I got into school for nothing - 293
I got into school for nothing (293)
Lesson 57. Dowry Army - 3
The reason the fairy race struggles to unite stems from their extreme individualism and deeply ingrained hedonistic mindset. Consequently, they possess a character that "abhors being swayed by the will of others to the utmost degree, preferring to handle all matters as they please, rather than considering future consequences."
At best, they might lend an ear to a fellow fairy, but when it comes to other races, their approach hinges entirely on how much entertainment that individual can provide, irrespective of their moral alignment.
«Aww, let's just swap for a bit! He's the prettiest person I've seen in hundreds of years!»
«That's why he's my boyfriend. Not your husband, Mom.»
That was precisely why Yura, the Fairy Queen and Mira's mother, could utter such an absurd proposition to her daughter, suggesting they swap Ban Yuwon for her own husband.
Even as a queen, she possessed no immense authority like the rulers of other races, nor was she the type to concern herself with dignity.
Observing the other fairies around, who either applauded or clicked their tongues with regret as she attempted to seduce a human—one who had traveled all the way to Fairytale with the significant goal of forming an alliance with the fairy race, and who was, furthermore, her daughter's man—it became clear that most fairies shared this peculiar temperament.
«Oh my, he can even block our unique ability? I'm getting greedier and greedier!»
Ban Yuwon watched Mira step forward, spreading her arms as if to shield him, a gesture that suggested she'd anticipated this very scenario from the outset. He initially mused, 'Compared to other fairies, she's practically a saint,' but upon seeing the twisted smile playing on her lips, he swiftly reconsidered.
«Aren't you jealous of my man? You'll never have him, Mom.»
«I'm jealous, so jealous...! I want to swap!»
«No.»
«Ughhh!»
Indeed, as Ban Yuwon pondered what would be most effective in inflicting distress upon the fairies, those masters of Changeling, the thought occurred to him: perhaps "something they desired to swap but were utterly unable to" would be the perfect target.
And Mira, who had shrewdly anticipated that her boyfriend would become the object of other fairies' covetous desires, was now simultaneously shielding him and preening over the other fairies, especially her own mother!
‘This is dizzying... Surely she didn't intend to bring me here with this in mind from the very beginning, did she?’
No, even so, Mira's mind wouldn't have decayed to such an extent.
Probably...
Ban Yuwon, intent on bringing an end to this farce unfolding before everyone's eyes, invoked his Codeword ability, a power he was increasingly mastering.
«Reprimand!»
«Kyaa?!»
Among the Codewords that consisted of a single utterance, the 'Reprimand' possessed an exceptional effect in silencing noisy chatter and calming the atmosphere.
As the situation was instantly resolved, Ban Yuwon clapped his hands with a satisfied smile and spoke.
«Instead of doing this here, let's go inside and talk.»
«Th-that's right.»
Yura, dumbfounded by Ban Yuwon's display of power, nodded and then guided them to her home.
Unlike Mira, one should have noticed it from the moment she had blue hair: Yura very naturally dipped her body into a nearby puddle.
Then, as if she had stepped into an elevator, her body slowly, smoothly sank.
«Everyone, follow me. Oh, you can go back now. We'll broadcast the conclusion via communication.»
«Yes, Your Majesty!»
«Did you see the Dragonoid? Their eyes were pretty; wouldn't they swap with mine?»
«There was also one whose body shot out a sword of light.»
«No, if you mess with contract items incorrectly, your soul will be harmed.»
As if they had gathered solely for the purpose of welcoming guests, the fairies swiftly dispersed at the Queen's single word.
Fairies vanished by opening gaps in the air; others abruptly thrust their heads into knotholes in nearby trees; some dramatically exited by splitting the ground and plunging into the rift, as if a spaceship docking station had materialized...
Ban Yuwon narrowed his eyes and asked Mira.
«Is it possible that a contagious disease that twists one's body upon creating a normal entrance is spreading here?»
«Fairies living in other dimensions had to construct their homes discreetly to avoid detection by other races. That custom was subsequently re-imported into Fairytale, leading to this peculiar practice.»
Mira, too, seemed somewhat mortified by the behavior of her compatriots, as she covered her eyes with her hands.
However, Ban Yuwon's attention was suddenly drawn to her brilliant purple eyes, shining through the gaps in her fingers.
The Fairy Queen's eyes were a beautiful emerald green.
Mira, too, had green eyes before she contracted with a Constellation...
«Asking now might sound foolish, but is it alright that your hair and eye color changed?»
«Why are you bothering about that? Like you said, it's foolish. It's not as if our bloodline disappears just because a little pigment changed.»
«Right.»
«Besides, this is also a symbol that you and I are connected.»
«I don't recall becoming a Constellation, though.»
«It means it's a symbol that represents our relationship to me. Just understand it that way.»
«Understood.»
After all, the Constellation Gravedigger of Purgatory had contracted with Mira without compensation precisely because of Ban Yuwon, so her words weren't entirely incomprehensible.
«Then, there's something else I'd like to ask.»
«Mom's current husband isn't my father. My father passed away quickly, and after that, my mother changed husbands about three times.»
«Okay.»
As expected of his girlfriend, she divined Ban Yuwon's unspoken question with uncanny accuracy.
Of course, even if the Queen's husband wasn't her father, the act of swapping lovers was still a sacrilege beyond the imagination of any ordinary human.
«Let's go in.»
«Isn't there a palace?»
«Unless there's a major event like this one, the fairy race lives on, forgetting they even have a queen. There's no way there would be a palace.»
«They're an amazing race in many ways...»
Yet, the home of Yura, the Fairy Queen, accessed through the puddle, was a place so magnificent it would not pale in comparison to any palace Ban Yuwon had ever known.
As the group traversed a wide corridor and finally reached what appeared to be a lobby, a shimmering figure woven from blue light and wind materialized before them and bowed its head.
«—I have heard all the stories. I will escort you to the reception room on the second floor.»
«A spirit?»
«It's the Wind Spirit that has been contracted with the Queen for generations. I'm slated to inherit it when I become Queen.»
They claimed it was a race that lived oblivious to the existence of their own queen, yet it turned out to be anything but ordinary!
Mira, gracefully ignoring the group's dumbfounded expressions, led Ban Yuwon and followed the spirit toward the reception room.
Naturally, the mansion's interior was far from ordinary; deadly magical traps were installed such that deviating from the spirit's proper guidance would plunge one into a disorienting, tangled maze.
Conversely, by following the spirit—whether due to the spirit's influence on the group or some other magic—the long corridor seemed to compress, and their footsteps quickened, allowing them to reach their destination within the mansion in mere seconds.
«—Please come inside, I will prepare tea.»
The spirit, having opened the grand door and ushered them inside, conjured a breeze to pull out chairs at the table while simultaneously serving tea. The group, after offering an awkward bow to the Queen already seated opposite them, took their places one by one and accepted the tea the spirit had prepared.
«Welcome to my home. So, first, shall we discuss our wedding?»
«You mean my and Yuwon's wedding, right?»
«Hmph.»
Yura, whose last stratagem had been neatly thwarted, grumbled, took a sip of tea, and then said, her eyes gleaming.
«I've heard the gist of it. It would have been perfectly fine if you'd just come yourself... but our son-in-law even brought reinforcements.»
«And there have been additions to that, too.»
«You're talking about the golems on the spaceship outside, right? They were certainly impressive.»
He turned to look at Aire, wondering if he had already introduced them, but she merely shook her head gently.
«It seems she peeked with her Authority. We had intercepting magic circles ready, but we might not have been able to block mere observation.»
«Correct. We don't particularly like dragons... but we acknowledge their abilities. It's also because of the dragons that dimensional integration was prevented.»
Dimensional integration.
At the casually spoken words, Ban Yuwon's eyes flashed, and he turned to Mira.
She shook her head, indicating her own lack of knowledge, then directed her gaze toward her mother.
«If you know a lot about dragons and dimensions, please explain it. Our darling is stressed about it these days.»
«Why talk about things that are already dead? Let's talk about our living enemies instead.»
At Yura's sly change of subject, who grinned like a slippery snake, Ban Yuwon snorted derisively.
Next to him, Shatie opened her mouth this time.
«Are our Iblis doing well? The ones we sent in first, disguised as dimensional mercenaries.»
«Oh, Shatie. Of course. Those dependable young men seem intent on settling down here permanently.»
«...Settling down is not allowed, though.»
«Just a joke. Anyway, this time, the fairies are seriously preparing. Our fairies typically wouldn't care if the stars turned upside down as long as their own lives weren't at stake, but when their lives *are* at stake, it's a different story.»
After an extensive discussion about the fairy race's military might and the forces Ban Yuwon could muster, Yura, seemingly satisfied, clapped her hands once more.
«Our son-in-law has such great abilities! How can he bring so many reinforcements!»
«But we haven't even brought up the important topic yet. That is, the assault on the Prominence Family's main base.»
«The Prominence are strong. Just as we grow stronger in Fairytale, they too become even stronger in Prominence. But you're saying you'll attack their main base, not merely engage in defense?»
«We have a key card. The legitimate heir of Prominence.»
The group was already privy to this information from him... but for Yura, hearing it for the first time, it struck like a bolt from the blue.
«A legitimate heir... Could it be someone who can purify the erroneous flame?»
«If you're referring to the Unquenchable Flame, then yes. She possesses it.»
«Goodness gracious.»
Yura, genuinely astonished, clapped her hands and praised him.
«That is definitely a key card. Many among the Prominence would acknowledge that person as the legitimate heir simply by witnessing that Authority. —Though, of course, those currently holding power would never do so.»
«We plan to attack their main base by taking advantage of their absence. We've already secured a spy and uncovered the method to penetrate their barrier.»
«Hmph, so our son-in-law desires us to not only decisively draw out and confront Prominence's main forces here but also to assist in conquering the S-7 Dimension?»
«It will be a proposal that is not without merit. The fairy race's power alone would find it difficult to repel both Prominence and Crimson Spear. Furthermore, if I hadn't been here, the outcome would have been decided even before the fight began.»
«You underestimate the fairy race, my cute child.»
An unusual flame flickered ominously in the Fairy Queen's eyes.
Ban Yuwon realized that it was a power sharing its origin with the Wind Spirit he had encountered upon entering this mansion earlier—that is, spirit power.
Though he yearned to acquire that power as well, the abilities he already commanded were too diverse, so he decided to postpone it for later.
«The fairy race is never weak. Of course, we are grateful you informed us of the danger, but don't assume you can manipulate our fairy race so easily with just that—»
«That's not what I'm talking about, though.»
Ban Yuwon said.
If he had intended to put on airs using information that had already fallen into the hands of the fairy race, he wouldn't have delayed his arrival in this dimension in the first place.
«Th-then?»
Yura, clearly having only considered that possibility, was flustered.
However, the others were equally flustered.
They had assumed he would merely attempt negotiations with the fairy race, conditional on the cooperation of the Dowry Army and, furthermore, the Rebel Force, but Ban Yuwon's demeanor was far stronger than anticipated.
«I'm talking about the magic circle currently installed in this dimension. If it's activated, any resistance will be futile; the war will simply end.»
«...A magic circle?»
Yura blinked.
«A magic circle?»
Aire, a mage who had honed her magic as a descendant of a great dragon, was equally flustered.
But Ban Yuwon nodded without hesitation.
«It's installed. A magic circle completed over tens, no, hundreds of years.»
Perhaps the magic circle intended to offer sacrifices for the 'Great Rite' that Prominence had spoken of was now—
On this planet.
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