Seeing that the Pikachu Fairy Queen was so understanding, Roland held nothing back and explained his reason for coming here.

"A Space-Time Spell..."

Upon hearing Roland’s request, Estelle frowned slightly before slowly shaking her head.

"I’m sorry, Your Excellency Roland. As Tress said, I do indeed possess a spell that can warp through space or time, but..."

She glanced at the lingering mist all around them and sighed softly.

"This mist, saturated with Magic Elements, severely interferes with my Perception."

"So, even if I were to cast the spell, I would be unable to determine or discern any specific coordinates or bearings. Therefore..."

Perhaps it was because she had expended too much of her Power protecting the other Pikachu.

The Fairy Queen, who had been floating in the air, slowly descended to the ground.

"If I were to cast this spell on you or your companions, the result could be..."

She paused for a moment.

"You might appear anywhere on this continent, or..."

Estelle’s gaze shifted to where the Void Mayfly had just vanished.

"You could appear on another plane outside the Prime Material Plane, or you might even... deviate from the present and emerge in the distant past or future."

Roland fell silent upon hearing her words.

He hadn’t expected the Space-Time Spell possessed by the Pikachu to be so powerful.

Not only could it ignore distance, but it could even defy the Law of time, allowing travel to the past or future.

For someone like him, who had only mastered basic Tricks on his path as a Mage, it sounded utterly inconceivable.

After his brief shock, he sighed.

Though they had only known each other for a short time, judging by the nature of the Pikachu, Fairy Queen Estelle had no reason to deceive him.

This meant that relying on her Space-Time Spell to escape this dangerous land was clearly not an option.

"In that case..."

After collecting his thoughts, Roland knelt to show his respect, bringing his gaze level with the Fairy Queen’s before speaking slowly.

"Do you know of any other way to leave this region?"

Hearing his question, Estelle slowly closed her eyes, as if searching for something.

After a long moment, she finally spoke, uttering a single word.

"Wait."

"Wait?"

Hearing this short answer, Roland frowned deeply.

"That’s right, Your Excellency Roland. Perhaps you are unaware..."

Estelle opened her eyes, a nostalgic look flickering within them.

"This land beneath your feet... hundreds of years ago, it was known as the Magic City Jiles."

The Pikachu Fairy Queen’s voice held a distant echo.

"Before the Year of the End, it was hailed as the Magic Pearl, the supreme hall of knowledge and Arcane Magic."

"Countless Mage Towers pierced the clouds, and scholars gathered to explore the mysteries of the Multiverse. For instance..."

Her gaze suddenly fell to Roland’s waist.

"The Secret Silver Longsword you wear is a product of the Magic City Jiles in its heyday."

"Fate has led you here, Your Excellency Roland."

"The Magic City... Jiles?"

The unfamiliar name left Roland momentarily bewildered.

He wracked his brain, recalling the ancient tomes he had read in Bronson’s collection, but he could find no record of this Magic City.

This left him deeply perplexed.

’If the city was truly as magnificent as Estelle claimed, it was impossible that there would be no trace of it in the ancient records.’

’Did Bronson’s collection just happen to miss it? Or... did this Magic Holy Land, for some reason, silently vanish into the river of time?’

As Roland pondered, Estelle continued to speak.

"Your Excellency Roland... someone is trying to revive this ancient city."

"The towering mountain range you described is, in fact, the city wall of the Magic City Jiles. It’s just that... it has yet to reveal its true form. Therefore..."

Her eyes grew distant, as if lost in a memory.

"If you wish to leave this place, your only choice is to wait for the Magic City Jiles to reappear in the world. When that happens, you may be able to depart through one of its gates."

As her voice faded, a silence fell, leaving only the faint, humming tremor of the surrounding Pikachu’s butterfly-like wings.

After a long moment, Roland finally let out a long breath and nodded slightly.

"Thank you for your guidance, Miss Estelle."

"There is no need for thanks, Your Excellency Roland. In truth... I haven’t really been able to help you, so..."

Perhaps the brief rest had allowed the Pikachu Fairy Queen to recover some of her strength. She slowly floated up from the ground again, a soft glimmer of light dancing at her fingertips.

"Allow me to express my gratitude. I can birth for you a Bless—Mmph..."

Her clear voice came to an abrupt halt.

Estelle’s bright eyes suddenly became vacant and devoid of light.

In an instant, a deep panic flooded them like a rising tide.

"Your Excellency Roland... you... no, honored guest..."

She bowed slightly in a direction just to Roland’s side, her once-elegant form beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

"I was not aware he was your retainer. I beg you to forgive my impertinence."

Estelle’s sudden behavior left Roland confused.

Just as he was about to ask what was happening, he suddenly felt...

An incredibly complex sensation, a touch both cold and warm, grazed his neck.

It then trailed upward, finally coming to rest on his cheek.

The feeling was...

It was as if an invisible hand was gently caressing him with an indescribable intimacy.

’Shire!’

In a flash, Roland realized the source of this strange sensation.

As his entire body stiffened, the Nameless Breathing Technique, as if stimulated, began to circulate rapidly on its own within him.

As if sensing the searing current of energy, the cold hand, in a gesture that was part flirtation and part complaint, gave his cheek a light pinch.

Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished without a trace.

Only after the presence had completely dissipated did Estelle, still trembling, straighten up.

A wry smile touched her usually serene face.

"Mr. Roland, it seems... I will be unable to birth a Blessing for you. In that case..."

Her gaze swept over Roland, finally settling on his waist.

"Instead... allow me to remove the Curse from your weapon."

Roland didn’t respond immediately to her words. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

His body remained tense as he carefully scanned for any lingering sensations.

Only after confirming that Shire’s power had left no trace within him did he let out a long sigh of relief.

Recalling the scene, a chill crept up his spine, and an uncontrollable thought surfaced.

’Don’t tell me the Goddess of Death... has been watching me this whole time? But...’

He rubbed his cheek vigorously with his palm until the strange, lingering sensation finally disappeared, but an indescribable sense of strangeness welled up in his heart.

’Isn’t she one of the Deities? Could she... really be this... idle all the time?’

The moment that thought arose, the familiar, strange sensation permeated the air once more.

This time, however, it was fleeting, leaving only a faint, punishing sting on his forehead.

It was as if...

The Goddess of Death had flicked him on the forehead.

Heeding the warning, Roland quickly reined in his thoughts and refocused on what Estelle had said.

"A curse?"

He drew the Secret Silver Longsword from his waist.

The blade shone with a cold luster like moonlight. Even after dozens of battles, it remained completely unscathed.

Gazing at the blade, Roland slowly furrowed his brow.