374
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It was because of belief.
The belief that her older sister would always make the "right choice" as a queen made her lay down her dagger.
Shil clenched her teeth as she stared at the fallen dagger. Fresh crimson droplets were dripping from Luet's neck.
The fairies who followed Shil also reluctantly lowered their swords, as if they had no other choice. Everyone seemed very disappointed with Shil.
‘Shil, my younger sister.’
Shil simply stared at the fallen dagger without responding.
‘For now, it might be difficult for you to accept no matter how I explain. However, I believe you will come to understand my choice someday. Now go home.’
Shil turned around and left.
As Shil began to leave, the fairies also started moving, seemingly without any other option.
‘Ha.’
Luet let out a sigh as she watched the forest beyond which Shil and her kin had departed. It was a sigh mixed with restlessness and a sense of relief.
The relief didn't stem from the fact that she hadn't been stabbed by her sister and kin's blades.
‘Fairy culture is truly amusing. They draw their swords, seemingly ready to kill the queen, but with a few words, they just turn and leave... Haha.’
From the darkness of the forest behind Luet, a person revealed themselves and spoke.
The individual's face wasn't clearly visible due to a pressed-down hood, but they wore a black robe adorned with the Runcandel's black sword emblem.
‘Lokia.’
Luet turned around and called out the person's name.
Lokia Ganesto.
She was one of the ten great knights of Runcandel, an unparalleled mage when it came to pure magic.
‘In Runcandel, no, even in the human world, it's unimaginable. Still, I am glad though. If they had really intended to harm you, I would have killed every single one without exception.’
As Lokia said and giggled, Luet's eyes narrowed.
‘Is this situation amusing to you?’
‘Yes, it's amusing and cute. It felt like watching children playing war games. Well, Ms. Luet, you were quite impressive. You didn't stop even when a sword was at your throat. No, was it because you trusted her that much?’
‘Think as you please.’
‘Honestly, if the blade that touched your neck had gone in just half a fingernail more, I would have immediately killed her. I had endured it in my own way, but if I had killed her, I'd probably have earned your resentment, Ms. Luet.’
Lokia continued speaking with a faint smile.
‘However, earning Ms. Luet’s resentment is better than arousing the wrath of our patriarch. From now on, don't undertake such reckless actions without consulting the patriarch. If I hadn't taken it upon myself to be your escort…’
‘I never asked for an escort.’
‘That's the problem. That's why I, being perceptive, followed along. Anyway, if I hadn't been your escort and if the fleeing fairies had actually stabbed you, then the patriarch would have been furious. It wouldn't have ended with just some of the rebels being killed.’
‘Temar is a good person.’
‘Of course, he is. But can someone continue to be good even after losing their own people? The patriarch of Runcandel wouldn't be such a pushover. In my opinion, you really put the entire fairy tribe in danger just now. Just like your sister said.’
Luet had nothing to say.
Lokia patted her head affectionately, as if finding her adorable.
‘Let's go back. Oh, and starting today, you are the head butler of Runcandel. The patriarch has given me the order to inform you about this.’
***
After that day, Shil and the fairies following her left the Primordial Forest.
And they were forgotten.
Starting with five members of the fairy tribe on March 4th, 797, within a few years the existence of all fairies in the world had been forgotten.
It was because Runcandel had been defeated.
Even though they were forgotten, their forms still remained in the world. Yet, they weren't really alive.
Their forms were.
To others, the form of forgotten fairies appeared dark and eerie, like shadows. But no one paid them any mind. Whether walking through bustling cities or passing through forests filled with all sorts of wildlife, no one noticed them.
No one cared about the forgotten fairies turned into ghosts.
They were as insignificant as passing winds, completely unnoticed.
Even the fact that Shil and the forgotten fairies were milling about was simply an instinct; they couldn't even communicate with each other.
It is impossible to hear, read, or remember the words or text of the unforgotten beings.
Feeling emotions was the same. The forgotten fairies drifted through time like an empty shell, with emotions replaced by a sense of emptiness, like air flowing.
That’s how forgotten beings look like. Existing but not, unable to have any impact on the world, unable to communicate with anyone.
There could be no punishment more dreadful than this.
The fairies, along with those crushed by Zipfel's power, were paying a cruel price.
‘Oh.’
In the midst of such meaningless time that couldn't be measured.
Shil and the fairies heard a voice.
Hearing a voice...
A phenomenon that would have been utterly ordinary before being forgotten now caused the two eyes of the forgotten fairies to open for the first time.
They opened their eyes and saw their transformed, darkened appearance. They grasped the dire situation they were in as their consciousness returned, and shivered from the rapidly escalating despair.
All of this led them to turn their heads in the direction from which the voice, 'Oh', had come.
And what appeared before Shil and the fairies' eyes was a woman even darker and bigger than their shadow-like forms.
‘There are so many orphans.’
The woman looked at the fairies with great interest.
Though her face wasn't clearly visible in the darkness, the fairies could sense that she was smiling.
And even though they had never met before.
They could even discern her name.
‘Helluram…’ Shil said.
She had learned the name of witch while performing her duties to record as a fairy before being forgotten.
Upon hearing that, Helluram let out a satisfied laugh. Haha, while her laughter continued, Shil and the fairies held onto hope.
There is someone who recognizes us. There is someone who can help us come back into existence.
For the forgotten fairies, harboring such hope was only natural. Even if the other party was a legendary witch who had caused numerous catastrophes in the world.
‘How did you end up like this?’
‘Zipfel erased our existence from the world.’
Is it unfair?
‘It's unfair.’
‘Why?’
‘We... We haven't done anything wrong.’
As Shil answered, she felt ashamed.
She couldn't immediately grasp why she was feeling ashamed. So, she pondered for a moment and soon arrived at an answer.
She had abandoned her elder sister and turned away from her kin who fought against Zipfel.
Facing that fact, she felt suffocated. It almost seemed better to have been forgotten, to have felt nothing at all.
Helluram saw through Shil's thoughts. It seemed like she knew the entire story of Shil and the forgotten fairies.
‘Your answer is not even worth ridiculing.’
Even faced with such a demeaning remark, Shil and the fairies couldn't retort.
Additionally, they just wanted to appear decent. They wanted to somehow present themselves well to Helluram and regain their existence in the world.
The shame and self-loathing of betraying the queen and kin would eventually fade if they could exist again.
‘Do you regret it?’
Shil and the fairies nodded.
‘Just a while ago, you claimed you had done nothing wrong, but now you speak of regret. I've a question for you.’
‘What is it?’
‘Certainly, inevitably. A similar moment will come again. At that time, what kind of choice will audacious beings like you make?’
Helluram made eye contact with Shil.
Magical energy and black aura flowed from her hands. Shadow force, a power known to be wielded only by Solderet and his contractors.
The mana and shadow force intertwined, forming dozens of threads that enveloped the fairies.
Uh, uh...!
The appearances of the fairies wrapped in threads were changing.
Bodies that had turned as dark as shadows were regaining their original colors, and the distinct red hair of the fairy tribe flowed down.
Shil and the fairies could only shed tears as they looked at each other. It felt as if they had returned in their complete forms after millions of years.
However, just as tears had started to trickle down their cheeks. The fairies had to experience their appearances changing once again.
‘This... can't be!’
‘It can't be like this!’
The fairies' bodies were contorting. The red hair fell out mercilessly like fur from a sick animal, and their harmonious faces transformed grotesquely, resembling monsters.
Their limbs twisted in eerie ways, and a metallic sound echoed from their necks. Their appearances had become so hideous that they looked like decayed corpses, mired in disease.
Then the transformation momentarily stopped.
‘This is your true form.’
Helluram remarked briefly and waved her hand once.
Then the threads began to move again, and the appearances of the fairies started to change once more.
Their bodies shrank to the size of a child's head, and tiny wings sprouted from their backs. Peering, peering, the wings made a cute sound as they moved.
It was an appearance that most people would find endearing. However, the fairies felt humiliation.
‘How amusing. You had done nothing wrong, yet you regret. Moreover, you were filled with the desire to exist again and now you are also experiencing a luxurious emotion like humiliation.’
‘What have you done to us!’
‘I gave you an opportunity. An opportunity to exist in the world again.’
Helluram grabbed Shil. And on her back, Helluram attached a specially large pair of wings.
‘From now on, you shall be their queen. When the moment similar to what you regretted comes again, I will observe what choices audacious beings like you will make.’
Moments of regret.
Moments when she betrayed her kin and didn't stand against Zipfel.
If a situation like that comes again someday, what choices will Shil and the fairies make? Helluram was precisely curious about that.
‘Don’t forget this difficult lesson.’
Helluram let go of Shil and continued speaking.
‘Furthermore, as you've become so inferior compared to before, you'll have to think diligently to survive. Now, go.’
The fairies couldn't even dare to look at Helluram. As soon as Helluram's words ended, the fairies turned around and flapped their wings.
In this way, they regained their existence and wandered the world once again.
It took several more years until they found a sanctuary called Wantaramo Forest.
Around that time, most of the fairies, except for Sheila, had forgotten much of their memories from when they were true fairies.
They had regained existence only through Helluram's power, not by their “original form”.
What had been forgotten wasn't just memories from when they were true fairies.
Except for Shil, no, Sheila, most of the fairies were slowly forgetting even the actions and words that Helluram had bestowed upon them.
Because it was boring.
Life that continued without purpose, meaning, or hope was a series of boredom. So, they found pleasure in killing the humans who happened to venture into the forest and that was enough for them.
Only Sheila pondered their future as their queen.
Sheila's contemplation ended when a human arrived at Wantaramo Forest to deliver Solderet's message.
374
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It was because of belief.
The belief that her older sister would always make the "right choice" as a queen made her lay down her dagger.
Shil clenched her teeth as she stared at the fallen dagger. Fresh crimson droplets were dripping from Luet's neck.
The fairies who followed Shil also reluctantly lowered their swords, as if they had no other choice. Everyone seemed very disappointed with Shil.
‘Shil, my younger sister.’
Shil simply stared at the fallen dagger without responding.
‘For now, it might be difficult for you to accept no matter how I explain. However, I believe you will come to understand my choice someday. Now go home.’
Shil turned around and left.
As Shil began to leave, the fairies also started moving, seemingly without any other option.
‘Ha.’
Luet let out a sigh as she watched the forest beyond which Shil and her kin had departed. It was a sigh mixed with restlessness and a sense of relief.
The relief didn't stem from the fact that she hadn't been stabbed by her sister and kin's blades.
‘Fairy culture is truly amusing. They draw their swords, seemingly ready to kill the queen, but with a few words, they just turn and leave... Haha.’
From the darkness of the forest behind Luet, a person revealed themselves and spoke.
The individual's face wasn't clearly visible due to a pressed-down hood, but they wore a black robe adorned with the Runcandel's black sword emblem.
‘Lokia.’
Luet turned around and called out the person's name.
Lokia Ganesto.
She was one of the ten great knights of Runcandel, an unparalleled mage when it came to pure magic.
‘In Runcandel, no, even in the human world, it's unimaginable. Still, I am glad though. If they had really intended to harm you, I would have killed every single one without exception.’
As Lokia said and giggled, Luet's eyes narrowed.
‘Is this situation amusing to you?’
‘Yes, it's amusing and cute. It felt like watching children playing war games. Well, Ms. Luet, you were quite impressive. You didn't stop even when a sword was at your throat. No, was it because you trusted her that much?’
‘Think as you please.’
‘Honestly, if the blade that touched your neck had gone in just half a fingernail more, I would have immediately killed her. I had endured it in my own way, but if I had killed her, I'd probably have earned your resentment, Ms. Luet.’
Lokia continued speaking with a faint smile.
‘However, earning Ms. Luet’s resentment is better than arousing the wrath of our patriarch. From now on, don't undertake such reckless actions without consulting the patriarch. If I hadn't taken it upon myself to be your escort…’
‘I never asked for an escort.’
‘That's the problem. That's why I, being perceptive, followed along. Anyway, if I hadn't been your escort and if the fleeing fairies had actually stabbed you, then the patriarch would have been furious. It wouldn't have ended with just some of the rebels being killed.’
‘Temar is a good person.’
‘Of course, he is. But can someone continue to be good even after losing their own people? The patriarch of Runcandel wouldn't be such a pushover. In my opinion, you really put the entire fairy tribe in danger just now. Just like your sister said.’
Luet had nothing to say.
Lokia patted her head affectionately, as if finding her adorable.
‘Let's go back. Oh, and starting today, you are the head butler of Runcandel. The patriarch has given me the order to inform you about this.’
***
After that day, Shil and the fairies following her left the Primordial Forest.
And they were forgotten.
Starting with five members of the fairy tribe on March 4th, 797, within a few years the existence of all fairies in the world had been forgotten.
It was because Runcandel had been defeated.
Even though they were forgotten, their forms still remained in the world. Yet, they weren't really alive.
Their forms were.
To others, the form of forgotten fairies appeared dark and eerie, like shadows. But no one paid them any mind. Whether walking through bustling cities or passing through forests filled with all sorts of wildlife, no one noticed them.
No one cared about the forgotten fairies turned into ghosts.
They were as insignificant as passing winds, completely unnoticed.
Even the fact that Shil and the forgotten fairies were milling about was simply an instinct; they couldn't even communicate with each other.
It is impossible to hear, read, or remember the words or text of the unforgotten beings.
Feeling emotions was the same. The forgotten fairies drifted through time like an empty shell, with emotions replaced by a sense of emptiness, like air flowing.
That’s how forgotten beings look like. Existing but not, unable to have any impact on the world, unable to communicate with anyone.
There could be no punishment more dreadful than this.
The fairies, along with those crushed by Zipfel's power, were paying a cruel price.
‘Oh.’
In the midst of such meaningless time that couldn't be measured.
Shil and the fairies heard a voice.
Hearing a voice...
A phenomenon that would have been utterly ordinary before being forgotten now caused the two eyes of the forgotten fairies to open for the first time.
They opened their eyes and saw their transformed, darkened appearance. They grasped the dire situation they were in as their consciousness returned, and shivered from the rapidly escalating despair.
All of this led them to turn their heads in the direction from which the voice, 'Oh', had come.
And what appeared before Shil and the fairies' eyes was a woman even darker and bigger than their shadow-like forms.
‘There are so many orphans.’
The woman looked at the fairies with great interest.
Though her face wasn't clearly visible in the darkness, the fairies could sense that she was smiling.
And even though they had never met before.
They could even discern her name.
‘Helluram…’ Shil said.
She had learned the name of witch while performing her duties to record as a fairy before being forgotten.
Upon hearing that, Helluram let out a satisfied laugh. Haha, while her laughter continued, Shil and the fairies held onto hope.
There is someone who recognizes us. There is someone who can help us come back into existence.
For the forgotten fairies, harboring such hope was only natural. Even if the other party was a legendary witch who had caused numerous catastrophes in the world.
‘How did you end up like this?’
‘Zipfel erased our existence from the world.’
Is it unfair?
‘It's unfair.’
‘Why?’
‘We... We haven't done anything wrong.’
As Shil answered, she felt ashamed.
She couldn't immediately grasp why she was feeling ashamed. So, she pondered for a moment and soon arrived at an answer.
She had abandoned her elder sister and turned away from her kin who fought against Zipfel.
Facing that fact, she felt suffocated. It almost seemed better to have been forgotten, to have felt nothing at all.
Helluram saw through Shil's thoughts. It seemed like she knew the entire story of Shil and the forgotten fairies.
‘Your answer is not even worth ridiculing.’
Even faced with such a demeaning remark, Shil and the fairies couldn't retort.
Additionally, they just wanted to appear decent. They wanted to somehow present themselves well to Helluram and regain their existence in the world.
The shame and self-loathing of betraying the queen and kin would eventually fade if they could exist again.
‘Do you regret it?’
Shil and the fairies nodded.
‘Just a while ago, you claimed you had done nothing wrong, but now you speak of regret. I've a question for you.’
‘What is it?’
‘Certainly, inevitably. A similar moment will come again. At that time, what kind of choice will audacious beings like you make?’
Helluram made eye contact with Shil.
Magical energy and black aura flowed from her hands. Shadow force, a power known to be wielded only by Solderet and his contractors.
The mana and shadow force intertwined, forming dozens of threads that enveloped the fairies.
Uh, uh...!
The appearances of the fairies wrapped in threads were changing.
Bodies that had turned as dark as shadows were regaining their original colors, and the distinct red hair of the fairy tribe flowed down.
Shil and the fairies could only shed tears as they looked at each other. It felt as if they had returned in their complete forms after millions of years.
However, just as tears had started to trickle down their cheeks. The fairies had to experience their appearances changing once again.
‘This... can't be!’
‘It can't be like this!’
The fairies' bodies were contorting. The red hair fell out mercilessly like fur from a sick animal, and their harmonious faces transformed grotesquely, resembling monsters.
Their limbs twisted in eerie ways, and a metallic sound echoed from their necks. Their appearances had become so hideous that they looked like decayed corpses, mired in disease.
Then the transformation momentarily stopped.
‘This is your true form.’
Helluram remarked briefly and waved her hand once.
Then the threads began to move again, and the appearances of the fairies started to change once more.
Their bodies shrank to the size of a child's head, and tiny wings sprouted from their backs. Peering, peering, the wings made a cute sound as they moved.
It was an appearance that most people would find endearing. However, the fairies felt humiliation.
‘How amusing. You had done nothing wrong, yet you regret. Moreover, you were filled with the desire to exist again and now you are also experiencing a luxurious emotion like humiliation.’
‘What have you done to us!’
‘I gave you an opportunity. An opportunity to exist in the world again.’
Helluram grabbed Shil. And on her back, Helluram attached a specially large pair of wings.
‘From now on, you shall be their queen. When the moment similar to what you regretted comes again, I will observe what choices audacious beings like you will make.’
Moments of regret.
Moments when she betrayed her kin and didn't stand against Zipfel.
If a situation like that comes again someday, what choices will Shil and the fairies make? Helluram was precisely curious about that.
‘Don’t forget this difficult lesson.’
Helluram let go of Shil and continued speaking.
‘Furthermore, as you've become so inferior compared to before, you'll have to think diligently to survive. Now, go.’
The fairies couldn't even dare to look at Helluram. As soon as Helluram's words ended, the fairies turned around and flapped their wings.
In this way, they regained their existence and wandered the world once again.
It took several more years until they found a sanctuary called Wantaramo Forest.
Around that time, most of the fairies, except for Sheila, had forgotten much of their memories from when they were true fairies.
They had regained existence only through Helluram's power, not by their “original form”.
What had been forgotten wasn't just memories from when they were true fairies.
Except for Shil, no, Sheila, most of the fairies were slowly forgetting even the actions and words that Helluram had bestowed upon them.
Because it was boring.
Life that continued without purpose, meaning, or hope was a series of boredom. So, they found pleasure in killing the humans who happened to venture into the forest and that was enough for them.
Only Sheila pondered their future as their queen.
Sheila's contemplation ended when a human arrived at Wantaramo Forest to deliver Solderet's message.
