Are You Dying with Me?

Faust really hadn't expected Mephistopheles to be such an old-timer.

After all, in his eyes, this fairy didn't feel the least bit ancient or stodgy. They had put on an act at the beginning, but the longer they spent together, the more he felt the fairy's vitality.

Could a serious fairy be so much like him in their shared mischievous nature?

Furthermore, having looked through all the fairy records without finding a single mention, Faust had naturally assumed Mephistopheles was among the latest generation of young fairies.

Fairies were divided into old and young, though even the youngest had existed for at least eight hundred years.

But a primordial fairy, the most ancient kind—that was a truly significant background.

Faust couldn't help but say to Mephistopheles in his heart:

"My god, a veteran. I admire you so much, old-timer!"

【Are you starting to admire me? Unlike my kin, I don't care for the worship of the son of man. But if it's you, Faust, I can accept it gladly. Just remember not to build any statues.】

Mephistopheles naturally knew Faust wouldn't worship them; they knew the latter would never truly worship any existence. That was precisely why the fairy liked him so much.

After her surprise passed, Mystoria knitted her elegant brows.

"How could His Excellency Mephistopheles form a contract with a mortal? I have never heard of such a thing."

Faust replied, "Yeah, why indeed? I'm just as surprised, but that's just how it is."

The elf martial saint crossed her arms and paced back and forth on the boat, glancing at Faust from time to time. She seemed unable to fathom how this unremarkable human prince could be the contractor of a primordial fairy.

After a long while, Mystoria looked at Faust and pursed her cherry-pink lips.

"Our meeting... perhaps it was arranged by fate. Does His Excellency Mephistopheles... have any revelation?"

The main event had arrived.

Respect was one thing, but Mephistopheles wasn't the guardian fairy of the Zhexuan Kingdom. A mere name wasn't enough to make Mystoria obey him blindly.

She needed a reason to take him as a disciple.

"I shall pierce the thorn-dream of the Sleeper and disperse the sun-eroding light in the nightmares of the masses. Therefore, I naturally require an elven mentor."

Faust didn't understand what Mephistopheles's words meant; he could only guess that they related to events within the elven kingdom.

Sure enough, as soon as the words left his mouth, the elf martial saint stared blankly at Faust. Her eyes, like burning gold, seemed ready to pierce right through the prince of Qingxi.

"Are you truly the one from the prophecy...? But it shouldn't be time yet..."

Then, Mystoria closed her eyes and pondered for a long time before shaking her head.

"How can the wisdom of a mortal comprehend the sublime fairies? Faust... was it? I will do my utmost to teach you everything I have learned in my life."

The elf martial saint tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing as if in slight distress.

"Ugh... although I am called 'teacher' by many, I haven't actually taught anyone personally, especially not a human with such mediocre talent like you."

Fine, I already know my talent isn't outstanding. You don't have to keep saying it.

Faust expressionlessly invited Mystoria to take a seat as the pleasure boat began its return trip.

On the way back, he spoke with Mephistopheles.

"What prophecy were you talking about? Have I stepped into another destiny script?"

【Even with your constitution, it wouldn't be this easy and fast to enter the next script. It was I who used my authority to link your fate to the fate of the Zhexuan Kingdom ahead of time.】

Faust was shocked. "You can do that? Is there no catch?"

He remembered Mephistopheles emphasizing more than once the nature of fairies—that they could not tamper with fate under any circumstances, or the consequences would be severe.

【Of course I shouldn't. It's equivalent to deceiving fate. If the script can be completed successfully, then all will be well. But if something goes wrong, I will likely suffer the total destruction of my soul.】

Faust: "...Mephistopheles, have you lived long enough already?"

【What's the matter, Faust? Do you lack the confidence to solve it? I thought that no matter how difficult the goal or impossible the miracle, you had the confidence to achieve it.】

Although Mephistopheles's voice was casual, as if joking, they truly believed in Faust.

Enough to stake their life on him with a lighthearted remark.

This trust was quite heavy, but it didn't make him feel pressured at all. Instead, it made Faust laugh heartily.

"Ha, then you really haven't misjudged me."

"That's quite a temperament. Since you're betting your life, I have no choice but to accompany you to the end. Take my phone and use it for a loan too; if we die, we die together."

【Ho, can I interpret this as you wanting to commit a love suicide with me? Such deep affection.】

"Now you're bringing up love suicides. I just don't want to owe you anything. Besides, if I really can't do it and I get you killed, I wouldn't have the face to live on anyway."

【Mumu. In that case, work hard. I only did this because I believe in you.】

Mephistopheles began to hum a ballad in Faust's ear that he had never heard before—ancient and timeless.

...

After returning to the royal capital, Faust wanted to build a palace specifically for Mystoria, but she refused.

"I am not joining your kingdom, and I will not take sides in any human disputes. I am only becoming your mentor in a personal capacity."

Faust didn't mind having his little scheme seen through. Even if Mystoria drew a line and refused to interfere in worldly affairs, her mere presence would still act as a deterrent once it became known.

Mystoria's appearance in the palace caused some attention. No one expected the prince to bring back an elf after a simple spring outing, but then they remembered this was Faust, and their surprise faded.

Meanwhile, the old king, having learned the details, reacted quite normally.

After all, he was a firm believer in fairies. In kingdoms where fairies were worshipped as gods, a contractor would be called a God-Chosen.

Since he was a God-Chosen, any miraculous encounter was considered normal.

He was in retirement; he spoke little.

On the third day after Faust brought Mystoria back, she sought out the prince of Qingxi of her own accord.

"It is time to begin your cultivation, Faust. A human's time passes in the blink of an eye. Those who excel in the martial path should not have a moment of slack."

The elf martial saint had tied her flaxen hair into a high ponytail. Her attire was extremely light and airy, and large areas of her fair, delicate skin glowed under the sunlight.

Despite being famous for over a hundred years, judging by her appearance, she looked like an exceptionally dignified and beautiful elder sister figure.

"Yes, Teacher."

Faust's gaze held no trace of flirtation as he performed the student's salute to Mystoria.

He was all about respecting the teacher and the path.

"I learned swordsmanship from my father before. I should be able to skip the basic courses, right?"

"The techniques of human warriors? Inefficient, crude, and lacking beauty."

Mystoria shook her head. She kicked open the sword case in front of her and took out a straight-edged sword with a slight curve.

"I don't mean to be rude, but please forget all the techniques you learned before. Let's start by practicing endurance."

"Endurance?"

"Enduring failure and pain. That is the first lesson."