The laughter of the Fairy Queen, who remembered me, was bright and pure, but inside my heart, the sight of it filled me with terror.
Wait, didn’t I do something incredibly rude back then!?
I thought we’d never meet again, so I just vented all my frustration about that damn brat, Ganshu, and made a loud scene!
If she remembers that, of course, I’m going to get revenge!
<...Isn’t there a more pressing issue at hand?>
While I was panicking in the Fairy Queen’s gaze, my grandfather’s voice scolded me with a sigh. A more important issue?
Ah. Right.
“Ganshuuuuu!”
That stubborn old man! Why did the trials affect reality? What did I do to make things turn out like this!?
I should have explained it beforehand! Or at least told her what was going on, even if it was late!
This is why gods can’t be trusted!
People on the surface always get by thinking, “Oh, that’s how it is,” and just accept things without explanations! They always mess things up!
Look at people! Look at them!
But not like that pathetic god or that perverted crow, staring way too intently!
If those two were around, it would be more than just interest—it would be stalking!
<No, that’s not it.>
“...Is it? Are you trying to deflect the topic because you're worried about Ganshu?”
<I don’t think insulting gods is the right thing to do, but anyway. The fact that the Fairy Queen remembers you means she’s woken up from her dream, doesn’t it? >
Ah. Aah? Right? She must be able to remember something, or else her consciousness wouldn't be rising.
“Ah, I see. You're feeling anxious?”
The Fairy Queen slowly nodded, her palm pressed against her cheek, before giving a soft smile.
“It’s okay. I’m still dreaming.”
“Are you senile?”
“The barrier that sealed the Fairy Forest was created by Erginus, but I’ve spent hundreds of years inside it. Naturally, I’ve gained some control.”
Now that I think about it, because of the Fairy Queen’s interference, Erginus couldn’t even see inside the barrier. Her control over it is impressive.
“Of course, it won’t last long. My body is still soaked in darkness. But I can endure until your plan begins.”
“Do you even know what we’re trying to do? If you’re going to try and act all charming, you’ll just look pathetic, like an old auntie.”
“You’ve already told my pieces, haven’t you? You said you’d save me.”
Though the Fairy Queen’s face showed no sign of disturbance, the surroundings were different. The once green forest was slowly withering.
The sun, once high in the sky, began to dip lower. The Fairy Queen’s dream is ending.
“Erginus’s disciple?”
“Yes? Yes! My name is Joy Partlan!”
“Hmm, you’re quite lively. Now, please carry out your plan.”
“First, we need to reach the center of the forest.”
“We’re already there.”
“W-what? Huh?”
Upon hearing the Queen’s words, Joy turned around and saw the shapes of things that had been consumed by darkness and had lost their form.
The trees. The grass. The lake. Everything was turning black, losing its identity.
“This place is still my dream, so reaching the desired place is easy.”
She said it as if it were nothing, but can that logic also work when the enemy is involved?
Joy! Can you start the plan as quickly as possible?! I have no idea what will happen if the dream’s corruption completes!
“Please wait a moment. I’ll draw the magic circle that will serve as the foundation.”
As Joy infused magic into her staff, the darkness that had filled the ground receded, and the cracked earth beneath it was revealed.
Standing on the lifeless ground, Joy took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Her magic, flowing out of her, formed threads that wove a pattern across the world.
This wasn’t just drawing a magic circle—it was embedding it into the very fabric of the world.
Even if Joy, the sorcerer, disappears, the magic circle will remain.
“Lady, we should do our part as well.”
While I absentmindedly stared at the magic weaving the world, I snapped back to reality and began retrieving various sacred objects from the spatial pocket.
Fragments of saints’ bones. The sacred water touched by the foot of that pitiful god. Ashes made from the wood cut down in the holy grounds.
Among many other sacred items that would make the pathetic god’s priests faint upon seeing them, I prepared with Faebie to create a sacred area.
If everything goes according to plan, we’ll have to face the fully revived dark god.
Perhaps if we were on a monitor, we wouldn’t know, but given our current situation, I’m not confident that we’ll be able to handle it perfectly until reinforcements arrive.
So, we need to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
So we can survive, no matter what the worst-case scenario brings.
“Lady.”
“What?”
“Is it okay to receive so much just for offering a simple prayer?”
Hmm. Well. It should be fine, right?
Count Count Artea would be so happy that he’d probably faint, and then if we went to tell him what we did, he’d be so overjoyed that he’d just fall to the god’s side in happiness.
It was half-joking, but considering Artea, he really might do that. He’s a pervert, in a completely different way than the foolish fox girl.
I couldn’t help but shudder thinking of Count Artea, who, after collapsing from crying, would dream and laugh like a madman.
As I reflected on this, the preparation for the sacred area was completed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
“It’s fine. Isn’t it always the case that the useless prince just ends up being a burden? If you don’t know what to do, at least try to be cute. Just apologize for your lack of looks.”
“I can’t apologize for that!”
“Why? Isn’t it your fault? The useless prince messed up.”
“Then why is it my fault!? Was it really wrong from the start!?”
After completing the other minor preparations, I infused the weapons of Arthur and Frey with divinity.
At first, I thought Faebie, who’s more experienced in such tasks, would be better at it, but it seems my divinity is stronger, so it’s more efficient for me to do it.
“The sun is setting.”
While we were preparing, the Fairy Queen’s dream continued heading toward its end.
The darkness spreading from the center of the forest invaded.
The sun, which had been falling, now turned a reddish hue.
The sky, turning green, began to show the light of the stars.
The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.
The grotesque laughter of the fairies echoed from deep within the forest.
Though the Fairy Queen’s face still remained, it seems like we can hold out, but for how long will this reprieve last?
“Lucy, the preparations are complete. Please bring out the seal.”
Phew. Thank goodness. We’re not too late.
“Is this really okay? You didn’t make some weird mistake like usual, did you?”
“Don’t worry. I asked Erginus for a verification tool to be sure. There’s no issue now that the magical tool isn’t responding anymore.”
So, this means the magical tool has responded a few times before? Even now, Joy’s clumsiness is still a thing.
“Heh. So you admitted you’re a bit clumsy and prepared for it? How cute.”
“I’ve got too much riding on my hands! It’s terrifying!”
Seeing Joy’s trembling hand on her staff, I stepped forward, patting her on the head, then moved toward the magic circle.
We’ve done all the preparations we can.
Getting here wasn’t easy, but now the plan truly begins.
I open my inventory, mentally preparing myself. Hidden in the corner of my inventory, packed with everything I thought might be useful for emergencies, is the seal of the evil god.
As I cloaked myself in divine energy and took the seal from the inventory, I noticed a crack forming on the seal.
...What!?
“Lucy! Quickly place it in the center of the magic circle!”
Of course, I’m going to place it! I don’t even want to get within a second of this eerie thing!
Just as I was about to practically throw the seal into the circle, my danger sense screamed.
What’s dangerous? What’s dangerous!?
The iron wall isn’t reacting at all!
There’s no danger anywhere.
I see the roots of trees flying toward the seal.
A group of fairies running toward the seal enters my line of sight.
Were they not aiming for me, but for the seal!?
Damn it. I reacted too late.
It’s impossible to perfectly deal with both.
In that case, I’ll have to throw myself at them first.
The tree roots are torn apart and scatter into the air.
The fairies running toward the seal are swept away by the gust and sent flying far off.
“Isn’t the dream supposed to be over already?!”
“Hehe. This is getting fun.”
Thanks to the help of the two, I managed to grab the seal again and, ignoring the rising sense of danger and the incessant warnings from the iron wall, placed the evil god’s seal in the center of the magic circle.
“I told you, right? In dreams, you can usually do whatever you want.”
The seal of the evil god is placed on the woman’s hand. Darkness that should never emerge from the seal settles above the darkness.
“Were you surprised?”
Hearing the woman’s voice, I raised my head and saw the Fairy Queen’s face.
Her face hadn’t changed from before.
But one thing was different.
Her eyes.
The Fairy Queen’s once blue eyes now lacked their green and held another sea inside them.
An endless sea, filled with blackness.
“You shouldn’t trust fairies so easily. After all, they are tricksters.”
A trap?
It was a trap!?
From where?
Had she not regained her senses? Didn’t she invite us?
No. I can think about why this happened later.
Right now, the priority is to get out of this situation!
“Puhahaha♡ It’s so pathetic, calling yourself a fairy at your age♡ You should act your age, huh? Chicken coop lady♡”
As the Fairy Queen’s face twisted into darkness, the wind rushed toward me.
The roots of trees rose from the ground.
Poison spread throughout the area.
A dizzying sound filled my ears.
But all of these attacks are aimed at me.
Not at the seal.
I pull the seal from the Fairy Queen’s hand and hide it behind the shield.
The shock flying toward me embeds itself into the shield, and my light body is sent soaring through the air.
After tumbling several times, I land beside Faebie and steady myself.
“You run away pretty well. You really do look like a fairy.”
“Right?♡ I think I’m more suited to being a fairy than someone like you, a rotting woman♡”
Damn it. Sure, I prepared for the worst, but I didn’t pray for the worst-case scenario to unfold!