episode_0025

As they left the inn in the morning, using a bit of money received from Kentlouf (a hundred Manchester dollars featuring a portrait of James I of Manchester), Eliza and Vina headed towards the market of Libra.

While each city in Merbia had its own currency, the Manchester dollar held the highest value in the West. The Libra of the Amehains followed, and due to a serious issue of counterfeit notes, the pound of Kansas was nearly worthless, leading the residents to primarily use barter or currencies from other Western cities.

Even in Libra, where the Manchester dollar circulated, valuable items such as gold, jewels, and ammunition were used as currency alongside the Manchester dollar, which was exchangeable for them. Before the Manchester military prohibited and enforced the maintenance of currency value, primitive bartering was prevalent.

The renowned bakery in Libra known as “Starlight Pavilion,” famous up to Manchester, accepted various currencies including the Manchester dollar (albeit with some reluctance) for purchasing bread and snacks. However, there were unfortunate individuals, or rather entities, who despite having ample money, could not buy food.

“Why on earth won’t you let us in?”

“Non-humans are not allowed! As the shop owner, I’ve set the rules, so get lost quickly!”

Eliza, marveling at the bustling market of Libra, and Vina, who didn’t want to go but reluctantly agreed when Eliza insisted she could indulge today as much as she wanted (even though it was a meaningless offer to Vina, who would refuse even if Eliza begged, she reluctantly allowed them to go to the market after Eliza insisted on going herself). While enduring the unpleasant feeling caused by humans, Vina walked ahead, focusing only on what lay ahead, and noticed six people trying to enter a certain store, hindered by a scruffy man.

Eliza checked the sign of the store. Blue letters spelling ‘Star Pavilion’ were attached to the channel signboard.

At the right end of the letter sign, a channel signboard depicting chocolate chip cookies and round butter cookies gave the impression that it was a bakery.

“We’re human, see! Look! We have arms, legs, and faces!”

“Then why don’t you prove it by taking off that ridiculous mask and common robe! Why can’t you do that?”

As the man stated, all six of them were dressed in black robes reminiscent of ancient societies, except for a girl with braided hair engaged in conversation with the man. They wore hoods pulled deep over their heads and shimmering bronze masks. Being of petite stature, they appeared either female or short males, with one looking like a child.

“I’ve told you a million times that I’m the only one uncomfortable exposing my face and body due to burns!”

“Hah! Sit down and talk nonsense. You’re just sitting there. I don’t care about those burn marks, so show your face! Or you there! Greet me. If that kid greets me, I’ll let you in.”

The man pointed his finger at one of the remaining five. Lost in the situation, he gazed blankly at the passing crowd, wearing a somewhat eerie mask.

“Jina! Quickly greet him! You know how to speak!”

If a five-year-old child could grasp the situation, Jina, addressed in the black robe, seemed suspicious as she turned her head slowly towards the woman and grinned.

“I said greet him! Don’t just stare blankly!”

Jina either didn’t understand the woman’s words or continued to stare blankly.

“Hurry up! I want to eat snacks!”

The girl, behaving like an immature middle school student that matched her appearance, finally opened her mouth just yesterday.

“…Unni… I really like….”

A feeble voice, as if spoken by a living corpse, emerged from the mask’s mouth hole.

Due to the sudden display of affection, Elaiza suppressed the laughter she was about to burst into and the man wore an expression of disbelief.

“Hiyayayayaak! No one here is properly trained! All we have are useless trash! Huh? Gena, are you crying? No no. Unni loves Gena to the moon and back, so please, please calm down. Apologize for calling you trash… What’s this? Yuri? Nina? Why are you all crying again? Huh? Even Anna? It’s a total mess!

Tina! Please calm these kids down! I’m already going crazy, why are you all doing this!”

“…Hmph.”

The only black robe not crying sneered at the girl.

“You just sneered at me! That was a sneer, right? You deliberately planned to embarrass me?”

“If you didn’t want snacks in the first place, you wouldn’t have embarrassed yourself in front of your siblings.”

Sarcasm dripped from the mouth hole of the black-robed figure called Tina.

“You knew it was a bakery that only humans could enter, right? You even consulted me about that issue.”

“I thought somehow we could manage if we forced it… Tina! What will happen if you say that! Aaaah! Now it’s impossible to pull out!”

“I think that happened because you’re too inept and incompetent. My dear un-ni.”

Elaiza watched the melodrama with a displeased expression. Those afflicted with vampirism in Amehain and those who had animal ears and tails due to mutations were not treated well, which reminded her of that.

“Bine, let’s go somewhere else quickly. There’s nothing to gain by staying here….”

Elaiza noticed that Bine, who was standing next to her, had disappeared.

Bine was walking towards the commotion unfolding at the entrance of the bakery.

“Oh no, this is bad!”

Sensing a disaster similar to when they first met Cantaloupe, Elaiza hurriedly chased after Bine.

“Bine! Wait! If you intend to attack, stop!”

The man, seeing Bine approaching, briefly showed a horrified expression, then nodded and regained his poker face.

“What is this now? Clearly you don’t seem human, so buzz off….”

The man didn’t finish his sentence. Bine had kicked him in the groin.

“Oo… Owww!”

Unable to bear the immense pain, the man clutched his groin, sank to the ground, and hunched over.

“…Huh?”

The girl gasped, and the black robes who were crying stopped.

Bine squatted down to match eye level with the man. Then, with sharp eyes, she began speaking.

“The only sound a human can make in front of a fairy is a scream. Remember that clearly if you’ve forgotten.”

Seeing the menacing glare from Bine, the man shuddered in fear.

“H-hic… Spare me….”

“It seems like humans have completely forgotten manners in the absence of fairies. Seems like there’s a need for some re-education, don’t you think?”

Bine turned her head slightly backward to look at the black robes.

Bine’s gaze was fixed on the black robe called Tina.

“Hmm? Partina. Give me an answer. I want to hear your opinion.”

Silence filled the air.

‘Partina?’

Elaiza had heard that name before. It was a fairy mentioned frequently in the diary read by Murian. A hostile and assertive fairy princess.

Bine referred to the black robe known as Tina as Partina.

“…Tina… Tina? Why does that person know your name?”

The girl cautiously asked Tina.

“…Beautiful fairy princess. Times have changed a lot. Violence alone no longer solves everything. Instead of correcting that person with violence…”

Tina slowly approached Bine and, as if preparing, knelt on her right knee and looked at Bine.

“Would you persuade that foolish one so my dim-witted sister can buy the snacks she wants? Otherwise, my sister will complain all night long.”

“Wait! Who’s complaining?”

The girl expressed her dissatisfaction to Tina, but Tina didn’t even acknowledge it.

“…Alright. Hey, is it okay for these kids to go inside and buy snacks? Huh? I think it’s fine.”

Bine gently pressed the man’s bald head with sharp nails.

“Yes! Yes! You can eat to your heart’s content! Yes!”

Feeling his life in danger, the man hastily exclaimed.

“Okay. Partina, I’ve allowed this male to enter the shop too.”

“Thank you, fairy princess.”

Seeing Tina speak formally made Bine uncomfortable, so she grimaced and said, “You don’t have to be so formal. Speak comfortably and cutely.”

“…”

Tina remained silent.

“Are you deliberately being rude to me?”

“…”

“Well, forget it. Elza, aren’t you going to buy snacks? These kids are excitedly entering the store.”

As per Bine’s words, the girl shouted excitedly and entered the bakery. The remaining figures in black robes followed her inside.

Eliza wasn’t particularly interested in buying snacks at the bakery. Moreover, she had something important on her mind.

‘Fairy Princess.’

In the fantasy where Lisa’s hand pierced her heart, Eliza thought of Bine as the Fairy Princess. Initially, she thought it was just a title she had come up with. However, in her diary, the Fairy Princess was mentioned, and Parthina (presumably) called Bine the Fairy Princess.

The Fairy Princess, the one who almost accidentally erased fairies from the world. The one who almost abandoned the duty to protect the fairies.

Bine didn’t explicitly mention that she was the Fairy Princess. Eliza guessed that Bine wanted to hide her identity as the Fairy Princess for her own safety, although she didn’t know Bine’s true intentions.

‘I guess I wouldn’t just let someone who tried to wipe out their own kind off the hook.’

This was Eliza’s speculation, unaware of how famous the Fairy Princess was in fairy society.

‘Bine, what have you done…’

Eliza thought as she looked at Bine.

“Elza?”

She snapped back to reality.

“Oh… Would you like to try some snacks and bread, Bine?”

“I’d like to try. I’ve hardly had either before.”

“Then shall we go in together? Since there’s no one who dislikes sweets, most things should suit Bine’s taste.”

“Hey, can we go in too?”

While still cowering, Bine threatened the man with her foot.

“Yes! Please, go inside!”

The man cringingly pleaded with Bine, and they both entered the shop.