In the city of Olekhov, criminals are not executed; they are turned into “defective” with the help of a magic medallion. But one day the prophecy will come true and... “Kharalug will open the medallion.” Someday, a corpse thrown into a swamp will rise from a deep quagmire, shake off the dirt stuck to its face and, staggering, groping its way through the forest... Right? No, everything will be simpler and more prosaic. But those who owned the medallion will not be helped either by the city guards, or by the walls of their fairy-tale castles, or by a pack of dogs... Yesenya Zhmurenok, nicknamed Balui, knows nothing about Kharalug - he is only sixteen years old, he walks and has fun until the magical thing ends up in his possession in his hands. From the simple-minded desire to “make all people happy” to the realization that an open medallion will not bring people happiness, Yesena has a long way to go: a simple story at first glance raises questions for which you can look for answers throughout your life.