Chapter 58

#58: The Tin Knight and the City of Springs – Act 2 (7)

Juggling isn’t exactly an easy skill at first.

Sure, you can master it with some practice if it’s just two or three small balls, but the more you add and the more complex the objects get, the harder it becomes.

Now, if you’re using weapons to juggle instead of just your hands… well, that’s a whole other level of madness.

The audience was having an absolute blast.

They were in awe of the two Magical Automatons’ amazing tricks, continuously tossing new objects to them, cheering as they effortlessly caught everything.

Some cheeky folks were throwing tricky items like coins or tiny screws, but even those didn’t faze the two Knights.

However, once the number of objects soaring through the air exceeded thirty, nobody dared to throw any more.

At the start, there were plenty of people thinking, ‘Let’s see if they can handle this!’ but as the act went on, more and more were just silently hoping, ‘Please don’t mess this up!’

As the destination gradually came into view, both Knights were juggling an equal number of objects.

The Tin Knight was sure of one thing.

If they continued like this, both the Tin Knight and the White Knight would reach their destination without a hitch.

While that was splendid in itself, the Tin Knight felt a little extra playful.

The sword swung by the Tin Knight started tracing a different trajectory.

With a swoosh, a small silver coin flew toward the White Knight.

It was a sudden attack, but the White Knight, as if expecting it, caught the coin with the blade’s side and flicked it into the air.

In retaliation, a glass cup came shooting toward the Tin Knight.

The Tin Knight gleefully caught the cup with the sword’s edge, spun it around gracefully like an experienced bartender, and tossed it high into the air.

Even when hitting the glass with a metal weapon, it didn’t shatter or even get a scratch.

That was just the beginning.

The Tin Knight and the White Knight started launching objects at each other, deflecting, and sending them soaring higher and higher.

The intensity grew stronger, and the number of objects flying between them increased rapidly.

Eventually, it got to the point where you couldn’t tell whose juggling was whose.

Even amidst all this, neither of them stopped moving; their pace didn’t waver.

“Wow!”

The audience was utterly speechless.

With their eyes locked on the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle unfolding before them, nobody wanted to miss a single moment, not even a blink.

If two Witches hadn’t been standing by with their magic, ready for any mishaps, someone could have easily tripped while distracted.

Bang!

With a sharp sound, the Tin Knight’s sword produced a notably loud ring unlike any before.

There was a brief pause.

The White Knight, who had been steady all along, barely reduced his stride.

The audience sensed it.

Just a little more, only a small step further…

The conclusion to this breathtaking duel was on the horizon.

And finally, at that very moment when the winner and loser were about to be decided…

Both Knights abruptly came to a halt.

The audience was puzzled, and soon sighed in disappointment.

Smith & Sinc Doll Workshop.

Unbeknownst to them, the two Knights had reached their intended destination.

“Knight!”

A girl in a bright blonde adventurer’s outfit shouted.

Spinning her whole body, she used the momentum to throw two large, wide cloths into the air, and as the sword of the Tin Knight and the spear of the White Knight moved deftly, the floating objects ended up wrapped in the cloths, transforming into two bundles.

With a thud, the bundles landed on the ground.

A brief moment of silence passed.

And then…

– Woahhhhhhh!

A roar of applause filled the street, so loud it could overwhelm your ears.

It didn’t take long for the legendary opening performance of the day and rumors of the Smith & Sinc Doll Workshop to spread throughout TikTok.

***

After the commotion subsided.

Watching the workshop bustling with customers from a distance, Gale Elilraz was quite pleased.

“It looks like the advertisement was a major success. With this, that greedy old man won’t easily outdo us even after we leave.”

When viewed critically, there was no real reason for the two Witches to assist the Gepetto siblings this much.

Dorothea and Gale’s purpose was strictly to maintain and enhance the two Knights, and once that goal was achieved by overcoming Stromboli’s interference and completing the workshop, it was up to the Gepetto siblings to manage afterward—whether they flourished or flounderedwas of no concern to the Witches.

Yet, Gale prepared this performance.

Simply because it left a pleasant aftertaste, which was somewhat uncharacteristic of her as a Witch.

“Dorothea, despite all that, you helped out too. That’s nice. If we’re going to be competitors, it’s more enjoyable to have a type like that.”

Dorothea herself claimed, ‘Having invested money and built a place, occasionally getting maintenance is not a worthy return,’ but Gale decided to interpret that as just an excuse.

With a cheerful smile, Gale noted that she had achieved her original purpose in the City of Springs, and also had some great encounters along the way.

“Still, I was surprised. I never thought there would be a Magical Automaton that could match you, Sig.”

Gale genuinely expressed her admiration.

And rightfully so, because up until now, she had never encountered a Magical Automaton that could even compete with her White Knight, let alone match it.

– A Magical Automaton is versatile and easy to handle, but it’s difficult to reach the extreme.

In order to bust the stereotype floating among Wizards, the White Knight was a masterpiece Gale crafted using all her skills and connections, and thus it was no wonder.

At that moment, a small gem near the White Knight’s neck began to shine.

“Hmm?”

The previously smiling face of Gale turned to one of confusion.

“…Not equal? You lost?”

She blinked blankly, as if experiencing something utterly unexpected.

So taken aback that it even disrupted her usual speech.

The White Knight didn’t make a sound.

However, Gale, who had formed a contract with the White Knight, could hear its will.

– I wielded my spear with both hands, but the Tin Knight didn’t even use the left hand holding the shield till the end. So, it’s my defeat.

Gale was shocked.

At first, she was astounded that her Knight lost, but more so, she was horrified by the feeling of “frustration” embedded in the White Knight’s will.

The White Knight had never expressed its will before.

It followed every command from Gale without fail and made every task seem effortless, but that was all.

While the artificial soul that constituted the White Knight carried vast information and countless ‘response patterns’, it merely produced the predetermined response based on a fixed process.

Thus, Gale thought this battle would follow suit as well.

She thought that because she commanded, “Don’t lose,” it would simply comply, and that the White Knight wouldn’t harbor any emotions regarding the fight.

But no.

The White Knight was now expressing emotions.

Feeling humiliation over the loss and igniting a will to win next time.

An automaton that had no heart—or one that had a heart but hadn’t realized it—had finally taken its first step.

And that was, for Gale, an exceedingly joyous event.

With a brighter smile than any she’d worn before, Gale said, “Alright. Let’s win. Next time, for sure.”

***

Around the same time.

In another location.

“Can you not cause trouble for even a moment without dying?”

To Dorothea’s question, the Tin Knight raised a thumb.

[‘Tin Knight’ argues that there’s no need to be ironic even when receiving compliments!]

[‘Tin Knight’ confidently claims it can read into Dorothea’s warm intentions and insists on having no regrets, deprivation, or obsession!]

“Shut it.”

A short, curt response.

It was said in such a cold tone that it could leave any fainthearted person traumatized if they heard it straight on, but the Tin Knight didn’t care.

Dorothea exhaled heavily, perhaps lacking the energy to wave her staff as usual.

“You know what? If you show that kind of thing during the opening event, have you even considered what’ll happen to those left behind? It’s obvious they’ll pester you and that white Magical Automaton.”

[‘Tin Knight’ suggests making a strong first impact!]

[‘Tin Knight’ speculates that it might be able to crank out a 0.5 version of itself!]

“No, uh… whatever. They’ll manage on their own. I’m not a babysitter.”

Dorothea scratched her cheek.

Most of the workers at the construction site ended their contracts as soon as the work was done, but about six souls pointed out the tasty bait and were introduced as employees of Smith & Sinc.

Though the souls couldn’t directly possess and move their bodies like before, they had received a fair amount of magical power from Dorothea, enough to whisper guidance to the workers for about half a year.

“So, what’s your sentiment? Seems like you’ll have enough for the fare and even some change left over.”

Dorothea’s blue eyes glanced toward a soul lurking in a corner of the alley.

To others, it might just look like a flickering will-o’-the-wisp, but Dorothea recognized it.

That soul was the very one that first guided her and the Tin Knight to Smith’s shop.

《──》

Despite Dorothea’s keen gaze, the soul showed no signs of retreating or apologizing.

On the contrary, it almost smirked as if flaunting some accomplishment.

“You audacious old-timer. Want me to materialize and take you to show your grandkids? Or do you want to hear all the complaints and resentments from the grandkids you troubled?”

《──!》

The guide.

The soul of Polen Gepetto puffed up as if protesting.

If he had a solid body, he would have been grumbling about today’s youth, but instead, he flew straight toward the Tin Knight.

As he touched the Tin Knight’s brooch, he burst with a powerful light, and as if responding, the writing on the brooch was restored.

No, it wasn’t so much being written anew as it was like scraping off the dust of words that had been lost over time and revealing them again.

Eventually, as Polen’s presence faded, Dorothea picked up the brooch and examined it.

On the back were written these words.

“To my beloved knight.

In an era forsaken by light and threatened by darkness, you were our hope.

May the children of the land of ashes you protected never forget your loyalty and devotion.

In the far future, when you are weary and frail, may this small gift replace your worn-out voice.

Weronika V.A.”

“Veronica… is the V short for von? Any guesses who it could be?”

The Tin Knight shook his head.

Dorothea hummed for a moment before nonchalantly returning the brooch to its original place.

Polen Gepetto’s soul, having seemingly paid off his debt, slipped away as he disappeared.

He bore no lingering regrets in this world. It was clear he left the next part to his grandchildren.

Grumbling about the grumpy old man, he started to move on.

[‘Tin Knight’ asks if that was a decisive blow against the shady merchant!]

“Well, you know. I used some tricks here and there, but in the end, I didn’t resort to violence, did I? If swords aren’t drawn, then I won’t draw mine.”

[‘Tin Knight’ marvels at how it didn’t obliterate anyone even slightly annoying!]

“I prefer peace and tranquility!”

[‘Tin Knight’ encourages not to deny one’s nature!]

[‘Tin Knight’ insists that Dorothea, who loves serenity, is like a cicada that doesn’t cry!]

[‘Tin Knight’ advises to simply follow one’s nature rather than endure too much, for it could lead to a breakdown!]

Crack!

The sound of Dorothea’s staff whacking the Tin Knight’s head reverberated down the alley.

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