village boy, and next was Count Bradley.

Ada, who had successfully lied about her conversion, looked into the mirror with excitement.

But Ada’s nose still remains unchanged.

“Oh my, you didn’t grow up!!!”

Ada was so angry at her nose, which wouldn’t grow no matter how much she lied.

He also wanted to have a long, pointy nose like Pinocchio.

If you just have that nose, you can pierce the evil spirit that prevents you from going outside.

So that her father, Earl Bradley, could hug Ada and nudge her when she rubs his cheek.

‘The village kids will be so jealous!’

The secret weapon to deal with the Dragon Slayer (Wood attribute) who has stolen the attention of the village children has disappeared.

“Ah! That’s right.”

Ada, who had been gloomy for a while, suddenly called out to Rash in a loud voice as if a good idea had occurred to her.

Boom!

Rash jumps in front of Ada in an instant at the sound of her voice calling him.

Already, not only the people of the mansion but also the people of the territory all unanimously said that Rash was the best dog on the continent.

How intelligent it is, with an expression that seems to understand everything people say, and a huge size that is unusual for a dog.

Moreover, when the story of saving Ada from the warlock spread, she received a lot of attention and love from people.

But Ratch usually just lies there, pretending not to listen to what others say as if it’s annoying.

Only Ada could move such a ratchet.

“Let’s go to our workshop, Rashya!”

Now, Ada naturally climbs onto Ratch’s back and grabs his neck.

Rash checked Ada, who was holding the back of his neck, and then ran straight towards the workshop.

***

didn’t just have an impact on the public.

“An artificial human… No, a slightly more advanced golem? No, a slightly more nimble feeling than a golem. ”

Saint, who started working as Rupert’s assistant, was shocked when he saw the recently released .

He had a talent for drawing, but he had no intention of creating stories.

That’s why I was learning how to tell stories through pictures by drawing cartoons under Rupert.

After reading Pinocchio, one topic lingered in his mind.

‘What determines a person?’

The wooden doll was recognized as a human being because of his noble spirit of sacrifice.

But is that really the only thing that determines a human being?

Saint devoted all his time, except for his work hours, to conceiving his own stories.

The protagonist was a mechanical golem, or more precisely, a machine human with a human-like appearance, like the golem beast created by Krun.

What would happen if a world where such machine humans became popular came?

If only those machine humans could think and speak with a heart like Pinocchio.

Is it a machine or a human?

Saint, who also took a lot of inspiration from the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of artificial humans that appear in .

He began to create the storyboard, following the instructions he had received from Rupert.