章 75: M.I.A. Demon Lord?! 2
"Foolish goddess. Stupid goddess," Levy murmured to herself as she flew over to Ruby.
"Ruby, it might be a little late, but could you tell me what realm you teleported Lilith to?"
Ruby glanced at the little faerie, chuckled, and nodded. "I teleported Lilith to a world called Babelheim, but that's all I'm going to tell you."
Elara, overhearing their conversation, furrowed her brow. "Babelheim? Isn't that linked to the World Tree, Yggdrasil— one of the realm I'm from is also linked with that tree?"
Ruby laughed softly. "Yes, Elara. Indeed. You might even know what's waiting for Lilith there."
Elara rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me… it's that nutty squirrel, Ratatoskr. He's always traveling the worlds of Yggdrasil."
Ruby grinned. "Well, that's one way to look at an ancient being."
Oria paced around frantically, waiting for Levy to contact her. After hours of pondering maybe days, she suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh, I'm so stupid. Levy can't contact me—I have to contact her!"
Taking a deep breath, she concentrated. Levy, it's me, Oria. Did you find out anything?
Levy's frustrated voice came through immediately. "Stupid goddess. Did you finally remember that you're the only one who can contact beings from outside your realm? It's been days, and you just remembered me now? Stupid goddess."
Levy! Oria responded, annoyed. "I am a goddess. I have a lot of important things to do, and I only just now had time to contact you. Do not take that tone with a divine being."
Levy muttered to herself, "Stupid goddess. She totally forgot I can't contact her. Sure, I could pray and hope she listens, but she's such an airhead that she'd never pay attention."
"Well, Levy, could you please tell me what you found out? It's important to me," Oria begged, her voice soft, laced with a rare hint of desperation that betrayed her usual divine composure.
"Yes, yes, Oria," Levy replied, rolling her eyes as she muttered under her breath, foolish goddess. "No need to beg me. Lilith is on a world called Babelheim. And from what I've gathered over the days you didn't contact me, there might be an ancient being there who could teach her teleportation magic."
Oria gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. "An ancient being to teach Lilith? How lucky can one get?" Her voice trembled momentarily before she composed herself, smoothing the excitement from her tone. "Thank you, Levy. You've been a great help to me. I'll break the connection now. Thanks again, my little guardian."
"Pfft," Levy spat, her wings fluttering with frustration. "Stupid goddess! You're just acting like a little girl! What an airhead! What a foolish goddess!" She stomped her foot in midair, shouting, "AAAAAAAHH! And for the last time—I'm not your guardian! I'm the guardian of the World Tree's sapling!"
Elara's voice was soft, her concern evident as she asked, "Levy? Are you okay?"
Levy took a deep breath, her eyes distant as if she was seeing something far beyond their surroundings. "Yes," she answered quietly, her voice laced with weariness. "It's just... that goddess, Oria."
Elara's brow furrowed, but she said nothing. Her heart had felt a tug at the mention of Oria, a name that carried weight, pain, and responsibility. The darkened expression on her face caught Ruby's attention, and she placed a comforting hand on Elara's shoulder, whispering softly, "Don't think of that foolish goddess. Oria only did what she did to protect you and the world your soul comes from."
Elara sighed but nodded. The tension eased a little from her posture as her gaze shifted back to the lively scene before her.
In the distance, Tami's laughter filled the air, followed by Ella's exasperated shout, "Tami, slow down! You know I'm just a small faerie, I can't keep up with you!" The little faerie's wings fluttered rapidly as she chased after Tami, the Fenrir pup. Despite Tami's playful youth, she was quick and agile, darting through the grassy field, her energy seemingly endless. Ella huffed, out of breath. "We've been playing for hours now, I'm getting tired!" she panted, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
Levy, Elara, and Ruby watched the two with quiet amusement. The air around them was light, yet there was a sense of urgency underlying their conversation. After a moment, Levy spoke up, her voice soft but determined, "Ruby, can you create a teleportation portal to the island where the World Tree sapling is? I'm still somewhat drained, and making a large portal for all of us would be too much for me right now."
Ruby glanced at Levy, a confident smile tugging at her lips. "Sure, I can do that." With a quick snap of her fingers
Ruby's fingers flicked through the air as the shimmering light twisted and spiraled into existence. The swirling portal crackled with energy, its edges glowing faintly with hues of blue and silver. As the oval shape stabilized, its surface shimmered like a veil between two worlds. The light reflected in their eyes, the magical energy casting a warm glow over the group.
Ruby stood back, admiring her work for a moment. "I don't exactly know the precise location of the World Tree sapling," she said thoughtfully, "but I can feel the barrier you set up around it, Levy. So I just connected the portal to that point."
The wind stirred softly, carrying the scent of saltwater and fresh greenery. The air around them felt charged with anticipation. Levy's lips curled into a grateful smile, her exhaustion not dampening the gratitude in her voice. "That's perfect, Ruby. Thanks. It's a smart move."
Ruby, always pragmatic, gave a quick nod, her hand resting briefly on her hip. She then hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You know… unless we're in a rush, I could tweak the portal's destination and send us to the beach on the island instead. It might be more comfortable while we wait."
Levy tilted her head slightly, thinking. Her eyes softened as she shook her head, the weight of her own energy depletion evident in the subtle movement. "No, there's no need to rush," she said, her voice gentle. "Lilith will come to us. We'll wait by the barrier near the sapling. We need to be ready when she arrives."
Ruby let out a small sigh of relief, a playful glint returning to her eyes. "Got it," she said with a grin, snapping her fingers again. The shimmering surface of the portal shifted slightly, and beyond it, the view changed to reveal a tranquil stretch of beach. Soft waves lapped at the shore, their rhythm soothing. The white sand sparkled under the sunlight, with the distant silhouette of lush, emerald trees swaying in the breeze.
The scene before them was serene, peaceful, a stark contrast to the weight of the tasks they carried. "This should be a good spot to wait," Ruby added, her smile wide. "And hey, it's a nice place to take a break if we need it."
The portal pulsed faintly, inviting them forward, while Tami and Ella's playful laughter echoed behind them, a reminder of the fleeting moments of peace in their otherwise demanding journey.
As the group stepped out of the portal, the warm, salty breeze from the ocean washed over them. The sight of the pristine beach stretched out before them, with soft white sand and crystal-clear waters sparkling under the sun. Ella's eyes widened with awe, and her wings fluttered with excitement. She twirled in the air, her face glowing with joy.
"Levy, is this your island?" Ella asked, her voice filled with wonder. "It's so beautiful! And the magic in the air… I've never felt anything like it before."
Levy smirked as she floated up beside the small faerie, her wings carrying her effortlessly through the air. "Well, it's not really my island," she admitted, glancing around. "This is the World Tree sapling's island. It chose this place. I've just been putting up barriers to keep people from finding it. That's why I became the Guardian, after all." She paused, a small glint of hope flashing in her eyes. "But soon, I'll be free of my duties once Lilith comes back… at least, I hope."
Ella's eyes sparkled even more as she took in the view of the island. "You've done a good job hiding it. It's like a hidden paradise!" she exclaimed, her wings still fluttering in excitement.
Elara, standing a little farther ahead, gazed thoughtfully at the stretch of beach before them. The gentle waves rolling in seemed to bring her to a decision. She pointed to a spot near the edge of the beach, where the sand met the lush greenery of the island. "Let's build a beach house here," she suggested, a small smile forming on her lips. "With all of us helping, it shouldn't take long to put it together. And it would be great to have a giant bath as well. Something relaxing while we wait for Lilith."
Ruby chuckled softly, her hands on her hips. "A giant bath sounds like an excellent idea after everything we've been through."
Levy tilted her head, considering Elara's suggestion. The idea of building something permanent, something peaceful, on this island she'd guarded for so long felt… right. She nodded slowly, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "A beach house and a bath, huh? Not a bad idea at all."
Ella squealed with excitement, already envisioning the cozy house and the giant bath. Tami barked happily at the suggestion, wagging her tail in agreement as she bounded around the group.
With the backdrop of the sparkling ocean and the gentle hum of magic in the air, it felt like, for the first time in a long while, they could create something lasting—something that symbolized not just their journey, but the peace they longed for.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット