The Day of the Operation. After Lucy and her group entered the forest at dawn, Murrer stood at the front line, staring at the forest with sharp, cold eyes.
Not only was he leading the owners of the various forests, but as one of the oldest forest masters, he remembered how beautiful the Fairy Forest once was.
Because of that, as he gazed at the decayed forest, he harbored a far greater worry than the others.
The Fairy Queen’s power is formidable.
When she was awake in the past, her influence stretched over every forest in the world.
So, if this plan fails, all the forests on the surface will be at risk.
If it were up to me, I would rush in there myself.
“Aha. You can't go into the house with your dirty paws all covered in mud. You stay outside and wait, that’s more fitting for you, you beastly-smelling thing.”
Murrer sighed, recalling the face of the girl he had once received great help from and would once again rely on. With a large hand, he cupped his face.
She’s the one who can work miracles.
She’s closer to a mythical being than anyone else in this world.
So, I think it’s okay to believe in her, but it’s inevitable that a part of my heart feels uneasy.
“Murrer-nim.”
At the sound of Lina’s voice, Murrer returned to reality and retracted his extended claws, turning his head to the side.
“What is it?”
“Are you in contact with the other forest masters?”
“Only if they’re nearby.”
“Please exchange contact every hour. The first place something strange will happen, should an issue arise, is likely to be the forest.”
Nodding, Murrer asked Lina to reach out to the other forest masters and turned his gaze back to the forest.
“Murrer-nim, you know what the forest was like when it was beautiful, don’t you?”
“Yes. The Age of Myth was when the forests were more beautiful than any other time.”
This isn't just referring to the Fairy Forest. The natural world from the time when gods and humans roamed together was far more prosperous than it is now.
It was because various gods had a good influence on the forests.
There was much more magic remaining in nature than there is in the modern world.
And because the fairies extended their hands in care near nature.
“What was the Fairy Queen like? Lucy only says she smells like a chicken coop.”
“A chicken coop? What kind of expression is that?”
“I think she means the lady smells like a chicken coop.”
“...Her? I think you might have misunderstood something.”
Even in the Age of Myth, when Murrer was the owner of the forest and a powerful wolf, he was hardly someone who would win the fairies' favor.
The fairies once said, “She looks so scary!” “I feel like I’ll be eaten!” “I hate her!”
Other than his outward appearance, there were no disqualifications, and he had the opportunity to meet the Fairy Queen due to her favor.
“The first time I met the Fairy Queen, I felt purity.”
“Did she wear white?”
“I’m not sure what you mean. Well, you know, humans often argue heatedly about one topic. One of the things they argue about is where evil originates.”
Some say that beings who are born full of goodness end up tainted by the world, while others say those born evil learn discipline from the world.
From Murrer’s perspective, it’s a useless discussion, but there’s a point in listening to it—because sometimes, their words can be useful.
“The Fairy Queen was born pure and will live in purity forever. There’s no room for such a disorderly expression like ‘chicken coop’ to enter.”
She was born pure, and unlike fairies, she would not become tainted.
The Fairy Queen is a being who can remain pure despite knowing the world.
When Murrer realized this, he felt an immense awe.
Now, though, it’s all meaningless since she has been corrupted by darkness, but Murrer still remembers that feeling.
“I’m not curious about that. I wanted to know about her appearance.”
Murrer, who had gotten excited reminiscing about the past, was met with Lina’s sharp response. Yes, you’ve always been this way, you beast.
“...In all the living beings I’ve seen on this earth, there’s no one more beautiful than her.”
“More beautiful than Lucy?”
“Ah, you mean the daughter of the Arlen family? Hmm... well.”
It’s hard for me to compare based on appearances, as I’ve never done it before. All I can say is that both of them are beautiful.
After a long silence, Lina, seeing that Murrer didn’t answer, smirked and spoke.
“It’s fine. We’ll meet her soon, and I’ll make my assessment then.”
“You really think we’ll meet her again? The Fairy Queen, who’s been consumed by the dark god’s energy for centuries?”
“Of course.”
“Why do you think that?”
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
“Lucy can’t stand not saving those who are suffering, even if she’s a fool.”
With affection in her voice, Lina spoke, and Murrer, unable to help himself, shifted his gaze away, then smiled at her sparkling eyes.
The child, who once viewed everything in the world only as whether it was valuable to her or not, has now developed personal feelings.
It’s a good thing. Perhaps it’s because she’s one of those children blessed by the gods.
...Though, Lina’s attitude toward Lucy Arlen does seem a bit, no, quite excessive. With time, she’ll probably learn to control herself.
She’s still inexperienced, though.
Still, she’s just inexperienced, right?
She wouldn’t do such a thing knowing she’d be hated, would she?
I hope I’m not mistaken and that I’m seeing this in a positive light.
“Murrer-nim.”
“Hmm?! Ah, I wasn’t thinking of anything. Nothing suspicious.”
“What are you talking about? Over there.”
Following Lina’s finger, Murrer turned and saw that there was something wrong with the Fairy Forest’s barrier.
The energy inside was leaking. Is the Fairy Queen’s dream being disturbed?
“Go tell the knights. The time for the opening of hostilities is near.”
“I’ve already contacted them. I’m quite capable, you know.”
“Well, well.”
“I also know that you thought I was a pervert, Murrer-nim, for being so capable.”
“...Is there evidence that I thought that?”
“There isn’t, but I believe, since you’re such a conscientious person, that you wouldn’t lie.”
Lina smiled mischievously, and to Murrer, her smile felt less playful and more terrifying. The pressure in her grin was unlike any other.
“I hope you bring me another gift next time.”
“If you mean jewelry, ha. I’ll do my best.”
“Erginus-nim!”
“I know. Prepare yourselves.”
Feeling the dark energy emanating from the forest, Erginus finished his meditation and stepped outside.
The once ominous and quiet forest now trembled. The Fairy Queen’s dream was being disturbed.
“Queen, you asked the pieces to kill you, didn’t you?”
Erginus knows. That was the easiest and most realistic way to solve this.
“But if that’s how it was going to end, we wouldn’t have waited for centuries.”
Choosing that path should be a last resort.
Until then, we must try every possible means. I’m not in a position to say this, having left everything to the children of the future.
“May a miracle happen.”
Praying a prayer he never offered during the Age of Myth, Erginus made his way toward the magicians of Partlan.
It was time to prepare for war.
"Hey, the Queen is really pretty!"
"Yeah! She smells more fragrant than any flower!"
"I always want to stay by her side!"
"I want to see the Queen smile forever!"
The fairies, chattering away like Faebie about Lucy, were singing the praises of the Queen, and Murrer clenched his teeth tightly.
Perhaps because he had learned how to deal with hallucinations from Erginus, he saw the ugliness hidden behind their glorious appearances.
Behind their innocent smiles, the faces of emotionless dolls lurked.
Behind the pure voices of children was hidden filth.
The seemingly refreshing forest was, in fact, shrouded in darkness, and among the life here, nothing was truly right.
No, life itself doesn't even exist here.
The forest that died hundreds of years ago has become a hell, trapping the dead.
...It’s not like others don’t feel it.
Lucy doesn’t need to speak. Faebie, too, carries the divine holiness of the gods. Even Kent, Lady Arlen, and Professor Kal, all warriors who have reached a certain level, must be feeling a sense of unease.
Even the Third Prince seems to feel it in some way. When he’s in a bad mood, you can tell by the way he grinds his teeth.
Everyone feels it.
And yet, they smile along with the fairies’ stories.
I’m not the only one who’s trying to hold back the vomit.
Phew. It’s fine. I’m used to pretending to be calm in any situation.
When Lucy caused trouble in high society, I had to manage my expression so many times!
Compared to that, this is nothing.
Chuckling, Joy followed her friends, but soon stopped, feeling an ominous presence from deep inside.
It wasn’t just horrific or disgusting.
The energy within was the very essence of the dark god.
It was darker and more sinister than the dragon sent by the evil god during the Academy raid.
Is the Fairy Queen in there?
“Joy.”
Just as Joy was about to swallow nervously, Arthur spoke from beside her.
Startled, Joy almost choked, but managed to overcome it and waited for Arthur’s words, keeping her composure.
“You know what this means, right? We can’t let Lucy Arlen speak up. We don’t know what will happen.”
“I know very well, Third Prince.”
Right now, Lucy is keeping quiet, listening to her friends' advice, but no one among us thinks Lucy will stay silent for long.
If she could remain quiet, her reputation wouldn’t have hit rock bottom.
“The initiative in conversation should be with the Saintess, and we’ll support her from behind.”
“That seems to be the best way. The fairies show the most favor to Faebie.”
“I’ll do my best, though it may not be enough.”
Everyone who sensed the Fairy Queen’s power gathered and started strategizing, but...
“Hello, everyone.”
All of it became meaningless the moment the Fairy Queen appeared.
“It’s been a while, visitors.”
A presence that seemed to draw all the darkness of the night sky.
So dark, you couldn’t even see what lay hidden within.
Erginus was right. The Fairy Queen was indeed a being close to divinity.
And now, she was so close to the evil god that she radiated a menacing aura.
“Greetings. I am the Fairy Queen. I am the mother of all fairies in this world.”
The Fairy Queen spoke with a smile, but Joy couldn’t see her smile.
The darkness within her obscured everything, making it impossible to even understand what she was saying.
It wasn’t just Joy who felt this way. Everyone here shared the same feeling.
The darkness within the current Fairy Queen was so dreadful that it threatened the very essence of life.
This was a being from the Age of Myth. A great evil fought by heroes.
Indeed, a formidable threat.
Far different from the monsters we met in the dungeon.
Even the dragon we saw during the Academy raid couldn’t compare to this.
It’s terrifying.
I’m scared.
I want to run away.
I want to beg for mercy on my knees.
I want to cry my heart out.
Standing before something so horrifying, I’d rather bite my tongue off.
“Hello...”
But still. I can’t keep standing back and leave everything to Lucy.
I came here because I want to stand beside my friend.
As if waiting for this moment, Lucy tried to step forward, but Joy stopped her, calming her trembling hands with magic, and bowed her head before the Fairy Queen.
“Greetings, Your Majesty, the one who is the owner of all purity, the embodiment of whiteness and greenness. I am Joy Partlan, the only daughter of the Duke Partlan family of the Soladin Kingdom, and a disciple of the great sorcerer Erginus.”
“...Erginus’s disciple?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I have come to convey words to you, according to the will of my noble teacher.”