My Pokémon Story of Seasons

Chapter 333 The Toy Maker

"What's the story? Why are you being so mysterious?!"

After clearing the table, Tong Hua was led by Tibrim to the front of her room where she lived alone.

This room is the most spacious of all the guest rooms on the second floor. Ever since Brim arrived at the ranch a month ago, it has become the boudoir of a witch who is hundreds of years old.

Tibriam usually doesn't let anyone into her room. Once, Chinchilla sneaked in to clean, but when she discovered it, she hung it from the rafters and punished it by tickling it for a long time.

Even Tong Hua was entering Tibrim's room for the first time.

No, to be precise, it was actually the first time entering a room of the opposite sex.

Thinking about it this way, how come it's still a precious first time?

"Come in, Brie."

After breaking the spell on the door lock, Tibrim pushed open the door.

"Wow--

Um?"

As Tong Hua entered the room, she felt that it was completely different from the witch's room she had imagined.

The room was surprisingly tidy?

Or perhaps it should be described as simple, lacking the feel of a witch's hut in the forest that one might imagine.

Several photocopies of ancient books were neatly arranged on the bedside table. They seemed to be books that had been read and of great interest, which were collected specifically to be read at any time.

Apart from that, there were no other personal belongings in the entire room.

It could even be said that it was as if they were deliberately hiding their life, and it didn't look like a room that had been occupied for a month.

"What am I even expecting?!"

Tong Hua stood outside the door, hesitant to go in.

Tibrim turned around and saw Tong Hua standing frozen at the door, tilting her head slightly.

"What's wrong with you? What are you thinking about? Come in quickly."

Do I really have to move you in, Bree?

Tong Hua remained rooted to the spot, but managed to utter a response.

"Well, I was just thinking—"

What exactly is our relationship now?

Tong Hua's offhand remark nearly made Tibrim's brain boil over.

Tibrim's ahoge (cowlick) got tangled from overthinking, and she landed on the floor with a thud, hands on her hips.

"What kind of stupid question is this, Brie?!"

Of course we are master and apprentice!

At most, you provide me with food and lodging, but I also help you look after the shop, Brie!

What kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day long?! Get in here and get down to business!

She grabbed Tong Hua's wrist and practically dragged him into the room, then slammed the door shut.

The door lock rotated three times automatically, and even with the key, it couldn't be opened.

"Sit on the bed!"

Tibriam pointed to the impeccably clean, almost impersonal bed, then jumped onto the chair in front of the desk. "What I'm about to say is important, so don't interrupt, Brie!"

Tong Hua looked around; the room still felt deliberately empty to him. It was as if Tibrim was ready to leave at any moment, leaving no trace of herself.

"Okay, teacher."

Tong Hua obediently sat down. "What important matter is it?"

Tibrim took a deep breath, used his telekinesis to pick up a book from the bedside table, and began to speak slowly.

"As I just mentioned, I've been researching these estimates recently and discovered a very interesting story."

The story tells of a famous toy maker on Neverland long ago—

This toy maker had no name, and no one knew where his hometown was.

The island's inhabitants only knew that he was extremely skilled and that the various small toys he made from wood were ingeniously designed.

He is particularly skilled at making moving puppets and exquisite mechanical birds, which can mimic simple and cute movements and clear chirps simply by winding them up.

As an outsider, the toy maker never started a family on the island and had no children.

Every winter's Holy Night, he would sit quietly by the window of his studio, listening to the laughter and joy coming from every home on the island, spending the night alone.

Until one year, the toy maker decided to make a special toy.

A living puppet that can accompany him as a family member —

At this point, Tibrim suddenly stopped and looked at Tong Hua, who was listening intently to the story.

"And then? Why did you stop there?"

Urged on by Tong Hua, Tibrim continued speaking.

"The toy maker devoted his entire life's learning to designing a puppet using the finest materials."

To prevent the puppet from being without a companion after its creation, the toy maker thoughtfully made a pair of male and female puppets.

Once the two puppets were made, they looked as lifelike as real children.

As the clock struck midnight on Holy Night, the toy maker solemnly made a wish.

"God, please grant these two children life, let them be my family," Tibrim said slowly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the edges of the pages.

"As the bells of Holy Night rang, a miracle truly occurred."

A soft clicking sound came from the joints of the two puppets, and their eyes gradually regained a warm luster.

The story ends here, and Tibrim stops and closes the book.

"That's it?" Tong Hua asked, somewhat puzzled. She felt the story was rather brief and seemed to have only told half of it.

"Yes, that's all." Tibrim nodded, still holding the ancient book.

"So—what do you want to tell me?"

Seeing Tong Hua's ambiguous smile, Tibrim suddenly felt a surge of anger.

"You idiot Tong Hua, I really don't know if you're just pretending to annoy my Brie!"

Can't you understand the deeper meaning between the lines?

After being scolded by Tipurim, Tong Hua scratched his head. "You mean, this is more than just a story?"

Is there really a magic that can bring puppets to life?

"Of course! Otherwise, why would I waste my breath talking to you about all this, Bree!"

Tibrim jumped off the chair with a thud, walked angrily to Tong Hua, and put her hands on her hips.

"This young lady wants to try out this magic called 'Puppet Master'!"

It took Tong Hua more than ten minutes to understand what Tibrim wanted to do.

Simply put, it's a magic technique recorded in ancient texts that allows the caster to manipulate the body of a puppet.

Tibrim wanted to use this magic to create a human-shaped body to manipulate.

In this way, although the problem is not completely solved, at least we can try out what it feels like to act with a human body after a long time.

"So, the purpose of you telling me all this is to report it?"

"You want a puppet that looks exactly like a real person?"

"That's right, Bree!"

Tibrim's ahoge (cowlick) bobbed excitedly, and her eyes sparkled, causing Tong Hua's heart to flutter slightly. But soon, reason prevailed, and he frowned.

"But—is this magic safe? Are there any side effects or costs?"

He posed a series of questions, "And what materials are needed to create a body that can perfectly simulate human activities?"

It can't be ordinary wood, can it?

Tibrim had clearly considered these things long ago; she puffed out her small chest, looking confident and assured.

"There's no need to worry about safety. If there's a problem, we can simply undo the magic."

As for the materials—”

Her voice lowered, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to the window.

"Let's use some wood from the giant tree that built the treehouse library."

Tong Hua followed Tibrim's gaze and saw the Treehouse Library standing behind the Wonderful Potions Shop. The giant tree that made up its main body was planted by Celebi himself and came from the same root system as the oldest tree in the Windswept Forest.

"Alright, that's settled then. I'll take charge of making the puppets as well."

Tong Hua nodded, stood up, and said, "Let me show you my skills as a wood carver!"

I will definitely create the most perfect puppet!

Tibrim's ahoge (cowlick) swayed happily: "Then this girl will be waiting with great anticipation."

Now----

"Get out of my room right now, Bree!"

Tong Hua, both amused and exasperated, raised his hands in surrender, only to be gently "pushed" to the door by a mental force. The door opened automatically in front of him, letting in the light from the corridor.

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving." He stepped out of the room, then turned back and said, "I'll go get the timber tomorrow—"

Before he could finish speaking, the door slammed shut in front of him with a "bang," and three crisp locking sounds came from inside.

Tong Hua stood in front of the closed door and touched her nose.

"What a difficult little troublesome witch!"