Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 330

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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 100.
Ninety-Eight Souls (13)
Maximian frowned as he stared at Juspian for a while, but in truth, this was not a bad opportunity. The moment he positioned the violin beneath his chin and drew the bow, the instrument that had squeaked moments before began to produce fluid, elegant tones.
To be honest, it was not an exceptionally brilliant performance. Particularly to Joshua’s discerning ear, accustomed to refined music. In other words, for someone playing as a hobby, it was quite respectable. Perhaps the age of the violin contributed to its limitations.
As Joshua observed Juspian while thinking this, he was utterly startled.
“This is truly unbelievable.”
Juspian’s face bore an expression of shock beyond mere surprise. His mouth hung open so wide that he made no attempt to close it even after the brief performance ended. Joshua found himself wondering if even a Mage who had lived over a century possessed such profound musical knowledge, when he noticed something subtle. Juspian was astonished, yes, but there was no trace of admiration in his expression. If that were the case, then his shock could not have stemmed from the quality of the performance itself.
“Ah… this is beyond what I expected. I was truly astounded. I never imagined it would be to this degree.”
Maximian, ceasing his performance, furrowed his brow and cut him off.
“Listen here. I know my own skill well enough. That was hardly a performance worthy of such slack-jawed astonishment.”
Juspian suddenly grew angry.
“You foolish wretch! Of course not! No one in this world could play that violin the way you just did!”
Maximian removed the violin from his shoulder and spoke.
“Then was my performance truly so abysmal? I don’t believe that’s the case.”
Juspian seized a chair, flipped it around with a flourish, and sat upon it with his arms draped over the backrest, pointing accusingly at Maximian.
“Capriccio is not an instrument that just anyone can produce sound from. If you examine precisely where the strings and bow meet, the angle of approach, the point of contact—everything differs by infinitesimal degrees. With an ordinary violin, one need not calculate each variation. But if other violins are houses with a hundred doors, Capriccio is a house with but a single door. The friction point between the magical strings and the bow is fixed to within a hundredth, sometimes even a thousandth of a unit, and unless one captures that exact point, no sound emerges whatsoever!”
As Juspian spoke, he grew increasingly animated, striking the backrest with his fist before immediately waving his hand dismissively with a contorted expression.
“So imagine how difficult it must be to draw melody from that instrument! Genius alone cannot solve this. Only through relentless patience and practice, testing every conceivable variation one by one, can it be mastered. Do you think I never attempted to play it? But I grew weary almost immediately. Those of us blessed with intelligence tire quickly of repetitive, mundane labor. How much practice did you undertake? I would believe it if you told me you played nothing but violin for ten years.”
As Juspian spoke, Maximian’s frown deepened until he suddenly kicked the floor with force.
“Damn it! That old bastard deceived me!”
“What do you mean?”
“That cursed ordeal! I thought all violins were like this from the start! Curse poverty! If only I had money to touch a new one even once!”
While the situation was objectively amusing, his expression conveyed such genuine suffering that the mood was far too serious for jest. Juspian spoke.
“Yes. That is precisely the crux of it. Tell me—how did Hispania teach you?”
“Thanks to him, I lived believing that a violin was an instrument requiring one to measure even the angles of the fingers holding the bow.”
“Precisely. So Hispania first experimented with countless friction points himself before instructing you? That is why your training period was shortened. In that case, Hispania must certainly have known how to play?”
“I suppose. That old man possessed his own violin and gave me this one instead. Well, in any case, let us assume he could play.”
Juspian’s expression became deeply satisfied.
“Demonic Joshua, did you hear what was just said? By his own admission, Maximian is a ‘student’ who learned violin performance from Hispania, is he not? What do you say?”
Before Joshua could even formulate a rebuttal, Juspian declared loudly.
“I shall present new terms. Maximian Lipkne, as a student of Hispania and moreover one who has inherited his violin, the magnanimous Juspian shall bestow upon you Capriccio. In exchange! As compensation, you shall remain here and serve as my assistant. The duration, of course, is three years.”
Maximian’s expression went blank for a moment.
“Three years?”
Before Maximian could fully regain his composure, Joshua spoke urgently.
“That is impossible. Beyond the matter of our needing to depart, beyond three years being far too long, Maximian is simply not the sort of person suited to serve as a Mage’s assistant! You will surely come to regret it.”
Yet Maximian, contrary to expectation, did not grow angry. Instead, he approached the chair where Juspian sat and spoke with absolute clarity.
“I am afraid I cannot accept such an offer.”
His tone was so grave that even Juspian’s eyes widened as he looked up at him.
“I understand what you mean. That old man deceived me, and I am well aware he is precisely the sort of person capable of such deception and more. I do not deny that I learned violin from him. I recognize that your argument gains foundation from this fact. However, though it may sound like an excuse, Hispania notwithstanding, I too have reasons I cannot remain here. And I am confident that you will acknowledge my reasons.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re The Mage.”
Juspian stared up at Maximian in silence, his chin resting in his palm.
“At first, I brought this up hoping to get a little help from you. I didn’t even know what I’d seen was a doll, and before you told me, I had no idea how serious the problem was. So in a way, you’re the one who convinced me. While trying to persuade you, I came to realize just how ignorant I was of the situation.”
Maximian gestured toward Joshua with his chin.
“That bastard’s uniqueness has been damaged—that’s what The Mage said. Among all the singular humans in this world, only he has had his uniqueness severely compromised. Though I don’t know much about magic, I’m afraid he might simply vanish on his own. If his uniqueness is completely erased, wouldn’t he die without even needing a blade?”
Juspian spoke.
“I have nothing to say about that. As I’ve said, there are almost no records of this forbidden technique. So honestly, I don’t know what will happen.”
“You don’t know. So shouldn’t we hold onto at least some fragments of that shattered uniqueness and endure until we’ve eliminated the enemy? And one of those fragments is me. I never expected this, but by suspecting recklessly and chasing after you here, I’ve become the one remaining piece of the original Joshua that hasn’t been damaged. In other words, I’m the only human who remembers the original Joshua, can distinguish the real from the false, and shares the experiences of both after the split. Isn’t it because someone like me remains that Joshua hasn’t been completely overtaken by the fake? If that’s the case, shouldn’t I stay by his side until this is resolved?”
Joshua looked at a loss for words. After a moment, he managed to speak.
“You think I’m going to suddenly turn to powder and crumble apart?”
Maximian lowered his eyes as he replied.
“How would I know? What would someone ordinary like me know about Ganapoli’s magic? How could I possibly know what will happen? This is almost certainly the work of a madman, and it’s only natural not to be able to predict what might occur. But that’s precisely why I can’t just stand aside and do nothing.”
Then he emphasized his words with force.
“You troublemaking bastard.”
“….”
Maximian turned his head toward Juspian.
“You’re The Mage. If you’re truly a ‘great mage,’ I don’t think you could ignore a problem like this.”
Juspian rose from his chair without responding and gestured for them to follow.
6. The Second Magic of Ganapoli
The first of the greatest magics recorded in Ganapoli’s history is the creation of dolls resembling humans. They neither eat nor drink, yet remain eternally perfect; born of magic, they live forever until magic reclaims them. And the second is….
“Actually, the most effective method would be this. This household has a daughter our age whom that gentleman adores, doesn’t it? If she were to speak with an innocent expression, tears glistening in her eyes, saying ‘Really, couldn’t you help me?’—that would work. But look at me. I’m simply not suited for such a role.”
Riche was listing off methods she thought might persuade Juspian as they occurred to her. At her last remark, Maximian nodded in agreement, but Joshua suddenly spoke up.
“No. I think you’d pull it off just fine.”
Riche replied coldly.
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
They were anxious because they still didn’t know what Juspian intended as he led the three of them forward. None of the alternatives they’d proposed seemed plausible. As they followed about ten paces behind, deliberating over various possibilities, the corridor came to an end.
An arched entrance appeared before them, decorated with turquoise ceramic tiles arranged in a ring. There was no door to open or close, and beyond the entrance lay a spacious grand hall. Joshua, Maximian, and Riche, who entered the hall in turn following Juspian, were suddenly taken aback. The hall was far too vast.
Recalling the house where they’d spent two nights, the first floor had seemed like a well-built farm, and the second floor, filled with three attics, matched its size perfectly. Yet this grand hall—whether it was a third floor, basement, or an adjoining house—was large enough to contain several of Juspian’s Houses, and it had appeared right within that very structure.
Moreover, they’d followed without any blindfold, yet they couldn’t tell whether this place was a third floor, basement, or something else entirely. All they knew for certain was that they’d climbed stairs, descended them, passed through corridors, opened and closed doors, and arrived here.
Children of the Runes – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s contents, 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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