Chapter 76: Gluagaho
A deep forest bathed in warm sunlight.
A woman with golden hair flowing down to the earth’s end sat against a tree stump, her eyes closed, as if savoring the spirit of nature.
The deep green dress that wrapped around her body flowed down like a fountain of life.
“……”
After a moment, she picked up the blue harp resting on her knees and adjusted her posture.
Tii-ring♪
A sweet melody soon followed. The clear sound of the harp rode the breeze and flew far away.
The mountain birds ceased their chirping, and the nearby wild animals gathered, listening intently to the performance.
“……Come to think of it, I never finished the story.”
The woman, who had been skillfully dancing her fingers over the harp strings, suddenly lifted her eyelids gently.
Then, she shifted her gaze toward someone — a visitor who had come to see her.
“A story must always be given a proper ending. Could you spare a moment of your time?”
Her vivid green eyes curved gracefully in a welcoming expression.
“My old friend.”
Step, step.
The footsteps of the one approaching from afar halted nearby.
“Of course. As you please.”
The visitor who had come to see the woman was none other than Elwin.
“It is my honor to be invited like this. I can wait as long as needed.”
“Oh my! How grateful I am.”
Elwin, polite like a dashing gentleman, seated himself on a nearby stump.
“Then, before we converse, let me first conclude the story…”
The woman closed her eyes again and resumed playing the harp. Slowly, she began to speak, almost singing.
It was a tale devoid of an opening or middle.
Among the four parts that form the framework of a story — beginning, development, turn, and conclusion — it lacked the beginning, development, and turn, making it a sloppy piece.
To summarize:
A girl, foolish and young, ran away from her hometown. She was chased by wicked hunters but fell in love with a man who saved her.
However, she had to return to her hometown, so with tears, they parted ways. — A story as common as any you’d find in the marketplace.
Had a critic been present, they would have unleashed harsh reviews with a venomous tongue.
“I see. It’s quite a sorrowful story.”
But Elwin nodded in sympathy, as if he already knew the entire course of events.
Indeed, he knew the whole story behind it, and thus, he could empathize more deeply.
“When I returned to my hometown, I knew we would never meet again. So I left him — and our child — a token.”
“Would that be the ‘Fairystone Ring’ that Nonohen and Aajen Clover carried, the heirloom passed down through generations of the Clover Trade Company? The one said to bring good fortune to its bearer?”
“……”
The woman showed a strange expression for a moment before smiling brightly.
“As expected, you knew.”
Her story was not some fictional novel, nor a legend, nor a fairytale rumor.
It was simply the truth, almost like an autobiography.
The fairy whom Mort Clover, the founder of the Clover Trade Company, had once helped — She was right here in front of Elwin!
The only omitted detail in the known folklore was that Mort Clover’s wife had in fact been that fairy.
Thus, the descendants of the Clover family bore traces — however faint — of fairy blood.
The woman was a distant ancestor of Aajen Clover.
“Apologies for making you wait so long.”
Though the fairy blood had faded greatly by modern times… Aajen Clover was an exception, born with the strongest inheritance of it.
His unique, natural sense of smell likely awakened because of that dormant fairy blood resurfacing through a latent genetic trait.
“So then, my old friend, for what reason have you sought me out today?”
The woman spoke warmly. Her name was...
─Gluagaho.
Within 「LAMPAS」, she was the fairy of fortune, skilled in shapeshifting.
Compared to the many fairies hostile to humans, she was a human-friendly NPC.
Moreover, she had a peculiar trait unlike other fairies —
She would give trials to those she favored, and if they passed, she would bestow them with great fortune.
‘If things went as expected, she probably appeared before Aajen Clover disguised as a humble old man to test him.’
She would have tested whether his good deeds were genuine or not. But this time, she could not use the same method against Elwin.
‘I already know exactly what kind of trials Gluagaho gives and what her true purpose is.’
Would a proctor reuse a question for a test-taker who already knew both the intent and the solution?
‘Gluagaho must already be aware of that, too…’
She was a pure fairy — beings who possessed mysterious powers different from magic.
“Gluagaho. I came to obtain something from you.”
“Oh my. And what might that be?”
Elwin did not even attempt to hide the deadly gleam in his eyes as he asked.
“How do you kill a fairy?”
“……Ah?”
“The only method to kill a fairy — ‘that.’ You have it, don’t you?”
Gluagaho looked blank for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh.
“And you’re asking me, of all people. How mischievous you are.”
“There’s no one else who could give it to me but a fairy like you.”
The method to kill a fairy could only be known — and obtained — from another fairy.
Elwin knew that well.
─Fairy.
Fairies and spirits were often confused because of their similar sounds, but they were completely different beings.
Spirits were born from nature itself and governed phenomena and material domains.
Fairies, on the other hand, symbolized immaterial realms — the spiritual and the mental.
Thus, fairies had outstanding insight into the world and could pierce through the hearts of people.
Gluagaho asked:
“But why should I teach a person who wishes to kill one of my own? Who knows if you might turn on us and commit massacre?”
It was a valid objection.
Although Gluagaho had shown favor toward Elwin from the start, she had no obligation to grant his request.
She could not simply hand over a sword to a human who might use it to slaughter her kin.
“Are you really one to talk, Gluagaho? You’re quite mischievous yourself… or should I say, fairy-like.”
However, Elwin scoffed lightly and continued.
“You already know, don’t you? There’s only one fairy I intend to kill.”
“……”
Gluagaho closed her mouth tightly.
Again — fairies were a species with excellent insight.
She must already know Elwin’s objective and his reason for coming.
‘Especially Gluagaho. She’s among the wisest and most intelligent of fairies.’
Each fairy born from the ‘World Tree,’ said to be rooted somewhere in the world, was gifted with unique abilities matching their race’s nature.
Abilities to craft illusions, bestow luck, observe the world with farsight, and so on.
Among these, two abilities were considered particularly powerful.
First, the ability to manipulate the souls of all things.
Second, the ability to glimpse and foretell the future.
Gluagaho belonged to the latter — a fairy who could perform ‘prophecies.’
Meaning she held a special position even among fairies.
‘Enough authority to decide what happens to an item that can kill fellow fairies.’
Elwin’s shadowed eyes gleamed sharply.
“I must kill ‘that woman.’”
“……”
“Will you cooperate? It’s not such a bad offer for you either. I’ll erase a disgrace to your race for you.”
Maintaining an expressionless face, Gluagaho stayed silent for a while, then slowly nodded.
“……Very well, my old friend. Your purpose aligns with the consensus of our people. I shall grant you what you seek.”
With a snap of her fingers, she opened a dimensional pocket and retrieved something from within.
A chilling, dreadful energy — the aura of death — spread outward.
Wobble, wobble!
It was a round sphere resembling a Mana Orb at first glance.
Fluorescent green, melancholy blue, blood-red, pitch-black darkness—
A blend of grotesque colors radiating ominous, polluting energy, so potent that prolonged exposure would taint one’s mind.
Fwoosh, fwoosh-!
It moved dynamically, almost as if it were a living being with intelligence, dancing joyously.
It seemed to celebrate its escape from isolation and its meeting with a new master.
‘That’s the soul poison that kills fairies…!’
Elwin’s eyes gleamed sharply.
Just as he reached out to receive it, Gluagaho sternly stopped him.
“One condition. Swear that the only fairy you’ll kill with this… is that child.”
“I swear it upon LAMPAS.”
Placing a hand solemnly on his heart, Elwin swore.
Gluagaho smiled sadly and handed it over.
‘Please send them away without prolonged pain,’ she added.
Elwin did not answer.
“Take this as well.”
Gluagaho handed him the beautiful harp she had been playing.
“A fairy’s harp? Why…”
When Elwin looked at her questioningly, she said,
“You’ll need it someday.”
“…I see. Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
Without further hesitation, Elwin bowed silently and turned away. There was nothing left to do here.
However, after just a few steps, he stopped and spoke.
“Gluagaho. There’s one last thing I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it, my old friend?”
“…Why do you call me ‘old friend’?”
It had puzzled him from the start.
He and Gluagaho had no prior connection.
They were not remotely close enough to warrant such a term.
He had simply prioritized resolving his task first, setting his curiosity aside.
“Did you know about me? …How much do you know?”
Elwin swallowed dryly.
Had she perhaps discerned that he, Elwin Krieger, was a reincarnator?
But Gluagaho, whether she knew or not, simply responded with a bright smile.
“You’ll find out eventually. Old friend who has returned from afar.”
At that moment, a gust of wind blew in from somewhere.
It was strong enough to sting the eyes but carried a floral fragrance.
“Your destiny has already climbed onto the wheel.”
The fairy, Gluagaho, left behind those cryptic words and vanished.
Just like a midday mirage when she first appeared.
“…Fairies.”
Elwin frowned at the enigmatic words.
“Well, no point in worrying about it now… If it’s meant to be known later, I’ll wait.”
Shaking off the unease, Elwin strode toward the collapsing exit of the fading illusion.
Toward his companions who were desperately searching for him in reality.
***
The next day, a great uproar shook the Batevil Kingdom.
It was due to the flood of breaking news pouring out from everywhere.
The headlines were as follows:
[Breaking News!) The Clover Trade Company’s heir, ‘Aajen Clover’, personally discovers the legendary flower, the Red Clover…!]