TRPM 50

chapter 50

After Yeon Mirae came to visit me in the hospital and met Arthur and Rachel, she and Rachel quickly became close.

Through that process, I was able to gather more information about Rachel. She was famous as a puppeteer who had learned the art of puppetry from a master, and the reason Arthur was able to enter the academy was thanks to the support of the British government and the academy’s chairman, who were aware of Rachel’s circumstances.

It made sense—no matter how exceptional Arthur was as a puppet, he was still a puppet and had no social status.

I also learned that Rachel was naturally frail and needed to take medicine every day…

“So that’s why you’re in the hospital?”

“Yes. Being in the hospital means I don’t have to move my body much, and I can receive my medicine regularly.”

Even a puppet like Arthur could function somewhat independently of Rachel. However, because it was necessary to periodically supply Rachel’s magical energy to Arthur, he was admitted to a hospital in Korea rather than the UK.

Hearing all that, I understood why Rachel was hospitalized.

‘Effectively, she’s terminal.’

I sent some inner energy to check Rachel’s body, given her natural frailty, and indeed, her body was weak.

No, it wasn’t just weak…

‘She has almost no innate life force.’

This innate energy is akin to the root of a human or their life force. Without it, living long is impossible.

There are ways to artificially replenish innate energy…

‘It would involve inserting someone else’s innate life force into her body.’

Even so, it’s not very efficient since it’s not her own energy, and the transferred energy would only stay in her body for a few days before dissipating. More importantly, the donor’s life would be put at risk.

In other words, Rachel’s short lifespan is unavoidable.

“……”

If there’s any possibility, it would have to be through Aether.

I recalled Dr. Jacob’s message when I was enhancing the Awakener system:

[The important thing is that this Aether can transform into any form.]

Aether that forms the black mist and the Awakener system. If refined properly, couldn’t it be converted into innate energy?

‘…Should I try it?’

It sounded crazy.

Innate energy in martial arts novels can produce explosive power when used, but why don’t martial artists use it freely? Because it’s closely tied to life and can’t easily be replenished.

But if it could be replenished…

‘I see several possibilities…’

Of course, this would require support from the Awakener system. I can perceive Aether, but I don’t have any myself. In this world, only the black mist and the Awakener system contain Aether.

With that in mind, I called the Awakener system internally.

【Request from user Han Geon-woo is being reviewed.】

【Convert Aether into innate life force or vitality.】

【Possible.】

The system confirmed that my proposed method could work. But…

【10,000 points of Aether can be exchanged for one day’s worth of life force.】

The ratio seemed a bit extreme. 10,000 points would likely come from the points accumulated through usage fees and such. Even then, it’s not an amount I could easily see. One day’s worth of life for 10,000 points…

‘Still, it seems reasonable…’

After all, I’d be restoring something that normally can’t be restored. The cost being high was only natural.

“Um…”

As I was thinking, Arthur, the puppet sitting next to me, raised his hand. Yeon Mirae and Rachel, who had been bickering, turned to look at him.

“This child… your name is Geon-woo, right? You look bored. Can I take him with me for a while?”

Apparently, Arthur thought I was bored staring at the system messages. Yeon Mirae glanced at me briefly.

Honestly, watching Yeon Mirae and Rachel bicker was somewhat entertaining…

‘Let him.’

I sent the message to Yeon Mirae. I was curious about Arthur’s intentions.

“Uh… okay. That’s fine.”

Yeon Mirae nodded at Arthur, and he moved me away from her and Rachel.

“……”
“……”

Arthur didn’t speak much as we walked. He seemed to be looking for a secluded place to talk with me. With so many people in the hospital, finding one was difficult.

“Brother, let’s sit there and rest.”
“Hm? Yeah… sure.”

I guided Arthur to a suitable chair. There were people nearby, but fewer than elsewhere.

Arthur seemed to be pondering something and then quietly spoke into my ear:

“Could you set up a barrier so others cannot overhear our conversation?”

“……”

A primary school student speaking formally and requesting a barrier… I narrowed my eyes in disbelief.

Then Arthur said…

“Thank you for granting my request.”

Artist…

“……”

He seemed to see right through me.

“…Since when did you know? Wait, we met for the first time today… how did you know?”

It would be easy to deny, but I didn’t. It was hard to believe Arthur simply guessed I was an Artist; he must have been certain. For clarity and to avoid complications, it was better not to deny it.

Arthur answered my question:

“It was merely coincidence.”

The puppet didn’t need to sleep at night…

“I simply saw the Artist moving around at night, visiting various places.”

“…That alone wouldn’t be enough to identify me as an Artist.”

At night, the Artist is my puppet, not me. Of course, I control it, but just seeing the puppet wouldn’t immediately link it to me…

‘But Arthur might be able to.’

Arthur’s abilities are exceptional. Even with Mirae limiting her inner energy, he overpowered her with swordsmanship.

Even if he learned Sir Sergei’s swordsmanship, just knowing it alone wouldn’t make Russia’s army the world’s strongest—meaning Arthur’s potential rivals that of an Aura Master.

‘And Arthur is a puppet like the Artist.’

He could recognize the Artist as a puppet and identify me as its master, just as Yeon Mirae did.

“…So? Why did you speak to me?”

If he approached me despite knowing I’m an Artist, it must be for a reason.

‘Without Rachel knowing.’

Arthur made his request:

“I thought the Artist might be able to extend my master Rachel’s lifespan.”

“……”

That was the very issue I had been contemplating: restoring innate energy, vitality, or lifespan. Arthur asked me to do it.

And to conclude…

“Theoretically possible, but practically impossible.”
“…Why?”

Instead of answering directly, I used puppetry to place restrictions on Arthur: he could not reveal that I am an Artist or what I’m about to tell anyone, not even Rachel. Then I spoke.

“Is there a way for Rachel to gain 10,000 points per day?”
“10,000 points…? Points as in…?”
“Yes, the points provided by the Awakener system.”

Arthur went silent. He probably realized that extending Rachel’s life would require 10,000 points per day.

‘I don’t really need to explain this…’

Normally, this would just be false hope, so I wouldn’t say anything. But I decided to explain it to Arthur. Since Rachel had become friends with my student Yeon Mirae, and Arthur was a thinking puppet… I was intrigued.

Above all…

‘I can’t just let the puppeteer who made such an exceptional puppet die…’

If Rachel lived longer, Arthur could continue functioning for a long time. If Rachel could make more puppets at Arthur’s level, they could fight monsters in the future. I wanted to keep Rachel alive for that reason.

“……”

Arthur seemed to be contemplating. Earning 10,000 points a day would be extremely difficult…

“If I detect and clear sea dungeons, how many points could I earn?”
“Sea?”

…Not just the seashore, but sea dungeons. Being in the black mist’s domain, people rarely visit, leaving many dungeons unattended. Arthur planned to clear them all.

‘…It might work?’

If he informs the Awakener system before clearing the dungeon, the system could gather the dungeon’s energy, create artifacts, and award points to Arthur or Rachel. Arthur, likely on par with an Aura Master, wouldn’t need to breathe underwater, making him suitable for sea dungeons.

If he diligently cleared dungeons, earning points to sustain Rachel’s life might be possible.

“Nonstop, 24 hours a day. Could you do it?”

Arthur nodded solemnly.

“I’m a puppet; as long as I receive magic, I can move endlessly.”

The plan to extend Rachel’s life was decided.

“No.”

Arthur told Rachel about the method to extend her life. He didn’t reveal that he learned it from me due to the restrictions I placed, but he mentioned she could earn points by clearing dungeons.

Rachel refused to allow it. No matter how much it was for her own good…

“Your body still needs adjustment. You can only replicate sword techniques; you can’t even use magic properly… What if your magic runs out in the dungeon…?”

She wasn’t going to let Arthur take dangerous risks.

“I…”
“Quiet.”

Arthur tried to speak, but Rachel cut him off.

“Whatever the reason, you are absolutely not allowed to go to the dungeons. This is an order.”

…I’d heard she created Arthur as a companion, but this was overprotective, wasn’t it…

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