# Chapter 1: We Fairies Don't Ask for Help!
"You're saying that our dear Count Radcliffe has once again left his territory, gone off to who knows where?"
In the Mycroft World, within the Imperial Capital of the Northern Empire, in the Imperial Study of Morlai Palace, Israel lifted his head from a stack upon stack of documents. This dignified, imposing Emperor first blinked, studying his visitor for a good while, then continued in a tone of accustomed resignation: "How long has he been gone?"
As he spoke, Israel's right hand continued to approve memorials and various documents and requests, while his left hand held a rather large silver barbell of peculiar design, exercising it up and down. The Emperor's tone was calm and gentle, but the helplessness and displeasure in his voice were unmistakable to anyone.
"Ahem... Father, you know, the Moldavia Territory long ago ceased to require direct governance by its lord..."
Before the desk, the Empire's Second Prince, Di Mo Er, coughed lightly. His gaze dropped, and his face showed a look of shame. In response to Israel's inquiry, Di Mo Er spoke in a rather awkward tone: "So the territory operates as usual. If it weren't for Sixth Brother visiting and touring Winterfell Academy, we might not even know this news until now..."
"Alright, so the meaning is, no one knows where Lord Radcliffe has gone, no one knows when he'll return, and his territory has long since grown accustomed to this, so it operates normally even without its lord—he only just returned to the Mycroft Continent a few days ago! How did he run off again?!"
Israel sighed. He put down the pen in his right hand while his left continued exercising. Leaning back in his chair, the Emperor summarized the news about Joshua, but halfway through, he slapped his thigh in anger: "Nonsense! He's at least an Imperial noble; he should consider his own status! How can this man be like a wandering adventurer, unable to stay quietly in one place for even half a year?!"
"If some emergency arises, like a sudden invasion by Abyss Demons, and he's run off to who knows where, what then?"
—That wouldn't happen.
The Emperor grumbled gloomily here, but Di Mo Er stood to the side, silently recalling the voice of that black-haired warrior. He thought to himself: An Abyss Demon invasion? How could that man ever miss such a thing.
"Father, Count Radcliffe is, after all, a Legendary Expert. His usual movements naturally don't require reporting to us."
Though thinking this in his heart, Di Mo Er didn't say it aloud. After pondering for a moment, he spoke to suggest to Israel: "The title of Count is far too small for a Legendary Expert with such great achievements. It's very normal for him not to care about his territory. We might consider..."
But Israel shook his head, cutting off Di Mo Er's words. He first glanced impatiently at the numerous documents on the table, then waved his hand at his son: "No need to consider, Di Mo Er. I'm not angry, nor do I think Joshua is doing anything wrong. On the contrary, Legendary Experts should live as they please—that's their rightful privilege."
"As for territory and titles, do you think he cares? If I were to grant him all the unclaimed lands north of the Great Aias Mountains and give him the title of Duke of Northern Frost, do you think Joshua would be happy?"
Of course not.
Without any need for thought, Di Mo Er could reach this conclusion. Joshua might care somewhat about Moldavia's development, but only because this territory was passed down from his father's generation. If one were to truly carve out the entire Great Aias Mountains, Extreme North Icefield, and Sea of Bewilderment region for him and grant him a duke's title, Joshua would never develop any excessive sense of belonging to the Empire. Instead, he would find it baffling and irritating.
"All Legendary Experts are like this—beings that cannot be constrained. Look at every Legendary on the entire continent; aren't they all the same? As for Teacher Nostradamus and me, we are exceptions. He has ideals that require the entire Empire's support to realize, and as for me..."
"I am first the Diamond Emperor of the Northern Empire, and only then the Legendary Expert Israel. This is my responsibility."
Speaking in a calm tone, Israel glanced sideways at Di Mo Er. He said in a rather playful voice: "My child, I keep you by my side so that you may one day take up the burden on my back. But from what I see now, you've lacked training recently, and the speed of your progress has slowed."
"My fault, Father! Life has been far too easy lately, and I have indeed been negligent!"
Hearing Israel's evaluation, Di Mo Er felt a weight in his heart, and an inexplicable sense of shame surged within him. In response, he immediately knelt on one knee and reflected with extreme seriousness: "In a few days, I will go to the depths of the Black Forest Fortress in the south to train. I will not slack off!"
"That won't be necessary."
Weighing the silver barbell in his left hand, Israel squinted, smiled, and stood up. He motioned for Di Mo Er to rise as well. The Emperor handed the barbell to his son, who looked at him with some bewilderment.
"This, this is?! Ugh——————"
At first, Di Mo Er was quite dismissive. A mere barbell—no matter how heavy, it couldn't be that bad. As someone only a hair's breadth away from the Ultimate Essence realm, he could knead even a tens-of-tons magical beast like a ball of paper. But the moment he took the barbell, without any multiplier effect, the Second Prince's still somewhat handsome face instantly twisted. The floor of the Imperial Study also burst open, cracks spreading in all directions: "Crack... Impossible!"
Burning his Battle Qi fiercely, Di Mo Er held the barbell, which looked only as large as an ordinary person's arm, with both hands. Veins bulged on his arms, and his eyes were bloodshot. He barely lifted his head, gritting his teeth as he looked at Israel: "Father, what, what exactly is this thing?!"
"It's a training device that Lord Radcliffe gave me not long ago. It's said to be made from very rare materials. Now I'm passing it on to you."
Watching Di Mo Er, who seemed about to run out of breath, Israel showed no sign of worry. On the contrary, he looked quite satisfied. The Emperor even stepped forward, patted Di Mo Er's shoulder, and said softly: "When you can lift this barbell freely without damaging the surrounding environment, then you'll barely be at the level where you can take over my position."
Having said this, Israel turned his head to look out the study window. The magnificent palace complex reflected the golden radiance of the sun. His tone was calm as usual, without any fluctuation: "Work hard, Di Mo Er. The era of war is nearly over. A new age is about to arrive."
"After I finish what I must do, I will not sit on the throne forever."
Leaving behind this meaningful remark, Israel left his study, leaving Di Mo Er, drenched in sweat and struggling to control his strength while holding the barbell without damaging the surroundings, to ponder the deeper meaning of his father's words while exerting his power as much as possible.
"Could it be..."
...
Mycroft World, Northern Empire, Northern Lands Moldavia, Main City.
Generally speaking, the local hunters and farmers of the Northern Lands would affectionately call this black iron city at the center of the Moldavia Territory "the Lord's place." Those with a bit more learning, such as merchants, would respectfully address the city by its proper name, "Moldavia."
The main city sharing its name with the territory was perfectly normal across the entire Mycroft Continent, especially in the Northern Empire. This was a tradition that had persisted for nearly a thousand years, and it was the same almost everywhere.
However, the Moldavia of today was no longer that small city with a population of just over a hundred thousand. It had now completely transformed into a massive urban cluster with a population exceeding one million.
With the central "Inner City District"—the original main city—as the origin point, four large satellite cities had been established with the help of Mana Machinery in the four cardinal directions. Countless hunters and herb gatherers who originally lived in remote mountain villages had been guided by the authorities to leave the forests and settle in these satellite cities, officially becoming part of the urban population. When these nearly primitive mountain hunters noticed the towering buildings and conspicuous Mana Towers in the satellite cities, they were all stunned speechless.
If it weren't for the continuous attacks from the Black Tide, Dragon Calamity, and cultists, it would have been nearly impossible to persuade these mountain folk, who practically lived in seclusion in the deep forests and only came out to trade essential goods, to move into the cities. The reason the Moldavia authorities repeatedly emphasized the importance of relocating these mountain people was precisely because the Mana Factories being popularized throughout the territory urgently needed a large labor force. To this end, the Moldavia authorities even accepted many adventurers from other territories and countries, granting them permanent residency with ease.
Several years ago, when the Lord's Mansion of Moldavia and the Northern Rune Dwarves jointly developed the first Mana Mech, the modernization of the entire territory's Mana system had already been written into the plan. With the establishment of Winterfell Academy and the addition of high-level talents from the Imperial Royal Mage Academy and the Church of the Seven Gods for joint research, the originally rather primitive Mana Factories had been updated generation after generation in equipment and products, gradually changing the face of this ancient city.
It might sound unbelievable, but in just about six years, the entire Moldavia had achieved half-Mana modernization. With the help of the Magic Crystal vein around Palm Print Lake, centered on the Mana Research Institute directly under Winterfell Academy, massive Mana Cores were produced one after another, then transported far away to be installed beneath the cities, supplying the needs of numerous public facilities. Over twenty Mana Factories were scattered across the four satellite cities, producing common devices like Mana Furnaces.
Now, the Radcliffe Family's original weapons and armor business had gradually been replaced by exported Mana devices. With substantial capital flowing back, almost all factory managers decided to expand their factories. But equipment alone wasn't enough—the tools were always operated by people. To obtain cheap labor, these factory managers pushed the Moldavia authorities to absorb as many outsiders as possible and select suitable candidates for the factories. They weren't afraid of any safety hazards or technology leaks, because the owner of these factories was a powerful Legendary Expert. Even setting aside this Legendary, there was also the Northern Empire Royal Mage Association and the Church of the Seven Gods as backing.
"Brother, is this Moldavia?"
In the Southern Satellite City, in the commercial district near the city gate, accompanied by heavy footsteps, a huge Dragon Carriage slowly stopped beside a newly built station. Crowds of people streamed down from the Dragon Carriage, and a squad of City Guards stationed at the station stood to one side, maintaining order in the queue.
In the crowd, there was a gray-haired little girl who looked less than ten years old. She was sitting in the arms of a tall man, biting her thumb and mumbling somewhat indistinctly: "There are so many people, much more than back home... Are we going to live here from now on?"
"Yes, little Lanni. The houses here are very cheap. Even with our savings, we can afford one!"
Carrying the golden-haired little girl to a relatively open corner, with two large luggage bundles on his back, the tall man with the same gray hair spoke softly to his sister. This man's face bore a scar that looked like it had been clawed by some beast, and his exposed, muscular arms were covered in various wounds, making him look extremely fierce and intimidating. But even such a fierce man now showed a genuine smile: "Moldavia is now a famous big city in the Northern Empire. Finding work here is much better than back home."
"So, Brother Priest won't go fight those monsters anymore?" The little girl seemed somewhat worried. "And won't suddenly leave for half a year, leaving me with Auntie?"
"No, I won't, Brandy. It's very safe here, and I won't leave you again."
Recalling events from several years ago, the tall man named Priest showed a rather sorrowful expression. Several years ago, during that strange Black Tide and Dragon Calamity that swept across nearly half the continent, many areas of the Northern Empire suffered attacks of varying severity. Coincidentally, a group of Green Dragons had made their lair near his hometown.
To defend their home and hold out until the Imperial army's reinforcements arrived, the siblings' parents sacrificed their lives, and Priest himself was severely wounded. In the end, although the Imperial army killed those rampaging Green Dragons, the farmland and pastures of their hometown had been corroded by poison and would be unusable for the next decade or more.
To support himself and ensure his young sister wouldn't have to struggle from childhood, Priest entrusted Brandy to their aunt and, relying on his tall, sturdy physique, joined a merchant caravan, traveling back and forth between the north and south of the Empire, transporting and selling specialty goods... Although hard and frequently attacked by wild magical beasts and bandits, the pay was considerable. In just two years of hard work, Priest had saved up a decent amount of capital and could consider finding a place to settle down and live a stable life.
And Moldavia was the place Priest had chosen.
"This place is truly peaceful..."
The tall man recalled his experiences on the journey here and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: From the Ural Mountains all the way to the main city of Moldavia, the Dragon Carriage had passed through four or five forests and two large plains along the way. Yet on this journey, there wasn't a single bandit, not even any attacking magical beasts! For people on the Mycroft Continent, this was completely unbelievable. Who could travel without encountering a few magical beasts?
But around Moldavia, there simply weren't any! Or rather, even if there were, no magical beast dared to attack humans.
After all, it was a city guarded by a Legendary Expert. Priest felt fortunate for his choice. Within the scope of that Dragon-Slaying Lord's authority, even the fiercest dragon beasts wouldn't dare attack even a young child.
After resting for a while, the tall man took a map from his pocket. He looked at it for a moment, then continued carrying the drowsy little girl, who seemed about to fall asleep, toward another side of the city. Since Priest had chosen to settle in Moldavia, he had naturally prepared everything in advance. A friend from a merchant caravan he once worked with had also retired from the caravan and settled here. It was because of this friend's invitation that he had made up his mind to come to the edge of the continent, the distant Northern Lands.
"Priest! You came really fast! I thought you wouldn't arrive until at least autumn... Is this your sister? What a lovely girl. She'll grow up to be a beautiful lady!"
Arriving at the east side of the Southern Satellite City, beside a magnificent building as tall as a stepped pyramid, Priest, who had been amazed by the Glowstone Lamps and Mana Towers along the way, followed the address and asked locals for directions. He successfully found the address left by his friend. In front of a two-story standalone building, Priest knocked on the door. Hearing hurried footsteps from inside, he stepped back. Then the door opened, and he saw his long-lost friend, whose face was full of surprise.
"Dear Dahl, it was your invitation that made me decide."
The siblings were invited inside. Dahl had Priest and Brandy sit to the side while he prepared tea. This golden-haired man, who looked somewhat weathered, placed the tea on the table in front of his friend. Priest quickly thanked him, while little Brandy, exhausted from the journey, had already curled up in her chair and fallen asleep.
Adding a blanket for the little girl, after some catching up, Dahl said with considerable emotion: "Thanks to the Lord's kindness and generosity, the housing prices in all of Moldavia are practically like giving them away for free. Even someone like me with modest savings can own a small building of my own."
"This is truly enviable. You know, in my hometown, near the southern desert, a stone standalone house costs at least fifteen hundred gold coins to buy."
Priest downed his tea in one gulp. He was naturally very envious. Dahl had joined the merchant caravan with him back then. The two had helped each other, each saving the other's life several times, and their bond was deeper than that of real brothers. Because of this, he also knew that Dahl, being a spendthrift, had far less savings than he did. If even Dahl could buy such a nice house, then he certainly wouldn't fare worse.
"But be careful, Priest. These low housing prices won't last much longer."
Refilling his friend's tea, Dahl lowered his voice and spoke in a somewhat mysterious tone: "To be honest, lately, too many people want to become residents of Moldavia, far exceeding the Lord's Mansion's expectations. So now, the houses in all four satellite city districts have purchase restrictions."
"What restrictions?!"
Hearing this, Priest naturally became very nervous. After all, he had drifted all the way from the south of the Empire to reach the favorable conditions of Moldavia, intending to settle down. But now being told there were purchase restrictions—how could he not be anxious?
"Don't worry, friend. Since I invited you here, I naturally considered everything in advance... Though it's a bit rude, I have to say, I have my own motives too."
Dahl smiled. This man, who looked weathered but was actually not old, stopped beating around the bush and said directly: "To buy a house at the previous discounted price, you need to obtain a 'Permanent Resident Certificate' for Moldavia. And to get that, you need a legitimate job in Moldavia itself! And what counts as a legitimate job? Not being an adventurer, not washing dishes in a bar, and certainly not being a merchant. Only working for the Lord's Mansion counts as a legitimate job!"
"Priest."
At this point, Dahl's expression gradually became serious: "Have you heard of 'Mana Factories'?"
...
"Not bad, fine young man. Your physique looks very suitable for working here... Bal, the guy you recommended is really good. Go on, take this voucher and collect your reward at the finance counter."
"Got it, Mr. Land. I'm off now—Priest, don't look so worried. You'll definitely meet the requirements!"
A few days later, inside the trapezoidal giant building, a nervous Priest stood within the steel-and-crystal structure of the Mana Factory. He looked down somewhat anxiously at the stout dwarf with a big bushy beard who was patting his own knee. This dwarf, who claimed to be the factory manager, seemed very satisfied with Priest's physical condition: "The work at our 'Rune Spirits Factory' doesn't require high technical skill. Though it demands precision, it's easy to learn. Compared to brains, the most important thing is the physical stamina to work eighteen hours straight during overtime... Of course, overtime pay follows the Lord's Mansion's standards. You don't have to worry about your efforts going unrewarded."
Under the rambling explanation of this dwarf factory owner named Land, Priest finally understood the situation.
His friend Dahl was now working at this Rune Spirits Factory. The factory produced some peculiar Mana devices, but due to a shortage of workers, it was very difficult to complete orders on time, often requiring overtime. So the dwarf factory owner Land had set a bounty: anyone who could find suitable worker candidates would receive a reward. Dahl naturally thought of his good friend first and invited him to Moldavia.
Priest was naturally overjoyed—according to Land, operating Mana Machinery didn't require the operator to have any magical knowledge. One only needed to remember the correct procedures and have enough physical strength for processing. The man naturally believed he could handle it. Moreover, the peculiar Mana device they were currently producing, called the "Fairy Card Table," wasn't structurally complex. The core components were produced by other factories or research institutes, and they only assembled them here.
After a few days of brief training, Priest had successfully learned how to assemble the Fairy Card Table. His conscientious nature naturally earned the appreciation of factory owner Land. With the help of his friend Dahl, Priest had smoothly blended in with the other workers at the factory.
As a worker, their pay was related to working hours. But even during the most relaxed eight-hour shifts, Priest earned more than he did risking his life as a caravan guard. Somehow, the Fairy Card Tables they produced were exceptionally popular. It was even said that nobles and even the Imperial family bought these items. So the Rune Spirits Factory never lacked orders and was rarely idle.
In the intense work, time flew by. In a blur, several months had passed.
"Speaking of which, Priest, you're not yet twenty-five, are you?"
One day, the dwarf Land was touring the production workshop. He walked up to Priest, who was carefully operating his workstation and assembling Fairy Card Tables, and suddenly asked: "You seem to be just over twenty."
"Ah, Factory Manager, I'm twenty-four this year. I'll be twenty-five before winter."
Not knowing why Land was asking, Priest answered while working. In fact, he was only twenty-one, but he had lied about his age to join the merchant caravan earlier. Now he had gradually accepted being twenty-four. It wasn't a big deal anyway.
"I see... To be honest, our factory is directly under the Lord's Mansion and Winterfell Academy. We have a few recommendation slots for the Combat Department of Winterfell Academy. Eligible long-term employees have taken a few for their children. There's one left now. You're not yet twenty-five, so theoretically, you're qualified to try for it."
"The test is before winter. To be honest, looking at your physique and stamina, even many current students can't match you... Dahl told me you once fought Green Dragons and survived. That's innate strength!"
At this point, there was no need to say more. Seeing the sincere look in the dwarf factory owner's eyes, Priest opened his mouth wide. He clenched his fists and said in a low voice: "...Factory Manager, I will work hard!"
"Hard work isn't enough. You need to give it your all—and don't be too grateful to me. Compared to a hardworking worker, it's more worthwhile to bring out a potential professional. Anyway, if you don't make it, you can come back and work for me."
Waving his hand, Land laughed. But then he put on a stern face and turned to leave: "Alright, get back to work. Today, our partners are coming to inspect the product quality. Don't get distracted."
"Of course not!"
...
Moldavia, the Welcome Inn built by the Lord's Mansion.
Sixth Prince Adrian sat rather helplessly on the edge of his bed in his room, watching four small, colorful beings with dragonfly-like wings engaged in an impassioned discussion that he couldn't understand at all.
Ever since Adrian had reached a series of agreements with the Moldavia Lord's Mansion and the Northern Dwarves, obtaining the cooperation of four major Rune Factories in the Northern Lands, the originally expensive Fairy Card Tables had been gradually made cheaper through various means by collective wisdom. Now, almost every tavern in the Northern Lands had several Fairy Card Tables for customers to play. In noble circles, owning a Fairy Card Table with a special design and default card backs was also a status symbol. This little thing, which he had originally thought had only some potential, had suddenly become so popular that Adrian found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Could it be that I'm actually a business genius?"
Though he occasionally had this thought, Adrian knew that if his father weren't Emperor Israel, if Count Radcliffe weren't his father's friend, if the Northern Dwarves weren't loyal to this Dragon-Slaying Lord, and if he didn't have good relations with the Fairies... he wouldn't be able to do anything. Even if he could manufacture Fairy Card Tables, they would only be taken away by other major powers.
Of course, the most important factor was the "Fairies" before him, who had designed almost all the Fairy Cards.
In the hotel room, on Adrian's bed, four Elemental Fairies who had somehow left the Imperial Morlai Palace were now engaged in a fiery speech.
"Fellow compatriots!"
The cyan-colored fairy, who seemed to be the embodiment of Wind Element, "Long Wind," had a delicate, doll-like face full of passion. She declared loudly: "Back in the Era of Radiance, the Fairy Kingdom commanded the seven continents of the Mycroft World. Among the many races, we Fairies were not inferior to anyone! But now, we've been hiding in the Fairyland for nearly a thousand years, and those humans have forgotten our glory!"
"But now, our chance has come! This Fairy Card Table designed by my student Adrian is an excellent opportunity for us Fairies to return to the main material world! As long as we can promote Fairy Cards throughout the Mycroft World, we can earn a huge amount of funds and influence!"
"Long Wind, can we really go back?" Another fairy asked somewhat worriedly. "The humans won't welcome us, right?"
"Don't worry about that!" Long Wind waved her little hand dismissively. "Those humans are all addicted to our Fairy Cards now! As long as they play, they'll remember our greatness! Besides, we have the support of Emperor Israel and the backing of the Church of the Seven Gods. What do we have to fear?"
"But..." The other fairies still seemed hesitant.
"No buts!" Long Wind interrupted them. "The Fairy Empress has already learned of our achievements in the Fairyland. Their Majesties believe this has great potential! Fairy Cards are undoubtedly an important channel for us Fairies to return to the main material world and secure our first capital! Since Israel doesn't have time to help us, we'll do it ourselves!"
"Let those humans know that we Fairies don't ask for help!"
"Dudulu..."
"Good, good..."
"Long Wind, you speak so well. When can we go back?"
The other three fairies, representing Earth, Fire, and Water respectively, gave scattered cheers. Among them, the Fire Elemental Fairy named "Flame" complained rather impatiently: "Adrian, this place is so boring. I don't want to accompany Long Wind in designing cards here. Take us out for a spin."
As she spoke, Flame tried to approach the Sixth Prince's arm, but was immediately shooed away by the nervous Long Wind: "Shoo, shoo, shoo! If you're not going to help, at least don't try to steal my student! If you want to play, go find Israel yourself! Adrian is mine, and I won't give him up to you!"
Ah, I'm not your toy.
Sighing deeply inside, Adrian, who for some reason was very popular with Fairies, really wanted to roll his eyes. But all he could do was force a bitter smile and echo Long Wind's words: "Yes, yes, Teacher Long Wind..."
In truth, the Sixth Prince knew that Long Wind was absolutely right. The Fairy race could indeed use the publicity and capital brought by Fairy Cards to openly return to the Mycroft World... By then, the vast majority of people who had played Fairy Cards wouldn't reject the Fairies becoming part of human society. But why would the Fairies, who had lived deep in the Fairyland for nearly a thousand years, suddenly want to return to the continent? Adrian felt there must be some important news behind this that he didn't know.
Having received direct support from her student, Long Wind immediately became smug. She looked at the other listless fairies before her, fluttered her small wings, clenched her fist, and said in an extremely serious tone: "Let me emphasize again: We Fairies don't ask for help! The promotion of Fairy Cards is imperative!"
"Yes..."
Just as the other fairies answered in unison with listless voices, far away, in the Great Aias Mountains.
With intense fluctuations in space-time and the sudden raising of heads by most of the powerful beings in the main city and Winterfell Academy, a pure white airship, surrounded by countless dense, mysterious runes, pierced through space-time accompanied by waves of deep blue ripples and appeared above the Great Aias Volcano.
A black-haired man, holding the hand of a Dragon Girl, stepped out of the airship. Standing in mid-air, he looked down at this land.
"I'm back."
The man gazed at this familiar land, familiar city, and familiar mountains, and a smile appeared on his face. Behind him, two Legendary Mages also stepped out of the airship, releasing their Legendary-level energy fluctuations without any concealment. Instantly, with the spread of unparalleled authority, everyone in all of Moldavia knew in that moment:
Their Lord had returned to his land.