Chapter: 576
The disaster that occurred in the Fairy Forest crumbled in an instant, as if it were all just a prank by the fairies.
A light that rose in the center of the forest purified all the darkness that had dug into the land, washing away the forest’s shadows simultaneously.
Seeing the forest beginning to regain its previous greenery, the clergy praised the Lord Jushin and the Saintess, while the knights and mercenaries mobilized for this event expressed pure admiration, and the wizards let out sighs of relief.
However, oddly enough, the various champions who had entered the forest didn’t return even after a long while.
As the sun dipped down and the scarlet of the sunset vanished, and a full night set in, the forest remained eerily silent.
Just as the unease captured the frontline, the sound of thud-thud-thud echoed from afar, the unmistakable footsteps of dozens, unified in purpose, awakening the earth.
It was none other than the renowned Allen Knights, known as the strongest knight order in the kingdom, making their grand entrance.
The army had been cheering at the sight of the perfectly intact knights, shaped by battles of legendary times, but seeing the nuanced reactions of the Allen Knights, the voices started to lower one by one.
“…Huh? Where are the others?”
Amid the confusion, a question slipped out from somewhere. It turned out that only the leaders who entered the forest alongside the Allen Knights were returning.
“Why only those people?”
“What happened in there?”
“Is the battle not over yet?”
With no clear answers, suspicions began to turn into anxiety, and it was the high-ranking officials of the kingdom, including the First Queen, who calmed the atmosphere.
“Allen-bak. Is it alright to ask about the situation?”
“It’s difficult to summarize in one word, so would it be okay to speak separately?”
“Of course. But first, just answer this: Did we win?”
Realizing the intention of the First Queen, Benedict nodded and cleared his throat.
“Everyone! Listen up!”
A knight’s voice shook the dimly lit world. Those weary and crumbling from fatigue suddenly perked up at the knight’s voice.
“The Evil God of Darkness has crumbled before the heroic will that has lasted since the mythic era! Your efforts have made the human will reach the gods! Go and brag about it to others! Tell them you’re now part of myth! Today! We! Have! Won!”
With the hero’s proclamation turning fatigue into excitement, cheers erupted from various corners of the frontline. As Benedict closed his mouth, the First Queen nodded.
“Let’s discuss the details inside.”
After Ducal Lord Partlan blocked the shouts of soldiers from outside the tent, anxious gazes fell upon Benedict.
Understanding their hearts, Benedict sought permission from the First Queen with a glance, then stood up.
“First, it’s true that we’ve achieved victory. The Fairy Forest has been purified from darkness, and the Evil God has been defeated.”
No one raised doubts about this explanation. The miraculous light that shone from the center of the forest was undeniably bright enough for anyone to accept the victory.
“There are no casualties either. It seems the Lord Jushin’s miracle has blessed us, and we achieved a complete victory.”
“What about the others?”
“They’re currently resolving various issues left in the forest.”
Benedict summarized it as various issues, but in reality, it was much more complicated.
The choice of Erginius to eradicate the Evil God from this world.
And the Fairy Queen, who had fallen into slumber to aid him.
The bizarre cocoon created once the two fell asleep.
The fairies silently guarding the area, without uttering a word.
The Apostle of Goddess, wanting to ask the Apostle who remained devoted to the god about their duty, leaned against a nearby tree with closed eyes, holding the Sword Saint’s blade.
The wolf, eager to help the forest find its old self, and the fox, half-forced to go along with him.
The group, including Benedict, also wished to remain in the forest with them.
No matter the outcome, they wanted to see the conclusion.
And in the event of the worst-case scenario, they hoped to fight together, risking their lives.
‘Do you all think you shoddy are going to be any help?’
Suddenly, the brakes on this thought came from Ruel, who was borrowing Lucy’s body.
He urged the others to leave, but it was hard to understand his intent. Ruel’s words spilled out twisted, just as Lucy had spoken before.
If it hadn’t been for Karia entering the forest to confirm the situation, the conversation among them would have dragged on until dawn.
‘Employer… wait, who are you?’
As she revealed herself, Karia immediately recognized Ruel’s identity and interpreted the message he wanted to convey with her abilities.
‘In the worst case, the existence that will emerge from this cocoon would be something worse than the previous darkness. In that case, the hope will lie in Lucy Allen.’
‘To prevent Lucy Allen from collapsing. And when the worst comes, you must survive to support her.’
‘So get back. Rest with the army and prepare for the unforeseen.’
The knights who found clarity in the hero’s words, though reluctantly, suppressed their uneasy feelings while retreating from the forest.
Even friends who had shared heroic tales restrained their hearts for the future, wondering if they should be unable to hold back their bloodthirst.
‘Hey, Benedict. You’re going to report to that crazy woman now, right?’
‘I guess so. I’m the one responsible here.’
‘I’ll set the content for you. Don’t give her any unnecessary excuses.’
Still wary of the First Queen, Karia nodded at Benedict’s words, taking them to heart as she heeded her advice when explaining to others.
Karia’s counsel, honed from a long time in the shadows dealing with politics, smoothly convinced the high-ranking officials of the kingdom, including the First Queen.
“Is it not possible to discuss matters with the Fairy Queen immediately? How unfortunate.”
Even the First Queen expressed such regret, but suspicion did not linger on Benedict’s words.
Then discussions arose about various procedural issues, but ultimately the discussion couldn’t conclude as the key figure—the Fairy Queen—was in no state to converse.
Thus, after the meeting ended at dawn, Benedict wore a complex expression while staring at the rising sun.
“Even though the matter is settled, why do I feel so uneasy?”
Perhaps if the two who entered the cocoon welcomed him with smiles in the future, this uneasy feeling might settle.
*
After the Allen Knights departed, Prete pulled out a pen and paper from somewhere and began to move his hands nonstop. The contents being drawn on the white sheet concerned various events that occurred in this forest today.
“I have to keep going, even if I’m tired. That’s my reason for living.”
“Well then, draw something cute like Lucy instead of those stinky bugs. Why waste time on others?”
Lina, forcibly left in Myrrh’s grasp, said she should at least heal through drawings, but Prete refused.
“I will only draw the Young Lady and Fairy Queen after making the best preparations. I can’t do it in a place like this.”
“Right. I shouldn’t draw those two lightly. But wouldn’t a sketch be okay?”
“I refuse.”
As the two bickered, the Sword Saint, awakened from his slumber, shook his head at the sight of the two perverts conspiring with criminal words.
Just by looking at them, one would think of a fairy tale or novel, but why were the stories emanating from inside such that they warranted a visit from the police?
The participants were thankfully unable to hear this.
“Guests have arrived.”
As the Sword Saint slowly stood and placed his hand on the sword’s hilt, the foliage parted, revealing an old man.
Lina, who didn’t know the old man, showed a face full of disgust upon seeing his face, but the other two did not.
Those who had faced the old man in various official capacities froze at the appearance of a figure who should be sheltered in the Holy Land.
“Your Highness? No way. There’s no way Your Highness would be here.”
“It is indeed me, Yuden. There shouldn’t be another in this world carrying such energy, right?”
Prete answered immediately to the Sword Saint’s suspicion, adopting a combat stance with Izel behind him.
“Ha ha. Don’t be too wary, Apostle of Goddess. I am here to help you.”
“What? You’re coming here without any official procedures?”
“Otherwise, I would be late.”
“Hey, you old man. Don’t move. Whether you’re a highness or whatever, it’s got nothing to do with us beasts, alright?”
Upon noticing the fox that surrounded him, the Pope chuckled and raised both hands.
“I swear by the great Lord Jushin! I will not harm you, only coming to offer my aid.”
“Ha, such a vow.”
“A vow to Jushin!”
His booming voice resonated throughout the forest, causing some freshly sprouted leaves to fall from the trees. The Pope, noticing this, smiled awkwardly and continued slowly.
“Could it be light? I would rather bite my tongue than break it.”
“…Is that so?”
For a brief moment, Lina paused in astonishment at the Pope’s enthusiasm, but she didn’t let her guard down. Since Lucy, the Apostle of Goddess, was cautious of this Pope, the chances of his faith being genuine were low.
“Aaah! This isn’t the time! The sun will rise soon.”
“What’s the problem with that?”
“The Fairy Queen’s dream is maintained by darkness. But if daytime comes, what will happen?”
The question of how he knew this flickered through everyone’s minds, but none voiced it. More importantly, the crucial matter lingered unspoken.
“I will repeat myself. Please trust me. I simply wish for the miracle of Jushin to remain a miracle.”
“Can you tell us how you plan to help?”
“It’s simple. Make the weakened darkness acknowledge the hero.”
The Pope, who had spouted nonsensical words, hurriedly pulled out a leather bag he had set aside.
Inside emerged the former Apostle of Darkness, who was supposed to be bound in the depths of the Arts Church.
“How did you get that person!”
“Whoa, don’t move. I don’t want to fight against you who aren’t even at your best.”
Blocking Prete, with the title of Strong Person Hunter, was a woman. The strongest of the continent and the Apostle of the God of Destruction, Lasha. A foe they could not handle in their depleted state.
“I don’t want to ruin another prey because of that damn old man. I’ll respond if you come at me, but I hope you stay still.”
As Lasha’s Killing Intent weighed upon them, the three were stiffened, while the Pope hummed to himself and shoved the former Apostle’s head towards the cocoon.
“Repeat after me. The Darkness has acknowledged its master.”
“…The darkness acknowledges its master.”
“The darkness has surrendered to its master.”
“The darkness has surrendered to its master.”
Then, the inside of the cocoon began to tremble.
“Now it will serve a new master.”
“Now it will serve a new master.”
The cocoon that had remained silent began to shake as if its heart was beating.
The fairies that had been silently positioned nearby spread their wings and began to flutter around the cocoon.
The former Apostle muttered madly in a repetition, and the Pope’s laughter grew thicker.
Once more, darkness swallowed the dawn.
Cracks began to appear in the cocoon.
*
– When will it wake up?
– I wish it would wake up soon.
– Then it could rejoice with us!
“…Ugh. Huh!?”
Suddenly jolting up, I wiped the drool flowing from my mouth, hearing three fairies chatting nearby.
Ah. Did I really collapse? It was inevitable after pushing my body to its limit.
Looking back, it seems I safely returned to the lodging.
“Hey. Bugs, what are you doing in your coop?”
– Your Majesty?
– Your Majesty just woke up!
– She’s really happy right now!
– Let’s go play with Lucy!
– Let’s dance!
– It’s going to be so much fun!
Waking up must mean everything ended well.
Thank goodness.
Huh? Wait?
Is it just my eyes playing tricks?
Why are the fairies’ wings tinted black?
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.