Chapter 363

SIDE STORY – FAIRY CHALLENGE

Around five months after the decisive battle in the imperial capital.

The war that was called the Calamity War was over.

The rebels – the demon followers, who plotted the rebellion centering on the chancellor, were wiped out within the empire, and the calamities who had fled the battlefield were never seen again.

Therefore, the only visible threat now was the influx of demon followers from the east, which strangely enough, was not much of a concern.

Because the demon followers also suffered heavy losses in the decisive battle at the imperial capital.

The Devil’s Hand, Devil’s Eye, and Devil’s Mouth.

Two of the most powerful demon follower groups were annihilated in the Calamity War.

The leaders of the Devil’s Hand and the Devil’s Eye were both killed in the capital, and most of their subordinates and high-ranking demonic humans also lost their lives in the indiscriminate attacks of Archangel Auriel.

There were only a few demonic humans who barely managed to escape, and most of them made their way to the east to join the Devil’s Mouth, the group of demon followers who remained strong.

In short, it meant that the empire and the kingdom had become clean inside.

The battle against the demon followers from the east.

There was no fight between powerful superhumans like in the Calamity War where the sky and earth shook.

The war with the east was carried out in the traditional way – the huge number of troops were blocked with strong walls and trained soldiers.

“After all, both sides suffered huge losses.”

At the words of Scarlet, Kajsa lightly nodded and spoke.

“Anyway, does that mean we don’t have to worry much about the east now? They say that we’re in a deadlock now but have no intention of breaking it.”

“Well… It may be a hasty judgment, but this should come first, right?”

Having said that, Scarlet advanced the white queen on the chessboard, and Kajsa who was looking still suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.

“Eh? EEEEH?”

“Checkmate.”

Scarlet softly said and turned her head to the side, leaving the shocked Kajsa to alternately look at the chessboard and her.

Lucas was swinging his sword.

Although he had already reached the horizon, Lucas did not stop his training.

He just moved forward consistently, silently, and little by little.

Scarlet liked to watch Lucas swinging his sword very slowly, adjusting his posture, and optimizing his swordsmanship.

Because despite his tall height and large build, or his kind and bright face that gave a child-like feeling, he turned into a very serious adult when he swung his sword.

‘His body is nice.’

His perfectly trained body was also aesthetically beautiful.

Scarlet unknowingly bit her lower lip and took her eyes off the abs of Lucas as she focused on his sword.

Simply speaking, Scarlet surpassed Lucas in terms of talent.

So she had a lot to learn from the swordsmanship of Lucas.

Because the sword of Lucas contained a simple, clear, and pure strength, and not techniques or ingenuity.

Gulp.

Just then, she heard the sound of someone swallowing hard.

It was obvious on who it was, but Scarlet turned her head and saw Kajsa swallowing her saliva as she stared at the firm muscles of Lucas.

Or rather, she was now licking her lips.

“Delicious.”

“Hey, Lucas is not food, okay?”

“Aren’t you thinking the same? You’re going to burn a hole from staring at Lucas’ abs.”

When Kajsa snorted and said, Scarlet frowned and was annoyed, but in order to show that she was the older one, she calmed herself down and spoke in a soft voice.

“I was just watching Lucas working hard and his swordsmanship.”

“Yeah, yeah, if you insist.”

“I’m serious!”

And they bickered.

It was a daily sight, so no one paid them much attention.

Or rather, to be exact, one was too focused to see the situation around him, and the other smartly ignored them.

“Lord Lucas, it’s time now. Here’s a towel and water.”

Ignoring the bickering between Scarlet and Kajsa, the cat beastkin, Kirara, held out a towel and said. Lucas stopped his sword when he saw the towel pushed right in front of him, and regulated his breathing and halted his concentration.

“Ah, thank you.”

Lucas wiped his sweat with the towel Kirara handed him and drank the water before letting out another long breath.

He had swung his sword very slowly, but perhaps because he was very focused, sweat had dripped down the firm chest of Lucas.

In the past, Lucas would have never thought of taking off his top because of embarrassment, but he had been used to it for the past few months, so it was fine for him now.

The time that Kirara was talking about.

After the decisive battle in the imperial capital, Lucas could not go to the battlefield for some time.

Because he was extremely exhausted both physically and mentally as a result of directly confronting a goddess.

It took him a month to be able to move to some extent.

Another month until he could swing his sword again.

And around three months to recover his skills just like now.

After spending almost half a year to recover, Lucas immediately took action.

Because he could no longer just wait.

‘Jude and Cordelia.’

The two had gone to Hell alone to save Pleiades.

Nearly half a year had passed, but the two had yet to return.

Some had said that the two were already dead, but Lucas did not believe that.

‘That’s not true.’

That those two were dead.

That was unbelievable.

That was impossible.

It was not just a blind belief.

He also had his own basis.

If the two were dead, then the overlord of Hell, Asmodeus, would have resumed her invasion of Pleiades.

But the movements of the demon followers were increasingly becoming more defensive.

He obviously had no clear evidence.

It could also be the deception of the demon followers to let their guards down.

However.

But.

“My masters are alive. Kirara believes it.”

Lucas nodded at the small but determined voice he heard in front of him. He lightly smiled and agreed with Kirara.

“Yes, I believe too. So let’s check it out now.”

Unfortunately for them, the witch of the west forest and master craftsman Cassius, who were updated with the situation in Hell, had suddenly disappeared after the decisive battle in the imperial capital.

They did not know why or where the two had suddenly disappeared, but they could not depend on the two who disappeared anyway.

So Lucas came up with a way, and as a result, they arrived at one solution.

“I’m the one who remembered it.”

“Scarlet is always admirable.”

As Lucas spoke with a bright smile, Scarlet slightly turned red while Kajsa pouted.

Around an hour after they left the room.

The four were heading to the swimming pool of Princess Daphne which was now located in the main palace of the royal palace complex.

They had one reason.

To call the fairies.

‘Would we know if we ask the fairies?’

Those who could freely leap over space might know the situation of Jude and Cordelia in Hell.

Obviously, this too was not certain.

But just like how a drowning man would even grab straw, now was the time to try and challenge anything.

“Jude and Cordelia had said. When a person with a certain level of beauty takes a bath on a moonlit night, the fairies will come and talk to that person to play with them.”

The two had not exactly said the locations of the so-called ‘Fairy Point,’ places where one could meet fairies, but Lucas knew of two points.

One was the lake of the spring fairies in the Forest of Eternity, and the other was the pool of the summer fairies right here in the royal palace.

“And it’s a moonlit night now.”

It was also a night with white and beautiful full moons.

A rare time when Selene and Helene shone together.

“So we can do it, right?”

Kajsa asked with a grin, and Lucas slightly blushed and nodded.

Because the outfit of Kajsa who spoke confidently was too revealing for the standards of Lucas.

A black bikini swimsuit.

The cloth was so minimal that he did not know where to look.

When Lucas turned his gaze away from embarrassment, Kajsa also blushed. Not because she was embarrassed, but because of excitement.

“Hehehe.”

How can he be so cute?

I want to eat him up.

“You’re like an old man.”

“You’re like an uncle.”

Kajsa flinched at the words of Scarlet and Kirara, but it had already been more than half a year since they all traveled together.

She did not even budge at this sort of thing anymore.

“Anyway, let’s do it. I’m first!”

Kajsa did not hesitate as she had a straightforward personality. As a woman from the south who was passionate about hunting pirates, Kajsa jumped into the pool water and freely swam like a beautiful mermaid.

“Wow…”

Lucas genuinely admired her, and Scarlet admitted it internally.

Kajsa looked very beautiful today because of the lighting from the moonlight.

However.

“They’re not coming.”

It had been around 10 minutes since Kajsa swam hard.

There was no response.

So Kajsa tried changing to a backstroke, but there was no response again.

“HEYYY!”

As I thought, it should be a bath, right? Do I have to take a bath?!

In her anger, Kajsa took off her swimsuit, and Lucas quickly turned his head while Kirara narrowed her brows.

And Scarlet said.

“Yes, you’re out.”

As expected, it was impossible with Kajsa.

It was too much for her.

After all, she was a wild tomboyish girl.

Scarlet smirked and removed the huge bath towel that was wrapped around her.

She wore a bikini like Kajsa, but the color was the exact opposite, and unlike Kajsa who had healthy-looking copper-colored skin, the skin of Scarlet was ivory white enough to make her seem pale.

In the darkness of the night and the white moonlight, the appearance of Scarlet was unusually whiter.

Seeing the pouting of Kajsa, Scarlet haughtily walked towards the pool.

And gracefully went in.

“As expected, they’re not coming.”

At the words of Kirara, Scarlet turned red and Kajsa giggled – no, she burst out laughing.

“That’s what you get for pretending to be pretty!”

“Hey! You couldn’t even call them!”

“Oh, I didn’t call them. But you didn’t call them either, right? Can you call them?”

“Hey!”

And they bickered again.

Lucas, who was peeking at the two, also sneaked into the swimming pool, but soon let out a small sigh.

Again, there was no reaction from the fairies.

“This is impossible.”

Kirara wearing a cute white one-piece swimsuit was also eliminated.

How long had it been since there was such a gloomy silence for all four of them?

Kirara raised her head again and said.

“What about Crown Princess Daphne? She’s known for being a beauty.”

“It’s impossible. They did not appear here for the crown princess in the first place.”

He stopped talking because it might be end up as lèse-majesté, but everyone as well as Kajsa, who brought it up, knew.

Crown Princess Daphne had never succeeded in calling the fairies.

“This is ridiculous.”

Scarlet murmured a bit, and Kajsa tried to tease the former for thinking that she was as pretty as a princess, but kept her mouth shut.

Because, in fact, Scarlet was an outstanding beauty from an objective perspective.

‘Their standards are so high.’

Why is it so high?

Cordelia did not do much as she just splashed water on her head, and they popped out.

‘Isn’t my body much better?’

At the time Kajsa thought that and looked at herself.

“Twinkle, twinkle little star, shining beautifully.”

Scarlet sang in a low voice, and Kirara knew why Scarlet sang that way.

“Well, it’s no use either.”

The face of Scarlet blushed again.

She had sung while doing her best to suppress her embarrassment, but those fairies were really-!

“Well…”

Lucas held his chin and was lost in thought as Scarlet and Kajsa felt gloomy again.

Cordelia, but not Scarlet and Kajsa.

So who should they call?

Adelia, the sister of Cordelia?

Or Maja?

“If it’s Lady Sylvia, it may be possible.”

Lucas silently spoke and soon nodded.

Sylvia Crossbell.

A young lady known for being beautiful among the children of the 12 northern families.

In fact, until Cordelia became famous, Sylvia was considered as the most beautiful woman in the north.

“Yes, Lady Sylvia can do it.”

So if they call her to the royal capital in a hurry-

It was then.

At the hair-raising energy he felt at that moment, Lucas raised his head in surprise and then froze.

“La.dy Syl.via?”

“I see. In the eyes of Lucas, the face of Lady Sylvia is prettier than ours. I see.”

Kajsa growled low and Scarlet spoke with a cold stare.

“W-What I mean is! Uh, that! H-Her figure? Yes, her figure…”

Snap.

It was a landmine.

Kajsa looked at him with her mouth shut, and Scarlet had a sharp look too.

The third party, Kirara, then said.

“Lord Lucas, do you think that Lady Sylvia is prettier than Lady Scarlet or Lady Kajsa?”

“T-That…”

It was a swamp.

No matter what he said, his feet was bound to sink.

It felt like the road to the horizon that did not disappear even when he fought First Sword was now disappearing.

‘No, it’s only natural since I’ve already reached the horizon.’

In the midst of the chaos, the temperature around Scarlet was getting colder while it was getting hotter around Kajsa.

They were like ice and fire.

But both were in an extremely dangerous state.

Lucas was sweating a lot as he tried to figure out a way to somehow rectify the situation.

But it was impossible for the innocent Lucas to come up with a sly scheme like Jude.

Or actually, even Jude had no answer when he found himself in a similar situation.

But it was at that time.

“Lucas! Scarlet! Kajsa! Kirara!”

Lucas quickly turned his head at the lively voice and sighed in relief.

Because Princess Darianne came running with a wide smile.

She was like a ray of hope to him.

He was wandering in Hell, and felt like a rope had come down from the sky.

“We greet Your Royal Highness, Princess Darianne.”

“We greet Your Highness.”

“We greet Your Highness.”

After Lucas and everyone in the group politely greeted her, Princess Darianne brightly smiled again.

“Are you going to call the fairies?”

“Yes, we were going to do that…”

“Allow me to help you then.”

“Excuse me?”

Lucas unknowingly asked her.

Because while Princess Darianne was definitely a cute girl in the eyes of everyone, it did not seem like she would succeed in a field where Scarlet, Kajsa, and even Kirara had already failed.

‘Uh, what should I do?’

She would be disappointed if the fairies did not show up.

Scarlet and Kajsa quickly exchanged glances, and the two looked at Lucas again.

It was to somehow gloss over the situation and escape.

But it was at that time again.

“There’s lots of people?”

“Wanna play together?”

The sound of cheerful voices chattering was heard.

The fairies appeared under the fantasy moonlight and gathered around Princess Darianne, scattering powders of light.

“Eh?”

Scarlet unconsciously opened her mouth while Kajsa also blinked her eyes in surprise.

“Do they like little children?”

In an instant, Kajsa gazed at Kirara whose expression turned into a seriously complicated one.

But Lucas figured out the answer.

“Ah!”

The things that Princess Darianne had in her arms when she ran.

The things that she was giving out to the fairies now.

“This is the best way to call a fairy.”

The royal capital’s specialty – high-quality chocolate.

“I like this!”

“Delicious! Thrilling! Delicious stuff are the best!”

They liked good-looking people, but preferred sweets better.

The fairies giggled in their delight, and Lucas, Scarlet, Kajsa, and Kirara looked at each other.

They all sighed together.

***

“The two are alive.”

“Excuse me?”

Lucas unconsciously asked, and the Summer Fairy Queen, who was immersed in the melted chocolate and enjoying it that they did not know if she was swimming or bathing, smiled again.

“Both of them are alive. We can feel it. They both have the Fairy King’s Protection.”

The four seasons and the four elements.

The strongest protection in Pleiades, which was created by gathering all the protections of the eight fairy queens, was still with the two.

It was not because the Fairy King’s Protection was so strong that the two had not died.

The Fairy King’s Protection also contained the Summer Protection, so the Summer Fairy Queen who gave that protection was able to assert of that one fact.

“The protection is still active. That means the two are alive and well.”

The two were alive.

Even after half a year, their battle in Hell was still going on.

Lucas felt out of breath.

Scarlet and Kajsa held Lucas’ hands.

Jude and Cordelia were alive.

They were still alive in Hell.

Then there was only one thing Lucas’ group could do here.

They had to save the two.

They must save the two even if their side had to invade Hell.

The eyes of Lucas began to come alive.

It was the face and eyes of a person who moved forward without surrendering to any ordeal.

And Scarlet and Kajsa were satisfied with that appearance.

Because this was the Lucas whom the two liked, and had not choice but to like.

“We must save them.”

“Yes, I knew this would happen. There’s no way the two of them could have died, right? Rather, I’m sure they’ll be bullying the demons in Hell.”

Scarlet and Kajsa spoke in turn, and Lucas nodded.

He was so happy that he sighed and patted Kirara who had burst into tears. He eventually made a decision.

“Let’s go to Hell.”

“That’s right. There’s no rule that we’re the only ones who have to suffer, right?”

“Let’s completely shake them.”

Kajsa and Scarlet agreed this time too.

An expedition to Hell.

For the two people who saved the world, everyone in the world would step up this time.

“Jude, Cordelia.”

Please wait for us.

We’ll definitely rescue you two.

No matter what happens, even if we have to fight against the entire Hell.

Lucas looked up the night sky with a firm expression on his face.

He remembered the faces of Jude and Cordelia, and smiled.

***

“By the way, Lucas.”

“Yes, Kajsa.”

“So who is Sylvia after all?”

Kajsa subtly asked, and Scarlet let out a strange hmph as her eyes narrowed.

And under the pressure of those two, Lucas was sweating profusely.

He could not open his mouth right away.