“Hey, you know, Lily has things to do too!”
Lily said in an adorably innocent manner, but then added,
“Excuse me, could you please pass a message to President Percival? If you remember the name Lily from the Fairy Forest, I would love to meet her.”
Standing at the reception desk on the first floor of the main school building, Lily appeared young, but her manner of speaking was entirely that of an adult.
Her round emerald eyes seemed to harbor an intelligent, almost shrewd light.
“Could you please wait a moment?”
After receiving that response, about a minute later,
“The President would like to meet you. I will guide you to the President’s office on the top floor.”
The young female clerk, who had previously looked at the child with warmth, now showed signs of tension as she began to lead Lily.
(Just as expected from a long-lived Dark Elf; it had been nearly thirty years, yet she remembers so well.)
Lily recalled, albeit vaguely, her encounter with Sophia Sirius Percival, the President of the Royal Spada Academy.
Twenty-eight years ago.
In the midnight Fairy Forest, a bloodied Dark Elf girl was crouching alone at the base of a tree.
Hanging from her slender neck was a silver guild card indicating her status as a Rank 3 adventurer.
Inscribed on it were only her name, with no last name, Sophia, her class as a Mage, and the minimum amount of required information.
“Ugh… this is a bit of a predicament…”
Sophia’s appearance as she murmured in pain was weak.
Her silvery long hair was disheveled, her glossy brown skin was caked with blood and grime, and her pure white robe was torn, burned, and frayed, no longer serving its purpose as armor.
The delicate, fragile girl, with an aura of transience, had her radiant beauty diminished by the blood and mud she was submerged in.
Anyone glancing at her filthy form might think she was a powerless, pitiful beauty who had been attacked by a monster or a thief in the forest.
But Sophia was neither powerless nor pitiful; it would take just a slight shift of gaze to understand the power she concealed, even without knowing that she was a Rank 3 adventurer.
Around Sophia stood numerous ice statues.
They varied in species, being humans or beastmen, all uniformly armed, appearing much like a group of adventurers—indeed, they were adventurers.
(I should not have fought alone.)
While gazing breathlessly at the standing ice statues, she held onto such regret.
But by the time one feels regret, it often becomes something irretrievable.
Just a moment ago, Sophia had single-handedly annihilated a group of adventurers who had formed a party with the intent of targeting the great magical tool said to be located in the Fairy Garden’s holy site, the Fountain of Light.
It was a publicly known rule in western Daedalus that the Fountain of Light was off-limits, and the Adventurer Guilds in each village made announcements to that effect.
However, she did not act based on a sense of justice to stop her fellow adventurers from engaging in illegal acts resembling those of thieves out of a sense of risk to her life.
(Was the reason just that I disliked them too much?)
Sophia and the adventurers who had turned into frozen corpses had only crossed paths once the previous night at the Adventurer Guild in the nearby village of Ilz, in the dining hall.
And that one encounter had involved this group throwing contemptuous remarks towards Sophia and, by extension, the Dark Elf race itself.
While they were in the Adventurer Guild, Sophia had pretended to remain calm and avoided confrontation, backing down at that moment.
(Still, it’s true that I couldn’t shake off the need to deal one blow.)
The result was the complete eradication of the group.
Such outcomes were common in disputes among hot-blooded adventurers.
(Hmph, how pathetic, pretty boy.)
Amidst the blurred vision starting to fade, Sophia glanced at the corpse of the strongest enemy among them, a Rank 4 elf youth who harbored the deepest grudge against her, and let out a dark laugh.
The face that had previously been handsome like that of an elf was now smashed and frozen beyond recognition.
(Ah, I feel so drowsy. If I lose consciousness now, it’s likely I’ll never awaken again.)
Her drooping eyelids felt unbearably heavy.
Relying on her survival instinct, she desperately attempted to maintain her consciousness, but that too was a mere fleeting resistance considering her present state.
(In the end, it seems this is all I amount to… a silly way to die, but how adventurous it is.)
As she began to adopt such a positively negative mindset and accept a peaceful death, at that moment,
“Are you okay?”
A small, sparkly figure like a shining child stood before her.
(What is this, is this what a divine messenger looks like when it comes to escort the dead? I never thought they actually existed.)
Now, what kind of face does this being have? With the last of her strength, she opened her nearly closed eyelids just enough to see.
There was a beautiful and charming face of a young girl with platinum blonde hair and emerald green eyes, radiating a literal brilliance.
And then, fast forward to the present, twenty-eight years later, the two were reunited in the President’s office at the Royal Spada Academy.
Had Lily not noticed the President’s name in the materials distributed during the recent school briefing, this reunion would have never happened.
“After that incident, I started to exercise a bit of restraint, thanks to which I’m still alive today.”
“Restraint? The heroic exploits of a Rank 5 adventurer known as the ‘Goddess of Blizzards’ have reached even here in this backwoods of Daedalus.”
“Please stop, it was fine during my active years, but hearing those titles after retirement is just too humiliating.”
With that elegant smile, the beautiful Dark Elf bore almost no resemblance to the girl who had once recklessly come close to death. Yet, Lily recognized immediately that this was indeed the adventurer who had saved her life so long ago.
“That said, you haven’t changed a bit. As expected of a fairy.”
Lily compared her own lightweight and small body, which barely sank into the black leather sofa she was sitting in, to Sophia’s thoroughly mature form as a woman, acutely aware of the flow of time and the difference in their races.
Even if elves age significantly more slowly than humans, they cannot compete with fairies, who have no concept of aging; even Lily, being half-human and half-magic, seemed to be impossibly distant from that youthful vitality.
However, whether that was a good or a bad thing was a separate matter. When she looked down at her chest, Lily saw a vast plain akin to a horizon, while Sophia’s presence loomed like a towering mountain range.
If Chrono had heard any rumors about being fond of large breasts, regardless of their accuracy, Lily would have likely glared at the dazzlingly smooth brown skin before her with a gaze akin to that of confronting a hellish scene.
“Oh, I only knew the child version of you, but you’re not surprised at my current self?”
Lily could now revert her consciousness to its original state only very recently.
Those who had known her until now would have seen her act with the same youthful demeanor and dress in a way befitting a fairy.
Her current appearance, dressed in the school uniform and fluently speaking words, was indeed a clear change.
“The red gem in your pocket is very beautiful.”
Lily’s “Red Crystal Ball” was usually hidden away so as not to be seen, and it was still the same now.
However, it seemed that Sophia’s sharp blue eyes could clearly see the manifestation of this enormous magical power contained within the great magical tool.
“As expected from a Rank 5 adventurer; I can’t measure up.”
She might even have a clear idea of where this great magical tool was obtained from.
“Former adventurer; as you know, I serve now as the President of this academy. I don’t take it too seriously, though.
However, as your lifesaver, I believe I can offer you quite a bit within the school.”
Yet, she seemed to have no intention of pursuing that matter further.
Lily thought that mentioning something awkward might lead to a possibility of a fight, but knowing that the person who had saved her life was capable of wise judgment, she felt relieved.
“Now then, what do you desire?”
“I’ve already received my thanks back then, but heh, Dark Elves are quite dutiful, thank you.
However, I really just came here to say hello today.”
Lily felt that she could build a good relationship with her.
After all, despite having known the previous Lily, her attitude was not dismissive even though she was a child; it was wise yet cautious.
“Hmm, if you have any issues with your student life, feel free to let me know.
If you want, I can arrange at least one dormitory or laboratory for you. Oh, there’s even a yearly free pass for the student cafeteria.”
In response to those words, which were said half-jokingly,
“You should probably skip the cafeteria pass; it would be a huge loss for your school.”
Lily answered seriously.
“Do you eat that much?”
“I have a party member who’s an unbelievable glutton; if we don’t charge them, they’d keep eating indefinitely.”
Sophia chuckled at Lily’s serious answer, as if recognizing it as a clever fairy joke.
Even if the Royal Spada Academy’s cafeteria ended up in unprecedented deficit, Lily planned to feign ignorance.
“Oh, but being arranged in a dorm is appreciated; I was just about to stop staying at an inn and look for a place to rent.”
That was the truth.
Adventurers spend more time on quests than they do staying at inns; especially flowing adventurers, it makes sense to use inns rather than to rent a room for the long term.
However, since attending the academy means relatively less time on quests, one is bound to settle in Spada until graduation or voluntary withdrawal.
In that case, renting an apartment would be more economical in the long run than staying in an inn.
“Alright, if you have a particular wish, don’t hesitate to mention it. By the way, is the matter with the laboratory alright?”
“I know the meaning of having a laboratory as a student, so I cannot accept that kind of help.”
Her true feeling was not wanting to create any unnecessary debts rather than just wanting to be indebted to someone.
“What a noble mindset. I’d love to let the useless scions of noble families hear such a statement.”
“That’s nothing special. If I submit a recipe for Fairy’s, I could easily obtain a lab or two.”
“Well, you can’t submit that right now, can you? I’m not asking for just a lab, I will pay for whatever reward you desire.”
“Hehe, I’m not planning to do that just yet.”
Lily already knew, or rather, from the very start should be said, what immense value her Fairy’s would hold.
And Sophia had also experienced the effects of that potion firsthand, twenty-eight years ago.
“I see, that’s a pity. If you ever feel like it, let me know at any time.
Now regarding the dormitory.”
Sophia chose to change the subject rather than pursue it further.
“Yes, I already have a hope, if that’s alright?”
“Anywhere except the dormitory reserved for executive candidates is fine.”
“I’d like to be placed in the rundown house used solely by Simon Friedrich Bardiel.”
Of course, that was not Lily’s desire; rather, she thought it would make Chrono happy.
Previously, by purchasing information from a shop called Fairy Tail, Lily had become informed about Simon and his home, the Bardiel family.
Even though Simon was the adopted child and the youngest welcomed by the head of the house, the fact that he had his name listed among the four great noble families of Spada remained unchanged.
In short, getting close could lead to powerful connections.
As an additional reason, having Chrono, who knew about the technologies of another world, and Simon, who had the talent to realize them, in the same place would surely expedite research and development.
“No, you should avoid that; that place is—”
“Oh, how rare to see a legendary adventurer like you get flustered.”
The moment Lily interrupted Sophia’s seemingly plausible denial, an abrupt tension filled the room.
“I knew fairies possessed telepathy as a unique magic, but I never expected it to be like this.”
“I am special; however, unless I grasped a certain level of circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to be so sure.”
The icy, crystalline blue of Sophia’s eyes and the sparkling emerald green of Lily’s intersected.
Should a helpless ordinary person witness this standoff, they might have knelt under the indescribable pressure, or perhaps, a knight would have instinctively placed their hand on the hilt of their sword due to the palpable signs of impending battle.
The reason things had escalated to such a dangerously tense atmosphere could be entirely attributed to Lily’s actions.
Among the information acquired from Fairy Tail was also something indicative of the relationship between Sophia and Simon, such as the suggestion to become an adventurer to earn tuition fees by taking a leave of absence.
Though none of it was conclusive information, it prompted Lily to make an instinctive assumption.
And that assumption had just been confirmed in this very moment.
Sophia’s heart was encased in a fort-like mental barrier akin to frozen tundra, yet a slight, observable emotion had undeniably emerged from beneath its surface.
Lily perceived a peculiar feeling akin to a flower blooming in a snowy field—”jealousy.”
“Though you are my lifesaver, I cannot allow you to have him—Simon.”
Thus, Sophia bared her true feelings openly, hiding nothing from Lily, knowing the fairy could read her mind.
She likely knew that Lily was one of the adventurers who miraculously survived Daedalus, just like Simon.
And in a fleeting instant, she must have imagined the bond between a man and a woman who had jointly traversed a treacherous emergency quest.
“I won’t give him up, not for anyone.”
Until this point, Sophia’s heart had remained unshaken, resembling a tranquil iceberg, but now it erupted with the intensity of a blazing inferno.
Lily felt the heated emotions almost scorching her spirit and responded with a graceful smile.
“Hehe, don’t worry. I have someone I love elsewhere; fairies are devoted in love—we don’t have a second heart.”
“…Is that true?”
“Fairies do not lie.”
She might already know that it was a falsehood, yet it seemed, for now, she trusted the undeniable fact that Lily did not harbor romantic feelings for Simon.
“It seems I’ve made an embarrassing misunderstanding; I apologize.”
“That’s fine; a lovesick maiden should be like that.”
Whether to call the 32-year-old Lily and the undoubtedly older Sophia ‘maidens’ is questionable.
However, there was no one present to point that out, and only those prepared to battle against the odds would dare to do so.
“But honestly, I’m surprised; I didn’t think you were that serious.”
“Is it really strange…? There’s a twenty-plus year age gap, and we also belong to different races.”
While there wasn’t any overt competition at present, underlying animosities often lingered between certain races.
Elves and Dark Elves were one typical example; generally speaking, they weren’t considered a welcomed couple.
The age difference aside, differing perceptions could characterize common issues across all races.
“No, there’s nothing strange about it! Age? Race? Nonsense; those are not reasons to hinder love!”
Yet, Lily proclaimed without a hint of hesitation.
Having perfectly backed up her words, Lily felt no dishonesty in what she said; yet on the flip side,
(I’m truly surprised; I never thought she would be this naïve…)
Given her appearance, history, and age, one would expect her to be quite experienced with men, but upon witnessing a color of love akin to that of a girl’s first love rising within Sophia, Lily was taken aback.
“Ah, is that so? Hehe, nothing is out of place; Simon and I are a splendid couple.”
She swallowed the words that were on her lips, nearly stating ‘not to that extent.’
Sophia’s cool beauty turned slightly flushed, and her lips, which radiated an alluring charm, were caught twisting in an awkward manner.
Though there was no need to hide one’s budding romantic feelings, she couldn’t help but think about how very easy it was to read her emotions.
Yet perhaps it was precisely because of that pure and lovely heart that Lily’s fairy instincts were triggered.
She couldn’t help but be curious about how that frail, scrawny Simon had captured the heart of Sophia, known as the ‘Goddess of Blizzards.’
“At that rate, you likely haven’t had anyone to talk to about this before.”
“If I’m someone you can talk to, how about seeking advice on romance from me?”
Twenty-eight years ago, Lily was still just four years old, a true young girl.