Chapter 399 Shin
Yuseong told the story of what he had been through and the process of getting here. It was a long story that could have been boring, but originally, Lorelai is a bookworm who likes interesting stories.
“…really interesting. A friendship between a doll and a dragon.”
Lorelai listened to Yoosung Shin’s story with a very interesting face throughout.
“So you’re saying you want to resurrect the doll’s soul after all.”
“Orca is a friend Velvet can never change. In the end, the reason he was sealed in the Glass Heart was to save Velvet. You can never pretend you don’t know.”
“Of course… that’s not impossible.
Lorelai nodded in agreement.
“…No one is more skilled than Master when it comes to dealing with the spirits dwelling in objects. If it’s Master, it’s definitely possible.”
In addition, it was a green light that he came right after being sealed. Spirits dwelling in objects quickly lose their personalities. At most, the time given is about a week?
The fact that he came to see Master within a few days increased the possibility of restoring the soul of the ‘Orca’ doll.
“But… it won’t be easy to convince Master to agree.”
“Lorelai, you know something.”
“I am a disciple who has watched Master until now. I know what his judgment was when something like this happened.”
As the story matured, a golem just walked by to pour tea for Lorelai. He was a young handsome boy of about 10 years old at most, but he had a bloody atmosphere different from that of ordinary humans.
“That child was originally a sword.”
“knife?”
“Yes, it was a sword carried by a famous English hunter. It was a famous sword that cut down countless monsters. It was the hunter’s only friend, and it was the sword he valued more than his life.”
The hunter entrusted the sword to the witch even in the midst of losing his life. He said that this sword was really like his friend.
[Since you’ve cut down countless monsters with me until now… you’ve always been with me on that difficult journey… I hope you rest now.] He
said he hoped he would rest in peace now.
[So please… Let Aris take care of it.]
This golem wasn’t the only one. Each golem in the mansion had a different story, and Lorelei knew all of them.
“It’s not just that kid. When you came in, you must have noticed the girl with long hair at the entrance. The child’s soul is a girl with an incurable disease.”
“…an incurable disease?”
“You died of an incurable disease that you had from birth. The child’s wish is to celebrate his 20th birthday. Aris extracted the child’s soul and turned it into a golem. According to that wish, on the day of my 20th birthday, I will stop moving.”
Yooseong Shin felt something in Lorelai’s words. Their stories had something in common.
“Although she is my teacher, Aris-nim is capricious. You never know what choice you will make.”
However, Shin Yooseong was not sure. It was impossible to predict Aris’ answer just by talking about it now.
“…but Lorelai. I can never leave this matter to Aris-sama’s whims.”
So Yoosung Shin earnestly grabbed Lorelai’s hand and asked for it.
“Orca only has a few days left at most. If I can’t convince him this time…”
Shin Yoo-seong pushed his body towards Lorelai. Lorelai blushed as their faces came closer to the point where it was burdensome and their earnest eyes met head-on.
“…of course. Even Master has weaknesses.”
“Weakness?”
Lorelai stepped back and gave a quick nod. Shin Yoo-seong is good when he sees his heart beating, but he also thought that such an experience was bad for his heart.
“Your weakness. Master expresses himself as insensitive and cold-blooded, but contrary to how he appears externally, in reality…”
Is it okay to tell Shin Yoo-seong every single detail of Master’s personality and weaknesses? Lorelai hesitated for a moment, although she knew that Shin Yoo-seong was not a bad person.
However, Lorelai nodded her head within Shin Yoo-seong’s eager eye attack.
“He is a very weak person when it comes to stimulating emotions. If Aris-sama takes out a handkerchief, the success rate is 50%. If he sheds tears, the success rate is 90%…”
Aris does not blindly turn objects or humans into golems. She had reasons and beliefs of her own. In the end, the battle is the story of Orca and Velvet.
“I see…”
It was whether or not it was eaten by Aris.
* * *
A stove with a bonfire, a black cat symbolizing ominousness, and even a crystal ball, Aris’s room was aptly described as a witch’s room.
Shin Yoo-seong was able to enter such a secret place because he was a disciple of Aris’s colleague and first love, King Kwon.
“…Whoops, that’s a lot of fun. I never thought I’d see you in this mansion. So why did you visit?”
When Aris laughed with an interesting face, Shin Yoo-seong took out a glass heart from his pocket.
“Aris-sama, you’ve already heard it… but I have one favor for you.”
“Then you know. Did you see the butler as you came in? I can read his mind. I’ve already heard what you’re going to ask.”
“Then…”
But the witch, Aris, said she knew what Yooseong Shin would ask for, but she didn’t say she would listen. In the end, like Lorelai’s warning, he smiled capriciously and shook his head.
“sorry. Even Won Hak’s disciple would refuse that request. I don’t want to take any soul and mold it into a golem. Witches have their own philosophies. And… there’s no reason for me to do you a favor, right?”
As long as Aris, the legendary hunter, answered like this. There is no room for negotiation. If it was a normal Hunter, the story would end here. However, Shin Yoo-seong had a trump card.
“The president of the association told me to show you this picture if Aris-nim answered that way.”
Shin Yoo-seong held out the photo Kang Yoo-chan gave him. Aris, who saw the photo, did not change her expression, but let out a short exclamation.
“It must have been Kang Yoo-chan who showed you the way. But what can I do? The promise I made with him is long past the expiration date.”
Aris’ words were that the exchange was not suitable to do the favor with just that photo. Taking out a sealed soul and putting it in an object is a big deal. The size of the debt was different.
Fortunately, however, Shin Yoo-seong had another weapon.
“And this…”
That’s the unidentified pocket watch Aden gave me. Aris accepted the pocket watch, unable to hide her agitation this time.
“This is you…”
“Aden-nim gave me this watch and said that this time Aris-nim said it was his turn to keep his promise.”
Aris knew what this pocket watch meant to Aden. Because this was a keepsake left by Aden’s wife. I watched from the side how much Aden cherished.
Aden gave such a valuable item to Shin Yoo-seong. What does that mean? He even mentioned ‘promise’.
“It’s your turn to keep your promise…”
Aris was silent for a while.
Is it because I’m getting old? When did I become such a sentimental woman? Aris sighed.
“…I’ll listen to the story. Who is the soul in that glass? That’s just about it.”
It was a difficult journey, but Shin Yoo-seong was delighted that his turn had come. Thanks to Kang Yoo-chan and Aden’s help, Aris seems to have opened her heart to Shin Yoo-seong.
“For Aris-sama, reading the memory of a soul from an object is a simple task. At times like this… more than a hundred words. It would be quicker to see for yourself.”
Aris held out her hand as if it was comfortable, just like Yoosung Shin said. That means that he will directly read the memories of Orca and Velvet.
“okay. Then, where should we go to take a look?”
Weing-!
When Aris put her hand on the glass heart, the crystal ball placed in the room lit up and started playing images of Velvet and Orca like a projector.
The beginning of the story was by the river.
[Little Master. I picked it up as well, but does picking up stones have much meaning?]
[Kyahang~! It’s pretty when it’s shiny! It would have been better if it was gold or jewels!]
Together we picked up stones and decorated the room.
[Hogok.]
Take it and sell it.
[…Velvet is rich now.]
Aris laughed at the sight of Velvet and Orca playing together.
“You mean this dragon is your daughter? what a funny kid Hehe…”
The friendship between Velvet and Orca, who read fairy tales and go on adventures together, was quite deep. Aris continued to watch the two hours of travel as if it were fun.
However, the flow of the story changed the moment Velvet was eventually caught by Shin Ha-yoon.
[I have to be mad at you. You’re the one who did bad things to my little master… to my precious friend.]
An abandoned toy.
Toy King’s changed thoughts.
[You will never know? Because he’s a pitiful fool who doesn’t trust anyone and has no friends!]
[…This fucking trash!]
[No, I have no regrets! Take a good look! I, Toy King, is a friend of the little master! Die as an Orca!]
And Aris truly admired his courage.
“…To think that an abandoned toy can change like this when it meets a new owner. That’s an interesting story.”
Of course, the story of Velvet and Orca did not end here. The moment Aris showed her agitation, it slammed once more.
secluded mountain.
[…Little Master. It’s Toy King, not Orca. Of course, now it’s not a killer whale, it’s a duck doll. It was sold under the name I Love Duck.]
Velvet immediately recognized the transformed Orca.
[You said your friend is coming here?]
[Yes. … I will come back when I grow up. I did. But adults are busy. An old doll like me must have forgotten about it.]
Aris learned about Orca’s story through the conversation between the two of them.
[The little master has a place to return to. When you wake up from your dream, your precious people will be waiting for you.]
Aris agreed. Ironically, only humans could save the wounds inflicted by humans.
[I thought I was abandoned by that child. But I only found out after saving the little master.]
[Um, far away?]
[Clearly… there must have been a reason why he couldn’t come back. The child was a sick child. It was before the surgery.]
Aris silently watched the journey of the two of them. I watched what Orca realized and what he was saved by Velvet.
It’s the same tower, but he solved everything with his own strength.
However, Aris admired the fact that such a story and such a solution could exist.
[Coming to think of it like that, I wish it was right that he abandoned me. I was able to change my mind like this thanks to the tower’s miracle and meeting the little master.]
In the end, Orca was saved by Velvet. no i saved myself Aris took out a handkerchief without realizing it.
“Heuk sniff… keuhheung…”
Then, wiping the silently flowing tears, he blew his stuffy nose with a handkerchief. This is Aris’ strong signal that Lorelei said.
“Aris-sama…”
Shin Yuseong looked at Aris.
What more needs to be said now? Now, only Aris’ choice was left.
* * *
Shashashak-Shashashak-
Velvet, out for a walk, was lying next to Adela, scribbling in a sketchbook with crayons. I was drawing an orca while waiting for a friend to return someday.
Then, for a moment, Velvet’s ears pricked up.
“Kyaa Kyahang!”
Velvet looked somewhere like a puppy at the smell of treats.
“This one!”
“velvet? Is there anything… is there something?”
Adela looked worried, but Velvet jumped up with a very happy face.
“This feeling! No doubt-!”
Velvet ran recklessly. Velvet could tell. Even if the opponent’s appearance changed, he could tell.
Even if a killer whale doll turned into a duck doll, there was no way she wouldn’t know, and even if a killer whale doll changed into a human, there was no way she wouldn’t know.
Because there is no fool in this world who does not recognize a friend.
Dada da-!
Velvet, who ran aimlessly with short legs, saw a boy with dark hair. And without hesitation, he called his name.
“Orca!”
The dark-haired handsome boy didn’t say anything for a while. This time the promise was kept. This ending is different. He was delighted with the fact and just smiled brightly.
“As expected…”
thought the boy orca.
“…You recognize it, little master.”
He said he was the happiest toy in the world.
