Ugh... Telling a good story is so tiring. Why do I have to struggle so much just because I said there’s no need for a price?
Erginos was thoroughly mistaken, so he could at least understand what I was saying. If I had said something like that to an ordinary person just now, they would have frowned and walked away.
When it comes to antagonizing someone, nothing beats the Mesugaki Skill. But when it comes to trying to persuade someone nicely, it’s the most troublesome skill imaginable.
Anyway, since the conversation seems to be going smoothly, let’s get to the main point—the Fairy Queen’s Forest.
I sat with my legs crossed, staring into Erginos’s relaxed eyes as he let out a defeated laugh.
“I heard about a forest that smells like a chicken coop from a pathetic nerd who only cares about research just recently.”
“...You’re talking about the Fairy Queen’s Forest, right?”
“Is there any other place I could be talking about right now? Are you so consumed by magic that you’ve lost all other judgment skills?”
Erginos made a subtle face, his lips mumbling as he looked unsure. Just then, Arthur walked over.
“Erginos, it’s better to just leave him be when he starts talking like that. We can sort out the details later.”
Visit freewёbnoνel.com for the best novel reading experience.
“But if we don’t confirm it properly...”
“I thought the same at first.”
Looking into Arthur’s eyes, which had lost their light, Erginos closed his mouth quietly.
...Have I been tormenting Arthur that much lately? When I think about it, I might’ve gone a bit too far with my teasing.
It’s just that I couldn’t help but get such fun reactions every time I poked at him. But I didn’t expect him to get that worn down by it. Maybe I should tone it down for a while.
“The nerd talk is over, right? Let’s get to the main topic.”
What I had heard from the professor about the situation around the Fairy Queen’s Forest was nothing short of despairing.
The barrier had held its ground, but the influence of the Evil God that had leaked out of there had consumed the land, turning the surrounding area into a hell where no living creature could survive.
The noble family, whose domain was right next to the forest, was reportedly biting their nails every year as the hell grew bigger.
“The situation isn’t looking good, huh?”
After listening to my entire story, Erginos calmly spoke the obvious.
By the lack of expression on his face, it seemed like he had already anticipated this.
“You came to me at a good time. If we had let the Fairy Queen’s Forest be for a little longer, the barrier would have eventually collapsed.”
“The barrier is going to collapse?”
Feiby, who reacted with shock, had clearly been to the vicinity of the Fairy Queen’s Forest before. The Church of the Righteous God regularly sent people to purify the energy there.
For Feiby, visiting the area while establishing her position as a saint was a natural procedure.
“I’ve repaired the barrier multiple times since the war ended. I couldn’t let the barrier fall until someone came along who could fulfill my regrets. Objectively, with no further variables, I believe the barrier would have lasted for another thousand years.”
“However, just now, Erginos...”
“I did say. ‘If there are no variables.’”
The hero’s party hadn’t completely defeated the Evil God.
They certainly won the war, but the victory was fraught with wounds, and the hero’s party didn’t have the strength to eliminate those who had risen to divine status.
That’s why the hero’s party had resorted to sealing them away.
“Hundreds of years have passed since then. The shackles that bound the Evil Gods have slowly weakened. Thus, the power rampaging within the barrier is bound to grow stronger with time.”
As time passes, the barrier weakens, and the entities sealed within it grow more powerful. It’s only natural that the barrier would eventually break.
“Moreover, around ten years ago, there was a period when the Evil God’s power significantly amplified. During that time, the barrier was likely affected, so the inside of it is in a very unstable state.”
...Wait, what? There was a period when the Evil God’s power amplified? Was this part of the game’s backstory in Soul Academy? No, it wasn’t. Even if my memories are becoming hazy, there’s no way I’d forget something like that, which forms the foundation of the world’s lore.
That means this incident must have been something that occurred only in this world.
“Well, it’s fine now. That place will return to its rightful state soon.”
I didn’t respond immediately when I saw Erginos’ smile.
To be honest, unlike previous incidents, I wasn’t confident about this one.
The Fairy Queen’s Forest was an unknown place to me. I’ll do my best, but I’m not sure if I can drive out all the darkness from within.
<Wait a moment, Lucy. I have something I need to ask that guy. Could you pass it along for me?>
After hearing my grandfather’s words, I smirked to get their attention before speaking.
“Virgin nerd wizard. You’re deliberately trying to break the barrier, aren’t you? So you can dump everything onto me?”
“Yeah, to completely eliminate the Evil God’s influence from the forest, that’s what needs to be done.”
“And what about the chickens’ underlings inside there? How do you plan to deal with those immature fools who think their pranks are funny?”
The Fairy Queen’s Forest was quiet because the barrier had put the beings inside into an eternal slumber.
If the barrier were to break, the monsters lurking inside would reveal themselves to the outside.
The creatures from the Age of Myths would surely become a disaster for the nearby inhabitants.
“I’ll prepare a few things before unsealing the barrier. The fairies won’t be able to escape.”
“Can you be sure?”
“Of course.”
“Really. Can a pathetic virgin nerd like you, who’s been stuck underground for hundreds of years, really be so sure about everything?”
I didn’t doubt Erginos’ magical abilities.
But thinking that the plan he had in his head would definitely work out is dangerous.
Unexpected variables tend to appear at the worst possible moment.
“I’ve prepared dozens of safeguards, though.”
“And what if the leader of the nerds gets involved?”
If the one creating these variables is a scheming idiot who somehow became a god, then it’s even more dangerous.
“That’s...”
“Yeah. You don’t need to say more. I already know your mind is a mess.”
The fact that he couldn’t speak easily meant he wasn’t even sure about it himself.
If the Evil God Agra intervenes, could Erginos’ safeguards collapse?
I’ll need to ask about this separately and prepare more thoroughly.
“Next. Virgin nerd. When the barrier breaks, the energy of the fool trapped for hundreds of years will be unleashed. Do you have a plan for that?”
The inside of the barrier is a solitude filled with the dark power of the Evil God.
If the energy accumulated over a long time were to be released, who knows what kind of effects it could have?
In the worst case, a disaster could unfold before my miracle could take effect.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”
“Go ahead, tell me your nerdy delusions.”
“Right now, the energy inside the barrier is rampaging because it has lost its master. It follows the commands left by its original master without any will of its own. If the barrier breaks down without preparation, it will surely become a disaster. However, if the master shows up, it’s a different story. The ones who have longed for their master will gladly return to their embrace.”
I’m not one to say I’m exceptionally wise, but understanding Erginos’ story wasn’t that difficult.
“Have you gone crazy after being locked underground for so long?”
This madman is talking about resurrecting the Evil God. He’s saying that by returning the energy inside the barrier to its original state, he can stop it from rampaging.
“Well, who knows? Whether I’m sane or not is something I don’t know. For someone like me, hundreds of years is truly a long time.”
“What?”
“But the Erginos from hundreds of years ago was different. The one who could speak wise words to even the god of magic never made a foolish plan.”
With a confident expression, Erginos continued, saying that it was faster than saying a hundred words, raising a complex magic circle above his hand.
It was unclear just how many magic circles he had connected and completed. The magic circle, the foundation of which was impossible to guess, manifested before we could respond and began changing the world.
Everything around us turned black. The sounds of the surroundings disappeared in an instant.
The sensation on my skin disappeared, and I couldn’t even be sure I was sitting in a chair anymore.
Nothing entered my nose.
Nothing remained at my lips.
It was clear.
I would never mistake this feeling.
After surviving countless threats of death, I knew this sensation couldn’t be an illusion.
This was undoubtedly the power of darkness.
“Now, do you understand?”
As the darkness lifted in an instant, Erginos’ bright face appeared.
“The great wizard Erginos brought the powers of many gods down into the realm of humans.”
The voices of my astonished friends.
The sweet scent brushing my nostrils.
The uncomfortable sensation of the leather chair.
The disgusting taste in my mouth.
“I’ve been threatened so many times, so I never passed this knowledge on to future generations. But the knowledge in my head never faded.”
Although the old nightmares resurfaced, and I could feel my stomach turning, I forced a smile to hide it.
“Don’t worry about facing the Evil God. If I can erase his power, he’ll be a piece of cake to deal with.”
“...Excuse me. Mr. Socially Inept Virgin. Even if the powers are erased, the power he possesses doesn’t disappear. Why do you talk as if it’s no big deal?”
“Hm? But surely you...”
His words were correct. If I could erase the powers, fighting the Evil God would be much easier.
Gods may be troublesome, but if I prepare in advance, I can definitely deal with them.
So, even though I know discussing this is a priority, I feel like there needs to be a punishment for what was said earlier.
With a narrowed gaze, I snapped my fingers, and the dazed fox waiting in the corner took on a human form.
“How much should I torment him?”
“As long as he’s begging for his life.”
“Hmm? Wait. Wait a minute! Please stop! Don’t come near me! Please!”