Now there’s a Somerset Goods Store specializing in selling exclusive merchandise, so the branches of the Yuren Merchant Association aren’t burdened as much with heavy workloads as they used to be.
But they still have to stay on their toes when a new comic book or fairy tale book is released.
They have to manage the crowds waiting for limited editions, and brace themselves for the onslaught of people trying to snag even the hardcover or paperback editions, which requires preparations as if for an exhibition at least a week after release.
In front of each branch of the Yuren Merchant Association stood a wooden puppet with a pointy straw hat.
The puppet, with its unusually protruding nose, looked like a little boy.
And the writing on the wooden sign placed beside it filled people with anticipation.
– New Fairy Tale Book [Pinocchio] by Rupert Somerset Released!
Even though many across the continent didn’t know the House of Count Somerset, it was rare to find someone unfamiliar with the name of Rupert, given the popularity of his works.
Of course, many other merchants had begun releasing fairy tales, spreading diverse stories across the empire.
But compared to the popularity and impact of Rupert’s fairy tales, they were like fireflies before the sun.
Especially after his last fairy tale, [A Dog of Flanders], with its tragic ending that moved both adults and children to tears.
People couldn’t help but wonder what kind of story he would tell this time.
“Is the protagonist a wooden puppet?”
“It’s something different from the fairy tales we’ve seen so far.”
“That’s true, this looks intriguing.”
In fact, the newly released Pinocchio was unlike any fairy tale people had seen before.
Those who expected a simple beautiful or tragic story were fascinated by the tale of a puppet who wished to become human.
Especially the thrilling settings and storylines like the nose that grows when he lies, or setting off on an adventure inside a whale’s stomach to save Geppetto, the grandfather who made him and considered him a son.
If [A Dog of Flanders] proved that fairy tales are not just for children,
[Pinocchio] cemented that notion.
While children, especially boys, were the main audience for fairy tales and showed an enthusiastic response to [Pinocchio],
The story was also gathering widespread popularity among adults.
And this was possible because the content of [Pinocchio] contained surprisingly profound narratives.
Particularly the scene where Pinocchio rescues Geppetto and sacrifices himself brought back chilling memories for people.
From the shocking ending of [A Dog of Flanders], where the protagonists Nello and Patrasche died alone of freezing cold, which was unexpected for many expecting a happy ending.
This made people fear if this new story was going to end in tragedy too.
Yet,
“The courage to save others at the cost of oneself, that’s what makes you a real person.”
The Blue Fairy tapped Pinocchio’s forehead gently with her magic wand as she spoke.
Then a miraculous thing happened.
Warmth started returning to the cold wooden body of Pinocchio.
Gradually his fingers and toes transformed into human skin from the tips.
Finally, when the entirety of the little pine wood puppet’s body changed into that of a complete boy,
The boy opened his eyes.
The part showing the scene where Pinocchio, who became human, called Geppetto “Dad,” and the old man who wept in grief over Pinocchio’s death turned around upon hearing his son’s voice and embraced him in joy made everyone tear up.
Tears not of sadness, but of moving emotions and joy.
“What’s needed to make a person human isn’t money or material things! It’s the heart! Something in the heart for sure!”
This story especially stirred significant discussion among the intellectuals of the empire.
While children and ordinary people simply enjoyed the thrilling adventures and happy ending of [Pinocchio], it became a stimulating topic for discussion among the educated in the empire.
“How is a family created? Look at Pinocchio. He shares no blood relation with Geppetto, who made him, yet aren’t they the most genuine family?”
“That’s interesting, but I’m curious about the author’s philosophy. He seems to claim that a person is made, not born.”
“Right, while there are wizards like black wizards who behave beastly despite being born human, Pinocchio, though a puppet, has performed admirable acts.”
Those who had disregarded fairy tales as mere amusing books became passionate about [Pinocchio].
Because the metaphors and symbols hidden within the book elegantly expressed the themes they had been pondering.
Especially the trials Pinocchio undergoes to become human each represented virtues one must possess.
To the educated, [Pinocchio] was viewed not as a mere fairy tale, but akin to a hero’s epic.
[Pinocchio] resonated widely among people from all walks of life, increasingly becoming a topic of hot discussion.
*
“I love Daddy the most in the whole wide world!”
Embarrassed by the cold stares from others lately, Count Bradley’s eyebrows shot up at the affectionate words of his lovely daughter, Aida.
“Is that really true, Aida?”
“Yes!”
Looking at Aida, who had a bright smile, Count Bradley understood why noble parents often said that sons grown out of didn’t seem to amount to much.
His eldest always ran off to the battlefield, claiming to test his limits no matter how much he tried to stop him.
The second son, whenever he gets a chance, only says,
“Ride it.”
Only to himself in incomprehensible contexts.
What in the world was he supposed to ride? Was it about physical exercise and riding a horse? But Rupert’s icy gaze told him that was not what it meant.
Sure, the Count had spent some money retrieving the family heirlooms he had sold off since finances had eased recently, but such cold looks, was it necessary?
In contrast, his only beloved daughter, though sometimes whining, became so adorable, he couldn’t help but shower her with love.
The Count was moved to tears at Aida’s declaration of love and tried to embrace her in a group hug.
But Aida deftly and smoothly dodged the Count’s hands, surprising everyone given her plump physique, yet she moved gracefully and swiftly.
“A…Aida!”
Despite the Count’s pitiful calls, Aida scampered away without looking back.
And where she was heading was the full-length mirror at the center of the mansion.
“My nose is going to grow like Pinocchio’s now!”
Aida was obsessed with the fairy tale [Pinocchio] she had read recently.
She was so engrossed that she went around telling lies just to make her nose grow like Pinocchio’s, so much so that people at the mansion now just listened to her tales with one ear and let them out with the other.
“Oun likes Sena!”
Newly recruited knight Oun was startled by Aida’s fib.
“Is this madman into a 12-year-old girl?”
“We should’ve checked the personality when recruiting knights.”
“Come to think of it, he was watching Sena the other day….”
Though Oun vehemently protested and managed to clear up the misunderstanding, people had been giving him severe side-eyes.
Oun still has nightmares of the disconcertingly cold stares from that day.
Now that people knew Aida’s lies were due to [Pinocchio], nobody fell for them anymore, with Count Bradley becoming the last victim.
What Aida loves most in the world are her brothers, Rach, Alain, the cool-looking branch a local kid has, and then Count Bradley.
Having successfully pulled off her grand lie, Aida looked at the mirror with elation.
But Aida’s nose was still unchanged.
“Boo-hoo, it didn’t grow!!!”
Despite her many attempts at lying, her nose remained the same, leaving Aida very frustrated.
She too wanted a long, pointy nose like Pinocchio.
With it, she could poke Oun, who kept stopping her from going outside.
And she could also poke Count Bradley when he hugged her and rubbed his cheek against hers.
“The village kids would be so jealous!”
But her secret weapon to counter the local kids’ interest in the “Dragon Slayer (wood element)” was gone now.
“Oh! That’s it.”
After sulking for a while, Aida suddenly shouted to Rach, as if a good idea had struck her.
Woof!
Responding instantly to Aida’s call, Rach ran over.
By now, everyone in the mansion, nay the whole territory declared Rach the greatest dog on the continent.
She was so clever that she seemed to understand human speech, with a massive size not typical for a dog.
And after the story spread that she saved Aida from a black wizard, she received loads of attention and love.
But usually, Rach idly ignored others, lying down uninterested.
The only one who could move Rach was Aida.
“Rach, let’s go to the workshop!”
Now naturally climbing on Rach’s back and holding onto her collar, Aida directed Rach to the workshop.
Upon confirming Aida holding onto her neck, Rach immediately dashed towards the workshop.
*
[Pinocchio] not only impacted the public.
“A homunculus… no, a more advanced Golem? No, something sleeker than a Golem.”
Saint, who started working as Rupert’s assistant, was deeply moved after reading the newly released [Pinocchio].
Though he had the talent to draw, he never thought of creating stories.
So he was learning how to create narratives in his art under Rupert while drawing comics.
Then after reading [Pinocchio], a single topic lingered in his mind.
“What defines a person?”
The wooden puppet was recognized as human due to its noble spirit of sacrifice.
But is that truly the only factor determining humanity?
Saint devoted all his time to developing his own stories, aside from work hours.
The protagonist was a mechanical golem, more accurately a mechanical human resembling the Golem’s Arm made by Kroon.
What would happen if such mechanical humans became commonplace?
And if those mechanical humans could think, feel, and speak like Pinocchio,
Would they be considered machines or humans?
Having drawn much inspiration from the homunculus group the Seven Deadly Sins in [Iron-Blooded Alchemist],
He began building his story little by little, sketching storyboards the way Rupert had taught him.
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