The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 157: Oz’s Public Speech

“It seems that way, but I don’t really want to become a real boy anymore,” said Pinocchio.

He thought about it carefully for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

“I think I’m great just the way I am! Being a puppet isn’t bad at all!”

Rhine smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. It looks like you’ve accepted what makes you special.

“Who’s to say a puppet is any less than a real boy?

“Everyone has their own unique traits. You don’t have to force yourself to become someone else just to fit in.”

Hearing Rhine’s words, Pinocchio became just as happy as the other four companions who had their wishes fulfilled. He began singing and dancing in excitement.

“Thank you, great Mage Rhine! You’ve made my wish come true! Oh, by the way, can you send me back to White Kingdom? I want to return to my father.”

“Of course,” Rhine replied with a smile.

With that, he vanished with Pinocchio in the silver wind, sending him back to his kingdom before reappearing in the same place, still wearing a faint smile.

At that moment, Aurora, who had been hiding behind a screen, stepped out.

“Teacher, I never expected you to ‘fulfill’ Pinocchio’s wish in this way. I thought you would actually turn him into a real boy.”

“If he had insisted on becoming human, I would have,” Rhine said.

“I would have concocted a potion—its formula would be based on the one that turns merfolk into humans, infused with life-giving and transformation magic. Once he drank it, Pinocchio would have become a real, flesh-and-blood boy forever. But that living, talking puppet would have ceased to exist.”

Aurora imagined what Pinocchio would look like as a real boy and then said,

“I think I prefer him the way he is now.”

“So do I,” Rhine said with a smile. “I’m glad he’s truly accepted himself.”

“Being different doesn’t mean being worse. People are who they are because of their unique traits—both strengths and flaws. If everyone tried to be the same, this world wouldn’t be so colorful.”

Aurora thought of that adorable little puppet, then seemed to recall something else.

Her eyes flickered with emotion as she sighed,

“I suddenly thought of the Western Kingdom and the Sea Kingdom, of Princess Ariel, who was willing to pay a heavy price just to become human and live among them.

“It seems like many non-human beings on this continent strive to become human.”

Rhine said meaningfully,

“People have always believed that humans are special.”

He knew that in traditional literature and religious thought, the human form was often seen as the ideal. Across both Eastern and Western cultures, there was no shortage of intelligent non-human beings longing to take human shape.

“When I become Queen of Rose Kingdom, I’ll try to change that perspective,” Aurora declared firmly.

For a moment, a glint of killing intent flashed in her emerald eyes.

“But before that, we need to find Maleficent and take her down! She’s currently hiding in the Land of Oz.”

Hearing this, Oz promised,

“I will immediately dispatch people to search every inch of the Land of Oz. We’ll find that wicked witch no matter what!”

Aurora then turned to Rhine with a slightly serious expression.

“I wonder how much Maleficent has recovered from her injuries.

“The green wilderness of Oz is nothing like the sea. If she’s fully healed, Teacher, are you confident you can fight her?”

Rhine’s expression remained calm as he nodded lightly.

“Yes.”

Seeing Aurora’s delighted expression, he added,

“I’m stronger than I was before.”

He could feel it—the power of wishes from Oz, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and Pinocchio had all gathered within him.

Rhine heard the roar of magic surging through his soul.

This time, he hadn’t learned any new spells or obtained any new artifacts.

He had ascended. Perfected. Become purer.

Just as he had predicted when he left White Kingdom, the accumulated magic from fulfilling wishes had finally undergone a transformation.

At this moment, Rhine instinctively realized that if he unleashed his full power, any spell he had ever learned could now be strengthened into a terrifying incantation capable of covering an entire kingdom.

He had become a legendary mage, equal to Maleficent. Even in the green wilderness of Oz, he would not be outmatched by the Black Witch!

Aurora clenched her fists excitedly.

“Teacher, I’ve grown stronger too! When Maleficent transformed into the Black Dragon, I fought her—and I became stronger because of it!

“If we join forces, even if Maleficent regains her full strength, we’ll still be able to defeat her easily!”

Rhine reminded the excited Aurora,

“But we must not be careless.

“Although Maleficent is still heavily injured, and although we are stronger than her together, I plan to set up an extra safeguard—just in case.”

He smiled.

“After all, lifting the curse on Rose Kingdom isn’t just our responsibility.”

Aurora looked confused.

“Teacher, what do you mean?”

Rhine didn’t explain immediately. Instead, he turned to Oz.

“Oz, now that you are a true mage and no longer a fraud, you should find an opportunity to demonstrate your magic before the citizens of Emerald City.”

At this, Rhine couldn’t help but chuckle.

“The mage Magrido, who has been secretly observing you and plotting your downfall, is going to be very disappointed.

“I foresaw that he has already infiltrated the city. This will be the perfect chance to capture him!”

—

Magrido watched as the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion left Oz’s palace, chatting and laughing with lighthearted steps.

He frowned in confusion.

“Didn’t I tell them how to expose Oz’s deception? Why do they look so satisfied after meeting him?”

He hurried forward and asked,

“You all met Oz?”

The group didn’t recognize the disguised Magrido and assumed he was just an ordinary citizen of Emerald City. They happily responded,

“Yes! The great Oz and his teacher—an even greater mage—fulfilled our wishes.”

The Scarecrow patted his head.

“I received a brilliant brain! I think I might be the smartest person in all of Emerald City now.”

The Tin Man thumped his chest.

“I received a beautiful heart—far more perfect than the one I once had. I can feel love again!”

The Lion lifted his chin proudly.

“I drank a miraculous potion and am now full of courage! No matter how terrifying my enemies may be, I will never feel fear again!”

The group exclaimed in unison,

“Praise the great Oz! He is truly a kind and powerful mage!”

…What?

Magrido’s eyes froze, his body trembled, and his fake beard nearly fell to the ground.

No way.

Oz actually had the power to grant their wishes?

As the Scarecrow and the others left joyfully, they spread the news along the way, praising Oz’s kindness, power, and boundless magic.

Before long, the entire city knew that Oz had effortlessly granted the outsiders’ wishes.

People admired and adored their great mage more than ever.

“Oz is truly a great king! How lucky we are to be under his rule.”

“The miraculous mage who built this beautiful city also protects it from the evil witches of the East and West. And now, he has granted the wishes of outsiders as well.”

—

Hearing all this, Magrido seethed with rage.

“How could this happen? This is impossible!

“Why didn’t they expose Oz as a fraud? Instead, his reputation has only grown stronger!”

Then, he had a thought.

“No, this must be another one of Oz’s tricks!

“He must have fooled those tin-headed, straw-filled, and wooden fools into believing they got what they wanted!

“That explains it—Oz has no real magic, just cheap illusions and deception.”

Just then, an announcement spread through the streets:

The great Oz would be giving a public speech—revealing his true self to the people.

Magrido’s eyes widened in shock.

“What? Oz is going to reveal his true identity?

“He’ll show everyone that he’s not a giant beast or a majestic floating head, but a scrawny little old man?

“No way.”

He sneered.

“Hah! This must be another of his tricks.

“Well then, I’ll disguise myself as a regular citizen, shout for him to perform magic, and force him to prove his power.

“And when Oz inevitably relies on trickery, I—an actual mage—will expose his deception in front of everyone!

“Soon, all of Emerald City will know that Oz is nothing but a fraud!”

Feeling pleased with his plan, Magrido joined the surging crowd heading toward the city square.

—

Before long, Oz’s public speech began.

The palace square was packed with people, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of their king—the great mage Oz.

Then, they saw a kindly old man step onto the stage.

Using magic to amplify his voice, Oz looked out at the crowd and declared,

“My people, I am your king—Oz!”