Chapter: 569
Benedict Alrn plunged his sword into the monster that rose from the earth.
The creature, an amalgam of life blooming from below and that born above, roared fiercely despite having a massive sword before it. But that roar barely lasted a moment because Benedict’s sword struck, causing the monster’s flesh to erupt.
“Please handle it more cleanly, Master. It’s not pleasant wearing this monster’s skin,” bemoaned Possell, who had gotten splattered with blood and guts while guarding Benedict’s side.
“Sorry. I was in a hurry.”
“Are you worried about the Young Lady?”
“Yeah.”
Not long after Lucy and her friends entered the barrier, the battle began.
At first, a horde of monsters you could find anywhere spilled from the forest.
Then, bizarrely twisted figures began to appear.
They had nine wings, five eyes, a single leg to stomp the world, and embraced nothingness with arms that shouldn’t exist.
These beings were cursed from birth, born of the Dark Fairy Queen, and were imperfect beings.
Benedict and the knights sadly dispatched the creatures they had taken life from, keeping the front lines safe as they awaited the moment the plan would conclude.
But no matter how much time passed, the barrier held firm, and the monsters emerging from the forest became increasingly grotesque.
Even now, past noon, as the sun gradually sank toward the earth.
“It reminds me of when the highest danger-dungeon appeared once,” shouted the commander, veins protruding from his neck.
Voices raised to suppress the fear felt when facing the monsters.
The terrible sounds clashing with countless twisted weapons echoed.
In this heavy battlefield, a loose female voice felt out of place.
“Your Majesty the First Queen.”
“I truly thought the country would fall that time.”
The First Queen chuckled at Benedict, who showed a hint of embarrassment, waving a sword she held in one hand.
“How many lives would have been lost without you?”
“I just did what I could.”
“Yes, indeed. Just like when you defeated the dragon that came to the capital for treasure. Or when you held the front line during a sudden war. You said you just did what you could.”
Despite the countless feats he had accomplished, Benedict Alrn sought no recompense.
He merely smiled fresh, saying he did it because he could, and then returned to his territory.
“It was quite troublesome, you know? Other nobles were in an uproar about how I was ignoring the hero, and I couldn’t even reward you properly, so I was beside myself.”
“…I’m sorry for that, but why bring it up now?”
“Because I finally feel like I can burden you with a debt.”
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind. Alrn, what you need to be focused on isn’t me but what’s ahead.”
The instant the queen spoke with a smile, a massive aura surged from behind Benedict.
It was completely different from the Evil God’s aura that had dominated the Fairy Forest until now—warmer and cozier than the sun that hung in the sky.
“The God’s Divinity.”
Having seen the sun that rose from underground before, Benedict’s eyes widened as he gazed at the sun blooming within the crumbling barrier.
Nourishment filled the cracked earth. The twisted, withered trees reclaimed life.
The forest regained its original green. Laughter from children echoed once more in the Fairy Forest.
The forest that had stained with darkness, thought to be lost forever, was now home to the happiness of the past once again.
“Now, lead your knight order into action, Count Alrn.”
Benedict, who had been vacantly staring at the endlessly enduring spring scene, snapped back to reality at the First Queen’s voice.
“The brighter the light, the deeper the darkness grows. This world is sensitive to balance.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means your cute daughter might be in danger. Just watch, Alrn. Surely you can see the shadow engraved beyond the miracle.”
The fact that the forest had regained its green meant that the Evil God lurking within was reclaiming the darkness that had occupied it. The divinity that had existed for ages was now waiting for its opportunity beneath the miracle.
“You don’t have to worry. This front line will be maintained in collaboration with the kingdom’s second and third knight orders. I already discussed this in advance with the Second Queen.”
From the moment he first met her, the First Queen was an unfathomable person. Even now, it’s difficult to guess how she considers me.
But one thing is for certain: this is something that must be done, no matter the cost.
“It’s the First Queen’s command. Bring back the news of victory.”
“I, Benedict of the Alrn family, shall uphold the glory of the kingdom and return triumphantly! Possell!”
“Knights! Assemble!”
The Alrn Knight Order, which had lingered at the border for a long time, sets out once more.
Their goal is singular.
To shatter the myth and safeguard the smiles of their master.
*
The Great Mage Erginus gripped his staff as he watched the flower resembling the sun bloom in the heart of the Fairy Forest.
“Duke Partran.”
“Yes?”
“Please handle things from behind.”
“Don’t worry, Great Mage. I have no intention of wasting your wisdom. Instead…”
“Don’t fret. Joy Partran is not only your precious child, but also my cherished disciple.”
I refuse to lose a genius who will carry forward this world after me.
Having said that, as Erginus squeezed out his magic, his form vanished as he struck the ground with his staff.
An existence left behind by a hero from a distant past made its way to the Fairy Forest to fulfill its purpose.
To deliver a single word beyond the centuries.
*
“I can hear the laughter of the fairies.”
Muir, the wolf who remembers the age of myths, let out a hearty laugh as he listened to the laughter carried by the warm spring breeze and took the form of a wolf.
“It’s time to settle the debts from hundreds of years ago.”
“It’s time to see that beautiful Fairy Queen!”
The wolf with the sharpest teeth and the fox that can become anything stomped towards the light.
*
“Is it the light that saved me?”
A woman, caught by flames that could turn the world to ash, cupped her hands together.
“Oh, great deity.”
Those who held unwavering faith offered their prayers to the miracle unfolding.
“What a ridiculous situation I’ve become part of.”
The swordsman, who could one day even slice through the world itself, dashed toward the heart of the forest with a hollow laugh.
“Isn’t it delightful!? To have a chance to add to the beauty of this miracle!”
The apostle of the goddess followed with a blaze.
All those standing on the battlefield could witness the miracle that took place in the world.
Those with immense power, enough to matter in the currents of the world, turned their attention to the reenactment of myth.
Some rejoiced.
Some were moved.
Some gasped.
Some furrowed their brows.
Some buried their heads in their hands.
Some wore bittersweet smiles.
And, once again…
Years later, a woman freed from madness would remember a dream left by her love. Despite recognizing it as a dream, she waited for him through long ages, at one point resigning herself. Rescued by a little girl, the fairy finally awakened from her dream.
The queen stood up upon seeing a child dancing among the flowers with the fairies.
“Do not move!”
A knight guarding the girl.
A girl with a sword who cherishes the girl above all else.
A boy just released from a curse after ten long years.
A girl who learned magic from someone the queen loves.
A girl adored by the great deity.
They blocked the queen’s path to protect the dancing girl.
They do not know fear. They have not forgotten the weight of dread.
They do not wish to sacrifice their lives.
They merely made the resolution to overcome all hesitation.
Just like those who had visited the Fairy Forest in ages past.
Overlaying the scene they had seen countless times in dreams, the Fairy Queen chuckled lightly as she steadied her stance and bowed her head.
“I apologize.”
She expressed her remorse, apologizing for the act she had committed when she had resigned and left everything to darkness.
“And thank you.”
She expressed her gratitude, revealing sincere thanks to those who had enabled her to reunite with the one who hadn’t given up on her for hundreds of years.
Even with those two sentiments heard, the guards who tried to protect the girl remained vigilant, but the queen paid them no mind.
“Please don’t worry. Right now, I have no right to dance by the side of the little hero.”
Having said this, the queen swiftly turned her body to gaze at the opposite side of the light. Confronting the shadow cast beneath the miracle.
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah. It’s been quite a while, fallen fairy.”
From the depths of darkness, the glimmering red eyes fixated upon the queen.
“Do you really believe you can turn back time now? Do you think your fallen heart can release love?”
“No. Not at all. Centuries have passed since then. I can’t regain the purity of that day.”
“Then cling to it. Stay true to your heart. Seize it.”
“I refuse.”
A sonorous rejection came forth, words that the queen of the past would never dare to utter.
“Even a Fairy Queen remains a fairy. Mischief loves company, after all.”
“And what of it?”
“I won’t easily nod my head toward a suitable opponent. Loser.”
Before the playfully laughing queen, darkness surged once more.
The restraints holding the darkness at bay began to crack.
The human-made force crumbled before the powerful darkness.
“Once someone has tainted themselves with darkness, they are easily consumed by it. Even if one believes they’ve regained their purity, darkness still lingers in their hearts.”
A miracle caused by a single child swept away the darkness slowly growing. It was only natural; gods are beings capable of creating miracles.
“You won’t return once that moment passes.”
“That’s something I don’t need to hear.”
A man’s black hair captured by the pulse of the earth fluttered in the spring breeze.
“Those times will not return.”
His revealed face was unmistakably.
“The first and last love of the queen.”
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