“Isn’t it better to endure and express your opinions in a more moderate way, Iya? Anger blocks good fortune and attracts misfortune, so one must always be careful with their words and tongue.”
Jinseong said this while lightly criticizing the Great Witch, who was subtly avoiding his gaze. However, contrary to his words, his tone didn’t show much anger, and a smile lingered on his face.
“Fortune and guests share a similar nature. They come easily to those who are generous and kind, but they avoid those who are angry and troublesome. Therefore, you must manage the intensity of your actions, showing persuasion rather than rage. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes? Y-yes….”
The Great Witch could only stare blankly at Jinseong.
She thought she would be scolded harshly for causing trouble for her family, yet all she received was a light piece of advice. In fact, from the way he spoke, it seemed he deeply resonated with her previous words, and there was even a subtle praise mixed in.
Upon reflection, it felt less like a scolding and more like a ritualistic gesture, a simple “You did well, but I must say something about it.”
Thus, she couldn’t help but wear a dazed expression.
“However, from what I see regarding the trouble that followed, it is evident you take my words to heart. This brings me great joy, so how can I stay silent? Great Witch, extend your hand to me.”
Jinseong said this and held out his palm. The Great Witch wavered, unsure how to respond, but after a moment of hesitation, she lightly placed her right hand on his palm. It resembled a big dog resting its front paw on a person’s hand.
Jinseong gently grasped her hand resting on his palm and extended his left hand, beginning to conjure something.
Plop.
Golden liquid began to flow from Jinseong’s sleeve and gather in his palm. Like streams merging into a lake, the mass of gold grew larger, forming a shape similar to a mountain as it accumulated.
Once it reached an adequate size, the gold spiraled and twisted into a long stick shape, its end spreading into a wide disk. The disk then split into several parts and layered over each other, taking the form of a flower.
It was a rose made of gold.
The Great Witch appeared entranced as she watched the golden rose bloom in real time. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the golden rose in Jinseong’s hand, and he gently picked it up with his fingers, placing it on her right hand.
Twist.
The tip of the golden rose slithered like a snake, wrapping around the witch’s wrist, and the long, slender stem bent and curled around her arm, forming a bracelet. The flower bud shape of the rose adjusted itself, becoming a suitable size for an accessory.
As a result, a beautiful bracelet, resembling a very small golden rose, adorned the Great Witch’s wrist.
“I have gifted you a simple protective charm to encourage you to continue spreading virtue and doing good deeds. You must hold my words close to your heart and live by them,” Jinseong said, gently stroking the back of the Great Witch’s hand. He flashed a bright smile at her, which appeared so pure that she felt his smile radiated a light similar to the golden bracelet on her arm.
“You must cherish it. Will you do that?”
“Y-yes….”
“This charm possesses the power to ward off malice. It has a warm nature that will only bring you good. Although gold can be alluring, and flowers attract those drawn by beauty and fragrance, this isn’t a significant danger. Instead, like a flower that entices bees and butterflies with its nectar for pollination, if you treat them kindly and grant them blessings, it will return to you as even greater fortune. Remember that well.”
After simply explaining the charm’s abilities, Jinseong walked back to his room.
Although the place felt empty as if everything unnecessary had vanished thanks to the Witch’s touch, that emptiness strangely provided Jinseong with more comfort.
‘It’s a familiar sight.’
As he walked, he suddenly noticed a doodle scribbled in a corner of the wall.
The doodle seemed freshly drawn, with a bold black color, likely left behind in a spot where artwork had once hung.
It was quite a geometrical pattern.
It looked more like something created by someone with artistic insight rather than just a random doodle. If asked about its artistic value, most would likely agree it was a rather well-done drawing.
Just below it was a square shape, resembling a seal, with tiny text written inside.
“Here and gone – Spring & Winter.”
Spring. Winter.
Just from those two words, Jinseong could tell who had drawn the doodle.
It was undoubtedly the work of Ella and Anastasia.
‘Come to think of it, Danbi also enjoyed leaving traces of her presence as if marking her territory until I scolded her and made her stop.’
Jinseong recalled his companion who once fought alongside him on the battlefield before his return. As he unwittingly reached out to caress the doodle, a voice called to him from behind.
“Benefactor, you shouldn’t erase that~”
As Jinseong turned his head, he saw Anastasia peering shyly through a slightly open door, looking at him. Upon meeting his gaze, she flashed a bashful smile and, with her most adorable expression, said,
“But it’s all memories! Can’t we just leave it be?”
Before Jinseong could respond to her, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the room. With a clip-clop of her feet, Ella dashed in, clamping Anastasia’s mouth shut, and in the process, the slightly ajar door swung wide open.
Ella, dressed in a comfortable outfit, held Anastasia’s mouth tightly shut while casting an apologetic glance at Jinseong.
“I’m sorry for the doodle. You can erase it! No, I’ll erase it, so please don’t worry!”
Hearing Ella’s words, Anastasia widened her eyes and wriggled to escape. She then shouted out loud.
“No! Please don’t erase it!”
“Come on, sis….”
“Little sister! It’s my order! Cancel what you just said and agree with my opinion now!”
jab jab.
“Yikes! What’s going on!”
Anastasia, with a burst of youthful energy and swift movements, captured Ella, darting around swiftly. As Ella twisted and struggled to catch her, it seemed like Anastasia instinctively knew every one of Ella’s patterns, making her capture impossible.
“Seriously! What are you doing!”
Jab jab jab.
“Yikes!”
This continued, even as Ella’s frustration erupted.
“Cancel! Cancel!”
“Good job~”
Once Ella declared her surrender, Anastasia finally ceased her attacks and sat down on the floor, smiling as though she had done well while patting Ella’s head. But Ella shot her an irritated look and, while waiting for the right moment, swiftly lifted her and threw her into the room.
Then, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it to keep her sister from coming back out.
Bang bang!
“Little sister! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Just stay there!”
“Little sister! We must protect our work! This is art! Art must be protected!”
Ella blocked the door with her whole body while looking at Jinseong.
But perhaps feeling embarrassed by the situation, her face carried a certain awkwardness.
“Um… Hair Park. My sister insisted on drawing here… I’ll take responsibility and erase it.”
“Doodle, huh.”
Jinseong looked at the doodle once more.
Geometric shapes.
Patterns created by someone with a unique worldview, seemingly inspired and drawn in a single stroke.
Jinseong thought about whether the pattern suited the corridor.
Yes.
Would it still fit if an artwork were placed there?
Yes.
Did the pattern itself hold any special power?
He didn’t know.
Sure.
He didn’t know.
Jinseong studied the pattern.
No energy could be felt emanating from it. Not a single hint of Qi, mana, magical power, or natural energy could be sensed; all it was, was a drawing and part of the wall. Furthermore, it didn’t seem to relate to any spell he knew, so it appeared safe.
However, one should never be careless.
Thinking of Danbi, who caused trouble everywhere upon her return…
If that pattern held any power, it would be much better to eliminate it.
Jinseong gripped emptiness and opened the door to a nearby empty room, retrieving a single piece of white paper.
He laid the white paper over the pattern as if to cover it and began to rub his hand over the upper side of the paper gently.
As if trying to make it absorb well.
Then, after pausing a moment with his hand resting on the paper, he swiftly peeled it away.
“Oh my.”
Ella, who had been watching Jinseong with interest, couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.
The pattern drawn on the wall had vanished.
Instead, it had seemingly migrated to the white paper, taking up its place.
Jinseong offered the paper to Ella.
“Frau Winter, how can you make a guest do such a trivial act as erasing a doodle? And no matter how much of a doodle it may be, it holds precious memories and shouldn’t be treated casually.”
He smiled brightly.
It was a smile similar to the pure one he had shown the Great Witch earlier.
But while that had been a boy’s smile, this one felt like a young man’s smile.
“I’ve captured the memories of Frau Winter and Frau Lentz here. Would you accept it?”
He said, placing the paper on Ella’s hand.
