Chapter 939: Isn't This Little Eggplant?
On the endless plains, there was a vast field of golden, plump wheat ears. Fairies and humans were working together to harvest the wheat.
"Whew..."
A female fairy wiped the sweat from her forehead and returned to the edge of the field to take a sip of water that had been mysteriously chilled.
"What's that?"
As she gazed contentedly at the fields, she spotted a cloaked figure approaching from a distance.
"Hey, you over there, are you an outsider?"
She warmly approached the figure, kindly looking out for them.
"Were you driven out of the strict southern cities too? Did you come north to seek refuge in Sheffield? I understand your thoughts! This is a city where fairies and humans cooperate to create a better life. Coming to Sheffield is definitely the right choice!"
The cloaked figure stopped and looked at the female fairy.
Whoa, what a big bear!
Literally speaking, this female fairy likely belonged to the Fang Clan, so she had a more animal-like appearance. She resembled an upright-walking brown bear, clearly possessing immense strength!
"Cut it out, Kurma! You only work for ten minutes before resting for half an hour. How can you be so lazy? Look at your husband—he's been working for three hours straight without complaining once. Can't you be as diligent as him?"
"That's right, Kurma is just a lazy bear!"
Playful teasing came from the nearby fields.
"Hey, watch out or I'll punch you!"
Kurma raised her massive fist, threatening them in embarrassed anger.
The fairies from other clans laughed and scattered out of sight.
Eiji surveyed the wheat field.
There were Fang Clan fairies like Kurma, Wind Clan fairies who looked identical to humans but had moth-like wings, and Earth Clan fairies who gave off a sturdy, dwarf-like impression.
This might be difficult to distinguish, but if you imagine it in terms of fantasy novels from another world, it becomes much clearer.
Fang Clan fairies are beast-people, Wind Clan fairies are elves, and Earth Clan fairies are dwarves.
These are the three main clans of fairies in the Fairy Kingdom.
Actually, there are six clans in total within the Fairy Kingdom, but little is heard about the King Clan, Mirror Clan, and Wing Clan, and Eiji didn't know much about them.
In this wheat field outside Sheffield, fairies from various clans harmoniously joked around and harvested the wheat ears together.
Even the Wind and Earth Clan fairies, who were known to not get along well, were chatting and laughing, creating a peaceful scene.
Not only that, but humans were also among them, mostly working diligently with their heads down.
"Is that your husband?"
Eiji looked toward the nearby field. Like the others, the human man had been working continuously, completely ignoring that his wife was talking to a stranger.
"That's right, isn't he strong?"
Kurma placed her hands on her hips, wearing a proud smile.
"He's weak."
Eiji could tell at a glance that the man was forcing himself to work. He was panting heavily but refused to stop, as if driven by some unusual motivation—like a monster was chasing him from behind.
"Is that so?"
Kurma scratched her head in confusion, revealing a simple-minded smile.
"You're his wife, yet you don't know how weak he's become?"
Oh, not necessarily.
Perhaps she's the one who drained him dry?
"Let's not talk about such unpleasant matters. You're human, aren't you? From the southern cities?"
Kurma looked Eiji up and down with excitement.
"That's right, can you tell?"
"Humans are very special partners for fairies! Human emotions are the source of fairy vitality. Just by having humans nearby, a fairy's happiness increases dramatically. That's how we can distinguish humans from fairies!"
Kurma explained with a smile, but then her expression turned serious as she asked.
"Do you know how Norwich is doing now?"
"I heard it's trapped in the Great Calamity."
"Yes, the biggest topic in the Fairy Kingdom right now should be the Great Calamity in Norwich. Who knows when it will erupt? The lord of Norwich, that Earth Clan leader Spriggan - I wonder if he can withstand the Great Calamity. It's really worrying!"
Kurma seemed quite talkative. Eiji remained silent, quietly listening to her complaints.
The Great Calamity in Norwich was the biggest topic in the Fairy Kingdom?
Why hadn't he sensed that atmosphere at all when he was in the royal capital Camelot?
The fairies in the royal capital had even held a three-day celebration to welcome him, with such a festive atmosphere that not a single fairy mentioned Norwich.
Eiji had only just heard about the thousand-year Great Calamity happening in Norwich from Baobhan Sith.
"And we still have to pay the Existence Tax to the Queen - half every year! That proportion is just too large. The Queen's harsh rule has made many fairies unable to bear it!"
"Existence Tax?"
Eiji suddenly perked up his ears upon hearing this noteworthy term.
"What's that?"
"You don't even know about this?"
Kurma stared at him blankly, her gaze as if looking at some country bumpkin who crawled out of the mountains.
"The Existence Tax is this."
Though puzzled, her eyes grew increasingly kind as she helpfully raised her hand.
On the back of her hand, Eiji saw a crimson pattern.
"This is called a Command Spell, carved on us by the Queen. Every fairy has this appear from birth. Through this Command Spell, the Queen takes half of our life force every year as our Existence Tax!"
"If it were ten or twenty percent, it would be manageable, but taking half at once - who can bear that! We lower-class fairies live in fear every year, afraid we'll be drained dry and die from insufficient life force next year!"
"I truly hope the lord of Sheffield can soon overthrow the Queen's evil rule!"
So that's the kind of rule the Queen implements?
Eiji's mind gradually became more active.
It does suit the name of Witch.
If that's the case, it also aligns better with Eiji's interests.
His goal of overthrowing the Fairy Kingdom would become much easier!
Kurma repeatedly invited Eiji to visit her home, but Eiji politely declined.
He planned to observe this city called Sheffield a bit more, to see what kind of rule its lord actually implemented.
After passing through the wheat fields, Eiji arrived at the main gate of Sheffield.
"What magnificent city walls. So this is Sheffield. The lord here must be a good person, right?"
"Oh, does Anis have a strong connection with good city walls? But that doesn't necessarily mean the lord is a good person - Bogart is famously heartless!"
Just as Eiji was about to pass through the main gate, he caught sight of a figure both unfamiliar and familiar.
The girl called Anis was gazing in awe at Sheffield's magnificent walls.
She wore sleek iron armor, carried a cross-shaped shield over one shoulder, and had silver-pink short hair that covered one eye. With her delicate features and curvaceous figure, she looked every bit the beautiful girl.
Eiji: "???"
Isn't that Little Eggplant!