Chapter 988: Forgive, Forgive!
After the Summer War ended in 2000 BC, the Fairy Kingdom began vigorously promoting human culture. For a time, products of human culture became trends pursued by fairies.
However, the imitation of human society only began after the Common Era.
That is, after the Queen ascended to the throne.
According to Bagea's account, the Queen periodically introduces items from Pan-Human History into the Fairy Kingdom under the guise of "Kamikakushi" (spiriting away), without anyone noticing. These items are then referred to as "Drifters"!
It was only after this that the concept of human society emerged in the Fairy Kingdom.
All of this was the Queen's effort to improve the civilization of the Fairy Kingdom!
These "Drifters" possessed by the Queen are undoubtedly highly sought-after commodities among the major clans of the Fairy Kingdom!
For example, the now-popular kerosene lamp was not invented by the humans here. Instead, it was introduced by the Queen from Pan-Human History and became a trend after mass production.
And if it's "Kamikakushi," it wouldn't be surprising if one or two humans were caught up in it, right?
Eiji speculated that Sprinklegan was most likely a human from Pan-Human History who got caught up in "Kamikakushi"!
The reason for this assumption is that the humans in this Lostbelt, whether due to technical reasons or something else, have a maximum lifespan of only thirty years!
This is the fundamental reason why there are no middle-aged or elderly people in the human farms!
As a human, Sprinklegan has already lived for 148 years, which is vastly different from the lifespan of humans in this Lostbelt. Eiji believes this speculation is about 80% likely!
If he were a human from Pan-Human History, or even a magus, then living this long would be entirely natural!
"Truly remarkable! To think that Your Highness nearly uncovered my entire background after just one meeting!"
A bright smile spread across Sprinklegan's face.
He couldn't help but clap his hands.
"Your Highness has only been in this Fairy Kingdom for about ten days, yet you've grasped the situation to this extent. I am truly impressed. Ah, is this the ease of the strong? If I had been as strong as Your Highness back then, I wouldn't have ended up so miserable..."
"How so?"
"Well, think about it. I was brought to this world alone and disoriented by Her Majesty."
Sprinklegan shrugged, a cold smile curling on his lips.
"I was a lone human!"
Eiji fell silent for a moment.
So that's how it was.
Lone humans were either confined to human farms, sold into slavery, or disposed of.
Given that he was still alive, it was likely one of the first two options.
"At this point, I no longer wish to recall the story of that reckless boy named Nakamura who smuggled himself into Britain. After arriving in this Lostbelt, because I was a lone human, even though I was cautious enough, I was still captured by slave traders and turned into a slave. It wasn't until I was nearing the thirty-year limit that my master discarded me..."
Sprinklegan curled his lips, his expression filled with inexplicable scorn.
The fairies believed humans only lived to thirty.
Seeing his time was almost up, after more than a decade of slavery, he was unhesitatingly abandoned by his master.
This became the turning point in the fate of the slave named Nakamura.
After being abandoned by his fairy master, he came to Norwich. Using knowledge from Pan-Human History, he quickly became close with the honest and straightforward Earth Clan chief, Spriggan. The two became inseparable friends, even founding a company called Spriggan & Caprice Ltd., designing trends that swept across all of Britain and establishing themselves as magnates in the British business world!
And then?
Spriggan died.
Nakamura usurped his name and rose to power.
"We're both humans from Pan-Human History. In this world, only we two are companions!" Spriggan's face was brimming with enthusiastic smiles.
"By the way, would you like to stay in my Norwich for a while? Although it can't compare to Gloucester, it's still very prosperous, and the atmosphere is quite similar to cities in Pan-Human History. You'll definitely enjoy it!" His eyes were full of familiarity.
Being a stranger alone in a foreign land, he never expected to encounter a fellow countryman—it was truly hard to hold back emotions.
"Pass. I'm not interested in a city about to be ravaged by the Great Calamity," Eiji curled his lips and stood up, preparing to leave.
"I'd rather go check out Gloucester!"
"You have a point. Let's talk about it after the Queen deals with the Great Calamity," Spriggan came back to his senses and sighed regretfully.
"In that case, let me give you a piece of advice!"
"Be careful of Woodwose. That guy has been secretly in love with the Queen for a thousand years. He holds a grudge against both you and Beryl. Given any opportunity, he will surely make a move against you!"
"Don't be fooled by his age—his strength is far greater than you'd imagine!"
After leaving these words, Spriggan departed by carriage.
Eiji did not take his offer for a ride.
He didn't like this Spriggan—no, this man who should be called Nakamura.
Although he had revealed his origins completely, he had concealed even more critical matters!
How did the previous Spriggan die?
What about the second generation? Why didn't they appear?
Why did this guy pretend to be Spriggan's second generation?
And how did he manage to impersonate a fairy?
Actually, Eiji could guess the answers.
The answers weren't hard to figure out.
After Nakamura became close with Spriggan, he somehow murdered Spriggan, then altered his appearance to resemble him, pretending to be the second generation to rise to power, seizing control of the clan leadership, lordship, and company entirely!
As for how he avoided detection by the fairies—having been in this fairy kingdom for so many years, he must have found a way.
Moreover, during the clan chiefs' meeting in the council chamber earlier, this guy only talked about property and money, showing no concern for the citizens whatsoever.
As Woodwose put it, he was obsessed with money!
Eiji could never like such a person.
The reason he invited Eiji to Norwich was likely because he valued Eiji's strength and status, planning to use him for protection.
And what about the so-called advice?
That Woodwose liked Morgan and was incredibly strong—who needed him to say that?
Back in the council chamber, when Eiji stomped his foot, sending a shockwave into Woodwose's body only for it to vanish without a trace, Eiji had already realized how terrifying Woodwose's strength was.
"However, I will definitely go to Norwich!"
Watching Spriggan's carriage disappear into the distant road, Eiji's figure also faded away.
...
"How dare you run away?"
In the dimly lit basement, a pungent smell of blood filled the air.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaah—!!!"
The female elf gripped her knife, slowly dismembering the human slave's left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, and third leg.
As the agonizing screams echoed in her ears, a blissful smile spread across the female elf's face.
Soon, the screams gradually faded. The human slave, bleeding profusely, quickly breathed his last.
"Phew, the time for pleasure is always so fleeting... I need to fetch a few new slaves from the human farm!"
The female elf turned her head, glancing at the seven or eight corpses scattered on the floor.
Without exception, each corpse had its five limbs severed, every one of them having died in utter terror and despair.
"It's time for prayer."
The dusky sky darkened, replaced by a star-studded night.
The female elf knelt in the pool of blood, offering her prayers with a devout expression.
"Forgive us, forgive us."
"The prayer is over, close your eyes."
"Joyful times never last long. The night has fallen, extinguish the lights as well."
"The day is ending, bid it farewell. Today has ended too, ended forever."
"Forgive us, forgive us. Forgive our sins!"
"After all, it's already too late for everything, but at least we must handle the aftermath properly!"