Chapter: 551
“Are you really coming to me for help because you, the incompetent loser wizard, can’t solve this problem on your own? Did you even think about trying to figure it out? Is your brain so fried that you can’t come up with new ideas?”
When I frowned at Erginius’s claim that examining the fairy forest was impossible, he shrugged as if he had nothing to say.
“I’m sorry. But this was unexpected for me too. Who would have thought the queen would be half-asleep?”
Just yesterday, Erginius had visited the fairy forest and intended to check the situation inside the barrier, but he failed.
The energy lingering within obstructed his gaze.
Flustered by an unforeseen situation, Erginius did his best to identify what was hindering him and ultimately arrived at one conclusion.
The Fairy Queen must be excluding them from the boundary between dreams and reality.
“She couldn’t be fully awake yet. If she were, the barrier would have collapsed long ago.”
“So, what now, you pathetic loser wizard?”
“She is wandering between dreams and reality. In the meantime, she is unconsciously trying to protect the forest.”
When I asked for his reasoning, Erginius spoke with a nostalgic expression as if reminiscing about the past.
“You were born after the fairy forest was trapped within the barrier, so you don’t know much about it—specifically about the legends surrounding fairies.”
[Ah, is that it?]
‘…Hey grandpa, can you stop with the insider talk and explain it in detail?’
[It’s nothing grand. Just stories about what kind of beings can meet the fairies.]
In the Age of Myth, fairies were creatures that naturally inhabited the world.
Humans overflowed with a desire to meet fairies that loved to play tricks, were subtly suspicious, and flaunted their beauty while frolicking about with animals and flowers.
However, the fairies did not easily permit meetings with humans. They only allowed contact with those they desired and never even showed the tips of their wings to anyone else.
Even threatening the fairies physically was out of the question, as their powers were significant, and the deities residing near humans viewed them favorably, making it impossible to touch them.
[But humans are a breed that does not give up easily. Those desperate to see fairies would compile information on those who met them, trying to find conditions.]
In gaming terms, it was like people pooling their heads together to find the entry requirements.
[You must possess a good heart. You must have something extraordinary about you. You must be sinless. You must be loved by beasts. The list of conditions deemed necessary was endless.]
When I later asked the Fairy Queen herself, it seemed this was merely a matter of fairy preference.
So, in the end, was the method to meet a fairy just a way to charm them?
If you don’t fit their taste, they’ll be like “Ugh, gross,” and not even show their face.
…Isn’t this a bit too tainted by the mundane? Give my fantasy back!
The fairies I know are supposed to be purer and cuter!
How can you become a fairy by meticulously weighing conditions and measuring your opponent?!
Isn’t that more like trash disguised as a sloppy fox?!
[It seems those conditions apply to the fairy forest now.]
‘Uh, grandpa, if that’s the case, doesn’t it mean Erginius got rejected by the Fairy Queen?’
<…That might be stretching it, but it’s close enough to imply that.>
‘That’s basically the same thing!’
To have a century-long unrequited love dashed by, “Sorry, but someone like you is just not physiologically possible,” is devastating!
Is reality this brutal!?
No, how is Erginius’s mind intact through all this?!
How can he so calmly state that the love he harbored for centuries was brutally crushed!?
Is the mental fortitude of a great wizard on a completely different level?! For someone known to be a sympathy skeleton, he sure has shown more than one sloppy loser-like moment?!
“By now, Benedict would have explained this. My assumptions align with his.”
Has he really not denied reality?! Did he just accept being dumped so calmly?!
While I felt a sense of awe for Erginius’s superhuman mentality, he continued his relaxed explanation.
“Right now, I am Erginius, but not Erginius. I’m a fake created by the old great wizard. And fairies do not allow those who harbor lies.”
[Indeed. Is he just trying to convince himself that he wasn't dumped?]
“Ha ha! Cough. Ha ha!”
“…What’s going on?”
I burst into laughter at the grandpa’s words, yet couldn’t bring myself to explain the truth to Erginius.
I felt guilty about shattering this man’s innocence, more so because if he descends into despair over being rejected, it would derail our current plan.
As I sat there laughing silently, Erginius tilted his head and continued.
“Anyway, now that I’ve confirmed this, I’ve been seeking a way to eliminate the queen’s intervention. As the one who created the barrier, I thought my accumulated knowledge would solve it.”
However, Erginius failed. Just as he had prepared for this over centuries underground, the Fairy Queen within the barrier had also made her energy her own over the long years.
“I don’t know why her consciousness is only partially awake, though.”
“Isn’t it because the barrier is as sloppy as the lost social skills of a loser wizard?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the magic. It’s just… It’s pointless to explain now. Instead, we need a way to resolve this. I need someone to take my place.”
What kind of nonsense is this skull talking about? How could there be someone who could substitute a wizard celebrated as a historical genius? Has he lost his mind?
Ah. Right, he has.
Even if he pretended the shock of rejection didn’t exist, it clearly did.
“I know you’re probably thinking I’m crazy, but this isn’t entirely absurd. As I mentioned earlier, the Fairy Queen is not fully awake yet.”
Her consciousness has risen somewhat into reality, but she is still not fully awake.
She is still gazing at the scenery of dreams. It’s almost like a state of sleepwalking.
“If the queen distinguishes people according to fairy rules, she will welcome those who match those rules. Of course, you will have to endure various petty tricks in the process.”
I was concerned about the petty tricks part, but before I could ask about it, Erginius spoke up.
“And that’s why I’m seeking you out. Go find someone who fits these rules. You and your subordinates should be able to find someone who meets those conditions.”
Well, if the conditions are clear, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone. Especially with Karia’s information network at our disposal.
The problem is whether that person can be trusted.
“The conditions are as follows. First, appearance. Fairies are honest in their purity; they prioritize what they see.”
So they have to be pretty.
“Second, they must be good-hearted. Fairies can sense a person’s lifetime worth of deeds to some extent.”
So they have to be good-hearted.
“There must also be a degree of strength. Fairies seek someone who can handle their tricks.”
They need to be strong, too.
“They must simultaneously possess purity and innocence.”
So they must be a virgin or a loser.
“Knowledge of magic is essential. Otherwise, even if they receive the fairy’s illusion, they cannot replace me.”
They need to be skilled in magic, as well.
Huh? Wait a minute? Analyzing each of these conditions seems to hone in on one person?
Naive, pure, and silly.
*
“Am I supposed to take Erginius’s role?”
“Yes. If you’re willing, I’ll transmit everything I know to you. Will you do it?”
“I am the Young Lady of the Partlan family. Do you think this will make me feel pressured?”
Joy responded confidently, hunching her shoulders, but her hands over her heart trembled slightly. She was more nervous than she could conceal with magic, huh.
“You don’t have to do it if you’re scared, silly.”
It meant she didn’t have to force herself if she didn’t want to, but Joy frowned, confused by what I said.
“Lucy, did you not hear what I just said? I don’t run away from things like this. Because I’m your friend.”
Hmm. Well, if she’s made up her mind this firmly, there’s no reason to stop her.
Ignoring her usual silliness, it’s true that Joy is suitable for this task.
“Do whatever you want. I’m looking forward to what silly thing you’ll do next.”
“How unfortunate. Nothing will go wrong this time.”
“Wow, that’s a really confident answer. If you weren’t trembling with hands and feet, it would’ve sounded cool. Pfft. Too bad.”
“…P-Please go do your job! I need to learn from Lord Erginius!”
As I left, laughing at Joy’s suddenly flushed cheeks, a scream-like sound echoed from behind.
That’s our Joy for you. Always reacting so well makes teasing her fun.
Well, unrelated to this, I also need to think about someone to guard Joy on the side.
Even if Joy impresses the fairies, if those around her don’t like her, there’s a chance they’d despise her.
Since many strong people are participating in this, I can just pick someone suitable from among them.
However, I quickly realized that the fairy’s rules are more complicated than I initially thought.
Finding a person who meets each individual condition isn’t too hard.
Even if the fairies have high standards, we have a group full of talented individuals. If we look hard enough, we can find someone.
The problem is that all these rules must be met simultaneously.
“Employer, do you logically think a person who meets all these criteria has a chance of being pure?”
…
No.
Darn it.
That makes no sense!
Where’s a loser or someone who’s lost their sense of reality, particularly a wizard, with excellent specs and looks who has never even had a proper date!
And in a fantasy medieval world where marrying at thirteen is common!?
Where would you find such a fantasy creature?!
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