Chapter 79
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Fairy Queen's Retribution
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Across the ages, the most persistent social issue on the Terradium continent had to be the kidnapping of subraces.
Humans had been abducting elves, dwarves, beastkin, orcs—you name it—with infuriating persistence since time immemorial. It was so rampant that no wonder the subraces despised humans so much.
Even ordinary commoners could spot a Non-humans slave in the city once or twice a month. That said it all.
Thankfully, subrace kidnapping is now banned under continental law, so incidents have dropped sharply.
Ian himself had only seen Non-humans slaves a handful of times in his life.
Maybe that's why he'd grown complacent.
Never having experienced it firsthand, he'd assumed it was someone else's problem.
But nope.
Who could've guessed the victim would be him?
Well, not him exactly—his kid.
"Lara. You sure you'll be okay on your own? Can you really find the fairies?"
-Yes. Don't worry. I'm the queen. Their mother. It's my responsibility.
"Just say the word if you need help. I'll come running. I'm always on your side, you know that?"
-Yes. Thank you always.
'Thanks? For what? I haven't done a thing.'
Fine, she says she'll handle it alone, so trust her.
But damn if he could focus on work.
"Something on your mind, lad?"
"Oh, Sir Hermann."
"Bad news?"
"Just thinking."
"Thinking, eh? Even a mage like you has his troubles. Magic's endless, no matter how much you study. Seeing the human side behind your genius is refreshing. Heh heh."
The court mage Hermann chuckled to himself, clearly misunderstanding.
Ian ignored him, abandoning his report to pace left and right like a man desperate for the privy.
'Damn it. Can't take this. Gotta ask.'
Lara wouldn't spill, so Edelin it was.
He slipped out to the empty back garden and activated the private communicator linked to her.
ZZZRT!
-Guide! It's been ages! How've you been?
"I've been good. You too, Princess?"
-Of course. Heard the news, by the way. Court mage wasn't enough—you got a title too. Congrats. We should've sent a delegation for a big celebration. Forgive our rudeness.
"No need for forgiveness—it's not rude. Anyway, the fairy kidnappings—what happened?"
-Oh, I was about to contact you about that. Perfect timing.
"Pardon?"
Perfect timing?
'What is?'
Come to think of it, Edelin's voice sounded oddly calm.
Her soulmate fairies mass-kidnapped, and she's chill?
'She hasn't lost it, has she?'
Some parents go mad from losing a child.
Maybe the fairy abductions broke her.
'Can't have that. Not from a princess.'
Ian's face grew urgent. Edelin had to stay sane to care for Lara!
"Princess. Pull yourself together. I get it's heartbreaking, but moping won't solve—"
-Lara's really pissed right now. Like... really.
"...Pardon?"
-Won't even talk to me, not even for world tree strawberry cake.
Gasp. If that's the case, she's furious.
-So something big's gonna happen. Really big.
'Big?'
-You know best as their dad, Guide, but Lara's super hot-tempered.
'Hot-tempered?'
What was that supposed to mean?
His gentle Lara?
Sure, gluttonous, but still.
-So don't scold her too hard if she causes a scene. Got it?
"Pardon? Uh, scene? What do you—"
-Silver lining: few imperial citizens among the slavers. Would've been awkward for you otherwise.
What the hell was this princess on about?
-Whew, glad you called. Now you know.
"Princess, explain so I can—"
-Gotta go. Busy. I'll call later—talk then! Sorry, Guide!
Dead air. She'd hung up.
Monologued her fill and bounced. Shocking etiquette.
'Fine, she's busy ruling.'
Ian mulled it over.
Bottom line: Lara was about to cause a massive incident.
'What kind? That tiny thing causing trouble?'
He scolded his naivety.
Soon, word reached the capital.
"Heard? One of Pellumer Kingdom's border cities is half-wrecked."
"Pellumer? Next to Eltea Forest, right?"
"Yep. Massive explosion, total chaos."
"War?"
"Fairies magic-bombed it."
"...Pardon?"
"Fairy horde kidnapped. Slavers from Pellumer. Queen led fairy soldiers in a bombing run... Whew."
Hermann tsked.
"Didn't know those cute little things packed such a punch."
"..."
"Intel says each fairy soldier wields 3rd-circle attack spells."
"..."
"Impressive, right? Terrifying force. No army stops flying mages... Hm?"
Hermann blinked. Ian was gone.
Looked back—he was gearing up to leave.
"Where to?"
"Out for a bit."
"Suddenly? We had joint research today."
"Later. Sorry, Sir Hermann—I'll make it up."
"What—"
"Gotta break up a fight."
"Ian! Lord Landerte!"
Hermann called, but Ian bolted. He scratched his head watching him go.
'Unpredictable guy.'
Schedule freed up, but Ian promised help later—profit.
Warp magic doesn't mean teleport anywhere anytime.
Conditions must align.
One: mana flow.
Unstable mana scrambles coordinates—no warp.
You could force it, but risk death.
Body bisected, or crushed in spacetime rift. Blind use could end you forever.
That's why Ian couldn't warp straight to Lara.
Site's mana flow was too erratic.
Two portal swaps later, he reached Ahenne, Pellumer's frontier town where Lara was.
Surveying the city, Ian was baffled.
'Am I in a warzone?'
Pellumer wasn't at war.
So what was this?
"S-save... ARGH!"
An armed thug dropped before him. Mercenary, not regular army.
"M-my lord! Mercy! Please!"
He clutched Ian's ankle, begging. Mistook him for high nobility—imperial uniform sold it.
Well, he was nobility.
"What happened?"
"D-demons. Demons came."
"Pardon?"
'Demons?'
No demonic aura anywhere.
"Gah! Th-there! Demon's coming! Mercy! AAH!"
Terror-stricken. Ian turned—a cute fairy fluttered closer on translucent wings.
Aww, adorable.
"That fairy?"
"Eek!"
'That's... a demon?'
World had cute demons?
The fairy spotted Ian.
"Grandpa!"
"Huh?"
"Grandpa!"
Furious eyes softened to a pouty grin for him.
Expression flip?
"Me?"
"Yeah!"
"You know me?"
"Course! Grandpa!"
Maybe "Ian" was genetically imprinted.
First time meeting, yet she knew his face?
'But grandpa? I'm mid-20s...'
"Fairy, what happened?"
"Humans bullied my friend!"
"Bullied?"
"Yeah. Hit her, hurt her, no food. Sniff."
"Hey, no crying."
Why the waterworks?
"Waaah!"
"Good baby? Stop now."
Ian scooped the bawling fairy, soothing her.
First meeting? So what—his grandkid.
She quieted quick.
"So humans beat and tormented your friend?"
"Sniff. Yup. Hic!"
Got it.
"Hey, mister. She says so—what do you think?"
"D-don't know! Just followed orders! Mercy! Eek!"
Clutching his head, babbling. Lost his mind.
How terrified was he?
What'd the fairies do?
"Fairy. Any friends still caged?"
"Yeah. Lots."
There we go.
Explains the warzone vibe.
Tons captive, so this mess.
Lara demanding "Give back my kids!"—they wouldn't comply nicely.
"Lead the way?"
"Okay. But kill this human?"
"Huh?"
"Kill him! Bullied my friend!"
Fairy glared murderously. Ian flinched.
'Little one's got a vicious mouth.'
Felt genuine—scarier.
Makes sense why he's shaking.
"I'll kill. Rip throat, gut him, jump rope!"
"What?"
Ian recoiled. Brutal!
"Where'd you learn that?"
"This human said it!"
"Him?"
"Yeah! Mince us, weave guts for jump rope! I'll pay back same!"
"You bastard..."
Ian's brow twitched. Mana auto-fired, punching a hole in the thug's shoulder.
"ARGH!"
Blink-fast.
"Whoa! Grandpa avenged us! Yay!"
Cheering innocently.
'Damn. Lost my cool.'
No intent, but rage took over.
These pure kids abused like that—infuriating.
Teaching them filth too.
They couldn't even swear before...
Still, kidnappers deserved death.
"Grandpa. Why just one arm? Finish him. Want me to?"
"Huh?"
Don't say it so brightly. Spooky.
"Oh, jump rope. Need other arm too. Me do?"
"No need. He'll die anyway."
Ian hurried. Sweat beaded his forehead.
'Please stop.'
Innocent face made it chilling.
"Leave him. Find others."
"Okay!"
Ian set off with the fairy.
Lara uses the skill 'Star Errand'.
Sudden skill alert.
'Star Errand?'
Fairy magic?
Sky flashed. Stars bloomed by hundreds, thousands, twinkling wildly.
Stunning—soul-capturing beauty.
But Ian didn't fall for it.
Couldn't.
Immense mana pulsed from those stars.
Lara's mana—identical to his.
'Fuck! Lara's lost it for real!'
We're screwed. Totally.
'Those hit? Everyone dies!'
100%.
-Lara's really pissed right now. Like... really.
-So something big's gonna happen. Really big.
-You know best as their dad, Guide, but Lara's super hot-tempered.
-So don't scold her too hard if she causes a scene. Got it?
Edelin's warning echoed as Ian sprinted.
There—ahead, in the sky. Lara.
Wings spread wide, arms skyward, alluring pose, seductive smile.
Damn. Still gorgeous amid chaos.
Whoever the dad, she turned out perfect.
"Hee hee hee. These wretched humans—all must die. Sweep them clean..."
"Lara! Stop!"
Familiar voice. Lara looked down, beamed at rushing Ian.
"Oh, Ian!"
"Lara! Stop that!"
"Told you not to come. But fine—perfect timing! Human extermination show starting. Wanna watch?"
No, fuck. Who corrupted her like this?