A tree giant smoking a pipe—of course, it was Encrid’s first time seeing such a thing.
Before Encrid could even open his mouth, the tree giant spoke again.
"Ah, a human. Then I suppose this would be your first time."
Its dark brown eyes, carved like polished bark, were fascinating. They blinked as they focused on Encrid.
He had heard of Fairies made of wood before.
"…Woodguard?"
Luagarne, standing half a step behind Encrid, tilted her head and asked.
"Correct."
The white-haired Fairy nodded.
The Woodguard was one of the Fairy clans, created by the Gods of the forest in ancient times to protect and guard the trees.
In other words, not all Fairies were like Sinar.
Fairies were a broad category, including Druiers, Woodguards, and Wing Fairies.
Druiers were said to resemble pale green leaves, while Wing Fairies were tiny, winged creatures no bigger than a human hand.
Encrid had heard about them before.
But he had never imagined one enjoying a pipe so vividly.
Between the lips made of bark and dry leaves, a tightly rolled brown pipe leaf glowed red at its tip before fading.
Puff.
The smoke gathered into clouds, floating lazily in the air.
'How is it doing that?'
Even mercenaries who spent their lives smoking could barely blow smoke rings.
That pipe-obsessed mercenary from Encrid’s past would probably worship this tree giant as a master.
"Want one?"
The tree giant asked.
"That’s rude to our guests, Bran."
"What do you mean, rude? This is different from what humans smoke, it's good for you."
Bran, the tree giant, spoke as he walked away.
The sound of bark rubbing together echoed with each step.
"I don’t smoke."
Encrid finally answered.
He was human, after all. He couldn’t help being surprised.
And now was definitely the time to be surprised.
'What is that thing? Why is a tree smoking? Shouldn’t it be careful around fire?'
Yet there it was, puffing on its pipe without a care in the world.
'What if it catches fire?'
Maybe Sinar’s obsession with fire safety hadn’t been without reason.
Countless thoughts ran through his mind.
When Bran stepped aside, the surroundings came into clearer view.
No one else seemed to pay attention to the smoking tree giant.
Instead, all eyes were focused on Encrid and his group.
Encrid instinctively scanned his surroundings.
"Always observe, whether you fight or not."
That was Luagarne’s teaching, and Encrid followed it.
At the city’s entrance, there was an open clearing surrounded by massive trees.
The sky was wide and open above, letting warm sunlight pour down.
It was calm and quiet. The city as a whole exuded a tranquil atmosphere.
The sounds of birds and insects felt more like peaceful background music.
Encrid sharpened his insight, taking in the scene.
He noticed many things.
Fairies peeking out like squirrels from hollowed-out trees.
Several tree giants resembling Bran stood under the ancient trees.
Their sheer size created an illusion of depth and perspective.
Some were larger than Audin, and others stood twice as tall as humans—true giants.
One even looked three times that size.
The largest tree giant, with its eyes closed and mouth shut, could have easily been mistaken for an ordinary tree.
After observing everything in view, Encrid expanded his perspective further.
The city was structured around a large clearing, with tree-built structures encircling it.
Yet, this didn’t seem to be the entire city.
'The forest serves as the boundary, shaping the city itself.'
The city likely housed hundreds, possibly over a thousand Fairies. It was too large to take in at a glance.
Even walking through it would take days.
The city was bigger than the Border Guard.
The forest provided their foundation. While there were no paved roads, narrow paths wound between the trees.
After narrowing his focus and then widening it again, one detail caught Encrid’s attention—the bases of the tree structures that resembled houses.
The structures looked like natural tree homes, as if squirrels had designed them.
Roots pierced the ground, anchoring the structures solidly, while maintaining their natural tree-like appearance.
'Why does it bother me?'
Encrid asked himself twice before finding his answer.
His instincts told him these weren’t ordinary houses.
Though they looked like rooted trees, something about them felt different.
'They could move if necessary.'
That was what his gut told him.
The structures’ arrangement around the clearing was too precise to feel natural.
Even the soil around the roots looked slightly different.
It was a sharp observation.
Jaxon’s lessons had honed his senses, but it was Luagarne’s endless drills that had ingrained this habit.
Encrid had simply applied what he learned.
Though slow to pick things up, once he learned, he never forgot.
Even if it took a week to master what others learned in a day, he never let it go.
He always gave his best and listened carefully.
That attitude ensured he never forgot his lessons.
'Do the houses move?'
That was his conclusion.
Other than that, the Fairies’ glass-like, emotionless eyes stood out.
Encrid’s sharp senses detected curiosity and doubt behind them, but outwardly, they looked blank.
"What’s with their eyes?"
Pel remarked.
Their lack of visible emotion was unsettling, almost evoking primal fear.
But Pel remained calm.
He had been through enough to find this tolerable.
After surviving among madmen like Encrid, Pel’s mental strength had hardened.
"A human guest? How unusual."
One of the Fairies approached and spoke.
She was a Druier—one of the forest clans, known for their healing magic and predominantly female population.
The Druier had dark green hair, pale green skin, and an appearance that evoked the freshness of the forest more than human beauty.
Her green dress, embroidered with gold threads, gave her a mystical presence.
The Druier’s emerald-green eyes, patterned like leaves, swept over the group before she spoke again.
"Are you different from those potato sprouts?"
Her tone was calm, yet oddly intense.
Encrid felt half his thoughts clear at that moment.
'To be filled, one must first empty themselves.'
Letting go of preconceptions allowed him to accept whatever came next.
The white-haired Fairy noticed this shift and was quietly impressed.
'A strong and focused mind.'
It was surprising but not overwhelming.
His calm acceptance revealed a boldness that resonated.
"The arrival of guests is unexpected. It’s no wonder everyone is surprised."
The white-haired Fairy said.
"Especially a human guest, it’s been a long time."
Another tree giant added, its voice rustling like leaves.
It was both sharp and clear, delivering its meaning with ease.
Bran and the other Woodguards had equally unusual voices.
Looking at the giants, Encrid doubted he’d ever be able to tell them apart by appearance.
Compared to them, distinguishing frogs seemed easier, though not by much.
"A human? It’s been ages. Truly ages."
The tree giant rustled again.
Their different vocal structures gave their speech a strange sound.
But it was understandable.
Having already been surprised enough, Encrid simply accepted it.
Adapting was a skill in itself, and Encrid was, without a doubt, the best on the continent.
Even when the Madmen’s Guard was a squad of troublemakers, Encrid had been their Squad Leader, standing alongside Rem and the others.
No matter how strange the Woodguards appeared, they couldn’t be more eccentric than Rem’s personality.
Encrid stared directly at the tree giant blocking the clearing.
It was time for introductions.
Even in the city of Fairies, conversations between intelligent beings weren’t all that different.
The atmosphere reflected that.
"Encrid of the Border Guard."
Encrid spoke in his usual tone.
A brief silence followed.
"He is the Demon Slayer, Sir Encrid."
The burly Fairy who had followed the white-haired elder added an explanation.
At those words, several Fairies around them murmured.
"Demon Slayer?"
"Knight of the Iron Wall?"
"Guardian of Enchantment?"
"Heartbreaker?"
Their voices were as flat as if they were reading from a book, but this was likely their way of expressing surprise.
Their glass-like eyes widened slightly.
Among all the murmured titles, the last one caused Encrid’s mind to waver briefly.
'Heartbreaker? I don’t remember hearing that one anywhere else. Why is it coming up here?'
Encrid was genuinely baffled.
Yet, the subtle sense of admiration that lingered was similar to before.
"Come inside."
The white-haired Fairy said.
Encrid followed, receiving an inexplicable warmth from their hospitality.
As they passed the clearing, he could feel the Fairies’ eyes never leaving him.
It should have been overwhelming, but Encrid remained composed.
Despite their calm exteriors, the Fairies’ eyes carried traces of respect, carefully observing his every move.
It might have been easier if they had whispered among themselves instead of silently staring.
Whether it was the Fairies, the Druiers, or the Woodguards, they all shared this trait.
If their eyes played music, it would have been an orchestra of curiosity and observation, with undertones of admiration.
An orchestra so faint that one had to strain to hear it.
"This way."
The white-haired Fairy led them into a house carved inside a tree.
It was the second large tree to the left of the clearing.
The entrance was higher than expected, and the interior, though not spacious, felt cozy.
The temperature and humidity were just right.
Passing through a short hallway formed by tangled roots, they entered a room.
A table covered in a green cloth gave a refreshing impression.
The entire space smelled of fresh grass and earth.
"It smells like summer, even though it’s so cold outside."
Pel murmured.
That was exactly how it felt.
The scent of grass, old wood, and soil blended perfectly.
No perfume could replicate it.
The fragrance reminded Encrid of Sinar.
The scent of wood that lingered around her filled this place as well.
Of course, Encrid thought Sinar’s scent had been stronger and sweeter.
Pel and Luagarne, who followed behind, also looked around with interest.
The structure was impressive, carved directly from trees.
Even the furniture was unique.
The chairs, for instance, barely fit the definition of chairs.
Placed outside, they could easily be mistaken for tree stumps.
They resembled naturally shaped chunks of wood rather than crafted furniture.
"You came looking for Sinar of the Kirhais family?"
The white-haired Fairy, now seated, asked.
"Yes."
Encrid replied. That was the purpose of his visit.
He had decided to put aside his curiosity and amazement for later.
Initially, he thought meeting her would be simple.
She had mentioned fulfilling her duties, so Encrid assumed she would be here, working for the city.
Yet, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
If she were here, wouldn’t she have greeted him already?
Maybe even teased him about coming to see his fiance.
But none of that happened.
Logic and instinct both told him, Sinar wasn’t here.
"An unexpected guest, indeed."
The white-haired Fairy commented.
While they spoke, a silver-haired Fairy entered and served tea.
Even the teacups were like the chairs, hollowed-out pieces of wood.
The tea, however, was excellent.
If this were a time for savoring flavors, it would have earned high praise.
"Is Sinar not here?"
Encrid asked, though he already knew the answer.
Some questions had to be asked, even if you knew the answer.
There was no need for subtlety when the truth was already apparent.
"No, she isn’t."
The white-haired Fairy nodded.
"Is she dead?"
Probably not.
Encrid asked anyway.
Some things had to be heard aloud to be believed.
The elder shook his head.
"She won’t die, not for several years, even if she wishes for it."
The white-haired Fairy’s words carried a deep emotion—regret, remorse.
It was the first time Encrid felt such clear emotions from him.
Of course, for a human, it would have seemed like just a slight change in tone.
Several thoughts crossed Encrid’s mind.
Was Sinar imprisoned? Bound somehow?
"Can I hear the details?"
Encrid asked.
The Fairies had shown kindness, and he had no reason to be hostile.
Even the one who served tea had treated him with respect.
"I have a question of my own."
The elder responded, his voice carrying a rare weight of emotion.
It was carefully hidden beneath calm words, but desperation bled through the cracks.
Encrid waited patiently, showing restraint.
Sinar wasn’t dead, so he only needed to learn where to find her.
Could the elder be lying?
"Fairies find it difficult to lie."
Sinar’s words echoed in his mind.
It was unlikely this was a lie.
Fairies raised in communities where truthfulness was second nature had little need for deception.
Their language supposedly didn’t even have a word for ‘lie’.
After a pause, the elder spoke again.
His voice was calm but tinged with urgency.
"Do you know how to kill a demon?"
Encrid didn’t answer right away.
The Fairy’s desperation demanded a thoughtful response.
He hesitated, lips parting, then stopped and carefully gathered his thoughts.
Finally, he nodded and answered sincerely, wanting to honor the Fairy’s trust.
"You strike it down. Hard."
A silence fell over the room.
No one spoke.
The faint sound of rustling from the next room echoed, amplified by the stillness.
"…I’m embarrassed."
Pel broke the silence with a murmur.
Luagarne glanced at the Fairies, then added quickly.
"He didn’t mean to mock you."
Encrid replayed his own words and realized his mistake.
This was all because of Rem, and also Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin.
Their endless discussions about swordsmanship had trained him to give short, direct answers.
Too many details would have been impossible to explain anyway.
That habit had slipped out again.
Trying to recover, Encrid added:
"You strike it down hard… until it’s dead."
"Should we sew his mouth shut?"
Pel muttered again.
"It wasn’t this bad before."
Luagarne muttered, then turned back to the Fairies.
"Really, he’s not mocking you."
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