The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 156: Pinocchio’s Wish

The next day, in Emerald City.

Brilliant sunlight once again shone upon the city. To those wearing green glasses, the entire place seemed to be built from emerald and green gemstones, shimmering in the light.

People in green clothing bustled along the streets, their faces full of joy. Children munched on green popcorn, and couples chatted on park benches.

Meanwhile, hidden within the city, Magrito, in disguise, was quietly gathering information.

After some investigation, he learned that Dorothy and her companions had already visited Oz.

"Perfect! I warned them in advance about Oz’s tricks, so they must have figured out that he’s just an ordinary man with no magic at all—a complete fraud!"

"Once these outsiders expose his deception, I’ll stir up chaos and let everyone in Emerald City know that their king has been lying to them for years!"

"Haha, I can’t wait to see how the furious citizens react!"

Meanwhile, in the palace of Emerald City…

The Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, and Pinocchio had received Oz’s summons and once again returned to his palace.

This time, however, they weren’t just greeted by Oz. Waiting alongside him was a silver-haired boy wearing a pure white cloak.

While the others were still wondering who he was, Pinocchio immediately recognized him and beamed with joy.

"Rhine! The great magician who gave me life!"

Oz introduced Rhine,

"That’s right, this is my teacher, the great magician Rhine!

"Your wishes are not easy to fulfill, so I consulted my teacher, Rhine.

"When he heard that you were Aurora’s friends, he agreed to personally assist me in granting your wishes!"

Having already heard all about this wise magician from Aurora, the group was overjoyed to finally meet him in person.

"This is amazing! If Oz’s teacher is an even greater magician than Oz, then I should feel wonderful ideas popping into my head any moment now!" The Scarecrow’s voice was filled with excitement.

Rhine and Oz began their work.

First, they placed a brain made from nails and needles into the Scarecrow’s head. A few nails stuck out, and the Lion commented that it meant his thoughts must be "sharp."

Next, they took out a heart—delicately woven from fine silk threads—and placed it inside the Tin Man’s chest.

Finally, they handed the Lion a bottle of potion, instructing him to drink it. They assured him that this magical elixir would grant him courage.

And just like that, the wishes of the three companions were fulfilled.

The Scarecrow felt wiser than ever, with new ideas constantly emerging in his mind.

The Tin Man walked around the hall and heard a rhythmic thump-thump from his chest. Overjoyed, he declared that he finally had a heartbeat. He felt that this new heart was even kinder and more loving than the one he had lost.

The Lion, brimming with newfound courage and strength, proclaimed that he would not back down even in the face of an entire army.

Now, only Pinocchio’s wish remained.

Watching Dorothy’s companions leave happily, Oz smiled in satisfaction.

"They believe that my teacher and I are great magicians, capable of anything. Because of that, their wishes were actually quite easy to fulfill."

He glanced at Rhine approvingly—it was thanks to this brilliant magician that he had come up with such a clever solution!

Rhine simply shrugged.

After all, this was the very idea that the future Oz would have come up with on his own. When Oz had praised him as a genius for suggesting it yesterday, Rhine had merely replied, "If you just take a moment to think, you would have eventually come up with this yourself."

Now, Pinocchio eagerly ran up to Rhine and Oz.

"It’s my turn! It’s finally my turn—my wish should be granted now!"

His carved wooden eyes widened, staring at Rhine with hopeful anticipation.

"Great magician! You were able to make me move, so surely you can also give me flesh and blood—turn me into a real boy!"

Rhine nodded gently.

"Yes, I do have the power to do that."

After traveling across multiple kingdoms, absorbing the power of wishes, and mastering various types of magic, Rhine was confident that he could now perform such a miracle.

He knew that in the original story, Pinocchio eventually received the Fairy’s blessing and transformed into a real boy.

In that version, "becoming a real human" was presented as the puppet’s ultimate reward—a perfect ending.

However, Rhine had a slightly different perspective.

"But before I grant your wish, I have a question for you, Pinocchio."

The young magician’s tone shifted.

"Can you tell me why you want to become a real, flesh-and-blood human?"

Pinocchio froze.

He had never really thought about that before.

Scratching his wooden head, he hesitated.

"I… I don’t know.

"But I suppose… a real boy must be better than a moving puppet, right?

"After all, most people in this world are flesh-and-blood humans. It’s probably best for me to become like everyone else."

Rhine simply smiled.

"But look at your friends—the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Lion. Aren’t they happy just as they are? Are they any less than the humans in this world?"

Pinocchio tilted his head. "Hmm… I guess that’s true?"

He started to feel uncertain.

Rhine continued,

"You see, Pinocchio, being a living puppet is what makes you special.

"When you fall into water, you float effortlessly. If your feet get burned, a carpenter can craft you a new pair.

"In White Kingdom, the Queen recognized your potential and invited you to become a puppet performer—one of the most extraordinary in the world, because you are the puppet.

"But if I turn you into a real boy, you’ll lose everything that makes you unique. You’ll become just another ordinary person, no different from the countless others across this land.

"So, let me ask you again—do you truly want to become a real boy?"

Pinocchio hesitated.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the great magician who had given him life… was making a lot of sense!