Prank of a Fairy

The Fairy's Corridor was the very reason why Madame Aisha was known as the most troublesome Campione in history. Its because, even she couldn't control it.

Whenever this Authority went out of control, it would tear open a gateway. A gateway leading to another time.

For ordinary humans, getting sucked into this portal meant one of two fates. They would die in the past, lost to history forever. Or they would live out their lives in ancient times, never able to return.

A one-way trip.

But for a Campione? Time doesn't bind them the same way.

If a Campione fell into the past, they could potentially fight their way back to the present by sheer power alone. But how long that would take? Unclear. And the worst part? The distortion of time itself.

The world believed that Madame Aisha was over 150 years old.

But in truth, she has only lived for about fifty.

The rest of her life had been spent wandering through different eras. She might have spent a year in the past, only to return and find that three years had passed in the present. That's where the real danger lies.

Roy wasn't afraid of an adventure into the past. In fact, he was intrigued.

But if he returned to the present only to find that years had passed…

And the Last King had already awakened? That would be a disaster.

"Annie, I remember you have ties to the fairies of the Netherworld. Can you stop Madame Aisha's Authority?"

Roy's gaze snapped toward Annie Charlton.

He didn't ask Athena. Since the goddess of wisdom had no connection to the concepts of time or travel.

Only fairies knew the nature of this authority.

The Fairy's Corridor was an Authority stolen from the Queen of the Land of Everlasting Youth, Niamh, of Celtic Mythology. At a glance, it seemed incredibly powerful. It could open pathways to ancient eras.

But in reality, it was nothing more than a fairy's prank.

Its because no Campione, no Heretic God and not even the Last King himself had the power to truly alter history.

The force of historical correction was absolute.

Even if a god or a godslayer falls into the past… They cannot change it. They could fight. They could struggle. They could survive. But in the end, they would only be spectators in a journey they could not alter.

And if they couldn't change anything? Then isn't this just one big elaborate prank? A deadly prank, but a prank nonetheless.

Annie Charlton sighed, raising her hands in a helpless gesture.

"You're right. I do have some connections with the fairies. But you're underestimating something, Mr Roy. Fairies are like children. Mischievous. Immature. Playful."

She gave a wry smile.

"Do you really think someone who loves pranks… Will suddenly have a change of heart?"

She shook her head.

"Unless this situation threatens the entire world, don't expect fairies to help. In fact, if they learn you're about to get tricked… They'll probably just clap their hands and celebrate!"

At that moment, a powerful suction force erupted. It came from Aisha. The Fairy's Corridor had begun draining her divine power, forcing the Authority to activate.

A crackling vortex of golden light began to take shape. A gateway to another era. It was not an attack, it wouldn't harm them. But, that's exactly why it's impossible to resist.

Roy braced himself against the force. Even with his immense power, double that of a normal Campione. He found himself struggling.

"Damn it…"

This wasn't mere magic. It wasn't even an Authority in the normal sense. It was something more abstract. It was a fundamental force of the world itself.

Even the Kings of Gods in myth… Could still fall victim to a fairy's trick.

And now, so would they.

"Since you know your authority is going out of control. Then why the hell did you come looking for me?! Wouldn't it have been easier to just find some remote place and wait for your next trip in peace?!"

Roy's voice dripped with annoyance and exasperation.

At this moment, the suction force from Madame Aisha's Authority was still relatively weak. The Campiones and Heretic Gods present could still resist its pull.

But, Princess Alice had already vanished. After all, what stood here was merely her astral projection, not her physical body. Thus, she was completely unaffected.

Athena remained unfazed, her expression serene. As the Goddess of Wisdom, she understood fairy pranks better than anyone. This wasn't a lethal danger. She could simply wait for the right moment to return to her own era. So, she merely stood still, her golden eyes watching events unfold without concern.

Aisha froze for a moment, then let out a pitiful wail.

"B-But Master! Didn't you say you could stop an out of control Authority?! That's why I came to you!!"

Roy pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"I was talking about Queen's Curse not Fairy's Corridor."

He sighed, then narrowed his eyes.

"…But why the hell did this authority go out of control so fast?"

Roy finally understood, why everyone avoided Madame Aisha like the plague. She was a walking disaster. She doesn't just bring trouble. She is the trouble.

Aisha pouted, looking genuinely distressed.

"Ugh… Then I must have misunderstood…"

She mumbled, rubbing her temples. Then, she suddenly looked even more troubled.

"But it really is strange… Normally, after this Authority acts up, it takes a long time before it happens again. Yet this time, It's barely been a few days, and it's already sending me on another trip?!" Aisha threw her hands up in despair. "And I didn't even prepare this time! I don't have enough travel funds!!"

Roy tuned out her nonsense. He had already calmed down, and now a new question occupied his mind. The time ratio problem. Even if Aisha didn't have a solution, he had to ask.

But, she actually had an answer.

"I used to struggle with the time ratio issue too…"

Aisha's voice softened, her eyes flickering with nostalgia.

"But then, while traveling through China… I was forced to steal an Authority from Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva—Grand Luck."

Roy raised an eyebrow. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva? A Buddhist deity associated with fate, karma, and judgment?

Aisha nodded, then continued.

"With this authority, I can grant myself a blessing of good fortune. And after obtaining it, I discovered something incredible."

She smiled, as if recalling an old, amusing memory.

"The time flow between ancient and modern eras completely reversed. Even if I spent years in the past. Only a few days would pass in the present."

Roy's eyes widened.

"That's it!"

This solved everything. Aisha's authority could prevent them from losing years while trapped in the past. Roy's frustration vanished instantly replaced by urgency.

"Then hurry up and activate it!" Roy snapped, his tone sharp. "I am not coming back to find that years have passed!!"

"M-Master, you're so mean…" She sniffled dramatically. But when she saw Roy's glare, she immediately caved. "F-Fine! Okay! No need to look so scary!"

Aisha clasped her hands together. And began to chant.

"When time is not ripe yet for good to result, even the benevolent shall encounter misfortune, when time is ripe for good to result, fortune shall come to pass... Until the goddess bringing calamity to the people is defeated, please grant protection!"

A radiant golden aura enveloped her body and with that, the blessing of fortune was activated.

Roy breathes a sigh of relief. With Aisha's authority active, the worst-case scenario had been avoided. At least now, time wouldn't work against them.

Meanwhile, Alice, having escaped this mess, would no doubt inform Erica and Liliana. She would also warn the other magicians to stay away from the portal.

Roy cast a side glance at Athena. She looked as calm and composed as ever.

"…Let's stick together, Athena." (T/N: I wonder what Asherah is doing)

He took her small, delicate hand in his. She merely nodded, her golden snake-like eyes flickering. There was no fear in her expression. This was just another fairy prank. Nothing more.

Roy's face suddenly changes and a chill runs down his spine. Something was wrong. His right hand… The mysterious entity sealed within.

The one Aiwass had named The Ship had begun to throb violently. And then, it forcefully hijacked the portal's trajectory.

Roy reacted instantly. He turned to Athena, and without hesitation he transferred the Gorgoneion to her.

Why? Because he realized the truth. The portal had changed course. He and Athena might not end up in the same place.

"If we're separated-"

Athena, in her current state, would be vulnerable. But, with the Gorgoneion, she could restore her full power. She would be unstoppable.

She stared at him, confused. But before Roy could explain, the portal consumed him.

The last thing he saw was the faint glimmer of her golden eyes. And then, Darkness.

Roy fell through time, through space, through the unknown. And when he finally landed, he found himself somewhere else entirely.

A land where shadows stretched endlessly. A realm where sunlight had never once touched.

This was a Magical Realm of Another World.

***

(T/N: The original chapter title was a bit spoiler-ish so I changed it, its okay right? Also, here's another chapter for you guys and you didn't get this sooner because of my hectic work schedule especially in last two days. Hopefully see you tomorrow guys. Peace.)