Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 98: The Corrupted Fairies
“Quick, fall back!” Yuna’s voice was sharp with vigilance as she grabbed Merlin’s hand, her eyes glinting with wary determination.
The instant they retreated, a tide of black magic surged like a rising sea, and with it, a series of humanoid creatures, all shrouded in darkness, emerged.
These monstrosities were slick with a glistening black sheen, their twisted forms grotesque and unnatural, as though they had been molded directly from dark magic itself. Their eyes glowed a menacing red, scanning their surroundings with predatory precision, as if ready to pounce on Merlin and Yuna at the first sign of weakness.
“What… what are those?” Merlin whispered, his voice laced with disbelief. He had never seen anything so bizarre.
Yuna positioned herself protectively in front of him, her gaze sharp and unyielding. “Those are corrupted fairies,” she explained, her tone steady despite the looming threat. “According to uncertain studies, fairies are formed from the magical elements that permeate the world, shaped by faith, totems, fantasies, mental constructs, and wishes. They carry the will of living beings, and when negative emotions resonate strongly enough, they can condense into these corrupted forms.”
Merlin’s eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight before him. The corrupted fairy exuded an oppressive black aura, its form hazy, constantly on the verge of collapsing into a swirling cloud of darkness. Its eyes burned with a mixture of anger and despair, as if it were pouring every ounce of its hatred into the world itself.
“This is… a corrupted fairy?” Merlin murmured, his voice barely audible, filled with awe and fear. He had never witnessed a creature so horrifying—it was like something out of a nightmare made flesh.
“Yes,” Yuna said grimly. “These fairies are closely tied to negative emotions. They are born from resentment, pain, and despair, stripped of their original spirit and reason, left with only the most primal instinct to destroy.”
A chorus of anguished, bitter voices erupted from the shadows:
“Why… why am I the second son of the family? Why not the firstborn? Father… Mother… your love! I want it!”
“Why was I born into a hunter’s family? Someone like me, who could study at a magical academy, should be of noble blood! I refuse this lowly existence!”
“Money! I need money! I failed the exam because I couldn’t afford alchemy equipment!”
“Damn it! Why doesn’t she like me?! It’s that bitch’s fault!”
“Why am I so ugly? Why is Merlin so handsome? Why?!”
Merlin froze, utterly dumbfounded. How could these corrupted fairies know his name?
“The domain ruled by Siyue shouldn’t be able to summon corrupted fairies,” Yuna muttered, her brow furrowing. “Something here is definitely beyond what I know.” She had learned what she could from the few books in the library—otherwise, she wouldn’t even recognize these beings. Fairy studies were an obscure discipline, after all.
Merlin adjusted the power setting on the ring adorning his finger and asked cautiously, “Senpai, these corrupted fairies look extremely dangerous. If we try to disperse them, could it affect the students who are unconscious?”
“It shouldn’t,” Yuna replied, her tone tight. “I don’t know for certain, but right now, if you want to avoid ending up like the students on the floor, you need to fight back. This is not the time to worry about others.” With a swift flick of her hand, frost spread across the floor, creeping outward like icy fingers.
Merlin glanced at her and sheathed the fireball ring, switching to alchemy equipment with other elemental attributes. Setting the library ablaze had almost been disastrous a moment ago—he wouldn’t risk repeating that mistake.
Suddenly, a low, grating roar erupted from the corrupted fairies as they surged toward Yuna and Merlin. Their twisted bodies writhed, as if intent on tearing apart anything that dared to block their path.
“Merlin, follow my lead. Charge straight through!” Yuna commanded, raising her hand. Frost spread instantly across the ground, crawling up the feet of the corrupted fairies and locking them in place like statues carved from ice.
Merlin extended his hand, and wind magic burst forth, forming a violent gust that pushed back the immobilized creatures, scattering them before him and Yuna.
“We can’t stop now!” Merlin shouted, as more corrupted fairies surged from behind, their numbers growing with every moment.
Yuna’s fingers traced swift arcs in the air, encasing her body in a layer of frost armor. “I’ll pave the way. Get your spells ready and be prepared for anything!”
Merlin nodded, the ring in his hand glowing faintly. His wind-infused alchemy equipment could create intense pressure to repel enemies, and with Yuna’s frost spreading ahead, they sped down the library’s long corridor, their footsteps echoing ominously in the vast, empty space.
As they neared the library’s main door, a few corrupted fairies leaped out from the shadows. Their grotesque forms were accentuated by the glint of frost, their eyes wild and frenzied, as if they had caught the scent of prey.
“Merlin, don’t hesitate!” Yuna shouted, raising both hands above her head. She began a rapid incantation, and the frost armor around her erupted with magical energy. A surge of icy wind followed, and the armor shattered, sending shards of ice flying. The fragments touched the corrupted fairies, instantly freezing them solid.
Merlin’s heart thudded. He thrust his hand forward, channeling magic into a terrifying gust of wind that slammed against the frozen enemies. Their shattered, ice-laden bodies crashed through the library’s doors.
Boom—
Yuna and Merlin rushed through, only to find even more corrupted fairies lurking outside.
Dozens? Hundreds? The sheer number was staggering.
Neither Merlin nor Yuna had expected such a scene. The corrupted fairies formed a dark, writhing sea, their twisted bodies grotesque under the sunlight. Their eyes glowed with unnatural light, waiting, patient predators ready for their next meal.
Yuna froze for a moment, stunned. She couldn’t possibly handle this many corrupted fairies on her own. Already weakened from the morning’s exams, she wouldn’t stand a chance at full strength.
Merlin, however, assessed the situation with a calm practicality. So many of them… well, there’s only one way. Time to spend some money to clear the threat. He wasn’t worried about the danger—they were just numerous. With the potions and scrolls stored in his spatial ring, he could handle hundreds, even thousands, of these corrupted fairies.
This is the power of paid resources! Merlin thought, summoning potions of fire, ice, and storm magic, ready to show these reckless creatures the meaning of a true “pay-to-win” player.
Just then, a golden light flared in the distance. A blade of radiant energy sliced through the darkness like sunlight tearing the night apart, instantly purifying dozens of corrupted fairies. Merlin and Yuna followed the path of the golden slash and saw a figure rushing toward them, flanked by a group of students.