Inheriting the Novel

Fairy Forest (1)

A soft, shimmering light spread gently through the mist.

As the group entered Kiten Forest, they all expressed their amazement at the breathtaking scenery.

"Wow!"

Monet, in particular, excitedly reached out toward the sparkling lights, visibly thrilled.

"I've never seen a forest this beautiful. It really looks like a place where fairies might actually live!"

The surprising thing was not just the stunning scenery.

Just a moment ago, there had been quite a few people, including us, who had come to see Kiten Forest.

But the instant we set foot in the forest, everyone around us had disappeared.

Red, walking quietly next to Vince, shuddered.

"I find this a bit eerie. Is it really okay for us to keep going? What if we get lost here forever...?"

"Fairies don't do things like that!"

As the spokesperson for the fairies, Monet gave a small scolding to Red.

When I chuckled at that scene, Grancesia spoke to me.

[But is it really okay for people to come and go so freely like this? Surely not everyone is just here to sightsee?]

'That's true.'

Before coming to Kiten Forest, I had looked into various things. Among them were several incidents that had occurred in Kiten Forest.

'There were those who tried to set fires or came to hunt fairies. Of course, without exception, they were banished from the forest.'

[And they still let people in?]

'It's probably because the Fairy Queen is so generous.'

I quietly gazed at the flickering cluster of lights in the mist.

On the surface, it looked like nothing more than a mysterious glow, but with my eyes, I could see exactly what it was.

==

〈The Fairies of Kiten Forest〉

Fairies under the rule of Beatrice, Fairy Queen of the South.

They are gentler than other fairies, following the queen's temperament.

They are friendly toward humans and watch humans who enter Kiten Forest from afar.

==

'I didn't realize those lights were all fairies.'

Even I could only read the profile but couldn't see their true forms clearly.

If I used the Eye of Insight, maybe things would look different, but I had no intention of going that far.

'Either way, we'll get a reaction soon enough.'

We continued walking through the mist.

Ten minutes, twenty.

Normally, we would have already returned to the entrance, but we continued deeper into the forest.

By this point, even the adventurers seemed to sense something was off, their complexions gradually darkening.

"... I've entered Kiten Forest a number of times, but this is the first time something like this has happened."

"I've also never seen so many lights around us."

"Could this be because of the dungeon the count mentioned?"

Vince, Herden, and Red each addressed me in turn.

Even the most experienced adventurers were thrown off in a situation they'd never encountered.

"No, that's not it."

Unlike the others, who were uneasy, I felt more relieved as time went on.

The situation was unfolding exactly as stated in the Synopsis.

Of course, Monet simply seemed to find this whole situation fascinating, her eyes sparkling like a child's.

"Wow! Young master, look! The lights are all moving! See?"

Monet cried out in awe as the cluster of lights spread like a wave.

Perhaps energized by Monet's bright smile, the lights circled around us and then swept in all at once.

"Hey, who are you?"

"Huh?"

At that moment, one of the sparkling lights turned into a small fairy.

The appearance was so sudden that even smiling Monet went wide-eyed and froze.

"So curious. How can a human be this lucky?"

"Yeah, yeah! I've never seen a human like this!"

"And so pure-hearted, too. What's your name? Who are you?"

The fairies, giggling as they swarmed, left Monet so flustered she couldn't even speak properly. My companions were no different.

The sudden appearance of the fairies left everyone with their mouths agape, frozen in place.

"Oh, right. You seem interesting, too. Who are you? You've been watching us for a while, right?"

"And what's that on your finger? It feels like it has a pleasant energy."

Although not as much as Monet, a few fairies darted over to me and chattered away.

I wanted to say something, but I decided to wait for Monet to speak first.

If I said anything now, it might change the original story.

At least until we met the Fairy Queen, I had to let Monet handle things.

"Are you really fairies?"

"Yes. Child of luck, who are you?"

"Monet. My name is Monet."

"Monet!"

"That's easy to remember! Human names are usually so complicated!"

One of the laughing fairies raised her tiny hand.

"Let's take her to the Queen! She'll love this!"

"Huh?"

"You'll come with us, right?"

"Ah... Is it okay if the others come too?"

"The other humans? Sure. If they're with someone like you, I guess it'll be fine."

The fairies agreed more readily than I expected and began to lead us.

Suddenly, the mist around us thickened, and only the backs of the fairies flying ahead of us could be seen clearly.

"Young master, they really are fairies! Fairies are real!"

"Yes, I'm glad you got to meet them."

Seeing Monet pulling on my sleeve in excitement made me smile.

Anyway, it seemed that things were progressing according to the original story.

'So now...'

Who knows how long we followed the chattering fairies.

Before we knew it, our path opened up to reveal a gigantic flower garden, with countless fairies flying all around.

"Wow!"

The colorful flowers and beautiful vegetation drew gasps from all of us.

"I never imagined I'd come to such a place..."

Even the seasoned adventurers were moved to awe—it was like another world.

"This way! The queen is waiting!"

The fairy with pink hair, the first to approach Monet, beckoned us over.

She perched on Monet's shoulder, gesturing with her tiny hand to show the way.

"Queen! Queen! We brought an amazing human!"

The place we arrived at was dominated by an enormous tree rising into the sky.

"Darcy, you're too excited. Try to catch your breath first."

And beneath that massive tree stood a beautiful throne adorned in gold.

Seated there was a figure who looked more human than fairy.

If judged by human years, she seemed about twelve or thirteen.

Yet it was clear she was no ordinary human.

Long elf-like ears, and delicate, translucent green butterfly wings extended from her back.

These marked her as something far from ordinary.

"Welcome, humans. I am Beatrice, Fairy Queen of the South."

She slowly rose from her seat and gave us a warm smile.

Despite her childlike body, a considerable sense of authority emanated from her.

I stepped forward in place of Monet, who was frozen stiff.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I am..."

"Clay Vanhart, correct? There's no need for a special introduction."

I stared at her in surprise, not expecting her to already know my name.

Noticing my confusion, the queen smiled again.

"We can't very well be unaware of the owner of the land our home rests upon."

"I see. Understood. But that's just what humans decided, so please don't mind it, Your Majesty."

"In every era there are those who set the standards of the world. For now, it is the humans. We fairies simply choose to live in harmony with that."

At her words, I quietly nodded.

I had tried to gain her favor, but the queen brushed it aside with ease.

"And you, child of luck. The little ones have been wanting to talk to you ever since they saw you. That hasn't changed even now."

As the queen said, the fairies around us seemed ready to rush at Monet any second.

"Fairies are sensitive to luck. I, too, have never met someone as blessed with luck as you."

"Luck? The other fairies mentioned it too, but am I really that lucky?"

"Oh, absolutely."

The Fairy Queen slowly lifted her right hand as she said so.

"Let's dispense with these formalities. The others want to speak with you so much."

At those words, the fairies around us cheered.

"Wow! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Wait! Don't push!"

The fairies surged toward Monet like a wave of light.

Other fairies spun around the adventurers as well, but not a single fairy came near me.

[Do the fairies not like you? They seemed fine earlier.]

'That's not it.'

I was momentarily flustered, but soon realized the reason.

Unlike with the others, the Fairy Queen herself was approaching me.

"Clay."

As everyone's attention shifted, queen Beatrice called to me in a gentle voice.

"Could we speak for a moment?"

At that, I knew something important was coming.

* * *

"I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly."

"No, it's fine. In fact, it's my honor to converse with the Fairy Queen."

"With such a lucky child by your side... I see why you were chosen by that sword."

The queen gave a girlish laugh.

"You seem like a young man, yet you're so composed. That must be why you were chosen by the sword."

Her gaze turned to my waist.

She had probably noticed Genova sheathed at my side.

"Clay, aren't you curious why I called you?"

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"I'll be frank. I have a favor to ask of you."

The queen looked at me earnestly as she continued.

"There is an ancient ruin here in Kiten Forest. In your words, it would be like a dungeon."

I quietly listened to her explanation.

"At regular intervals, powerful miasma used to pour out from that place. It would die down quickly, as usual. But this time, it hasn't."

"Is the miasma still flowing out?"

"No, it's the opposite. It's time for it, but none is appearing."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

The queen slowly shook her head.

"Some of the monsters that are supposed to be inside have been leaking out, so something must be wrong. For now, our children are holding them back..."

"But you don't know the cause, so you can't say when something worse might happen."

"Exactly. I wish I could go myself, but I am unable. I have waited for someone to ask."

I checked the Fairy Queen's profile.

Beatrice's strength was powerful—enough to rival that of the Seven Heroes.

But the problem was that her strength could only be used under the fairy tree.

In short, Beatrice could not leave this land. The Fairy Queen is one with the fairy tree.

She could easily set up a magical barrier, but stepping outside the domain was another matter.

'That's why she asked Fabian.'

She was the Fairy Queen who could lay magic arrays over the whole of Kiten Forest.

I'd always wondered why she couldn't resolve the problem in the forest herself, but now I finally understood.

"Will you grant me this favor?"

With no hesitation, I nodded to the queen's careful request.

"Of course."

"Oh, thank you so much. If you resolve this, I'll make sure you're rewarded accordingly."

With a heartfelt expression, she came close and clasped my hand tightly.

'I've been waiting for those words, Fairy Queen.'

Although she looked like a little girl, the queen struggled onto her tiptoes and patted my head, making me smile inwardly.

After all, I already knew what reward she would give me.