Ch.183EP.42 – When Spring Blossoms Come (3)

# [That’s hot.]

“Ah, I can’t…!”

[Arin, this is why timing is everything in life. You should have just charged in too, tsk tsk.]

“Y-you…!!”

Irene’s face flushed red as she watched the instructor being pounced on by the fairy.

Although she knew it was a healing act, it was still somehow frustrating to see the fairy in female form stealing his lips.

It felt like having something of hers(?) taken by a complete stranger.

Irene stomped her feet, expressing her frustration.

“…Fairy’s Blessing.”

“That’s rare, isn’t it?”

“Rare doesn’t even begin to describe it. Fewer than five people in the continent’s history have received it.”

However, unlike Irene’s frustration, Roen and Derrick were simply amazed to know that this act was the [Fairy’s Blessing].

Fairy’s Blessing.

A blessing that legendary heroes from myths and legends in the continent’s history were said to have received.

What effects this blessing had were never revealed.

Because every hero who received it kept their mouths shut about it.

But one thing was clear: everyone who received the Fairy’s Blessing left enormous footprints in the continent’s history.

Even heroes from civilizations 10,000 years ago are still remembered, so it’s undeniably a blessing received only by heroes who left immortal records by human standards.

So, the instructor might also become a hero who leaves behind a tremendous legend, but…

“-According to one unofficial history, there’s such a record.”

“Yes?”

“The Fairy’s Blessing isn’t actually some special miracle, and those who left their names in history did so because they were simply great, not particularly because of the blessing.”

“But… didn’t all the heroes who received the blessing become legends?”

“According to the scholar who interpreted and researched that unofficial history, there were at least 120 heroes who received the blessing besides the five well-known ones.”

“……”

“In other words, great people are just great. Don’t particularly attribute it to the blessing. Above all, many records left by unnamed heroes who received the blessing state that ‘I would rather not have received it’ or that it was ‘the worst blessing’.”

“…At that point, isn’t it a curse?”

“Hmm, I think in my opinion…”

[Fufu, just bear with it a little longer. The wounds are severe, so I need to do more!]

“Mmph!?”

Hmm…

“I suppose it could be a curse for some people depending on their capacity, and a blessing for others…”

Watching the instructor being mercilessly subjected to this, one can’t help but feel sorry for him.

It’s certainly being kissed by a beautiful fairy, but there’s something about having no will in the matter that feels…

“Phew.”

Roen closed his eyes tightly.

Seeing this crossroads of what might be a blessing or a curse left him feeling rather uneasy.

“One thing’s for sure, I’d like to decline that.”

“…Haha.”

Derrick awkwardly laughed and quietly agreed with that opinion.

Still.

‘The fairy is beautiful, so it must be… pleasant, right?’

Derrick cautiously thought it might be a happy act after all.

* * *

-Crackle!

“!!!”

Happy my ass!

Who said kissing was a happy thing?!

‘Damn it! I’m about to depart this life trying to experience a bit of happiness!!’

What Ihan was feeling now was anything but happiness.

Literally, Ihan was experiencing the agony of drowning, unable to breathe.

And what was even more maddening was that while he couldn’t breathe, he strangely felt only suffering without dying.

…And you know what’s even more infuriating?

Crack!

“Nnnnngh!?”

Ihan was experiencing the most excruciating pain he’d ever felt in his life.

[This will hurt a bit. About ten times the pain of childbirth? That’s how a female hero who gave birth to more than ten children described it.]

“Nnnngh!!”

The fairy somehow managed to speak while kissing him, but Ihan was in too much pain to be amazed, writhing in agony—or rather, wanting to writhe but having to stay still.

From the moment the fairy grabbed him, his entire body had become rigid and unable to move.

‘Wait, is this really healing?! Why is healing so painful?!’

Ihan had thought the fairy’s healing wouldn’t hurt at all, but it was more painful than any moment he’d experienced before, making him wonder if this was torture rather than healing.

Reading his thoughts precisely…

[It is healing. But it’s more accurate to think of it as reassembly. Your body is in terrible shape right now. So I’m breaking it down first and then putting it back together like puzzle pieces. The pain is unavoidable, I’m afraid.]

The fairy kindly explained.

…Though it wasn’t at all pleasing from his perspective.

[Just bear with it a little longer.]

‘How long is “a little”?!’

[By human standards… 12 hours?]

‘!!?’

Learning that he had to endure an act equivalent to (10 times) the pain of childbirth for 12 hours, Ihan felt like he was going to faint.

No… to be precise, he couldn’t even faint.

The pain was so intense that even if he did faint, he’d immediately regain consciousness.

Ihan wondered if he had somehow wronged the fairy.

[No. I still like you.]

“……!”

‘You like me and yet you’re inflicting this pain?’

Ihan gave a slightly irreverent look, and the fairy smiled with her eyes.

[Fufu, remember this well. Pain makes humans mature and stronger. I’m not just talking about the physical body. It strengthens the mind, the soul. There’s no lesson without pain, and strength without pain is like sand that can vanish at any moment. But the hardships and trials gained through pain will help you grow. So this is a blessing. ‘A blessing named pain’.]

‘That’s a blessing I’d like to decline….’

[Well, humans who receive our blessings all seem to suffer, ufufufu!]

‘…….’

This explains why ancient heroes never spoke of the Fairy’s Blessing.

Few would consider it a blessing when it causes such insane pain.

It might even breed resentment.

In Ihan’s case…

‘C-couldn’t you at least let me scream freely?’

[No.]

‘This is driving me crazy….’

He endured the pain, just bearing it.

There was no resentment, he just closed his eyes.

Crack!

“!!?”

Bones, muscles, nerves, and tendons were all being reassembled.

Occasionally, refreshing yet hot spring energy touched parts that were deficient or tangled, and with each touch, his reassembled body was being restored.

It was a process as slow as a turtle walking, and the pain was terribly long and gradual.

However…

‘I-I’m getting used to it, just a little, but getting used to it…’

Ihan gradually became accustomed to the pain.

The first reason this was possible was, ironically, because he had experienced similar pain as a child when used as a test subject by a spellcaster.

The second reason was that his usual training methods involved pain.

Therefore, he was more adept at adapting to pain than others.

After all, pain is something you can endure if you know how to bear it, adapt to it, and understand that it will eventually end.

‘Endure, endure…!’

Even while enduring, Ihan continuously observed the changes happening within his body.

How muscles were broken down, how bones were reassembled and strengthened.

And he was certain.

This was none other than…

‘…Hwangoltaltae.’

The ultimate form of physical refinement in Taoist practice where practitioners transform their bones into [Immortal Bones] to become divine immortals!

Ihan had been working toward an artificial Hwangoltaltae, but that was just at the level of making bones and muscles stronger, not something this comprehensive.

‘It’s not just muscles or bones, but the heart, blood vessels, stomach, and tendons—everything is being transformed.’

Even parts that cannot be trained and internal organs are all transcending human limitations.

…This is indeed a procedure only fairies can perform.

A technique and blessing impossible for humans.

A miraculous encounter.

Ihan had obtained a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

However…

[Now, just bear with it a little longer.]

“……!?”

[We still have about 10 more hours to go.]

“!!!!”

[Wow, you’re really enduring well! You’re only the second human to withstand our blessing so well! By the way, the first was the Warrior King, known as the first and last king of the Barbarians. Have you heard of him?]

“Mmmmph?!!!”

…It was inevitable to think that some opportunities come with their own costs.

* * *

Thud.

……Ihan had fainted.

After receiving the blessing for over twelve hours, he had lost consciousness.

Honestly, the fact that he had endured until now was nothing short of a miracle.

But the fairy…

[Tch, I wanted to talk more…]

She could only express regret looking at the unconscious knight.

She felt disappointed that the knight wouldn’t wake up for about two days.

She wanted to converse more…

The fairy shook her head and pouted.

Complaining that humans were too “fragile”…

At that moment.

[Ah, are you finished there too?]

[Woong!]

[Kyahaha.]

[Really? Well done.]

Another knight who had been surrounded by other spring fairies and received their blessing, though not as passionately kissed as Ihan, was also seen unconscious.

[…Hmm, his vessel must have been quite damaged? Seems like they used all their blessing just to fix his vessel.]

The spring fairy instantly detected the murderous energy within and smirked.

-Shudder.

The energy that Ihan had called Cheonsal-seong, which had been tormenting and destroying its host’s body, trembled like a frightened puppy upon feeling the spring fairy’s gaze.

As if it didn’t dare to resist.

[You, stop tormenting that human. Be friendly.]

The spring fairy scolded, though she didn’t expect it to listen.

It was like a curse bestowed by heaven.

Still, now that she had fixed the vessel to its optimal condition, it should be manageable to control and use the energy without strain.

Of course, overuse would crack the vessel again.

[Now it depends on the knight’s capacity.]

Ah, speaking of curses.

[This one has a curse too… Hmm, should I remove it?]

The spring fairy knew that a curse had melted into the knight called Ihan’s body.

Though quite tricky, she could certainly remove it if she wanted to.

[…No. Such things should be overcome by oneself!]

The fairy considered overcoming that curse as a “trial.”

To become a great hero, one must face such hardships!

…If Ihan had heard this, he would have begged her to fix it, saying he’d had enough hardship, but unfortunately, Ihan was unconscious and the fairy was resolute.

[What a shame. I wanted to talk more, but it seems we need to get to work now.]

Rustle.

The spring fairy caressed the knight’s cheek with a warm smile.

It had been a while.

Seeing a knight born with such a harsh fate yet holding onto his beliefs until the end.

[You may not want to become a hero, but you’re becoming one to uphold your beliefs. Fufu, such a diligent knight. If you lived a ‘second life,’ you could live a bit more comfortably.]

But that’s what made him even more admirable.

The fairy stroked him several times, feeling a bit of “love.”

An emotion that is like [poison] to fairies.

Yet fairies fall in love too easily.

Even knowing it’s poison, they can’t help but yearn for affection.

And now, looking at this knight, the fairy felt [love].

For this diligent knight who never resented her despite the pain she inflicted, and who ultimately expressed “gratitude.”

…An attractive man.

[Woong?]

[Kyaha?]

[…No, I won’t deny feeling a flutter, but I must resist. This child seems to already have a ‘partner.’]

But the fairy set aside her feelings.

After all, it wouldn’t be right to interfere with a man who already had someone.

[He has a destined companion. Hmm, I wonder who he’ll choose?]

The destined companion sensed in the knight’s fate.

And not just one, but “several.”

There was already a female candidate for his companion right there.

“I-is it over now?”

“It seems so?”

“…Intense.”

…A girl with fairy lineage.

Fate could be sensed from that child too.

And behind her…

[……]

[Fufu, don’t glare at me like that. I won’t steal him.]

The fairy waved her hands at “her” who was glaring at her.

She wondered which companion this knight would choose.

[That will be a pleasure for another day.]

Ufufu!

The spring fairy laughed brightly, raising both hands.

[Now return to your land.]

Whoosh!

A gentle spring breeze blew, and in an instant, it swept up the two knights, two men, one woman, and a small child who had approached unnoticed.

Though they seemed clearly surprised, the fairy simply waved her hand in farewell.

There were things to be grateful for from them too, but they seemed to have taken their “reward” already.

So.

[Farewell.]

The fairy merely bid them a final goodbye.

Whoosh.

……Their presence completely disappeared with the spring breeze.

As if no one had ever been there.

[……]

The spring fairy gazed wistfully at the spot where they had vanished before returning to the land of dragons, but soon she floated her body into the air.

[Let’s go, it’s time to work.]

[Kyahaha!]

[Waaang!]

Shouldn’t they inform Winter?

──That spring has returned,

*

*

*

-The child was planning to climb the hill early this morning to make a wish again.

Hoping the fairy would no longer be angry, wishing for the snow to stop.

But…

“Mom, what’s that?”

“……”

“Mom? Dad?”

“Sniff…”

“Haaah, th-thank you, fairy, thank you…”

“…?”

The child tilted their head in confusion.

It was strange to see parents who were always stern now with tears in their eyes, and equally strange to see the villagers similarly teary-eyed.

But what was strangest and most unfamiliar was…

“Wow, it’s beautiful…!”

The warm round rays of light gradually revealing themselves as the dark clouds cleared away were most fascinating, and the child’s eyes sparkled.

To this child…

“…Eren, my dear. It seems the fairy has finally withdrawn her anger.”

“??”

The child’s mother taught the child, who had never seen the light of life in the sky before, what it was.

“That is the ‘sun.'”

“S-sun…? …That’s it!?”

The child’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Having never seen the “sun” before in their life, only hearing about it in stories, the child was momentarily speechless upon actually witnessing it…

“Ah!”

“Eren!?”

The child hurriedly climbed the hill behind their house.

The hill they climbed every day to place their cherished pebbles.

And there…

“…You listened.”

The pebbles were gone, and flowers had bloomed.

“Hehe, thank you, fairy!”

For granting my wish-

The child was sincerely grateful, and the child’s mother, who had followed up the hill, was momentarily surprised but soon hugged the child tightly with tears in her eyes.

Where the snow had melted and the pebbles containing the child’s wish had disappeared…

A beautiful field of dandelions had spread out.