A short while later, the dust settled and peace returned to the forest. The air remained fresh, though the grass was now covered in a thin layer of pale blue ice crystals, streaked here and there with blood.
They were terrifyingly powerful!
After being lowered from the net, the three Wing Clan fairies first rejoiced at having survived, then turned to their rescuers with awe in their eyes.
Even the perpetually hot-tempered Habetrot obediently kept her mouth shut and managed a grateful smile.
Moments earlier, more than a dozen members of the Fang Clan who had shown hostility toward them had been reduced to fragments scattered across the ground.
The rest had fled with their tails between their legs.
Grateful for being rescued and intimidated by the authority the two visitors exuded with every movement, the three Wing Clan fairies behaved as obediently as possible. They introduced themselves while sincerely thanking Samael and Morgan.
Muryan, the future Chief of the Wing Clan. Habetrot, a Fairy Knight from another timeline. And Freya, a little fairy who bore goodwill toward humans.
What a coincidence. Every one of them was familiar to him.
These three were among the rare fairies who raised the moral standards of the entire Wing Clan.
Armed with foreknowledge, Samael studied the three little fairies with a thoughtful gaze, stroking his chin as he considered something.
His silent scrutiny made them uneasy. Freya, the most timid of the three, soon crumbled under the pressure. Like a little white rabbit meekly offering itself up, she raised her face and asked with a tremble,
"Are... are you going to eat us too?"
"Uh, fairies aren't on my menu for now..."
Samael returned to his senses and cleared his throat, answering in a teasing tone.
As for the future, that would depend on his XP.
"That's wonderful!"
Freya's face lit up with delight as she cheered. Even her previously dull eyes began to shine brightly. Habetrot and Muryan, who had appeared calm on the surface, also breathed quiet sighs of relief.
"Could you tell us how to reach the Earth Clan? We came from Cornwall and have business with the Chief of the Earth Clan."
Once the three fairies had calmed down, Morgan stepped forward and asked evenly.
"I know! They're in Norwich, the fairy city!"
Habetrot raised her hand and readily volunteered the answer.
Then the Fairy Knight seemed to remember something. She scratched her head, looking troubled.
"But the fairies of the Earth Clan rarely leave their territory, and they don't like meeting outsiders. Their chief, Foul Weather, hasn't shown himself in a long time either."
Samael and Morgan both frowned slightly.
If that was the case, arranging a meeting with the Chief of the Earth Clan and asking for his help would be difficult.
"You came from Cornwall? Are you humans from outside the forest?!"
Just as the mood grew somber, Muryan seemed to catch something in their conversation. Her eyes lit up, and the other two fairies crowded closer with equal curiosity.
"More or less..."
The wielder of the Holy Sword of the Planet and the Witch of Britain exchanged a glance before giving a vague answer.
They had indeed come from Cornwall, but calling them "human" was not entirely accurate.
In a sense, Nock and Dail were probably the only normal humans in the entire group.
"Humans! They really are humans!"
"It's been so long since anyone from outside the Nameless Forest came in..."
Once they received confirmation, Habetrot and Freya marveled in amazement.
"The Earth Clan dislikes outsiders, and no one knows where that fellow Foul Weather has gone. There's no way you'll accomplish your goal anytime soon."
Muryan's eyes darted thoughtfully. After explaining the situation, she offered a friendly suggestion.
"Why don't you stay with us nearby for now? Once we understand what's happening and find out where Foul Weather is, you can make your move."
Morgan and Samael considered the proposal for a moment, exchanged a glance, and nodded.
For now, it was the safest option.
"Yay! We have humans now!"
Habetrot cheered excitedly, as thrilled as though she had stumbled upon a priceless treasure.
"I'll lead the way! Gloucester Street, here we come!"
The pink-haired fairy raised her tiny fist and waved it enthusiastically. Freya stood beside her with anticipation written across her face.
Muryan's purple eyes, meanwhile, gleamed with the delight of someone watching a small animal wander into a trap.
The arrival of humans held extraordinary significance for fairies.
Most surface fairies originated from the degradation of Divine Spirits, the lingering obsessions of the dead, natural creation, the spread of strange tales, and similar sources. All of these were closely connected to humanity.
In a sense, the fairies of Britannia and the humans living upon the land shared a symbiotic relationship.
The presence of humans greatly increased the fairies' sense of happiness.
That was why every fairy among the Six Great Clans rejoiced at acquiring humans.
It was rare for humans from the outside world to pass through the Barrier of the Nameless Forest and come as guests. Inviting them home was naturally the finest prize imaginable.
Before setting off, however, Samael and Morgan first needed to reunite with Mari, Nock, Dail, and Barghest, who were waiting outside.
When the three little fairies saw the number of humans rise from two to six, they nearly went mad with delight. The gazes they directed toward Samael and the others held an unmistakable intensity.
With the fairies' enthusiastic assistance, the caravan was soon ready to depart for the fairy city.
The Wing Clan fairies were invited into the carriage, where they curiously examined their surroundings. Everything created by humans inspired a powerful thirst for knowledge in them.
After a brief conversation, the lively Habetrot surprisingly found herself getting along well with the aloof Morgan. Before long, the human and fairy were sitting together over afternoon tea.
The restless Muryan moved beside Nock and Dail. As she pointed out the route, she propped her smooth chin on one hand and repeatedly studied the day's new acquisitions.
The two harmless ordinary humans only stirred her curiosity further.
Freya, the most timid of the three, remained uneasy. She sat in a corner of the carriage, opening her mouth several times before losing the courage to speak.
"Your wings are beautiful..."
His memories from his previous life had already left him with a favorable impression of her. Having noticed everything, Samael sat down beside the little fairy and offered her a cup of honey water with a smile, taking the initiative to start a conversation.
"N-no, they aren't..."
The fairy girl tensed at first. Yet her fascination with humans and the warmth of his goodwill made her lower her head and murmur a reply. Almost without realizing it, she accepted the cup and took a small sip.
Sweetness spread across her tongue.
Delighted by the taste, Freya was also surprised to discover that her nervousness around this human was gradually fading.
At the very least, the girl who had kept her head lowered finally dared to look up and meet the eyes of the rare creature known as a human.
Once a basic foundation of trust had been established, Samael began chatting casually with Freya. With the affinity for young girls that the Ancient Serpent had cultivated over thousands of years, their conversation soon found its rhythm. They began discussing the differences between human and fairy societies, including daily life, architecture, culture, and more.
The gloom and timidity on the girl's face gradually faded beneath the sunlight that had entered her heart.
The elders had been right. Humans truly were the fairies' most precious treasure!
The little butterfly, who had never dared hope for anything, gazed at the source of light before her. A fervent trace of longing slowly gathered in her eyes.