Chapter 293
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 293
Chapter Title: Lesson 57. Dowry Legion - 3
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The reason fairies struggled to unite wasn't just because they'd reached the pinnacle of individualism, but also because a hedonistic mindset was so deeply ingrained in them. No matter what, they absolutely despised being swayed by others' wills and preferred to handle everything on a whim in the moment rather than worrying about consequences.
They'd at least listen to a fellow fairy to some extent, but when it came to other races, they'd approach based solely on how much fun that person could provide, regardless of whether they were good or evil.
"Aaaah, let's switch for a bit! You're the prettiest person I've seen in hundreds of years!"
"That's why he's my boyfriend. Not my mom's husband."
That was why Yura, the Fairy Queen and Mira's mother, could so shamelessly suggest to her daughter that they swap husbands—Ban Yu-won, no less.
Even as queen, she didn't wield the overwhelming authority of other races' rulers, nor was she the type to fuss over dignity.
Seeing the other fairies around her clapping or smacking their lips in regret at the human who'd come all the way to Fairy Tail for a major alliance with their kind—and who also happened to be her daughter's man, now the target of her seduction attempt—it was clear most fairies shared this personality.
"No way am I handing him over, so give it up. Yu-won can block changelings anyway, so don't bother setting traps."
"Oh my, he can even block our innate abilities? Now I want him even more!"
Ban Yu-won watched Mira step forward protectively, arms spread wide as if she'd anticipated this chaos from the start. He'd thought she was tame compared to other fairies, but he quickly reconsidered when he saw the twisted smile on her lips.
"Jealous of my man? Mom's never getting him."
"So jealous, so jealous...! I wanna swap!"
"Nope."
"Kwaaaang."
Indeed, pondering what might torment master changelings like fairies the most, Ban Yu-won realized it had to be something they desperately wanted to swap but absolutely couldn't.
And Mira, having foreseen her boyfriend becoming the object of fairy greed, was protecting him while smugly lording it over the fairies—especially her own mother!
'This is dizzying... She didn't drag me all the way here just to pull something like this from the start, did she?'
No, Mira couldn't be that unhinged.
Probably...
To wrap up this farce playing out in front of everyone, Ban Yu-won invoked the verbal incantation he'd been honing lately.
[Rebuke!]
"Kyak?!"
Among single-word verbal incantations, Rebuke excelled at silencing noisy chatter and calming the atmosphere.
With the situation instantly sorted, Ban Yu-won clapped his hands in satisfaction and smiled.
"Instead of carrying on here, why don't we head inside and talk?"
"Y-Yeah."
Yura, stunned by his display of power, nodded blankly and led them to her home.
He should've noticed from her blue hair, so different from Mira's—she casually dipped into a nearby puddle.
And just like boarding an elevator, her body smoothly sank down.
"Follow me, everyone. Oh, you all can head back now. We'll broadcast the conclusion via comms."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Did you see that dragonkin? Such pretty eyes—think she'd swap with mine?"
"There was one with light swords bursting from her body."
"No way, mess with a contract item and you damage the soul."
The fairies, gathered solely to greet guests, dispersed swiftly at the queen's word.
Some slipped into rifts in the air, others shoved their heads into tree knots, and a few dramatically dove into gashes in the ground like it was a spaceship station...
Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes and asked Mira,
"Is there some plague here that twists your body if you use a normal entrance?"
"Fairies living in other dimensions had to hide their homes from other races. That custom got reverse-imported to Fairy Tail, and that's the result."
Mira covered her eyes with her hand, embarrassed by her kin—though her violet eyes gleamed brilliantly through the gaps, catching Ban Yu-won's attention.
The Fairy Queen's eyes were a stunning emerald green.
Mira had green eyes too, before contracting with the constellation...
"Might sound stupid asking now, but is it okay that your hair and eye color changed?"
"What're you worried about? Like you said, it's dumb. It's not like a pigment shift erases your bloodline."
"Fair enough."
"Plus, it's a mark of our connection."
"I don't remember becoming a constellation."
"It's a symbol of our bond to me. Just accept it."
"Got it."
Fair point—the Keeper of Purgatory's Graveyard had contracted with Mira for free, largely because of Ban Yu-won.
"Next question."
"Mom's current husband isn't my dad. Dad passed early, and Mom's gone through about three husbands since."
"Okay."
Of course his girlfriend nailed his unspoken question.
Even if her mom's husband wasn't her dad, suggesting a lover swap was still an outrage beyond human imagination.
"Let's go in."
"No palace?"
"Fairies forget they even have a queen unless something huge happens. No palace."
"Impressive race, in more ways than one..."
Yet Yura's home, entered via the puddle, rivaled any grand palace Ban Yu-won knew.
After traversing a long corridor, they reached what seemed like a lobby, where a shimmering figure of blue light and wind appeared, bowing.
I've heard everything. Please follow me to the second-floor reception room.
"A spirit?"
"The Wind Spirit contracted to queens across generations. I'll inherit it when I become queen."
A race that forgets its queen exists—yet not ordinary after all!
Ignoring the group's dumbfounded looks, Mira led Ban Yu-won after the spirit to the reception room.
The mansion's interior was far from ordinary, rigged with deadly magic traps: stray from the spirit's guidance, and everything twisted into a chaotic maze.
Follow the spirit, though—and whether by its power, the long corridor compressed, steps quickened, reaching the destination in seconds.
Please enter. I'll prepare tea.
The spirit opened the grand doors, guiding them in. It pulled out chairs with a gust of wind, served tea, and the group awkwardly bowed to the queen already seated opposite before taking their seats and accepting the tea.
"Welcome to my home. Shall we discuss our wedding first?"
"You mean mine and Yu-won's."
"Tch."
Yura, her final ploy neatly blocked, grumbled as she sipped her tea, then her eyes gleamed.
"I've heard the gist. You could've just shown up, but our son-in-law brought reinforcements too."
"And more joined."
"The golems from the spaceship outside? Impressive indeed."
Wondering if he'd already introduced them, Ban Yu-won glanced at Aire, who shook her head.
"She must've peeked with her authority. We had anti-interception magic arrays ready, but peeking might've slipped through."
"Spot on. We don't like dragons much, but we respect their power. Dragons helped fend off dimensional integration too."
Dimensional integration.
Ban Yu-won's eyes flashed at the casual mention, turning to Mira.
She shook her head—I don't know either—then looked to her mother.
"If you know about dragons and dimensions, explain. My man's been stressed over it."
"Why dwell on the dead? Let's talk living enemies."
Ban Yu-won snorted at Yura's sly pivot and fox-like grin.
Shati spoke up beside him.
"How are our demonkin doing? The ones we disguised as dimensional mercenaries and sent ahead."
"Oh, Shati. Of course. Those sturdy lads look ready to settle in here for good."
"...Settling in isn't the plan."
"Joking. Anyway, even we're taking this seriously. Fairies ignore stars flipping unless our lives are at stake—but when they are, it's different."
Yura spent a while discussing fairy forces and those Ban Yu-won could bring before clapping in satisfaction.
"Our son-in-law's got skills! How'd you muster so many reinforcements?!"
"But we haven't hit the key point. Raiding Prominence's home base."
"Prominence is strong. They get stronger there, like we do in Fairy Tail. And you want to attack their base, not just defend?"
"We've got a trump card. Prominence's rightful heir."
The group already knew from him, but to Yura hearing it fresh, it was thunderous.
"Rightful heir... Someone who can purify the errant flame?"
"If you mean the inextinguishable flame, yes. She has it."
"Good heavens."
Genuinely shocked, Yura clapped and praised him.
"That's a real trump card. Many in Prominence would recognize her just from that authority. —Though not the current power-holder."
"We'll strike while they're drawn out. We have a spy and know how to breach the barrier."
"Hmph, so you want us to pin their main force here while you raid S-7 dimension too."
"Solid proposal. Fairies alone can't hold off Prominence and Crimson Spear. Without me, it'd be over before it started."
"Underestimating fairies, cute boy."
An eerie flame flickered in the Fairy Queen's eyes.
Ban Yu-won recognized it as spirit power, akin to the Wind Spirit they'd met entering—same origin.
He wanted it, but his arsenal was diverse enough; he'd table it for later.
"Fairies aren't weak. Thanks for the warning, but don't think you can toy with us that easily—"
"That's not what I mean."
Ban Yu-won said.
If he'd planned to lord over info already leaked to fairies, he wouldn't have dawdled coming here.
"Th-Then?"
Yura faltered, clearly fixated on that.
Others were stunned too.
They'd assumed he was negotiating fairy aid—Dowry Legion and Level Force cooperation—for fairies' help, but his stance was firmer than expected.
"I'm talking about the magic array installed in this dimension. Once activated, resistance or not, the war ends."
"...Magic array?"
Yura blinked.
"Magic array?"
Even Aire, a mage honed by great dragon lineage, was baffled.
But Ban Yu-won nodded without hesitation.
"It's there. Completed over decades—centuries, even."
The magic array for the 'grand ritual' sacrifice Prominence mentioned.
Right here.
On this star.