The Singing Lake

Isn’t learning inherently about constant repetition until it becomes second nature? I had intended to proceed to the next dungeon immediately, but the others were so utterly terrified they simply collapsed. I ended up telling them to rest in a corner of the dungeon, while I hunted the demon by myself.

‘What choice did I have? I needed to nurture them, which meant feeding them experience, and hunting demons was by far the most efficient method.’

‘Even if it was a low-ranking leader, why bother, one might ask? Simply to avoid any future complications with our route.’

‘It’s always best to clear out minor enemies immediately. Imagine the frustration of having to backtrack a long distance just to catch one stray monster later.’

After dispatching the second demon, the others claimed their levels had each risen by three. This was merely their assertion, of course; they possessed no means of actually viewing their levels. The ‘sprouts’ remained as vibrant and green as ever.

Feeling wasteful about the leftover time, I considered hunting a named-grade monster, only for them to recoil in utter disgust, now refusing to even approach me.

Jack, in particular, was the most affected. He, who typically chirped and chattered incessantly, had been reduced to a trembling, silent observer ever since witnessing the first demon.

“Was it truly that terrifying? Pilgod is merely one of the weakest among the leader-class demons.”

“…How, precisely, are we meant to defeat a creature of that caliber?”

“You are capable. I began with absolutely nothing at all.”

‘But you have me. You possess top-tier equipment, an abundance of support in the form of potions and buffing foods, and I continuously provide magical assistance. It should be far more comfortable, and you shouldn’t even die.’

If I took even a single step closer, they would retreat two or three paces. I couldn’t fathom why they feared me so. I made no effort to close the distance with Jack, who was actively backing away. I simply lowered my hand, which had been suspended in the air, and continued walking forward.

‘Very well, I suppose that’s just how things are. It feels somewhat melancholic.’

“By the way, where exactly are we headed now?”

“You all seem quite exhausted, so this time, I intend to show you something pleasant and let you relax.”

“In these remote, layered mountains? We’re only climbing higher, aren’t we?”

“I believe this is something you’ll all genuinely enjoy.”

‘While demon hunting held the most appeal for me, an RPG was meant to offer diverse forms of enjoyment, not solely combat.’

‘Among such games, 『The Garden』 was renowned for its exceptionally high degree of freedom.’

“Ah, I’ve found it.”

“Uh… Sir Haut? What exactly is that?”

“A door.”

Pushing through the dense undergrowth, I stepped into a crevice within the steeply rising rocks. There, a flat surface appeared, haphazardly adorned with drawings that resembled children’s scribbles. I placed my hand upon it and spoke softly.

“A ‘friend’ has arrived. Will you open the door for me?”

The stone wall, where my hand rested, slowly crumbled into dust, vanishing completely. Before us, a vast, expansive space unfurled. A verdant meadow, seemingly painted into existence, stretched out before us, dotted with nameless wildflowers and diminutive flowering trees. At its heart lay a vast, shimmering lake.

Its perimeter was encircled by spire-like rock formations, rising sharply to form a natural wall. Vines and gnarled trees intertwined like an intricate net, heavy with blossoms and ripened fruits. And within this ethereal landscape, sparkling entities fluttered in every direction.

The trio stared at me, their faces utterly dumbfounded. I merely smiled and stepped to the side.

“Ta-da! Welcome to the Singing Lake—!”

“A… a lake? In these rocky mountains?”

“What, uh, what are those?”

“It seems every time I believe there’s nothing left to astonish me, something new invariably appears.”

‘Even within a game, how could anyone endure endless combat day after day? There was hardly a soul in this world who didn’t appreciate leisure and good food.’

‘True, not everyone could find joy in battle. But what if I presented them with something most people would enjoy? Wouldn’t that make the game more appealing?’

‘Perhaps beautiful scenery, delectable foods, and wondrous sights would lift their spirits.’

“Quickly, go inside. The door is closing!”

“Sir Haut, please, an explanation first…!”

“I went to all this trouble to find it, precisely because I thought you would enjoy it!”

I pushed the backs of the three, who stood dumbfounded. As those with no strength to resist were helplessly propelled inside, a grating sound echoed from directly behind me, and the stone wall slowly rose, sealing the entrance once more.

The moment we were fully inside, the chattering specks of light surrounding us swiftly converged, pouring forth a torrent of words.

―They’re here! Humans have arrived!
―Why only now? Let us sing!
―We must play!

They were tiny fairies. Within the game, these sprites were no larger than a human palm. Some resembled dolls, while others took the form of birds or cats. Occasionally, they even manifested as inanimate objects. Their appearance, according to the lore, was determined by the shape the fairy itself desired.

‘Hadn’t I mentioned before how difficult it was to locate fairies?’

“These are my ‘friends’. Let’s play together.”

‘Indeed. It was arduous. Finding them out in the field was notoriously difficult. And truthfully, this place wasn’t easily accessible either.’

‘Locating it was challenging, and one couldn’t enter alone. Whether an NPC or another player, assistance was required to gain entry.’

‘Even once found, there was seldom a reason to return. I typically traveled alone, and as this area was near the capital, the demons were universally weak, offering no incentive to linger.’

‘Even if I acquired companion NPCs, the arduous journey back up here was inconvenient. Moreover, the by-products from these fairies were distinctly different from those found outside, rendering them largely useless.’

‘While discovering it once did simplify the entry process, it was by no means a place one could easily frequent.’

‘There was, in fact, a special event where one could propose marriage if accompanied by a high-affinity NPC. However, considering their current rock-bottom affinity for me, that was entirely irrelevant.’

At my words, the fairies descended upon the trio, almost pouring over them. They chattered excitedly, engaging them in conversation, clinging to their sleeves and hair, tugging to coax them into play, or even bringing strange items from unknown places to offer as food.

“W-what in the world is this?”

“As you can plainly see? They are fairies.”

“These? Truly? F-fairies are merely tales for children, surely…”

“There are gods and demons, yet you doubt the existence of fairies?”

According to the game’s lore, the existence of fairies was largely unknown. Their by-products were never sold in shops, with only a select few mages or similar otherworldly beings acknowledging their presence.

There was little to be gained from fairies themselves, and the path to their lake was arduous. One could only discover them by wandering the open fields, hoping to chance upon a fairy and build affinity, or by undertaking a specific quest, as their appearances were entirely unpredictable.

A quest involving a terminally ill child, on the brink of death, whose dying wish was to see a fairy. This was, in essence, a mere side quest. Accepting it offered no hints whatsoever, only a marginal increase in the probability of encountering a fairy collective. I had only undertaken it out of curiosity, having heard that everyone else had failed.

Accounts from those who attempted this quest revealed a grim pattern: either the child would perish before a fairy could be found within the allotted time, or, if a dead fairy was fortuitously discovered and brought back, the player would be met with severe condemnation, resulting in a drastic decline in overall NPC affinity.

Alternatively, if one presented the child with fairy by-products, the child would label all adults as liars, fall silent, and eventually succumb to their illness and die.

Consequently, I opted for an alternative approach. I painstakingly raised the fairies’ affinity to its maximum, then implored them to meet the human child. The fairies, in turn, revealed that while they could neither await nor seek out humans themselves, there were indeed fairies who guarded the lake.

Here, another branching path emerged: either bring the child, or capture a fairy alive.

If one captured a fairy, the child would rejoice. However, the parents, blinded by avarice at having acquired such a precious, real fairy, would turn on me with knives, invariably leading to quest failure. Moreover, the fairy would perish in the child’s hands, handled too roughly. Ultimately, a fairy’s curse would claim both the child and their parents.

Following the final remaining path, if one brought the child directly to this place, they would joyfully play. The parents, witnessing their child’s smile after so long, would then reward me with 100 gold.

This was the sole successful outcome and its reward. By lore, ordinary NPCs lacking the proper qualifications were unable to perceive fairies. When confined to a cage, their mystical power would wane, rendering them visible. Here, only I and that specific child could perceive them. The child, by all rights, shouldn’t have been able to see them; it was merely the fairies’ compassion for the child that led them to reveal themselves.

‘It was, quite literally, the mercy of the fairies.’

After I posted about this place, more players began undertaking the quest for entirely different reasons. The scenery here was simply breathtaking. It was resplendent with beauty, day or night, making it an ideal location for taking screenshots. Few places within the game were so meticulously adorned. Furthermore, once word spread that a proposal event could be initiated here, it quickly transformed into a renowned landmark.

“You can eat anything they offer. You can swim in the lake, and even drink the alcohol if you wish. Oh, and they sing beautifully too.”

“Why… why did we come to a place like this?”

“Because you all seemed so distressed, I thought a change of scenery might lift your spirits?”

‘I didn’t know why they were stuck in a fear state, but prolonged fear was never good. While I could dispel it with magic, it seemed better to show these ‘sprouts’ something pleasant and let them rest, all while raising affinity.’

I accepted a berry from a cat-like fairy and ate it. Was it a wild strawberry? This was delicious too. I remembered it tasting more like a strawberry candy before.

“Those white ones over there are called ‘Cloud Sheep.’ Holding them feels wonderful, so soft and fluffy. You should hug one while you sleep.”

―Human! You had friends after all!
―No! You just came, so you had no friends! For a long time, no friends!

“No, I didn’t.”

This quest had been accidentally completed while I was hunting demons, so I had never brought Rabi or Bebe here either. A belated regret washed over me. Feeling a peculiar sadness, I offered a casual reply to the fairies and gently pushed the trio forward, each of them promptly dragged away by the fairies clinging to them.

However, for some reason, Nocturne floundered and returned.

“You’re not going?”

“It’s… it’s too unrealistic, and somehow a bit…”

‘An NPC, of all things, questioning realism?’ I scoffed inwardly, but Nocturne remained strangely subdued, offering no further response. I said nothing more, simply lying back on the grass and rolling about.

Nocturne looked down at me.

“Why? Is there something you want to say?”

A fairy climbed onto Nocturne’s head and tumbled around. Even as his hair became disheveled, Nocturne continued to stare at me with a serious expression. Then, with a sigh, he finally spoke.

“Sir Haut, can I truly call you human?”

“Then what am I?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

“That’s an odd question. I’m just an ordinary human man, aren’t I?”

The Singing Lake was breathtakingly beautiful. This otherworldly paradise, filled with the pleasant songs of fairies from all directions, was a magnificent sight to anyone who beheld it.

The lake reflected the sky, a gentle, cool breeze rustled through the air, and the sparkling traces of fairies danced everywhere. Moreover, everything here tasted delicious. There was even alcohol, though for me, it would likely just taste like sugar water.

Nocturne looked down at me for a moment longer before slumping down beside me on the grass.