"Though I'd love to let you rest properly, it seems there's no ti for that just yet."
The Count smilingly handed over two invitations.
"These are invitations from Gloucester. Muram specifically ntioned in the letter—inviting the Child of Prophecy and the Foreign Traveler to attend the fairy ball!"
Gloucester.
Located forty kiloters due west of the capital Calot, it is a rather unique city within the entire fairy kingdom.
For one, Gloucester is the fashion capital of all Britain—every trend radiates from here to the rest of the land. One could say that all trends in Britain are rely what Gloucester has already moved on from.
However, what makes it even more special is that Gloucester is an autonomous region with independent rights!
That's right.
Whether it's wind-governed Salisbury, fang-governed Oxford, or earth-governed Norwich—even the already destroyed Sheffield—all are nominally under the Queen's territory.
But Gloucester is different; this city exists independently of the Queen's rule.
Though still part of the fairy kingdom, the Queen's authority holds no sway here!
Ultimately, this is all due to the ruler of Gloucester.
Twelve hundred years ago, in the 800th year of the Queen's calendar, the Fang Clan and the Wing Clan clashed over territorial disputes.
The final outco was that the powerful and fierce Fang Clan annihilated the Wing Clan entirely!
Only the clan leader Muram, and Habētrot, who had renad herself Habetrot, managed to escape.
After the Wing Clan was destroyed, Habetrot continued to wander the land.
As for Muram, she established her city in Gloucester.
She enveloped the entire Gloucester with her unique fairy domain as a Returned A-Rank fairy. Within this city, everyone's power would be suppressed back to their original state.
As long as they were within this fairy domain, no one could be her match, and no one could defy her!
Even Queen Morgan was no exception to this!
At least, that's what Muram believed.
After all, Queen Morgan did grant Gloucester autonomy and acknowledged Muram's neutral status.
Sotis, even when Muram extended her influence to other cities or boldly declared that Gloucester was not under the Queen's rule, the Queen showed no reaction.
This only strengthened Muram's confidence.
To this day, Gloucester has beco the most famous city in the fairy kingdom. Countless lower-ranking fairies take pride in having visited Gloucester, and even high-ranking fairies from Calot frequent the place.
In the city center of Gloucester stands a grand auction house.
"Coming here brings back so unpleasant mories."
Muramasa's face darkened.
It was at this very auction house that Gudako had rescued him, which was why he felt indebted and joined their faction.
"Our destination this ti isn't the auction house, but the building next to it."
Led by their guards, Gudako and the others headed toward the city center.
Each invitation allowed only one attendant, so the rest of the group chose to go shopping. Gudako and Artoria, accompanied by Little Da Vinci and Muramasa respectively, entered the ballroom.
"What a beautiful place!"
Upon entering the ballroom, Gudako couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
The vast and spacious hall was filled with high-end delicacies everywhere. Graceful attendants moved among the guests, continuously offering fine wine to the upper-class fairies dressed in splendid attire.
What captivated them most was the ceiling above.
The hall's ceiling was designed to be transparent, allowing a clear view of the starry night sky from inside, creating a sensation of being imrsed in nature while simultaneously evoking a sense of civilized superiority—truly a breathtaking sight.
Though they had visited many places before, Fujimaru had rarely encountered such purely aristocratic designs.
"Castoria, are you alright?"
Leonardo da Vinci noticed Artoria nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her face flushed bright red, and couldn't help but ask with concern.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"N-No, it's just... I feel like an insignificant lower-class fairy like , without even a decent set of clothes, is really worthy of being in a place like this, hehe..."
Artoria forced a dry laugh, her face completely flushed with sha.
Muramasa raised an eyebrow.
Now that she ntioned it, it was true.
Both Leonardo da Vinci and Fujimaru wore their respective Mystic Codes, whose designs from Proper Human History gave the local fairies a refreshingly novel impression. The haori he wore over his shoulders was also quite fashionable.
Only Artoria.
She wore a faded, coarse linen dress that seed like hand--downs from so village fairy.
Her inferiority complex was likely largely due to her attire.
"You need not feel ashad for that, Child of Prophecy."
As they were speaking, a voice suddenly cut in.
"Because Lady Muram has cast a spell around this ballroom—'unfamiliar fairies cannot see their own faces.' No one recognizes you, so no one cares about you."
What a way to put it.
Though it might sound like comfort, it felt even more insulting.
See? People only don't care because they don't know you?
If they did recognize you, wouldn't they rush over to point and laugh in your face?
"Barghest?"
Muramasa glared over displeasedly.
"Do you have sothing to say? Or are you planning to settle the score from the Welsh Forest?"
"I was outmatched in skill, and I have no such intentions."
Barghest had unusually taken off her armor today, replacing it with a dress wrapped in black silk.
However, her physique gave off less of a seductive vibe and more of a "about to get pumled by her muscular build" feeling.
"I ca to find you because I wanted to... no, what am I thinking?"
She started to speak but then clicked her tongue sharply.
"I probably don't have the right to, sorry, just forget I said anything!"
Leonardo da Vinci and Fujimaru exchanged glances.
In each other's eyes, they saw a flicker of understanding.
"The honored guests are entering."
As soon as the words fell.
Several figures, even more beautiful than the upper-class fairies present, stepped into the hall.
Among them were many familiar faces.
For instance, the Wind Clan Chieftain Aurora, and the Fairy Knight Lancelot.
As well as the Fairy Knight Tristan.
"Huh?"
Fujimaru suddenly froze.
"Why is Fairy Tristan holding... a pig in her arms?"
Leonardo da Vinci, Artoria, and the others—even Barghest—noticed it too.
All the upper-class fairies in the hall stared in astonishnt at the Fairy Knight Tristan.
"What are you looking at!"
Aesc glared fiercely at her surroundings.
She seed ready to throw hands at the slightest provocation.
Following her gaze.
The pig's face wore an unmistakably human expression of utter despair.
Around its neck hung a small naplate.
Everyone present possessed excellent eyesight, imdiately reading the inscription.
"Beryl Gut..."
"Heh... heheh..."
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA————!!!"
Suddenly.
The entire ballroom erupted in unrestrained roaring laughter!
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