Chapter 67: Vivien

Hmm...

You're awake.

Thank goodness. Are you feeling alright?

You are...

Isiel...?

I've never had such a strong reaction before...

I'm sorry. I think it's because of me...

You don't need to be afraid.

I don't have a hobby of eating young dragons, after all.

The trembling... stopped.

Who are you, really?

How did you know I was here and come find me?

...I see.

Ethan... for my sake...

Yes. I don't know all the details, but... Britannia seems to be in great turmoil right now.

Let's get out of here and help the Swordbringer.

...Alright.

When I see him, I should reward him.

I'm sorry, but you can't leave here.

Vivien...!

I don't know what your goal is, but...

You can't stop us on your own.

Prepare yourself!

...!

It's a trap! Get out of the way!

Vivien. Why do you suddenly want to learn the sword?

...

I... have no talent for magic.

I can't create beautiful fruits like the elders...

And I can't use splendid magic like you, Your Majesty.

This is the only way I can be of help to Avalon.

How mature.

But the sword doesn't suit you.

You even managed what the elders couldn't...

You succeeded in deciphering Lord Oberon's formula, didn't you?

As your mentor, it's such a shame to see you decide to throw that talent away.

That's... not enough.

No matter how many formulas I study,

if I can't cast that magic myself... what meaning does it have?

There's nothing more foolish than clinging to a wall you can't overcome.

Before it's too late, I'll find a way to be useful.

Hehe... a wall you can't overcome...

Have you ever thought about clinging to that wall anyway?

What?

The wall you imagine is surely so high you can't even think of climbing it.

But if you cling to that wall for ten years, a hundred years...

you'll gain the strength to hold yourself up...

and one day, you may finally cross it.

But... we don't know how long it would take.

Yes. That's why ordinary humans run when they face that wall.

Because even if they devote their entire lifespan, they can't be sure they'll ever cross it.

But we're different.

Even if it takes hundreds of years, we can face our own limits.

Your Majesty...

Fairies don't live long because we're special.

It's so the radiance that humans believe, without doubt, to be a miracle

can rise into reality.

Just as Lord Oberon held back the Goddess of Destruction.

...

Vivien. Believe in yourself.

No matter what anyone says, you are the disciple of this Fairy Queen.

Mmmph?

...Huh?

Munch, munch... It's been a while, hasn't it?

What's wrong?

Did the elders bully you again?

I came because I was wondering... if you've been well.

Ah... so you got an earful again?

The elders are as stubborn as ever.

I've told them so many times I have no intention of going back.

...As expected, I can't hide anything in front of you, Your Majesty.

Tell them I'll never go back.

I'm sick and tired of cleaning up after humans.

...You've changed a lot.

Yes, I've changed.

While the ones who should change... are still the same.

Do you still... not forgive humans?

That's not the issue.

I just realized it, that's all.

That humans... aren't worth saving.

...

It's almost impressive, in a different way.

How they can repeat the same mistakes... for thousands of years.

I understand your feelings, Your Majesty.

But... Lord Oberon embraced even such foolish beings with love.

Even if only to honor his will... won't you consider returning?

That's why I don't want to return.

I don't want to meet the same end as Lord Oberon.

...

You would know, wouldn't you?

The Holy Sword Excalibur that humans desperately crave.

That Holy Sword... was made by Lord Oberon.

...Yes.

Then you also know why he made the Holy Sword, don't you?

A sword bestowed to defeat the God of Destruction, born from the seed the goddess of destruction left behind.

The moment that thing climbs out of the abyss...

destruction will arrive, true to its name.

But not a single human has upheld that noble mission until now.

Not until the new master of the Holy Sword appeared.

...

Isn't it ridiculous?

Just because the master of the Holy Sword appeared in a different empire,

those who bring bloodshed to the continent have been endless for hundreds of years.

And it probably always will.

So I won't go back.

I don't want to work anymore for a race that invites disaster upon itself.

Your Majesty...

Vivien. You should find a new dream as well.

The world isn't as beautiful as you think.

...

Even so... I will protect Avalon.

Because someday, your mind might change.

Vivien. It's good to see you working hard, but remember this.

No matter that you're the Queen's disciple...

you cannot replace the Fairy Queen's throne.

...I know.

Even if you don't say it... I already know.

After all, I...

You're the same as ever.

...!

Whenever you got scolded by the elders, you always came to the training grounds.

Your Majesty... what brings you here...?

What foolish question is that?

Have you already forgotten who rules Avalon?

Have you... forgiven them now?

...

Yes. You were right.

At first, I denied it,

the second time, I doubted it,

and in the end, I became certain.

That maybe... giving them a chance, just once, would be alright.

...

I don't know what kind of person it was, but...

to change your mind... they must be an incredible human.

Hehe...! Of course. It's someone this Fairy Queen acknowledged as a friend.

That's why I've returned.

I owe that one a debt.

And you seem to have some free time now...

Could you help me for a moment?

...Hehe.

I greet the ruler of Avalon.

Your will is the will of proud fairies.

I will serve you with all my strength, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty... please calm down!

You can't do it alone.

Without the Holy Sword's power... we can't stop the God of Destruction!

...

So you're telling me to just stand by and watch?

If we wait until the master of the Holy Sword appears, it'll be too late.

Even if, far in the future, we find that person and bring them to Avalon...

before they can even take up the sword... every civilization will turn to ash and vanish.

Then I'll go.

If someone needs to buy time... send me.

If you go, you won't last even a day.

It would be nothing but a pointless death.

The same goes for you, Your Majesty...!

Have you forgotten already?

You and I are different.

If I don't like the ending...

I can simply start again.

Yes. I know.

As the cycle repeats,

you lose more and more of your memories.

...

Right now, it's only forgetfulness...

but the more you continue crossing the line between life and death, the worse the side effects will become.

You could lose all your memories...

You might not even remember that you were the Fairy Queen.

And you're truly fine with that?

It doesn't matter.

Your Majesty...!

My precious friend taught me something.

Never do anything you'll regret.

...

I won't run.

With a body lighter than a bird's feather,

just like the one who faced Britannia's fate.

...!

Your Majesty... that form...?

Huh?

...I'm really sick of this.

Are you trying to drag me to Avalon too?

Handle that annoying stuff yourself.

A Fairy Queen's time, Morgana's time, isn't something just anyone can buy.

Morgana...

For the young Elves who struggled with their own names...

it was the name the Queen gave to herself.

Truly... you've forgotten everything.

...Why are you muttering to yourself?

...It's nothing.

Sorry for the interruption.

Please rest.

The ruler of Avalon completed a sacred mission and fell asleep, but

the elders must be busy checking other factions.

...I have to find a way.

Even if you can't remember...

I'm your disciple.

I can't waste the time you bought us, Your Majesty...

The creator of the God of Destruction... was Lord Oberon?

Then the reason no user of the Holy Sword has appeared until now is...

Because the hero Clarisse defeated the God of Destruction...

and humans' souls were absorbed into the leyline...

Ugh...!!!

Your Majesty... we... were wrong.

The race that invited disaster upon itself wasn't humans...

It was... us. The fairies.

Why won't you believe me?!

The prophecy Oberon left behind... it's all a lie.

We have to find another way!

...You've completely lost your mind.

That Lord Oberon... created the God of Destruction?

Speak sense!

There's no need to hear more.

We must exile her at once.

Calm down.

Have you already forgotten how much Vivien has devoted to Avalon all this time?

That means nothing!

Deal with her quickly, before the Elves begin to follow that blasphemer.

Even so, exile is too harsh.

Shouldn't we give her one chance?

Then what do you propose?

...

Vivien. I heard that the ruler of Avalon, the proud Fairy Queen... has lost her memories.

Well, she may be fine on her own...

But should we not prepare for unforeseen situations?

You will go and stay by the Queen's side.

...

You're telling me to... leave on my own?

It's the last mercy I can offer you.

I hope you'll... understand my intent.

Where did it all... go wrong?

...

Hic...! Your words were right, Your Majesty.

This world we... tried to protect with our lives...

isn't beautiful at all.

Huh? This is...

A human... from another world...

...

Hehe... hehehehe!

I've got it... I've got it, Your Majesty!

This world you protected with everything you had...

I've found a way to protect it without anyone getting hurt.

If humans from another world can become Spirits and use magic...

then they, too, must have pure souls... like ours.

...You want to learn magic from me?

Yes. We were... exiled from Avalon for lacking talent.

So we want to learn from you, the Great Sage of Britannia.

Why are you saying "we"?!

I left on my own! There's no way this Fairy Queen would lack talent... mmph!

...

Come in for now.

Thank you.

I will... never forget this kindness.

Kyaaah-!!!

Vivien...! What... have you done...?!

...You reap what you sow.

If you had believed our words...

instead of fighting each other to claim the Fairy Queen's throne,

if you had thought together about how to get through this... it wouldn't have ended like this.

Stop... right now... gkgh-!!!

No need to mourn.

Your mana... will be used to save Britannia.

...With this, I can atone.

Your Majesty... please wait a little longer.

The sins of our ancestors, and the ignorance of the elders.

I will atone for it all...

and reclaim the pride of the great fairies...

...

This... is why you approached me?

To use humans from another world... to replenish Britannia's mana?

...I can't believe it.

To prove your hypothesis... you caged all life in a cage.

For this insane experiment... Clarisse...!

If this is true...

The Swordbringer's world is in danger.

We have to go stop it, now!

Right... Let's hurry.

We can't drag another world into a problem we have to solve