「Knight ‘Lydon’ ’s favorability increased by 3.」
「Current favorability: 63/100」
A series of system windows began to pop up.
“I hope Cadel like me too. I want you to love my destiny. Be with me. Promise me you’ll always stay by my side.”
「Knight ‘Lydon’ ’s favorability increased by 4.」
「Current favorability: 67/100」
“I can’t do it without Cadel. I can’t do anything. I need you to tell me everything. I need you to show me everything. Hurry up and promise me. Promise me, Cadel.”
「Knight ‘Lydon’ ’s favorability increased by 3.」
「Current favorability: 70/100」
“……Okay? Come on.”
The hair that had been tickling the tip of Cadel’s chin slowly rose. A long, keen gaze swept over his stony face. Lydon’s fingertips tingled with the impatience of waiting for Cadel’s answer.
And Cadel, as if in a dream, was slowly pulling himself out of his dazed consciousness.
“Suddenly you…….”
The weight of the scales shifted as Lydon climbed on. The pan, which had been soaring to the top, fell with a rattling sound, and eventually descended until the underside of the pan where Lumen and Hesonia stayed was visible.
Meanwhile, the endless stream of Jelly Bombs, all frozen by Lydon’s chill, stopped moving. Time seemed to stand still, and only the tiny space they stood in was beating.
Cadel was stunned, dazed, and…….
“What are you talking about?”
Cadel twisted his shoulders from the strong grip, managed to free one hand, and met Lydon’s faintly wavering eyes. The smile on his face was fading.
An uncommon change of emotion was evident in Lydon’s mangled face. Cadel reached a hand to the corner of Lydon’s mouth. With the force of his palm, he briskly rubbed at the bloodstains that clung to it, and Lydon’s head slid back a little. Any words of protest were cut off by Cadel’s furiously moving palm.
“Why do you think I’m doing this, you idiot? It’s all so I can be with you, so I can show you the morning sea you’ve been begging for so long, so I can let you fly to your heart’s content instead of walking when your legs hurt. That’s why I’m doing this.”
The hand that had been rubbing Lydon’s lips roughly was pulled away, revealing lips that were parted like a fool’s. The corners of his eyes, which had been trembling slightly, drew soft arcs, and Lydon smiled, a smile he had never shown before.
A smile that made one feel overwhelming joy just by facing it, as if one couldn’t control the happiness that bloomed.
「Knight ‘Lydon’ ’s favorability increased by 5.」
「Current favorability: 75/100」
“……I can’t figure it out.”
What in the world had stimulated this unruly fairy? When Cadel saw Lydon’s face in full bloom, he smiled and laughed.
Only Lydon could have done this in such urgent situation.
* * *
Now that the flying Lydon was free, balancing the scales was easy. One by one, they weighed them, and to their surprise, Cadel, Van, and Lumen ended up on the same pan. Cadel stood in front of his two unconscious subordinates and looked across.
On the other side of the scale, Lydon, at the same altitude as himself, waved in greeting.
‘He’s bearing the burden of 3 people’s pain alone.’
Cadel couldn’t help but wonder where Lydon was getting his endorphins from, and how he was acting like he wasn’t in pain at all.
‘But somehow…….’
The balance was right. Now that they had fulfilled the requirements of the final trial, it was time for the ‘Gate of Liberation’ to appear, as the system window first informed him.
Cadel glanced over at Stella, who looked down at him with a thin smile, and at Hesonia, who still stood near Lydon. Neither of them spoke, though the scale was now perfectly balanced.
“…….”
Hesonia stared silently at Lydon’s profile. Lydon paid him no attention, busy watching Cadel, but it was nothing to be concerned about.
‘……He looks like he’s yearning for something.’
He had dreamed of it for so many years. He had worked with his comrades to defeat evil, and he had given up his life to protect the world’s peace, but one thing had eluded him.
“You must know my true identity, Fairy of Pinhai.”
Lydon’s lush gaze shifted at the bluntness of the voice, and he stared into Hesonia’s face before replying in an equally nonchalant manner.
“We are all fairies, though I don’t feel the power of Pinhai.”
Wingless. Hesonia’s eyes deepened at the clear answer.
“My people are gone. The forest protected by the Great Spirit Topem burned, and I was the only fairy left.”
“I’m not curious.”
“It was human’s doing.”
“…….”
“I hated humans. I resented them. But I loved the world, so I joined forces with them and sealed the Demon Realm, bringing peace to the humans. ……But to the end, they did not know my true identity.”
Hesonia raised his hand. His fingertip, pointing toward Lydon, was turning slightly transparent.
“I made a contract with fairies from all over the world. In exchange for using Lady Stella’s power to amplify the power of the Great Spirits to defend the race, I will place a seal on their leaders. If they wish to break the seal, they will be tested in this shrine where my soul is imprisoned.”
His hands, wrists, and elbows disappeared, one after the other. Lydon stared at the figure in disbelief.
“Humans have no values worth protecting. They will always be ferociously greedy for what belongs to others, and we have lost too much to pay for it. ……But if there is a human being who truly understands our existence, if there is a human being who is willing to fight for our lost home. If he had the warmth to love the world, to love a forgotten race.”
For the first time, a furious voice burst from his emotionless mouth.
“We decided it would be a good idea to lend our strength once again.”
His body, which had been erased step by step, disappeared all the way to the top of his shoulder. Lydon met Hesonia’s eyes, which were floating in midair. Then, he said with a light smile as usual.
“I’ve already given my fate to Cadel, and your history or your own judgment has no bearing on it.”
His tone was light, but there was a firm belief in his words. Hesonia’s eyes seemed to soften in response to the deep trust.
But before anyone had a chance to confirm the slightest movement, Hesonia had completely scattered.
T/N: I can’t freaking stop smiling like a creep translating this chapter LOL. Good job, Lydon!!!
