The Reason for a Stable Life

Forcing my eyelids open, I looked around. It was early dawn before the sun had risen, and the room was filled with the sight of children sleeping soundly on their beds.

"...Mmnya, so sleepy..."

Faint moonlight filtered in through the window. Slowly turning my head to peer outside, I saw the moon hanging brightly in the sky, though not yet fully risen.

A month had flown by in the blink of an eye.

"...Time to go."

Pushing aside my desire to sleep more, I changed into light clothes and slipped out of the room.

Before starting my full training in the courtyard, I began stretching—and right on cue, a single black fairy appeared.

When the fairies first started showing up and I had no idea how to deal with them, it was a real hassle. But as time passed and I got used to them, figuring out their patterns... I started shooing away the ones trying to bother me in various ways, and gradually, they stopped coming just to annoy me on purpose.

That said, this one guy weirdly kept showing up consistently.

"Back again?"

"Boss's order-do!"

"You just want chocolate, don't you?"

Hit right on the mark, the black bean fairy glanced around nervously.

"If you keep bothering me, I'll throw you so far away you can't watch me anymore. Mission failed, right?"

"Kuh... Th-that's cheating!"

"Then stay over there and watch quietly."

"...O-okay-do."

The fairy nodded, putting some distance between us and settling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into a spot. I immediately began my workout.

My stats had improved since starting the Phase 2 daily quest, and my movements felt more fluid, but lately, my body had started feeling heavy again.

After finishing the last sprint and collapsing in the courtyard to gaze at the sky, the sun was already up—it must've taken about an hour and forty minutes.

"...Took longer than usual."

Compared to the over two hours it took when I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first started Phase 2, it was incomparably faster, but considering I'd peaked at around one hour twenty minutes a week ago... this was definitely slower.

"Hmm... Is my condition really off lately?"

I opened my status window.

"Wait... Acute Fatigue? When did this happen?"

I'd been too lazy to check my status regularly, so I hadn't even noticed.

"Mmnya... No wonder... my body felt heavy... So this is why?"

I examined 'Acute Fatigue' in more detail.

Acute fatigue from fatigue buildup...

"So... lack of sleep is the issue after all?"

And if it persists, it could turn into chronic fatigue...

"Ugh, this could be bad."

On my way to wash up, I spotted the black bean fairy fast asleep in the spot from earlier.

"..."

Couldn't just leave it there, so I picked it up for now.

By the time I'd washed and returned to the room, Marie was already asleep on my bed.

Seeing everyone sleeping like that... drowsiness hit me too.

"...Ugh, still a bit before wake-up time..."

My body was already burrowing into the bedcovers.

"Mmnya..."

I lay down next to Marie and closed my eyes.

And... we ended up late for chapel, earning a lecture from the supervising nun.

"Lately, you two have been late to chapel quite often."

"Sorry."

"...Sorry."

If it'd been Sister Vanessa, some cuteness might've gotten us off the hook... but today it was a different nun.

"Kekeke... You deserve it-do~ Should've kept a pure heart all along... Mmph!"

For some reason, the rude black pest that had followed us here and was mocking us mid-lecture got snatched up and flung far away.

"Teresa!? What was that?"

"Huh!? Oh, uh... A fly was buzzing around annoyingly..."

"This is lecture time. Focus."

"...Sorry."

Thanks to that pest, I got scolded even more.

... .. .

Lunchtime...

I returned the books I'd borrowed from Sister Vanessa and headed to the garden to tell her I wouldn't be borrowing any more.

"..."

But oddly, Vanessa wasn't there today. Instead, a lone black pest was munching chocolate on the bench.

Looked like Sister Vanessa had been here until just moments ago.

"!!"

Spotting me, it panicked and hid the chocolate behind its back.

"...I'm not gonna steal it."

It didn't look convinced.

That just makes me want to snatch it...

Pushing down the urge to tease, I got to the point of why I was here.

"Where's Sister Vanessa?"

"Boss is busy-do."

"Why?"

"Dunno the details-do. Just now, another nun came and dragged Boss off in a hurry, saying an elf showed up in the city causing a ruckus-do."

My head tilted automatically.

"An elf causing a ruckus?"

"Yup-do. Heard it clear-do."

I thought for a moment, then narrowed my eyes at it.

"This got anything to do with you guys?"

"What kinda talk is that-do?"

"Elves are... the same fairy race as you, right?"

"Rude-do. Only humans lump elves under 'fairy race' or call 'em that-do. Elves get called fairies just 'cause they resemble us in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠many ways, not 'cause they're actual fairies like us-do."

Not sure how reliable that info was, but it didn't seem like a lie.

I can ask Marie later or look it up to verify...

I sat on the bench as casually as possible, looking down at it. I had something I wanted to ask anyway.

"Anyway... why are you watching me so diligently?"

"'Cause Boss ordered it-do."

"That's what I mean. You pranksters never listen to anyone, but you follow Sister Vanessa's orders to a T."

And it wasn't just for chocolate—that seemed too simplistic.

"Boss is the strongest here-do. Wherever you stay long-term, you gotta stay on the good side of the strongest-do."

Not entirely wrong. Though being strong doesn't always mean you're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the leader or influential—that contradiction aside, I let it slide.

"But you're fairies. Can't you just leave whenever? Isn't wandering freely your instinct? Why stick around here?"

"Fairies vary-do. Some love wandering, others seek stable lives-do. In that sense, this place is perfect for fairies wanting stability-do. Stable, rich in high-quality mana... and safe from monsters that can see us or villains trying to kidnap us-do."

The black bean fairy bowed its head with a deep sigh, then continued.

"Normally, monasteries chase out spirits or fairies as distractions to prayer, or put up barriers to keep 'em out. They did that here in the past too-do."

"Not anymore?"

"Nope, all thanks to Boss-do."

The fairy's eyes sparkled briefly.

"Boss defended us, saying 'Everything is born under Restia's will, and all receive Restia's love. We must not turn away from the pitiful and unfortunate, and those we pity aren't just humans.' Thanks to Boss's efforts, we can stay here-do."

The fairy fell silent, pocketing the empty chocolate wrapper and standing.

"Boss thinks you're special-do. Actually, asking me to watch you started after you got kidnapped last time—Boss was worried it'd happen again-do."

"..."

The fairy fluttered up with a slight smile.

"Boss is a good person-do."

I couldn't deny that.

"...I know."

A pervert... a weirdo... but I knew she was a good person.