Chapter 74
"Now then, we will be entering the 'Fairy Lantern Cave'."
The female guide explained in a calm tone.
After enjoying the ocean scenery for about an hour, they arrived at the main event location.
What stood before them was a rock face so tall they had to look up at it. A vertical cliff towered overhead.
Although it was a steep cliff, there was a cave about five times the width of the boat, with water flowing into it.
"Please take your seats now. We will be entering the cave."
The boat slowed down and began to enter the cave slowly.
The cave was wide and tall. It was deep enough for the tour boat to enter with ease.
The tour boat, with a light mounted at the front, proceeded slowly, little by little, into the cave.
As they went deeper into the cave, sunlight no longer reached them, and the surroundings grew darker.
"Oh...!"
However, there was no fear of the darkness.
Rather, what filled the space was awe and wonder.
The surrounding walls began to glow with a faint green light, and a soft fluorescence enveloped the boat.
"Amazing..."
"Beautiful..."
The passengers let out voices of admiration one after another.
The moss covering the walls emitted light, creating a fantastical scene inside the cave.
The light was primarily green, but occasionally flickered red and blue, painting the cave walls in complex colors.
"This is the 'Fairy Lantern Cave'. Moss with magical power grows naturally on the cave walls and emits light like this."
The guide began to speak in a quiet tone.
"It's unknown why the moss glows, but according to local folklore, this cave is a gathering place for sea fairies. It's said they hold secret feasts here, and the moss on the rocks lights up so the fairies won't be troubled by the dark."
"It's beautiful... Lord Clael..."
"Yeah, it's beautiful..."
He thought to himself that his vocabulary was lacking, but the scene was so beautiful that only such simple words came to mind.
"...Mm."
Suddenly, Reina's hand rested on Clael's.
It was a spontaneous action, not intentional—her hand had naturally reached out.
"............"
There was no need to forcefully pull away.
Clael kept his hand over Reina's, burning the fantastical scene into his memory.
As they proceeded deeper and deeper into the cave, the light grew stronger and more complex.
By the time they reached the center of the cave, which pierced through a massive rock formation, bands of seven-colored light appeared to slowly circle around the boat.
"Eh...?"
"What is that...?"
At that moment, murmurs arose from the passengers.
Ahead of the boat's path. There, the seven-colored glow was gathering, trying to take shape.
"An enemy!?"
"Tch... Even during a trip, huh!"
Eric and Vincent stood up and gripped the swords at their waists. Beside them, Will and Luy also looked alert.
'Do not be afraid... children of man.'
However, what emerged from the gathered light was a humanoid figure clad in silver-white garments.
With a beautiful face, flowing jade-green hair, and translucent insect-like wings on her back, she floated before the now motionless boat.
"A f-fairy...?"
"No, but... she's huge. Human-sized."
Her appearance closely resembled what would be called a 'fairy'... but while fairies are usually small enough to fit in one's palm, the woman before them was about the size of a human.
(She's here...!)
While the capture targets were shaken, only Clael understood the reason.
This was an event that also occurred in the game.
The woman who appeared was the Fairy Queen Titania. She literally ruled over the race called fairies.
Her purpose in appearing was to warn Reina.
It was to inform her of the impending monster attack on this beach.
(Titania warns us about the monsters trying to resurrect the evil god, and we prepare to fight them together with the capture characters... Could it be that the crown prince and the others are here for that reason?)
Perhaps this was the influence of the game's forced events.
The capture characters might have been drawn here by fate to gather and protect the people from the monster attack.
'You must be Saint Reina. My name is Titania... I am the queen who rules over the fairies.'
Titania spoke to Reina with a faint, ephemeral smile that seemed to melt into the air.
"Y-Yes... I'm Reina..."
"Saint?"
'Did she say Saint Reina?'
When Reina responded, murmurs rose from the other passengers.
Eric took the lead in calming them: "Quiet! Don't interrupt their conversation!"
'Saint Reina, I came here today to express my gratitude to you.'
"Gratitude?"
'Thank you for defeating the invaders... the kin of the ancient foreign god, and saving this land. Thanks to you, not only the humans but also our fellow fairies were saved. To the great Saint, we offer our utmost thanks.'
"Eh...?"
Clael looked toward Reina in surprise.
This conversation was different from the game. Originally, Titania was supposed to provide information about the enemy attack—not words of gratitude.
(The kin of the foreign god... they're probably those fish monsters, right? She defeated them? When?)
"No, it wasn't a big deal. I just had some time, so I took care of it quickly."
Reina answered nonchalantly.
Did she really defeat the monsters...? Even though she was always with Clael, when did she do it?
'As a token of our gratitude, please accept this.'
Two particles of light floated from Titania's hand.
As the light fell into Reina's palm, it transformed into rings.
"These are...?"
'These are rings imbued with the blessings of the fairies. They possess the power to dispel darkness and should aid you in the days to come.'
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
'Titania is fine, dear Saint.'
"Then, please call me Reina too. Titania."
'Yes... We shall meet again someday... Farewell, Reina.'
With those parting words, Titania vanished.
The two rings in Reina's palm were the event rewards obtained from the ocean event.
(If she got the rings... then did she really clear the event...?)
The purpose of coming to this beach had somehow already been fulfilled.
Clael, caught off guard by the unexpected development, slumped his shoulders in disbelief.