The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 147: Escape

"How strange… Someone sent me a letter by carrier pigeon?"

Muttering to himself, Oz opened the window.

He carefully untied the letter from the little white pigeon’s leg, then generously offered it some breadcrumbs. Watching the bird coo happily and fly away, he mused, Who would send me a letter? And in such a mysterious way?

Curious, Oz tore open the envelope and began to read.

Halfway through, his eye twitched.

A moment later, he jumped to his feet.

"Oh no, no, no!"

"The Sage of the Rose Kingdom—the magician Rhine—has come to the Land of Oz?!"

For years, ever since arriving in these lands, he had believed he would never leave. His past life, the outside world—it all felt like a distant memory, buried forever in his mind and his dreams.

No one in this kingdom knew that the so-called Great Wizard Oz had once been nothing more than a circus magician and a balloon pilot. His dazzling tricks had only ever been meant to entertain crowds on a stage.

Everything beyond the Emerald Plains—the kingdoms of the continent, the joys and sorrows of his old life—had been sealed away, existing only in his thoughts.

But recently, that foreign magician, Magrito, had shattered his illusion.

And now, with Rhine’s arrival, Oz could no longer deceive himself.

"The Land of Oz is still connected to the world."

The thought flashed through his mind like a warning.

Sooner or later, the outside world would come knocking.

He hadn’t even finished reading the letter before panic seized him.

"This is a disaster. Lord Rhine is here!"

"He’s a real magician—a powerful one!"

"And I… I lied and told everyone that I was his disciple! I only made that up to fool people here!"

"What do I do now? If Lord Rhine finds out I’ve been impersonating his student, he’ll be furious!"

Oz paced the room in agitation, back and forth, from the door to the farthest corner and back again.

Swallowing his fear, he forced himself to continue reading the letter.

The neat, elegant handwriting made his hands tremble as he read further.

"No way. My soldiers… arrested him?"

"Dear gods. Those idiots actually arrested Lord Rhine?!"

Meanwhile, in the damp, cold little room, Rhine crouched in a corner, patiently awaiting good news.

Soon, the door creaked open.

"Rule violator, here are your glasses. Remember, you must wear them at all times while walking through Emerald City," the officer announced, handing Rhine a pair of green-lensed glasses.

Rhine obediently put them on.

"Of course, you still can’t leave. As we said before, no magician is allowed to remain in Emerald City without Oz’s permission," the officer added.

"So you’re going to request an audience with the great Oz?" Rhine asked.

"Naturally. Now’s your chance—state your reason for visiting Emerald City," the officer said. "We’ll send someone to inform the great Oz. If your reason is acceptable, he may grant you permission to explore his beautiful city."

Rhine was about to speak when the officer cut in with a warning:

"But don’t get your hopes up.

"The great Oz is a just ruler and a powerful magician… but he hates boring people.

"If your reason is dull, he might get angry and have you executed on the spot!"

At the mention of Oz’s supposed power, the officer’s expression darkened, his voice lowering in reverence—and fear.

Clearly, he both respected and dreaded the great wizard.

Rhine nodded solemnly.

"A dangerous witch—far more powerful and evil than both the Wicked Witches of the East and West—is currently lurking in the Land of Oz," he stated.

"She is known as the Black Witch Maleficent. She was part of the same coven as the Eastern Witch.

"I must meet the great Oz and ask for his help in locating Maleficent."

The officer frowned slightly at the claim that an even stronger and more wicked witch existed, but he nonetheless recorded Rhine’s words.

"If this is true, and another wicked witch has appeared in our land, that would be troublesome. But then again… with the great Oz here, no evil witch would dare touch Emerald City," he said, confidence returning to his voice.

Still skeptical, he asked, "Can you guarantee what you’re saying is true?"

"Without a doubt, sir," Rhine replied.

"I will report this to the great Oz. But let me warn you—if you are lying to him, you are making the biggest mistake of your life.

"The great Oz can see through any deception. No one can lie in his presence. He despises dishonesty more than anything. If he finds out you’re lying… he’ll strike you down in an instant!"

The officer’s repeated warnings made it clear he was genuinely concerned for Rhine’s safety.

"I understand," Rhine said.

The officer sighed.

"Alright then, state your name and origin. If we’re reporting this to the great Oz, we need to provide the necessary details. We can’t just tell him ‘a nameless stranger has an urgent request,’ can we?"

"As I’ve said—I am Rhine, a magician from the Rose Kingdom," Rhine stated.

"…Huh?"

The officer’s face turned pale green—like an unripe apple.

Just then, Rhine’s eyes gleamed.

Through the open doorway, he saw another squad of soldiers rushing toward them.

"Lord Rhine, the great Oz requests your presence at the palace!"