"Free?"

Suran slightly narrowed his eyes. "Mr. Right Hand of Arland—do you mean it?"

"Absolutely! One hundred percent!"

White Glove wrote enthusiastically, "I’ve dropped this grimoire to rock bottom, yet it still wouldn’t sell. What you said earlier makes sense, but honestly? Today’s young mages just lack taste!"

"So rather than slash the price further, I’d rather gift it to two discerning souls. Profit was never my main goal anyway."

"Then… I’ll accept it?"

Suran lifted the thick *Apprentice’s Grimoire* and glanced at White Glove for confirmation.

"Take it, take it! If it brings you insight, swing by later to share the good news~"

Suran passed the *Apprentice’s Grimoire* to Lyasis. "This saves us funds—just enough for one more."

After all, the grimoire held only theory, no actual spell formulas. To pass the first trial at the *Adventurers Guild*, they’d need another book.

"Oh? Planning to browse further?" White Glove asked. "Shall I show you the next price tier?"

"Thank you," Suran said with a slight nod.

Among the cheapest books, the *Apprentice’s Grimoire* they’d scored for free was actually the rarest. Spending a little more now felt like a win—just like falling for a merchant’s "buy one, get one free" trick.

"Please wait a moment, you two~"

White Glove swiftly returned the counter books to the shelves and arranged a new batch. He labeled each with title and price.

Suran and Lyasis leaned in.

"*From Beginner to Graduate: Explosive Magic Training Manual*, 200 silver coins. Partial content missing."

"*Advanced Compendium of Spatial Magic*, 200 silver coins. Partial content missing."

"Partial content missing…"

"Missing…"

Suran felt a headache coming on. These were barely a tier higher, yet priced several times more—and *every* book had gaps. How to choose?

"Suran, look!"

Lyasis’s eyes lit up. She tugged his sleeve, pointing at the last entry.

"Hm?"

Suran read aloud: "*Requiem of the Marionette*, 200 silver coins."

Thin. No "missing content" note. The title seized Lyasis’s attention.

Though she believed in fate, their budget allowed no higher tier. Among these, only *Requiem of the Marionette* was complete. If its contents aligned with her lingering puppet-crafting ability… wasn’t that destiny?

"Hmm? Set your hearts on this one?" White Glove observed their expressions and smiled. "This *Requiem of the Marionette* carries a famous tale—though the ending isn’t kind. Care to hear it?"

"Yes!" Lyasis answered without hesitation.

Like a bird freed after a lifetime in a cage, she longed for stories beneath the open sky—no matter the ending.

"Then let us listen to a puppet’s tale~"

White Glove conjured a cane, traced a circle in the air, and chairs appeared behind them. Once seated, he began narrating the story behind the *Requiem of the Marionette* in glowing script:

"This tale unfolds in a land that revered martial strength and deemed magic taboo.

A lord’s lineage served the crown for generations. Boys trained in combat as soon as they walked; girls were confined, hidden from the world.

One year, five children were born—one a girl.

Before she knew her mother’s face, she was sent to the 'Garden' beyond the castle walls.

Servants treated her kindly, family visited gently—but she lived like a caged songbird: elegant, lonely.

At fourteen, she received a birthday gift: an exquisitely carved marionette. She named her Merry, imagining her a friend.

Six months later, the girl awakened magic—and Merry came to life. She moved freely, spoke, became a true confidante.

Joyful yet cautious, the girl hid Merry’s animation. When servants came, Merry stayed still, observing.

Merry learned swiftly. Though small, she cared for the girl better than any maid. The girl sewed her a tiny maid dress—and Merry became her devoted companion.

Mistress and maid. Friends. Sisters. Soul-bound halves.

Then—an accident.

A clumsy servant knocked over a teapot. Scalding tea surged toward the girl—Merry leaped, shielding her, crying out as if in pain.

The servant fled the Garden screaming.

News of awakened magic and a living puppet shook the family. Fear of royal purging loomed.

To save the house, they threw Merry into the furnace before the girl’s eyes. An exorcist was summoned to strip her magic.

For a year, she endured torment. On her coming-of-age day, broken, she took her own life.

Buried in the Garden, she was erased from memory—as if she’d never existed.

Until one storm-lashed night.

As the butler closed the gates, a figure emerged from the rain: Merry.

Grown, nearly human save for her joints—a marionette evolved into a doll, clad in a soaked maid dress.

She killed the butler. Hunted every family member. When the final scream faded, she walked into the storm, entered the Garden, stood before the grave, left a requiem… and vanished into the rain.

No one knows how she returned. Or where she went.

This *Requiem of the Marionette* is Merry’s poem of mourning—a love letter, delivered far too late."