Editor : Amethyst00



-We've arrived.

At Melina's words, everyone tensed.

High above the Fairy Forest, where the old Fairyland was once located.

Leo's group gazed down at the wintery woods below.

When Melina released her polymorph spell, they all plummeted rapidly.

Despite the sudden fall from a great height, no one panicked.

Just as Chelsea and Lyl reached out to grab Leo—

Chen Xia moved faster and caught Leo in her arms as they descended.

Soft—!

Landing gracefully, Chen Xia rubbed her cheek against Leo's head.

"Down you go."

"Yes."

With a smile, Chen Xia gently set Leo down.

"Still treating me like a kid."

"Well, you used to treat us like little kids too, Leo."

"What else was I supposed to call kids—if not kids?"

At Leo's retort, Chen Xia made a slight sulky face.

Meanwhile, the others also landed on the ground.

"Let's split into teams and decide the areas to search."

They needed to find the key that would dispel the illusion in the old Fairy Land.

Since it was a scouting mission, dividing up was more efficient.

At Leo's suggestion, Eliza spoke up.

"Didn't they say there are Tartaros's commanders within this illusion as well? Is it really safe to split up like this?"

Leo crossed his arms.

"Did you forget already? Each of you now holds power comparable to at least a legion commander."

"Leave me out. No matter how skilled I am, I'm not some monster."

Carl raised his hand at Leo's words.

"Hey! Are you calling me a monster, Carl?!"

"Eek?!"

Lyl, still sulking from being called a monster earlier by Leo, reacted sharply.

Leo quickly added, "Calm down. He didn't mean you were the monster."

"I overreacted. Sorry, Carl."

"But you're all monsters."

Lyl stared silently at Leo with a blank expression.

Avoiding her gaze, Leo muttered,

"Anyway, that's enough joking."

'Wow, that shameless Leo Plov actually avoided her eyes.'

'Lyl-sunbae…Scary….'

'Honestly, she is kind of a monster now.'

Eliza, Chelsea, and Chen Xia all marveled silently.

They didn't dare say it out loud, knowing that deadly stare from Lyl would turn on them.

Lyl stepped in front of Leo and stared him down.

Scratching his head, Leo spoke again.

"You're prettier when you smile. Don't make that face."

That did the trick. Lyl broke into a smile.

With her mood lifted, Leo said, "If we run into a commander, two-man teams should be enough to handle them."

Melina added, "In that case, I'll search alone."

Since there were seven of them, pairing up would leave one person alone—and Mel volunteered.

"So how do we decide teams?"

At Lyl's question, Chelsea pushed Carl, and Chen Xia nudged Eliza, placing the two closer together.

"Let's start with the married couple."

"Who's married?! Who?!"

Eliza barked, indignant, while Chen Xia grinned.

Chelsea chimed in, "Come on, Xia. Who knows what the future holds?"

"You saying something sensible for once, Chelsea?"

"Which is why I called them the future couple."

"That's fair."

Eliza swung her whip at the two teasing her.

Of course, they dodged with annoying ease.

Leo let out a deep sigh.

"What's with the sigh?"

Carl asked, now next to Leo after dodging the whip.

"They look like adults but act like kids."

"Well, what can you do? Their bodies just grew faster."

Carl chuckled.

"They'll probably grow out of it."

"Nope. Bet they'll act like that even at that age for real."

Leo shook his head.

"All right, if everyone's done, let's draw lots for teams. That way no one complains."

And so they drew lots.

The result:

Eliza and Chelsea.

Carl and Lyl.

Leo and Chen Xia.

Chelsea pouted.

"I wanted to see more of cute Leo-oppa."

Eliza said,

"Just take a picture."

"Hmm, not a bad idea, but won't Leo-oppa get embarrassed?"

She figured even Leo might be shy about being in a child's body.

"Leo doesn't get embarrassed at all. He even cross-dressed without flinching."

"What?!"

Chelsea was shocked at Chen Xia's words.

"Oh yeah, that happened."

"See? Totally unfazed."

Chen Xia shrugged as Leo remained completely calm.

"D-Do you have a picture?!"

Chelsea grabbed Chen Xia in desperation.

"I do. He looked stunning."

"L-Let me see!"

"Nope."

"Why not?!"

Chen Xia smiled sweetly.

Watching the scene, Melina cut in.

"All right, enough chatting. Let's move out."

Reluctantly, Chelsea entered the forest with Eliza.

Carl and Lyl disappeared into the trees as well.

Once Melina left, Leo spoke.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Chen Xia smiled and followed after him.

bl

Leo and Chen Xia were assigned to search within the old Fairyland itself.

Since the Fairy Forest was vast, the area called Fairyland was relatively smaller.

"Even so, it's still huge."

Chen Xia looked around from the center of Fairyland.

"Well, it is Fairyland."

"Even if it's smaller than the rest, the key is likely to be here, so… this may take time."

At her comment, Leo snapped his fingers.

With that, Fiora, Alty, and Kiran appeared.

Fwoosh—!

The moment she was summoned, Fiora transformed into a beautiful woman.

Since this was a projection of the future, she no longer looked like a child.

Fiora elegantly lifted her skirt and bowed to Leo.

["Fiora has responded to the call, Master."]

["You look amazing, Fiora."]

["Thank you, Alty."]

["I have a request."]

["What is it?"]

["Please slap me."]

Smack—!

["Aah!"]

Without hesitation, Fiora slapped Alty across the cheek. She fell to her knees, holding her face with an ecstatic look.

["That felt amazing…"]

"Your summons are always so unique, Leo."

Chen Xia clicked her tongue in amusement.

She turned to Fiora.

"Still, you really grew up beautifully."

["Hmph."]

Fiora looked pleased.

["Something's wrong! You're not fat anymore!"]

Kiran pointed at Fiora accusingly.

In response, Fiora summoned a flaming flyswatter and whacked him.

Smack—!

Gyaaah!

["Watch your tongue, you rude fairy."]

Fiora snorted.

Chen Xia tilted her head.

"But Kiran hasn't changed at all?"

Leo froze at those words.

She was right.

Alty hadn't changed either, but that was expected. She was a pegasus who had already reached full growth centuries ago.

But Kiran was different.

'Kiran is still a young fairy.'

So like Fiora, he should have changed in this future projection. At the very least, his wings should be restored.

But he remained in his original weakened state.

Kiran said,

["I just haven't found all my wings yet!"]

"A future fairy king wouldn't be missing his wings."

Leo's words made Kiran flinch.

Leo continued.

"You don't wish for the future, do you, Kiran?"

["…"]

Kiran's shoulders slumped.

This world was an illusion.

Those who wished for the future projected future versions of themselves.

Those clinging to the past remained as they were.

It was likely the present could also be projected.

Leo sighed, watching Kiran.

"I think I get why you were exiled from Fairy Land."

Chen Xia tilted her head.

"Wasn't it because he was a prankster?"

"Sure. But I've always thought… there had to be a reason he pulled pranks serious enough to get exiled."

Kiran was certainly mischievous.

But would that alone make Sylord, the fairy king, seal his powers and cast him out?

That punishment was reserved for major criminals.

Until now, Leo had thought Kiran had just matured a bit since exile.

"He accepted exile way too easily."

"Well, maybe he just respected the fairy king's power…"

"Kiran was far stronger than most fairies."

"Huh?"

"If he hadn't lost his wings, he'd rival the fairy king."

Everyone's jaws dropped.

Kiran pouted.

["You're saying *that brat is really that powerful?"]*

Fiora asked in disbelief.

Leo replied plainly.

"In battle, he fought on par with you, Fiora."

["Well yeah, but only after you awakened his potential, Master."]

["Right. But he fought you while missing his wings. A fairy's power stems from their wings. That means even in this weakened state, Kiran's potential is that high."]

Everyone stared at Kiran in shock.

"If he was just a brat, he wouldn't have accepted exile so meekly."

["Of course Leo's sharp. Guess it's 'cause he's Dad's friend."]

Kiran grumbled.

"You pulled a stunt worthy of exile… and accepted it quietly… because you didn't want to become the fairy king, right?"

["Yeah."]

["Why go that far…"]

Alty looked pained. Chen Xia quietly asked,

"…Were you afraid of Sylord disappearing?"

["…"]

Kiran said nothing.

Leo sighed.

"You must've known. You weren't just chosen as successor. You were born to become the fairy king. And once you do, Sylord would vanish."

["If Dad dies, I have to do all the stuff he did, right?"]

Kiran mumbled.

["You ungrateful brat…!"]

Fiora fumed, but Alty covered her mouth.

He realized that wasn't the real reason.

["Besides… Dad spent his whole life stuck 5,000 years in the past."]

Kiran bit his lip.

["I just wanted… him to look at the present, even a little."]