Chapter 1000: Eiji: Let Me Take a Look!
The petite fairy lay on the roof tiles, her eyes vacant as she stared at the bright golden full moon in the sky.
Tonight's moon was exceptionally round, casting a dreamlike, illusory veil over the earth in its hazy glow.
Habetrot rested her head on her arms. Though her gaze was fixed on the moon, her thoughts had wandered far away.
"What are you lying here for?"
Eiji had just returned to the mansion when he spotted Habetrot lying there idly. With a light tap of his toes, he floated up to the rooftop.
"Nothing much."
Habetrot's expression remained as calm as ever.
"I should be asking you—why are you bothering me for no reason?"
"The way you say that... Aren't we friends?"
Eiji's eyes shifted slyly as he grinned and moved closer.
"Whenever you use that tone, it means you're being the most insincere!"
Habetrot looked at him with disdain.
"I've seen right through you! Just say what you want!"
"Fine, I'll be direct. Can I take a look at that loom of yours?"
Eiji pointed to the loom beside her.
That loom was always by her side, inseparable from her—it must hold extraordinary significance.
After all, Cernunnos had helped make it. She probably saw it as the last memento of her companion.
"Oh? Could it be that you're looking for a bride too?"
Habetrot's eyes instantly lit up, and she teased him playfully.
"You know my goal is to create beautiful brides and dresses, right? Saying that to me—you must have a bride in mind, don't you? Who is it? Who is it? Tell me! It's the Queen, isn't it!"
"Just let me see it first."
"Hmm? That feels a bit suspicious..."
Habetrot reined in her excitement, feeling increasingly doubtful.
After a moment's thought, she still handed the loom over.
Eiji took the loom and, without another word, opened the drawer underneath and reached inside.
"Stop! What are you doing!"
Habetrot was instantly alarmed, leaping up to grab his arm.
"Looking for something!"
"You're looking for my diary, aren't you! You're definitely looking for my diary! This is an invasion of privacy! I'm not giving it to you anymore!"
In a flash, the loom vanished.
Eiji stared at his empty hands and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
As expected of a mystic code made by the Savior Cernunnos—it really had some tricks up its sleeve!
"Be good and let me take a look!"
Eiji bared his teeth in a menacing grin as he looked at Habetrot.
"No!"
Habetrot assumed a fighting stance, firmly rejecting Eiji's request.
"What are you hiding?"
Seeing her refusal to budge, Eiji sighed helplessly and sat back down on the tiles.
"I'm not hiding anything."
Only when Habetrot saw that he had given up on forcing the issue did she relax, stubbornly insisting.
"Anyway, it's just something you'll all find out sooner or later."
Her explanation was vague, almost as if she was brushing Eiji off.
And she had used this excuse many times before.
Having lost all interest, Eiji didn't press further.
The two of them sat there quietly for a while, neither speaking to the other.
"In this world... can you really find the bride of your dreams?"
After a long silence, Eiji suddenly spoke up again.
He seemed to be seeking something as he asked Habenyan.
"It can be found!"
Habenyan gave him a strange look and replied matter-of-factly.
"So far, I've sent off six hundred and fifty-three brides, all wearing wedding dresses I made, all personally sent off by me!"
"How long did it take you?"
"I've been searching ever since Londinium was destroyed, roughly two thousand four hundred years."
"Only found over six hundred?"
"...That's about right."
Habenyan paused for a moment.
"Only six hundred and fifty-three brides have satisfied me."
The concept of marriage emerged long ago, but until now, Habenyan had only witnessed just over six hundred weddings that met her standards.
"That's so few."
Eiji murmured to himself.
"...Indeed."
Habenyan seemed to have thought of something too, letting out a bitter laugh.
It really was too few.
In this Britain, were there so few people qualified to obtain happiness, to be saved?
Was he troubled by something?
Habenyan glanced sideways at Eiji.
Not a trace of hesitation could be seen in him. He must be someone who would resolutely press forward no matter what difficulties or dangers he faced.
Even if confronted with a dilemma, he would firmly and persistently carry out his chosen path.
But he was by no means an unfeeling person.
Precisely because of this, he was bound to be troubled by something.
"By the way, let me tell you a secret!"
Habenyan suddenly thought of something.
She laughed heartily and patted Eiji's shoulder.
"You know what? Actually, Mash is second on my 'Most Anticipated to See Her Get Married' ranking!"
"What are you trying to say?"
Eiji looked at her, completely baffled.
"That is to say, there's someone I absolutely want to see in a wedding dress no matter what!"
Habenyan said mysteriously.
"Who?"
Eiji asked.
"Haha, well, you'll have to figure that out yourself!"
Habenyan laughed loudly.
She pulled out her loom from who knows where behind her, spread her wings, and glided down like a glider, happily returning to her own house.
"What's there to figure out!"
Eiji rolled his eyes and lay down on the roof tiles.
"Absolutely want to see in a wedding dress... If Mash is only second place, then first place is obvious without even thinking!"
...
The next morning.
After waking up, everyone keenly sensed that the magical energy flowing in the air had grown even stronger, like a passing typhoon. The entire Norwich was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere.
"The vortex speed of the rain clouds has clearly increased several times over!"
In the living room, Pepe met everyone with a look of alarm.
"The accumulation speed of the 'gray' has also accelerated dramatically, completely different from the past two days!"
"What exactly is happening?"
Gudao's expression turned unusually grave.
But she didn't lose her composure. They had weathered crises like this countless times before. Remaining calm was the most important prerequisite for overcoming the crisis!
"I don't know."
Pepe's expression wasn't much better either.
"..."
Artoria's expression was particularly grim, as pale as if someone had died.
"How has Camelot responded?"
Tristan asked with some concern.
"I'll answer," Oberon stepped forward, relaying the situation to him.
The Queen remained seated on her jade throne, showing no intention of moving - it seemed she had completely decided to leave them to their fate!
He appeared capable of riding supersonic flying insects in his miniature form, constantly traveling back and forth across Britain, serving as the group's intelligence officer.
After a pause, he added:
"The high-ranking fairies continue singing and dancing merrily, showing no signs of sending troops to Norwich - not even the slightest concern!"
Tristan sighed, his expression turning deeply troubled.
Eiji opened his mouth.
He wanted to say something.
But the words froze on his lips.
Ultimately, they sank back into his heart.