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Chapter 65: Royal Ball Prep, A Million Tables Ready to Rage-Flip
しおりを挟む
While Clarisse and Seraphine were still hugging Ryo, and Ryo hugged back in their emotional moment, he glanced around and noticed all the stares from the Fairy citizens—stares filled with fear, particularly aimed at the sisters.
Nuada sighed. “While your group was away fighting the Vrakul Grootslang,” he told Ryo, “some of my Fairy warriors confessed their dislike for the sisters, blaming them for the curse that had possessed them and ravaged parts of Lunaveth. I ordered silence, but one of them could not resist and spread rumors the moment he had the chance.”
Upon hearing this, Seraphine and Clarisse flinched, guilt washing over them.
Seraphine, in a shaky voice. “I’m very sorry, everyone… I remember everything… all the bad things I’ve done… but… I didn’t mean to cause any harm… I wasn’t in control while I was cursed.”
Clarisse nodded nervously, voice trembling. “Y-y-yes… I regretted what I did, even though I don’t have much memory of it. I’m worried… are we… are we about to get executed?”
Titania shook her head gently. “No, you did nothing wrong. It was the monster controlling you all along that caused the destruction. You are both innocent.”
Despite Titania’s words, not all the Fairies watching agreed. Some shot killer glares, others gritted their teeth, hoping the humans would leave Lunaveth immediately. They whispered among themselves.
“Those cursed humans brought this on us.”
“I don’t care what Lady Titania says… they’re dangerous.”
“If it were up to me, they’d be gone already.”
“Their presence is a threat to all of Lunaveth.”
“I won’t forgive what they did, even if they claim innocence.”
“The curse has left scars no one can ignore.”
“Do we really have to keep them here?”
“I can’t trust them… not after everything.”
“They should never have set foot in Lunaveth.”
Ryo heard it all. The whispers weren’t quiet—they seemed deliberately loud enough for his group to catch. He knew the longer the sisters stayed in Lunaveth, the more dangerous it could become. Someone might try to sneak in and harm them out of hatred or revenge. He had learned this from bitter experience: during his days as a policeman, he had seen former criminals, freed after serving their sentence, killed by the victims’ families—no mercy, no warning.
It was clear: the sisters needed to heal quickly, be returned safely to Madam Rosalind along with the servants Elise and Sophie, and prepare for the upcoming royal ball. Meanwhile, Ryo wanted to hear all the evidence Titania and Fairy Greatmother had discovered and analyzed.
Since Nuada did not fully trust some of his Fairy warriors, he decided it was best for him and his family to lead the way. He ordered the other warriors to return to their families and check on their safety.
Before they departed, Vesmyra pointed upward. “You see that, over there, Strange foreign man?”
Ryo and the group looked up. Ryo squinted, baffled. “The hell… what… is that?”
High above Lunaveth—soaring a thousand meters in the air—floated a shimmering lake, suspended in the sky like a dream out of place.
Ryo blinked. “What in the—more fantasy nonsense am I looking at now?”
Vesmyra explained, calmly. “That… is our family’s healing sanctuary: the ‘Librarium of Wellspring.’”
Elise tilted her head, confused. “Librarium… of Wellspring?”
Titania grinned and patted Elise’s head. “That’s right, sweet child. It’s… a floating magical place where you can eat, relax, and read in the library—all while we heal and rejuvenate to the fullest.”
Elise’s eyes sparkled, her excitement impossible to hide. “OOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!”
Sophie placed a hand on Elise’s shoulder, chuckling softly. “Relax, Elise… don’t get too overexcited.”
Ryo asked, skeptical. “So how are we supposed to get up there? We can’t fly like you all. Are you going to carry us up or what?”
Dr. Snouts 5000 grinned. “No, bro.” He gestured toward the Fairy King with a paw. “Your Majesty, may we leave the honors to you?”
Nuada then summoned a regular-sized grimoire, letting it materialize atop his right palm as if it had emerged from thin air.
Ryo, arms crossed, tilted his head and pointed at it. “So… what are you gonna use that book for, Your Majesty?”
Nuada’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “It is a surprise, young man. You shall see.”
Without another word, he tossed the grimoire onto the ground. It landed with a heavy thud, its middle pages spreading open wide.
Ryo scratched the back of his head, clearly puzzled as to what Nuada was planning.
Then, the Fairy king raised his curled palm toward the book and began to chant.
“Grow, O page, stretch wide and free, by root and rune, make room enough for all to be.”
The grimoire shimmered, a soft light spilling from its pages. Suddenly, it began to expand—stretching, swelling—until it grew as large as a small stage, still lying open like a vast platform.
Ryo’s jaw dropped. He stammered helplessly. “A… A… A…”
Dr. Snouts 5000 couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction.
“Reminds you of that sorcery movie you told me about earlier, doesn’t it? What was it called again? Oh, that’s right! Haru Putyr!”
Ryo gave him the flattest side glance imaginable. “Correction. It’s…” He paused, then, not bothering to correct him further, added, “You know what… you’re right. Totally Haru Putyr.”
He turned back to Nuada. “So… what’s this giant book supposed to do?”
Nuada’s voice carried calm authority. “This grimoire will bear us upward, to the Librarium of Wellspring.”
Ryo narrowed his eyes at the book. “Ahhh… so basically a magical flying elevator, huh? We’re really going the movie route here. Just like—”
Before he could finish, Dr. Snouts 5000 cut in. “Doctor Weirdo, right? That superhero movie man you told me about—from Marbulu Studios.’’
Ryo’s eyes twitched at the Cu Sith’s mistake. “Riiiiight. Totally that superhero movie man from Marbulu Studios.”
Puffing out his chest with pride from the detective’s movie lessons, Dr. Snouts 5000 declared.
“So basically, bro, this whole thing you and your group are about to experience?”
“It’s going to feel like something straight out of ‘Haru Putyr and the Putyrverse of Mudness’!”
Ryo raised his arms and shrugged with mock enthusiasm, his voice dripping sarcasm.
“TOTALLY CORRECT! Produced and directed by that ‘24-Hour Hat Guy’ from the Mediocre Cinematic Universe!”
The ladies, though they didn’t understand a single word about these Marbulu Studios or Putyrverse references, couldn’t help but giggle.
Titania blushed, her gaze softening—falling for Ryo even more simply because he was funny.
But Vesmyra? Her reaction was far stronger now. Tiny hearts practically lit up in her eyes. Not only had Ryo proven himself admirable with his strength and courage against the Grootslang, but now she realized—he was a comedian too.
The craziest part? Ryo wasn’t even trying to make her fall for him.
Nuada slowly facepalmed at the absurd movie references he didn’t understand, and told Ryo and the Cu Sith to stop fooling around. He then ordered everyone to step onto the grimoire, and they did—everyone except Dr. Snouts 5000, who was still in his large Cu Sith form, taking up too much space.
Nuada glanced at him and told him to shrink. Dr. Snouts 5000 nodded, his body shimmering as he shrank to dog size. Only then did he step onto the massive grimoire, finally able to fit.
The grimoire began to glow silver. Its pages trembled as though catching a phantom wind, and slowly—smoothly—it lifted off the ground. The book rose higher and higher, carrying them all upward in a radiant ascent. The entire kingdom of Lunaveth grew smaller beneath them: the rivers, the glimmering lights fading.
The floating lake above drew nearer, its mirror-like waters catching starlight, suspended impossibly in the sky. Ryo was in awe, realizing he was riding what felt like a fantasy-like elevator toward a floating lake. His wonder, however, was cut short when Vesmyra suddenly clung to his left arm.
Ryo blinked, raising a brow. “Umm… Vesmyra? Why are you holding my arm?”
Vesmyra leaned close, her breath tickling his ear as she whispered sultrily.
“It’s your fault for looking so amazing during that fight… and still being a funny man.” She pressed even closer. “And how dare you leave me out, when my older little sister is obsessing over you.”
Ryo’s face flushed. “Umm—ummm—”
Vesmyra giggled low, licking her lips. “No need to be shy, strange foreign man. Care to keep this single 40-year-old young and beautiful fairy company?”
Ryo’s thoughts went haywire. “What the hell did I do to make her act like this?!”
Before he could untangle himself, Seraphine and Clarisse noticed. Jealousy flashed in their eyes. Without hesitation, Seraphine grabbed his right arm, while Clarisse wrapped herself around his torso.
Ryo nearly choked. “Hey! Not again you two!”
Seraphine narrowed her eyes at Vesmyra, but then leaned in to whisper to Ryo, her voice dripping with seductive possessiveness.
“Cheating is not allowed, my dear husband. Remember when we had our wedding—in my sleep?”
Ryo stopped blushing, rolling his eyes at her delusion. His tone went flat with sarcasm.
“Oh nooo, how could I forget? Our totally normal wedding. Let me guess—it was in the manor’s back garden?”
Clarisse pressed closer, her lips nearly brushing his cheek. “But honey… don’t you remember our honeymoon? In the woods by the river?”
Ryo sighed heavily. “Clarisse… you were flying in your sleep when that happened.”
At that exact moment, Titania turned around—only to freeze. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ryo completely surrounded: Seraphine on one side, Clarisse on the other, Vesmyra clinging shamelessly, all of them competing for his attention.
Titania’s pout deepened, her voice rising. “BIG SISTER! Why are you clinging to strange foreign man all of a sudden?!”
Vesmyra deadpanned at her, then clung to Ryo even tighter.
“Listen here, my dear older-younger sister. You know I’ve never found a good fairy man—most shy away or run because I’m too beautiful. Then this strange foreign man shows up. He acts normal around me, courageous, doesn’t even realize he’s funny, and still manages to charm me without trying. Do you really think I’d let a man this rare slip away? As a matter of fact…” Her eyes glimmered wickedly. “I don’t mind being wife number two or three, as long as I can marry him too. I’m in my forties, you know. And besides, I still look young and gorgeous.”
Ryo’s eyes bulged in horror. “EEEHHH?! Since when did I get you this crazy for me?!”
Titania’s eyes twitched furiously. She had thought Ryo was hers alone. But now? Her sister and even the stepsisters had joined the battlefield of affection.
Her pout turned fiery. “MMMMMM!!!! VERY WELL!!!!”
Marching right up behind Ryo, Titania wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
“Then I shall be wife number one!”
Now Ryo had four beautiful women clinging to him on every side.
His inner voice screamed in panic. OH GREAT! MY HAREM’S GROWING! WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?! I’M HERE TO FIND CINDERELLA IN THIS FAIRYTALE FANTASY WORLD AS PART OF MY DETECTIVE WORK—NOT GATHER WAIFUS LIKE A FREAKING GACHA GAME!!!
Fairy Greatmother and her husband Nuada, who had been gazing at the clouds, turned toward the ridiculous harem scene and saw their two daughters and the stepsisters hugging Ryo affectionately, all begging for his attention.
Nuada rubbed the back of his head. “Sweetheart… should we start enacting polygamous marriage into our kingdom’s law?”
Fairy Greatmother pressed a finger to her cheek, tilting her head in thought.
“Oh dear… I’ve seen Mr. Detective gather women without effort. At this rate, we should make an exception—polygamy for him alone. Perhaps even start calling him son-in-law soon.”
And with that, the grimoire’s ascent finally stopped—its glowing pages still open—hovering a thousand meters high, just before the bridge at the edge of the floating lake. Across from them, it was not merely a floating lake, but a vast glass dome suspended above the waters.
Before they could reach the dome, a wide bridge of pale blue, glowing leaves stretched out before them, shimmering like moonlight woven into solid form. Ryo wondered if such a thing could truly hold their weight.
At last, his harem released their hold on him. Titania and Vesmyra reassured him with calm certainty that the leaf bridge was as strong as stone and perfectly safe to cross.
And so they walked, Vesmyra gently holding Elise’s hand, while Sophie kept close at Ryo’s side, her fingers gripping his hand with quiet caution.
At the far end, the entrance to the glass dome was sealed with luminous pink leaves. Nuada stepped forward, laying his silver hand upon them. Slowly, the leaves unfurled, scattering outward in a hushed wave, like petals carried on an unseen wind.
Inside, the dome was dimly lit, its heart a circular platform reached by a short bridge. At the center stood a rectangular table with chairs on each side, surrounded by a wide ring of glowing water—like a tranquil lake illuminated from within, gleaming faintly like a secret pool in the dark. Bookshelves lined the edges of the dome, filled with Lunaveth’s ancient books and grimoires.
As the group stepped inside, a hush fell. One by one, they felt it—their wounds closing, blood fading, exhaustion slipping from their bodies as if washed away. They looked at themselves in awe, barely able to believe it. For Nuada, Titania, Vesmyra, Dr. Snouts 5000, and Fairy Greatmother, however, this was normal. They spoke of how they often came here to rest and spend quiet hours together as a family.
Elise gazed down at the glowing lake below, pressing a finger to her lips in childlike wonder. She asked if she could swim. Vesmyra, charmed by her excitement, said yes, and Elise rejoiced. Fairy Greatmother added gently that anyone who wished to swim could wear the swimming gowns hanging along the walls.
Clarisse and Seraphine did not hesitate, immediately deciding to join. Dr. Snouts 5000 leapt into the lake first, swimming around with his paws, looking utterly smug. Sophie, despite being Elise’s older and more composed sister, lingered uncertainly. It was clear she wanted to swim but held back, bound by her sense of duty to serve Ryo as a servant.
He noticed her hesitation, smiled, and urged her to go, telling her that a young lady should not let her youth pass without joy. Moved, Sophie’s eyes softened. She thanked him and chose to join her sister in the swimming.
Vesmyra, amused, decided she would swim as well. She led them to the changing rooms at the back. Soon, they returned dressed in flowing swimming gowns. Without hesitation, they leapt into the glowing lake, laughter ringing through the dome as they swam, their joy filling the space with life.
Meanwhile, Ryo, Titania, Fairy Greatmother, and Nuada went to the center of the platform and took their seats. Fairy Greatmother then served Mooncrust loaf, roasted meat, and cool water on the table for dinner. Ryo looked at the Mooncrust loaf, reminded of the one he and Fairy Greatmother had on that ridiculous journey to the moon, and smiled faintly.
They all began munching on their dinner. Afterward, Ryo took out his notebook and pen, clicked the pen open, and prepared to listen to the evidence. Nuada mentioned that he had also helped analyze the evidence, so he would assist with the explanation as well.
Ryo gave a single nod, pen at the ready, and said they could begin explaining the two pieces of evidence.
First, Fairy Greatmother drew out the cursed perfume from her robe and placed it on the table. The three began explaining that it contained pixie grains—yet not from any ordinary pixie, but from a cursed one.
Ryo’s eyes widened. He had already suspected that the cursed perfume might involve pixie grains from the sinister Petyr Pann. In the original Peter Pan tale, Peter himself had used pixie grains to make himself, Wendy and the Lost Boys fly. But this… this was different. A cursed pixie? That was new. The original pixie was never evil, only jealous, obsessed with Peter Pan. But now, a cursed version existed?
Ryo couldn’t help but wonder—was this cursed pixie grain the reason behind the purple sparkles that allowed people to fly? And if so… how did it tie to the black miasma? The smug boy in the volto mask—whom Ryo suspected to be that unsettling Petyr Pann—had exuded black mist from his feet during their encounter the other day. That mystery remained unsolved.
The three went on. The crushed rock minerals mixed into the perfume were not from any ordinary land, but from a rocky terrain belonging to an entirely different world.
This part left Ryo puzzled. A rocky land from another world—inside a cursed perfume? What did that even mean?
The explanation grew darker. The cursed perfume carried the properties of dark magic—it inflicted sleep. Ryo narrowed his eyes. That… reminded him of something. Sleeping Beauty. In the original tale, she had been cursed to sleep for a hundred years after pricking her finger on a spindle. Now, with the perfume traced back to a distiller from Rosenthorn, Ryo suspected someone connected to the ‘villainous fairy’ of that old story had slipped this curse into the bottle. First, the curse forced its victims to fall asleep. Then, once under the spell, the pixie grains made them fly.
Ryo jotted down notes.
With the cursed perfume explained, Fairy Greatmother then took out a wrapped parchment from Ryo’s clear evidence bag and placed it on the table. She unwrapped it carefully. Inside were several jagged black shards.
Nuada raised a hand and summoned a glass jar, immediately lowering it over the shards, sealing them inside—just in case their corruption leaked out.
The three explained that the shards also carried dark magic. They bent and twisted people, turning them into something that was no longer themselves.
Ryo’s mind clicked. The cursed shards were what had manipulated the stepsisters, driving them into violent rage, forcing them to act unlike themselves. But there was something hauntingly familiar about them.
The shards reminded him of the original Snow Queen tale. In that story, a shard had pierced Kaj’s eyes and heart, twisting his very nature until he became cruel and cold—just as the stepsisters had been.
But here lay the strange part. The stepsisters had indeed been manipulated, even driven to kill him.
Ryo also suspected that these shards were the ones that had made Cinderella’s stepfamily cruel toward her.
But did each shard expire after a certain time? The stepfamily had told Ryo that for four years, they hadn’t been themselves. So did the shards’ dark magic simply expire, or was it removed when Cinderella was taken to the castle after the glass slipper fit her foot?
But when the shards were removed from the stepsisters during the ritual, the Grootslang emerged from within them. Why? How? Could each shard trap a monster inside itself?
The thought chilled him. Creepy. Disturbing. And far too strange to ignore.
He scribbled more notes.
Fairy Greatmother wanted to explain something privately to Ryo, something she didn’t want the stepsisters or servants to overhear. It was fine if Titania and Nuada heard, but not the others. Ryo noticed her hesitation—the way her eyes flicked toward the stepsisters and servants—and understood what she was struggling with. He assured her it was safe and that she could tell him.
The stepsisters and servants were too busy splashing and laughing with Vesmyra and Dr. Snouts 5000, with Elise riding cheerfully on the Cu Sith’s back like an inflatable pony pool float, to pay attention. Fairy Greatmother let out a quiet breath of relief and leaned closer, whispering about Edmund.
She suspected Edmund was the smug volto-masked man who had attacked Ryo two days ago. Ryo’s gaze sharpened at that, because the masked figure had not been the size of a boy—like the eerie Petyr Pann kid he had first suspected—but the size of an adult. From there, Fairy Greatmother began to explain in greater detail.
He noted it down.
And with that, the explanation of the evidence came to an end…
Ryo tucked his notebook into the pocket of his trench coat just as the stepsisters, the servants, Vesmyra, and Dr. Snouts 5000 climbed out of the lake pool. Laughing and dripping water, they made their way toward the table to join in for dinner. Once they settled, Vesmyra and Dr. Snouts 5000 turned to Ryo and expressed their wish to help him and Fairy Greatmother in the search for Cinderella.
Ryo was puzzled at first, wondering what made them want to get involved. But Dr. Snouts 5000 explained that, after the Grootslang’s rampage through the kingdom, this missing princess case was far more than a simple disappearance—the danger looming over them was far greater. He and Vesmyra had already spoken about it while splashing in the lake pool earlier.
Titania then cut in, declaring her desire to join the search as well. She agreed that this was no ordinary missing person case, but something much larger and more dangerous. Nuada, however, could not join them. He explained that he needed to remain in Lunaveth to oversee the rebuilding efforts after the devastation caused by the Grootslang Vrakul. With his fairy warriors, carpenters, blacksmiths, and handymen, his place was with his people.
Ryo understood—it was best for the king to remain in his land, easing tensions and guiding the restoration of Lunaveth.
And so, Titania, Vesmyra, and Dr. Snouts 5000…
…were added to the search party for Cinderella.
While the others were still eating, Ryo stood up and wandered around. The dome was not only a healing sanctuary but also a library, its shelves lined with books and grimoires. Curiosity tugged at him, and he began scanning the shelves to see what secrets might be hidden here.
That was when he noticed a grimoire tucked beside another book. Its title caught his eye.
{ The Fairy Godmother’s Rebirth }
Ryo squinted at the words. “Huh? Fairy Godmother?”
Pulling it from the shelf, he carried the book back to the table, sat down, and opened it. The pages were filled with ancient writing—though he could read it clearly, thanks to the translation spell Fairy Greatmother had cast into his brain.
The text described chants and rituals centered on a transformation spell.
Ryo turned toward Fairy Greatmother and asked. “Ma’am, what’s this book all about?”
Fairy Greatmother, gently wiping crumbs from Elise’s mouth like a sweet grandmother, glanced over.
“Oh that, my dear? That’s a grimoire that allows a person who’s not completely dead or on the verge of death to transform into the Fairy Godmother.”
“Huh.” Ryo muttered, brow furrowing. “I’m confused… you’re the Fairy Greatmother, yet there’s this word ‘Fairy Godmother.’ I don’t get it… what’s going on here?”
The contradiction gnawed at him. In the original Cinderella story, it had been the Fairy Godmother who appeared, sending Cinderella to the royal ball with a magical gown and glass slippers. In this world, Fairy Greatmother—an alternate version—had played that role, though only gifting Cinderella the magical gown. And now, here was a book about transforming into the Fairy Godmother, which only deepened his confusion.
Fairy Greatmother tilted her head at him, equally puzzled. “Mr. Detective… back on earth, when you asked why I have the word ‘Great’ instead of ‘God’ in my name. I thought you knew about this spell.”
She went on, her voice softer. “Moreover, this grimoire contains a spell that is similar to when my daughter, Titania, turned me into the ‘Great Fairy’ 60 years ago when I was on the verge of death in my village, Goldenhush.”
“Great… Fairy?” Ryo repeated, his curiosity getting the better of him. He couldn’t hold back and asked, “Can you tell me what happened 60 years ago?”
Fairy Greatmother turned to Titania, silently asking for permission. Titania’s face darkened, shadows of regret flickering across it. She gave a small nod. Though unsettled, she felt it was time to let the detective know. Perhaps by speaking of it, she could finally begin to move on from the guilt of destroying Fairy Greatmother’s village all those years ago.
Fairy Greatmother exhaled and began recounting everything…
When she finished, Ryo sat in stunned silence. His eyes slowly widened—not at Titania’s mercy killing of the village, but at the figure who had driven her to it.
Perchta?
Ryo knew that name. Not just a person, but an old figure of forgotten folklore—an evil old woman from tales long buried. In the old stories, she was said to reward the hardworking and obedient.
But according to the story he had just heard, Perchta had used a spell that forced people to dance endlessly: the Danse Macabre. The words alone sent a chill down his spine. He knew it as a French phrase, a symbolic kind of “dance of death,” a lesson about mortality—death as the great equalizer, sparing neither king nor peasant, a reminder to live humbly, for no wealth or beauty could keep it away.
Yet here, in this fairytale world, Perchta’s spell was no metaphor. It was literal. Endless dancing until death.
In the folklore Ryo remembered, Perchta had never wielded such magic. She punished the lazy, not the hardworking. What baffled him most was the punishment inflicted on the people of Goldenhush 60 years ago. Their only crime had been resting—rewarding themselves with festivity after long, hard labor.
In this world, it seemed Perchta despised the very act of resting. She demanded endless work without pause, framing it as “improvement.”
But to Ryo, it was clear what it truly was. To him… Perchta of this world sounded like a figure of foolishness. Selfishness. Or worse… someone who wanted SLAVERY to be seen as NORMAL.
And now… Perchta walked this world, too.
But this was 60 years ago… could she still be alive, or long gone?
That made three figures from forgotten folklore he had known here: Titania, the Cu Sith, and Perchta. And then there was Nuada, Fairy Greatmother’s husband, who hailed from ancient legend.
Ryo’s suspicion deepened. This fairytale world wasn’t just fairy tales. It was a fusion of ancient legends, classic fairy tales, and forgotten folklore, all woven together into a single, unsettling web… though he had also met Mr. Grim, another ancient figure, a crimson Grim Reaper from Al-Munira, and that encounter had been in a hidden land on Earth.
Ryo exhaled, letting his arms slump onto the table, weighed down by yet another chunk of fantasy lore dumped into his brain. After a moment, he straightened, eyes narrowing—he needed more information about this so-called ‘Fairy Godmother’s Rebirth.’
“Ma’am,” Ryo leaned forward, voice edged with curiosity. “Earlier, you said something about transformation into the Fairy Godmother when someone’s on the verge of death… or not completely dead.”
He tapped the table, then asked. “So I wanna know—does this spell work all the time?”
Before Fairy Greatmother could speak, Nuada’s calm, firm voice cut in, answering in her place.
“No. This transformation works only once. After it is invoked, the grimoire vanishes forever. That is why it has never been used again.”
“In Lunaveth’s oldest legend, it was said the very first Fairy Godmother—our first ruler—was once a human woman. She lay dying, yet the fairies who trusted her transformed her into the Fairy Godmother. Though mortal-born, she founded Lunaveth 1,500 years ago and ruled over it.”
“She passed away 100 years before Titania was born. Since then, only two grimoires have ever existed. One was already used… and the other now lies before us, untouched. It should never be used again—unless a case most dire compels it.”
The weight of those words settled over the table like stone.
But Ryo’s lips curled upward. A grin spread across his face, sharp and mischievous. His thoughts leapt immediately to….
Aurelia—Cinderella’s ghostly mother.
Without warning, he SLAMMED!! the table with both hands, making plates jump.
“TABLE FLIP!!!” Ryo shouted.
Everyone nearly choked on their food, eyes wide. spoon froze mid-bite.
“What the hell?!” Dr. Snouts 5000’s ears twitched as he blinked rapidly. “Table flip? Bro, what do you mean by that?”
Ryo chuckled darkly, still grinning ear to ear, and turned to him. “You know what, bro?”
Dr. Snouts 5000 tilted his head. “…What?”
Ryo leaned forward, smacking the table again with both hands, his grin spreading wider as his voice rose.
“The whole world is about to start flipping tables straight into Asgard—because the revival trope is about to hit them!”
“Just like that Joon Snowflakes guy from Gumurz of Thrunz, Phase 6: The DLC Quest for More Plot Holes Nobody Asked For!”
Dr. Snouts 5000 blinked, deadpan. “That… doesn’t explain anything.”
Ryo ignored him. His gaze sharpened, his smirk twisting into something wicked, almost gleefully evil.
“And once we find Cinderella—THE ENTIRE ONLINE COMMUNITY WILL BURN BECAUSE OF IT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—”
He threw his head back, cackling like an over-the-top cartoon villain. The laugh grew louder and wilder, and he almost fell out of his chair.
Everyone at the table stared at him, clueless about this ‘revival trope’ and the ‘Joon Snowflakes’ guy he mentioned—or how the two were connected.
Since the detective looked so interested in the grimoire, Fairy Greatmother summoned her wand and made it vanish, storing it in her magical storage as if placing an item into a magical box—thinking he might need it later.
The moment Ryo mentioned the possibility of a revival trope…
Back on Earth…
A strange dread fell on millions of people.
A guy in glasses, slurping ramen while roasting an anime he hated, froze mid-slurp. A chill ran down his spine.
He whispered. “What the hell… is something bad about to happen?”
His eyes shifted to the table in front of him. He suddenly felt the overwhelming urge…
… To flip it.
Meanwhile, in the North Pole…
In Santa’s kingdom of Nivaleir, a penguin named Fishfingers was streaming a shooter game on Twatch from his room. He was trash-talking animal players from other kingdoms while claiming victory.
Then Fishfingers froze, eyes wide. “Something… illegal is about to happen.”
Santa opened the door, cheerful. “Hey Fishfingers! Me and my wife are planning to invite Roselia again after Christmas for dinner. We’re thinking of eating out in the South Po—”
He paused, noticing Fishfingers’ horrified stare fixed on the monitor. “What’s wrong, son? You look afraid.”
Fishfingers slammed the desk. “SANTAAAAA!!! SOMEONE’S ABOUT TO BE ALIVED!! THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST ALL NOVELS!!”
Santa blinked. “I see, Fishfingers. I… shall continue planning the post-Christmas dinner and send out an invitation to Roselia.” He left, then poked his head back in. “Also… are you winning, son?”
Fishfingers’ chat immediately exploded:
“BRO WHY’D YOU PAUSE?”
“LAG SWITCH PENGUIN??”
“TABLE FLIP TIME??”
“DUUUDE!! IT’S SANTA! HE’S FREAKING REAL!!”
“And you’re a talking baboon… totally real. LOL.”
“REVIVAL TROPE SPEEDRUN 100%”
“SOMEONE STOP WHOEVER’S ABOUT TO ATTEMPT THE REVIVAL TROPE—IT’S OVER 9000!!!”
“PENGUIN’S SWEATING = PLOT ARMOR ALERT”
Fishfingers sat back down, trembling, sipping his iced tea with shaking flippers. His eyes locked on the desk. The urge to flip it grew stronger.
On Threadit forums…
Every thread simultaneously exploded:
“Why do I feel like flipping a table??”
“Revival arc? NOOOPE.”
“This ain’t legal.”
“I SWEAR someone out there’s about to bring a waifu back.”
“My desk just squeaked at me… it wants me to flip it.”
“Not again. Please. Not this trope.”
Somewhere in the USA…
An anime content creator, ‘Tiny Reviewer’ was editing his latest anime review when his hand froze mid-click.
His face darkened. “Is someone… seriously about to be brought back to life?! Wait—NO! Nope, illegal! I don’t even know why I FEEL this, but this is NOT allowed!!”
He looked at his desk, unplugged all his gear, carefully set it aside—then just stared at the table. His hands twitched. He wanted to flip it.
Elsewhere in the USA…
Another anime content creator ‘Pause Button’s Lost’ was in the middle of filming a meme video—pulling goofy faces and simping over anime waifus—when he suddenly froze.
A chill ran down his spine. He glanced over his shoulder, dread creeping in. Something forbidden was about to happen.
“I’m open to the revival trope,” he muttered darkly, “but it better be a sexy waifu I can spin my helicopter at! I’m picky about who gets revived! LET IT BE A CAT GIRL, A FOX WAIFU, OR MY TABLE’S GETTING ISEKAI’D!!”
He stared at his table… the urge to flip it surged uncontrollably.
And then… somewhere in Japan…
Inside a studio, the Dumpster Dish Podcast was in full swing. Three men—a loud Aussie, a sharp Thai, and a smug Welsh—were locked in a heated debate over which steak reigned supreme: bone-in or boneless.
Then suddenly… silence.
The Anime Kangaroo whispered. “...Guys. Did you feel that?”
The Pad Thai Zone’s face darkened. “Like the universe just screamed, ‘DON’T TOUCH THE REVIVAL TROPE!’ But someone in a certain series is going to ignore it anyway… oh boy, I fear it’s gonna be done badly.”
Welsh Tea, sipping tea calmly, didn’t even flinch. “Well, gentlemen, when are we doing another Dumpster Dish special? You know—fly to Hawaii, jump into a volcano, and see if the revival trope applies to us?”
The other two deadpanned at him.
The Anime Kangaroo pointed an accusing finger at him. “YO—YOU’RE ABOUT TO BREAK OUR EQUIPMENT AGAIN, AREN’T YOU, WELSH TEA?!”
Welsh Tea raised a brow, playing dumb. “What are you talking about?”
Then he smirked. “Actually… better idea. Instead of dying in a volcano, why don’t we fry our steaks—boneless steaks—on a pan over the lava? If an accident happens, maybe we get isekai’d or revived. Viral content and proof boneless steak > bone-in steak.”
The Pad Thai Zone smacked the table. “NOT ONLY ARE YOU RISKING OUR LIVES JUST TO PROVE YOUR BONLESS POINT, YOU’RE RISKING THE CAMERAS… AGAIN!!!”
Welsh Tea just shrugged, unbothered. “Relax, boys. Producer-san’s got us covered.” He winked at her. “Right, producer-san?”
Producer-san only facepalmed. Yet again, Welsh Tea was ready to blow up thousands of dollars of gear, all to prove his boneless steak supremacy—and maybe trigger a revival trope or getting isekai’d.
Now, The Anime Kangaroo and The Pad Thai Zone felt the urge to flip the table—not from dread of the revival trope, but from sheer frustration with Welsh Tea.
Somewhere in the gaming world…
A massive collab of VTubers were neck-deep in a race on Italiano Kart.
And then, all at once, they froze. Controllers in hand. Faces darkened with dread.
SteelRat screamed. “FUUUUUUUUUUUK! My oversized ears are losing it! I can feel it, I swear—someone’s literally coming back from the dead!!”
Mortal Calamity, breathing heavily. “TABLES! I NEED A HUNDRED TABLES!! THERE IS A REVIVAL! A FREAKIN’ REVIVAL! Grim reapers aren’t supposed to allow this—it’s illegal!!”
Sherlock’s Assistant whipped out a magnifying glass, scanning wildly. “According to my deductions, this revival trope… isn’t on Earth. Or in the VTubing world.”
Maniacal Zombie shrugged. “Revival trope? Pfft. Veteran here—been through it all before… though, you know, undead now! But hey, guys, can we switch it up? How about some APUX Legenda to shoot each other down, or maybe chess? I almost won the tournament arc, so I’m pretty sure I’ll beat you all in either game! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Flirtatious Bae sighed. “Come on Maniacal Zombie… let’s just jump into an adult game already. But damn, this revival trope tingling? Sends a chill down my horns… and, uh, my privates too.”
Lewd whale bouncing on screen. “UwU~ what if we… like… bounced the watermelons, guys-nya~? HAH—no context, RIGHT chat! No context!! Let’s not fuss over this revival trope right now~”
The Wholesome Wolf (Not Really), also bouncing. “Ehe~ you’re right, Lewd Whale~ Let’s just forget the whole revival trope and focus on something way more… mouthwatering~ Like bouncing these watermelons, right here~ Mmm~ they've been begging for some hands-on attention, chat~ Let your imagination handle the rest~”
Snoozefest Furball, waking mid-snore. “Zzzzzzzzz… Oh! Did I miss anything, guys? OH CRAP! My kart fell into the sea! MY DONKEY NEEDS THE REVIVAL TROPE—NYAAAAAAAA!!!”
Fried Chicken Addict, snapped. “WHOEVER’S COOKING THE REVIVAL TROPE LIKE DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN NEEDS TO STOP—THIS ISN’T A BUCKET OF ‘GET OUTTA HERE’ NUGGETS, I’M SERIOUS!”
Aquatic Chibi Gremlin, adorably roared. “Grrrr!!! Someone’s about to do serious injustice with the revival trope! Is it some sarcastic detective? Or… is it you, Sherlock Assistants? Don’t make me use my shark powers on you! GRRRRR!!!”
Sherlock’s Assistant, snapping back. “OH SHUT IT, SHARKPEDO!!”
Digital Thirst Trap, bit her lips. “A revival? Who? Oh, you mean that breakable titanium rod down there, chat? Sorry, sweetheart, even that won’t save this snoozing trope. Try harder… Wait a minute—are you serious? It’s actually happening?!”
Son-of-a-K, panicking. “NOOOOPE, NOT AGAIN!! I feel it deep in my soul—and maybe in my stomach too because this revival trope is about to SHANK US ALL WITH SPICY CHAOS!!! Someone’s gonna rise from the dead like a bad sequel nobody asked for, and trust me, it’s gonna be messier than a ramen bowl explosion during a hurricane!! Chat, grab your popcorn, your life jackets, and maybe a helmet—because this trainwreck’s going FULL THROTTLE STRAIGHT INTO DISASTER TOWN!!”
Chaotic Rodent, chuckled. “He… he… he… a revival, huh? Perfect! Just what I needed—someone to whoop good and proper, then shove right back into their graves. Come on, bring it on! Let’s make this mess even MESSIER!!”
The Cosmic Clockblocker, deadpanned at everyone. “Alright, everyone, please calm down. Can we just get back to the game before time starts slipping away? Wait—no, not the revival trope. No, no, no! If that happens, we’re screwed. Time will unravel, and chaos will flood everything! Someone stop this madness before it’s too late!”
Nightmare Moonatellite, grinning mischievously. “Hehe, oh nooo… is someone really pulling the classic revival trope again? Wow. So original. Guess they really love a comeback arc, huh? I just hope this one’s spicier than the last… or are we tossing in a little chaos for flavor too?”
The Kraken’s Art Intern, trembled. “The revival trope again... I don’t know, it’s like… waking something that’s better left asleep. What if pulling it back just makes everything more fragile? I… I’m a little scared of where this could lead.”
Psychotic Lizardzilla, roared. “REVIVAL TROPE AGAIN?! SERIOUSLY?! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO WATCH SOMEONE DIE AND COME BACK JUST TO KEEP THE DRAMA GOING?! I’M SO DONE WITH THIS CHEESY CRAP—BRING ME SOMETHING FRESH OR BRING IT ON, I’LL SMASH IT MYSELF!”
Tsunami Hairpocalypse, nervous. “Ohhhhh crap, a revival trope?! Eeeep! That usually means things get really complicated really fast, doesn’t it? I’m kind of worried everything’s gonna get all tangled up again… but maybe a certain someone will do it right this time…”
Musical Monarchalee (Yes, the Cover Singer), breaking into song. “The revival troooope~ is not allowe-“
Maniacal Zombie, cutting in with a power note. “EXCEPT FOR MEEEEEEEEEE~!!”
And then—POP!
Mystery crates spawned around them. Each one filled with a single table.
The VTubers all felt it at once—an uncontrollable urge… to flip.
Every. Last. One.
Back in the Librarium of Wellspring…
Dinner ended at last. Everyone rose from their seats—the stepsisters, the servants, and Vesmyra—changing back into their usual clothes. Together they stepped out of the floating dome, leaving its soft glow behind. Ahead, the giant, radiant grimoire still hovered in the night sky, and they descended with it, gently returning to the surface of Lunaveth.
Before leaving for Evendelle, Vesmyra quietly broke away from the group. She made her way to a small cemetery near the luminous forest. There, she knelt before her stepdaughter’s grave. Her fingers lingered on the tombstone as she whispered a prayer for Thalirea, a daughter she had loved and lost. The ache of longing was etched into her face—she wished, more than anything, to see Thalirea again, though she knew such a reunion was impossible.
From a distance, Ryo and the others stood in silence. None spoke. They simply bowed their heads, giving Vesmyra her moment of grief and respect. When at last Vesmyra finished her prayers, she drew in a steady breath, wiped her eyes, and rejoined the group.
Nuada, remaining behind in Lunaveth, embraced his family one by one. His voice was low, warm, and heavy with meaning as he wished them good fortune in their search for Evendelle’s missing princess, Cinderella. Then Fairy Greatmother led the group back to the ancient tree toward the door that led to her cottage on the other side of the world. One by one, they stepped through it.
Finally… they were back in the swamp cottage of Evendelle.
Outside, the evening had already settled. The sky glowed deep orange, fading into indigo as the sun sank below the horizon.
The time in Evendelle was now 6 PM.
Leaving the swamp behind, the group made their way back to Ravenswood Manor. When at last the manor came into view, Clarisse and Seraphine slowed, their eyes shimmering. They stood before their home, the curse that had once plagued them gone. Emotion welled up inside them—they could hardly wait to embrace their mother again.
Ryo pushed the door open, and immediately a flurry of movement greeted him. His animal agents leapt and scurried toward him, their cheers and chatter filling the air. Ryo crouched down, laughing as he hugged them, patting each head and ruffling fur and feathers.
Then the agents froze. Their eyes darted past Ryo—first to Titania, then to Vesmyra, both concealing their fairy forms… and finally to the dog-sized Dr. Snouts 5000, all of them smiling and waving at the agents.
“Hello there, Bro’s agents,” Dr. Snouts 5000 greeted.
Captain Nutso stepped forward, stunned. He asked. “Yo-yo-you… can speak the human language, stranger? Mr. Talking Wolf?”
The Cu Sith grinned. He spoke in clear human tongue. “Oh definitely, and you must be the Captain of the Furry Force your commander had told me about. I’ve come here to assist you all in finding your precious Cinderella!”
The agents’ jaws dropped in unison. Never before had they heard another animal speak like this.
Captain Nutso squinted, processing, then raised his paw with a dramatic thumbs-up. His voice sharpened with resolve.
“You’re in… the moment you offered to help us find our precious girl, you already passed the Super Special Secret Agent Recruitment Program. Welcome to the Cinderella Rescue Squad.”
Dr. Snouts 5000 grinned proudly as he shook the squirrel’s paw. After that, the animals—even the Cu Sith—huddled together in a small circle, whispering and debating in squeaks, chitters, squeals, barks… and even human speech. They were trying to decide a code name for Dr. Snouts 5000. And then, at last… he was given one.
Standing tall, Dr. Snouts 5000 gazed at the moon, as if accepting some grand destiny, pleased with his code name.
Then, with a twinkle in his eyes, he turned to Ryo, his face deadly serious.
“Bro… after a briefing with your agents, my code name has been decided.”
Ryo crossed his arms, raising a brow. “Which is?”
“The name is Boom… Jaymez Boom,” he declared with absolute pride.
Ryo tried desperately to keep a straight face, his lips twitching as he fought to hold in laughter.
“Yeah… okay… Agent Jaymez Boom… pfft... add 101 to that.”
The stepsisters and servants slipped inside the manor, calling for Rosalind. But after searching every room, they returned to the front, reporting that she was nowhere to be found.
Since Jaymez Boom could communicate with the animal agents, Ryo decided to put him to use. He asked the animals where Madam Rosalind was. McPecker, fluttered forward with a coo, and Jaymez Boom translated, relaying the answer: Madam Rosalind hadn’t returned home since sunset.
Fairy Greatmother suggested they head to Rosalind’s store. But before leaving, Ryo requested one last search of the manor. The two or three more clues he thought he needed weren’t enough—this was the Fairytale world, after all, not Earth. The Fairytale world couldn’t be underestimated. The more clues, the better.
Fairy Greatmother gave a nod, and Ryo slipped inside. For 20 minutes, he searched every room, every hall, every shadowed corner. When he finally emerged, a smirk tugged at his lips, confidence gleaming in his eyes—like a detective who had just uncovered something vital.
With that, the group set off toward Rosalind’s store in the nearby village. They reached the village square, and then, finally… La Rose de Ravenswood came into view.
The time in Evendelle was now 8 PM
Inside the store, Madam Rosalind sat slumped over the counter, her face buried in her arms as silent sobs shook her shoulders. She had been crying ever since closing hours, after her employees had gone home. Her thoughts clung to her daughters—Clarisse and Seraphine.
Ever since that cursed perfume had touched their lives, Madam Rosalind had been trapped in constant fear. Were they safe? Were they still suffering? She prayed that Roselia could help lift the curse.
Then— knock! knock!
A soft knock echoed from the back door. Madam Rosalind slowly lifted her head, her tear-stained face tightening with confusion. At this hour? She hadn’t expected anyone.
Her breath shallow, she rose to her feet, each step toward the door weighed with unease. She placed her trembling hand on the handle, opened it—
“MOTHER!”
Her eyes widened. She blinked rapidly through her tears, wiping them with hurried fingers as her breath caught in her throat.
There they stood—her precious daughters. Clarisse and Seraphine, trembling with emotion, tears forming in their eyes the moment they saw her.
Madam Rosalind froze. Then, in an instant, the girls rushed forward, wrapping their arms around her. She felt their warmth, their shaking bodies pressed against her, but her mind raced.
Were they still cursed?
Was this real?
From behind them, Ryo approached, hands in his pockets, a reassuring smile on his face.
“Don’t worry, Madam Rosalind. The curse on your daughters… is now gone.”
He gestured toward the family beside him. “It’s all thanks to Ma’am’s family.”
Madam Rosalind lifted her gaze and saw Roselia, Vesmyra, Titania, and Jaymez Boom standing there. They smiled softly and bowed with grace.
Her voice cracked as she whispered. “Roselia… is the curse… truly lifted… from my daughters?”
Fairy Greatmother gave a gentle nod. “Why, of course, dear Rosalind. They have returned to you—safe and sound, no longer under the curse.”
Rosalind’s tears overflowed. She clutched her daughters tightly, her body trembling as sobs broke free. Relief, joy, love—all of it poured out as she wept against them. Clarisse and Seraphine clung to her, crying out “Mother!” again and again, while Rosalind repeated their names with desperate devotion, as though trying to etch them back into her heart.
Ryo stood quietly, still smiling. To him, this moment was more than a victory over a curse—it was a reunion, a family made whole. His chest swelled with a familiar ache, a memory tugging at him from years ago.
He remembered his old police days, back on Earth…
A mother screaming outside a burning building, begging someone, anyone, to save her baby daughter trapped inside. Fire roared as the structure shook, close to collapse. Officers and firefighters hesitated, fear written across their faces.
But Ryo had not.
Without a second thought, he charged inside, ignoring shouts for him to stop. Smoke burned his lungs as he climbed the collapsing stairs, searching desperately until he found the infant—alone in her room, covered in soot and ash, crying. He scooped her into his arms and turned to flee, only for the entrance to collapse before him. Trapped.
Then—a voice from outside, calling his name. A window. Below it, an inflatable safety cushion had already been prepared. His colleagues urged him to jump. The walls groaned, flames consuming everything.
Holding the baby tightly against his chest, Ryo leapt as the building collapsed behind him, landing squarely on his back on the cushion. He lay there, coughing, but alive. Ryo raised the baby, who looked back at him and giggled—soot and ash-covered, but safe. He gave a weak smile at the sound.
Then the mother rushed in. Ryo handed her the baby daughter, and she clutched her child tightly, tears of gratitude streaming down her face as she thanked him over and over.
That day, Ryo realized the greatest reward wasn’t a medal, nor recognition—it was seeing the ones he saved breathing, smiling, alive.
And now, watching Madam Rosalind weep with her daughters in her arms, he felt that same warmth bloom inside him. This reunion, this flood of tears and love—this was his reward. The best a detective, a former policeman like him could ever hope for.
The time in Evendelle was now 8:15 PM
After a moment, Madam Rosalind and her daughters wiped their tears and invited everyone inside the store. They gladly stepped in, but Fairy Greatmother reminded them that they couldn’t linger—there were only 45 minutes left before the Royal Ball began.
Madam Rosalind leaned close to her daughters, whispering urgently. The sisters nodded in unison, and together they turned back to face Ryo’s group.
“Hold it right there,” Madam Rosalind declared, raising her hand like a judge passing a verdict. “Me and my daughters shall be coming with you to the Royal Ball.”
Ryo rubbed his temples. “Ummm… why? We’re just there to investigate and find clues about Cinderella.”
“To help you find my daughter, Cinderella, of course,” Madam Rosalind said, arms crossed and grinning.
Clarisse and Seraphine exchanged glances, then slipped beside Vesmyra and Titania. They whispered something mischievous, and suddenly the four of them grinned like cats who had cornered a mouse.
Ryo leaned back, unsettled. “Hey… I know that face. You girls are about to pull something against my will! I’ve seen this trope a thousand times in anime!”
Madam Rosalind chuckled, placing her hands on her hips. “Don’t think you’re going to the Royal Ball looking like that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.”
Of course, she was right. Ryo’s dark orange T-shirt and trench coat screamed “lost earthling tourist,” not “royal guest.” Before he could argue, the four women pounced—dragging him to the center of the store with flirtatious giggles.
“HEY, WAIT—WHAT ARE YOU GIRLS DOING?!” Ryo panicked as they shoved him into a chair.
They dusted his face with powder, spritzed him with perfume from Madam Rosalind’s finest collection, and combed over his messy hair until it gleamed with a sharp classic side-part.
Then, with theatrical flourish, Clarisse and Seraphine fetched a navy-blue tuxedo and a silver robe coat from the backroom. They pressed it into his arms, and Ryo muttered while being nudged to the changing room.
“Alright, alright, no need to push me… I get it, I’ll wear it…”
Minutes later, Ryo emerged—polished, princely, every inch the unexpected leading man. The store fell silent. The girls’ hearts thudded as if struck by a Cupid’s hammer.
Seraphine’s eyes sparkled as she screamed. “KYAAAAAAAAAAA—MY HUSBAND IS TOO HANDSOME!!”
Clarisse gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like a stage actress. “Honey! Just one look at you and I’m about to melt~”
Vesmyra breathed rapidly. “To think… my beloved is THIS dashing… OH HEAVENS, YOU’RE TOO CUTE, STRANGE FOREIGN MAN!”
Titania trembled, placing her hands between her thighs, her voice breaking into a sultry squeak.
“Ah~ seeing you like this makes me… want to… ah~! I wouldn’t even mind having a half-human, half-fairy baby with you, sweetie!”
Ryo groaned, muttering under his breath. “Great… my manhood is in danger.”
While he despaired, Madam Rosalind unveiled a rack of gowns, each one glowing like bottled starlight. The stepsisters, Vesmyra, and Titania eagerly picked their favorites and disappeared into the changing rooms. Rosalind even pressed two gowns onto Elise and Sophie, the servants—commanding them to dress like proper ladies for once.
When they all stepped out, Ryo paused in awe. It was like a fairytale scene brought to life.
Titania shimmered in a regal golden gown.
Vesmyra glowed in violet silk.
Clarisse dazzled in emerald green.
Seraphine sparkled in sky blue.
Elise twirled in an adorable pink dress.
Sophie gleamed in glittering bronze.
They looked like princesses ready to step into a musical.
Then Ryo’s eyes caught Seraphine’s butterfly hairpin and Clarisse’s emerald gown. He pointed, blinking. “Wait a sec—are those—”
Clarisse leaned in, smiling. “That’s right, Sherlock. Remember you said I’d look beautiful in this emerald green dress?”
Seraphine followed with a sweet grin. “Exactly, my dear husband. And didn’t you say I’d look amazing with a butterfly hair accessory too?”
Ryo chuckled, remembering his ‘distraction compliment’ from the “heist” missions at each of the sisters’ workplaces, aided by his agents. Still, he smiled warmly.
“Yeah… and hey, you two really do look great with those.”
The sisters giggled, cheeks glowing with pride.
And then, the final flourish—the doors of the changing room opened once more, revealing Fairy Greatmother and Madam Rosalind. Fairy Greatmother wore a dark blue gown, reminiscent of her old robe, while Madam Rosalind shone in maroon, her dignity and elegance fully reborn. Both elder ladies’ outfits had an aristocratic air. Compliments rained down, and they lifted their heads proudly, basking in the admiration.
Even the animal agents were dressed for the night—each wearing a bow tie, including Jaymez Boom, who strutted like a secret agent ready for his debut mission.
The group was elegantly outfitted from head to toe.
Ryo packed his T-shirt and trench coat into his backpack, put it on his back, and strolled to the backdoor, hand on the handle. He glanced over his shoulder at them all—polished, radiant, ready—and a smile of pride spread across his face.
“Alright, guys… ready for the spin-off story to Cinderella?”
Everyone blinked at the strange phrasing, clearly not understanding—except for Cinderella’s name. Yet smiles spread across their faces, and they nodded anyway.
Ryo turned the handle. The door opened. The night air swept in, carrying the distant sound of music from the castle.
Together, they stepped out, marching toward the castle.
The second Royal Ball awaited.
The time in Evendelle was now 8:30 PM
Meanwhile…
In the castle’s lantern-lit garden…
A man staggered across the garden, lungs burning and legs heavy, until he finally collapsed at the feet of a woman in a black dress and a boy in a black tuxedo, sitting on a chair of small round table, both radiating a sinister aura. Falling to his knees, he raised a trembling hand clutching a pouch.
His voice cracked with desperation. “HERE! I PROMISED, DIDN’T I? HERE ARE THE BLACK SHARDS, LADY CARABOSSE… SIR PETYR! So please… please don’t hurt me anymore…”
Petyr’s grin split wide, his knife flashing in the lantern light. He let out a wild, mocking sneer.
“YEEEHAWWW!! Good work, Kaj! Guess I don’t have to rip your head off after all.”
He snatched the pouch from Kaj’s hands.
Carabosse snapped open her fan with a sharp flick, covering her mouth, her eyes glimmering above it like a predator.
“Now then, Kaj… or should I say… Edmund. You are fully aware of my plan to seize this kingdom, aren’t you?”
Edmund’s head nodded frantically, sweat beading down his temple.
“Y-y-yes, Lady Carabosse! brainwash the entire kingdom, make it yours… just like how you ruled over Rosenthorn…”
Carabosse’s gaze narrowed, the cruel delight in her eyes. “Good. Then you know what comes next?”
Edmund’s voice broke with terror. “O-O-of course!! Kill Sherlock Holmes!”
Petyr gave an exaggerated sigh, pouting like a disappointed child. “Tch. Shame, Kaj. You could’ve failed, and I was soooo ready to rip your hea—”
SMACK!
Carabosse struck his head with her fan, sharp as a whip. Petyr yelped, clutching the spot.
“OUCH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR, YOUR GRACE?!”
Her voice cut through the garden, cold and commanding. “I do not need to explain myself to a little boy. We have no time for your childish games.”
Groaning, Petyr rubbed the lump forming on his head. “Ughhh… party’s about to start, and I’m the one with a lump for a crown…”
Carabosse and Petyr rose from their seats.
Carabosse snapped her fan shut with a final crack, a sinister smile curling on her lips. Her eyes gleamed with triumph.
“Enough. Come, gentlemen. The ball begins in 30 minutes—and I have… particular plans for that foolish Prince Vaelric.”
The three of them stepped into the shadows of the castle. The lanterns flickered once, as though the garden itself trembled at their passing.
Somewhere high in the dark and silent place…
Cinderella, the captive princess, slowly rose to her feet.
She drifted toward the open arching windows, her figure framed by the cold moonlight.
All hope had already slipped from her grasp.
She no longer knew if rescue would ever come.
And yet… to stop her heart from breaking apart entirely, she lifted her voice one last time.
A fragile melody, trembling against the stone walls.
A song called “Ice in My Chest.”
Her voice broke the silence—
“Will this ice ever buuuurn in my chest...?”
“It’s heavy… like silence that won’t let me rest.”
“I’m really, really lonely in this gloom...”
“No more sunlight… just this never-ending room.”
Her voice wavered, but she kept singing—
“My prince is far away…”
“But I must not get emotional inside.”
“I swallow the tears, push them away.”
“But even numbness has nowhere to hide.”
Her breath caught. She clutched her chest.
“If I cry… will the walls start to crumble?”
“If I scream… will the stars even hear?”
“No one’s coming.”
“No footsteps on the stair…”
“Just the echo of me pretending not to care.”
Her tone grew quieter, more fragile.
“I don’t want to hope.”
“It hurts too much to try.”
“I just want to sleep…”
“And forget how to cry.”
Her eyes glistened in the moonlight as she whispered—
“I used to dream in color.”
“Now I dream in gray.”
“Every story I told myself…”
“Just fades away.”
Her voice cracked, but she pressed on—
“They said be brave, be kind, be good…”
“But goodness leaves you here.”
“Alone, misunderstood.“
Her voice fell to a whisper.
“If I disappear, will they even know?“
“If I fade into stone, will the world let me go?“
“No one’s coming.“
“The story’s come undone.”
Her final notes broke into a trembling hush—
“Maybe not every girl… gets her kingdom or her sun…”
“I’m so tired of hope… so tired of the fight…”
“Just let the dark hold me…”
“For one… last… night.”
The song ended.
Her voice fell into silence.
The cold wind swept through the window.
And Cinderella… stood motionless.
A girl who had lost all hope of rescue.
A girl forgotten for over a month.
But far, far away, in Evendelle…
Beneath lanterns and starlight, a certain detective walked toward the Castle for the second Royal Ball, his group following close behind.
His gaze was sharp.
His stride determined.
He carried with him the weight of a vow.
To find Cinderella.
The Missing Princess.
To pull her out of the darkness…
…no matter what.
Nuada sighed. “While your group was away fighting the Vrakul Grootslang,” he told Ryo, “some of my Fairy warriors confessed their dislike for the sisters, blaming them for the curse that had possessed them and ravaged parts of Lunaveth. I ordered silence, but one of them could not resist and spread rumors the moment he had the chance.”
Upon hearing this, Seraphine and Clarisse flinched, guilt washing over them.
Seraphine, in a shaky voice. “I’m very sorry, everyone… I remember everything… all the bad things I’ve done… but… I didn’t mean to cause any harm… I wasn’t in control while I was cursed.”
Clarisse nodded nervously, voice trembling. “Y-y-yes… I regretted what I did, even though I don’t have much memory of it. I’m worried… are we… are we about to get executed?”
Titania shook her head gently. “No, you did nothing wrong. It was the monster controlling you all along that caused the destruction. You are both innocent.”
Despite Titania’s words, not all the Fairies watching agreed. Some shot killer glares, others gritted their teeth, hoping the humans would leave Lunaveth immediately. They whispered among themselves.
“Those cursed humans brought this on us.”
“I don’t care what Lady Titania says… they’re dangerous.”
“If it were up to me, they’d be gone already.”
“Their presence is a threat to all of Lunaveth.”
“I won’t forgive what they did, even if they claim innocence.”
“The curse has left scars no one can ignore.”
“Do we really have to keep them here?”
“I can’t trust them… not after everything.”
“They should never have set foot in Lunaveth.”
Ryo heard it all. The whispers weren’t quiet—they seemed deliberately loud enough for his group to catch. He knew the longer the sisters stayed in Lunaveth, the more dangerous it could become. Someone might try to sneak in and harm them out of hatred or revenge. He had learned this from bitter experience: during his days as a policeman, he had seen former criminals, freed after serving their sentence, killed by the victims’ families—no mercy, no warning.
It was clear: the sisters needed to heal quickly, be returned safely to Madam Rosalind along with the servants Elise and Sophie, and prepare for the upcoming royal ball. Meanwhile, Ryo wanted to hear all the evidence Titania and Fairy Greatmother had discovered and analyzed.
Since Nuada did not fully trust some of his Fairy warriors, he decided it was best for him and his family to lead the way. He ordered the other warriors to return to their families and check on their safety.
Before they departed, Vesmyra pointed upward. “You see that, over there, Strange foreign man?”
Ryo and the group looked up. Ryo squinted, baffled. “The hell… what… is that?”
High above Lunaveth—soaring a thousand meters in the air—floated a shimmering lake, suspended in the sky like a dream out of place.
Ryo blinked. “What in the—more fantasy nonsense am I looking at now?”
Vesmyra explained, calmly. “That… is our family’s healing sanctuary: the ‘Librarium of Wellspring.’”
Elise tilted her head, confused. “Librarium… of Wellspring?”
Titania grinned and patted Elise’s head. “That’s right, sweet child. It’s… a floating magical place where you can eat, relax, and read in the library—all while we heal and rejuvenate to the fullest.”
Elise’s eyes sparkled, her excitement impossible to hide. “OOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!”
Sophie placed a hand on Elise’s shoulder, chuckling softly. “Relax, Elise… don’t get too overexcited.”
Ryo asked, skeptical. “So how are we supposed to get up there? We can’t fly like you all. Are you going to carry us up or what?”
Dr. Snouts 5000 grinned. “No, bro.” He gestured toward the Fairy King with a paw. “Your Majesty, may we leave the honors to you?”
Nuada then summoned a regular-sized grimoire, letting it materialize atop his right palm as if it had emerged from thin air.
Ryo, arms crossed, tilted his head and pointed at it. “So… what are you gonna use that book for, Your Majesty?”
Nuada’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “It is a surprise, young man. You shall see.”
Without another word, he tossed the grimoire onto the ground. It landed with a heavy thud, its middle pages spreading open wide.
Ryo scratched the back of his head, clearly puzzled as to what Nuada was planning.
Then, the Fairy king raised his curled palm toward the book and began to chant.
“Grow, O page, stretch wide and free, by root and rune, make room enough for all to be.”
The grimoire shimmered, a soft light spilling from its pages. Suddenly, it began to expand—stretching, swelling—until it grew as large as a small stage, still lying open like a vast platform.
Ryo’s jaw dropped. He stammered helplessly. “A… A… A…”
Dr. Snouts 5000 couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction.
“Reminds you of that sorcery movie you told me about earlier, doesn’t it? What was it called again? Oh, that’s right! Haru Putyr!”
Ryo gave him the flattest side glance imaginable. “Correction. It’s…” He paused, then, not bothering to correct him further, added, “You know what… you’re right. Totally Haru Putyr.”
He turned back to Nuada. “So… what’s this giant book supposed to do?”
Nuada’s voice carried calm authority. “This grimoire will bear us upward, to the Librarium of Wellspring.”
Ryo narrowed his eyes at the book. “Ahhh… so basically a magical flying elevator, huh? We’re really going the movie route here. Just like—”
Before he could finish, Dr. Snouts 5000 cut in. “Doctor Weirdo, right? That superhero movie man you told me about—from Marbulu Studios.’’
Ryo’s eyes twitched at the Cu Sith’s mistake. “Riiiiight. Totally that superhero movie man from Marbulu Studios.”
Puffing out his chest with pride from the detective’s movie lessons, Dr. Snouts 5000 declared.
“So basically, bro, this whole thing you and your group are about to experience?”
“It’s going to feel like something straight out of ‘Haru Putyr and the Putyrverse of Mudness’!”
Ryo raised his arms and shrugged with mock enthusiasm, his voice dripping sarcasm.
“TOTALLY CORRECT! Produced and directed by that ‘24-Hour Hat Guy’ from the Mediocre Cinematic Universe!”
The ladies, though they didn’t understand a single word about these Marbulu Studios or Putyrverse references, couldn’t help but giggle.
Titania blushed, her gaze softening—falling for Ryo even more simply because he was funny.
But Vesmyra? Her reaction was far stronger now. Tiny hearts practically lit up in her eyes. Not only had Ryo proven himself admirable with his strength and courage against the Grootslang, but now she realized—he was a comedian too.
The craziest part? Ryo wasn’t even trying to make her fall for him.
Nuada slowly facepalmed at the absurd movie references he didn’t understand, and told Ryo and the Cu Sith to stop fooling around. He then ordered everyone to step onto the grimoire, and they did—everyone except Dr. Snouts 5000, who was still in his large Cu Sith form, taking up too much space.
Nuada glanced at him and told him to shrink. Dr. Snouts 5000 nodded, his body shimmering as he shrank to dog size. Only then did he step onto the massive grimoire, finally able to fit.
The grimoire began to glow silver. Its pages trembled as though catching a phantom wind, and slowly—smoothly—it lifted off the ground. The book rose higher and higher, carrying them all upward in a radiant ascent. The entire kingdom of Lunaveth grew smaller beneath them: the rivers, the glimmering lights fading.
The floating lake above drew nearer, its mirror-like waters catching starlight, suspended impossibly in the sky. Ryo was in awe, realizing he was riding what felt like a fantasy-like elevator toward a floating lake. His wonder, however, was cut short when Vesmyra suddenly clung to his left arm.
Ryo blinked, raising a brow. “Umm… Vesmyra? Why are you holding my arm?”
Vesmyra leaned close, her breath tickling his ear as she whispered sultrily.
“It’s your fault for looking so amazing during that fight… and still being a funny man.” She pressed even closer. “And how dare you leave me out, when my older little sister is obsessing over you.”
Ryo’s face flushed. “Umm—ummm—”
Vesmyra giggled low, licking her lips. “No need to be shy, strange foreign man. Care to keep this single 40-year-old young and beautiful fairy company?”
Ryo’s thoughts went haywire. “What the hell did I do to make her act like this?!”
Before he could untangle himself, Seraphine and Clarisse noticed. Jealousy flashed in their eyes. Without hesitation, Seraphine grabbed his right arm, while Clarisse wrapped herself around his torso.
Ryo nearly choked. “Hey! Not again you two!”
Seraphine narrowed her eyes at Vesmyra, but then leaned in to whisper to Ryo, her voice dripping with seductive possessiveness.
“Cheating is not allowed, my dear husband. Remember when we had our wedding—in my sleep?”
Ryo stopped blushing, rolling his eyes at her delusion. His tone went flat with sarcasm.
“Oh nooo, how could I forget? Our totally normal wedding. Let me guess—it was in the manor’s back garden?”
Clarisse pressed closer, her lips nearly brushing his cheek. “But honey… don’t you remember our honeymoon? In the woods by the river?”
Ryo sighed heavily. “Clarisse… you were flying in your sleep when that happened.”
At that exact moment, Titania turned around—only to freeze. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ryo completely surrounded: Seraphine on one side, Clarisse on the other, Vesmyra clinging shamelessly, all of them competing for his attention.
Titania’s pout deepened, her voice rising. “BIG SISTER! Why are you clinging to strange foreign man all of a sudden?!”
Vesmyra deadpanned at her, then clung to Ryo even tighter.
“Listen here, my dear older-younger sister. You know I’ve never found a good fairy man—most shy away or run because I’m too beautiful. Then this strange foreign man shows up. He acts normal around me, courageous, doesn’t even realize he’s funny, and still manages to charm me without trying. Do you really think I’d let a man this rare slip away? As a matter of fact…” Her eyes glimmered wickedly. “I don’t mind being wife number two or three, as long as I can marry him too. I’m in my forties, you know. And besides, I still look young and gorgeous.”
Ryo’s eyes bulged in horror. “EEEHHH?! Since when did I get you this crazy for me?!”
Titania’s eyes twitched furiously. She had thought Ryo was hers alone. But now? Her sister and even the stepsisters had joined the battlefield of affection.
Her pout turned fiery. “MMMMMM!!!! VERY WELL!!!!”
Marching right up behind Ryo, Titania wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
“Then I shall be wife number one!”
Now Ryo had four beautiful women clinging to him on every side.
His inner voice screamed in panic. OH GREAT! MY HAREM’S GROWING! WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?! I’M HERE TO FIND CINDERELLA IN THIS FAIRYTALE FANTASY WORLD AS PART OF MY DETECTIVE WORK—NOT GATHER WAIFUS LIKE A FREAKING GACHA GAME!!!
Fairy Greatmother and her husband Nuada, who had been gazing at the clouds, turned toward the ridiculous harem scene and saw their two daughters and the stepsisters hugging Ryo affectionately, all begging for his attention.
Nuada rubbed the back of his head. “Sweetheart… should we start enacting polygamous marriage into our kingdom’s law?”
Fairy Greatmother pressed a finger to her cheek, tilting her head in thought.
“Oh dear… I’ve seen Mr. Detective gather women without effort. At this rate, we should make an exception—polygamy for him alone. Perhaps even start calling him son-in-law soon.”
And with that, the grimoire’s ascent finally stopped—its glowing pages still open—hovering a thousand meters high, just before the bridge at the edge of the floating lake. Across from them, it was not merely a floating lake, but a vast glass dome suspended above the waters.
Before they could reach the dome, a wide bridge of pale blue, glowing leaves stretched out before them, shimmering like moonlight woven into solid form. Ryo wondered if such a thing could truly hold their weight.
At last, his harem released their hold on him. Titania and Vesmyra reassured him with calm certainty that the leaf bridge was as strong as stone and perfectly safe to cross.
And so they walked, Vesmyra gently holding Elise’s hand, while Sophie kept close at Ryo’s side, her fingers gripping his hand with quiet caution.
At the far end, the entrance to the glass dome was sealed with luminous pink leaves. Nuada stepped forward, laying his silver hand upon them. Slowly, the leaves unfurled, scattering outward in a hushed wave, like petals carried on an unseen wind.
Inside, the dome was dimly lit, its heart a circular platform reached by a short bridge. At the center stood a rectangular table with chairs on each side, surrounded by a wide ring of glowing water—like a tranquil lake illuminated from within, gleaming faintly like a secret pool in the dark. Bookshelves lined the edges of the dome, filled with Lunaveth’s ancient books and grimoires.
As the group stepped inside, a hush fell. One by one, they felt it—their wounds closing, blood fading, exhaustion slipping from their bodies as if washed away. They looked at themselves in awe, barely able to believe it. For Nuada, Titania, Vesmyra, Dr. Snouts 5000, and Fairy Greatmother, however, this was normal. They spoke of how they often came here to rest and spend quiet hours together as a family.
Elise gazed down at the glowing lake below, pressing a finger to her lips in childlike wonder. She asked if she could swim. Vesmyra, charmed by her excitement, said yes, and Elise rejoiced. Fairy Greatmother added gently that anyone who wished to swim could wear the swimming gowns hanging along the walls.
Clarisse and Seraphine did not hesitate, immediately deciding to join. Dr. Snouts 5000 leapt into the lake first, swimming around with his paws, looking utterly smug. Sophie, despite being Elise’s older and more composed sister, lingered uncertainly. It was clear she wanted to swim but held back, bound by her sense of duty to serve Ryo as a servant.
He noticed her hesitation, smiled, and urged her to go, telling her that a young lady should not let her youth pass without joy. Moved, Sophie’s eyes softened. She thanked him and chose to join her sister in the swimming.
Vesmyra, amused, decided she would swim as well. She led them to the changing rooms at the back. Soon, they returned dressed in flowing swimming gowns. Without hesitation, they leapt into the glowing lake, laughter ringing through the dome as they swam, their joy filling the space with life.
Meanwhile, Ryo, Titania, Fairy Greatmother, and Nuada went to the center of the platform and took their seats. Fairy Greatmother then served Mooncrust loaf, roasted meat, and cool water on the table for dinner. Ryo looked at the Mooncrust loaf, reminded of the one he and Fairy Greatmother had on that ridiculous journey to the moon, and smiled faintly.
They all began munching on their dinner. Afterward, Ryo took out his notebook and pen, clicked the pen open, and prepared to listen to the evidence. Nuada mentioned that he had also helped analyze the evidence, so he would assist with the explanation as well.
Ryo gave a single nod, pen at the ready, and said they could begin explaining the two pieces of evidence.
First, Fairy Greatmother drew out the cursed perfume from her robe and placed it on the table. The three began explaining that it contained pixie grains—yet not from any ordinary pixie, but from a cursed one.
Ryo’s eyes widened. He had already suspected that the cursed perfume might involve pixie grains from the sinister Petyr Pann. In the original Peter Pan tale, Peter himself had used pixie grains to make himself, Wendy and the Lost Boys fly. But this… this was different. A cursed pixie? That was new. The original pixie was never evil, only jealous, obsessed with Peter Pan. But now, a cursed version existed?
Ryo couldn’t help but wonder—was this cursed pixie grain the reason behind the purple sparkles that allowed people to fly? And if so… how did it tie to the black miasma? The smug boy in the volto mask—whom Ryo suspected to be that unsettling Petyr Pann—had exuded black mist from his feet during their encounter the other day. That mystery remained unsolved.
The three went on. The crushed rock minerals mixed into the perfume were not from any ordinary land, but from a rocky terrain belonging to an entirely different world.
This part left Ryo puzzled. A rocky land from another world—inside a cursed perfume? What did that even mean?
The explanation grew darker. The cursed perfume carried the properties of dark magic—it inflicted sleep. Ryo narrowed his eyes. That… reminded him of something. Sleeping Beauty. In the original tale, she had been cursed to sleep for a hundred years after pricking her finger on a spindle. Now, with the perfume traced back to a distiller from Rosenthorn, Ryo suspected someone connected to the ‘villainous fairy’ of that old story had slipped this curse into the bottle. First, the curse forced its victims to fall asleep. Then, once under the spell, the pixie grains made them fly.
Ryo jotted down notes.
With the cursed perfume explained, Fairy Greatmother then took out a wrapped parchment from Ryo’s clear evidence bag and placed it on the table. She unwrapped it carefully. Inside were several jagged black shards.
Nuada raised a hand and summoned a glass jar, immediately lowering it over the shards, sealing them inside—just in case their corruption leaked out.
The three explained that the shards also carried dark magic. They bent and twisted people, turning them into something that was no longer themselves.
Ryo’s mind clicked. The cursed shards were what had manipulated the stepsisters, driving them into violent rage, forcing them to act unlike themselves. But there was something hauntingly familiar about them.
The shards reminded him of the original Snow Queen tale. In that story, a shard had pierced Kaj’s eyes and heart, twisting his very nature until he became cruel and cold—just as the stepsisters had been.
But here lay the strange part. The stepsisters had indeed been manipulated, even driven to kill him.
Ryo also suspected that these shards were the ones that had made Cinderella’s stepfamily cruel toward her.
But did each shard expire after a certain time? The stepfamily had told Ryo that for four years, they hadn’t been themselves. So did the shards’ dark magic simply expire, or was it removed when Cinderella was taken to the castle after the glass slipper fit her foot?
But when the shards were removed from the stepsisters during the ritual, the Grootslang emerged from within them. Why? How? Could each shard trap a monster inside itself?
The thought chilled him. Creepy. Disturbing. And far too strange to ignore.
He scribbled more notes.
Fairy Greatmother wanted to explain something privately to Ryo, something she didn’t want the stepsisters or servants to overhear. It was fine if Titania and Nuada heard, but not the others. Ryo noticed her hesitation—the way her eyes flicked toward the stepsisters and servants—and understood what she was struggling with. He assured her it was safe and that she could tell him.
The stepsisters and servants were too busy splashing and laughing with Vesmyra and Dr. Snouts 5000, with Elise riding cheerfully on the Cu Sith’s back like an inflatable pony pool float, to pay attention. Fairy Greatmother let out a quiet breath of relief and leaned closer, whispering about Edmund.
She suspected Edmund was the smug volto-masked man who had attacked Ryo two days ago. Ryo’s gaze sharpened at that, because the masked figure had not been the size of a boy—like the eerie Petyr Pann kid he had first suspected—but the size of an adult. From there, Fairy Greatmother began to explain in greater detail.
He noted it down.
And with that, the explanation of the evidence came to an end…
Ryo tucked his notebook into the pocket of his trench coat just as the stepsisters, the servants, Vesmyra, and Dr. Snouts 5000 climbed out of the lake pool. Laughing and dripping water, they made their way toward the table to join in for dinner. Once they settled, Vesmyra and Dr. Snouts 5000 turned to Ryo and expressed their wish to help him and Fairy Greatmother in the search for Cinderella.
Ryo was puzzled at first, wondering what made them want to get involved. But Dr. Snouts 5000 explained that, after the Grootslang’s rampage through the kingdom, this missing princess case was far more than a simple disappearance—the danger looming over them was far greater. He and Vesmyra had already spoken about it while splashing in the lake pool earlier.
Titania then cut in, declaring her desire to join the search as well. She agreed that this was no ordinary missing person case, but something much larger and more dangerous. Nuada, however, could not join them. He explained that he needed to remain in Lunaveth to oversee the rebuilding efforts after the devastation caused by the Grootslang Vrakul. With his fairy warriors, carpenters, blacksmiths, and handymen, his place was with his people.
Ryo understood—it was best for the king to remain in his land, easing tensions and guiding the restoration of Lunaveth.
And so, Titania, Vesmyra, and Dr. Snouts 5000…
…were added to the search party for Cinderella.
While the others were still eating, Ryo stood up and wandered around. The dome was not only a healing sanctuary but also a library, its shelves lined with books and grimoires. Curiosity tugged at him, and he began scanning the shelves to see what secrets might be hidden here.
That was when he noticed a grimoire tucked beside another book. Its title caught his eye.
{ The Fairy Godmother’s Rebirth }
Ryo squinted at the words. “Huh? Fairy Godmother?”
Pulling it from the shelf, he carried the book back to the table, sat down, and opened it. The pages were filled with ancient writing—though he could read it clearly, thanks to the translation spell Fairy Greatmother had cast into his brain.
The text described chants and rituals centered on a transformation spell.
Ryo turned toward Fairy Greatmother and asked. “Ma’am, what’s this book all about?”
Fairy Greatmother, gently wiping crumbs from Elise’s mouth like a sweet grandmother, glanced over.
“Oh that, my dear? That’s a grimoire that allows a person who’s not completely dead or on the verge of death to transform into the Fairy Godmother.”
“Huh.” Ryo muttered, brow furrowing. “I’m confused… you’re the Fairy Greatmother, yet there’s this word ‘Fairy Godmother.’ I don’t get it… what’s going on here?”
The contradiction gnawed at him. In the original Cinderella story, it had been the Fairy Godmother who appeared, sending Cinderella to the royal ball with a magical gown and glass slippers. In this world, Fairy Greatmother—an alternate version—had played that role, though only gifting Cinderella the magical gown. And now, here was a book about transforming into the Fairy Godmother, which only deepened his confusion.
Fairy Greatmother tilted her head at him, equally puzzled. “Mr. Detective… back on earth, when you asked why I have the word ‘Great’ instead of ‘God’ in my name. I thought you knew about this spell.”
She went on, her voice softer. “Moreover, this grimoire contains a spell that is similar to when my daughter, Titania, turned me into the ‘Great Fairy’ 60 years ago when I was on the verge of death in my village, Goldenhush.”
“Great… Fairy?” Ryo repeated, his curiosity getting the better of him. He couldn’t hold back and asked, “Can you tell me what happened 60 years ago?”
Fairy Greatmother turned to Titania, silently asking for permission. Titania’s face darkened, shadows of regret flickering across it. She gave a small nod. Though unsettled, she felt it was time to let the detective know. Perhaps by speaking of it, she could finally begin to move on from the guilt of destroying Fairy Greatmother’s village all those years ago.
Fairy Greatmother exhaled and began recounting everything…
When she finished, Ryo sat in stunned silence. His eyes slowly widened—not at Titania’s mercy killing of the village, but at the figure who had driven her to it.
Perchta?
Ryo knew that name. Not just a person, but an old figure of forgotten folklore—an evil old woman from tales long buried. In the old stories, she was said to reward the hardworking and obedient.
But according to the story he had just heard, Perchta had used a spell that forced people to dance endlessly: the Danse Macabre. The words alone sent a chill down his spine. He knew it as a French phrase, a symbolic kind of “dance of death,” a lesson about mortality—death as the great equalizer, sparing neither king nor peasant, a reminder to live humbly, for no wealth or beauty could keep it away.
Yet here, in this fairytale world, Perchta’s spell was no metaphor. It was literal. Endless dancing until death.
In the folklore Ryo remembered, Perchta had never wielded such magic. She punished the lazy, not the hardworking. What baffled him most was the punishment inflicted on the people of Goldenhush 60 years ago. Their only crime had been resting—rewarding themselves with festivity after long, hard labor.
In this world, it seemed Perchta despised the very act of resting. She demanded endless work without pause, framing it as “improvement.”
But to Ryo, it was clear what it truly was. To him… Perchta of this world sounded like a figure of foolishness. Selfishness. Or worse… someone who wanted SLAVERY to be seen as NORMAL.
And now… Perchta walked this world, too.
But this was 60 years ago… could she still be alive, or long gone?
That made three figures from forgotten folklore he had known here: Titania, the Cu Sith, and Perchta. And then there was Nuada, Fairy Greatmother’s husband, who hailed from ancient legend.
Ryo’s suspicion deepened. This fairytale world wasn’t just fairy tales. It was a fusion of ancient legends, classic fairy tales, and forgotten folklore, all woven together into a single, unsettling web… though he had also met Mr. Grim, another ancient figure, a crimson Grim Reaper from Al-Munira, and that encounter had been in a hidden land on Earth.
Ryo exhaled, letting his arms slump onto the table, weighed down by yet another chunk of fantasy lore dumped into his brain. After a moment, he straightened, eyes narrowing—he needed more information about this so-called ‘Fairy Godmother’s Rebirth.’
“Ma’am,” Ryo leaned forward, voice edged with curiosity. “Earlier, you said something about transformation into the Fairy Godmother when someone’s on the verge of death… or not completely dead.”
He tapped the table, then asked. “So I wanna know—does this spell work all the time?”
Before Fairy Greatmother could speak, Nuada’s calm, firm voice cut in, answering in her place.
“No. This transformation works only once. After it is invoked, the grimoire vanishes forever. That is why it has never been used again.”
“In Lunaveth’s oldest legend, it was said the very first Fairy Godmother—our first ruler—was once a human woman. She lay dying, yet the fairies who trusted her transformed her into the Fairy Godmother. Though mortal-born, she founded Lunaveth 1,500 years ago and ruled over it.”
“She passed away 100 years before Titania was born. Since then, only two grimoires have ever existed. One was already used… and the other now lies before us, untouched. It should never be used again—unless a case most dire compels it.”
The weight of those words settled over the table like stone.
But Ryo’s lips curled upward. A grin spread across his face, sharp and mischievous. His thoughts leapt immediately to….
Aurelia—Cinderella’s ghostly mother.
Without warning, he SLAMMED!! the table with both hands, making plates jump.
“TABLE FLIP!!!” Ryo shouted.
Everyone nearly choked on their food, eyes wide. spoon froze mid-bite.
“What the hell?!” Dr. Snouts 5000’s ears twitched as he blinked rapidly. “Table flip? Bro, what do you mean by that?”
Ryo chuckled darkly, still grinning ear to ear, and turned to him. “You know what, bro?”
Dr. Snouts 5000 tilted his head. “…What?”
Ryo leaned forward, smacking the table again with both hands, his grin spreading wider as his voice rose.
“The whole world is about to start flipping tables straight into Asgard—because the revival trope is about to hit them!”
“Just like that Joon Snowflakes guy from Gumurz of Thrunz, Phase 6: The DLC Quest for More Plot Holes Nobody Asked For!”
Dr. Snouts 5000 blinked, deadpan. “That… doesn’t explain anything.”
Ryo ignored him. His gaze sharpened, his smirk twisting into something wicked, almost gleefully evil.
“And once we find Cinderella—THE ENTIRE ONLINE COMMUNITY WILL BURN BECAUSE OF IT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—”
He threw his head back, cackling like an over-the-top cartoon villain. The laugh grew louder and wilder, and he almost fell out of his chair.
Everyone at the table stared at him, clueless about this ‘revival trope’ and the ‘Joon Snowflakes’ guy he mentioned—or how the two were connected.
Since the detective looked so interested in the grimoire, Fairy Greatmother summoned her wand and made it vanish, storing it in her magical storage as if placing an item into a magical box—thinking he might need it later.
The moment Ryo mentioned the possibility of a revival trope…
Back on Earth…
A strange dread fell on millions of people.
A guy in glasses, slurping ramen while roasting an anime he hated, froze mid-slurp. A chill ran down his spine.
He whispered. “What the hell… is something bad about to happen?”
His eyes shifted to the table in front of him. He suddenly felt the overwhelming urge…
… To flip it.
Meanwhile, in the North Pole…
In Santa’s kingdom of Nivaleir, a penguin named Fishfingers was streaming a shooter game on Twatch from his room. He was trash-talking animal players from other kingdoms while claiming victory.
Then Fishfingers froze, eyes wide. “Something… illegal is about to happen.”
Santa opened the door, cheerful. “Hey Fishfingers! Me and my wife are planning to invite Roselia again after Christmas for dinner. We’re thinking of eating out in the South Po—”
He paused, noticing Fishfingers’ horrified stare fixed on the monitor. “What’s wrong, son? You look afraid.”
Fishfingers slammed the desk. “SANTAAAAA!!! SOMEONE’S ABOUT TO BE ALIVED!! THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST ALL NOVELS!!”
Santa blinked. “I see, Fishfingers. I… shall continue planning the post-Christmas dinner and send out an invitation to Roselia.” He left, then poked his head back in. “Also… are you winning, son?”
Fishfingers’ chat immediately exploded:
“BRO WHY’D YOU PAUSE?”
“LAG SWITCH PENGUIN??”
“TABLE FLIP TIME??”
“DUUUDE!! IT’S SANTA! HE’S FREAKING REAL!!”
“And you’re a talking baboon… totally real. LOL.”
“REVIVAL TROPE SPEEDRUN 100%”
“SOMEONE STOP WHOEVER’S ABOUT TO ATTEMPT THE REVIVAL TROPE—IT’S OVER 9000!!!”
“PENGUIN’S SWEATING = PLOT ARMOR ALERT”
Fishfingers sat back down, trembling, sipping his iced tea with shaking flippers. His eyes locked on the desk. The urge to flip it grew stronger.
On Threadit forums…
Every thread simultaneously exploded:
“Why do I feel like flipping a table??”
“Revival arc? NOOOPE.”
“This ain’t legal.”
“I SWEAR someone out there’s about to bring a waifu back.”
“My desk just squeaked at me… it wants me to flip it.”
“Not again. Please. Not this trope.”
Somewhere in the USA…
An anime content creator, ‘Tiny Reviewer’ was editing his latest anime review when his hand froze mid-click.
His face darkened. “Is someone… seriously about to be brought back to life?! Wait—NO! Nope, illegal! I don’t even know why I FEEL this, but this is NOT allowed!!”
He looked at his desk, unplugged all his gear, carefully set it aside—then just stared at the table. His hands twitched. He wanted to flip it.
Elsewhere in the USA…
Another anime content creator ‘Pause Button’s Lost’ was in the middle of filming a meme video—pulling goofy faces and simping over anime waifus—when he suddenly froze.
A chill ran down his spine. He glanced over his shoulder, dread creeping in. Something forbidden was about to happen.
“I’m open to the revival trope,” he muttered darkly, “but it better be a sexy waifu I can spin my helicopter at! I’m picky about who gets revived! LET IT BE A CAT GIRL, A FOX WAIFU, OR MY TABLE’S GETTING ISEKAI’D!!”
He stared at his table… the urge to flip it surged uncontrollably.
And then… somewhere in Japan…
Inside a studio, the Dumpster Dish Podcast was in full swing. Three men—a loud Aussie, a sharp Thai, and a smug Welsh—were locked in a heated debate over which steak reigned supreme: bone-in or boneless.
Then suddenly… silence.
The Anime Kangaroo whispered. “...Guys. Did you feel that?”
The Pad Thai Zone’s face darkened. “Like the universe just screamed, ‘DON’T TOUCH THE REVIVAL TROPE!’ But someone in a certain series is going to ignore it anyway… oh boy, I fear it’s gonna be done badly.”
Welsh Tea, sipping tea calmly, didn’t even flinch. “Well, gentlemen, when are we doing another Dumpster Dish special? You know—fly to Hawaii, jump into a volcano, and see if the revival trope applies to us?”
The other two deadpanned at him.
The Anime Kangaroo pointed an accusing finger at him. “YO—YOU’RE ABOUT TO BREAK OUR EQUIPMENT AGAIN, AREN’T YOU, WELSH TEA?!”
Welsh Tea raised a brow, playing dumb. “What are you talking about?”
Then he smirked. “Actually… better idea. Instead of dying in a volcano, why don’t we fry our steaks—boneless steaks—on a pan over the lava? If an accident happens, maybe we get isekai’d or revived. Viral content and proof boneless steak > bone-in steak.”
The Pad Thai Zone smacked the table. “NOT ONLY ARE YOU RISKING OUR LIVES JUST TO PROVE YOUR BONLESS POINT, YOU’RE RISKING THE CAMERAS… AGAIN!!!”
Welsh Tea just shrugged, unbothered. “Relax, boys. Producer-san’s got us covered.” He winked at her. “Right, producer-san?”
Producer-san only facepalmed. Yet again, Welsh Tea was ready to blow up thousands of dollars of gear, all to prove his boneless steak supremacy—and maybe trigger a revival trope or getting isekai’d.
Now, The Anime Kangaroo and The Pad Thai Zone felt the urge to flip the table—not from dread of the revival trope, but from sheer frustration with Welsh Tea.
Somewhere in the gaming world…
A massive collab of VTubers were neck-deep in a race on Italiano Kart.
And then, all at once, they froze. Controllers in hand. Faces darkened with dread.
SteelRat screamed. “FUUUUUUUUUUUK! My oversized ears are losing it! I can feel it, I swear—someone’s literally coming back from the dead!!”
Mortal Calamity, breathing heavily. “TABLES! I NEED A HUNDRED TABLES!! THERE IS A REVIVAL! A FREAKIN’ REVIVAL! Grim reapers aren’t supposed to allow this—it’s illegal!!”
Sherlock’s Assistant whipped out a magnifying glass, scanning wildly. “According to my deductions, this revival trope… isn’t on Earth. Or in the VTubing world.”
Maniacal Zombie shrugged. “Revival trope? Pfft. Veteran here—been through it all before… though, you know, undead now! But hey, guys, can we switch it up? How about some APUX Legenda to shoot each other down, or maybe chess? I almost won the tournament arc, so I’m pretty sure I’ll beat you all in either game! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Flirtatious Bae sighed. “Come on Maniacal Zombie… let’s just jump into an adult game already. But damn, this revival trope tingling? Sends a chill down my horns… and, uh, my privates too.”
Lewd whale bouncing on screen. “UwU~ what if we… like… bounced the watermelons, guys-nya~? HAH—no context, RIGHT chat! No context!! Let’s not fuss over this revival trope right now~”
The Wholesome Wolf (Not Really), also bouncing. “Ehe~ you’re right, Lewd Whale~ Let’s just forget the whole revival trope and focus on something way more… mouthwatering~ Like bouncing these watermelons, right here~ Mmm~ they've been begging for some hands-on attention, chat~ Let your imagination handle the rest~”
Snoozefest Furball, waking mid-snore. “Zzzzzzzzz… Oh! Did I miss anything, guys? OH CRAP! My kart fell into the sea! MY DONKEY NEEDS THE REVIVAL TROPE—NYAAAAAAAA!!!”
Fried Chicken Addict, snapped. “WHOEVER’S COOKING THE REVIVAL TROPE LIKE DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN NEEDS TO STOP—THIS ISN’T A BUCKET OF ‘GET OUTTA HERE’ NUGGETS, I’M SERIOUS!”
Aquatic Chibi Gremlin, adorably roared. “Grrrr!!! Someone’s about to do serious injustice with the revival trope! Is it some sarcastic detective? Or… is it you, Sherlock Assistants? Don’t make me use my shark powers on you! GRRRRR!!!”
Sherlock’s Assistant, snapping back. “OH SHUT IT, SHARKPEDO!!”
Digital Thirst Trap, bit her lips. “A revival? Who? Oh, you mean that breakable titanium rod down there, chat? Sorry, sweetheart, even that won’t save this snoozing trope. Try harder… Wait a minute—are you serious? It’s actually happening?!”
Son-of-a-K, panicking. “NOOOOPE, NOT AGAIN!! I feel it deep in my soul—and maybe in my stomach too because this revival trope is about to SHANK US ALL WITH SPICY CHAOS!!! Someone’s gonna rise from the dead like a bad sequel nobody asked for, and trust me, it’s gonna be messier than a ramen bowl explosion during a hurricane!! Chat, grab your popcorn, your life jackets, and maybe a helmet—because this trainwreck’s going FULL THROTTLE STRAIGHT INTO DISASTER TOWN!!”
Chaotic Rodent, chuckled. “He… he… he… a revival, huh? Perfect! Just what I needed—someone to whoop good and proper, then shove right back into their graves. Come on, bring it on! Let’s make this mess even MESSIER!!”
The Cosmic Clockblocker, deadpanned at everyone. “Alright, everyone, please calm down. Can we just get back to the game before time starts slipping away? Wait—no, not the revival trope. No, no, no! If that happens, we’re screwed. Time will unravel, and chaos will flood everything! Someone stop this madness before it’s too late!”
Nightmare Moonatellite, grinning mischievously. “Hehe, oh nooo… is someone really pulling the classic revival trope again? Wow. So original. Guess they really love a comeback arc, huh? I just hope this one’s spicier than the last… or are we tossing in a little chaos for flavor too?”
The Kraken’s Art Intern, trembled. “The revival trope again... I don’t know, it’s like… waking something that’s better left asleep. What if pulling it back just makes everything more fragile? I… I’m a little scared of where this could lead.”
Psychotic Lizardzilla, roared. “REVIVAL TROPE AGAIN?! SERIOUSLY?! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO WATCH SOMEONE DIE AND COME BACK JUST TO KEEP THE DRAMA GOING?! I’M SO DONE WITH THIS CHEESY CRAP—BRING ME SOMETHING FRESH OR BRING IT ON, I’LL SMASH IT MYSELF!”
Tsunami Hairpocalypse, nervous. “Ohhhhh crap, a revival trope?! Eeeep! That usually means things get really complicated really fast, doesn’t it? I’m kind of worried everything’s gonna get all tangled up again… but maybe a certain someone will do it right this time…”
Musical Monarchalee (Yes, the Cover Singer), breaking into song. “The revival troooope~ is not allowe-“
Maniacal Zombie, cutting in with a power note. “EXCEPT FOR MEEEEEEEEEE~!!”
And then—POP!
Mystery crates spawned around them. Each one filled with a single table.
The VTubers all felt it at once—an uncontrollable urge… to flip.
Every. Last. One.
Back in the Librarium of Wellspring…
Dinner ended at last. Everyone rose from their seats—the stepsisters, the servants, and Vesmyra—changing back into their usual clothes. Together they stepped out of the floating dome, leaving its soft glow behind. Ahead, the giant, radiant grimoire still hovered in the night sky, and they descended with it, gently returning to the surface of Lunaveth.
Before leaving for Evendelle, Vesmyra quietly broke away from the group. She made her way to a small cemetery near the luminous forest. There, she knelt before her stepdaughter’s grave. Her fingers lingered on the tombstone as she whispered a prayer for Thalirea, a daughter she had loved and lost. The ache of longing was etched into her face—she wished, more than anything, to see Thalirea again, though she knew such a reunion was impossible.
From a distance, Ryo and the others stood in silence. None spoke. They simply bowed their heads, giving Vesmyra her moment of grief and respect. When at last Vesmyra finished her prayers, she drew in a steady breath, wiped her eyes, and rejoined the group.
Nuada, remaining behind in Lunaveth, embraced his family one by one. His voice was low, warm, and heavy with meaning as he wished them good fortune in their search for Evendelle’s missing princess, Cinderella. Then Fairy Greatmother led the group back to the ancient tree toward the door that led to her cottage on the other side of the world. One by one, they stepped through it.
Finally… they were back in the swamp cottage of Evendelle.
Outside, the evening had already settled. The sky glowed deep orange, fading into indigo as the sun sank below the horizon.
The time in Evendelle was now 6 PM.
Leaving the swamp behind, the group made their way back to Ravenswood Manor. When at last the manor came into view, Clarisse and Seraphine slowed, their eyes shimmering. They stood before their home, the curse that had once plagued them gone. Emotion welled up inside them—they could hardly wait to embrace their mother again.
Ryo pushed the door open, and immediately a flurry of movement greeted him. His animal agents leapt and scurried toward him, their cheers and chatter filling the air. Ryo crouched down, laughing as he hugged them, patting each head and ruffling fur and feathers.
Then the agents froze. Their eyes darted past Ryo—first to Titania, then to Vesmyra, both concealing their fairy forms… and finally to the dog-sized Dr. Snouts 5000, all of them smiling and waving at the agents.
“Hello there, Bro’s agents,” Dr. Snouts 5000 greeted.
Captain Nutso stepped forward, stunned. He asked. “Yo-yo-you… can speak the human language, stranger? Mr. Talking Wolf?”
The Cu Sith grinned. He spoke in clear human tongue. “Oh definitely, and you must be the Captain of the Furry Force your commander had told me about. I’ve come here to assist you all in finding your precious Cinderella!”
The agents’ jaws dropped in unison. Never before had they heard another animal speak like this.
Captain Nutso squinted, processing, then raised his paw with a dramatic thumbs-up. His voice sharpened with resolve.
“You’re in… the moment you offered to help us find our precious girl, you already passed the Super Special Secret Agent Recruitment Program. Welcome to the Cinderella Rescue Squad.”
Dr. Snouts 5000 grinned proudly as he shook the squirrel’s paw. After that, the animals—even the Cu Sith—huddled together in a small circle, whispering and debating in squeaks, chitters, squeals, barks… and even human speech. They were trying to decide a code name for Dr. Snouts 5000. And then, at last… he was given one.
Standing tall, Dr. Snouts 5000 gazed at the moon, as if accepting some grand destiny, pleased with his code name.
Then, with a twinkle in his eyes, he turned to Ryo, his face deadly serious.
“Bro… after a briefing with your agents, my code name has been decided.”
Ryo crossed his arms, raising a brow. “Which is?”
“The name is Boom… Jaymez Boom,” he declared with absolute pride.
Ryo tried desperately to keep a straight face, his lips twitching as he fought to hold in laughter.
“Yeah… okay… Agent Jaymez Boom… pfft... add 101 to that.”
The stepsisters and servants slipped inside the manor, calling for Rosalind. But after searching every room, they returned to the front, reporting that she was nowhere to be found.
Since Jaymez Boom could communicate with the animal agents, Ryo decided to put him to use. He asked the animals where Madam Rosalind was. McPecker, fluttered forward with a coo, and Jaymez Boom translated, relaying the answer: Madam Rosalind hadn’t returned home since sunset.
Fairy Greatmother suggested they head to Rosalind’s store. But before leaving, Ryo requested one last search of the manor. The two or three more clues he thought he needed weren’t enough—this was the Fairytale world, after all, not Earth. The Fairytale world couldn’t be underestimated. The more clues, the better.
Fairy Greatmother gave a nod, and Ryo slipped inside. For 20 minutes, he searched every room, every hall, every shadowed corner. When he finally emerged, a smirk tugged at his lips, confidence gleaming in his eyes—like a detective who had just uncovered something vital.
With that, the group set off toward Rosalind’s store in the nearby village. They reached the village square, and then, finally… La Rose de Ravenswood came into view.
The time in Evendelle was now 8 PM
Inside the store, Madam Rosalind sat slumped over the counter, her face buried in her arms as silent sobs shook her shoulders. She had been crying ever since closing hours, after her employees had gone home. Her thoughts clung to her daughters—Clarisse and Seraphine.
Ever since that cursed perfume had touched their lives, Madam Rosalind had been trapped in constant fear. Were they safe? Were they still suffering? She prayed that Roselia could help lift the curse.
Then— knock! knock!
A soft knock echoed from the back door. Madam Rosalind slowly lifted her head, her tear-stained face tightening with confusion. At this hour? She hadn’t expected anyone.
Her breath shallow, she rose to her feet, each step toward the door weighed with unease. She placed her trembling hand on the handle, opened it—
“MOTHER!”
Her eyes widened. She blinked rapidly through her tears, wiping them with hurried fingers as her breath caught in her throat.
There they stood—her precious daughters. Clarisse and Seraphine, trembling with emotion, tears forming in their eyes the moment they saw her.
Madam Rosalind froze. Then, in an instant, the girls rushed forward, wrapping their arms around her. She felt their warmth, their shaking bodies pressed against her, but her mind raced.
Were they still cursed?
Was this real?
From behind them, Ryo approached, hands in his pockets, a reassuring smile on his face.
“Don’t worry, Madam Rosalind. The curse on your daughters… is now gone.”
He gestured toward the family beside him. “It’s all thanks to Ma’am’s family.”
Madam Rosalind lifted her gaze and saw Roselia, Vesmyra, Titania, and Jaymez Boom standing there. They smiled softly and bowed with grace.
Her voice cracked as she whispered. “Roselia… is the curse… truly lifted… from my daughters?”
Fairy Greatmother gave a gentle nod. “Why, of course, dear Rosalind. They have returned to you—safe and sound, no longer under the curse.”
Rosalind’s tears overflowed. She clutched her daughters tightly, her body trembling as sobs broke free. Relief, joy, love—all of it poured out as she wept against them. Clarisse and Seraphine clung to her, crying out “Mother!” again and again, while Rosalind repeated their names with desperate devotion, as though trying to etch them back into her heart.
Ryo stood quietly, still smiling. To him, this moment was more than a victory over a curse—it was a reunion, a family made whole. His chest swelled with a familiar ache, a memory tugging at him from years ago.
He remembered his old police days, back on Earth…
A mother screaming outside a burning building, begging someone, anyone, to save her baby daughter trapped inside. Fire roared as the structure shook, close to collapse. Officers and firefighters hesitated, fear written across their faces.
But Ryo had not.
Without a second thought, he charged inside, ignoring shouts for him to stop. Smoke burned his lungs as he climbed the collapsing stairs, searching desperately until he found the infant—alone in her room, covered in soot and ash, crying. He scooped her into his arms and turned to flee, only for the entrance to collapse before him. Trapped.
Then—a voice from outside, calling his name. A window. Below it, an inflatable safety cushion had already been prepared. His colleagues urged him to jump. The walls groaned, flames consuming everything.
Holding the baby tightly against his chest, Ryo leapt as the building collapsed behind him, landing squarely on his back on the cushion. He lay there, coughing, but alive. Ryo raised the baby, who looked back at him and giggled—soot and ash-covered, but safe. He gave a weak smile at the sound.
Then the mother rushed in. Ryo handed her the baby daughter, and she clutched her child tightly, tears of gratitude streaming down her face as she thanked him over and over.
That day, Ryo realized the greatest reward wasn’t a medal, nor recognition—it was seeing the ones he saved breathing, smiling, alive.
And now, watching Madam Rosalind weep with her daughters in her arms, he felt that same warmth bloom inside him. This reunion, this flood of tears and love—this was his reward. The best a detective, a former policeman like him could ever hope for.
The time in Evendelle was now 8:15 PM
After a moment, Madam Rosalind and her daughters wiped their tears and invited everyone inside the store. They gladly stepped in, but Fairy Greatmother reminded them that they couldn’t linger—there were only 45 minutes left before the Royal Ball began.
Madam Rosalind leaned close to her daughters, whispering urgently. The sisters nodded in unison, and together they turned back to face Ryo’s group.
“Hold it right there,” Madam Rosalind declared, raising her hand like a judge passing a verdict. “Me and my daughters shall be coming with you to the Royal Ball.”
Ryo rubbed his temples. “Ummm… why? We’re just there to investigate and find clues about Cinderella.”
“To help you find my daughter, Cinderella, of course,” Madam Rosalind said, arms crossed and grinning.
Clarisse and Seraphine exchanged glances, then slipped beside Vesmyra and Titania. They whispered something mischievous, and suddenly the four of them grinned like cats who had cornered a mouse.
Ryo leaned back, unsettled. “Hey… I know that face. You girls are about to pull something against my will! I’ve seen this trope a thousand times in anime!”
Madam Rosalind chuckled, placing her hands on her hips. “Don’t think you’re going to the Royal Ball looking like that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.”
Of course, she was right. Ryo’s dark orange T-shirt and trench coat screamed “lost earthling tourist,” not “royal guest.” Before he could argue, the four women pounced—dragging him to the center of the store with flirtatious giggles.
“HEY, WAIT—WHAT ARE YOU GIRLS DOING?!” Ryo panicked as they shoved him into a chair.
They dusted his face with powder, spritzed him with perfume from Madam Rosalind’s finest collection, and combed over his messy hair until it gleamed with a sharp classic side-part.
Then, with theatrical flourish, Clarisse and Seraphine fetched a navy-blue tuxedo and a silver robe coat from the backroom. They pressed it into his arms, and Ryo muttered while being nudged to the changing room.
“Alright, alright, no need to push me… I get it, I’ll wear it…”
Minutes later, Ryo emerged—polished, princely, every inch the unexpected leading man. The store fell silent. The girls’ hearts thudded as if struck by a Cupid’s hammer.
Seraphine’s eyes sparkled as she screamed. “KYAAAAAAAAAAA—MY HUSBAND IS TOO HANDSOME!!”
Clarisse gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like a stage actress. “Honey! Just one look at you and I’m about to melt~”
Vesmyra breathed rapidly. “To think… my beloved is THIS dashing… OH HEAVENS, YOU’RE TOO CUTE, STRANGE FOREIGN MAN!”
Titania trembled, placing her hands between her thighs, her voice breaking into a sultry squeak.
“Ah~ seeing you like this makes me… want to… ah~! I wouldn’t even mind having a half-human, half-fairy baby with you, sweetie!”
Ryo groaned, muttering under his breath. “Great… my manhood is in danger.”
While he despaired, Madam Rosalind unveiled a rack of gowns, each one glowing like bottled starlight. The stepsisters, Vesmyra, and Titania eagerly picked their favorites and disappeared into the changing rooms. Rosalind even pressed two gowns onto Elise and Sophie, the servants—commanding them to dress like proper ladies for once.
When they all stepped out, Ryo paused in awe. It was like a fairytale scene brought to life.
Titania shimmered in a regal golden gown.
Vesmyra glowed in violet silk.
Clarisse dazzled in emerald green.
Seraphine sparkled in sky blue.
Elise twirled in an adorable pink dress.
Sophie gleamed in glittering bronze.
They looked like princesses ready to step into a musical.
Then Ryo’s eyes caught Seraphine’s butterfly hairpin and Clarisse’s emerald gown. He pointed, blinking. “Wait a sec—are those—”
Clarisse leaned in, smiling. “That’s right, Sherlock. Remember you said I’d look beautiful in this emerald green dress?”
Seraphine followed with a sweet grin. “Exactly, my dear husband. And didn’t you say I’d look amazing with a butterfly hair accessory too?”
Ryo chuckled, remembering his ‘distraction compliment’ from the “heist” missions at each of the sisters’ workplaces, aided by his agents. Still, he smiled warmly.
“Yeah… and hey, you two really do look great with those.”
The sisters giggled, cheeks glowing with pride.
And then, the final flourish—the doors of the changing room opened once more, revealing Fairy Greatmother and Madam Rosalind. Fairy Greatmother wore a dark blue gown, reminiscent of her old robe, while Madam Rosalind shone in maroon, her dignity and elegance fully reborn. Both elder ladies’ outfits had an aristocratic air. Compliments rained down, and they lifted their heads proudly, basking in the admiration.
Even the animal agents were dressed for the night—each wearing a bow tie, including Jaymez Boom, who strutted like a secret agent ready for his debut mission.
The group was elegantly outfitted from head to toe.
Ryo packed his T-shirt and trench coat into his backpack, put it on his back, and strolled to the backdoor, hand on the handle. He glanced over his shoulder at them all—polished, radiant, ready—and a smile of pride spread across his face.
“Alright, guys… ready for the spin-off story to Cinderella?”
Everyone blinked at the strange phrasing, clearly not understanding—except for Cinderella’s name. Yet smiles spread across their faces, and they nodded anyway.
Ryo turned the handle. The door opened. The night air swept in, carrying the distant sound of music from the castle.
Together, they stepped out, marching toward the castle.
The second Royal Ball awaited.
The time in Evendelle was now 8:30 PM
Meanwhile…
In the castle’s lantern-lit garden…
A man staggered across the garden, lungs burning and legs heavy, until he finally collapsed at the feet of a woman in a black dress and a boy in a black tuxedo, sitting on a chair of small round table, both radiating a sinister aura. Falling to his knees, he raised a trembling hand clutching a pouch.
His voice cracked with desperation. “HERE! I PROMISED, DIDN’T I? HERE ARE THE BLACK SHARDS, LADY CARABOSSE… SIR PETYR! So please… please don’t hurt me anymore…”
Petyr’s grin split wide, his knife flashing in the lantern light. He let out a wild, mocking sneer.
“YEEEHAWWW!! Good work, Kaj! Guess I don’t have to rip your head off after all.”
He snatched the pouch from Kaj’s hands.
Carabosse snapped open her fan with a sharp flick, covering her mouth, her eyes glimmering above it like a predator.
“Now then, Kaj… or should I say… Edmund. You are fully aware of my plan to seize this kingdom, aren’t you?”
Edmund’s head nodded frantically, sweat beading down his temple.
“Y-y-yes, Lady Carabosse! brainwash the entire kingdom, make it yours… just like how you ruled over Rosenthorn…”
Carabosse’s gaze narrowed, the cruel delight in her eyes. “Good. Then you know what comes next?”
Edmund’s voice broke with terror. “O-O-of course!! Kill Sherlock Holmes!”
Petyr gave an exaggerated sigh, pouting like a disappointed child. “Tch. Shame, Kaj. You could’ve failed, and I was soooo ready to rip your hea—”
SMACK!
Carabosse struck his head with her fan, sharp as a whip. Petyr yelped, clutching the spot.
“OUCH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR, YOUR GRACE?!”
Her voice cut through the garden, cold and commanding. “I do not need to explain myself to a little boy. We have no time for your childish games.”
Groaning, Petyr rubbed the lump forming on his head. “Ughhh… party’s about to start, and I’m the one with a lump for a crown…”
Carabosse and Petyr rose from their seats.
Carabosse snapped her fan shut with a final crack, a sinister smile curling on her lips. Her eyes gleamed with triumph.
“Enough. Come, gentlemen. The ball begins in 30 minutes—and I have… particular plans for that foolish Prince Vaelric.”
The three of them stepped into the shadows of the castle. The lanterns flickered once, as though the garden itself trembled at their passing.
Somewhere high in the dark and silent place…
Cinderella, the captive princess, slowly rose to her feet.
She drifted toward the open arching windows, her figure framed by the cold moonlight.
All hope had already slipped from her grasp.
She no longer knew if rescue would ever come.
And yet… to stop her heart from breaking apart entirely, she lifted her voice one last time.
A fragile melody, trembling against the stone walls.
A song called “Ice in My Chest.”
Her voice broke the silence—
“Will this ice ever buuuurn in my chest...?”
“It’s heavy… like silence that won’t let me rest.”
“I’m really, really lonely in this gloom...”
“No more sunlight… just this never-ending room.”
Her voice wavered, but she kept singing—
“My prince is far away…”
“But I must not get emotional inside.”
“I swallow the tears, push them away.”
“But even numbness has nowhere to hide.”
Her breath caught. She clutched her chest.
“If I cry… will the walls start to crumble?”
“If I scream… will the stars even hear?”
“No one’s coming.”
“No footsteps on the stair…”
“Just the echo of me pretending not to care.”
Her tone grew quieter, more fragile.
“I don’t want to hope.”
“It hurts too much to try.”
“I just want to sleep…”
“And forget how to cry.”
Her eyes glistened in the moonlight as she whispered—
“I used to dream in color.”
“Now I dream in gray.”
“Every story I told myself…”
“Just fades away.”
Her voice cracked, but she pressed on—
“They said be brave, be kind, be good…”
“But goodness leaves you here.”
“Alone, misunderstood.“
Her voice fell to a whisper.
“If I disappear, will they even know?“
“If I fade into stone, will the world let me go?“
“No one’s coming.“
“The story’s come undone.”
Her final notes broke into a trembling hush—
“Maybe not every girl… gets her kingdom or her sun…”
“I’m so tired of hope… so tired of the fight…”
“Just let the dark hold me…”
“For one… last… night.”
The song ended.
Her voice fell into silence.
The cold wind swept through the window.
And Cinderella… stood motionless.
A girl who had lost all hope of rescue.
A girl forgotten for over a month.
But far, far away, in Evendelle…
Beneath lanterns and starlight, a certain detective walked toward the Castle for the second Royal Ball, his group following close behind.
His gaze was sharp.
His stride determined.
He carried with him the weight of a vow.
To find Cinderella.
The Missing Princess.
To pull her out of the darkness…
…no matter what.
0
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愛しているなら拘束してほしい
守 秀斗
恋愛
会社員の美夜本理奈子（２４才）。ある日、仕事が終わって会社の玄関まで行くと大雨が降っている。びしょ濡れになるのが嫌なので、地下の狭い通路を使って、隣の駅ビルまで行くことにした。すると、途中の部屋でいかがわしい行為をしている二人の男女を見てしまうのだが……。
上司、快楽に沈むまで
赤林檎
BL
完璧な男――それが、営業部課長・**榊（さかき）**の社内での評判だった。
冷静沈着、部下にも厳しい。私生活の噂すら立たないほどの隙のなさ。
だが、その“完璧”が崩れる日がくるとは、誰も想像していなかった。
入社三年目の篠原は、榊の直属の部下。
真面目だが強気で、どこか挑発的な笑みを浮かべる青年。
ある夜、取引先とのトラブル対応で二人だけが残ったオフィスで、
篠原は上司に向かって、いつもの穏やかな口調を崩した。「……そんな顔、部下には見せないんですね」
疲労で僅かに緩んだ榊の表情。
その弱さを見逃さず、篠原はデスク越しに距離を詰める。
「強がらなくていいですよ。俺の前では、もう」
指先が榊のネクタイを掴む。
引き寄せられた瞬間、榊の理性は音を立てて崩れた。
拒むことも、許すこともできないまま、
彼は“部下”の手によって、ひとつずつ乱されていく。
言葉で支配され、触れられるたびに、自分の知らなかった感情と快楽を知る。それは、上司としての誇りを壊すほどに甘く、逃れられないほどに深い。
だが、篠原の視線の奥に宿るのは、ただの欲望ではなかった。
そこには、ずっと榊だけを見つめ続けてきた、静かな執着がある。
「俺、前から思ってたんです。
あなたが誰かに“支配される”ところ、きっと綺麗だろうなって」
支配する側だったはずの男が、
支配されることで初めて“生きている”と感じてしまう――。
上司と部下、立場も理性も、すべてが絡み合うオフィスの夜。
秘密の扉を開けた榊は、もう戻れない。
快楽に溺れるその瞬間まで、彼を待つのは破滅か、それとも救いか。
――これは、ひとりの上司が“愛”という名の支配に沈んでいく物語。
隣に住んでいる後輩の『彼女』面がガチすぎて、オレの知ってるラブコメとはかなり違う気がする
夕姫
青春
【『白石夏帆』こいつには何を言っても無駄なようだ……】
主人公の神原秋人は、高校二年生。特別なことなど何もない、静かな一人暮らしを愛する少年だった。東京の私立高校に通い、誰とも深く関わらずただ平凡に過ごす日々。
そんな彼の日常は、ある春の日、突如現れた隣人によって塗り替えられる。後輩の白石夏帆。そしてとんでもないことを言い出したのだ。
「え？私たち、付き合ってますよね？」
なぜ？どうして？全く身に覚えのない主張に秋人は混乱し激しく否定する。だが、夏帆はまるで聞いていないかのように、秋人に猛烈に迫ってくる。何を言っても、どんな態度をとっても、その鋼のような意思は揺るがない。
「付き合っている」という謎の確信を持つ夏帆と、彼女に振り回されながらも憎めない（？）と思ってしまう秋人。これは、一人の後輩による一方的な「好き」が、平凡な先輩の日常を侵略する、予測不能な押しかけラブコメディ。
意味が分かると怖い話（解説付き）
彦彦炎
ホラー
一見普通のよくある話ですが、矛盾に気づけばゾッとするはずです
読みながら話に潜む違和感を探してみてください
最後に解説も載せていますので、是非読んでみてください
実話も混ざっております
旧校舎の地下室
守 秀斗
恋愛
高校のクラスでハブられている俺。この高校に友人はいない。そして、俺はクラスの美人女子高生の京野弘美に興味を持っていた。と言うか好きなんだけどな。でも、京野は美人なのに人気が無く、俺と同様ハブられていた。そして、ある日の放課後、京野に俺の恥ずかしい行為を見られてしまった。すると、京野はその事をバラさないかわりに、俺を旧校舎の地下室へ連れて行く。そこで、おかしなことを始めるのだったのだが……。
〈社会人百合〉アキとハル
みなはらつかさ
恋愛
女の子拾いました――。
ある朝起きたら、隣にネイキッドな女の子が寝ていた！？
主人公・紅（くれない）アキは、どういったことかと問いただすと、酔っ払った勢いで、彼女・葵（あおい）ハルと一夜をともにしたらしい。
しかも、ハルは失踪中の大企業令嬢で……？
絵：Novel AI
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