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EPISODE 344 – THE LAST FAIRIES (1)
“Will we ever meet again?”
“We will meet again.”
“Again, just like now…”
“We will. Definitely.”
***
The night after the meeting.
Lying with their stomachs on the ground while beside each other, Jude and Cordelia looked down at the big map.
“These are the locations of the fairies we have met so far… The Water Fairies, the last ones, are highly likely to be here.”
Jude marked the locations of the fairies one by one on the map.
The Fall Fairies and Winter Fairies they met in the north.
The Wild Fairies they met in the wild lands.
The Summer Fairies they met in the royal capital, and the Spring Fairies in the Forest of Eternity by the south.
“The Breeze Fairies and the Fire Fairies.”
They met Elune’s friends, the Breeze Fairies, in the Shadow Forest.
They encountered the Fire Fairies near Gallus’ Tomb.
Seven out of eight.
All that was left now were the last fairies, the Water Fairies.
As if retracing their journey so far, Jude marked the places where they met the fairies one by one on the map before moving his hand for the last time.
Towards a place he calculated by combining the knowledge of Legend of Heroes 2 and the information he had heard from the fairies they had met.
“The eastern part of the empire.”
“Because it’s a place we haven’t been to before.”
The eastern part of the empire was now occupied by the chancellor’s army and the demon followers from the eastern countries.
Fortunately, the valley where the Water Fairies were supposed to be was located within the area secured by the Guardians of the Holy Cross and the kingdom’s army.
“It’s deep in the forest in the first place, so no one will care.”
“The last fairies…”
With her hands propping up her chin, Cordelia muttered and looked back at the northern part of the kingdom where they first met the fairies.
It had been less than two years ago, which felt like a short time.
But she had a really strange feeling.
She felt like it was something that had happened a long time ago yet also felt like it was something that happened yesterday.
She did not know if it was because she remembered a lot of memories from her past lives or if memories were originally like that.
“I never imagined that you would sing Little Star there.”
When Jude said and grinned, Cordelia lightly blushed and pouted.
“Tsk, do you remember what Cordelia sang in Legend of Heroes 2 then? People who remember it are weird.”
Legend of Heroes 2 portrayed the story of Pleiades almost completely, but it was not perfect.
There were small differences in details.
Like Cordelia’s song that Cordelia herself did not know.
“Do you remember that time? The time we acted in a play?”
“Yes, I remember that.”
The story of the Archmage and the Fairy Queen which they performed enthusiastically in front of the Winter Fairies.
They could do it now naturally because they had done ‘it’ a lot, but it was awkward back then.
“Why are laughing so much?”
“No, it’s just…”
He remembered the fairies who were telling them to kiss.
Jude snickered and then pointed to the place where they met the Wild Fairies.
“It reminds me of this place too.”
“Where we got some interesting items?”
“That too, but don’t you remember what you said after defeating the monster?”
“Huh?”
When Cordelia tilted her head, Jude clicked his tongue and lightly flicked Cordelia’s forehead.
“You told them that since there was no bridge anymore, there wouldn’t be any monsters that would block the bridge. My goodness. I really thought you were a demon. I still remember the Fairy Queen’s expression.”
Her face that was completely pale.
As Jude continued to snicker, Cordelia puffed up her cheeks and spanked Jude’s butt.
“I hate you, I hate you!”
“You’re so cute.”
Jude snickered again with his chin propped up by his hands and pointed to the royal capital.
“It was fun there too.”
“Are you talking about the night pool?”
“Yes, the night pool.”
“But Jude.”
“Yes?”
“So who did you go with there?”
In your past life.
Not in Pleiades but on Earth.
Who’s that b*tch – no, who did you go with?
Cordelia asked with a smile, and Jude unconsciously flinched before replying.
“N-No. It was just work. I just went with my colleagues for work. It was a security mission, okay?”
“Just work?”
“Yes, just work.”
As Jude laughed ‘hahaha,’ Cordelia said with a smile on her lips.
“That’s strange? At that time, you said you only heard about it, that you had never been there?”
She was clearly smiling, but her eyes were not smiling.
Jude could feel the sweat going down his back.
“I-Is that so? Ah, that’s right. I see. I guess my memory was a little wrong back then. That’s right. My memories only became clearer when I remembered the memories of my past lives.”
“Oh… I see. This world’s Jude must have remembered it wrong. He remembered stuff about the soil but could not remember whether he went to the night pool or not. I see. That’s possible.”
Jude swallowed hard and quickly moved his fingers. Although he kept trembling, he somehow managed to point to the Forest of Eternity.
“Wow! Didn’t my princess do a great job here?”
In the midst of battle, she summoned at once the Spring Fairies that no other elves could do, getting the things she wanted in a fast way.
“You threatened them through chocolate. Moreover, that creative intimidation method. This amateur could not help but admire you.”
“You’re like a middle-aged man who’s trembling yet playing innocent.”
“Ugh.”
Jude did not expect to be struck in his sore spot, but he responded with a calm expression.
“No, I was still in my 20s then…”
It was in the very last of the latter half of his 20s though.
But at Jude’s excuse, Cordelia snorted and said coldly.
“When my cousin went to the military, everyone called him a middle-aged man.”
Jude had nothing to say at her perfect reasoning.
T/N: Middle-aged man here is called ‘ahjussi’ in Korean. It’s what younger Koreans call (1) older males who are of the same generation as their parents, (2) males in their late 20s, or (3) their own uncles. Jude is offended because he prefers being an ‘oppa’, a term used by females to call older males within their generation.
He was defeated, and Cordelia giggled before pinching Jude’s cheek.
“Well, aren’t we the same age now?”
They had experienced the past many times.
While Cordelia giggled, Jude stared at her with a firm look and said.
“I’ll punish you later.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll properly punish you later.”
At Jude’s declaration of war (?), Cordelia awkwardly smiled and pointed to the empire as if trying to change the topic.
“The Breeze Fairies were nice too. They were very pure.”
“Because we’ve already gotten used to the fairies’ behavior.”
They did not know how to deal with them at first, so they were exhausted every time they met the fairies, but not now.
“Aren’t the Fire Fairies a little strange?”
“They weren’t like fairies at all.”
In addition, there was the Fire Fairy Queen’s words.
Perhaps she remembered some of her past lives’ memories even before she met Jude and Cordelia.
“Haa… there’s really only one left now. Somehow, I can’t believe it.”
Cordelia said as her cheek touched the map, and Jude also nodded.
Their memories of destruction had been repeated many times.
Even Jude who remembered the most could not fully remember it all.
He only had some fragmented memories.
Anyway, they would meet the last Fairy Queen and complete the Fairy King’s Protection.
Together with everyone, they would head towards the final battlefield.
This time, they would achieve a perfect happy ending.
Jude turned to Cordelia.
He thought as he unknowingly caressed her cheek.
After they leave the Red Gate tomorrow morning, they could not stop anymore.
No one could predict how their plan would proceed.
So today was the last time.
“It’s not the last time.”
Cordelia said.
She gently held Jude’s hand on her cheek and said it again.
“It will continue in the future. It will not be the last. We will make sure of that.”
Jude nodded. He kissed Cordelia’s forehead and cheek before naturally pushing her at her side to make her lie down on her back.
“I love you, Cordelia.”
“I love you too.”
She was shy and embarrassed no matter how many times she said it.
Her heart was always pounding.
So Jude laughed. He lightly held Cordelia’s waist and mischievously whispered.
“Now is time for your punishment.”
“You’re really like a middle-aged– Kyaa?!”
Jude lightly bit Cordelia’s ear and did not stop.
As he had promised, Cordelia was punished.
***
The next morning.
Cordelia who hardly slept glanced at Jude with a cold expression, and Jude said with a smirk.
“Wasn’t it good though?”
Cordelia kicked Jude’s butt instead of answering, and Jude snickered again before looking at the desk.
A love letter that was even sealed inside a pretty envelope.
It now felt wrong to not leave it whenever they went somewhere.
“Can I see what’s written inside?”
“N-No way. I don’t want to show you.”
Cordelia firmly spoke and snorted before wearing her cloak and grabbing Moonlight.
“Stop fussing around and let’s go. I’ll punish you if you use your ability to see through things, okay?”
At Cordelia’s sharp remark, Jude who was about to open the fifth door had a sly smile and said.
“Well, will you show it to me someday?”
“I’ll think about it.”
The Cordelia snorting in the end was really like her. Therefore, Jude happily hugged her waist and immediately carried her in his arms.
“Shall we go now?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Jude plainly replied at her plain words.
He kissed Cordelia’s forehead before stepping out the window.
A black gale crossed the empire.
Melissa silently watched them and spoke in an exasperated voice.
[By the way. I’m always thinking about it, but why aren’t you riding the Phantom Steed? It’s not like you can’t ride it in daytime.]
[You already know the answer, don’t you?]
Valencia said so and clicked her tongue, but her face was smiling.
***
Jude and Cordelia’s journey went smoothly.
They did not rush too much because they had planned to meet with Landius and Lucas anyway.
They ran during the day and rested at night.
The third night since their departure.
Upon arriving at the valley, Jude and Cordelia hurriedly took off their clothes.
They had nothing to be embarrassed of because they were already wearing inside the swimwear from the royal capital.
The season was early autumn.
Therefore, the night air was quite chilly, but it did not bother Jude and Cordelia at all since they were covered with various protections.
In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were immune to it.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Nothing, I just like your abs.”
When Cordelia said as she licked her lips, Jude laughed and placed his hand on Cordelia’s stomach.
“I like it too.”
“Hmph.”
Cordelia hmphed like usual but did not shake off Jude’s hand. Rather, she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the valley.
There were two moons in the sky and the silent water. There was also the sound of grasshoppers the wind carried.
Jude and Cordelia slowly dipped their toes into the water. They hugged each other and sang the usual song.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star.”
“Shining beautifully.”
They sang one verse each.
And right after that, Jude and Cordelia both stretched out their hands and caught those who were flying.
Swoosh!
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
The Water Fairies caught by the hands of Jude and Cordelia then blinked their big eyes, and the two proceeded to the next step.
They shoved a piece of chocolate into the mouths of the captured fairies.
“Aah, aaaah?”
“Amazing!”
As expected, the Fire Fairies were strange.
Jude and Cordelia conversed with their eyes and looked back at the fairies who became obsessed with the chocolate and the fairies who gathered one by one in their curiosity.
They said with dark smiles to the lambs who had already been ensnared by the devil.
“Let’s go play this night.”
With your queen.
The smiles of Jude and Cordelia were so attractive that the fairies who were immersed in the magic of chocolate did not refuse it.
At the valley in early autumn, around a dozen or so days left before the archangel’s descent.
Jude and Cordelia met the last Fairy Queen.