With the opening of the specialized Somerset Goods Store, the branches of the Yuren Trading Company no longer had to suffer from overwork.

However, even they had to stay on high alert whenever a new comic or children’s book was released.

They had to manage the crowds of people lining up for the limited editions, and even those trying to grab a regular hardcover or paperback. For at least a week after release, the staff had to prepare as if they were on display.

In front of each Yuren branch stood a wooden puppet wearing a straw hat with a protruding nose.

The figure was shaped like a young boy, and the wooden sign beside it filled people with anticipation.

- Author Rupert Somerset’s new children’s book, Pinocchio, now available!

By now, there were many across the continent who still didn’t know the Somerset estate, but it was rare to find someone who didn’t know Rupert’s name. His works were that popular.

Of course, other trading companies had also started releasing children’s books, spreading a variety of stories across the empire.

But compared to the popularity and influence of Rupert’s books, they were like fireflies before the sun.

Especially his last release, The Dog of Flanders, which left both adults and children in tears with its tragic ending.

Naturally, everyone was now filled with anticipation, wondering what kind of story he had crafted this time.

“Is the protagonist a wooden puppet?”

“It feels a bit different from the other children’s books so far.”

“That’s right, this one looks interesting.”

Pinocchio was indeed different from the children’s books people had seen so far.

Those expecting a simple, beautiful, or tragic story found themselves captivated by the tale of a wooden puppet who longed to become human.

Particularly the fascinating plot points like his nose growing longer when he lied or embarking on an adventure inside the belly of a whale to save Geppetto, the grandfather who created him and thought of him as a son.

If The Dog of Flanders had proven that children’s books weren’t just for kids, Pinocchio cemented that idea even further.

Boys, who had always been the main audience for children’s books, were naturally thrilled by Pinocchio.

But it wasn’t just children—Pinocchio also gained widespread popularity among adults.

This was because Pinocchio contained a surprisingly deep narrative that resonated with older readers.

In particular, the scene where Pinocchio sacrifices himself to save Geppetto at the end of the book brought back haunting memories for many.

They remembered the shock of The Dog of Flanders, where they expected a happy ending, only for the protagonist, Nello, and his dog, Patrasche, to die, frozen in solitude.

Because of this, people began to fear that this story might also have a tragic ending.

However...

“The courage to sacrifice yourself to save another, that’s what makes you human.”

The Blue Fairy tapped Pinocchio’s forehead with her magic wand as he lay on the ground.

And then, something amazing happened.

The cold wooden body of Pinocchio began to warm up.

From the tips of his fingers and toes, his wooden body gradually transformed into human skin.

At last, every part of the small pinewood puppet had changed into the body of a real boy.

The boy opened his eyes.

When Pinocchio, now human, called out “Father” to Geppetto, the old man, who had been crying over Pinocchio’s death, turned around at the sound of his voice. The two embraced, overjoyed.

The final scene of Pinocchio brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

But this time, the tears weren’t of sorrow—they were tears of joy and emotion.

“Being human isn’t about money or material things! It’s about the heart! Or something deep inside the chest!”

This story sparked widespread discussions among the intellectuals of the empire.

While children and the general public simply enjoyed Pinocchio for its thrilling adventures and happy ending, the more educated circles found it a fascinating topic for debate.

“How does a family come into being? Look at Pinocchio. He shares no blood with Geppetto, but they’re more of a family than anyone.”

“That’s interesting, but I’m more curious about the author’s philosophy. He seems to suggest that people aren’t born but made.”

“That’s right. There are black magicians out there who, despite being born human, behave like beasts. Meanwhile, Pinocchio, a puppet, performed more noble actions than many humans.”

Those who had previously dismissed children’s books as mere entertainment found themselves captivated by Pinocchio.

The hidden metaphors and symbolism within the book beautifully expressed the questions they had been pondering for years.

Especially the trials Pinocchio endured in his quest to become human, each representing the virtues necessary to live as a person.

To the learned, Pinocchio was no longer just a children’s book, but an epic of a hero’s journey.

Thus, Pinocchio became a sensation, capturing the attention of people from all walks of life.

“Daddy is the best in the whole wide world!”

Count Bradley, who had been feeling down recently due to the cold stares directed at him, perked up at his beloved daughter Ada’s words.

“Is that really true, Ada?”

“Yep!”

Ada looked up at her father with a bright smile.

It was said among noble parents that raising sons was a waste of time.

The eldest son had run off to test his limits on the battlefield, no matter how much he was warned against it.

The second son, on the other hand, would constantly say, “Get on,” as if inviting the Count to ride something, though what exactly remained a mystery. Sometimes, Bradley wondered if he was being encouraged to ride a horse for exercise. But the cold, piercing look in Rupert’s eyes told him that wasn’t the case.

Yes, he had recently spent a bit of money to retrieve some family heirlooms he’d sold off due to financial trouble, but did that really warrant such cold glares?

Meanwhile, his only daughter, Ada, though she sometimes whined, was so loving and adorable that he couldn’t help but dote on her.

Deeply moved by Ada’s declaration that she loved him the most in the world, the Count’s eyes filled with tears as he reached out to hug her.

But Ada easily turned away from his embrace, slipping out of his grasp with movements so smooth and agile that it was hard to believe they came from her chubby little body.

“Ada!”

Despite his pitiful plea, Ada didn’t look back and scurried away.

Her destination was the full-length mirror in the center of the mansion.

“Ada, your nose is going to grow just like Pinocchio’s!”

Ada was currently obsessed with the children’s book Pinocchio.

So much so that, in her desire to make her nose grow like Pinocchio’s, she would tell lies whenever she got the chance. The staff had grown so accustomed to her lies that they now took anything Ada said with a grain of salt.

“Oon loves Sena!”

The young knight Oon had been horrified by Ada’s lie.

“What kind of pervert likes a 12-year-old girl?”

“When selecting knights, we should’ve checked their character.”

“Now that you mention it, didn’t I see him watching over Sena last time...?”

Although Oon eventually managed to clear his name by fiercely protesting and explaining the misunderstanding, he still had nightmares about the icy glares he received that day.

By now, most people had figured out that Ada’s lies stemmed from Pinocchio, so no one was fooled anymore. Count Bradley, however, was her latest victim.

In truth, the things Ada loved most were her brother, Rasch, Alain, the cool stick the village boy had, and then, lastly, Count Bradley.

Having successfully pulled off her lie, Ada gleefully stared at her reflection in the mirror.

But her nose remained unchanged.

“Ugh, it didn’t grow at all!!!”

Despite all her efforts, her nose hadn’t grown, and Ada was deeply disappointed.

She had wanted a long, pointy nose like Pinocchio’s.

With such a nose, she could poke Oon, who always stopped her from going outside, and even jab her father, Count Bradley, when he tried to hug her and nuzzle her cheek.

“The village kids would be so jealous!”

Ada’s secret weapon to compete with the Dragon Slayer (wood attribute) who had stolen the admiration of the village children had disappeared.

“Oh! That’s it.”

After moping for a while, Ada suddenly had an idea and called out loudly for Rasch.

Bark!

Rasch came running the moment he heard Ada’s voice.

By now, everyone in the mansion and even the estate knew that Rasch was the best dog in the entire continent.

He was so intelligent that he seemed to understand human speech, and his massive size was nothing like that of a typical dog.

Not to mention the story of how he had saved Ada from a black magician had spread, earning Rasch admiration and love from everyone.

Normally, Rasch would ignore most people’s commands and laze around, but Ada was the only one who could move him.

“Rasch, let’s go to the workshop!”

Ada naturally climbed onto Rasch’s back and grabbed his scruff.

After checking that Ada was securely holding on, Rasch bolted toward the workshop.

Pinocchio didn’t just influence the general public.

“A humanoid automaton... or perhaps a more advanced golem? No, something more agile than a golem.”

Saint, who had recently started working as Rupert’s assistant, was deeply impacted by the release of Pinocchio.

Though he had talent for drawing, Saint hadn’t considered creating stories of his own.

Working under Rupert, he was learning how to draw comics and incorporate stories into his artwork.

But after reading Pinocchio, a single question began to circle in his mind.

What defines a person?

Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, was recognized as a human because of his noble sacrifice.

But was that really the only thing that determined humanity?

From that moment on, aside from working hours, Saint poured all his time into coming up with his own story.

The protagonist was a mechanical automaton—a humanoid machine, much like the golem arm Kroon had created.

What kind of world would it be if such mechanical humans became commonplace?

If these mechanical humans could think, feel, and speak like Pinocchio, would they still be considered machines? Or would they be human?

Saint also drew inspiration from Seven Deadly Sins in the film The Alchemist with Iron Blood.

As he carefully crafted his story, Saint began sketching out the storyboard, just as Rupert had taught him.