Ch.182EP.42 – When Spring Blossoms Come (2)

[“Humans seem to fear that child and call it a monster, but actually that child is closer to a fairy. It’s just that being bound to the netherworld has caused it to deteriorate. Still, it takes its work seriously, and sometimes helps us when we ask. Especially since it doesn’t harm life without reason. It’s not a bad child, hoho.”]

“……”

The knights were at a loss whether they should sympathize or be surprised at this point.

Should they be surprised that Durahan wasn’t a monster but actually a fairy, or should they be shocked by the Spring Fairy who treated Durahan like a child and freely ordered it around?

However, experiencing a fragment of the power these fairies possessed, Ihan couldn’t suppress his growing curiosity.

“…I don’t quite understand. Why was the Spring Fairy captured by a mere spellcaster? With this much power, wouldn’t it have been possible to subdue them before being captured?”

“What an insolent bastard!”

“W-well, I can ask, can’t I…?”

For some reason, it seemed the Spring Fairy was unable to directly harm humans.

But it was certainly a being that could defeat humans in other ways.

Just like when it was first released from the seal, it could have turned the magicians’ magical power into nutrients for the earth, or simply called Durahan, which would have resulted in most of the magicians losing their heads.

The same would apply to the rotten spellcaster of 400 years…

So why was the fairy captured without any resistance?

[You were curious about that? It’s nothing special. No need to be so cautious.]

The Spring Fairy was easygoing.

He had been extremely careful, but from her perspective, it seemed like something she could freely answer.

[Mmm, to answer simply, the way we use our power is complicated.]

“??”

[To put it more simply, we shouldn’t arbitrarily exercise authority beyond our given roles. We could potentially ‘collapse’ the ecosystem of nature if we’re not careful.]

The fairy shrugged lightly as she continued her explanation.

[Besides that, there are ‘restrictions’ and ‘promises’ placed on us by the gods… but even without those, we can’t easily use our power. If we do, truly ‘bad things’ can happen.]

“……”

He was afraid to ask what those bad things might be.

It seemed certain that the answer would be worse than anything he could imagine.

[Even Durahan, that child, has many conditions and restrictions to use its power in this world. Still, it can use its power on the dead. That’s why it helped with our request.]

“Then the Fairy also…”

[I told you already. ‘I’m truly grateful to you all.’ If you hadn’t punished those magicians, we still wouldn’t have been able to use our power against them. To put it in terms you can understand, thanks to the established cause and effect, we were able to take action!]

The Spring Fairy wiggled her fingers, drawing a circle.

Whoosh!

An aurora formed a perfect circle, as if she was explaining the cycles and laws of the world in her own way.

It was somewhat complex, but Ihan managed to understand the gist of it.

‘So because this guy and I were in the process of punishing the spellcaster, the fairies could help us from the position of [assistants].’

Thinking about it, the fairies had only neutralized magical power or turned the remains of the dead into nutrients, without directly causing harm.

Despite how resentful they must have been toward the spellcasters, they showed remarkable patience by not attacking directly, and the reason for such patience was likely because exercising their power might have devastating effects on the world.

‘Truly frightening.’

Beings with such powerful abilities that they could potentially overturn the laws of nature, and thus had many restrictions on using their power.

It was enough to make one’s face turn pale.

However…

‘They’re truly kind.’

He couldn’t help but feel their kindness, mercy, and nobility, even developing a sense of respect.

‘They could use their power anytime.’

From what Ihan could tell, while the talk of restrictions and promises was likely true, they probably weren’t completely unable to use their power at will.

Surely if they wanted to, they could directly harm humans in countless ways.

—Yet the fairy didn’t.

Because they were aware that using their power recklessly could potentially destroy the human world.

That’s what made the fairy sacred.

Despite possessing magnificent mysteries that could be called divine, they didn’t exercise that power arbitrarily.

Though they might appear childlike or innocent, they were actually a race more thoughtful and merciful than anyone else.

‘I can see why they were worshipped as gods.’

How could the ancient humans not praise beings so merciful and noble?

‘Even I feel respect…’

For the first time in his life, Ihan felt that someone was both noble and divine.

Great Fairy.

Today, Ihan personally understood why such a title existed.

“Amazing, truly.”

Ihan muttered, nodding his head.

And in response to his comment.

[Uwung, I-I’m embarrassed. It’s been so long since I received such praise….]

“…?”

[You really are a good human, hoho!]

“…I’m just asking out of curiosity, but can fairies read people’s minds?”

He really asked just in case.

He hadn’t said much, yet she seemed so embarrassed.

The fairy.

[-That’s a secret.]

“……”

She covered her mouth with her index finger and winked, leaving Ihan with a sour expression.

‘…Why are there so many women around me who can read minds?’

From the fairy’s reaction alone, he felt he had received his answer.

* * *

Clop, clop.

The two knights’ gazes remained fixed as they watched the sound of hoofbeats fade into the distance.

“……”

For some reason, they had a feeling that someday they would have to fight.

An uncertain premonition that couldn’t be logically explained.

And this was.

[——.]

Whoosh!

As if to confirm they weren’t the only ones who felt it, Durahan’s eyes, burning with blue ghost fire, turned toward them.

The heat felt from within the ghost fire.

The mere aura made their bodies tingle.

But the knights didn’t avert their gaze.

Whether it was the Reaper of Death or whatever, if they ever had to fight in the future, ‘winning is all that matters.’

“See you again.”

[——-.]

Hearing Ihan’s provocative statement, Durahan seemed to twitch slightly.

As if smiling.

Clop, clop.

Durahan gradually moved away.

With hundreds of souls harvested.

The knights could only watch and commit the sight to memory.

Clop, clop……-.

Before long, Durahan’s figure disappeared.

Enveloped by mist that appeared from nowhere, it simply vanished.

With Durahan’s presence completely gone, Ihan and Lac.

Thud…!

“…I’m dying of exhaustion.”

“You ignorant ruffian…! Why did you provoke it at the end?”

“Um, I-I just felt like that’s what I should do in that situation?”

“…You crazy ruffian.”

“…Tch.”

They collapsed on the ground, expressing their fatigue.

They had already fought an intense battle, and then to engage in a battle of wills with such an imposing being—it was only natural that their bodies were completely drained.

In truth, they were already in tatters, and now they were even more so.

They sprawled out from their sitting position, wanting nothing more than to pass out right then and there.

“…Wow, this is serious.”

Derrick, who had approached without notice, clicked his tongue.

After activating [Medical Skill-<Examination>], Derrick approached to check their physical condition.

“Muscle ruptures, torn tendons, and the bones… No, how were you two even moving?”

The more he looked, the more speechless he became.

These were injuries that could easily be fatal.

Yet ironically, the aforementioned injuries were considered minor compared to the rest.

“…Your internal organs are a mess. Instructor, it’s like you had explosives detonated inside you, and Sir Duron, it’s like you’ve been tortured for days. What in the…”

Derrick diagnosed their condition with such accuracy that he could have been a renowned physician.

It was truly serious, requiring immediate surgery.

And even then, it would be a surgery with slim chances of survival.

To increase the success rate, they would need to summon a priest to continuously pour divine power throughout the procedure just to barely hold onto their lives.

“…A night’s sleep will fix it.”

“That’s right.”

“…You’re more likely to not wake up after sleeping.”

Of course, these would be fatal injuries for ‘normal humans,’ but that doesn’t mean these two would die.

They possessed vitality that went beyond mere toughness.

Natural recovery would be possible, and with about half a year of rest, they would fully recover.

However, Derrick knew.

That these weren’t the type of people who would quietly rest for half a year.

‘These gentlemen are all workaholics. They get restless if they don’t work….’

They themselves, or at least the instructor, wouldn’t admit it, but their instructor was undoubtedly a workaholic.

“Ah, we need to go quickly, only three days of vacation left…”

…And quite a severe case at that.

“Please just rest, seriously.”

Derrick muttered as he prepared to use his skill.

As a form of first aid….

[-That won’t do.]

“……”

[You shouldn’t take away my job, hoho.]

“…Y-yes…”

When had she approached?

The Spring Fairy was standing quietly behind him, giving him a meaningful look.

[…You’re someone who was called by ‘her’?]

“!!?”

[Hoho, don’t worry. I won’t go around revealing anyone’s secrets. I just find it a bit interesting.]

“……”

…Gulp.

Derrick swallowed dryly.

As expected of a fairy…

‘I feel completely transparent.’

There was nothing he could hide.

No, probably not just him…

[Those two over there are interesting too. Hoho. It seems ‘she’ has done something quite amusing. Well, these things do happen occasionally.]

“By occasionally…”

Derrick gathered his courage to ask.

Wondering what exactly that “occasionally” meant.

[I mean cases like you all. They occur about once every few hundred years. To make this world more abundant and interesting, yes, in human terms, an ‘event’ or ‘festival’?]

“……”

…A few hundred years is ‘occasionally’?

[Don’t worry, the gods aren’t manipulating or using your fate. That would make the world boring if they interfered. So they often just watch and let things flow naturally.]

“……”

[Hoho.]

“…I don’t know if I should like this or be upset…”

[Life is meant to be enjoyed. If you don’t, you’re only hurting yourself, so cheer up!]

“……”

Watching the fairy smile beautifully and raise her hands cutely as if cheering him on, Derrick couldn’t manage his expression.

No matter how cute she was, this fairy’s age was…

[You’ll be scolded.]

“…I’m sorry.”

Derrick immediately bowed his head.

* * *

“…Please stop bullying our child.”

[It’s because he’s cute, because he’s cute.]

Ihan grumbled as he watched Taechang still being bombarded in the flower bed.

The fairy just smiled playfully.

…So this is why they say fairies are born pranksters.

“Anyway. You don’t need to heal us or anything. This kind of thing we can handle ourselves…”

[-Your lifespan has shortened a bit.]

“……”

[This happened while you were saving us. So I should repay you.]

“No, this…”

Ihan had many objections.

That he didn’t regret it, or that it wasn’t just to save her.

As for his lifespan, he could easily replenish it by getting some elixirs from the Princess, so it’s fine-

Tap.

[You talk too much.]

“W-wait…, huh!?”

Ihan suddenly found himself unable to move, his body frozen.

The fairy had simply embraced him, but he became completely rigid, unable to resist, and before he could even try to resist…

“Huk!”

“Mmm.”

“…Wow.”

…His lips were boldly stolen.

Ironically, the partner for the knight’s ‘first experience’ that he had saved for 30 years was not a human, but a fairy.