A sudden gust of wind rose from the lake surface, spreading in all directions, followed by the entire lake emitting a dazzling light. Under that light, an extremely mysterious magic circle suddenly unfolded.
"Eh? Eh?! What, what's happening?!"
The fierce wind whipped Velira's hair and clothes wildly, and the brilliant light made it difficult for her to keep her eyes open.
Splash!
The sound of breaking water rang out.
"The earthly world! I've returned~!"
A figure bathed in light leaped from the water, appearing above the lake surface while speaking incomprehensible words.
Moments later, the magic circle disappeared and the light faded.
A woman with skin as delicate as white porcelain, eyes as clear as emerald, golden hair that concealed a pair of long, pointed ears, and breathtakingly beautiful features appeared before Velira, like an angel from fantasy—except for the three pairs of transparent, faintly glowing wings behind her.
"O fortunate chosen one, was it you who summoned me?"
The golden-haired woman floated above the lake surface, her wings motionless, asking with an expression of utmost sanctity while her emerald eyes turned toward the front.
Then,
"..."
The golden-haired woman froze slightly.
In front of her, the small girl did not show amazement or reverence at her arrival as expected, but instead looked terrified.
"A mo-monster has appeared!!!"
"Hah?"
The golden-haired woman looked completely bewildered.
Velira's face was pale, her small pupils filled with panic, as she retreated on all fours.
Reaching the edge of the rock with nowhere left to retreat, she raised her wooden stick and pointed it at the woman floating above the lake, trembling all over.
"Don't, don't, don't come closer!"
The girl's voice even carried a hint of tears.
"Wait, who are you calling a monster?!"
The golden-haired woman was very angry, her fists clenching involuntarily.
Then she put her left hand on her hip, pointed straight at Velira with her right hand, and said indignantly:
"Listen well, you ignorant fool! I—"
She pounded her chest forcefully and raised her chin,
"—this great being! I am one of the most ancient existences in this world, a familiar of the great Earth Mother Goddess Teraya, an original fairy, the Fairy King—Silvius Pan Kael! Open your eyes wide and see clearly! Show me your respect!"
"Eh? Fairy King...?"
A hint of confusion appeared in Velira's tear-filled eyes.
Silvius nodded vigorously, "That's right! The great Fairy King that people often speak of is me!"
"What kind of monster is that?"
"Of course it's... It's not a monster at all!!"
Silvius roared.
"Eek! Don't eat me! Magic bullet, magic bullet, magic bullet..."
Velira's face turned pale with fright as she grabbed pebbles from the ground and frantically threw them at Silvius.
Thunk!
Silvius's head tilted back slightly, a clear red mark visible on her forehead.
Then her temple twitched with a vein.
"I said—who's the monster?!! And stop throwing things at me!"
Wah! Wah!
This loud roar startled the birds in the forest into flight.
It also successfully made Velira stop.
After some time, Velira carefully examined Silvius's face, looking at that countenance which was no different from a human's—even angelic—and certainly nothing like the monsters described in storybooks.
"Eh... not a monster?"
Her small eyes still held some confusion.
Seeing that the other party had finally calmed down,
Silvius said irritably: "Of course not! To mistake the noble and great me for those filthy monsters—among all the chosen ones throughout history, your rudeness is unmatched!"
"But, but..."
Velira didn't quite understand Silvius's words,
"But humans don't have wings, and they can't fly in the air, right?"
Silvius froze, the vein in her temple twitching again as she clutched her head wildly and screamed:
"Argh! What's wrong with you?! Didn't I say I'm a fairy?! A fairy, a fairy! Don't you even know what a fairy is?!"
"I don't know."
Velira decisively shook her head.
"Ugh—"
Silvius hung in the air, frozen, all the complaints she wanted to make stuck in her throat.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her attitude.
"I mean, fairies are..."
It took a full half hour for Silvius to explain to Velira the history and ecology of fairies and related information.
So-called fairies are magical beings different from common intelligent races like humans and beastmen, created by the Earth Mother Goddess Teraya and born from natural magic springs. They are naturally capable of using magic, possess endless lifespans, and their main characteristic is the transparent wings on their backs.
As familiars of the Earth Mother Goddess Teraya, fairies mainly live in the heavenly realm of Moonkienade and are rarely seen in the lower world.
Silvius is the world's first fairy and the king of the fairy race, possessing three pairs of wings as the Fairy King!
Besides idling around in the heavenly realm as the king of fairies, she also frequently handles various matters for the Earth Mother Goddess in heaven and on earth as her apostle. Her apostolic status is clearly recorded in various churches in the lower world and is universally revered as a divine messenger.
"How about it? Now you know what an amazing existence I am! Feel free to worship me~!"
Silvius proudly raised her chin and spoke condescendingly.
However, she clearly overestimated Velira—the small brain and worldview of a seven-year-old child.
Although Velira now understood Silvius's identity, she couldn't connect with the other's pride and greatness at all. After all...
Divine messenger, king, and such things—she didn't understand any of it.
"Eh? I don't understand."
Seven-year-old Velira obviously didn't yet understand what politeness meant and honestly expressed her inner thoughts.
And precisely because of this, it was most devastating.
As a fairy, she naturally possessed the ability to see through lies.
"..."
Silvius crouched on the lake surface, continuously drawing circles, nearly falling into depression.
"?"
Velira tilted her head, not understanding what had suddenly happened to the other.
"Argh! Forget it... let's put the fairy thing aside!"
Silvius suddenly broke out of her depressed state and jumped up, clutching her head and shouting.
Velira was startled by the other's sudden behavior, but knowing the other wasn't a man-eating monster, she was no longer afraid.
"Alright! Let's quickly complete this mission and then go enjoy myself after so long!"
Slapping her cheeks forcefully, Silvius pulled herself together.
Then she looked at Velira: "Hey, you—"
Silvius was about to say something, but suddenly seemed to notice something, causing her words to cut off.
Then her wings flapped, and she dissolved into a stream of light.
Velira only felt her vision blur, and the fairy who had been on the lake surface was suddenly right in front of her.
"Hmm, something's definitely strange. I was distracted by you earlier and didn't notice, but now I realize—you're so tiny! Are you from the dwarf race? But you don't look quite right, you look more like a human. Could you be mixed blood? That doesn't seem right either. Or are you a new intelligent species? I haven't heard of such a thing..."
While Silvius kept muttering, Velira looked up forcefully at Silvius, who was constantly examining her, and puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
"Human, I'm human! I'm not some new species!"
"Eh, that's a lie! Humans aren't this small."
Silvius looked completely unconvinced.
"They are! Because I'm a child!"
"Oh right! You're a child."
Silvius had a moment of realization, then her eyes lit up again.
"This is my first time seeing a human child as a chosen one. So short and cute!"
Silvius circled around Velira, even starting to touch her.
"Amazing, has the earthly world developed to this extent? Even human children are now pursuing legendary power."
"Mmph, mmph... let go!"
Velira forcefully freed herself from the hands pinching her cheeks and said dissatisfiedly: "I'm not short! I'm only seven years old, so I'm this height. In a few years, I'll grow taller too."
"What—"
As if hearing something unbelievable, Silvius froze completely,
"Se-seven years old?!"
"Isn't that just a little baby?!"