Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 52

I couldn’t believe it when I said it.

A fairy is a sacred being that could be considered the essence of nature.

In the midst of the city, and not just any city—a residential house. It was unbelievable.

In response to my words, the fairy began swirling around above my head, shaking its semi-transparent wings as if it were ecstatic.

<How did you know? That’s right! I’m Sugar, the fairy!>

I followed the trail of the fairy’s movement and closely examined it.

It was about the size of my fingertip.

Vivid green hair, sparkling like leaves in the sunlight.

A body that looked about five years old, with pointed ears not resembling those of humans.

On its back were three pairs of dragonfly-like wings, undoubtedly confirming its status as a fairy.

However, unlike what I saw in <Hirome>, it was dressed in a remarkably modern outfit.

“Hello, seeker. My name is Sugar! What’s your name, seeker?”

Seeker? Did it think we were playing hide-and-seek?

Though bewildered, the fairy seemed like a harmless being with no malice.

I replied sincerely.

“Belinda Blanche…….”

“My pleasure.”

While I was speaking, Pernadel called me.

He, who had never interrupted me before, made me turn to him in puzzlement.

In a lowered voice, he asked me.

“Who are you currently conversing with?”

I blinked and alternated my gaze between the fairy hovering in front of me and Pernadel.

“Can’t you see this, Sir Pernadel?”

Penadel shook his head.

“I cannot see it, but I sense its presence. However, it doesn’t seem to be a favorable being, so it would be best not to engage in conversation.”

Pernadel’s voice carried a faint sense of caution.

I couldn’t understand why a fairy wouldn’t be visible to Pernadel, but he seemed to judge it as an unfavorable presence since he couldn’t see it.

“I can clearly see the presence of the fairy, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“A fairy… is that so?”

Even though it was hidden behind the mask, I was sure that Pernadel’s eyebrows were furrowed in skepticism.

The existence of a fairy was like an imaginary being from a fairy tale.

Since I had encountered fairies in <Hirome> occasionally, I was aware of their existence, but from Pernadel’s perspective, my words might have sounded like I was losing my mind.

“Yes, here with white and translucent wings…”

I paused while trying to describe the symbol of a fairy.

The mischievous grin on Sugar’s face belonged to a fairy in every way.

Except for one thing.

“Why… are the wings pitch black?”

Except for the wings tainted as if covered in dirty slime, it looked just like a fairy.

***

In <Hirome>, fairies were elusive entities known to those who had played the game, yet their existence couldn’t be proven.

Unlike spirits, no matter how environmentally friendly they were, fairies couldn’t be seen or detected, and one needed extraordinary luck to encounter them due to the different dimensions of perception.

Even in the game, they were extremely rare and could only be encountered with a significantly low probability in the deep dungeons or dense forests. Once encountered, they were considered a grateful presence, providing a permanent boost to one of the protagonist’s stats through the ‘Fairy’s Blessing.’

‘But I’ve never seen a fairy with black wings before.’

The color was so ominous that it was hard to believe it belonged to a fairy.

I pondered all night, but a solution didn’t emerge.

Moreover, since Sugar was only visible to my eyes, although no one openly said anything, the looks they gave me were quite skeptical.

Terry asked me outright, “Master, are you under a lot of stress lately?” so I summoned Kao and gave him a light scalp massage.

“Ah! This crazy crow again!”

After plucking a handful of Terry’s hair, Kao proudly perched on my shoulder and rubbed his head against my cheek.

I stroked Kao’s neck and brazenly ordered.

“Anyone, bring me an explanation that I can accept.”

…..I hate to admit it, but sometimes, very sometimes, it’s easier because Belinda is a spoilt brat.

For example, everyone willingly followed her brazen requests, like this one.

The one who eventually brought an answer was Leo, who joined us belatedly.

“Could it be a fallen fairy?”

Leo, who had arrived before I had finished my morning routine and was wearing a nest on his head, carefully opened the storybook in his arms on the table.

Inside was an illustration of a fairy whose wings were darkened as if dipped in ink.

Leo, with his tiny hands, meticulously read each word in the fairy tale book.

“It says here, ‘I can no longer return to the fairy world. Crying, the fallen fairy said such words.'”

As everyone’s attention turned to the illustration in the fairy tale book, I clenched my hands tightly and trembled.

“Ratchet…….”

My voice was dreary even to my own ears as I tried to stifle my excitement.

However, I couldn’t contain this joy any longer.

Leo saw my expression and his shoulders twitched.

Feeling like I might have done something wrong, I quickly spoke up.

“You finally started reading books.”

Then, I carefully petted Leo’s head three times. The key was to pat him quickly before he felt any fear from my touch.

“Not bad.”

The compliment was brief, but inside, I felt the urge to lift him and give him a ride like an airplane.

Before Leo could sense any unease from my touch, I swiftly withdrew my hand.

The compliment might have been straightforward, but the way Leo quickly adjusted his head with his hand after my touch made his bright smile even more dazzling.

“Well, I studied hard. Hehe.”

I squinted to keep my eyes from rolling and unfurled my fan to cover my quivering lips.

What’s this? Is it okay to praise him while petting his head?

Does this mean we’ve become close enough for this level of physical contact with Leo?

Unable to trust myself to manage my expression, I quickly turned my head to the book Leo brought.

In the fairy tale book, the only hint available describes the fairy with darkened wings as a “fallen fairy.”

Beings who had become so close to the human world, or humans, that they had forgotten the fairy world.

Fallen fairies can communicate with those who meet the conditions set by the fairies and even form contractual relationships, but in return, they lose their divine nature, and their wings turn pitch black.

As some clues began to emerge, everyone started sharing their newfound knowledge.

“The sealing magic designed to confine the fairy was meant to be released when someone with certain qualifications touched it. In this case, it seems the Blanche family’s magical abilities were the conditions.”

Vivian’s comments after investigating the magic circle carved into the iron gate and…….

“The basement was a kind of doll’s house, very elaborately decorated. If there were fairies, as the master said, it was like all the furniture was custom-made to the size of a fairy.”

In addition to Terry’s information from her tour of the basement…….

“What do fairies look like?”

Cheshire interrupts Leo’s magic lesson. In addition to…….

<Sugar made a contract with Adi. Sugar is Adi’s one and only fairy!>

Sugar confidently declared with hands on her hips. Considering all these pieces of information, there seems to be one conclusion.

“There must have been someone among Belinda’s ancestors who could tame fairies.”

As a result, Sugar, who got too close to the human world, fell into corruption, and perhaps she couldn’t return to the fairy world even after her contract partner died.

The unknown part is why Adi, the person, confined Sugar underground. Considering that they made it so that a descendant with awakened abilities could release the seal, it seems like they didn’t intend to keep her confined forever.

Then, during the excitement of exploring the new surroundings, Sugar, who had been wandering around in excitement, flopped down on my shoulder like a wet cotton ball.

<War is breaking out in Sugar’s stomach. It’s rumbling>

Do fairies even eat?

When I asked what she wanted to eat, Sugar started explaining with twinkling eyes.

Sugar needs to eat that to use her powers!

“That?”

<You know, that thing. The one that sparkles in the sun!”>.

It was a rather vague description, but it did remind me of something.