Chapter: 562
“The Fairy Queen is still likely trapped in her dream. She’ll want to invite you all, just like any other day.”
“If you give a slight curtsey, like they do in high society, and mention my name, things will go smoothly. However, if you greet her like a regular person, then don’t even mention me. That dream is probably from before she met me.”
Recalling Erginus’ advice before coming here, Joy noticed the dim silhouette of the Fairy Queen’s hand grasping the hem of her garment and mentioned Erginus’ name.
It was difficult to confirm expressions with such darkness around. If the shadows were even slightly lighter, she could’ve put to use all those elegant survival techniques she had learned in high society.
The hand of the Fairy Queen released the hem and moved toward her chest. Though her form was not clearly visible, one could still see her gathered arms and dancing feet.
She had seen movements like that countless times in the high society. Notably, shy girls tend to transform like that.
“Fairy Queen?”
“Ah. A-ah. Um, excuse me. Erginus-nim said he would #%@)@$!”
Darkness intruded in the middle of the queen’s voice. Her excitement was disrupting her dream.
There was no time to be relaxed. They had to wrap things up before she fully awoke. It was probably about how Erginus’ apprentices aren’t allowed.
“Erginus-nim also thought that way and taught me this magic.”
As Joy spread her hands, a fairy made of magical energy began to dance atop a drawn magic circle.
“It’s a magic he said he had never taught anyone.”
As Joy confirmed the magic was perfectly cast and lifted her head again, she was met with a bizarrely distorted face of the queen.
Two eyes? Three? Why is her nose near her ears? Where did her lips go?
No. Are they in place?
Or not?
Is it right?
Or not?
Is it?
“No.”
“Ugh!”
Feeling the warmth of Phoebe’s hand on her shoulder, Joy caught her breath upon seeing her determined gaze mixed with a smile.
“Thicken your mental barrier more. The moment you started speaking, the energy increased.”
“Thanks.”
“That’s what I should be saying, seeing as your burden is the heaviest.”
After saying that with an encouraging smile, Phoebe stepped back, and Joy turned her attention back to the Fairy Queen.
“This is quite important. May I enter and talk to you, Your Majesty?”
“Uh, what topic are we discussing?”
“A story that will make girls’ eyes sparkle.”
The Fairy Queen’s face twisted again, but Joy remained unfazed. It was a tad dizzying, but bearable.
She still had some of the divine energy Phoebe had gifted her, and the strengthened mental barrier was enough for this level of intensity.
“Ahem. For you, I would gladly extend an invitation.”
“Is it okay if I bring my friends along?”
“…If you are truly Erginus’s disciple, you must know what entering the center of the forest entails. It’s not easy to be granted permission.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Having heard from Erginus, Joy understood the significance of heading into the center.
That location was exclusive to those who had attained permission.
It’s not a place where one can simply tread upon carelessly.
“Nonetheless, I believe my friends are worthy of an invitation as well.”
The distorted face of the Fairy Queen shifted, looking away from Joy. Though her expression was impossible to read, Joy noticed small nods, hesitations, and slight tilts of her head.
Is she deep in thought?
The nods seemed to diminish, and the contemplation stretched.
She was likely thinking of refusing it.
Just being Erginus’s disciple was not enough, was it? How could she persuade her?
In the worst case, should she consider going in alone?
Into a place filled with darkness that can easily invade one’s mind.
A place swarmed with strangeness.
Full of danger where one might die at any moment.
A realm that seemed as if it could lead to h*ll.
All alone.
…
Had Lucy always moved forward calmly in front of such fears?
…
“I!”
“Hey, chicken coop.”
With a resolution to break the silence, Joy’s voice got easily overshadowed by the melodious note Lucy had managed to hold in.
“Ch-chicken coop?”
“With wrinkles all over your brain, how has your judgment become so slow? Did you transplant the wrinkles onto your face or what?”
With every word Lucy spoke, the surrounding darkness deepened.
The scene was similar yet different from before.
It was anger.
The Fairy Queen, who had swayed with confused feelings before Joy, was now awakening with her heart full of rage.
The commotion grew.
If this continues, she’d awake before the plan could even start!
Lucy! You promised to keep quiet! Why did you suddenly jump in!?
Others too!
You should’ve stopped her!
If it looked like she might jump out, you should’ve grabbed her!
What the heck.
“Watch closely.”
Tap.
Lucy’s light footfall hit the ground, then lifted again.
Unlike before, her steps were devoid of divinity, but that wasn’t a big issue.
Even without divinity, Lucy shone just because she was Lucy.
Tap.
Lucy danced.
Tap.
The fairy danced.
Tap.
Playfully.
Tap.
Gently.
Tap.
Beautifully.
Tap.
Just like the fairies of a far-off past.
– Dancing #%@!?
– Me too! Same!@!$$
– Wow! So good! $@%!
– I’ll do better! %!%
Perhaps entranced by that beauty, the once fairies started flocking around Lucy one by one.
Even though the distortions of those who were consumed by darkness long ago seemed to stain Lucy’s dance, at some point, Lucy’s dance began to intertwine with the fairies’ dances.
Tap.
The fairy danced.
Tap.
The fairy danced with a human.
Tap.
The fairy danced with another fairy.
Tap.
Smiling at each other.
Boasting their superiority.
Stumbling.
Letting go of each other’s grips.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
In that moment, Joy began wondering if she was witnessing the illusions of the past. A dream from the time when fairies still existed hundreds of years ago.
So that’s why Lucy showed us her dance.
Now, it makes sense.
Had she not seen Lucy’s dance back then, she would’ve reached out to that scene, bewitched.
“…You are.”
In reaction to a voice heard from next to her, Joy lifted her head and froze at the sight of the Fairy Queen’s face.
Rather than being grotesquely twisted than before, it was because those blue eyes, tinged with purity and affected by emotions, were far too beautiful.
This is.
This is it.
The true Fairy Queen.
“Chicken coop. Now can you answer me?”
As the invading fairies stuck closer while dancing, Lucy asked, pushing them away, and the Fairy Queen nodded.
“There’s no reason to block the entrance to the heart of the fairy forest.”
Leaving behind the instruction to follow her, the Fairy Queen stepped forward in a graceful bound, while Lucy, with a curious expression, followed behind her.
And soon, the delayed companions followed Lucy’s footsteps inward.
All while etching the impressions of the scene they had just witnessed in their hearts.
*
Phew. Thank goodness it went well.
When the Fairy Queen’s face was twisted like some Cthulhu mess, that was truly terrifying!
I was seriously racking my brain to find an escape route out of the forest!
It was only after seeing the fairy’s dance that my energy stabilized; I would have even considered risking my life otherwise.
[Left unchecked, your friend might have entered alone. It couldn’t be helped.]
‘…You never said anything!’
[Really? Then I just had a guilty conscience and came up with excuses.]
As I suspected was she reading my mind, I timidly looked up and saw the Fairy Queen’s face.
Eyes of emerald green that appeared as if they held an endless ocean, where nothing was clouded and clear to the ground.
Skin as pristine white as marble yet vividly alive.
Unlike me, struggling with poverty, she exuded vitality.
Even though I frequently meet beautiful people, encountering the Fairy Queen felt different than usual.
What can I say? Should I say I partly understand the heart of the clumsy fox?
I didn’t feel this level of inspiration when I faced her during Ganshu’s trial.
Is Ganshu that dusty old man who merely locked himself in the library unable to recreate things correctly?
If the perverted crow knew, he would have thrown a fit over the insult to the Fairy Queen.
No. Could he have? That crow has numerous weaknesses against Ganshu.
“Fairy Lady.”
When I turned at the gentle call, the Fairy Queen greeted me with a soft smile.
“What in the world does chicken coop mean?”
…Is that seriously the question!?
Of course! Naturally! Saying “chicken coop” without context must have her curious!
I want to find out what nonsense I just spilled out loud too!
But how do I even answer that!?
I mean saying it smells like a chicken coop down there would be totally inappropriate!
I absolutely can’t say that! Otherwise, she’ll turn into Cthulhu again!
I want to live in medieval fantasy, not cosmic horror!
Friends! Help! Heeeeelp!
Someone roll out a more plausible excuse on my behalf!
The moment I speak, disaster will unfold!
“It’s perfectly okay not to answer if it’s difficult for you.”
Really!? Thank you! Thank you! Your grace saves me!
“Right now, it seems we have a more important discussion ahead.”
About Erginus!?
I thought he was just some hapless romantic—could it be mutual love?!
Hoohoo. Got it! I’ll step back right away!
For what lies ahead, it’s better for Joy to increase her favor.
“I recalled something just now.”
Huh? What memory? You mean the cute and pathetic side of that hapless romantic?
“That little one who, despite feeling fear before the mighty darkness of the evil god, held up a shield to protect me.”
…Huh?
“Indeed. That little one called me the chicken coop queen. I was so baffled back then that I didn’t even have the time to think.”
Wait, what?
“What she saw appeared tiny, yet strangely reliable.”
Is this story moving towards…?
“I remember you all too well. You’ve become prettier and taller since then, yet I could never forget that little back of yours.”
The Fairy Queen does remember her…
“I’m so glad to see you again, little hero. The one who shall become the queen of fairies. Do feel free to call upon me.”
She remembers Ganshu’s trial!?
“Ah, what an extraordinarily happy dream this is.”
You may also like Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy
