I Will Eventually Embark On The Path Of No Return Called A Hero

[Arc5] - 23. Is This... Fairy King?

---

When Ban stepped out from the tree roots, the Fairy King's Forest had already grown into a large forest, brimming with the breath of life.

This was a miracle, nurtured by someone's blood.

"Yo! Vice-captain, let's head back." Ban, looking full of life despite who knows how much blood he had shed, smiled brightly as he approached Cyd.

"I thought you'd stay with her a bit longer." Cyd glanced around. Weak presences lurked beneath the trees, observing him with simple hostility—like mice naturally hating a cat.

"It seems I'm not welcome here."

"Well, the vice-captain is more liked by humans, so it's normal for other races not to take kindly to you."

Ban, acting like someone who's been through it all, patted Cyd's chest, proudly stating, "I'm not liked by humans at all, and I don't get along with them either."

"That's nothing to be proud of... Anyway…" Cyd cast a glance at Gerheade, who was smiling at the tree roots and then knocked Ban on the arm with his fist. "From now on, every time you return, I'll go with you."

"Huh~ Vice-captain, you're not worried I won't come back, are you?" Ban raised an eyebrow and playfully clamped Cyd's neck with his arm, laughing loudly. "Though I really love Elaine, I also really like the captain and vice-captain. Besides, how can I find a way to revive Elaine by staying here?"

Cyd rolled his eyes, ignoring Ban's teasing.

Ban, surprisingly sentimental, always said his goodbyes before leaving. However, after gaining immortality, he had lost some of his former thief's sharpness. Immortality didn't mean invincibility, after all.

"By the way, are you still planning to find the Fairy King?"

"Of course, it's a promise I made with Elaine."

"Well, you better explain clearly when the time comes," Cyd said seriously. "Don't have the attitude of 'Ah, whatever you say, it's fine, I'm immortal, what can you do about it?' That'll just make things complicated."

"I'll keep that in mind?" Ban had a look of 'I probably heard you' on his face. "If I remember by then."

"Make sure you listen properly."

"Ah well, who knows where the Fairy King is anyway. Maybe he's rotting away somewhere." Ban shrugged and smiled indifferently. "Or maybe he's been imprisoned for abandoning his duties and letting the Fairy King's Forest be destroyed."

"If that's the case, then the 'Sin of Sloth' would belong to him, but he's the Fairy King. There's no way humans could judge him."

"True. If a human declared him guilty, it would be embarrassing for the Fairy King, haha…"

"Hahaha…"

However, when Cyd saw the unopened indictment handed to them by Meliodas, neither he nor Ban could laugh anymore.

"Hey, Meliodas, who is this…"

"The Fairy King, King." Meliodas blinked, seemingly understanding the reason for Ban and Cyd's stiff expressions. He leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry, only a few people know about Ban's sins. He doesn't know."

No, no, no—that's a completely different problem!

Fairies were described as incredibly beautiful in the records, and judging by the looks of the Fairy King's sister, Elaine, the Fairy King should be a handsome man. But the Fairy King before them... Even Cyd could only think of one word: "Fat Pig."

An obese, oval-shaped body, eyes squeezed shut by his own flesh, a thick beard covering his face, and thinning brown hair.

"Give me a moment…" Cyd rubbed his temples in thought. Still, one couldn't judge by appearances. The Fairy King was rumored to have the power to force humans and fairies to sign peace treaties, a force like a natural disaster.

"Hey, Captain, are you joking? Isn't this just a fat pig?" Ban grabbed Meliodas and shook him hard, grinning.

"I don't know either. He has the Spirit Spear, which only the Fairy King can wield, and the magic 'Disaster' that can push its power to the limit." Meliodas, swaying from Ban's shaking, crossed his arms and appeared to be thinking, though to Ban and Cyd, he seemed to be spacing out.

"Alright, let's leave it at that. He's the last member of the [Seven Deadly Sins]. You all have to get along from now on." Meliodas nodded as if convincing himself, and with a wave of his hand, carelessly made a decision on this rather serious matter.

Cyd turned to look at King, who didn't seem to mind being openly doubted. In fact, it was more like he hadn't even noticed. He was staring blankly at Diane, who was peeking out from behind a house.

"As sloppy as this is, the formation of the [Seven Deadly Sins] was sloppy to begin with. There's no point in dwelling on it now." Cyd pulled Ban and Meliodas apart and dragged them toward King.

At this point, Cyd wouldn't even be surprised if a survivor from Danafor popped up.

"Nice to meet you, Sin of Sloth, King."

King, startled by Cyd's voice, turned his head. As soon as he saw Cyd, a burst of white steam shot out from his body. His casual hoodie transformed into a royal, luxurious outfit... though it looked quite comical on his plump frame.

"Nice to meet you, Vice-captain Cyd. I've heard of your reputation. Aside from me, all the other members were personally captured by you. Such power is truly admirable."

Where did such a terrible rumor come from?!

Cyd glared at Meliodas, who was smiling innocently. This rumor definitely had something to do with him!

"Well, I was dragged back to serve time after Cyd defeated me during a rampage." Meliodas nodded seriously, arms crossed, his young face full of gravity.

Please don't call the specialty fish pie from the 'Black Cat's Yawn' tavern prison food. Zaratras, who always tries to sneak out of work to eat that pie, would cry.

"Same here. After I kicked down the walls of what was called the strongest prison in Liones, I got beaten up and dragged back." Ban chimed in, though he didn't really know what Cyd was struggling with. He seemed to find it fun to banter with Meliodas.

Please stop bringing up that "strongest prison." The warden has already retired!

"Ha~ Well, the results are about the same, but the process was a bit..."

"Oh, I have a proposal." Meliodas raised his hand, interrupting Cyd. "The [Seven Deadly Sins] is still a knight order, so we need some basic rules. I'd like to propose one."

"[The members of the Seven Deadly Sins are not allowed to investigate each other's sins; only the vice-captain can know everyone's sins]."

"I have no objections." Ban casually raised his hand, understanding that Meliodas was helping to cover for him.

The others, including King, also had no objections. It was a good way to bring everyone together, but it put pressure on Cyd.

"Nothing ever seems easy for me. But I guess I've never done anything easy anyway."

Cyd rubbed his face, showing a sunny smile as he looked at the seven gathered around him.

"Someday, I'll absolve you all of your sins!"

"That is the privilege and responsibility of the vice-captain of the [Seven Deadly Sins]!'"

"Alright!" Meliodas raised his hand high and shouted, "The [Seven Deadly Sins] is officially formed! Let's celebrate! The vice-captain is treating!"

"Wait, something's wrong with that last part!"