Chapter 107: Orion Fairy Village (1)

The Holy Sovereign frowned.

“You mean the idol worship that’s been spreading from Deand. They’ve been quite a nuisance lately.”

“What kind of person is the leader of the Age cult?”

“All that’s known is that they’re young. Probably around your age, Branch Leader. May I ask why you’re inquiring about the Age? You’re not… interested, are you?”

“Oh, no misunderstanding please. They’re my enemies.”

“I see. The System Age is a foolish religion that worships Elida’s creations instead of Elida herself. I hope you never develop any dangerous curiosity toward them.”

Ion exchanged a few more words with the Sovereign. She didn’t seem to regard the System Age as a serious threat yet—just annoying idolaters. She believed the Holy Knights were tracking them and that the cult would soon be uprooted.

Since the vast majority of Idea followed Elida, the Age truly wouldn’t be able to spread widely.

But in <Hunter and Hero>, Earth had also been complacent and paid dearly for it, so Ion left her with a light warning.

After wrapping up the conversation, it was already night.

Instead of exiting through the main gate where pilgrims constantly came and went, Ion and the Sovereign headed to a back door known only to priests and staff.

“Please contact me the moment you obtain the miniaturization device. I’ll do the same if I get it first.”

“Of course, Branch Leader Ion… Are you really planning to keep traveling with that one?”

She was referring to Bran, who had bolted out of the Holy See and was now reveling under the moonlight.

“No, I won’t be with him forever. There’s just one task we have to do together, so only temporarily…”

“You’ve made a wise decision. That person treats humans like toys. Countless people have been deceived by his appearance, given their body and heart, only to be hurt and discarded. Ah, of course you’re not human, Branch Leader, but just in case…”

“Don’t worry. Once the task is done, I’ll never have to see his face again. Next time I won’t bring him.”

After reassuring the Sovereign, Ion left the Holy See.

When he reached the plaza in front, Bran was stretching while waiting. Baba had been flying around and now flew straight to Ion. Instead of landing on his head or shoulder, and not on the pot either, Ion hugged Sanse with one arm and held out his right hand. Baba settled on his finger.

“Dam Ion, are we going to Bran’s house now?”

“…Mmm.”

“Huh? What’s with you? Why aren’t you answering properly? You said we’d go straight to my hideout after the kennel!”

Bran roared and charged over. Ion calmly started walking.

“We are going. We are… It’s just, Bran, what happened between you and the Sovereign in the past?”

“I know why that kennel keeper hates me. The guy she had a crush on confessed to me, got rejected, became a wreck from heartbreak, and died of lovesickness two or three years later.”

“When was that?”

“About a hundred fifty years ago? I don’t remember.”

Bran spoke of someone’s death with zero emotion.

So in the end, it was a tragedy caused by Bran being a notorious playboy who didn’t care about gender.

From Ion’s perspective, someone who had a one-sided crush, got rejected, suffered alone, and died wasn’t really Bran’s fault.

But knowing Bran, he had probably toyed with the person mercilessly—seduced them hard, gave them just enough attention to make them fall, then laughed at them for daring to fall for someone “above their level.”

“Anyway, kennel business is done, so let’s go! My subordinates will have everything ready and waiting.”

“Bran, are you experimenting on my head? I’m against animal testing. I don’t want to hurt.”

“I would never do anything dangerous to Baba-nim. Actually, it’s good for Baba-nim! If we recover your lost memories, your lost power will come back too. Then when this punk Ion acts all cocky, you can punish him. Don’t you ever want to smack him just once?”

“I don’t want to punish. I like reconciliation, harmony, and peace. I’ve never once wanted to hit Dam Ion.”

“Baba-nim is too young to understand, but even peace and harmony require strength. Without overwhelming power, harmony collapses.”

“I disagree. I don’t want my memories back. I don’t need overwhelming power. I’m still a cute and squishy bat.”

Baba burrowed into Ion’s robe sleeve and hid its tiny body. Bran narrowed his eyes and glared at Ion.

“You’re not planning to break our promise, are you?”

Black demonic energy began to rise.

Every hair on Ion’s body stood on end.

Bran was strong.

Ion’s magic was on par with high-ranking demons, so in a real fight against Duke-level Bran, it was impossible to predict the winner.

But they wouldn’t fight. One word from Baba and Bran would drop to his knees instantly.

“I already said reviving the Demon King benefits me too. I’m just not rushing there right now. Something else came up first.”

“Why the f*ck do you always have so much to do?”

“Tell me about it. Anyway… let’s sleep one night and talk again tomorrow.”

“Ha. Fine. A mouse-human hybrid must be frail. I’ll let it slide.”

Apparently, after learning Celestials were palm-sized, he had decided to call them “mouse brats.”

Bran tapped the top of Ion’s head and walked ahead.

“Are we not going to Bran’s house?”

“Yeah. Not right now.”

Baba wriggled out, relieved. It wasn’t fear of pain; it seemed to genuinely dislike the idea of recovering its memories.

Ion moved Baba next to Sanse and headed to an inn.

Then a sudden thought struck him.

‘Wait… So the Demon King led the demon legions and invaded a world inhabited by a race the size of a finger?’

A world of tiny people?

…

Inside Ion, the Demon King’s image plummeted.

The next day, Ion and Bran argued over their destination. Not with magic or fists—just words.

“I thought we finished this yesterday.”

“I only let it go because you were tired!”

“Then I’ll say it again. My business comes first.”

“Are you really breaking a promise? I thought you had honor! No wonder—you’re a mouse-human mongrel, betraying without a second thought!”

“Bran, harsh words! Harsh words to Dam Ion! Shut your mouth. No speaking. Go stand in the corner and reflect!”

…Actually, it wasn’t even a proper argument.

At Baba’s furious command, Bran knelt with his hands up, glaring only at Ion.

Ion spoke calmly, like the Sovereign had the day before.

“In two days… a field connecting to another world will appear.”

“Another world? Earth?”

“Yes. Earth.”

Exactly.

While never wasting a single day, the Idea–Earth connecting dungeon was now only two days away.

If they left now for the fairy village on the lower reaches of the Orion River in the Iliand Empire—where the field would appear—it would take exactly two days.

There was no time to stop by the hybrid hideout.

“What do I care if another world appears or not?”

Things like demon territories turning into dungeons or both worlds advancing through exchange wouldn’t sway Bran.

“Earth is a place with nothing but humans.”

“…Nothing but humans?”

“Yes. Seventy billion of them—all human.”

“…!”

At the news that there were seventy billion humans to toy with, Bran snorted excitedly.

“There’s a man named Jin Seong-ha. He’s the strongest human I’ve ever seen.”

“How strong are we talking? Stronger than me?”

“Probably on par with Sara Harundas.”

“…With Sara Harundas…?”

Bran had once secretly watched Sara train after hearing rumors.

He said he held back from challenging her because she seemed like she’d become a worthy opponent with a little more time.

Right now Bran might be stronger due to experience, but Jin Seong-ha and Sara were munchkin protagonists hand-crafted by [Pleasure].

Bran had definitely sensed Sara’s potential.

After a moment of thought, Bran spoke.

“I know you’re obviously trying to persuade me, but fine, I’ll let it slide. Playing with a strong human sounds fun, so I’ll tag along.”

“Actually, you don’t have to come. Go back to Elidivi Lake. Once I’m done, I’ll bring Baba to you.”

“Hmph. I can’t let you and Baba-nim out of my sight in case you run off. And with your strength, you might not even be able to protect Baba-nim properly.”

‘Good thing I persuaded him this way.’

Ion had wanted Bran to come.

He wanted Bran to meet Jin Seong-ha.

They’d instantly recognize each other’s strength and stimulate each other nicely.

It would be great if they became friends quickly too.

In the past, he had planned to gather strong characters into a “Demon King subjugation squad.”

Now what filled Ion’s mind was…

An Apostle subjugation squad.

Teacher had told him to never even dream of fighting an Apostle… but Ion was already thinking of several methods.

After exactly two days of travel, they arrived at the fairy village on the lower reaches of the Orion River.

In Teacher’s fake <Hunter and Hero>, Sara would enter this field and meet Jin Seong-ha.

But the real Sara was in the middle of the Giant War, so she wouldn’t come.

In reality, the first ones to enter Earth’s very first connecting field would all be fairies.

Earth would first encounter fairies, not humans, among the people of Idea.

At the village entrance stood a massive juniper tree that seemed to be the guardian tree of the village. Ion first greeted and communed with the juniper. In front of it was a sign with the village name.

[Orion Fairy Village]

“Just a village of ordinary fly brats. The field connecting to Earth is supposed to appear here?”

Humans were dog brats, Celestials were mouse brats, and fairies were fly brats, apparently.

“It should have appeared already. Don’t start fights inside. And don’t call them fly brats in front of the fairies.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pretend to be human. Imitating humans is f*cking easy—just spout some stupid shit a few times.”

“Dam Ion, should I order Bran to shut up?”

“Argh! Ack!”

Bran convulsed dramatically.

“Seriously. Just don’t pick fights and stay quiet. Stop threatening him with orders. Do you know how horrifying it feels when your lips forcibly glue together?”

“…Baba, just let him be.”

“Okay. I’ll be good.”

Ion stroked the proud little bat, then stroked Sanse the same way.

Listening to Bran lament his fate, they entered the village.

It was the most dainty and charming village Ion had ever seen—human or fairy combined. If you took a photo anywhere and showed it to kids saying it was a village from a fairy tale, they’d believe it.

And in this village lived one of the major characters of <Hunter and Hero>.

The fairy who made Earthlings mistakenly think, “Are there only beautiful and handsome people in Idea?”

The number-one most handsome man in the world setting created by [Pleasure].