Chapter – 01
Prologue – The Beginning of Magic
Remember, Mari. If something terrible happens to you and Sasha and I’m not there, go to Lock Street, No. 77, Unit B6.
Find “Lynn’s Magical Antique Shop.”
And at midnight, knock four times on the ram-head door knocker. Then the owner of that place will help you.
Remember. You must remember, Mari.
You’re the only one. The only one who can protect Sasha… You’re her older sister. My precious daughter…
“Achoo.”
Mari’s thoughts stopped when the cold night air brushed against her nose.
She rubbed it once and looked down. In her palm, a worn adult wristwatch ticked steadily.
The long, slender hand crept toward midnight.
Mari sniffled again and wiped her tears.
Tick.
She brought over the wooden box she had prepared and placed it in front of the large door.
Tick.
She carefully climbed on top of the box and looked up at the ram-headed door knocker hanging slightly above her shoulder height.
Tick.
And finally, when the clock struck exactly midnight, Mari reached out and grabbed the knocker tightly.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The knocker rang four times with a strange resonance.
Blowing warm air into her hands, Mari glanced at the shop window, still dark.
“Excuse me…?”
As she whispered anxiously, the lights suddenly flicked on beyond the glass.
Then the ground began to tremble with a thunderous rumble.
Startled, Mari grabbed the railing by the entrance. Her face turned pale—she had never experienced anything like this before.
The wooden box bounced as if dancing with the shaking street. Her small body swayed like paper.
Soon, as if it had all been a lie, the trembling stopped. The nearby streetlamp flickered before turning on.
Mari’s gaze shifted toward it—
Click.
The massive antique shop door opened.
“What the—”
Brilliant light poured over her.
Mari squeezed her eyes shut and stumbled backward.
When she finally wiped her tear-soaked eyes and opened them, a man in his mid-to-late twenties stood before her. His long white hair was loosely tied back, and he lazily puffed on a smoking pipe as he looked down at her with narrowed blue eyes.
“You’re….”
Before he could finish, Mari stepped forward.
“Please help me.”
“What?”
“Please. Help me.”
Tears welled up in her large green eyes. She rubbed her face and choked back sobs.
“Please help me. My little sister has disappeared.”
“Huh?”
And thus began the first meeting between the human Mariposa and the magician Croffort Lynn.
Chapter 1 – The Case of Sasha’s Disappearance
Croffort frowned as he examined Mari.
“Do you even know who I am before coming here?”
His cold voice made her shoulders tremble.
“M-My name is Mariposa.”
Without replying, Croffort placed the pipe back in his mouth.
From her mud-stained reddish curls to her shabby clothes and bare, filthy feet—he let out a sigh.
“Who sent you here?”
“My mom…”
“Your mom?”
Mari clenched her fists and bowed her head, pleading again.
“My mom said if I came to Lynn’s Magical Antique Shop, someone would help me… Please. My sister disappeared.”
Croffort exhaled smoke into the cold air and ran a hand through his white hair. After a heavy sigh, he stepped aside.
“Come in. We’ll talk inside.”
Taking it as permission, Mari brightened and bowed deeply.
“Y-Yes! Thank you, thank you so much!”
Naturally, Croffort’s expression only worsened.
* * *
“Your mom knew about this place?”
“Yes.”
“Is she a magician?”
“What?”
Mari blinked.
A magician?
“Is… is that a job?”
Even indoors, Croffort lounged arrogantly on the sofa, pipe still in his mouth.
“Yes. A magician.”
He flicked his pipe through the air.
A white-and-blue streak of light burst from its tip, weaving into an intricate, beautiful pattern.
“Like this. Your mother—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Mari had fallen backward, staring at the floating sigil in shock.
“Guess you didn’t know.”
“W-What is that?”
“Magic.”
He flicked the pipe again, and the sigil was absorbed back inside.
“Magic really exists?”
“Yes. This is a magic consultation office.”
“But the sign says magical antique shop…”
“That’s a cover.”
“W-What?”
Magic. Magicians.
The revelation spun in her mind.
Seeing her confusion, Croffort clicked his tongue and explained more kindly.
“Magic exists. I’m a magician. This place is a consultation office for magicians. If your mother told you to come here, she’s probably a magician too. Why don’t you know?”
“I—I don’t know. Mom never told me or Sasha anything like that.”
“Sasha is your sister?”
“Yes! Please find her!”
Croffort sighed heavily, rubbing his face.
Her watery green eyes. Her chapped lips. Her wounded hands.
What a headache.
“This place is for magicians. You’re human. You can’t be a client.”
“But Mom said if I came here—”
“If you want to ask for help, your magician mother should come herself.”
“She can’t…”
“Why?”
Mari hesitated, biting her lip.
“Mom passed away a year ago. It’s just me and Sasha now.”
Croffort fell silent.
After another sigh, he asked,
“What was your mother’s name?”
“Molly.”
His face darkened as he thought.
“Last name?”
“She didn’t have one.”
“How did she die?”
“She… she was sick. Very sick.”
Mari’s face turned pale, her green eyes trembling.
That wasn’t enough information to deduce anything.
Croffort reached for vodka, then paused at the sight of her tear-filled eyes and set the glass down.
“Your sister’s name?”
“Sasha.”
“And your father?”
Mari shook her head.
No guardian at all?
“Please, Mr. Magician. I’ll earn money somehow. I’ll do anything. Just please find Sasha. She’s my only sister.”
Her words grew shakier, but her desperation was clear.
“…Ha.”
His head throbbed.
But as he had already realized, this wasn’t something he could simply refuse.
“…When did she disappear?”
Mari looked up in surprise.
“Answer before I change my mind.”
“Three nights ago. We went to sleep together, but when I woke up, she was gone.”
“Maybe she wandered off?”
“No. She grew up here… and she’s scared of everything. She always sticks close to me.”
“How old?”
“She’s four. I’m nine.”
He discarded the “lost child” theory.
“Where do you live? Is it safe?”
Mari’s face darkened.
“We live in the shantytown behind the laundromat. There are bad people there… After Mom died, thieves broke in once. They took all our money… Sasha and I hid in the well behind the house.”
“Wait. A well?”
“It’s unused. Not very deep.”
“How do you get in?”
“I lower Sasha in with a bucket and climb down with a rope…”
He stopped himself from asking how they climbed out.
“So it’s not safe.”
“No… but after that I put up a rattle on the door.”
“A what?”
“Shells tied to a string…”
“Right.”
He ignored it.
“A four-year-old wouldn’t wander alone. It’s been three days. Likely abduction. Anything unusual that day?”
“…There was something good. I shine shoes at the fountain plaza. A gentleman gave Sasha a pair of shoes.”
“Your sister doesn’t have shoes either?”
“…No.”
He flicked his pipe.
A pair of oversized slippers flew in through the air and landed before Mari.
“Put them on.”
“Th-Thank you…”
They were far too big, but warm and soft.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Why only Sasha?”
“They were very small. They wouldn’t fit me.”
The shoes were suspicious.
Croffort stood abruptly.
“Take me to your home.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
It was already 12:30 a.m.
Mari was exhausted—but if it meant saving Sasha—
“Okay.”
She slapped her cheeks and stood.
Noticing her fatigue but saying nothing, Croffort stepped outside.
And so, they headed into the night.
