170. Lily the Fairy

170. Lily the Fairy

I stood at the center of a cave complex, with various tunnels leading away from this chamber, although most of them were collapsed and were blocked by rubble. Before me was a Fairy Mound. It was the little Lair Lily lived in. The only way in was through the cracks on the mounds, each so small only a Fairy or a rat could fit through it.

“Those [Locust Vurats] won’t bother us here.”

Lily almost seemed to sigh as she turned to face me. Then she crossed her arms.

“So, you’ve come here to ask for my help.”

“Yep!”

I sat crossed-legged as Lily flitted down to meet my gaze.

“I knew that Belzu was no longer in the Brilsum Ruins since he came down and started attacking Human cities. Since it was safe, I decided I could safely seek you out.”

She nodded sagely. Then an annoyed look crossed her face.

“Let me guess, you’re going to ask me to help you defeat Belzu, aren’t you?”

“Nope!”

“Well, I’ll tell you it’s not going to happen. He’s extremely powerful and— wait, what did you just say?”

Lily stared at me as I shook my head.

“I said nope. I’m not going to ask for your help to deal with Belzu. In fact, I don’t even care about Belzu.”

“But you said he’s destroying cities and rampaging across the Human lands, is he not?”

“Yep. Poor Humans. I wonder how they’re going to deal with him?”

I tilted my head back, in thought. Lily inspected me, and I shrugged.

“But it doesn’t matter to me. I’m not a Human. I don’t care if a thousand Humans die, or a million. As long as my companions are safe.”

“Are they safe?”

Lily narrowed her eyes.

“Last time you came here, you were with a Human man. Where is he?”

“He’s doing his own thing. And so is Edithe. She’s my other companion— you don’t know here. Anyway, I already said my goodbyes to them, and I know they can take care of themselves.”

“What about others? Do you not have friends who you’re worried for?”

“I have a few. I was worried about them for a bit. But they are in Viechester, and Belzu didn’t stay in the Sunmere Republic for long. I waited for a few weeks just in case he decided to attack my friends, but so far, it doesn’t seem like they’ll be in danger anytime soon.”

“Where did he go?”

“He went straight to Nixa, besieging a few more towns and cities on the way. I think he doesn’t want to deal with the Rising Veterans Company yet, since, you know, they’re an Honorable Company and all.”

She placed a small hand on her chin. I cocked my head as she spoke.

“And you’re just fine with this? You don’t care that he’s killing all these Humans? That he could grow strong enough to conquer the Human lands?”

“Not really. Not unless he threatens my friends or my companions.”

“You… you’re quite simple, aren’t you?”

“I’m Salvos!”

Lily snorted as I waved a fist indignantly at her. Placing her hands on her hip, she flew up to the top of her Fairy Mound.

“So, tell me, Salvos, why did you come here? What could you possibly need from me, if not to help your Human friends?”

“To help me, of course!”

I stood up, grinning.

“As you told me last time, I went ahead and got a Class! It took me a while, but I can now cast space magic.”

I pointed to a nearby rock, and it vanished. It appeared a dozen feet to the left as Lily cocked her head.

“Ah, so this has to do with your request from last time.”

“Yep. I want you to teach me space magic, Lily. Please?”

I made sure to remember my manners. Edithe stressed that I maintained an air of respectability even when she wasn’t around— especially since she wasn’t around.

A thin smile spread over the Fairy’s face. She floated back down to me, hovering right before my face. Then she slapped me across the cheek.

“Ow— what was that for?”

“First of all, saying ‘please’ won’t change my mind.”

She slapped me again, and I glared at her.

“Secondly, reaching Level 100 in under a year from Level 50 is not ‘a while’.”

“Don’t hit me!”

I reached out to grab her before she could slap me again. But she swatted my hand away and flitted back.

“Now for your first lesson— try and catch me only using your Class.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“You heard me. I’ll be somewhere in these tunnels!”

A portal opened behind Lily and she zipped through it. It took me a moment to react. I raised my hand.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Wait—”

But she was gone.

“Huh.”

—–

“Lily? Lily!”

I called out the Fairy’s name, but she was nowhere to be found. I poked my head into one of the holes of the Fairy Mound, hearing a quick notification that I entered a Lair, before pulling back.

“Hm. So, she really wants me to catch her with my Skills. Alright then.”

My Subspecies’ Skills weren’t allowed. That meant I only had two Skills to work with.

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 1]

[Banish] – Lvl. 20

[Spatial Sight] – Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Secondary Skill Slot] x1

[Banish] was mostly useful for redirecting incoming attacks; it would hardly have any application here. That left only [Spatial Sight]. Surely Lily planned something for me to do with that Skill.

…