Chapter 518

The Forest of Erenos was, like always, unrealistically lush and serene. The same was true of the garden where seven fairies had gathered.

The fairies, each with long hair and dressed neatly in the Imperial style, stood in a circle at regular intervals. They even had their heads slightly bowed toward the head of the house's seat, which was shaded by the branches of the Tree of Life.

Ian, standing to the right of the chair and taking in the unrealistically handsome men and beautiful women, smacked his lips.

You really can’t guess a fairy’s age.

They were clearly the seniors of Erenos, summoned to a meeting. Yet, no matter how he looked at them, they appeared to be in their mid-thirties at most. The only traces of time were the faint wrinkles between their brows or around their mouths.

Perhaps even Savina, the one Thesaya had exiled, didn’t look much different from them on the outside.

"As you all already know, there is joyous news for the family," said Thesaya, cold and flatly. She was leaning back in the chair of the Tree of Life beside Ian.

Raising the right hand resting on the armrest to point at Ian, she added, "The Superhuman of the North and the Agent of the Platinum Dragon, once believed lost beyond the Black Wall—"

The fairies lifted their heads slightly, their eyes locking on Ian with a piercing intensity that almost made him let out a dry laugh.

So, the rumor’s already out.

They all seemed well aware that Thesaya had spent the night in his room. Then again, anyone could guess as much from the fact that she was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Which, of course, had been Thesaya’s intention.

"Sir Ian Hope, who is also a benefactor of Erenos, has returned safely and honored us with his visit."

Yet their gazes held no hint of displeasure—only a strange mix of anticipation and tension, all thanks to Ian’s stellar reputation.

They might even strut around bragging about it in fairy society, spreading rumors with pride. Perhaps they were even eager to flaunt this in fairy society, a world that felt more like a competitive social circle than anything else.

When they find out the Platinum Dragon broke the Black Wall on its own, their faces will go pale.

But by then, there wouldn’t be a soul among them unaware of how close Erenos stood to Ian.

Thesaya lifted her left arm. "Not only he but also Diana, who once brought honor to the family by participating in the holy war, have safely returned home."

The fairies’ gazes turned to Diana, who was standing to the left of the chair. Their expressions were nothing like the ones they’d worn when looking at Ian. A few held a trace of pity, but most regarded her with open displeasure or icy disdain.

So she’s the black sheep of the house, huh?

Ian glanced to his left. Instead of her tattered armor, Diana was wearing only simple trousers and a shirt. The only thing that was the same as usual was the mask covering her face. It was a wise choice. The face behind the mask was probably as cold as the fairies in front of her right now.

"Starting today, Diana will serve as captain of our wardens and oversee their command," said Thesaya.

The fairies frowned and looked back at her.

"But, my lady," said one of the fairies, cautiously.

He was a man with faint, stylish wrinkles between his brows and around his eyes. He was likely one of the older ones among them.

"Diana has returned from beyond the Black Wall. Performing a family duty should, at the very least, come after receiving a guarantee from the Great Church or the Council of Elders."

"Of course, we will go through the proper procedures at the next meeting. Until then, Diana’s external access will be prohibited, and the news of her return will not be announced. The things she experienced beyond the Black Wall will also, for the time being, be known only to me," Thesaya calmly replied and extended her right arm.

Phoebe hurried forward from behind the chair, placing a slender cigarette holder in her hand.

Thesaya, placing the cigarette between her lips, said, "The only reason I granted her this position is because the Agent of the Saint himself vouched for her, swearing her soul remains untainted. They crossed the Black Wall together and survived the jaws of death as comrades."

She then exhaled a puff of smoke and stared into the senior fairy’s eyes. "Surely, you are not doubting the integrity of the Agent of the Saint himself, are you?"

"Of course—" The fairy’s gaze flicked briefly to Ian, reading the calm weight in his eyes before turning away. "I do not doubt it."

"I’m glad. I was hoping you wouldn’t," Thesaya said with a smile and brought the cigarette holder to her mouth again.

As Phoebe stepped back again, Thesaya looked around at the fairies in the garden and added, "While we’re on the subject, I’ll let you know one more thing in advance. In the future, Diana will oversee all major and minor affairs of the family as my official representative."

"My lady!"

The fairies’ eyes shot wide open as they looked at Thesaya. Some even gasped.

"Huh?" The same went for Diana.

She had never imagined Thesaya would actually appoint her as a representative, much less announce it so abruptly at a family meeting. From behind her mask, her wide-eyed gaze shifted from Thesaya to Ian, standing just beyond her. He only shrugged, his expression unreadable.

"B-But, my lady!" said the senior, who had been staring with his mouth slightly agape.

"No matter how much the Agent of the Saint has guaranteed, are you really sure this is alright? Diana is a direct descendant of the former head of the house—"

"Which makes it even more meaningful, wouldn’t you say?" Thesaya cut him off.

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she looked down at the fairy with eyes that had grown colder.

She exhaled a thin stream of smoke and said, "Don’t forget, part of the Council of Elders still harbors doubts about the family’s past. By making a descendant of the former head my representative, I can sufficiently dispel those suspicions. It will make my intent to break this chain of ill fate perfectly clear."

While the senior fairy’s wide eyes twitched, Thesaya shifted her gaze to the other fairies and added, "So I ask again. If anyone still has an objection to my decision, raise your hand."

The senior, who had been frowning slightly, finally bowed his head a little. The other fairies also did not raise their hands, merely humming low or clenching their jaws.

Thesaya, who had been watching them while puffing on her cigarette, finally crossed one leg and said, "Then it’s settled. Take special care that no word of what was discussed here goes beyond the fence. Especially while I am away."

The fairies stiffened, confusion flashing in their eyes. They no longer bothered to hide their frowns.

"I’ll be heading to the Deep Forest to escort the Agent of the Saint. I can’t say for sure if he’ll be granted entry, but if he is, he’ll handle several troublesome formalities on our behalf."

As the wide-eyed fairies looked at Ian again, Thesaya tilted her head to the side. "Before that, we plan to tour the other major cities nearby. We plan to move simply, just the two of us, so keep that in mind."

The fairies’ gazes, flitting between Ian and Thesaya, flickered strangely. Even Diana was the same. She was looking at Ian with eyes that seemed to feel a strange sense of betrayal along with her shock.

Why are you buying into this? Ian muttered inwardly, maintaining an expressionless face.

In any case, there was no need to mull over the meaning in the fairies’ eyes. It was clear they thought the reunited lovers were about to spend some tender and passionate time together.

They were likely dismissing the talk of heading to the Deep Forest, where the Tree of Life was located, as just a pretext.

"If there are no objections, let’s end the meeting here," Thesaya said, looking around at the fairies.

She tapped her foot slightly and added, "You may all withdraw. Of course, you two, stay for a moment."

The fairies turned away briskly without another word. Even as they split into groups of two and three and dispersed, they exchanged glances. They were likely eager to get out of the forest and have a private conversation about the shocking stories they had just heard.

Some of them even looked as if they were feeling a sense of unease. Still, none of them could have imagined that Thesaya was on her way to Maro Tel.

"See? It worked out somehow, didn’t it?" Thesaya, a cigarette between her lips, said to Ian after the garden had been empty for a few more minutes.

"You were certainly very radical," Ian murmured as he walked toward the front of the chair.

As Thesaya grinned, a low sigh followed from the side.

"No, what on earth is this?"

It was Diana, staring blankly at Thesaya. From behind her mask, she continued, "Do you truly think this makes sense, my lady? You declare me as your representative and then vanish immediately afterward?"

Her masked face turned toward Ian. "To go on a southern tour alone with the Agent of the Saint?"

Seriously. Why are you buying this?

While Ian let out a dry laugh inwardly, Thesaya shrugged nonchalantly and said, "What’s wrong with that? Don’t worry. We’re leaving tomorrow. Today, I’ll teach you what you need to do."

She looked at Diana, then tilted her head toward the back of the chair, where Phoebe, with an equally shocked face, was standing.

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember everything. Phoebe will help you."

"That’s not what I—ugh…" Diana stammered.

"We’re not sneaking off on some private trip, Diana. We’re going to Maro Tel," said Ian, finally.

"Where did you say?" Diana paused and asked, looking at him.

Ian shrugged. "I told you my friend lives there. Of course, she’s also a friend of your head of the house. We’ve lost contact with her. And rumor has it the jungle’s—"

"The jungle has become a demonic realm." Thesaya took up the sentence, tapping the ash from her cigarette.

As Phoebe’s face, standing behind the chair, contorted, Ian added, "So keep the house safe. Someone has to be here to greet Lucy’s group."

"Huh…"

"When Lucy arrives, tell her the exact situation without letting the other pointy-ears find out. Of course…"

Ian, who had been staring intently into Diana’s eyes, suddenly said coldly, "Make sure there are no unnecessary misunderstandings, like the one you’re having now. Thesaya and I are not in the kind of relationship you’re thinking of. And we never will be. This was all intentional, solely to go to Maro Tel. Do you understand?"

"Uh… so… you’re saying," Diana mumbled, blinking her eyes.

She glanced at Thesaya and said, "That the two of you are definitely not in that kind of relationship—"

"Don’t make me say it twice," said Ian.

Diana flinched and nodded. "Alright. I will. Exactly."

"It’s a little hurtful to put it so bluntly, Ian," said Thesaya. "You never know, right? Even if not now, someday… Just kidding."

She smiled, flicking her tongue at Ian’s gaze, then turned to Diana as if nothing had happened.

"Don’t worry about the Council of Elders. There’s still half a year until the next meeting anyway. You said all hell would break loose before then, right? The inland sea is a mess, too. So it’ll be postponed even further. By the time the meeting is held again…"

The smile on Thesaya’s lips turned mischievous.

"They probably won’t even care about your existence."

"I suppose so," Diana murmured.

Of course, she seemed neither happy nor relieved. It was likely because she could no longer refuse to become the head of the house's representative. Finally letting out a sigh, she covered the eyeholes of her mask with her palm.

At that moment, Phoebe, who had stepped forward, said, "Putting aside the fact that it’s too dangerous, it seems it will take you too long, my lady. No matter what, if you are away for more than a fortnight, it may be difficult for us to manage the family on our own."

Her expression looked just as troubled as Diana’s.

Looking at Ian, Thesaya replied leisurely, "They’ll all be busy chattering, won’t they? Besides, I told you. We’ll be stopping by the Deep Forest. Crossing it is the fastest way to Maro Tel. It would be suspicious if we went back and forth, but it should be fine to pass through on the way back. Of course, that’s only if they allow Ian to enter. But I’ll just have to insist somehow."

You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?

Ian let out a small laugh and said, "Why not stop by on the way there?"

"If we do that and get held up by the elders of the Deep Forest, we might have to stay there for several days. Wouldn’t it be more reassuring to be held up on the way back?"

"Yes. I suppose so. Definitely." Ian nodded. Not that he cared about their Elders—unless they had a quest worth his time.

Thesaya smiled brightly and looked at Phoebe. "Then, there’s no problem, right, Phoebe?"

"There indeed is… No, never mind," said Phoebe, finally letting out a sigh of resignation.

As if that were a signal, Thesaya stood up from her seat. "Get plenty of rest today, Ian. I’ll have Phoebe attend to you, so let her know if you need anything."

As she walked, her haze swept past Diana. "Let’s go, Diana. I don’t have time. I have to prepare to leave."

With a long sigh that was clearly through her nose, Diana trudged after her.

See? Should’ve just come with me.

Ian watched her go, like someone being led to the slaughter, before finally turning to Phoebe beside him. "Come on, let’s go. I’m going to need another bath."

"I will escort you, Agent of the Saint."

The next morning, the Platinum Dragon’s Agent and the silver-haired elder fairy departed for Tahena.

"I’ve been thinking. I hope Kitty is suffering just enough not to die, Ian."

"Why?"

"That way she’ll be more grateful to us, won’t she? And we can pay back our life debt at the same time."

"That’s a very pointy-eared way of thinking."

Side by side, they rode on, trading small talk as their horses carried them along the path.