Chapter: 585
I once heard somewhere that…
Direct malice is terrifying, but it’s not the scariest thing.
Knowing that my opponent wants to kill me brings fear, but it also allows me to prepare for it.
However, actions that stray far from the situation and common sense make it impossible to guess their underlying motive, and that’s what makes someone fearful.
In the past, I thought that was nonsense, and even when I faced death multiple times, I didn’t find it convincing. Yet now, I understand that those words were true.
The First Prince, looking at me with a refreshing smile that wouldn’t feel out of place when saying, “Why are you so scared, my little kitten?” was far scarier than the Evil God of Darkness I encountered yesterday.
“Lady Allen?”
With a baffled comment, I quickly stepped back, not wanting to touch the hand that was reaching out.
If I could, I would want to smack the First Prince on the head with my mace right now to bring him back to his senses, but the situation around us was too dangerous for me to draw my weapon.
[Lucy, are you going to say what I tell you to say?]
‘If I open my mouth, won’t that make things worse?’
[Don’t worry. No one here can harm you. So just comfortably shatter that guy’s ego.]
‘…No. That’s not right!’
Why is this guy suddenly acting like this when he usually tells me to keep my mouth shut?
Of course, part of me wants to do that too, but I really shouldn’t! I don’t want to pile up more karma here!
“Brother, Lucy Allen is still recovering from battle fatigue. Maybe it would be wise to plan for the future if you’re going to have a conversation.”
Good! Arthur! Just send him away! I’m usually the tank, so this time you have to draw aggro!
“Hmmm.”
As I cheered Arthur from behind, I saw the First Prince’s gaze change.
The way the First Prince looked at Arthur was clearly different from usual.
Typically, the First Prince regarded Arthur as a proper younger brother, unlike others who condemned and slandered him while trying to erase him from the palace.
But now, it was the opposite.
The people standing near the First Prince responded courteously to Arthur’s actions, while the First Prince looked at Arthur with sharp eyes.
He couldn’t hide his hostility as he glared at his younger brother.
“That’s true.”
Then the First Prince suddenly changed his expression. He wasn’t back to how he treated his brother, but had a polite face, like when he stood before the First Queen.
“Thank you for your insight, Third Prince. Indeed, asking Lady Allen for a conversation at this moment would be quite rude.”
“…Brother?”
Arthur couldn’t have failed to notice the change that even I felt.
He expressed his confusion about the transformation of the brother he relied on, but the First Prince didn’t spare him a glance.
“I deeply apologize for my rude behavior, Lady Allen. I will come to you again after an official appointment is made. Please take care until then.”
After saying just what he had to, the First Prince left, and Arthur stared at the First Prince’s back for a long time.
*
Leaving Erginius, who was engrossed in modifying his previous work, the Fairy Queen cautiously approached a girl praying near the entrance of the forest.
The girl was so focused on her prayer that she didn’t even notice the Fairy Queen had come right next to her.
“Hmm.”
That sense of solemnity sparked the Fairy Queen’s mischievous spirit. The Fairy Queen was quite the adult in the past.
She had to be an adult because she was the one who had to control the mischievousness of other fairies.
Many people overlooked this fact, but the Fairy Queen, after all, was still a fairy.
She had merely held back her own childlike mischief while leading other fairies who buried the word “self-restraint” underground in the name of purity.
Since the first encounter with the Saintess, I’ve thought that this person doesn’t fit the description of a girl.
And it’s understandable—there’s probably no other girl in the world with such a bold body, right?
While the mysteriously provocative kitsune is threatening, this person is undoubtedly a competitor.
If we’re being honest, she’s even more threatening than that kitsune.
The kitsune is decaying inside, despite her appearance, but the Saintess is a genuinely envious person, pure as snow.
I wanted to be as pure as I could be once, like I used to strive for.
Therefore, she’s a pitiful person who responds sensitively to even small shadows.
Though still not an adult and seemingly out of Erginius’ focus, once she grows up, the Saintess will be a sure competitor! I need to establish my dominance early!
With a mischievous smile, the Fairy Queen sneaked behind Phoebe and hugged her.
“Hyah!?”
“Is that a hyah? What a cute scream! It’s so girly, I’m envious.”
“Y-Yo, Fairy Queen?”
“Yes indeed. I’m the Fairy Queen. Some say I’m old enough to stink and smell strange.”
“No! No! That’s not—Lady Allen didn’t mean that with sincerity! She must think you’re truly beautiful!”
“Really? Do you truly believe that?”
“Of course! Lady Allen is a very kind and noble person! She’s incomparable to someone like me!”
Maybe it’s because she has received some of the God of Darkness’ deification. The Fairy Queen realized that Phoebe’s words had no hint of a lie.
I know that the hero is worthy of receiving Jushin’s selection, but I don’t think she’s more virtuous than the Saintess. That person is exceptionally human.
Which is all the more impressive.
“Y-Yo, Fairy Queen?”
“Yes? What is it?”
“C-could you let go of my hand?”
“Must I? It feels so good and soft; can’t we stay this way?”
“Of course not! T-this is blasphemy!”
Seeing Phoebe’s ears turn bright red, the Fairy Queen feigned disappointment while stepping back a bit.
Although I’d love to play more, I must draw a line since the Saintess is our benefactor too.
“So, why has the Saintess come here? If it’s to meet Erginius, I’d be worried.”
“I have no interest in that person.”
“That’s rather disappointing. What’s wrong with Erginius? He may have some unmanly traits, but he is a great wizard and a hero!”
“…I’m sorry, but if you keep joking, we won’t make any progress.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Is it because I’m being called Auntie? Maybe I’m getting a bit foolish.”
As the Fairy Queen gave a deliberately elder smile, Phoebe’s expression grew complicated.
“The reason I sought out the Fairy Queen is due to what our Jushin Church previously negotiated with the kingdom. The Jushin Church wanted to receive the monopoly of religion for this matter. However, now that Erginius has gained deification, it has become ambiguous.”
“Ah, so the Fairy Forest has become the sanctum of the deification.”
The forest of fairies, where Erginius has performed miracles worthy of the name, has now become the sacred ground of the God of Darkness as of today.
In this scenario where the Jushin Church stands opposite the darkness, their establishment nearby would be a challenge to Erginius’ deification.
“Don’t worry about that. Although Erginius has obtained the God of Darkness, he is also a follower of Jushin. As long as it’s outside the forest, it should be fine.”
After promising to speak to Erginius later on this, Phoebe bowed her head deeply, thanking me.
“Is that all you needed?”
“Yes. That is all.”
“Don’t you need anything else? As you are the benefactor who saved the Forest of Fairies, I would gladly fulfill any request you have.”
“What have I done? I was just following the light of Lady Allen.”
Hearing Phoebe’s words, the Fairy Queen fell silent for a moment before exhaling deeply. The lighthearted mood she had just been in returned to her regal demeanor.
“As one who possesses a piece of the deification of Darkness, allow me to give you a piece of advice, Saintess. In this world, nothing can be purely white. It’s natural for everything to have shades of darkness.”
“Yes, I also think so, but why is that?”
“Because the hero is no different.”
Hearing the queen’s words, Phoebe tilted her head, still listening intently.
“In an era where the powers of gods have waned, if you possess the warmth of Jushin, you will understand. The great Jushin is not an all-knowing being of goodness.”
“Even while looking at the vast land and mourning their own helplessness, they don’t give up on being good. That’s why they remain my god.”
“The same goes for the hero. He isn’t a transcendent being from stories. He’s an ordinary human who hesitates, wanders, mistakes, and despairs. Yet still stands tall again and creates light.”
“I know that very well. No one knows him better than me.”
“Right? So please regard him as a friend, not as another god you should serve.”
Phoebe’s expression froze, her eyes wide as the Fairy Queen chuckled lightly.
“If you keep venerating the hero like a god, you’ll eventually get tired of it, one day.”
“…Huh? What? That’s…”
“Oh my my. Just as I mention him, it seems he’s coming here.”
As Lucy approached from a distance, the Fairy Queen hid the flustered Phoebe behind her and quirked her head at Lucy, who looked like she could erupt right then.
“Fairy folk. What’s going on?”
– Your Majesty!
– Well, you see…
– That’s…
Hearing the fairies around Lucy, the Fairy Queen lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Is it about the hero’s marriage proposal? This sounds incredibly amusing… No, it seems like it could be a fun story!”
“A marriage proposal!?”
At the yelling from behind, the queen nodded her head.
“Yes. It appears the other party is the kingdom’s First Prince.”
It seems the First Queen is rather anxious as well.
Ohoho. This sounds like it could be fun. Shall I play a little trick?
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