Chapter: 569
Benedict Allen’s sword plunged into the monster rising from the ground.
The creature, which had become something neither living nor dead by the merging of life from below and above, roared fiercely even with a greatsword larger than itself before its cry faltered. The moment Benedict’s greatsword made contact, the monster’s body exploded.
“Could you cleanly take care of it? My lord. It’s not pleasant wearing monster flesh.”
Possell, who had been guarding Benedict’s side and was now covered in the monster’s blood and flesh, complained while brushing his filthy hair back.
“Sorry. I was in a hurry.”
“Are you worried about the young lady?”
“Yeah.”
Not long after Lucy entered the barrier with her friends, the battle began.
At first, a swarm of monsters one could see anywhere in the world flowed out of the forest.
Then, shortly after, twisted shapes with grotesque appearances appeared.
They had nine wings and five eyes, walking on a single leg while embracing the void with arms that should not have existed.
They were cursed beings born of the dark fairy queen, incomplete from the very beginning.
Benedict and the knights mourned the unfortunate souls who had gained life and defeated them. They held the frontline, waiting for the moment the plan would conclude.
However, no matter how much time passed, the barrier did not falter, and the monsters emerging from the forest grew ever more bizarre.
Even as noon passed and the sun slowly descended toward the earth.
“Reminds me of when the highest-danger dungeon appeared before.”
The commander shouted, veins popping from his neck.
Voices raised to suppress the fear felt in front of the monsters.
The sound was horrific as numerous weapons clashed.
In the heavy battlefield, a loose woman’s voice felt out of place.
“First Queen.”
“I really thought the country was going to fall apart back then.”
The First Queen smiled at the slightly perplexed Benedict and shook the sword held in one hand.
“How many people would have died if you hadn’t been here?”
“I just did what I could.”
“Yes. Right. You said the same when you defeated the dragon that came to the capital searching for treasure. And when you held the frontline in the sudden war. You always said you did what you could.”
Despite his numerous achievements, Benedict Allen did not seek rewards.
He simply did what he could, smiling refreshing, and returned to his territory.
“It was really troublesome. Other nobles were making a scene, questioning if they were belittling the hero, and I couldn’t tie you down for compensation, so I was in a panic.”
“…I truly apologize, but why that story?”
“I think I might finally be able to place a debt on you.”
“Yes?”
“No. Allen, what you need to see now is not me, but ahead.”
The Queen spoke with a smile and, at that moment, a massive energy surged up behind Benedict.
It was entirely different from the Evil God’s energy that had dominated the fairy forest until now. Warmer and cozier than the sun floating in the sky.
“Divine Grace of God.”
Benedict, who had seen the sun rise from underground in the past, widened his eyes at the sun blooming within the crumbling barrier.
The divided earth nurtured the essence. The dried and twisted trees regained life.
The forest regained its original green. Laughter of children echoed once again in the fairy forest.
The forest, thought to have been tainted by darkness and never returning, was filled with the past’s happiness, believed to be the only answer in hell.
“Aha. Lead your squad of knights out, Baron Allen.”
Benedict, who had been staring vacantly at the seemingly never-ending spring landscape, regained his senses upon hearing the First Queen’s voice.
“The stronger the light, the darker the shadows. This world is sensitive to balance.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means your cute daughter will be in danger. Pay attention, Baron Allen. You can see the shadow cast beyond the miracle, can’t you?”
The fact that the forest had regained its green means that the Evil God, who had lurked there, harvested the darkness. A deity that had existed for a long time was lying in wait beneath the miracle.
“This frontline will be maintained in cooperation with the Kingdom’s Second and Third Knight Orders, so you need not worry. I had previously discussed this with the Second Queen.”
From the moment they first met, the First Queen had been an unfathomable person. Even now, it was hard to guess how she cared for him.
But one thing was certain. This was a task that must be done, no matter the price paid.
“It’s the First Queen’s command, Baron Allen. Please bring back news of your victory.”
“Benedict of the Allen family. I will return glorifying the Kingdom.”
“Knights! Assemble!”
The Allen knights, who had been stationed at the border for a long time, march out once again.
They have one goal.
To crush the myth and protect the laughter of those who will become their masters.
*
Great Wizard Erginius held tightly onto his staff while gazing at the flower resembling the sun that bloomed in the center of the fairy forest.
“Lord Partlan.”
“Yes.”
“Please look after my back.”
“Don’t worry. Great Wizard, I have no intention of wasting your wisdom. Instead…”
“Don’t worry. Joy Partlan is both your precious child and my precious apprentice.”
I have no intention of losing the genius who would lead this world forward.
After saying such, Erginius cast his magic onto the ground with the tip of his staff, and in that moment, his form vanished.
The hero of the distant past heads toward the fairy forest to fulfill his purpose.
To deliver a message across the centuries.
*
“I can hear the laughter of fairies.”
The wolf Myrrh, who remembers the Age of Myth, listened to the laughter resonating in the warm spring breeze and let out a hearty laugh, transforming into a wolf.
“It’s time to settle the debts from hundreds of years ago.”
“It’s time to see the beautiful fairy queen!”
The wolf with the sharpest fangs and a fox capable of anything pound down on the land, heading toward the center of light.
*
“Is it the light that saved me?”
A woman who had been burned for decades by a fire destined to turn the world to ashes gathered her hands together.
“Great Lord Jushin.”
Believers harboring unwavering faith raise their prayers within the miraculous landscape.
“How absurd.”
A knight who could someday cut through the world dashes through the heart of the forest with a self-deprecating laugh.
“Isn’t it fun?! I get to add my touch to the beauty of the miracle!”
The Apostle of Goddess follows right behind him.
Everyone on the battlefield witnesses the miracle evident in the world.
Those endowed with power grand enough to affect the world pay close attention to the recreation of myths.
Some rejoice.
Some are moved.
Some gasp.
Some frown.
Some clutch their heads.
Some wear bittersweet smiles.
And then.
Hundreds of years later, a woman released from madness.
Waiting for her love, having endured countless long years in the dream left behind, finally wakes up to find the dreams around her, realizing what they are, and…
The queen, who finally awakened from her dreams, stands up upon seeing a child dancing alongside fairies in a flower field.
“Don’t move!”
The knight guarding the girl.
The girl holding a sword, valuing the girl more than anything in the world.
The boy, who is finally breaking the curse after ten years.
The girl who learned magic from her beloved queen.
The girl receiving the affection of the great Lord.
They block the queen’s path to protect the dancing girl.
They are not ignorant of fear. Their memories of terror have not been forgotten.
They are not willing to throw away their lives.
They have simply resolved to surpass all that hesitation.
Just like those who once sought the fairy forest in the distant past.
Reflecting the views they had seen countless times in dreams, the fairy queen wore a light smile and steadied herself before bowing her head.
“I apologize.”
She conveyed her regret, apologizing for what she had done, having given everything to the darkness.
“And thank you.”
She expressed her gratitude, revealing genuine thankfulness to those who brought her back to meet those who had not given up on her throughout centuries.
Despite hearing those two sentiments, the vigilance of those wishing to protect the girl did not ease, but the queen didn’t mind that in the slightest.
“Do not worry. I no longer deserve to dance beside the little hero.”
The queen, leaving behind words to keep vigil at the side of the girl, turned away to gaze at the opposite side of the light. She faced the shadow cast beneath the miracle.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah. It has been a while, fairy who lost her purity.”
Within the darkness, glimmering red eyes fixated on the queen.
“Do you think you can return to the way you were? Do you believe your tainted heart can release love?”
“No, not at all. Hundreds of years have passed since then. I cannot reclaim the purity of that day.”
“Then hold on to it. Stay true to your heart. Pursue it.”
“I refuse.”
Words of resolute rejection that the past queen would never utter and…
“Even as a fairy queen, I am still a fairy. I like to play pranks and can be quite mischievous.”
“What does that matter?”
“I won’t easily nod to someone who is a fun target. Loser.”
Before the playful laughter, the darkness regained its momentum.
The restraints that had slowly kept the darkness at bay began to crack.
The power created by humanity crumbles before vast darkness.
“Once someone is tainted by darkness, they easily succumb to it. Even if they think they’ve regained their purity, a corner of their heart still holds darkness.”
A miracle triggered by a child pushes back against the swelling darkness. It’s only natural. What is a god if not a being that brings miracles?
“You will not return then.”
“That is an unnecessary remark.”
A man’s black hair, fluttering in the spring breeze, appears as it rides the currents of the earth.
“Such times will never come again.”
That face revealed between his hair is unmistakable.
“Never.”
He was the queen’s first and last love.
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