In the dreamlike land of fantasy, there were no seasons of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, only a comfortable temperature year-round.
Flowers bloomed in a riot of colors, filled with the scents of sunlight and summer. The starry sky here was brilliant, with all sorts of flowers, insects, flowing water, and greenery.
This was the small world known in myth as the Land of Eternal Spring, the Island of Apples.
The utopia that intelligent beasts could not achieve or reach… Avalon, the Inner Sea of the Planet.
At this moment, in this breathtaking paradise, the fairy named Vivian was dozing off.
"Sister Vivian, sleeping all the time isn't good."
Somewhat exasperated by this gentle and lovely fairy, the little boy named Isbel turned his gaze towards a certain Succubus already sound asleep on a tree branch nearby, even exposing her little belly.
"Merlin, have you slept enough? How come you're sleeping all day long?"
Born in Avalon and now eight years old, Ryuya felt a headache coming on looking at the two sisters who raised him. These two... one was the legendary Lady of the Lake, the other the last Phantasmal Species of Succubus on this land. But their behavior... really didn't live up to the title of 'Sister'.
Remembering the foolish things a certain airheaded Succubus often did in his previous life, Ryuya sometimes wondered how Merlin, a pure troublemaker, could develop so many emotions and even fall in love with him.
Well, well, so the reason was here. Merlin had known the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, all along. The Merlin of this world leaned more towards the fairy side.
"Ahhh, is the food ready?"
Blinking her eyes open drowsily, Vivian met Ryuya's emotionless gaze. Feeling slightly guilty, her eyes darted around, "Is, how long did I sleep?"
"You slept for a long time, Sister Vivian."
Sighing, he pointed towards the various shining Holy Swords nearby, "I've mostly finished the maintenance on the Holy Swords for you. You should check on those children occasionally too."
Excalibur.
Excalibur Galatine.
Excalibur Morgan.
Excalibur (Unknown Name.)
Excalibur (Sword of Promised Victory.)
Excalibur (Sword of Forever Distant Victory.)
And so on.
The Holy Swords, which needed to be safeguarded by the fairies generation after generation, were now emitting a buzzing sound, seemingly disagreeing with Ryuya's words.
"Ah... taking care of them? But Is, you see it too, right? These children don't seem to like me much."
Tilting her head, she looked at Ryuya, then at the Holy Swords. Everyone knew Holy Swords had spirits. As their keeper for so many years, Vivian knew this better than anyone.
"Hmph, it's normal for them not to like you. After all, who would like an owner who doesn't know to wipe the Holy Swords regularly, let them bask in the sun, or use them occasionally?"
Sighing, exasperated by Vivian's behavior, the eight-year-old Isbel, aka Ryuya, had been managing the household for a long time.
There was no other way. After all, the ones by his side were a rather 'shabby' Succubus and a scatterbrained Vivian who seemed clueless about everything.
"I... I didn't know Holy Swords needed so much attention. I have no experience in this."
Despite being a fairy thousands of months past eighteen years old, facing the eight-year-old Ryuya, Vivian unconsciously lowered her head as she spoke.
"Oh, right, Is, is the food ready?"
Blinking her crimson eyes, Vivian had exquisite features, the standard of a beauty.
As the heavenly breeze brushed through her hair, her flowing charm was like a small, aloof, cold, and elegant cat basking in the sun while giving you a sidelong glance, as if saying, "Why aren't you coming to hug me, your master?"
Unfortunately, Vivian's personality was rather muddled. Whether she was influenced by Merlin or she influenced Merlin, the fairy lady who would laugh the moment she opened her mouth lazily tugged at Ryuya's small hand, "Is, Is, Is, is the food ready?"
"It's already done."
Yawning, accustomed to Vivian's antics, Ryuya waved his hand.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm still the fairy sister who raised you. That attitude is so rude."
Shaking her pointed ears, Vivian tried hard to put on a sisterly demeanor, but the moment she saw Ryuya bringing the food to the table, she instantly abandoned her previous reserve. Skillfully taking off her shoes, she familiarly scurried to the low table, her feet making a soft rustling sound against the plush carpet.
"Is the food ready?"
As if hearing Ryuya and Vivian's voices, the young lady Merlin, who had been lazing on the tree, finally opened her eyes.
Just like Vivian, she skillfully came to the other side of the low table. She wisely didn't say anything, adopting a 'just give me food' expression.
"You two, have you forgotten something?"
They usually had lunch outdoors on the grass. Looking at Merlin and Vivian, already ready to eat, the eight-year-old Ryuya exuded a maturity beyond his years.
"What a pair needing discipline! Go wash your hands!"
"Is is so fierce."
Looking at Ryuya timidly, the two sisters, both over the age limit, obediently went to wash their hands.
"This isn't fierceness, it's dignity, the seriousness of a king."
Snorting coldly, having been a king for two lifetimes, Ryuya spoke seriously.
Faced with this impossibly precocious child, Merlin and Vivian were long accustomed to it. Happily sitting down, they simultaneously snatched Ryuya's cup and poured the already brewed tea.
Sharing sip by sip, mischievous smiles appeared on their faces, the look of satisfied pranksters.
"The tea Is brewed today is just as delicious as always."
They both uttered this praise simultaneously.
"You two... when will you ever grow up?"
Feeling like an eight-year-old with the worries of an eighty-year-old, Ryuya was helpless against the two proud figures, wearing an expression of 'what can I do with you'.
[Such a life was the daily routine for the three of you. As time passed, at ten years old, you proposed going out to travel and gain experience.]
[Although born in Avalon, your memories told you you weren't a fairy of this place. You needed a broader world.]
[Though very reluctant to see you leave, Vivian and Merlin ultimately agreed to your idea. They had already unconsciously come to regard you as the most important person in their lives.]
[You left Avalon and arrived in the chaotic land of Britain. You decided your first stop would be the North, the city rumored to be where Vortigern resided.]
Determined to end all tragedies in this third simulation, setting foot in the North once more, Ryuya wanted to see his former father… Vortigern Pendragon!