Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 306

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 76.
Finding the Cat in the Hearth (25)
“Ah, of course. I’m hardly in a position to be choosy about temperature.”
Caesar pressed his forehead and murmured.
“Your answers, at least, are refreshingly straightforward.”
“In a situation like this, clarity in speech is all we have to trust, isn’t it?”
Caesar, apparently pleased with Maximian, chuckled and turned his attention to Joshua.
“Young master, when you return home, you absolutely must secure a position for that spirited girl as an assistant at the Atelier. Keltika is a great city—surely such positions are common enough?”
Whether Caesar meant it as a jest or not, Joshua nodded immediately.
“Of course. If Riche has no objection, I’ll recommend her for formal employment as a seamstress at Miyu Rose Atelier.”
At that moment, Riche’s chatter ceased abruptly.
“Miyu Rose? You mean… the one with the rose motif?”
Joshua reached into his inner pocket and withdrew a handkerchief, offering it to Riche. Beside the initials “J. Arnim” engraved upon it was an exquisitely embroidered rose in a distinctive twisted stitch—unmistakably a piece from Miyu Rose Atelier.
“Mother has been a regular patron, so I’ve known of them since childhood.”
Riche gazed at the handkerchief, her eyes downcast for a moment. Caesar asked from beside her.
“What’s wrong? Do you dislike the place?”
Riche remained silent for a long while before speaking tersely.
“No.”
“Then?”
Riche returned the handkerchief to Joshua. As he accepted it, he hesitated before asking.
“Did I offend you? I spoke only because I recognize your skill fully. The garments you’ve created are every bit as excellent as theirs. I know how rare such needlework truly is. But if it sounded unpleasant, I apologize.”
“…Forget it. Why are you apologizing? There’s no fault here.”
Riche pushed her chair back and rose from the table.
“Yes, let’s go. For seamstresses like me, Miyu Rose is like a palace glimpsed only in dreams. To be offered work in such a place—how could I refuse? All my reasons for staying have vanished. Let me know when you’re ready to depart.”
Riche departed through the arched entrance of the Dining Hall. A black hunting dog that had been yawning followed eagerly, thinking it was time for a walk. Maximian looked at Joshua.
“You made her cry.”
“…”
Joshua too fell silent for a time. Caesar spoke from beside him.
“The girl knows there was no malice in your words. An hour or two alone will set things right. I’ll explain the method I mentioned earlier in a moment—why don’t you go upstairs to your room for now?”
Whether thinking he should follow Riche or not, Caesar also departed outside. Maximian drained the remaining tea in one gulp as before and spoke.
“She’s proud, that one. But there’s nothing for it. Few people in this world can avoid wounded pride when faced with someone like you. Adaptation is the only way—yes, adaptation is the only way.”
Noon.
Caesar had gone out to meet with the parents of a child he was teaching, and Maximian had shut himself away in his second-floor room to catch up on lost sleep before departure. Riche was likely hiding somewhere in the house, and…
Joshua sat alone in the Dining Hall.
Four chairs of odd design surrounded a modest white table, and curiously, their number matched the visitors. Caesar seemed to live alone, yet he possessed three spare chairs and various other furnishings in abundance. Seeing how many items served similar purposes and were duplicated, it appeared this man had no inclination to discard anything.
The teacup from this morning remained unwashed on the table. He considered clearing it but didn’t know where to put it. He thought of a dishpan, but among the various basins scattered about, he couldn’t determine which was the washing basin.
“I seem to be someone who finds it difficult to earn people’s goodwill.”
He spoke quietly, but an answer came swiftly.
「You seem to be earning the goodwill of spirits quite readily, though.」
Kelsniti, who had appeared and seated herself across the table at some point, swept back her long hair and offered a smile.
“You’re just one ghost, after all. The rest are merely noise.”
「Even if you don’t perceive them, they might be watching you from somewhere, silent and unseen.」
“Invisible to my eyes? Is that even possible?”
Kelsniti let out a dry chuckle.
「If you could see every ghost in existence, would I be the only one who’s caught your attention all this time? Do you truly believe there are so few spirits in this world?」
“…I suppose not.”
Joshua’s peculiar way of thinking was that he understood logical facts without necessarily accepting them emotionally. In other words, he wouldn’t start and cry out, “Then you’re saying ghosts surround me on all sides?” even if the logic dictated it.
Eventually, Kelsniti’s laughter faded, and he spoke.
「But I was rather surprised watching how you treat that friend of yours—Maximian. It’s quite different from your usual manner.」
“What do you mean?”
「You were deferential, in a way. You rarely show genuine respect for others’ opinions, do you? It’s a trait common among Demonic beings.」
Joshua turned his gaze away but ultimately conceded.
“He is indeed someone worthy of admiration.”
The moment those words left his lips, Kelsniti’s form suddenly blurred. Since this happened occasionally, Joshua showed no surprise and spoke as if to himself.
“Time for you to leave, then.”
Kelsniti often had to return somewhere for reasons Joshua couldn’t quite comprehend. At such times, calling out to him was futile.
Alone once more, Joshua rested his chin on his hand, gazing at the empty teacups before closing his eyes and humming a melody.
A mischievous butterfly
In the vanished forest
Rain fell down
And I lost my way
Following footprints
Into the forest
The sky cleared
And dew shimmered bright
Meribell, Meribell
To the place where I found you
A forest of blue firs
Where winds drift in and out
Though I’m trapped in this place
I harbor no regret
Sweet Meribell
My white butterfly
Then came the sound of sharp, rhythmic clapping from beside him. Clap, clap, clap.
Opening his eyes and turning his head, Joshua found a stranger sitting by the window on the right side of the dining table. The figure had stopped clapping and was smiling, though the expression was strangely indistinct. But it had to be—Joshua knew exactly why.
A mask covered his face.
“Ah… Who are you?”
As he spoke, Joshua recalled what Kelsniti had said moments before. Another ghost—one he had not seen. It had appeared without a sound while he was singing and now sat there watching him.
The figure smiled again. A few wrinkles formed around the mouth, but with the eyes hidden behind the mask, only the fact of the smile remained visible; all subtle emotion was erased. Was it mockery or forced courtesy? Warmth or coldness? More peculiarly still, the mask was identical in shape to the one Joshua wore when playing the role of Max Cardi.
“I am the Man in the Mask.”
He made a witty remark, and the man laughed again.
Joshua hesitated for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. Most people would have felt flustered, disgusted, or wary upon seeing someone in a mask, but Joshua had worn one himself for years and refused to remove it despite countless requests. If anyone should be magnanimous toward a masked stranger, shouldn’t it be him?
Whoever he might be.
“Your mask looks impressive.”
“Does it? Your song was impressive too.”
“It was just a casual piece. Nothing particularly remarkable.”
“No. My ears don’t deceive me. You possess a remarkable voice. I’ll have you know I have some discernment when it comes to the arts.”
Joshua smiled faintly at the man’s words, which sounded more like playful boasting than anything else, and his reply was equally impressive.
“One doesn’t need discernment to admire my singing.”
“Good. It’s admirable to have confidence in your abilities.”
The man gazed intently at Joshua’s face, pondering something. Joshua smiled serenely and opened his eyes wide with a playful expression.
“Now that I look closely, you have a handsome face too, don’t you?”
“Heh heh heh.”
“I can compose and write lyrics as well.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m quite skilled with instruments too.”
“Truly remarkable.”
Surprised by the man’s earnest response, Joshua raised his eyebrows and asked again.
“You believe everything I just said?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
With those words, the masked man stood up. It was then that Joshua noticed his right hand was unusually larger than the other.
“That one hand is quite special, isn’t it?”
The man still smiled, moving only his lips.
“A very convenient hand.”
He extended his right hand and slowly opened and closed it repeatedly. It was an eerie sight, like a massive claw moving with life. Yet from the man’s perspective, Joshua showed no anxiety whatsoever—only curious interest. He had threatened countless people before, but he had never encountered anyone like this.
The man simply did not know the extent of Joshua’s acting ability.
“You must have trained that hand specially?”
“You could say that. Want to see?”
The man pulled an apple from his pocket and gripped it. Joshua watched with wide eyes as the apple crumbled slowly in his right hand like a soft-boiled egg.
Maximian’s eyes suddenly opened in bed.
Unable to rise immediately, he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. When was the last time his eyes had opened like this on their own?
Exhaustion still lingered faintly. In truth, Maximian had not rested properly for a single day since he rushed from Keltika to Hyacan. Upon arrival, he had barely slept, rushing about to find Joshua’s whereabouts. After the Theater fire, he had gone two days without proper sleep, nerves on edge. The previous night, a Ghost had even appeared, clouding his mind. For someone like Maximian, who enjoyed sleeping lazily, such accumulated fatigue was deeply irritating.
Yet his eyes had opened. Maximian pondered for a moment, then suddenly threw a word into the empty air.
“Hey?”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Moon Books
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Moon Books.
To reuse all or part of this book’s content, written consent from both parties is required.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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