"I won't let you kill her." (Beilung)
"My lord… why…" (Knight)
The knight passed away before receiving that answer.
He died.
It was not pleasant to watch people die in front of your eyes.
Unlike the corpses of monsters and animals, different emotions came out.
"What happened? Kumayuru-chan, Kumakyu-chan, please move away. I can't see." (Noa)
Noa was trying hard to look at us, but Kumayuru and Kumakyu were blocking her.
It seemed like my intentions were conveyed properly, and I was glad I didn't have to show Noa the moment someone was killed.
Seeing the moment someone was killed was different from seeing a dead body.
But I didn't notice that the man had appeared.
Kumayuru and Kumakyu also didn't tell me? When I look at them, they seemed apologetic.
Rhone rushed out from behind Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"Beilung!" (Rhone)
Rhone came to my side, shouting the man's name.
Beilung... This man was the lord of this city, and the one who tried to make Rhone his own.
And the culprit this time.
There was such a man in front of me.
"Wasn't that knight one to serve you?" (Yuna)
I turned to the slain knight.
"When he tried to kill my dear friend, he was no longer my knight. He was my enemy." (Beilung)
"Don't be silly, my dear friend. After all, you made Riyan like this." (Rhone)
"He's probably the best friend I've ever had because he keeps showing me fairies." (Beilung)
"That's probably the best friend you'll ever have. If the other person doesn't think of you as a friend, you're not a friend." (Yuna)
It was not that easy when I thought of someone as a friend and that person became a friend.
I said this from the bottom of my heart, as I had never had any friends. If I could make friends through something like that, it wouldn't be a problem.
"He brought Rhone for me, we studied fairies together, and he gave me his magic power. If I don't call him a friend, what do I call him?" (Beilung)
When he said that, I couldn't say anything.
Of his own free will, he brought Rhone with him, and they studied fairies together. In Rhone's story, he gave the mana of his own will.
"But I bet he didn't think he would keep sleeping in a place like this without waking up so that he could continue to give you mana." (Yuna)
That was the only difference.
Some people might even give their lives for their family, friends, and loved ones. However, there was no one who continues to give mana to others, going so far as to become bedridden just to show fairies to their friends.
"What do you know about him, even though you've never even talked to him? Maybe it's his intention to continue giving me mana. Well, which one is right? The time will never come when we will know." (Beilung)
Perpetual... In other words, he had no intention of waking him up.
There was no way to confirm his intentions.
Never speak to the dead. It was the same thing if you were alive but couldn't speak.
For years, Rhone's partner and the residents of the town had suffered because of a man who did this.
All I could feel was anger.
"So, I have a question for you too: who are you guys? What are you doing here?" ()
"I came to rescue Rhone from you." (Yuna)
"If such a thing is allowed." (Beilung)
The man's face changed at my words.
That was not to say I was not going to do poorly.
"I have no intention of asking for your permission." (Yuna)
"But did Rhone herself say she was going with you?" (Beilung)
They were told they couldn't leave Rhone's partner Riyan behind. Also, since Rhone's mana could be traced, she couldn't return to the fairy forest where her friends were.
Worst case scenario, she could escape to Crimonia using the bear's transfer gate, but she could not return to the Fairy's Forest either.
But...
"I said I would return if I cut the magical connection between you and Riyan." (Yuna)
"Do you think you can do that?" (Beilung)
"If I blow you away, anything will happen." (Yuna)
"Hehe, you're such a funny young lady. Please only make me laugh in a fashionable way." (Beilung)
I was irritated.
"I'm not dressed like this to make you laugh." (Yuna)
"Well, people dress differently. So, I've been curious for a while now, but who is that beautiful fairy over there? Could you introduce me to her?" (Beilung)
The man looked behind me.
Prim should have been hiding behind Kumayuru and Kumakyu, but Prim was on top of Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"Prim, don’t come out!" (Yuna)
"You were the one who stole this person's mana in order to see my sister." (Prim)
Prim ignored Rhone's words and came to us.
"You're Rhone-san's younger sister, aren't you? You're beautiful together with your older sister." (Beilung)
He looked at Prim with ecstasy in the eyes.
He was really obsessed with fairies.
However, as someone whose eyes were on me, it didn't feel good.
"Even if you don't tell me that, I already know that I'm cute." (Prim)
"Hehe, this is tough. Would you like to become mine too? I will guarantee you a comfortable life." (Beilung)
"I'll refrain. I'm not a thing, and besides, you won't be able to see me." (Prim)
Maybe Prim had disappeared, but even though Prim moved, the man's gaze didn't move.
"Certainly, I can't see it. Perhaps one of those ladies is your partner?" (Beilung)
The man looked at me and Noa who was behind Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"It's me." (Yuna)
I didn't want Noe to be misunderstood and attacked, so I answered honestly.
"Prim, come out." (Yuna)
I called out to Prim to prove that I was Prim's partner. The man's gaze turned toward Prim, as if he could now see her.
"Huh, are you her partner?" (Beilung)
This time, he looked at me as if he was licking me.
Disgusting.
"Would you like to live here too? We will provide you with the highest level of hospitality." (Beilung)
"Does hospitality mean sleeping with that guy?" (Yuna)
I lightly glanced at the man sleeping on the bed.
I didn't know what the man in front of me would do, so I tried my best not to look away.
"That's up to you. Unless you suddenly say you're going to send her home like he did." (Beilung)
"Riyan... me..." (Rhone)
He was trying to get Rhone home. The man in front of me was against that, in order to keep Rhone in this place. He was too selfish.
"Anyway, you lied. I thought you said you had no family or acquaintances. Maybe there are other fairies?" (Beilung)
The man's expression changed as he spoke with a smile.
"I only said that because I broke up with my sister a long time ago and didn't know where she was. Of course, I've never met any other fairies, so I don't know where they are." (Rhone)
Rhone tried to protect her sister and her fairy friends and spouted a lie.
If this man found out about the fairy's forest, they would be in big trouble.
"Then, that little sister. I think she was Prim. Shall we ask her about it? Where did you come from? Perhaps you have many other fairy friends?" (Beilung)
"Hmph! Who's going to tell you?" (Prim)
"So does that mean you don't care what happens to your partner?" (Beilung)
The man looked at me this time.
"What will happen?" (Prim)
"You know that without me having to say that." (Beilung)
The man looked at the sleeping man.
"I think I can do it." (?)
"I think so." (?)
What is it?
He should know that the knights who were his subordinates were strong.
Even if he didn't see the fight between me and the knight, if he watched the end, he would know that the knight was cornered by me.
However, this relaxed look on his face.
"It seems like you're quite capable, contrary to your appearance, so let's fight and see if you can win." (Beilung)
He said while looking at the knight he killed.
"If I win, you will stay here with the fairy for the rest of your life. If I lose, I will release Rhone." (Beilung)
"Do you think I can believe such a promise?" (Yuna)
"Even if you don’t believe me, all you have to do is beat me." (Beilung)
When the man said that, he pulled up the clothes on his chest.
"...Magic stone" (Yuna)
What came out from under his rolled up clothes was a magic stone embedded in his body.
Also, like the man who was being laid down, there was something like a magic circle drawn on his body.
"If you defeat me and destroy this magic stone, the supply of mana from him will stop. That means you can take him and Rhone out." (Beilung)
If what the man said was true, if I won the battle and destroyed the magic stone, I could take Rhone and Riyan out of this place.
"Don't fight. Prim, it's not too late. Run away with your partner." (Rhone)
"……sister" (Prim)
"Your sister can run away, but that bear lady over there won't." (Beilung)
"Damn" (Rhone)
"If you have a fairy as your partner, we can follow the magic and find you. I would be happy if you could go to your friend's place." (Beilung)
He said he could find Rhone's location by tracing the magic.
So, if I was ever captured and studied, that meant Prim's whereabouts would be known.
"Now, what will you do? Little bear lady." (Beilung)
"That's already decided. I'll beat you to the ground and rescue Rhone." (Yuna)
I pointed the bear puppet at the man.
"Then let's go outside. It's probably cramped here for both of us. Besides, if something were to happen to him, both of us would be in trouble." (Beilung)
The man said while looking at the sleeping man. Unlike the slain knight, this man was truly in trouble.
But I had no reason to refuse that proposal.
He might be able to demonstrate his full potential, but I could also fight to the best of my ability.
So, I accepted the man's proposal.
"Okay." (Yuna)
The man smiled at my words and went up the stairs without a word.
Author's Note
The fairy tale is almost coming to an end.
I'm writing every week towards the end, so I don't know how many more episodes there will be, but I hope you'll stick with me.
* Kuma's comic adaptation and spin-off volume 2 will be released on September 2nd, so please look forward to it.
* Sorry for being late. Volume 19 of the book will be released on October 7th, so please check it out as well.
* Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.