Editor : Amethyst00



“You surprised me”

Closing the door and turning around, Leo flinched when he saw Rune standing there without a sound.

“Don’t tell me you were just talking with Eiran this whole time?”

“That’s right.”

“Ooooh…!”

Rune’s face lit up with deep emotion. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his tears.

“How long has it been since that child actually had such a long conversation with someone? I even heard she couldn’t make proper friends at school!”

Seeing Rune getting teary-eyed with a grandfather’s face, Leo clicked his tongue.

“I know you’re busy, but you really should pay more attention to your granddaughter.”

“I’d like to, but my duties are terribly demanding… And after my son and daughter-in-law died in an accident, I haven’t been able to give her the care she deserves.”

Rune smiled bitterly.

“I wanted to help that child open up, but it seems she’s warmed up to you more than I expected. Yes! I’d like to repay you somehow! Whatever you want, I’ll give you!”

“…Is it really okay for the Chairperson of Councilor of a nation to throw around promises like that?”

“And why not?!”

‘This elf is more doting than I thought.’

“I don’t particularly want anything. It’s not like I did something great.”

“A young man without greed! And humble, too! I like you already!”

Rune gave Leo’s shoulder a hearty pat-pat!

“But as her grandfather, I still want to offer you a small token of gratitude. If you truly want nothing, then I’ll at least gift you a magical item that may be useful. And one more thing, Leo—within elf society, refusing a gift is considered rude.”

“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

Rune’s face brightened with genuine joy.

“Come, let’s go to my family’s treasury.”

‘This feels like getting a gift from the rich friend’s grandpa.’*

With a helpless expression, Leo followed Rune.

Rune led him to the mansion’s basement, opened a magical door, and guided him inside.

As expected of the most prestigious elven household, the treasury’s interior was luxurious.

“The heirlooms are the keys to the Hero's World of our ancestors, so those are not something I can give you. But these other items, I can gift you without issue.”

Rune pointed at the display cases lining the entrance, filled with magical relics, smiling all the while.

They were all extraordinary relics.

Leo admired them as he walked along, carefully examining each one.

Then he suddenly stopped in front of a fist-sized blue gem.

‘This is…’

“That was obtained a thousand years ago by a former head of our house. A jewel imbued with the power of a fairy. It’s rare, though its use is unknown. Does it catch your eye?”

Rune asked with a faintly puzzled look.

“It’s quite beautiful.”

“Yes, the fragment of a fairy inside the jewel is lovely, isn’t it?”

And indeed, just as he said—

Inside the gem, a tiny fairy sat curled up with its arms around its knees, eyes closed.

It looked as if it were simply sleeping.

“I’ll take this one.”

Rune blinked in surprise.

“Are you sure? It’s valuable, yes, but its function is…”

“It’s fine. This is the one I like.”

“If you’ve decided, then so be it.”

Rune nodded, retrieved a jewel box from the display, and handed it over.

Leo accepted it and turned the jewel in his hands.

‘No doubt about it. That’s no fragment.’

A smile tugged at Leo’s lips.

‘That’s a real fairy.’

bl

Returning from the Ersar household, Leo ate dinner first.

‘If I break the seal, I might be able to form a contract with the fairy.’

His head was filled with thoughts of the fairy.

After dinner, Harrid and Sena visited the lodging house to give some announcements.

“Listen up. As you all know, this trip is still part of your education.”

Harrid swept his eyes over the students.

“I refuse to believe anyone here thinks we came simply to play.”

A few students flinched at that.

“From tomorrow, wake-up is at six in the morning. After washing up and eating, at seven-thirty we head to the Fairy Forest for personal training.”

“Personal training?”

“But we already do plenty at school…”

Some students looked puzzled.

“I know you already train during your classes. But during this trip, we’ll focus on strengthening your weak points. Since the Fairy Forest has monsters, we can add real combat experience.”

“Ohh.”

“Well, if that’s the case.”

“After morning training, the afternoon will be dedicated to mission practice.”

“Mission practice?”

“Yes. Helping the residents of Velkia with their difficulties.”

“Ooooh!”

“That’s all.”

Leaving the fired-up students behind, Harrid called over Leo and Nella.

“Keep the kids in line.”

“Yes.”

“Understood, Professor Harrid.”

After that, Harrid and Sena left.

“Nella, sorry, but I’m a bit tired. Mind if I turn in early today?”

“Huh? Oh, sure.”

After asking Nella, the vice class president, for understanding, Leo went up to his room.

At that moment, Carl followed.

“Leo, you’re sleeping already?”

“Yeah. Did you need something?”

Grinning slyly, Carl pulled something out from his coat.

“Ta-da! Elven mead.”

He lowered his voice.

“We came all the way here. One drink won’t hurt, right?”

Looking at Carl’s sly smile, Leo extended his hand.

“Nope. I’ll be holding onto that.”

“Huh?”

“You know drinking is forbidden for first and second years.”

“Don’t be such a killjoy! How can a student follow every single rule to the letter? You need some rebellion once in a while.”

Leo chuckled at Carl’s pout.

“It’s the start of the trip. What if you get caught right now? I’ll keep it until the last day, then we can drink it.”

It would be a disaster if Harrid caught them. He’d even checked belongings before departure, and Carl was one of the inspected.

Leo only avoided that because Harrid trusted him.

“Tch, fine. But we’re drinking on the last day, deal?”

“Deal.”

With a regretful face, Carl handed the mead over.

Back in his room, Leo immediately took out the jewel Rune had given him. He poured spiritual power into it.

Wooong—!

The gem shone golden, and Leo narrowed his eyes.

‘It’s sealed with the Fairy King’s magic.’

That was why the Ersar family assumed it was simply a jewel imbued with fairy power.

The magic of the Fairy King.

After the Age of Calamity, the Fairy King’s contractors disappeared.

Elves no longer had chances to encounter the Fairy King’s magic, and eventually it vanished from records.

‘The Fairy King’s magic is different from ordinary fairy magic.’

Fairy magic was merely a branch that originated from the King’s.

‘No wonder the Fairy King, Phoenix King, and Pegasus King are called the three greatest divine beasts.’

And the aura he felt from the jewel—was very familiar.

‘Sylord’s power.’

The fairy who was successor to the Fairy King in the Age of Calamity.

As Luna’s contractee, Leo had seen that fairy many times.

Even now, that same fairy still held the title of Fairy King.

‘But why is this fairy sealed without wings?’

Leo frowned in puzzlement.

If the Fairy King sealed it personally, there had to be a reason.

Most likely: “criminal.”

Still frowning, Leo pushed in more spiritual power.

He focused and began to unravel the flow of power inside the jewel.

Like unlocking a lock—

He used spiritual power to loosen Sylord’s magic.

Only someone who knew of the Fairy King’s magic could attempt this.

A while later—

Wooooong—!

A magic circle appeared on the surface.

‘First layer undone.’

Leo clicked his tongue.

‘But with my current strength, I won’t be able to fully break the seal.’

Knowledge alone wasn’t enough; he lacked the sheer power to release it.

Then he noticed something— His right hand was glowing.

Suprised, he looked. A summoning circle in the fairy tongue had appeared on the back of his hand.

‘The Fairy King’s Oath?’

It was the reward he had received during the entrance exam for clearing the Hero’s World.

Fwaaaah—!

The jewel blazed with golden light.

“Ugh?”

Leo instinctively shut his eyes and stepped back.

When the glow faded, he peeked.

Craack—!

Like an egg hatching, cracks spread across the surface.

“The seal broke?”

Bzzzing—!

The jewel floated into the air, shards falling like fragments of glass.

With a final crack, it shattered.

Inside, the curled-up fairy stretched out, slowly unfurling.

A fairy boy, looking a little younger than Leo in appearance, yawned with a loud “Mmmmnnn~!” and stretched.

Then, opening his golden eyes, he glanced around.

["So Father finally released me?"]

The mischievous voice found Leo, and the boy crossed his arms.

["And why is some lowly human standing before me?"]

“…And who are you?”

[Me?]

The fairy let out a derisive snort.

["Hmph. Pathetic human worm, daring to demand my identity. How insolent. Still, since I’m in a good mood after being freed, I’ll humor you. Once you hear who I am, you’ll faint from shock."]

“So, who are you?”

["I am the first son of the great Golden Fairy King Sylord, and heir to the throne! The Silver Fairy, Kirán himself!"]

With a solemn expression, Kirán lifted his chin high.

["Ah, I see your look of awe. Well, of course. For a pitiful human to behold the heir of the Fairy King—a sight even elves dare not see—no wonder you’re…"]

Smack!

["Guahk!"]

“Even Sylord treated me politely, so why’s his son so damn arrogant?”

Leo scowled and slapped Kirán like swatting a fly.

The boy tumbled onto the table, glaring furiously.

["How dare you raise a hand to the heir of the Fairy King! I’ll never forgive—"]

Smack!

[Guhk!]

This time Leo whacked him with a textbook he had on hand.

Fittingly, it was his Summoning Magic textbook.

“Wanna keep mouthing off?”

["You—you insolent human! To strike a Fairy Prince twice—!"]

Smack!

["The fairies will never forgive—!"]

Smack!

["You’ll suffer retribution—!"]

Smack!

["I won’t let you—!"]

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

Before long, Kirán was foaming at the mouth, knocked out cold.

“What kind of brat is this arrogant? Is he really Sylord’s kid?”

Leo stared down at the unconscious Kirán, completely baffled.