The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 109



Only Krnovel

Episode 109

– I don’t know its name, so I’ll give it a personal name. I’ll call it ‘Shy’ from now on.

It was a phrase written on the first page of an untitled book.

Looking at the flowing brushwork, he felt strangely drowsy. Quilbian sat down on the floor.

“Can I bring you a chair?”

Elcoco asked.

“No, I’m comfortable with this.”

“You really like the floor.”

“Because I’m used to it.”

I turned the page.

– We don’t know when or where the shy ones came from. We should be surprised that we don’t know. Because if we don’t know, it means that they existed before us or were born at a similar time to us.

“Hey, would you like some cocoa? It’s delicious.”

“fizzle.”

He said, glancing at Elcoco. Elcoco made a blank expression and playfully followed Quilbian’s lead, shushing.

One of the fleets who returned to Barara’s arms was called the nerd of the world, and another was a ruined seed.

Shy.

Quillvian turned the page, recalling a face he had seen too many times.

– One day, I met a shy person on the street. I recognized him, but he didn’t recognize me. He was hiding himself in a pseudo-personality that he created by taking his mind off of him. He was a very shy person. I tried to wake him up and talk to him, but the moment I recognized him, he ran away in a hurricane.

“Is it really worth going that far?”

Quillvin said with a small smile.

Then Elcoco comes over and sticks his head in. Instead of the book, I see Elcoco’s face.

“You want some cocoa?”

“… … How long are you going to recommend it?”

“Until I drink it. The cocoa I make is the best in the world. Isn’t it, Grandma?”

Flang, who was called Grandma, flicked her left ear. A broom flew in from somewhere and hit Elcoco’s butt without mercy.

Elcoco screamed and ran away from the broom.

Quilbian made a vow and lightly touched his ear. As the magic of Sitpin Hwang-hyung, ‘Quiet for Now’, spread, his ears became deaf.

It was a magic spell for a good night’s sleep.

It’s convenient because you can block out noise even if you can’t sleep.

I was about to look at the book again when a fluffy paw, no, a hand, covered the book.

When I woke up, Flang was in front of me. He was smiling but I couldn’t hear a sound.

Ah, magic.

As I was shaking the nak, a voice was heard.

“Can you do that for me too?”

“Yes, it is possible.”

“Please do something about it. It’s impossible to shut that noisy little brat’s mouth.”

“You must have had a hard time.”

“That’s what raising a child is like.”

“Let me touch you for a moment.”

The feel of the stiff fur was transmitted through my palm. I tried to stroke it absentmindedly, but flinched and pulled my hand away.

“I hate rude humans.”

“……sorry.”

“It’s a very effective spell. I like it because it makes no sound.”

I know magic.

Quilbian smiled faintly and turned his gaze to the book. We can ask questions later. There’s so much time. He put the book to his ear and made another seal.

– I tried to find the origin of the shy guy. But it was useless. Even if I looked into the records of the previous generations, there were only records of the shy guy’s actions. ‘Brain’ seemed to know something, but he was a squeamish guy and didn’t tell me. It seemed like he had taken to heart the fact that I teased him for having stiff hair. He’s a timid guy.

Brine?

It seemed like they were from the same Barara tribe.

As he tried to focus again, white foam invaded his vision. Quilbian looked at the foam in his glass, then raised his head to look at Elcoco.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I couldn’t hear him. Well, he must be explaining how delicious cocoa is.

I took the glass and took a sip.

How delicious is sweet cocoa?

After licking my lips, I stared blankly at the glass. I took another sip. I put the book down and held the glass with both hands.

The warmth and sweetness spread deep into my body. This was a masterpiece.

“That’s amazing.”

Quilbian looked ahead, muttering to himself. Flan had also put down his book and was enjoying some cocoa.

I nodded once while looking at Elcoco who was looking happy. I had to admit this. It was a taste that was worthy of being praised.

“What on earth did you put in it?”

After shaking the tea again, I asked. I really wanted to know. If I mixed coffee here, it would create a superb taste with a strong flavor.

“Sincerity and love.”

“… … .”

“Don’t you believe me? Here it is. It’s the cocoa powder I used.”

Elcoco held out a wooden barrel. It was filled with cocoa powder, which was only served on the tables of nobles.

Perhaps times have changed so that even commoners can enjoy it.

“Try it once.”

“okay.”

No pressing required. Just the right amount of water, frothed milk, and cocoa powder.

“It looks good. But what does it taste like?”

Elcoco spoke while looking at the finished cocoa. His tone changed to an overbearing tone, as if he were a cocoa judge.

I took a sip while listening to the story.

Even though the same ingredients were used, the taste was different. Compared to the cocoa that Elcoco gave me, this was… … .

“It’s trash.”

“Hey, it’s not that bad. Cocoa that is brewed with care can never go to waste.”

“Then what is lacking?”

“I told you. Love!”

“… … It’s difficult.”

I asked Elcoco for another cup of cocoa. I was enjoying the delicious cocoa and was about to turn my gaze back to the book.

“How are you, shy guy?”

Flang said. The magic that had been stuck to his ear had disappeared, whether he had pulled it out himself.

“I hope you are doing well. So well that it’s a problem.”

“It seems like I’ve known that shy person for a long time.”

“It would be a very long time in human calculations, but it would be a mere moment in dragon senses.”

“Compared to the shy person’s sense of time, we are just creatures that live and die moderately.”

Elcoco intervened.

“Is a shy person a dragon? Do dragons live longer than grandmothers?”

“Hey.”

“yes?”

“Go for a walk.”

Two huge dogs emerged from under the ground. They were larger than Elcoco.

He ran towards Elcoco, drooling profusely.

“Eww! Get out of here!”

Elcoco screamed and ran away. Chased by two dogs, Elcoco disappeared into the darkness.

“I heard it’s dangerous to go outside the blue line.”

“It’s in my heart anyway. I can find it if I look for it. But it’s annoying so I usually just ignore it.”

Flang pointed to the chair next to the hammock.

“Come and sit down. Your eyes are tired. It’s easier to look at them up close.”

It was a languid voice. Quilbian sat down on the chair with the book in his hand.

“How did you know I was with a shy person? Looking at this book, it seems like you knew before I came.”

“smell.”

Flan sniffed. The long whiskers around his shiny nose swayed.

“The human kid, Rookie? He had a lot of stench on him. And then I heard about you.”

“I see. With that nose, you can find the shy person even if he changes his appearance.”

“If you’re close, you can find them no matter where they hide. But they’re so shy that they run away as soon as you find them. It’s a pain.”

His yellow-tinted eyes blinked as if he felt regret.

“Can you tell me the shy one’s name?”

“I like the word ‘going affection’.”

“Humans are all calculating. Alright, I’ll add my hand to that sentiment, so tell me.”

It was Flan who spoke while extending his thick hand.

“Now I use the name Winterra.”

“Really? Are you still walking around pretending to be real like me?”

As expected, you recognize me.

Quilbian looked down at his body and said.

“They say that if Winte’s main body rises, something close to a disaster will happen.”

“Oh! Really?”

Flan wore special gloves on his hands. No, not gloves, but prosthetics. Instead of thick hands, they had nimble fingers like humans.

He holds a pen with his prosthetic hand and scribbles on paper.

“I learned something new about shyness. It feels great.”

“Even if you meet Winte later, you must keep what I said a secret.”

“Okay, okay. Of course.”

Flan’s eyes were slanted, but he didn’t look very trustworthy.

“You’ve answered one question, so can you answer mine?”

“Are you talking about your soul that hasn’t found its center?”

“You recognized it right away.”

“This is my mind. I can see inside everything that enters here. What should I say, it’s so bizarrely twisted.”

“My life was messed up, but my heart is also messed up. It’s sad.”

“Do you know what it means to be sad?”

Quilbian smiled faintly.

“I know.”

“Don’t forget too many things. For those who are out of sync with time, like you and me, the more you forget, the more you reach the point of no return, and eventually it becomes terrible.”

“So you are writing all this down?”

Quilbian looked around.

Before I knew it, the scenery had changed.

It was a coast where the sea water was rushing in.

On the shore, crabs were moving in a line, each with a storage compartment attached to its back.

I knew it the moment I saw it.

That there is history in it.

“Records are my life, my job, and my purpose. The moment we give up records, we lose our value as a being.”

“The history of everything must be here.”

“That’s not necessarily the case. The information I’ve collected here is only what I’ve seen or what has been passed on to me.”

Waves crashed down, covering the sky.

Quilbian watched the waves quietly.

Even amidst the waves that crushed his body, Quilbian kept his eyes open and looked at Plan.

“You’re strong.”

“It’s not so much that it’s solid, but that it’s so broken. To the point where it doesn’t react to things like this.”

“Recognizing your own wounds is the first step to healing. You will either remain human or become the most horrible thing.”

“Is there no middle ground? Something like a monster that is somehow okay.”

“None. That’s what I think.”

The waves that had swallowed everything receded with a cool sound.

Quilbian looked at the floor. He saw Elcoco passed out with two dogs.

“If you establish the center of your imaginary world and lay the foundation, your soul that has been robbed of its home will find its place.”

“Please tell me how.”

“Well, how.”

Quilbian said with a smile.

“Did you know that dragons like coffee the best?”

“Oh! I found out about a favorite food.”

It was a flan that was happily fiddled with.

Next time I see Winte, I’ll have to make him some serious coffee.

“Oh, do you know the word paparazzi?”

“I’ve heard that. It’s something shy people often say when they meet us.”

“I guess that doesn’t mean it’s a very good thing.”

“Maybe it’s some kind of curse.”

It was a smiling flan.

“The human race has been wandering for too long outside of human nature. Furthermore, your soul shows signs of having wandered somewhere other than here.”

“You saw it correctly.”

“So, first we need to lay the foundation for settling down.”

Flang pointed to Elcoco, who had fainted and perked up his ears.

“Live among the humans. And realize that you are human again and regain your humanity. You don’t have to stick with that kid, do whatever you want.”

“It’s a difficult but easy method. For now, I’ll try to integrate into society as you advised. I’ll have to stay here for a while anyway.”

“It won’t be easy. It’s actually quite tricky to go back and retrace your steps.”

The rabbit blinked his yellow eyes and asked a question.

“Oh, then when do you plan on returning to the realm of the two-faced?”

(Continued in next episode)