Solo Swordmaster

#Side Story 4. Bluebird in Pursuit of Happiness (3)

* * *

“Thank you for your hard work.”

A gentle smile.

Soft eyes.

Even a gentle voice.

As if seeing a hero who led a long war to victory.

No, rather, the pure hospitality, like a mother welcoming her child who has returned home, naturally warms the heart.

“Is it rude to say ‘hard work’ to the saviors who prevented the destruction of the world?”

“Is that possible?”

“I told you before, but you don’t need to use the honorifics towards me.”

That was why Limon shook his head politely.

I don’t know if it’s someone else.

The person who welcomed him was the Fairy Queen.

Because he was one of the very few beings in this world who could treat Limon like a child and deserve to be respected by him.

However, the Fairy Queen looked rather disappointed at Limon’s polite attitude.

“It would be a pity if you didn’t give me a review… Cough!”

Fighting.

It was that moment.

The Fairy Queen bowed her head.

Red drops of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth along with a deep cough.

And unfortunately.

That was just the beginning.

“Cloak cologne!”

Coughing that gets increasingly stronger.

The blood pouring out continuously.

When the repeated hemoptysis dyes the Fairy Queen’s pink lips and thin dress red.

Sreuk.

One touch.

Supported her body.

It doesn’t seem like I did anything in particular.

Just by touching it, it delivers warmth deep into the body and relieves pain.

The Fairy Queen, who finally stopped coughing, smiled faintly.

“You looked such a shame.”

“…I heard the story, but you’re in more trouble than I thought.”

“Hehe. “I ended up being a bit cunning.”

Limon’s face hardened.

Just by looking at the drops of blood flowing from the corner of the mouth, it is clear that the pain is still severe.

As if it was nothing.

Or as if they were already used to it.

The image of the Fairy Queen smiling brightly.

And the sight of tree roots and tubes writhing around her white skin showed how serious her condition was.

It was something that could not be helped.

Although it is not as fierce as Limon, the fight of those who remain to protect the world is just as fierce.

In particular, El Dorado, the core of Nine Worlds and humanity’s last refuge, suffered from fierce attacks from the beginning to the end.

In order to protect El Dorado, the Fairy Queen had to endure hardships repeatedly.

… Not only has he lost his eternal lifespan, but he has now been reduced to a state where it would not be surprising if he died immediately if he did not rely on El Dorado’s life support system.

“There’s no need to look at me like that. “I have no regrets at all.”

“….”

“To be honest, I’m rather happy.”

However, like a chained prisoner, he is barely able to survive by being tied to vines and tubes.

The Fairy Queen is not sad.

I didn’t even feel sorry.

I just spoke with a very comfortable smile on my face.

“I… no, we can finally let go of the burden we have been carrying our whole lives.”

Weeeeing.

That moment.

A change occurred on the bridge of El Dorado.

The wall surrounding the wide lake began to open and go down, as if it were being dismantled one by one.

And after a while, all the walls on all sides disappeared, and what appeared instead were numerous eye lights.

No, it wasn’t eye light.

sensor.

screen.

Headlights, etc.

It was a number of organs similar in shape to the eyes.

And what are the many strange and ordinary objects, large and small, angular and round, watching them from all directions?

They were recognizable at a glance.

―Ancient spirit.

A long time ago.

When Alfheim falls.

Get on the Eldorado and escape from there.

They were the first spirits to come to humanity and persevere even after the destruction of the fairy race.

Afterwards, they went through the war with the dragon and the Spirit Rebellion, and even the current fight with the Constellations, and are now almost completely annihilated.

Now, only a handful of the last machine life forms were left, all gathered here.

At their center.

The Fairy Queen stood up.

slowly.

Hard work.

Tied to the roots.

Even with the strength to move.

She slowly got up from the throne, placed both hands on her belly button, and bowed extremely politely.

“thank you. “Swordsmith.”

“….”

“Thanks to you, we were able to fulfill our long-cherished wish and finally create a world where we don’t have to be afraid of the stars.”

This moment.

She wasn’t the only one who lowered her head.

Numerous ancient spirits on the bridge.

No, all the spirits in the world stopped what they were doing and paid respects in the direction of El Dorado.

As if praising their achievements in defeating the constellations and praising their achievements.

“It is not enough to repay you, but from now on, I promise that all spirits will become your first friends and tools for you and your descendants from generation to generation.”

It’s a blessing.

No matter how long time passes.

Whether the bloodlines of later generations are mixed or diluted.

It was the fairy’s blessing, unprecedented in history, that descendants with even a single drop of their blood would be loved and respected by all spirits.

“No, on the contrary, I am grateful.”

And to that fairy queen.

Limon bowed politely and spoke.

“Because of your dedication, I and humanity were able to endure until now and ultimately win.”

It was no exaggeration.

If the spirits had not brought civilization to mankind and provided countless assistance.

And if we had not protected them by sacrificing everything until the end, humanity would not have been able to avoid destruction.

“Hehe… Just saying that makes me happy.”

Is it because I could feel the sincerity contained in those words?

She smiled and gently looked away, as if she was satisfied with just having her efforts recognized.

“Including the fact that Bluebird inherited my wings.”

A half-human, half-bird woman watched their conversation with a more complex expression than Limon.

It was only after receiving the Fairy Queen’s gaze that Yuna-kyung flinched and opened her mouth after a long hesitation.

“…Fairy sister. “Actually, I have something to apologize for.”

“Are you saying you’re apologizing?”

“yes. After a long time, my sister even gave me wings… but now I have become a star fairy, not a fairy of harmony.”

It seems like he has no shame.

Yuna-kyung lowered her head.

The last wish of the Fairy Queen and the spirits is to bring prosperity to the Fairy Tribe of Harmony, which was destroyed by the Constellations.

In some ways, it was a more important goal than defeating the constellations.

Yuna-kyung, who had already become a star fairy by absorbing the power of the star, was no longer able to make the fairies of harmony prosper no matter how hard she tried.

“In that sense, fairy sister. “My wings… don’t you plan on getting them back?”

so that.

Yuna-kyung suggested cautiously.

Now that she has become a star fairy, the only remaining fairy race of harmony is the Fairy Queen.

And the reason she became so weak was largely due to the fact that she lost half of her wings during the fight with the Constellations, which was more than unreasonable.

Even now, if he gets his wings back, it is quite possible to regain immortality and overcome the crisis of death.

But…

“You know, Bluebird. “That’s impossible.”

“….”

“Because if I get my wings back, you won’t be able to hold on.”

Yuna-kyung was silent.

Because she knew.

No matter how much Limon helped her, in the end, Yuna-kyung, who was only mortal, was able to obtain and control the power of the transcendent star through the wings she received from the Fairy Queen.

This was possible thanks to the legacy imbued with all the power of the fairy race inherited from the fairy king.

The fact that if you return those wings, you will no longer be able to withstand the power of the stars.

That’s why I look at Yuna-kyung who is silent.

The Fairy Queen spoke calmly.

“More than anything, I knew that I would become like this ever since I inherited my wings from Bluebird.”

“You knew… you were there?”

“Because this is my destiny.”

The Fairies of Harmony are a race that was extinct long ago.

Even the Fairy Queen was originally just an ordinary human.

Thanks to inheriting the fairy king’s wings, he was reborn as a fairy, but that was an act against fate in the first place.

From the time I passed on half of my wings.

Her doom was certain.

It’s just that the fight with the constellations made the ending a little quicker.

“So you don’t have to worry. “This is a predetermined ending.”

“….”

“Can I ask you one last favor instead?”

Grinning.

With a smile on your face.

The Fairy Queen said.

Block the constellations.

Protect the world and humanity.

To make the fairies prosper.

As much as all those long-cherished wishes… no, in some ways, another wish he had longed for even more earnestly.

“Would you please officially become my heir and adoptive daughter?”

That moment.

Yuna-kyung opened her eyes wide.

He looked at her with an expression that doubted his ears and asked blankly.

“…Adoptive daughter? “Am I the fairy sister’s?”

“Yes, I’ve been wanting to hear it for a really long time.”

“….”

“I mean mom.”

“Ah…”

Before the Golden Age even began.

I was born in an era when giving birth to many children and raising them well was a woman’s virtue and happiness.

Make a contract with the ancient spirit.

After becoming a fairy.

Although he may have contributed to humanity for a long and distant time and received much praise, he was unable to produce a single descendant.

In the words of a woman who lived surrounded by kind but warm spirits and soulless dolls.

Yuna-kyung opened her mouth after a short silence.

“It’s as much as you like, Fairy Sister… No.”

From when I was a newborn.

Abandoned in front of the orphanage.

With a strict but kind director.

Living among siblings who are like family.

But that’s why, after hesitation, she said the title that she had never been able to say in her life.

“…mom.”

“Your daughter.”

Is it because of the unfamiliarity and embarrassment of a word I have never uttered in my life?

With a slightly red face.

Yuna-kyung is embarrassed.

On the contrary, the Fairy Queen, who was looking at her with an extremely bright and happy smile, spoke quietly only after a long time.

“Then it’s time.”

“When…?”

“It’s time to pass on my wings to my daughter.”

That moment.

Yuna-kyung stiffened.

Because I knew very well what the Fairy Queen meant.

“Now wait a minute! Then, the fairy sister, or rather the mother…!”

“I will die.”

“…!”

“But you don’t have to take it to heart. “My work is already done and this is my destiny.”

He has lived too long to have regrets about life.

If only one of the two can survive, myself or Yuna-kyung, who shares the wings of the Fairy King, then it is decided who should live.

I stayed silent for a long time as I looked at the Fairy Queen, who spoke with a smile even though she had a pale face.

He cooed.

Yuna-kyung bit her lip.

And suddenly I turned my head and saw Limon, who had a complicated expression on his face.

“Do you remember team leader? “As a reward for your hard work over the past 20 years, you have decided to grant me two favors.”

“Of course I remember.”

“Then can I do that second request now?”

“It doesn’t matter, but… what are you asking for?”

Limon asked seriously.

While the Fairy Queen was puzzled.

The moment when Na-kyung Yu clenched her fists and shouted as if she was preparing for something.

“While you’re taking me as your bride, fairy sister…no, please accept mom as your team leader’s bride too!!!”

“….”

“……?”

“……yes?????”

The Fairy Queen’s eyes became dots.