Water Kelpie

This was the first time Anno had faced an opponent stronger than himself.

His iron sword had already broken, and even the Treasure Armor on his body didn't seem particularly sturdy in his opponent's eyes. With casual swings of two slender swords made entirely of flowing water, the other fighter sent huge waves surging across the lake. Anno was left looking utterly miserable.

Yet he hadn't chosen to run. He only dodged the fairy's attacks along the shore.

Why run?

And why stay here?

His thoughts and actions contradicted each other. He had once mercilessly exploited and killed those fairies, simply because he was the stronger one. Now that he'd met someone stronger, shouldn't he obediently bare his neck and accept death?

Could it be that what I'm doing now is for—

Survival?

Is this what it means for a [human] to want to [survive]?

He sensed that he was on the verge of understanding something, but at a fundamental level, he still only grasped it vaguely. All he could do was dodge and fight back, lost and uncertain.

"Stop running!"

The fairy raised his sword and thrust it at Anno's chest, aiming straight for his heart.

Just as before, Anno nimbly dodged the fairy's sword.

"You slippery little bastard! Who are you, and why have you come to the Fairy Realm?"

The powerful blue fairy was thoroughly exasperated. After fighting Anno for so long without even managing to grab the hem of his clothes, he had no better idea than to ask in frustration.

Of course, there was genuine curiosity and a desire to understand in his tone.

This fellow was strange, but rather interesting.

He didn't seem human at all. Instead, he was like a fairy who'd grown into a human's shape—perhaps even purer than a fairy.

"I... I don't know. Someone told me to come here for training, so I came."

Anno answered the fairy's question.

"Did the person who sent you to train tell you to kill my people?"

"...No."

"Then why did you slaughter my people, my subjects?"

"Because they killed humans."

"What makes you say that? The fairies here have never even seen a human. What right do you have to kill them in the name of humans?"

The blue fairy was utterly speechless. There was something almost laughably exasperated in his voice.

"I..."

This time, Anno had no answer.

He was suddenly lost in thought himself.

That was right. The fairies here had never killed humans. They'd never even seen one.

So why was he so determined to kill the fairies here?

Was it simply because of the "anger" in his heart?

But fairies would be fairies.

The blue fairy's expression showed that he was more amused than anything else.

He'd grown curious about this strange human.

A human who did the things only fairies did; someone who acted like a fairy, yet was physically a human.

A being who could only be called an [oddity] among both humans and fairies.

Still, this fellow's presence really did threaten his territory—and he couldn't kill him.

At that thought, the blue fairy smacked his lips, annoyed but helpless.

This human was far stronger than he let on. He'd only lost so easily because he wasn't used to the environment and lacked a decent weapon. Well, never mind. This was fine.

If he got any stronger, I'd be the one in trouble.

I'd better find a way to send him off.

"I don't know."

Anno really didn't know the answer to a single question.

"Then what makes you think you're human? I think you might be a fairy."

The blue fairy swam to shore, dragging his great tail behind him as he circled Anno, speaking with teasing amusement.

"...I'm not a fairy. I... I'm human."

Though hesitant, Anno said it firmly.

Some of the confusion in his eyes cleared.

"...All right. If you're no longer doubting that yourself, then let's leave it at that."

The fairy pursed his lips. Some of the interest that had just been stirred in him faded.

Humans that stubborn were so dull, and the person who'd sent him here was an unprecedented idiot. In fact, he'd probably already guessed which bastard was behind it.

"Human, you're strong. Though you're no match for me, I can't kill you either."

"But have you ever thought about how your indiscriminate killing is any different from what fairies do?"

The fairy returned to his lake. After a sigh, his expression turned serious.

"Is your so-called training just about killing?"

Anno had nothing to say.

He'd seen evil and wanted to destroy it.

But did any of what he'd done truly mean anything?

"This is actually a peaceful world. The rules of the Fairy Realm differ from those of the human world. What you see as [evil], when humans aren't involved, is simply ordinary life to the fairies. You've shattered that ordinary life, so what right do you have to call yourself [good]?"

"You may kill the fairies who have a grudge against humans, but—you must not point your sword at innocent fairies."

His blue sword pointed at Anno, his voice cold.

"Otherwise, I'll do everything in my power to kill you."

"There is good and evil among humans, and the same is true of fairies. Your eyes aren't just for show. Look carefully before you make a decision and act."

Hearing these words from a fairy who should have been his sworn enemy, Anno nodded, only half-understanding.

He couldn't help wondering what humans were supposed to be, and what fairies were supposed to be.

Did his identity as a human come from his own sense of self, or from how others defined him?

What were humans who truly lived in the human world like?

Merlin had never told him any of this.

"Can you tell me your name?"

The fairy looked ready to leave, so Anno hurriedly asked.

He watched the fairy's back as if he wanted to remember him forever.

"My name? What do you want it for? So you can come back for revenge later?"

The fairy turned around and looked at Anno with an amused expression.

"No. I won't do that anymore."

Anno shook his head. At last, he'd recovered a little of the innocence he'd had at the beginning.

The fairy looked into Anno's eyes and suddenly chuckled.

He leaped up from the water and transformed back into his original form—a horse, a water horse formed from clear, pure streams. The dazzling light of the Fairy Realm reflected off him, making him sparkle as if he were a wondrous creature that had no place in the real world. Even Anno was captivated by his appearance, staring in amazement and fascination.

"I'm the lord of this area, a water horse. You can call me Kelpie."

"Remember that name, human who resembles a fairy. I hope you won't set foot in my territory again."

Kelpie warned him.

Then he sank beneath the water and disappeared.