I asked in the calmest voice possible.

[Dash] If you’re a fairy?

[Dash] …A fairy.

The black vines chuckled with a disappointed voice.

[Dash] Is this my fate, ending up like this now?

A meaningful phrase returned as if there was a story behind it.

‘This is very important information related to fairies.’

Getting information about fairies was not easy. Despite my efforts, I could only obtain information equivalent to tapestries from the Royam Kingdom.

‘I need to make good use of this opportunity.’

The black vines were still attacking Carlos and the knights. However, the voice returning to me had no hostility.

[Dash] How about stopping saying things that no one can understand?

[Dash] You don’t understand the words. That’s true. Now, you are the only fairy left.

[Dash] Are you a fairy by any chance?

The black vines snatched Carlos’s sword and swung it. A nearby knight seemed to be fighting to protect me.

[Dash] …….

At the end of the silence, the returning voice carried a peculiar melancholy.

[Dash] Once, I was a fairy. Now, it would be ridiculous to call myself a fairy.

Anyway, in the past, it was indeed a fairy.

[Dash] You are a fairy.

[Dash] That’s an old story. Can’t you see what I look like now?

I scrutinized the appearance of the black vines. The black vines confronting the knights were growing fiercely, gradually overwhelming their strength.

[Dash] A truly grotesque monster. A being that can only move according to orders, having lost its body against its will.

Clearly, the black vines were nothing more than plants.

‘But why?’

The more I conversed with the black vines, the more it seemed like I could see his appearance across the black vines on the other side.

A face of despair and resignation, a figure where tears had dried up, seemed to be visible.

Was it because he was a fairy?

I felt sorry for him.

[Dash] What exactly happened?

[Dash] Oh, you don’t know anything about fairies? Perhaps, I’ve kept my sanity all this time just to meet you, the last fairy.

The black vines spoke with a perplexed voice.

[Dash] In this world, there are no more fairies. They have all gone extinct. The only hope left is that you exist.

The black vines hesitated for a moment as if it wasn’t an easy story. Then, it continued.

[Dash] All this happened because of the one who wanted to completely exterminate fairies.

[Dash] Who is that?

[Dash] We don’t know either. We only know that the existence of a fairy who shed divine blood at the beginning of all this became a problem.

In an instant, one of the black vines sharpened like steel and shot towards me, as if it was about to pierce me.

Clang!

“It’s dangerous, madam!”

The knight who was fighting against it managed to block the black vine with his sword. However, the sword that collided with the black vine shattered. The knight, wearing a frustrated expression, drew a dagger.
[Dash] I’m sorry. This is not something I can do willingly.

My senses snapped back. No matter how important information about fairies is, it’s not more important than my life.

[Dash] If that’s the case, is there no way to stop you now?

[Dash] Right now, I’m nothing more than a demon under the control of darkness. Only a stronger force can completely eliminate me.

[Dash] So, a way to eliminate you right away…

At that moment, the black vines flying towards me were engulfed in blue flames. And the blue flames swallowed even the magic circle.

Kieeek!

The black vines screamed. Blue sparks spread in the air like pollen. The sparks attached to other black vines, spreading the flames.

In that instant, only one person came to mind.

The man I had just called desperately by name. The man who seemed determined not to leave me alone even if I died.

As if proving that, the sound of a knight from outside, who was trying to deal with the black vines to protect me, reached my ears.

“Viscount Blancchet has come! Just hold on a little longer! The Viscount will handle it with magic!”

“Deal with the wicked demon!”

Amidst the knights’ shouts, the figure of a man became clear. The handsome man walked straight toward me.

I met his crimson eyes.

“Took you long enough.”

A languid voice stabbed into my ears.

Just a moment ago, the black vines that were wreaking havoc as if they were going to kill the knights burned helplessly. The vines withered, dropping leaves, lifelessly dying.

Through the falling flames, Johann revealed himself. Dressed in a black suit, his neat appearance was exactly the Johann I knew.

“Johann. You’re too late.”

He walked toward me.

Although there were no other knights in sight, the fact that Johann came was enough to reassure me.

For some reason, my eyes became red, and my legs felt like they were losing strength. I pretended not to, but it seemed like I was quite tense.

“Why did it take you so long?”

“There was more to handle than I thought. I wanted to come right away when I received your message. But that demon was interfering with magic, making the location unclear.”

It seemed to take a bit longer, and it was probably because of those black vines.