The Legend of the Flower Demon Lord

Chapter 28 - A fairytale land waiting for a hero, or a villain?

Chapter 28 – A fairytale land waiting for a hero, or a villain?

As I stepped through the town gate, a shock went through my body.

"...Did you feel that?"

"Hm? Feel what? I didn't feel anything."

Magnus answered absent-mindedly as he happily walked forward and further into the town. No one else seemed to have heard me. And you call yourself an expert in magic? You have no talent at all...

It was a truly strange town. Nothing seemed normal. It was like a melting pot of different races, and everyone seemed to carry weapons although they seemed too happy and relaxed to be prepared to use them. They just kept laughing and playing around...

"Let's try that event next! I heard it's pretty hard."

"Hard? Hah! Let me see. I'll pass it right away and give you the prize!"

"Yaaay! Give it, give it!"

There were men puffing out their chests and trying to impress girls, and there were others trying to compete with each other on whether they could complete the 'event' or not.

"Three-stars? Maybe we should try a different one..."

And there were those who were afraid, but tried sneakily hiding it. What stars? I don't get anything, really...

"Just what is this place?"

"An amusement park!"

Felly suddenly appeared, a huge pile of strudels in her arms. With a stuffed mouth, she explained, "The nice baker over there told me!"

Looking towards the baker, I saw a man moving at the speed of light trying to create more goods quickly since his stock had 'suddenly' sold out. There was a huge line of irritated people waiting and complaining.

"Why is it taking so long?"

"They are known as the best strudels in the area...good enough for a god! I really wanted to try..."

"How did they not know to prepare enough? So unprofessional..."

So you can't make a strudel to save your life, yet you can eat so much?

"W-What are you doing?" Tears lined Felly's eyes as she saw Angie's hand reaching forward, about to get one of the sweets.

"Y-You have something on your face!" She quickly cleared away the crumb. Nice save!

"Sniff! Anyway, it seems like a lot of adventurers come here. When they are tired from their tasks, they come to try the 'events' here to have some fun. But the events are kind of like adventures themselves...so I don't get it."

Stuffing a whole strudel in her mouth, she shook her head with stuffed cheeks.

"This is a strange town, but shall we stay the night? I feel bad for Ezekiel suddenly having to chop wood and make a bed every time we camp..."

Magnus eyes glanced accusingly at me for a second as he finished speaking.

But, I didn't really pay him much attention. My eyes had drifted towards the end of the long main road, where a strange tower protruded upwards in the distance. It felt really strange. Like it's calling...me? No way...

"That..." I pointed at the tower, "Is that an event too?"

Felly quickly gulped down the strudel in her mouth, "Yeah. I heard it's the hardest one! It's the only one with a five-star level, and not many try it anymore. They say that at the top of the tower, there is a sleeping princess waiting to be awakened and rescued, but a terrible dragon keeps her prisoner. No one has ever cleared it. They say it's impossible."

"But here we have someone who always does the impossible..." There was a snarky grin on Magnus' face as he slowly turned my way, "Though, I'm sure such a silly game doesn't tempt you?"

It is silly, alright! So cheesy and overdone. A super typical fairytale for innocently stupid children.

"Of course no-"

"It's really sad no one has won though. The prize is five million gold pieces."

"..."

"Ah..."

There was empty space in my place. I was already speeding forward towards the other end of town, where the gold- I mean, princess awaited. I didn't even care as the hood glided off my head, revealing hair so silver it almost looked white.

Magnus crossed his arms as he shook his head, "When money is involved, she forgets everything. Wasn't she so self-conscious about that hair earlier? Wearing that hood no matter how hot it became..."

"She's an idiot. Didn't you know?"

Felyn quipped in, also shaking her head with crossed arms as she suddenly appeared at his side.

"Where did you come from? Were you unable to seduce that guy you were following?" There was a rude smirk on Magnus' face.

The man she was following had caught sight of me as my hood fell to reveal my determined face. He turned to stone.

"Shut up!"

Are you guys gonna start dating? I thought to myself before turning off my psychic ability. I didn't wanna hear more idiots. You guys are the idiots! Idiots!

***

It seemed like all the events were stories people have heard in their childhood, as if all the fairytales in the world had combined into one town. And here I was, standing at the gates that led to 'sleeping beauty.' What a joke...But, at least I'll get money!

"Wait."

I was about to set foot into the event when I bulky men at the gate stopped me, placing his arm in front of me.

"Are you at the right place? This is sleeping beauty's event, a five-star."

"...I know."

So annoying! Can't you just let me through? Time is money! He was really annoying me.

"Oh? Is someone trying the sleeping beauty event?"

Next thing I knew, the deserted event entrance was filled with people surrounding me.

"A girl? She looks so pretty..."

Soon, many of those people were drooling with heart eyes. Even more annoying...

"Little girl."

A shadow loomed over me, so I turned to face the origin of the voice. A man even taller and bulkier than the guard faced me, a smirk on his wolven features as he stood confidently with crossed arms.

"This is not the kind of place for little girls. Why don't you try the princess dress up game over there? If you want a prize that badly, I can just win it for you." He pointed a finger at himself, "I'm strong, after all."

"Really?"

He nodded, "Of course! I have already won five three-star events- Ooof!"

The man with the wolf head went flying backwards, hitting some kind of bullseye a few feet away. A 'ding, ding, ding' sound emerged as people screamed in shock, followed by a robotic announcement, "Winner! Winner! Score above calculations!" and a lot of smoke. Looks like a strength test...

Slowly, I put down my foot, the dark element dissolving from around it. I had kicked him.

"Anyone else going to stop me?"

The guard's face paled, and he quickly stepped away, not even daring to speak. There was complete silence as I contentedly walked into the event, all eyes on me. I smiled. Good!

AN: So! I know I haven't written in a while, but I've had this story arc in my head for quite some time and decided to write it today! Even with a headache. :3 Somehow two pills weren't enough to make it go away. TT_TT Anyway, Ellie hates fairytale stereotypes, so this is just perfect. Haha! Also, I was gonna have the finale arc after this one, but I had a cool idea for another one, so this book will be a bit longer. XD Tell me what you all think of the chapter and I hope you enjoy~