Chapter 4: Masterpiece in Wood

The opportunity came from an unexpected place.

Over the course of ten years of research, I created countless dolls.

Some were used for commissions, while others broke down when their lifespan ended.

But more than that, a significant number of dolls began piling up in my workshop.

Annoyed by the clutter, I casually handed these leftover dolls to my nanny.

They were just taking up space, after all.

At first, I only gave her the excess ones without much thought.

Then one day, the nanny told me that they were surprisingly valuable.

Even though they were simple dolls that merely twitched a few times, people found them fascinating.

She said that the dolls I had given her were being bought by other attendants for money.

‘Wait a minute. Can I make money just by selling dolls?’

So the next time, I tried crafting slightly more sophisticated dolls.

Human-shaped dolls that could dance or perform sword techniques.

I even added magic hearts that allowed them to move for about a week.

And they sold in droves again.

I hadn’t expected this at all.

Every doll I made was sold immediately.

Had word of mouth spread? Soon, people began commissioning dolls.

Since it was easier and more convenient than my previous work, I accepted all their requests without hesitation.

One person asked me to create a doll of their younger self.

Using the portrait they provided, I made something roughly resembling them and sent it over.

They laughed heartily as they watched the doll wield an axe.

Another requested dolls of their family.

Since they paid a hefty sum for the three dolls, I put my utmost effort into creating a harmonious-looking family.

Yet another asked me to make a doll of the woman they secretly admired. ‘Hmm… well, this is awkward.’ Despite my discomfort, I flawlessly replicated her for the enormous sum they offered.

Each time, I poured my best efforts into crafting the detailed and often intimate requests they made.

They seemed to appreciate my dedication, sparing no expense.

In this way, over a year, I earned hundreds of gold coins.

I couldn’t believe it.

‘Who would have thought it could be this simple to make money?’

Previously, it took me about a month to complete one commission, which usually earned me a single gold coin.

But now, just by crafting a few dolls, I was raking in wealth.

‘There’s no way I’m letting this opportunity pass.’ Five thousand gold coins? That was practically within reach.

Determined, I dedicated myself to making dolls.

The word-of-mouth spread even further, becoming a trend within our clan.

The nanny shared this piece of news with me.

***

I don’t know how long the rumors circulated, but one day, my father summoned me.

Father. It was the first time in my life I’d been called by him.

Even when I became a mage, he only sent congratulations through an attendant.

I had never seen him in person.

In fact, only a very small number of people in our clan had ever seen his face.

With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, I made my way to the Stone House where my father resided.

It was located on the island’s highest mountain, in a leyline brimming with the strongest magical energy.

I was momentarily startled by the intensity of the leyline’s energy.

At the entrance, the attendants bowed and opened the doors for me.

The house was larger than I had imagined.

Inside the cavernous space, resembling a giant cave, the walls were adorned with the taxidermy of various magical beasts.

At the far end, an old man sat in a worn-out chair, his arms resting on the table as he stared at me silently.

‘Is that my father?’

According to the legends, it was this old man who, a hundred years ago, raised our impoverished clan to what it was today.

As a mage, he led our clan to conquer the entire island and earned the title of its ruler.

Since then, everyone on the island called him “Father.”

The father I had imagined through those legends was a massive warrior.

But the man before me was a scrawny, frail-looking old man.

‘How could someone like this be the protagonist of such a legendary tale?’

But the moment his eyes met mine, I realized how wrong I was.

Within those eyes writhed a deadly aura and madness.

The magical power accumulated over a hundred years was overwhelming.

I could barely breathe as the energy seemed to seep like blood from his sunken eye sockets.

When I hastily bowed my head, the murderous aura dissipated. Father gazed at me silently for a while. I didn’t dare to lift my head, remaining frozen in place.

Father tapped his fingers on the table.

Interpreting it as a sign to raise my head, I cautiously adjusted my posture.

“So, I hear you’ve been making dolls,” Father said.

His voice was raspy and eerie, like the sound of scraping metal.

It made my legs tremble.

“Yes, though my skills are humble, I have been crafting dolls,” I replied nervously.

Father crooked a finger, signaling me to come closer.

I approached cautiously.

On the table, a pile of dolls I had made was stacked.

Judging by their tampered state, it seemed he had already examined them.

“Not bad,” he remarked.

He picked up a doll holding a sword and infused it with magic.

The doll began swinging the sword skillfully.

These were creations designed to perform basic movements by absorbing ambient magical energy—results of my past research.

Father watched the doll’s movements silently before handing me a book from the side of the table.

“Create the woman contained in this book. If you succeed, I will grant you what you desire.”

I carefully opened the book.

Inside, there were numerous portraits of a woman—depicting her from youth to old age.

It seemed to capture the passage of her life.

I hesitated before cautiously asking, “Who is this person?”

“No need for you to know,” Father replied.

For a brief moment, sorrow flickered in his eyes.

“I know you want to leave this island. If you can create a doll that satisfies me, I will let you go.”

Father drew out a thin piece of paper from a corner with a surge of magic.

I stared at it in disbelief.

‘A ticket… A boarding ticket for an airship!’

It wasn’t surprising that Father knew I coveted it.

After all, Ojo had mentioned that the others he taught had also left the island.

Still, I hadn’t expected him to address the matter directly.

Regardless, this was an opportunity—a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

I nodded quickly.

Father glanced at the book in my hands before waving dismissively.

My body floated up and was effortlessly expelled from the cave.

‘What incredible power. Just what level has he reached?’

I carefully tucked the book into my arms and left the place.

‘Father’s abilities are not something I need to think about now. What’s most important is focusing on this commission. This must be the masterpiece into which I pour my everything!’

Returning to my workshop, I canceled all other commissions immediately.

I opened the book and carefully examined the portraits.

‘How can I create this woman in the most natural way possible?’

The first thing that caught my eye was the stack of wood in one corner.

It was just a bunch of wood I had casually bought from the market.

Old and sturdy, yes, but completely devoid of any magical properties.

‘This won’t do at all.’

In the end, the wood was the most important aspect.

Since wood was the material I worked with best, it would form the foundation of the doll.

Of course, such wood had sufficed for my previous work.

A little infusion of magic could make it last longer than most weeds ever would.

But this time, my entire future was at stake.

‘Why Father entrusted this commission to me, or why he offered the airship ticket as a reward—none of that matters.’

What mattered was that this commission was crucial to me.

Using such ordinary materials to create this doll would not be acceptable.

Resolving to go all out, I spent nearly all the money I had earned.

Once I started pouring gold coins into it, all sorts of timber found their way to me.

Hundreds of coins disappeared as I tried different types, and finally, I found the most suitable wood.

It was a tree I couldn’t identify, one that had grown near the sea.

The merchant called it “Bluewood,” named for the bluish hue the tree had acquired from the sea breeze.

He mentioned that several weeds had been captured by a sea monster just to retrieve this single tree.

‘Not that their struggles are important to me.’

What mattered was the flow of magic imbued within this wood.

I loved how the refreshing scent of the sea wafted from it.

‘If I use this wood, I’ll be able to capture the essence of the woman while preserving the magic more fully.’

But as soon as I began working with the wood, I realized the problem.

The sea magic embedded in the wood was incredibly heavy, and taming it was no easy feat.

When I tried carving it with a magic-infused knife as I usually did, the wood burst apart from the resistance.

‘What if I use pure magic instead of a knife?’

With that thought, I tried infusing magic directly into the wood, but this killed the natural flow of magic within it.

I experimented with countless other methods, but no matter what I tried, I couldn’t preserve the wood’s inherent magic.

Months passed with no solution in sight, and frustration drove me to leave my workshop and wander aimlessly.

I found myself heading beyond the clan’s quarters to where the island’s general residents gathered.

Walking toward the center, I spotted a small marketplace.

‘Why did my steps lead me here?’

As I mulled over the thought, I browsed through the goods on display.

There was nothing special—just food, daily necessities, and clothing.

Disappointed, I was about to leave when I noticed an old man setting up a stall.

He was scrawny, half-bald, and missing his little finger and ring finger—a shabby sight. Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

As I approached, the old man paused his setup and glanced at me.

When I remained standing silently before him, he hesitated for a moment before resuming his work.

He began pulling out various carvings from his bundle.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from them.

‘Look at these carvings.’

Though made from cheap wood, they seemed more alive than the dolls I had crafted.

Especially the human figures—they looked as though they were truly laughing and chatting.

“How much are these carvings?” I asked.

“Hehe, just two copper coins each,” the old man said as he finished arranging the carvings, rubbing his hands together.

‘Only two coppers for these?’ It was absurd.

Compared to these, the dolls I made were nothing but cheap toys.

And yet, he was selling these masterpieces at such a low price.

“Then I’ll buy all of them,” I said, sitting down in front of him.

“Oh my…” The old man blinked in surprise.

“They’re not anything extraordinary, you know.

Made from cheap wood, they’ll rot or break soon enough.”

“That’s fine. Also, may I watch you carve? I’ll compensate you for it.”

“Oh, oh! How could I say no to such kindness?”

The old man nodded repeatedly, stealing glances at me.

“And… how much will you pay?” he asked hesitantly.

I fumbled through my pockets.

Having left in frustration, all I had were a few gold coins.

Taking them out, I placed them on his stall.

‘If only I had more money, I’d gladly pay extra.’

The old man’s eyes widened even more as he stared at the coins in astonishment.

“I’ll give you all of this.”

To me, this money was nothing compared to the value of watching him work.

These carvings felt like the key to solving my dilemma.

I just had that feeling.