Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 172
>Chapter Title: ……Love and War?
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The lodging we'd secured was a luxury mansion right next to Gigsen Lake.
Word was this was the next spot for the Fairy's Waltz, and we'd arrived in Amera with just over ten days left until the waltz bloomed over the lake.
Of course, that timeline was based entirely on the Blandoga family's speculation.
And four days after that.
‘……Peaceful.’
Contrary to my initial worries, I was enjoying a pretty laid-back time.
Mornings, I'd head to the lakeside and cast my line. When the sun got hot around lunchtime, I'd settle in my room with a magic tome.
I wasn't fixating on core division texts.
Some days I'd read Senior Teheman's summaries, others I'd devour Henji's magic books.
I'd grab whatever was at hand and dive in, but unlike my leisurely pace, Damian and Chenbi were keeping busy.
Mornings, they'd scarf down breakfast—or not—and bolt for the city.
“Seeing it is believing.”
Chenbi was no exception. Staying at the mansion meant Sir Tohoman would put her through hellish training.
Anyway, they'd roam the city all day and only come back at dinnertime, turning every meal into a blooming flower of their tourist tales.
Topics varied, and some were pretty intriguing.
“Hey, you know? In Amera, they don't mine moonlight stones while the Fairy's Waltz is happening.”
“Why not?”
“If you have moonlight stones, the fairies in the lake come to get them.”
A legend? More like folk superstition.
Like most legends, no real basis.
But handed down for ages, it had become custom to halt mining during the waltz.
We picked up all sorts of stories and songs, and one thing dawned on me.
‘Amera…… they're dead serious.’
The whole region was all-in on this seasonal 'Fairy's Waltz' bonanza.
Every quarry shut down, every resident pitching in for tourism.
You could tell from the souvenirs Damian brought back each trip.
“Fairy candy.”
Candy shaped like fairies.
“This is a fairy headband.”
A headband like cockroach antennae, called a fairy one.
‘……Well, winged or not, cockroaches and fairies are the same in that sense.’
Still, wasn't this a bit much?
Not just that.
Traveling troupes put on rushed plays with fairy scripts.
Silver-tongued locals claimed spots in taverns, spinning childhood fairy legends like bards to earn their keep.
Songs were a must.
‘Fairy, fairy, fairy, our friend the fairy~ Something like that.’
Countless tourist wares besides.
Clothes, keychains, pictures, fairy-printed cups, towels—even unrelated junk slapped with 'Fairy Whatever!' and sold.
Honestly, when Damian said……
“This feels off. Look, it's just regular coffee, but they call it 'Fairy's Tears'.”
I was surprised.
‘Yeah, he's grown.’
Made me glad I'd faked my illness so well.
If I'd been fully fit, I'd have been dragged everywhere with Chenbi and Damian.
Truth is, my hip hurts too much to roam now.
Anyway, the Fairy's Waltz wasn't just for mages.
Tourists flocked from across the continent to see it, or if they missed it, they'd hole up in some lakeside town, soak in the vibe, and party.
Me? I savored daily life, away from the festivity.
My goal: stay put as best I could.
‘Outside the mansion is dangerous.’
Looks like play, but I'm diligently pursuing my objective.
‘Heard Decullan didn't send anyone special to Amera, for some reason.’
Overheard that while fishing, from Tohoman and another Nine Star chatting.
Even without the biggest threat, Decullan, I couldn't let my guard down. So I gave it my all.
Operation: 'The Still Worm.'
Why still? Worms wriggle when stepped on. Don't get stepped on—that's the plan.
And luckily, it was going smoothly.
‘……Until yesterday.’
“Buddy! Come on out! We’re heading out today! Hurry down!”
I sighed at Damian's urging from outside my door.
They'd left me alone for three days, playing by themselves, but today? Chaos from dawn.
Planned to kill time fishing till he left, like always, but he was persistent.
Found something fun, apparently.
No choice—I stepped out.
Downstairs, beaming Damian and Chenbi waited.
Our first outing from the mansion.
But……why?
‘Feels kinda dead?’
The city streets from the carriage weren't buzzing like Damian said.
Deserted, somehow.
Not a soul or rat on the roads. Even the tourist shops he'd raved about? Not a sign.
Thinking back, the first day was similar.
‘No real festival vibe.’
If it had been festive, I'd remember.
Wait, but.
‘Not a festival—more like a ghost town?’
Only a few who looked like mages passing by.
Shuttered shops lined eerily empty streets.
First day wasn't this bad…… I eyed the barren view outside, puzzled.
But secretly pleased.
‘Festival over?’
That'd be great.
No more outings with Damian holed up here.
But.
I soon realized.
How vain that hope. And how dead serious Amera folk were about the Fairy's Waltz.
“We walk from here!”
Down the road after Damian.
I couldn't close my mouth at the sight.
“What…….”
“Awesome, right?”
Yeah, awesome.
The empty streets a lie—crowds packed the alley.
Stalls crammed both sides, tourists flooding the path.
Like the whole city converged here.
And at the road entrance.
[Welcome to the Fairy Festival.]
Fairy Festival area from here.
“How is it?”
“How’s what?”
To Damian's proud grin at Aster's question.
“Astrology Street. Cool, huh? Where love and war, fate and duty are revealed.”
“Yeah, cool.”
After Aster's half-hearted reply, Chenbi chimed in.
“Amera’s famous not just for moonlight stones and fairy legends, but astrology too. Yesterday, Damian saw a play about it.”
Her way of explaining what might pique Aster's interest.
She figured he'd wonder why Damian suddenly wanted astrology.
That's when Mysern thought.
‘……Love and war?’
Fate and duty made sense, but war? Was he the only one curious?
No one else asked.
Plus, the brown-haired boy's explanation felt off. The conversation's focus subtly skewed.
“Pury, can you tell me how those kids look to you…… Ah, no? Too hard? Similar?”
Mysern frowned at Pury's refusal.
All three had personalities that'd make spirits shake their heads…… Curiosity burned.
‘What the hell kinda guys are they?’
Separate from the 'kids'' request—pure personal intrigue.
* * *
After Aster's group entered the festival street.
Mysern emerged from the alley shadows.
He watched them vanish into the crowd, then glanced at his parchment.
“Hmm, seems right. What do you think, Pury?”
But why.
No answer to his question.
Mysern turned, puzzled, and beheld a shocking sight.
“Pury?”
Spirits had no flush, but her face looked ashen, so stiff.
It passed quick.
……! ……!
Regaining wits, Pury conveyed something urgently to Mysern, who listened and tilted his head.
“Huh? The kids…… yeah. Got it. Hmm…… They passed it wrong? Then how should they…… Hmm.”
One image flooded his mind.
It was Aster as Pury saw him. Receiving it, Mysern burst out laughing.
“Pury, even so, that's a bit much…… Hm? Not overkill? Needs two more horns? Hmm.”
Pury's boy image was leagues worse than the 'kids'' version.
Amused by her reaction, Mysern chuckled warmly, handing her a moonlight stone to soothe.
Meanwhile, he took in where Aster's group had gone.
‘Still, it's curious.’
Truth be told, he'd half-doubted.
Pure spirits wouldn't depict so villainously unless the target was extraordinary.
But why.
Mysern watched Pury absorb the stone's energy.
She beamed, delighted, forgetting prior events.
‘If that boy were evil, she'd have warned me nonstop.’
Her total forgetfulness meant no evil.
Truly wondrous.
‘Tricky disposition, but not wicked?’
Mysern chuckled to himself. Made sense, even to him.
Anyway, he waited till Pury finished, then moved.
“Personally curious. What kid makes the 'kids' seek him out?”
Into the crowd went Mysern.
He easily spotted Aster's group, trailing slowly.
Incredible feat.
It fooled not just Aster, but Nine Star Tohoman shadowing him.
How long he followed.
Mysern hid as Aster's group stopped.
Where they'd halted……
[Astrology Street]
Astrology Street from here.
Astrology Street entrance.
“How is it?”
“What?”
To Aster's retort, Damian smiled proudly.
“Astrology Street. Cool, right? Where you see love and war, fate and mission.”
“Yeah, cool.”
Aster's perfunctory answer, then Chenbi elaborated.
“Amera’s known for moonlight stones and fairy legends, but astrology too. Yesterday, Damian caught an astrology play.”
Her addition, figuring Aster would wonder Damian's sudden interest.
Then Mysern pondered.
‘……Love and war?’
Fate and mission, fine—but war? Only he wondered?
No one questioned it.
Moreover, the brown-haired boy's explanation rang odd. Dialogue focus subtly off-kilter.
“Pury, could you describe how those kids look…… Ah, no? Tough? Similar?”
Mysern grimaced at Pury's negation.
All three worthy of spirits' head-shakes…… Curiosity surged.
‘What kinda messed-up guys?’
This was pure personal curiosity, beyond the 'kids'' plea.