P. 152
For example in the past, in the times when the lord of the land possessed all the rights in regards to his land and the residents living on it, he wouldn’t have hesitated to use force in order to suppress a rebellion.
The lord of the land was in the beginning the King of a small country and had an army of his own.
Now that things have come to this pass, in this England where internal civil wars have long ceased, he wondered how many nobles were maintaining a private army. Either way, Edgar didn’t possess something convenient like that.
However, be it luck or not, Edgar knew of a more powerful way to fight than the nobles in the past.
He was taught chivalry, but he was also acquainted with the methods that were not fair at all.
The point was you just had to win.
Inside his cloak, he had the merrow’s sword strapped to his waist and it made him seem like a noble from the Middle Ages, but what he carried over his shoulder was a pirate’s rifle gun. Those didn’t fit with his perfectly-coordinated clothes, from his top hat to the tip of his shoes, which looked like he was just coming back from a night ball.
Good lord, this was an absurd outfit. No one could ever tell who he was.
P. 153
And yet, for the time being, he wasn’t the gang leader like the past, but considered to be fighting as a noble.
Using the strength of pirates, he made them practically attack the villagers’ house who were feeling hostile towards him while they were asleep, and didn’t spare them a moment to fight back and subdued them, and was just about to surround the last remaining ten or so men who were all barricaded themselves in the mayor’s residence.
In the end, within the villagers, it was only a portion of them who were taking part in the benefit of joining forces with the fake lord and taking the fluorites. The villagers who weren’t so, had been building up distrust towards the mayor and others and there were some that even informers who provided Edgar with information, and so he was able to subdue his opponent’s rebellion efficiently.
Already, at the stage of scouting, he knew the names of those who would put up a fight to the end.
However, the mayor and others who were barricading themselves in the building, weren’t showing any signs of surrendering.
It wasn’t going to be difficult to barge in, but there was a possibility that they would chose to counterattack in desperation.
Edgar was still looking at the conditions from outside the building because the group apparently brought the gunpowder that they used to dig out the fluorites.
The sky was just barely beginning to brighten up.
In no time, the day is going to break.
“Lord Edgar, we’ve found the fluorites that were dug into the wasted farm grounds. It turns out to be quite the amount.”
Raven came up to him and whispered into his ear.
P. 154
“So, I guess they could work as evidence. And the freyas?”
“They weren’t in with them. However, according to a report by a villager, just recently, it was witnessed that one the size of a closed fist had been extracted. Apparently, it has been hundreds of years for something like that, and the whole village was ecstatic.”
That precious freya could be hidden by the mayor. Or perhaps already in the hands of the fake lord.
“To hell that the mining vein has depleted. I’ll make them learn just exactly what happens when you steal something from me.”
Edgar judged that the pirates were starting to be bored, and decided to begin giving out his threats.
Leading the pirates, he approached the building that belonged to the mayor.
He stopped just right before it.
“Can you hear me? I’ve had the fluorites returned to me. Although it’s an amount that’s much too less for the past few years. I hear the amount that you’ve sold off had been stored as golden coins under your floorboards? There’s no more use in trying to hide them. Why don’t you surrender and come out?”
Of course, there was no reply.
“Well, it’s fine. Since it seems to be a waste of time if we continue to hold out, so I’ll be taking my leave. Oh, yes, I’ll have it known that your bad deeds were found out and you all committed a group suicide, or you had a falling out and killed each other.”
He thought he could see a vague commotion arise among the shadows beyond the window glass that had the curtains drawn.
Edgar beckoned the pirates with his hand who were holding flaming torches.
P. 155
“Go ahead and throw those in.”
“Is that all right?”
“It’s already day break. They shouldn’t be needing lights anymore.”
That wasn’t the problem, was what the man wanted to say, and from his hand, Raven took away the torch.
“Fluorites are said to release a beautiful light compared to a flame. Don’t you want to see what color the fluorites that are only able to be found here throughout the whole world glows?”
He narrowed his eyes and made a grin, and that must have made him appear like he was willing to seriously burn down a house and people just so that he would be able to make sure to see the glow of the fluorites.
Even as Edgar was speaking, Raven emotionlessly was about to throw in one of the torches.
Just then, from the front door a number of villagers came tumbling out.
“Wa-wait just a moment, we’ll surrender!”
“We were all just doing what the mayor told us. We didn’t know that that lord was an imposter…”
“I was getting a portion of the profit, but I was told that if we’re caught we’ll be convicts and so our only option was to resist till the end, and so I barricaded in here….”
“But, ….Earl, I don’t want to die! Please spare me….”
“And the mayor?” asked Edgar, cool and steady.
P. 156
“He went off and escaped by himself. It looks like there was a secret passageway, and before we knew it, he disappeared.”
Hearing that, all the pirates went dashing into the building.
Shattering the glass and breaking down the door, there were angry voices that ran out to drag out the mayor.
Edgar watched as a number of them seemed to find something like gunpowder and came carrying that outside quickly, and entered into the mayor’s house.
The remaining men who didn’t have any signs of strength left to fight had apparently gathered into one spot by the pirates.
“Hey, Sir John, ……I mean, uh-“
“Edgar.”
Edgar turned around towards Pino. Like it was tiresome for him, the large-framed young man knitted his brows.
“What are you going to do with them?”
“I’ll listen to what they have to say at the estate.”
“There’s no sign of the mayor after all.”
“I’ll have that secret passageway found.”
What was suspicious was the underground basement. To Edgar, who was about to go down the stairs that was built in the back of the kitchen, Pino spoke again.
P. 157
“Oh, yeah, Lota had taken out your fiancées somewhere.”
Edgar stopped in his tracks.
“Lydia was? Where?”
“I don’t know, they were saying that they found some clues about Betty.”
“Just the two of them?”
“Although I wanted to go with them, Lota told me to keep watch of here,” he said, in a sulking way.
He had a bear-like large body with a hairy face, but the part of him that was relying on Lota was like a young boy.
“You haven’t changed.”
Pino twitched his brow like he was bothered at being treated like a fool.
“Even then, you were always tagging right behind Lota. You and your men’s captain, I hear wanted to make you his heir, wasn’t he? I even heard how he was talking that how you were in such a blind belief and trust about Lota was your weakness.”
That must have made the blood rush to his head, as Pino reached out his arm to try and grab the scruff of Edgar’s shirt, but he only ended up having it twisted up by Raven.
Stepping his body back, he tutted as he was even more annoyed.
“…….You can see how Lota is much more fitted to be the captain. She may be a female, but she has more guts than any man, and wouldn’t lose to a fight. Everyone also trusts her.”
P. 158
“Even if that were so, I think that the captain didn’t plan to make Lota the new captain. Well, as long as she is being relied on by you, it just means even she won’t be able to live how she wants.”
“How she wants? Don’t say like Lota thinking that she doesn’t want to be a pirate. You don’t know anything.”
“Even if I’m an outsider, I can tell that you’re still not an adult. Even about Betty…., well, who cares, it’s hardly necessary to say it now.”
To Edgar who was about to go down the stairs again, Pino opened his mouth like he was throwing his anger at him.
“Ohh, yes, there was also an unfamiliar man who was with Lydia.”
Seeing Edgar who didn’t think and stopped, he made a grin.
“So he isn’t one of your comrades? At least, he seems quite close with Lydia. Since he didn’t hesitate and went straight into Lydia’s room.”
As Edgar turned around, he was tightening his hand into a fist.
“Did he perhaps, have black wavy hair and a tall frame?”
“Yes, that. He was quite the pretty face that wouldn’t lose to you.”
“That isn’t even near a rival for me.”
“Hmm, oh, really. Well, there are more than plenty of women, so even if you had Lydia taken away, it would be easy to just go looking again for someone to pretend to be your lover, I guess.”
P. 159
He couldn’t understand why he didn’t crush his clenched fist into Pino’s face.
No, that isn’t true, Lydia isn’t like that. I that moment he felt that objection in himself, then he realized he wasn’t in any position to argue to Pino in regards to Betty.
Though, Betty and he were two who were so alike.
With Lydia, he was serious than he ever was before.
She was precious and he was thinking that he wanted to marry her….
“Lord Edgar, it’s a hidden door.”
Ermine’s voice, at that time, was like a lifeline to Edgar.
He took his eyes away from Pino and hurried to the depths of the underground basement.
*
“Kelpie, you have to turn back! I must return to rescue Lota and Nico!”
Still clinging onto Kelpie’s mane, Lydia protested to him, but he didn’t turn back at all.
P. 160
“We’ll be found by the Wyrm.”
Just around the time when the rumbling vibrations that shuddered throughout the cave had finally settled down, Kelpie, who was running in no particular destination had stopped and stood, but at this point they couldn’t figure out where it was they were.
“Now look, we’re lost our way.”
Getting down from Kelpie’s back, Lydia squinted her eyes to inspect the dark surroundings.
They had gotten out from the ocean tides. Which means they entered the Wyrm‘s territory.
Perhaps because it was the fairy realm, even though there weren’t any artificial lights and even though it was inside a cave, she was able to see her surroundings dimly.
“Everything’s fine, if I go in the direction where I sense water, we’ll get out into the sea.”
Kelpie, who turned into his young man form pointed and said this way.
Hold on, said Lydia and stopped her pace.
“If we go in the direction opposite of the sea, then does that mean we’re in the Wyrm’s nest?”
"You’re not planning on going all the way to the nest entrance, are you.”
“Because changelings are sure to be there. Betty as well. I have to help them.”
“What are you going to do about Lota and Nico.”
“Even Lota came all this way just to see Betty. She’s sure to think the same.”
When she started to walk off, Kelpie walked and stopped right in her path to stop her.
“You can’t go near the Wyrm. It’s too dangerous.”
P. 161
“I’m not asking you to come along.”
“You never came across that before, that’s why you’re taking it easy.”
Suddenly, there was a rumble in the ground.
Kelpie grabbed Lydia and hid themselves behind a depression in the ground. Just then, something enormous and long, covered in black scales passed right in front of them.
“…..What, what was that?”
“Must be the tail of the Wyrm.”
“Tail? You’re saying that was just the tail?”
“That’s why I’m saying the Wyrm is huge.”
“More importantly, it’s obviously gone by now. Would you let go of me.”
In the tight depression, Lydia wasn’t able to move around at all since her body was packed up against Kelpie who had her in his arms like he was carrying her.
“Yeah.”
“……Hey, where do you think you’re touching!”
“Huh? I’m just trying to get you on your feet.”
“Don’t touch my breasts!”
“Why is that not allowed? You don’t complain when it’s any other place.”
P. 162
Lydia stood up as she was still picked up in his arms, and just as she turned around she punched into Kelpie’s nose and was finally released.
“It’s common sense of humans!”
“Common sense? That’s impossible. When I’m swimming around the lake in London at midnight, every one of the humans in the bushes here and there are always doing….., hey, wait!”
Oh, don’t start talking about such lewd things, meant Lydia as she grew embarrassed and hurried to start walking off.
“Lydia, that isn’t the way. Are you still intending on going to the Wyrm’s nest? Even if you go charging in, you know that you won’t be any match.”
“If it was just getting back the changeling, then there is a way without having to go against the Wyrm.”
If it was negotiating with a fairy and getting back the baby, then it would be simple. However, those kinds of cases were rare. Even fairies wouldn’t let whatever thing they got their hands on go that easily.
The only remaining option was to snap the wild rose that was in the fairy’s nesting ground and break the magic that was binding the human baby to the fairy.
Special roses were the source of what was keeping the fairy’s nesting grounds intact. If someone breaks it, then that would make the magic that was filled there ineffective.
“Hey, Kelpie, where would the Wyrm’s rose be?”
P. 163
“You, are you planning on ripping apart the rose?”
“But that’s the only option I have.”
“All of the magic that has been stored up will charge to the one who snaps the rose. Someone like you, who has no bond to the human world really escape from that?”
She didn’t know. But, more than that, there was something that Lydia should be concern about.
If she were to snap the rose, then all that existed in this realm will have their true nature revealed. The ones who were put under the spell of magic will be turned back to normal.
The human baby should be returned to the hands of its mother and the magic that was making the dobie’s baby look like a human will be undone and it should be returned to the hands of the dobies.
And that would be the same, if Lydia was also a changeling.
If she originally was the child of a fairy, then the magic casted on her to make her look like a human would break.
She would forget that she was human, and that she had been raised as Lydia Carlton, and that name and all the things that happened until now.
“And furthermore, the wild rose that’s in the fairy’s nest, you say it so simply but it really is something important. It’s natural for the Wyrm to be protecting it carefully. That itself is reckless. Hey, Lydia, are you listening?”
“…….Kelpie, how do I appear to your eyes? A fairy that was made into a changeling? Or a regular human?”
P. 164
Lydia asked him in a serious tone, but Kelpie only replied carelessly.
“Huhh? I don’t know. Who cares, it doesn’t really matter.”
“It does matter. If I was a changeling, then when I break the rose, I’ll forget about absolutely everything.”
“You don’t have to worry about something like that. Even if you do forget about the whole human world, then I’ll look after you. No matter what kind of fairy you turn out to be, you are you after all, even if your outsides change a little, that’s nothing to get disappointed about.”
That’s not what I meant.
“Wait, you aren’t being worried that you won’t be able to marry that earl, are you?”
“Wh-what, of course not! I just, I’m just worried about father.”
“Since you’re going to forget, then it wouldn’t be a bother to you.”
So, that’s how its going to be.
When she thought about it, to Lydia, it might not be that much of a tormenting experience.
Although her father would be saddened, from the time she decided to become a fairy doctor, he should have prepared himself for whatever he didn’t know might happen. He would surely accept Lydia’s decision.
And Edgar…….
P. 165
There were a lot of girls who he had a little interest in all around him. Even Ermine is by his side, so he was sure to forget about Lydia in no time.
And Lydia was going to forget about him, so it wasn’t going to be painful.
But if she did remember, was she going to feel painful?
Kelpie’s large hand cupped Lydia’s head like a cradle to stroke her.
“Don’t make such a face. I think to find the wild rose is a much greater feat then to try and defeat the Wyrm. That’s why it’s better to leave. If your opponent was a Wyrm, then it’s natural that there’s nothing a fairy doctor could do. There is no necessity in fixating on helping humans and going all the way as to put yourself at risk.”
But, she didn’t want to give up without doing anything.
“If I were to forget, would you tell me what kind of human I was? Whatever you know will be fine.”
“So, you are going.”
Mumbled Kelpie like he was sourly amazed, and murmured “I’ll tell you” and patted Lydia’s head violently.
“Hey, would you mind not dallying around right there.”
Suddenly, there was another voice.
Kelpie kept his hand grabbed onto Lydia’s head, and like he was taking caution, pulled her towards him.
The one to peer over towards them from the shadows of the cave’s bolder was a young girl who seemed around the same age as Lydia.
P. 166
“That’s the walking path of the dragon. If there’s something in the way, then I’m the one who gets yelled at.”
“Oh…., I’m sorry. We lost our way.”
The girl inspected all over Lydia and Kelpie with doubtful eyes.
“Geesh, why do fairies all have to be so good at transforming into humans so well. I wish you all wouldn’t do something so misleading.”
“But, I’m a human.”
For the time being, that was what she believed right now.
“There is no way a human could come to a place like this. Even I have finally learned that. At first I was thrilled to meet people over and over and expected that I could be saved, but every single one of them were just passing-by fairies. Are you going to leave already.”
“Wait, hey, are you, perhaps Betty?”
Lydia pushed Kelpie aside and walked over towards the girl’s direction.
“Why do you know my name?”
The same coffee colored hair as Lota. She was a girl with large eyes with a mischievous little charm about her.
She had been courting Edgar, but Lydia tried to erase that mixed feeling that bubbled up to her consciousness and took a deep breath.
P. 167
P. 168
“Umm, I’m Lydia. I came with Lota to come and rescue you.”
“Lota? You’re lying, Lota would never come here.”
“It’s true. You are her dear friend, and she was very worried about you.”
“We’re not friends. Because I betrayed Lota.”
Spitting that out, she lowered her head like she was in shame.
She wondered what had happened between the two of them. Lota hadn’t mentioned anything that seemed related to that.
Lydia was about to open her mouth to ask about that situation, but like she was sealing away that chance, Betty spoke strongly.
“Anyways, would you go and leave. If you say you’re human, then you’ll be killed if the dragon finds you.”
“But, even Lota is somewhere in this limestone cave. We got separated.”
The girl snapped her head up like she became worried.
“Oh, no, what are you going to do if the dragon finds her. Hurry up and find her and take her out of here!”
“Then, you need to help me. Don’t you know a lot about the Wyrm’s nest?”
And then, Lydia took the girl’s hand.
“And one more thing, when we leave here, you’re coming with us.”
Kelpie poked Lydia’s back like he was trying to tell her to quit it, but Lydia made a smile to Betty like she had the confidence like she was able to rescue her.
P. 169
*
The passageway that was in the mayor’s house was connected to a small underground room that was made like it was dug out of a rocky wall.
Edgar and the others entered it with torches in their hand and their eyes were captured at the sight of a reddish-purple glow that reflected the light of the fire and filled the whole space around them.
There were numerous big and small relief sculptures and pieces of art that were made of fluorites.
There were some in the lord’s house, but every one had the characteristic of elegance and vigorous dynamics in its beautiful curved lines. It must be the style that is passed down from master to apprentice in the workshop of this village.
Fluorites are not expensive jewels, but this village had flourished by the limited rate of flow must have been because they could put added value onto them as pieces of art.
However, he heard that that tradition had come to an end around the beginning of this century when the amount of extractable fluorites had sharply decreased.
Edgar walked over to one of the reliefs and squinted to inspect the sign in its corner.
“Scarlett Moon?”
He thought it would be a sign, but that was what it said.
Scarlett Moon was the secret organization that made an alliance with Edgar to fight with Prince.
The Blue Knight Earl who appeared three-hundred years ago, Julius Ashenbert’s lover and illegitimate child was involved in a decorative art family guild and had founded the organization. However, when their descendants were murdered by Prince who feared the return of the Blue Knight Earl, the remaining artists pledged revenge and banded together to form an organization called the ‘Scarlett Moon.’
P. 170
“Scarlett Moon” meant Flendolyn in Gale. That was the first Earl of Ibrazel, the Blue Knight Earl’s child’s name who had fairy flowing in the child’s veins.
Julius Ashenbert’s illegitimate child also had the middle name of Flendolyn and he heard that that child’s descendants were also the same.
In other words, the “Scarlett Moon” indicated the collateral bloodline of descendants who were connected to the illegitimate child of the Blue Knight Earl.
“So there were descendants of the Blue Knight Earl who inhabited this village as craftsmen.”
“There is another seal of the Scarlett Moon on this one. The years they were made are mostly the beginning of this century,” said Ermine who had been inspecting them one by one. Edgar thought hard.
“So that means around that time, the descendants of the Ashenbert family were here.”
“Lord Edgar, please look at this.”
The object Raven picked up was a letter box that was decorated with fluorites. It seemed like it was the work by the same person, but since it had scratches and black stains unlike the other ones must mean that it was a personal item.
P. 171
There was a letter left inside it. It seemed like a letter that was sent in praise of his works.
For a moment, Edgar’s eyes stopped on a signature. It was signed ‘Cremona.’ It was the Grand Duke of the dukedom Cremona.
The letter from the grand duke was about praising the works, and there was no where in the writing that particularly stood out, but Edgar knew about the fluorite that had the Cremona dukedom’s seal in it.
It was a rare freya that only could be dug here.
The seal-engraved ring that Betty had might have been one of the works of this craftsman.
He shared the blood of the Blue Knight Earl. On the other hand, the princess of Cremona was kidnapped by the man who called himself as the Blue Knight Earl.
He wondered if this case was started because of this craftsman and the freya seal ring.
So that he could verify the craftsman’s name, Edgar inspected the letter’s addressee.
“Ulysses Barrow…..”
Ulysses?
“He was the savior of this village.”
The mayor appeared himself from behind the door he was hiding in that was behind them.
He was carrying a hunting gun. Raven made a stir like he was aiming for an opening to strike, but Edgar made him wait with a look at his eyes.
P. 172
“To be exact, Mister Barrow was one of two siblings. The older brother was a craftsman and the one who was the savior was the younger brother with the same name who came here later on.”
“What do you mean by savior?”
“Although this village was ripe with fluorites, we were only able to dig up a limited amount every year. Even if we tried to dig up more, the fairies would hide them. While that was happening, only he was able to communicate with the fairies and was said to be able to procure the lacking amount of fluorites.”
The mayor seemed like he wanted to talk about this.
Most likely, to make his claim that he was right.
“In the beginning, didn’t the Blue Knight Earl decide the amount of fluorites that were needed by this village and made a trade with the fairies? And yet, what do you mean there was a lack of fluorites?”
“How can you say that the amount that was determined by the earl in the past will be sufficient in any era? Our village at the time was just barely going by. We were all in trouble.”
“I can’t think that the amount of fluorites were not enough. In the beginning, if you were to dig out too much, then the mining vein was sure to drain out, so did the villagers also agree to the bare minimum amount? What was needed more than that had to be taken care by yourselves.”
Like he didn’t want to hear that, the mayor continued his own claim.
“Mister Barrow had gone by made it so that we could freely dig up the fluorites that the fairies were getting in our way of. We singled out the stones that had a stronger red to them and if we lied that they were freyas, we were able to sell them at a higher price. To put labor in acquiring the artistic skills to make sculptures is ridiculous. If we shatter them and are able to get even a little shard that is red, then we can make a much larger profit than turning it into a piece of art.”
P. 173
“Ever since then, this village has been deceiving your lord and continued to fraud and sell fakes.”
“The earl will never appear. Even the butler, Mister Tomkins who manages the fortunes of the Ashenbert family knows that no freyas can be dug up, and so if we don’t report to him, he doesn’t become suspicious. For fake freyas to go about the market was normal from the past, so Mister Barrow took particular care in making sure they were sold so that it wasn’t found out they were related to our village.”
“And he went around acting like he was the lord here.”
“He carries the blood of the Ashenbert family. What problem could there possibly be?”
“If he is the descendant of the illegitimate child, then he cannot inherit the title.”
“More than the title, this village needed the amazing power that was in the blood of the Ashenbert family.”
“……And the older brother who was in craftsmanship? He would surely object to his younger brother.”
By looking at the number of sculptures that had love poured on them, he couldn’t believe that the older brother would allow his younger brother’s method of shattering them into pieces.
The mayor only made a barely small grin, but seeing how the tradition of the artwork of this village had suddenly disappeared, it was easy to imagine what had happened.
P. 174
Most likely, he must have been killed by the hands of his younger brother.
“Mister Barrow would periodically visit the village and made it so that the fairies couldn’t get near the mining grounds. The second Barrow who took after him was the same and possessed magical powers. If we did as Mister Barrow said, then everything would go well…. Everything was going well, until yesterday.”
“One of the infants of this village was stolen, and you ordered the parent to give it up, and only share the profits with only one portion of the village? You are quite the tyrant.”
“In order to get freyas, it couldn’t be helped that the infant was sacrificed. Mister Barrow visited this land two years ago saying that he would be able to awaken the dragon Wyrm that could create a true freya. Thanks to him, we will be able to mine the flaming fluorite.”
Awaken a dragon?
Did he say dragon?
The mayor twisted his lips at the confused Edgar.
“Lord Earl, if you claim to be the true Blue Knight Earl, then you just need to defeat the dragon on this land. Just like the earl had done in the past.”
It seemed like he wanted to say it was impossible for him.
P. 175
“The villagers in the past had given up freyas in order to make the harm done by changelings go away. They begged the earl to defeat the dragon. However, our new lord did the opposite of that. Because he possessed that much power, he had the right to be the lord of this land. Since no one other than Ulysses Barrow has inherited the power of the earl.”
He wondered if it was the Ulysses he knew who came to this village two years ago.
The right-hand man of Prince and the who was after Edgar’s life.
There seemed to be no mistake that that Ulysses was the descendant of the illegitimate child of the Blue Knight Earl.
The descendant of the collateral bloodline of Julius Ashenbert should have been all killed off by Prince who saw them as a danger. However, most likely, by Ulysses going over to Prince’s side, he was able to survive.
No only did Prince get his hands on the one who possessed the power of the Blue Knight Earl, but also killed off all the other descendants.
In order to make that power his own.
Which means, it was Prince who wanted the freya to go all the way to even awaken a dragon.
“Where is the freya? It still shouldn’t have fallen into the hands of Ulysses.”
“That is a stone of immortality, only those who carry the Blue Knight Earl’s blood can handle it. With you, just like that merrow’s sword, it would just be a useless rock.”
As he aimed the end of his hunting rifle at them, the mayor slowly stepped backwards.
There was one more door in the back of the room. When he opened that door, he suddenly turned around and went running off.
P. 176
Immediately, Raven went after him.
Edgar continued. There was no mistake that the mayor had the freya with him.
The reason he was taking time here when he should be escaping must have been to take the freya with him.
Most likely, it was hidden in a room that was hidden behind the wardrobes.
At the end of the underground tunnel, it opened up to a natural limestone cave. Sea water had gotten into it, making a bay that had a small boat floating in it.
The mayor jumped in and they saw him rowing off, but by the time Edgar and the two had reached the bayside, the boat was already at a distance too far from the bay to reach by hand.
Just when they worried that he might escape at this rate, there was something that swept by right in front of them.
Or more like, something enormous came jumping out and took over the air space before them.
That thing seemed like it was suffocating and was thrashing around with its whole body. It slammed up against the wall and ceiling of the limestone cave.
Edgar and the two didn’t think to react but immediately dropped to the ground, but he was able to see out of the corner of his eye how the mayor and the small boat was hit and went flying and then went sinking into the sea.
And then, that thing opened up its mouth side and spitted out some kind of gray ball. And like it suddenly regained its calm, it swiftly went slinking away.
“…….What was that just now?”
“A dragon perhaps.”
P. 177
Replied Raven, like it was a matter-of-fact.
A dragon, huh. As he stood himself up, Edgar felt like he wanted to laugh out loud.
After becoming the Blue Knight Earl, even though there were fairies who were shaped like cats and horses around him, there shouldn’t be any reason for him to be surprised for a dragon to exist.
“It looked like a gigantic snake or lizard.”
“Ohh, god damn it, I thought I was going to die-“
The voice could be hear from the gray-colored piece of filth that was spitted out by the dragon.
It, which had been clinging onto the ground, plopped itself up and frantically combed down its wet fur that was covered with the saliva of the dragon.
“Nico! What happened to you? Weren’t you with Lydia?”
“What? Earl?”
When he saw and realized Edgar, then Nico suddenly stood up and yelled out angrily.
“If you were watching then would you go kill that thing for me. That’s right, you should hurry and do it. If that thing was left alive, nothing good for anybody is going to happen. If it was the merrow’s sword, then you’ll be able to split it in two just like the Blue Knight Earl in that past. Since it’s a monster that nearly gobbled up my beautiful self!”
“So you’re saying I have to defeat that?”
Nico took a good look at Edgar who was staggered and utterly perplexed, and he finally understood and buried his head into his paws.
P. 178
“Ohh, yes, yes, right, you were only just a Blue Knight Earl in name only! There’s no way you could defeat it!”
When he was said that so plainly, it was true, but it still irritated him.
“Ahh, damn it, how dare it put me through something like this, how am I suppose to get back at it?”
“More importantly, where’s Lydia?”
“I don’t know. As soon as we neared the nest, suddenly the Wyrm appeared, and everyone got separated. I was slurped right up, but I used all my might to not get swallowed, and so I scratched its tongue as much as I could.”
“So, Lydia is still in the dragon’s nest?”
“Yeah, most likely. At least she should be with that kelpie.”
With Kelpie. It wasn’t a situation that made a pleasant state of mind for Edgar. However, for the time being, it looks like it was better that she had Kelpie with her.
“However, I heard that Lydia had gone to investigate about Betty. Why on earth did she go and enter a dangerous place like a dragon’s nest?”
“Because that’s where Betty is. The one who had kidnapped her, had apparently offered her as the bride for the Wyrm.”
“A bride for that gigantic lizard just now?”
“O-oh, right, just because she’s gotten lost in the Wyrm’s nest, by that personality of Lydia’s, you don’t know what she’ll do in order to get back Betty and the stolen baby.”
P. 179
Nico looked like he was finally able to calm down his rage as he was beginning to get worried about the sake of Lydia.
To get back Betty from that dragon when humans would appear like tiny ants that it could step on without noticing seemed impossible. However, if what she was dealing with was fairies, then Lydia, who thought of herself as a fairy doctor might go and do something reckless.
“About that dragon, did Lydia know about that from the start?”
“Yeah, immediately when we arrived, since the dobie was talking about it.”
“Then, why did she go without saying anything to me…”
As he said that, Edgar had figured out why she had been keeping silent about the existence of the dragon.
Even if Edgar was able to uncover the misdeeds of the mayor, it was because he would not be able to go against a dragon.
As he gripped the sword on his belt, Edgar bit his lip.
“Nico, guide me to the Wyrm’s nest.”
“Eh? You plan on going?”
“I can’t leave Lydia by herself.”
And I couldn’t leave her with Kelpie and herself.
“But, you’re not any use at all……”
Edgar was irritated once again and pointed the merrow’s sword right at Nico.
P. 180
“No matter what, I am the Blue Knight Earl.”
“Your opponent isn’t human, you know. Your bluffs won’t work on it.”
“It’s always the knight to be the one to defeat the dragon to save the princess. I happen to be descended from a knight.”
“You’re serious.”
I’ll do it, thought Edgar to himself, so that it would raise his fighting spirits.
Even if Ulysses was the bloodline of the Blue Knight Earl, and even if he had the power to control fairies, the earl who obtained the merrow’s sword was me.
Most likely, somewhere in him, Edgar had the feeling that he wouldn’t be able to become the real Blue Knight Earl at this state.
The College of Arms of this country had officially recorded Edgar as the Earl of Ibrazel. Although, the invisible power that connected the human and fairy world and continued the Ashenbert family to this day had given the sword to Edgar, it might be testing him as it was keeping an eye on him.
Was it the bond of blood that was needed in the lord of the Ashenbert family?
Because it shouldn’t be only that, wasn’t it why the merrows had entrusted the sword to Edgar. If that were so, then even fighting with the dragon, wasn’t something that he could step away from the start.
“Uh…..Earl. Before that, could I go wash myself?”
“We don’t have that kind of time.”
P. 181
Nico, whose necktie was pocked by the tip of the blade let out a sigh of resignation.
*
“The Wyrm’s rose? I don’t know about that. I’ve never seen any grass or trees growing inside this limestone cave.”
Betty was guiding Lydia to the place she said was her house.
It was a stone house that stood in the middle of a cavern. That awkward sight made Lydia realize that this was the territory that was casted under the spell of the Wyrm.
“I said that I couldn’t live without a human house. And then in the next morning, this was here. But, it’s shaped like a house, but everything inside it is made of rock. A stone bed and a stone chair. Well, since the Wyrm doesn’t want to come in to such a cramped place like this, then that itself should be a pleasant relief for me.”
She had Kelpie go search for Lota and Nico.
Lending a hand to Betty, the two of them pushed open the heavy stone door and entered inside, and just like she said, it was a room that was filled with stone.
“Uh, Betty, about your food, were you eating only the things that were being brought to you from the dobies outside?”
“Yes. It’s because the Wyrm’s food is only rocks. I thought I was going to starve to death.”
Which means Betty still hasn’t put any fairy food in her mouth. If Lydia was able to take her out of here, she would be able to take the girl to the human world.
P. 182
“It’s all right, Betty. You’ll be able to escape from here. Kelpie is going to find Lota and bring her here, and then we’re going to leave immediately.”
Betty still had a look of distrust, like she couldn’t believe that, and set herself down on the stone chair.
“I consider that all of this happened as a punishment to me. Because I made a big lie. That seal-engraved ring, I…. That’s right, the fire-colored fluorite, that earl was after that.”
“Earl…..”
“A young boy who called himself the Blue Knight Earl. He looked like he was younger than I was, but he was strangely mature.”
“Did he perhaps have faint blond hair?”
Betty nodded. Its Ulysses, thought Lydia.
Before two years ago, when Betty claimed to have been brought here, Ulysses must had come to this village at the order of Prince before Edgar had gotten the title of Earl and was claiming himself as the Blue Knight Earl.
The involvement between Prince and the Blue Knight Earl was still a mystery to her even now. Even if it was a coincidence that Edgar, who Prince tried to make his puppet, had become the Blue Knight Earl, she wondered if that was going to be a savior to Edgar or not. Or perhaps, was it going to make him sink deeper in the fight between Prince like it was his destiny.
She didn’t want that to be so. Lydia had given her help so that Earl would become Earl, because she believed that was the method that would save him.
P. 183
I have to pull myself together. I have to be the one to stop what Ulysses is doing.
“That boy is a magician. He had awakened the Wyrm’s sleep by using a fire-colored fluorite. He said that if the Wyrm wakes up, then the same type of fluorites like that crested ring would be able to be dug up.”
“I see. So your crested ring was what he was after. Even though you departed from America and left your close friends so that you could meet your grandfather, the Grand Duke of Cremona.”
“That isn’t me. I’m not the real princess of Cremona. I’m just a daughter of a pirate. Because I stole only hat ring!”
“That’s not right, Betty, because that was something I gave to you.”
Lota was standing in the open stone doorway.
“I had always been thinking that you were living a peaceful life by the Grand Duke. And yet, because of that red fluorite, I didn’t know you were brought to a place like this…..”
Lota entered into the stone house slowly, and she appeared to be alone. She must have been wondering around the cavern and had come to this place.
Oh, goodness, where on earth is Kelpie searching?
More than that, what does Lota mean, she gave the crested ring to Betty?
P. 184
Lydia kept her mouth closed as she watched the two of them at the sudden unexpected story.
“I stole it. No, I was thinking of borrowing it in the beginning, but I took it out on my own and was showing it off to everyone around me. And then, John told me that it was the crest of a royal family and in a matter of time, someone who said he was a messenger of the grand duke appeared and said that he was looking for the granddaughter who had the crested ring, and by then, I had just ended my relationship terribly with him and was feeling horrible, and Papa had just died, and I thought it didn’t matter if I lose everything if I could become a princess, and so I betrayed even you, and said that it was my ring.”
“You were saying that you hated pirates, so I thought you wanted to become a princess. I preferred the style of pirating, and that’s why I considered that I gave the ring to you. But, afterwards I was told by that man John. You thought that Pino and I were together?”
Betty made a panic-stricken face and turned to eyes away to look down.
“That’s such a stupid misunderstanding. The two of us are practically sister and brother. No, more like brothers. Pino wanted to hurry up and become a mature, strong man, and when I asked him who he was doing that for, he would turn quiet, but his eyes were always following you.”
“…..No, you’re lying, Pino was always complimenting about you, Lota,”
“It was the type of compliments like who I knocked out, or that I won a fight, right? There’s no guy who would compliment a girl he likes like that.”
Betty went completely silent like she was totally confused.
P. 185
“I thought it was something like that. You purposefully kept on deceiving yourself and went after lean-looking guys who were the exact opposite of Pino, and Pino was depressed every time. The both of you are all so twisted.”
Betty had said she had lost her interest in Edgar because of Ermine, but the both of them weren’t able to tell their feelings to the one they really loved, and so they were two who were similar to each other and wanted someone as a replacement.
Even now, Edgar desired a replacement and was flirting around with every girl.
Even though, anyone, even Lydia, wasn’t able to be a replacement for the person he truly cared about.
“Hey, Betty, at that time didn’t you take a chance with John so that you could get over Pino. If that man, who couldn’t flirt with the girl he really loves, would come to make you his number one. But that didn’t happen. Just around then, the man who said was searching for the princess appeared, and if the one who the ring really belonged to was revealed, then you thought that Pino and I would get separated, didn’t you. Because you didn’t want Pino to go through pain, you said that the ring belonged to you.”
“You’re so soft-hearted, Lota.”
“I’m not wrong, I would know what you would think. You’re so selfish and would throw others around, but you would never betray your friends.”
P. 186
Betty covered her face with her hands and burst out crying.
Lota wrapped her arms around her as if to comfort her.
Lydia felt tears weld up in her eyes, and thought now, I really have to rescue Betty from the Wyrm no matter what.
Just then, the ground rumbled terribly.
It sounded like the whole limestone cave was shaking, and it gradually seemed to come closer.
“It’s the Wyrm,” whispered Betty in fear.
It felt like the air outside the building was one pins and needles.
“It’s calling me, I have to go.”
“To the Wyrm?”
“Because I’ve been slacking on cleaning, it seems to be upset.”
Lota grabbed Betty’s arm to stop her from getting up.
“It’s all right, I’m just going to be yelled at. It threatens to eat me if I disobey, but I’ve never put through anything painful.”
“No, there’s no need for you to have to obey the Wyrm anymore.”
P. 187
And then Lota pushed Betty over towards Lydia.
“Lydia, I’m leaving her to you.”
“Eh, but Lota,”
In no time to stop her, Lota went out through the doorway.
Just then, she let out a loud yell.
“Hey, Wyrm! From today your bride is going to be me. Since Betty has already left!”
Lydia and Betty held their breaths inside the building.
“What is Lota planning to do…”
“Wait, if you go out now then you might anger the Wyrm. We need to watch what’s going to happen.”
As Lydia stopped Betty from going, she slowly eased herself to take a look outside.
Towards the top of the stone, there were a pair of red eyes that was peering down over towards their direction. Those eerie eyes stared looked down at Lota.
(You are going to be? Don’t think you can do as you please. I only take noble maidens as my wife.)
“I know that. Even in fairytales, its always a princess that the dragon slays. But, the real princess is me. Betty was just a replacement for me.”
The dragon’s irises that looked like they were split down the center of its eye, opened wide in surprise at Lota.
(The real princess?)
P. 188
“Didn’t you notice? For a noble maiden, wasn’t that girl boorish, half-hearted and irresponsible?”
Betty puffed up her cheeks like she was a little offended.
(Indeed, she couldn’t learn quickly and was quick to sulk. I was thinking of what a unmanageable wife she was.)
“I can do housework much better than Lota,” whispered Betty quietly.
If Betty was able to escape from here, it seems like Lota didn’t mind to leave behind as the real bride of the Wyrm.
However, Lydia didn’t want to leave Lota here as well like this.
But still, she thought that this situation was better than the one before.
By having Lota exchange with Betty, the changeling that was once exchanged with the wooden doll has become Lota. Betty would be released from the bind of the Wyrm’s magic.
As Betty as here a very long time, that time alone was enough of an magic influence, so it wouldn’t be easy to lead her outside, but there still was a chance to get her out without having her being bound to the Wyrm.
On the other hand, she wouldn’t be able to get Lota out, who became the changeling, but as long as she ripped apart the Wyrm’s rose then she would be pushed out of here since she still wasn’t adjusted to this place.
In the end, Lydia had to take the dangerous step of getting near the Wyrm, but if that would save everyone, even the stolen baby then that means it was worth for her to brave that danger.
P. 189
Lota was still continuing to explain to the Wyrm.
“Wasn’t your bride the Grand princess of Cremona? I’m saying that I’m her. So, that means you’ll have to forget about Betty.”
There was a silent moment, and then the Wyrm said Alright.
(Come.)
The two large eyes blinked two, three times and backed away from the hole in the wall. At that same time, the Wyrm swayed its body again, and the rumble of the ground started again.
Lota quickly turned her head to the stone house and nodded to Lydia as if make sure of her and walked off towards the direction of the Wyrm’s rumbling.
“Hey, she’s going to go.”
“Yes, but for now, let’s go along with her plan.”
“Are you intending on abandoning Lota? I never won’t!”
“I know, I won’t abandon her. But I first need to get you out of here. Since I can’t do two at a time.”
“Are you saying that I should trust you? More than that, who are you in the first place. Lota’s friend? No, that’s impossible, no matter how I look at you, you’re a girl from a decent family.”
“Ummm, I’m….”
P. 190
“Lydia is a fairy doctor. Because she’s a specialist in fairies, you came all this way in order to rescue you, you know.”
Kelpie had appeared.
“Well, I didn’t find Lota but instead this one.”
As Kelpie said that tiresomely, he leaned up against the doorframe. From behind him, Pino came inside the house.
“Pino, how on earth did you come here…..”
“To tell you the truth, I had one of my men follow after Lota and you. Since he said that you gals entered into a crack in the rocks in a small boat, and since I finished up everything over there, I got worried and came myself. Although I lost my way when I was inside the hole.”
So what was happening with the mayor was taken care of. And Edgar? Lydia nearly was going to ask that, but she fought it back.
Because that would seem like she was worried about him.
When Pino turned his neck towards Betty, he slowly walked over towards her.
“I wanted to see you. I’ve been so worried.”
Betty had her head down and remained silent.
“Let’s go back to America. We can go see the grave of the old captain and I can give him the report of the marriage.”
“Marriage? Who is?”
P. 191
“You and I.”
“Huh? Becoming a pirate’s wife is something I…”
“You don’t want to be a pirate’s wife?”
“…..It’s not like I don’t want to be.”
“Then it’s decided.”
Pino made a smile as best as he awkwardly could.
“Decided, so, that’s it? I haven’t heard the most important part.”
“What important part?”
“Of course, like how you feel.”
“Hey, Lydia, isn’t there no time for something like this?”
Kelpie butted in, and Lydia came to her senses as she was seriously watching over how the sudden proposal was proceeding.
“Y-you’re right. The two of you can discuss that in depth later. Pino, then I’ll ask you to take care of Betty. If the two of you look for the exit then it’s sure to work. Hey, Betty, since the Wyrm’s magic doesn’t work on Pino, you have to believe that he is your lifeline and follow him. Pino, you must strongly wish in your head that you will absolutely get Betty back. You must not get lost or let go of each other’s hands. If your wish wins against the magic, then your wishes will be granted. That’s the rule in the fairy realm.”
P. 192
Betty stared hard at Lydia and nodded.
“Lota, she’ll get out too, won’t she.”
“Of course. Make sure to hold her hand in your heart. That will become the strength to bring her back.”
As she heard Kelpie throw out the question if that kind of proposal was what she wanted, Lydia watched the two of them head out as they held each other’s hands.
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