Twin Sister Fairies
The two fairies with the cheeky names Pink and Sylphy were more commonly referred to by their nicknames than their actual names.
That’s right—Tomboy Fairy and Timid Fairy.
“I don’t like this summoner. He’s completely out of character.”
“Uh, sister—don’t say that about the Master…”
The two fairies possessed buff and debuff abilities, respectively—specialized summons for strengthening allies and weakening enemies.
They were especially popular among non-paying users due to their excellent utility.
‘Their appearance must have had something to do with it.’
Being fairies, their looks were also exceptional. Many people openly expressed their attraction toward them, to the point where the term “Fairycons” became infamous.
Even Ian had admired the appearance of these two summons back in the real world. More precisely, he had admired the illustrators who designed their visuals.
Now that it had become reality, the two summons still had adorable appearances—but that was all. They didn’t evoke anything beyond a sense of cuteness.
‘No, she’s a fairy, after all…’
Fairies, by nature, are small creatures.
Pink and Sylphy were smaller than Ian’s hand—at a glance, they weren’t much different from the dolls cadets played with.
At the very least, Ian wasn’t a pervert who had improper thoughts about tiny, doll-sized fairies.
“…who would do that to a fairy.”
[What? What did you just say?]
“Nothing.”
Ian smiled and returned the two fairies to the summoning glyph on his left hand.
There was no indication that the space between his right and left hand was treated like a separate world, nor that Anna and the rest of the party were even aware of the fairies.
Once the summoning ritual was over, Ian made eye contact with Artia, who was watching him with twinkling golden eyes.
“No matter how many times I see it, I still don’t understand your summoning ceremony.”
“Because I am the Hero.”
“Hero—Reinhardt. The first emperor didn’t possess the same power as you.”
When she mentioned Reinhardt, the first Hero and emperor who had summoned Artia, Ian fell silent.
Indeed, Ian’s power did not come from being a hero—it came from being a player.
The first emperor, a native of this world, would never have possessed the same capabilities.
“What are you?”
“You already know.”
As Artia stared at him with a skeptical expression, Ian smiled lightly and revealed his true identity.
“I am the Hero who will protect mankind.”
***
[Hey! Woh! What is that!?]
[M-master… What is that!?]
After escaping from Artia’s Treasure Vault, the two fairies—who had been sealed away for hundreds of years—were overcome with curiosity at the sight of the Academy, now advanced with centuries of technological progress.
Their constant chattering was enough to make Ian’s head throb. He felt the urge to scream at them to quiet down for just a moment.
But he didn’t.
Ian knew they meant no harm, and he didn’t want to seem like a lunatic shouting at thin air in front of others.
‘Can you two be quiet for a bit…?’
[If you summon us, you’re responsible! If you keep ignoring us, we won’t cooperate!]
‘…Can a summon even disobey their summoner’s orders?’
[Hmph! You know how crucial my skills are, right? Without me, you wouldn’t even be able to use a single skill properly!]
That was Pink speaking.
The bond between summoner and summon was essential to fully draw out a summon’s potential. She was threatening not to cooperate if Ian didn’t give in to her demands.
That might have worked on an ordinary summoner.
One who didn’t understand the mechanics or know the skills by name.
But Ian wasn’t ordinary.
‘Is that so?’
[…what?]
‘I wouldn’t die without you. In fact, can’t you see I summoned both you and Sylphy at the same time?’
Ian glanced down at his right hand.
A summoning circle was engraved there, marked with three distinct patterns.
The moment the two fairies noticed a third summoning mark unrelated to either of them, they fell silent for the first time.
[…What are you?]
[Master is amazing!]
[Sylphy, shut up. This isn’t normal.]
Pink, having silenced her overly social younger sister, addressed Ian again.
[It’s possible for a summoner to have multiple summons, but… five? Including us? You didn’t inherit us—you summoned us. If those others are summoned in the same way…]
‘If?’
[No way. That’s impossible.]
Pink muttered the last words to herself and abruptly cut off the conversation.
Even when Ian attempted to reach out again, she blocked him from the other side.
‘What the hell is going on…?’
As Ian stood there, puzzled by her sudden reaction, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned quickly—only to find slender fingers poking into his cheek.
“Hehe, got you!”
“…Senior.”
With her long blue hair cascading down her back, Aire slowly withdrew her hand and looked at Ian.
“What are you doing in the hallway?”
“I was just on my way to my room.”
“I see. Oh, right—did you have a good vacation?”
“Vacation?”
Ian looked at her, confused by the sudden question.
Aire tilted her head curiously.
“Didn’t you go on vacation for a month?”
“Ah… that?”
She was referring to the incident when Ian faked his death. Others still believed Ian and his group had gone missing and were only recently rescued. But Aire was convinced that Ian hadn’t been in danger at all—instead, she believed he had simply been enjoying a vacation.
Ian wondered how she knew that. Did becoming a duke come with a personal intelligence network?
“…Why do you think that?”
“A woman’s intuition?”
“Intuition, huh…”
It wasn’t just that. Sometimes, a fool’s intuition surpassed a wise man’s insight. Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps something more.
Denying it wouldn’t work on Aire, who was utterly convinced. So, Ian just nodded.
“I suppose you could say that.”
“So? What else did you do this time?”
“Nothing much.”
“Really? Then, would you like to read this letter with me?”
“Letter?”
Ian blinked as Aire suddenly pulled a letter from her coat.
She stepped closer and began to read aloud, slowly unfolding the letter.
“To my dear daughter—How are you? Hmmm, this part can be skipped…”
“… to be friends with Ian Clark?”
“Hey! Don’t interrupt! I was going to read it all!”
Aire puffed out her cheeks in protest.
But Ian wasn’t paying attention to her reaction—he was focused on the letter.
‘What the…?’
The letter was from the Archduke of the North, Duke Elnes.
A letter encouraging Aire to get closer to him.
It was clearly sent with a purpose. The Duke had witnessed everything that happened during the recent crisis.
‘In the meantime, Duke Eritz and Duke Ariel have been drawing close. I guess he’s getting impatient.’
There was some restraint in the wording. He could have ordered Aire to seduce Ian outright, but instead, he advised patience.
Considering Duke Eritz had tried to arrange an engagement between Stella and Ian, and Duke Ariel had made similar moves… it showed just how much Duke Elnes cared for his daughter.
“Hmph! Anyway, my dad sent me this letter!”
“…Why?”
“Why? My dad never writes stuff like this! And yet, he sent me a letter! Why? All because of you.”
Ian Clark—get close to him. The fact that the Duke of the North had sent such a letter meant something big had changed.
What could have caused her father’s shift in attitude? Aire couldn’t guess.
But she knew one thing.
“Did you defeat the Demon King?”
Ian finally started moving. He had begun walking his path toward his goal.
And since his goal was to defeat the Demon King, Aire knew she had to start preparing too.
“No.”
“Really? Whew, that’s a relief.”
“I only defeated one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“…Huh? Wait—what did you say you defeated?”
“One of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
‘Now that one of them is dead, should they be called the Three Heavenly Kings?’
Ian wasn’t too concerned about the terminology.
But Aire simply stared at him in shock.
‘What? Did he really just say that? Not a demon or some bandit—but one of the Four Heavenly Kings?’
Was that something to mention as casually as catching a wild boar behind the academy?
“…Party.”
“Yes?”
“A party! Right now! We’re throwing a party!”
And with that, Aire dashed back to her dormitory. Ian stood there, staring blankly after her.
***
Although Aire said she was throwing a party, it wasn’t anything grand or open to everyone.
After all, the reason for the party couldn’t be publicly shared.
A celebration for defeating one of the Four Heavenly Kings? No one would believe it.
So, only a small group was invited—specifically, those who were close to Ian.
“…Long time no see, Senior.”
“Ah, Stella! Long time no see!”
Stella, daughter of Duke Eritz, looked at Aire with a stiff expression.
Aire, daughter of Duke Elnes, smiled brightly at Stella.
Ian quickly realized there was something between the two.
They were both daughters of dukes, yet had completely opposite personalities—and even their summons reflected that contrast.
Hoping they’d get along might be asking for too much.
[Is that even possible?]
‘…Stop reading people’s thoughts.’
[Heh, I can’t help it. It’s just how I feel.]
At that moment, Pink spoke to Ian.
“It’s possible.”
And with just those two words, she planted the seed of hope.