Chapter 351: Guardians of the Fairies
Passing through the widened path, the temperature changed moment by moment. From winter’s chill to coolness, then freshness, and finally to spring’s warmth.
The summoners sensed it wasn’t only temperature that was changing. This path was a passage connecting reality and Wonderland.
Each step warned their senses that they were reaching an unfamiliar place, like the ear pressure felt when ascending a high mountain.
“How does it feel?”
After arriving at a vast garden, Eugene asked.
“I was raised in a knight’s house and always held vigilance as a virtue. But here…”
Hind said no more.
‘This comfortable land makes even me set down my weapons.’
Because saying more would mean denying the virtue he’d pursued his whole life. Eugene didn’t press his loyal knight further.
“As ordered, we’ll camp between the village and the path.”
“It’s so temperate that we might not even need tents.”
Behind the centurions, mercenaries could be seen lounging everywhere, arms and legs spread wide, basking in the warm sunlight and fresh grass scent.
“Feel free to tour the village interior and trade with the residents. They’re curious about outside goods and stories too. But causing trouble is strictly forbidden.”
“I’ve warned them many times over. Those who’ve accompanied His Majesty this far wouldn’t do anything foolish.”
“You can use the river freely. Bathing is fine too. The Dryad Village side is upstream.”
“There’s probably no need for fires except for cooking. The weather is this warm. It’s hard to believe we were in that cold forest just moments ago.”
Woodrumble.
Many soldiers watched the path they had just passed through being filled with thorn vines.
“Sleeping soundly tonight.”
“Not even an ogre could get through that.”
Everyone felt more secure behind the thorn vine barrier than any fortress—the protection of ancient, powerful forces.
Only within the Moving Castle could one feel a greater sense of security.
“Um…”
One of the four dryads who had followed Eugene approached. When the knights tactfully stepped back, she tiptoed and whispered in his ear.
“Got it. Thanks for letting me know.”
The four bowed gracefully and returned to the village.
“There’s going to be a feast for our army tonight.”
“Oh! A fairy feast!”
“But Your Majesty, was that really worth whispering?”
Everyone was happy but puzzled.
“They’re quite shy.”
“They seem quite familiar with you, though.”
“I think it’s because of the scent on my body.”
Eugene didn’t particularly have an affinity with forest creatures. He was merely benefiting from someone else.
The knights stopped their questions here, but the summoners couldn’t contain their scholarly curiosity.
“Did you apply something?”
“Dryads are beings in perfect harmony of life and magic. I’ve always wanted to speak with them.”
“If you have any secrets, please share…”
These were the same people who had followed Gaius to his private chambers out of magical curiosity.
“The secret is a happy marriage.”
At the unexpected answer, everyone’s faces went blank.
“Huh?”
“What does marriage have to do with this?”
“Ah!”
Among the confused, sharp-minded summoners grasped the secret and laughed.
-Good morning.
-Sleep a little more.
-That’s not possible. Time to wake up.
Eugene always shared body heat with Valda through kisses and embraces. As a result, his body was thoroughly infused with the elven royal family’s scent. The dryads, drawn to it, felt a strong affinity toward Eugene as well.
“So that’s how it was.”
“Oh my.”
Sighs escaped from those who understood. It was a secret they could never replicate.
*
“I’ll go ahead. See you at the feast tonight.”
After briefly organizing his forces, Eugene entered the village. His companions were his squire Homi and physician Maria.
“M-mandrake… grown in a field?!”
Maria was astonished at the strange leaves lined up in a small garden.
“I felt a mysterious aura, but it was magical herbs all along.”
While Eugene marveled, a dryad appeared and grasped a mandrake stalk in each hand.
“No!”
Maria swiftly covered Eugene’s ears. Standing on tiptoe with her height limitation, she barely balanced on her toes.
Sshhk!
Sshk!
“…I don’t hear anything?”
“Huh?”
The mandrake in the dryad’s hand looked serene. It was asleep, unaware it had even been pulled.
Normally it should have been scowling and screaming, hung by its hair like a human dangled upside down.
Crouching and swaying as it was carried, it resembled a puppy held by the scruff of its mother dog’s neck. Maria watched with round eyes.
“That’s a dryad for you.”
“Incredible. What kind of secret is this?”
“We can ask later.”
“It must be a remarkable secret—will they teach us easily?”
“They’re now subjects of Lady Valda. They’d share it gladly.”
“Oh!”
Maria clenched her fists, eyes blazing with scholarly passion.
“And next time, block your own ears first, not mine. I truly appreciate the thought, though.”
“I just couldn’t help… Eek!”
Homi, looking satisfied, hugged Maria tightly from behind.
Further on, they reached the market area where all manner of herbs were displayed. Including mandrakes, rare medicinal herbs impossible to cultivate were abundant.
“So mandrakes looked like this originally. All the ones I’ve been buying and using have been suffering.”
“When old techniques are lost, it’s common for everyone to end up using the wrong methods simultaneously.”
“I suppose so. Could the medicinal potency differ too?”
“Buy whatever you want. Take your time investigating.”
“Oh my!”
Maria hopped up and down unknowingly. A rare sight from the normally composed woman.
*
The mansion they arrived at found Valda and Teresa in the middle of a fierce match.
“Checkmate.”
“…”
After a hard-fought battle allowing checkmate, Valda was frozen like stone.
“Shall I take back a move?”
“Thank—”
Her face brightened and she was about to accept when she spotted her husband’s sour expression.
“…but I decline. That wouldn’t help me improve.”
Her white hand, about to pick up the fallen knight, naturally U-turned and toppled the king.
“Amazing. In the past six years, I’ve never once seen this princess lose.”
Eugene put his arm around Valda’s shoulder.
“It’s merely a difference in experience. Chess is fundamentally a game of openings. While I lived through the rise and fall of countless kingdoms, I faced numerous grand matches. And in this village, there’s an even stronger friend than me.”
Teresa smiled and cleared the chessboard. The four dryads who had accompanied Eugene set out tea and refreshments, sitting on either side of Teresa.
Opposite them sat Eugene and Valda, flanked by Homi and Maria.
“These are foods the children prepared with care. Please enjoy.”
The refreshments looked appetizing, and the fragrant fruit tea, steaming gently, put the mind at ease.
Eugene picked up a small puff pastry. Honey was spread on top, with a thumbnail-sized nut placed at its center.
“Your Majesty seems to favor that.”
Homi, Maria, and Valda seemed captivated by cupcakes and cookies, but Eugene kept picking up only the puff pastries.
“The bread is well-baked, and this nut is wonderfully rich. I’ve never seen anything like it. Is this a village specialty? If possible, I’d like to grow it in my domain and obtain seeds.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Teresa indicated the dryad seated beside her. The slender tree-maiden who had whispered in Eugene’s ear.
The fruit growing like ornaments in her vine-like hair caught Eugene’s eye. It was identical to what he’d been enthusiastically eating, though much smaller.
The dryad maiden plucked the largest fruit with a snap and carefully placed it on Eugene’s pie.
“My king. This is all I can offer. The rest are still astringent.”
“Oh my.”
The shy dryad maiden spoke. Eugene debated whether to eat it.
‘At least it’s not cannibalism.’
Not a hygiene issue, but a conceptual one. But the innocent maiden was looking at him with expectant eyes…
“Hazel is kind and loves people. She’s full of curiosity about the world. If she were sent as a nanny to Your Majesty and the princess, this child would be the one.”
“I’ll enjoy it.”
Eugene immediately put the fruit in his mouth. He had a feeling he’d need to get used to this.
Crunch.
Crunch.
“Delicious.”
Getting used to enjoyment was never difficult.
*
In a warm atmosphere, the guests recounted their journeys.
Including Teresa, the hosts were excellent listeners. Living in a closed world and being fairy folk by nature, they were fascinated by adventure tales. The dryads’ physical characteristics made the responses even more dramatic.
Pop!
The dryad maiden, whose head was covered in flower buds, bloomed more flowers as the story progressed. Her emotions were reflected directly.
“Undead from hell occupied the Second Era’s ruins. Then a Nok champion, a Lamia champion, a hydra, and a Shemblar that hid in this world since ancient times… The outside world has truly been chaotic.”
Only Teresa maintained a serious expression.
“Add to that an evil god helping humanity on a new continent, and another evil god seeking to possess a king and create great chaos…”
Teresa sighed.
“It seems you’ve experienced more in six years than I have in my entire life here.”
Stare.
Hazel, the one who’d gifted the nut, scanned Eugene’s body.
“Is something on me?”
“Even after fighting such fearsome enemies constantly, every part of your body is intact. The king is favored by destiny.”
“Perhaps. Looking back, I’ve made it here without losing a single limb.”
It wasn’t mere luck. It was the result of wielding incomparably powerful strength with greater caution than anyone.
“But I don’t know about the dragon. It would be fine if Ostir took care of it. My knights would be disappointed, though.”
The glory of being a dragon slayer was attractive, but if it caused significant damage in the process, that would be troublesome. This was currently a three-way contest. He had no intention of giving the enemy a free advantage.
“If the trees and birds’ reports are correct, Ostir’s army will soon face the dragon. And they will lose. For them, victory is impossible.”
Teresa spoke with conviction.
“Why? He’s lived here for ages and commands enough power to call himself king.”
“Princess. A dragon cannot be overcome by armies. It’s a creature born with a special destiny from nature. Its enormous size and fearsome power are merely shadows of the destiny it bears.”
Teresa took a sip of tea. Dryads didn’t consume human food but were extremely fond of honey and beverages.
“Then what’s the way to defeat the dragon?”
“One person.”
Though no one was indicated, everyone in the room looked at one man.
“What can stand against destiny is destiny itself. A warrior born with the fate to slay the dragon. That’s all that’s required.”
“Like King Ragnar from Midgard legend.”
“Yes, Princess. Though our king gives a somewhat different impression.”
“Different how?”
“He has already driven out so many threats—even divine beings—from our world. Normally, even one such task is bestowed upon a single lifetime.”
-The king is the bravest and most valiant of knights. He has repelled one powerful foe after another—praise his glorious honor.
Most of Britainia’s nobles and knights viewed Eugene’s achievements simply. Because he was the strongest, he swept up all the glory.
But the dryads, as beings of the old world, believed in destiny.
“By rights, His Majesty should have already fulfilled his destined duty. Yet here he is, traveling to this distant land and preparing for battle with the dragon.”
“Wise Teresa. In your view, what do you think is the cause?”
“This is a first for me too. I can’t make hasty judgments.”
Teresa didn’t rashly speculate about things she didn’t know.
“A destiny of expelling wicked beings from our world one after another? A lion doesn’t tolerate competitors entering its territory.”
Homi offered a hunter-like hypothesis from the forest.
“Just how vast is this lion’s territory?”
“Well…”
Homi smiled enigmatically and left the rest unsaid.
“Living organisms are constantly invaded by pathogens. They cause inflammation, coughing, rashes. Our bodies raise armies to repel these invaders, and the products of that struggle are pus and scabs.”
Maria approached from a physician’s perspective.
Compared to other nations, Barcia’s medicine was extraordinarily advanced. Though they hadn’t reached the concept of antibodies, they had a solid foundation regarding the immune system.
“And every army needs a commander. Perhaps His Majesty…”
Maria also left the rest unsaid. But for different reasons than Homi.
What Homi envisioned was glory and right, but what Maria envisioned was closer to endless obligation. Some might call it honor, but for others, it became a harsh pilgrimage.
“Whatever the reason—it doesn’t matter. The needle goes where it will, and the thread follows.”
Valda was clear. Adventure companion, knight and mage, husband and wife.
Her path was set like a paved road. She would simply support her partner with all her might, as she always had.
“What does Your Majesty think?”
At Teresa’s question, Eugene shrugged.
“Surprisingly, perhaps nothing at all.”
“Nothing?”
This time it was Eugene’s turn to deflect.
His soul couldn’t be bound even by hell’s mire. How far he had come was unknown, and he belonged nowhere.
‘Maybe that’s why the Moving Castle suited me.’
So perhaps he stood a step outside the destiny or providence that moved this world. That had been a passing thought for some time now.
As the second cup of tea was poured, the conversation shifted to Elenost.
“There is a sacred tree called Nim Galadh.”
“Nim (white) Galadh (tree)?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Entirely white, and at night it softly reflects even moonlight, making it exquisitely beautiful. It’s visible everywhere in Elenost.”
Teresa carefully observed Valda’s reaction.
“Ostir and his ancestors demanded the elves call it the World Tree.”
“Could it be a similar type to the Shade Garden?”
“Of course not, Princess. They can’t wield the royal bloodline’s power.”
“So it’s just a big tree then?”
At Eugene’s words, Teresa nodded.
“The ancient traitor clan abandoned their lord and settled in the forest, suffering from lack of legitimacy ever since. The elves value bloodline above all else. Calling themselves kings and wielding authority had limited effect.”
“So they named a great sacred tree the World Tree to supplement their authority.”
Valda sighed.
“After slaying the dragon and deposing Ostir, I have one more task to add.”
Eugene spoke with a bitter smile, and both Teresa and Valda were taken aback.
“Surely you don’t intend to chop down the white tree?”
“That would be excessive. It would wound the people’s hearts more than just breaking the usurper’s authority.”
This time it was Eugene who was taken aback.
“What do you take me for? Why would I chop down a tree?”
Eugene intended to make the traitor clan itself deny the sacred tree’s sanctity in front of the white tree. He would also declare them unfit to be the royal house.
“Ahaha…”
“O-of course you wouldn’t.”
They’d been listening to Eugene’s accounts of smashing and butchering just moments ago, so their thoughts had naturally drifted in that direction.
*
That evening, a grand festival was held.
Boom!
Ba-boom!
Kaboom!
The magical fireworks painting the entire sky were beautiful enough to captivate every knight and common soldier alike.
“This is the brightest night I’ve ever seen.”
“Not even the Roman capital would be this brilliant.”
Hundreds of fairies and countless moonlight spirits served as lighting. They illuminated the entire festival grounds without heat or blinding glare.
The moon may not be as radiant as the sun, but it warmly shines upon all.
“The river bubbles and flows, and the forest is so dense it feels suffocating. At night, the cries of countless creatures make your ears ring. In that place, the Raksha caused great upheaval, and behind it all was…”
Hind, thoroughly drunk on ent wine, poured out his travel tales. All manner of races listened intently.
Though given the setting, he felt less like a knight before an audience and more like a zookeeper before animals. Well, even that wasn’t a perfect analogy.
“Grau.”
“Grau?”
Among those clapping along, there were even mushroom people with limbs. Forest warriors who protected the village with devastating punches.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
A Britainia knight, rough-looking but bashful.
Sssss.
A dryad clone with tree-trunk arms extended, inviting him to dance.
“Sir Knight! Don’t refuse—take my hand!”
“When else will you get to dance with forest spirits?”
Mercenaries and soldiers each found partners and danced energetically. With many dryads present, their clones were plentiful in number.
From mercenaries stomping randomly to knights leading with refined ballroom steps, villagers and guests merged in one place, enjoying food and music.
Eugene watched them all from a slight distance, a faint smile on his lips.
“Won’t Your Majesty join?”
Maria, who had fled the crowd, asked.
“The night is long. I can join later. For now, I want to engrave this scene in my memory.”
“Engrave it?”
“In case my resolve wavers.”
Eugene, who seemed fearless before anything, was also burdened by the prospect of fighting a dragon. Since entering the Great Forest, he had kept the option of retreat tucked away in one corner of his mind.
But no longer. Even if this village was protected by the thorn wall, it wouldn’t be safe from a dragon.
“You dance well. It’s hard to match steps with a dryad as tall as me.”
“…I’m used to it. Extremely.”
Over there, Teresa and Valda made a pair under the moonlight. Sometimes advancing together, sometimes spinning, sometimes resting in comforting tree embrace.
Watching them, Eugene steeled his resolve.
“I can’t leave this forest with the dragon still alive.”
Honor and political gain were now secondary reasons. He wanted to preserve this blessed place until the world’s very end.