Translator: CinderTL
Despite Tracy's evident urgency, Roland didn't immediately move forward.
He first cautiously scanned his surroundings, confirming that no Void Mayflies had survived, before exhaling deeply and sheathing his Mithril Longsword.
Seeing this, the pixie ceased her anxious urging, her butterfly wings trembling as her gaze remained fixed on the faint, shimmering glow near the lake's edge.
For Roland, the aftermath of the battle had only just begun.
He strode toward the slowly dissipating remains of the Void Mayflies.
As always happened after he completely annihilated his enemies, the power of Plunder had already silently activated.
An invisible hand of law had precisely extracted the most cherished or valuable possessions from the depths of these otherworldly creatures' souls and materialized them.
Scattered across the ground were over a dozen faint glows.
Most were fine, stardust-like particles, shimmering with a faint, pure, ethereal light that spread across the forest floor like a miniature, dreamlike galaxy under the dim canopy.
Roland had obtained these materials before when slaying Void Mayflies.
Vanessa called them "Stardust."
However, because their specific function seemed to lie beyond her area of expertise, the Purple-Haired Witch had been unable to provide further explanation.
Amidst the familiar stardust, Roland noticed several deep blue, translucent crystals, each about the size of a pigeon's egg, which he had never seen before.
Within these crystals, luminous wisps flowed slowly, emitting energy waves far more concentrated than the surrounding stardust.
"Are these Void Mayflies truly chaos creatures, like the Slaad Toads?"
Roland leaned down and gently touched the translucent crystals with his sword sheath to confirm their harmlessness before picking them up.
Sensing the pure energy within, he raised an eyebrow.
"Their fundamental properties seem somewhat similar to psionic energy..."
He shook his head slightly and quickly gathered the stardust and translucent crystals.
His movements paused when his gaze swept over the remains of the strongest Void Mayfly, the one he had pierced with his sword.
Beside the rapidly dissipating remains lay an irregularly shaped piece of metal, about the size of a baby's fist.
It wasn't a typical solid; rather, it resembled a pool of solidified liquid that still seemed to flow.
Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, yet so deep it seemed to devour light, radiating an eerie luster that blurred the line between substance and void, distorting and refracting the surrounding light.
Empowered by his Material Empathy, Roland sensed an energy fluctuation emanating from the object, unlike anything he had ever perceived in this world. Its intensity far surpassed that of the Stardust or crystals scattered across the ground.
However, the "whispers" emanating from the metal bore a faint resemblance to those from his Mithril Longsword.
The key difference was that he couldn't detect any elemental resonance from this metal-like substance.
After a thorough examination to confirm it posed no immediate danger, Roland wrapped the object in linen cloth and tucked it into the pouch on his other hip.
Satisfied that nothing had been overlooked, he followed Tracy toward the lake shore.
With the Void Mayflies completely eradicated, the faint silver glow that had been flickering earlier now burned brighter, even showing signs of expanding outward.
By the time Roland and Tracy approached, the luminous sphere had swelled to twice their height.
Accompanying this growth was a cacophony of chirping and chattering sounds.
This wasn't chaotic noise, but rather a surging wave of countless tiny, crisp, and vibrant voices, like a thousand miniature bells ringing in unison.
The surface of the sphere rippled and dissolved like water, revealing the scene within.
It was a massive, cocoon-shaped barrier woven from countless shimmering silver threads, now slowly contracting and dissolving inward.
Within the barrier, countless pixies floated densely packed together.
These tiny creatures, most no larger than Roland's palm, resembled miniature versions of Tracy.
Their iridescent butterfly wings vibrated at an astonishing frequency, emitting a low, buzzing hum.
When clustered together, they resembled swirling nebulae shimmering with seven-colored light.
"It's the Pixie Queen's protective cocoon!" Tracy exclaimed, her voice filled with relieved joy as she fluttered excitedly.
As Tracy spoke, the massive silver cocoon melted away like melting ice, transforming into shimmering stardust that flowed and dissipated.
The trapped pixies regained their freedom and immediately scattered like bursting fireworks.
Yet their attention quickly focused on Roland, who stood on the shore.
In an instant, the chattering cacophony surged louder, becoming crystal clear and fervent, brimming with awe and gratitude.
"Look! It's him! The human with the sword!"
"I saw him! He's as fast as the wind!"
"Swish! Swish! Swish! Those terrifying bugs all fell!"
"So amazing! He's even faster than the swiftest cheetah in the forest!"
"He saved the Pixie Queen! He saved all of us!"
"Thank you, mighty warrior!"
"A hero! He's our hero!"
Countless tiny specks of light swirled around him, dancing excitedly and forming a luminous, flowing halo.
Their praise was unrestrained, brimming with sincerity and fervor, transforming his swift defeat of the Void Mayflies into a legendary tale.
Watching this scene, Roland's lips curved into a faint smile.
If Galvis were here, he'd have plenty in common with these little fellows...
As his thoughts drifted, a brighter, more elegant figure gradually materialized at the center of the swirling lights.
Slightly larger than an ordinary pixie, standing about half a human's height, she radiated a serene yet powerful magical aura. A delicate crown woven from slender vines and dewdrops adorned her head.
Clearly, this was the Pixie Queen.
Her refined face carried a hint of weariness, but her gaze toward Roland was filled with profound gratitude and recognition.
She raised a hand slightly, and instantly, the previously chattering pixies fell silent, though their eyes remained fixed on Roland with unabated curiosity.
"Thank you for your assistance, human warrior," the Pixie Queen said, floating mid-air and offering an elegant bow.
Her voice, clear as a mountain stream, washed over Roland, seemingly easing the lingering fatigue from the battle.
"My name is Estelle. I don't know..."
"Roland."
"Greetings, Lord Roland."
After a slight nod, Estelle was about to continue speaking when Tracy, impatient, rushed forward.
Like a fledgling eager to return to its nest, she dove into Estelle's embrace.
"Pixie Queen! I'm so glad you're safe!"
"Oh, Tracy, my dear child..."
Estelle first gave Roland an apologetic look before gently stroking Tracy's forehead.
"It seems... you successfully completed the task I entrusted to you."
"Exactly!"
Tracy nuzzled into Estelle's arms before proudly puffing out her chest and declaring, "Roland is the hero I found to save our home!"
"I saw it all, Tracy."
Estelle affectionately tapped Tracy's upturned chin and then raised her gaze to Roland.
"Lord Roland, though the pixie race has long remained apart from the mortal world, we deeply understand the principle of gratitude. You saved our home..."
Her gaze swept over the surrounding devastation, and she sighed deeply before continuing.
"Therefore, we must express our gratitude. What do you require? Whatever is within our power, we will strive to fulfill it."
(End of the Chapter)
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