Having learned his lesson, Faust no longer dared to harbor any excessive self-confidence.
Though the [Cinderella] script hadn't lasted many days, if he hadn't thought quickly on his feet, he would likely still be locked in that basement intensely filming "Faust-Lovers TV."
Bro, seriously, no more. If a DLC drops now, I won't be able to hold on.
[Bonus content? You could put it that way. The scripts written by Destiny are never absolute; there is always room for maneuver. Many characters step onto the stage only to exit later, but the status of a Witch persists until the end of her life.]
What, "once a Witch, always a Witch"?
Faust wanted to retort, but he suddenly realized that was exactly how it worked.
Regardless of the fairy tale, they all ended with the formulaic: "And so, they lived happily ever after."
For a story, ending there was sufficient. But in the real world, summarizing decades or a century of life with that one sentence was far too reductive.
Wait, does that mean...
Faust's pupils dilated. He looked at the pale-gold-haired girl who was swaying slightly, seemingly in high spirits, and asked:
"Vivian, those techniques you displayed before—what was that about?"
Previously, he had been too preoccupied with the script of destiny. Setting aside those influences that twisted hearts and reality, the unicorn carriage Viviana used to attend the ball, the ability to traverse the void of the Spirit Realm, and the method of binding him until he was immobile with a mere wave of her hand... those were all incredible skills.
"I don't know," Viviana shook her head, confessing frankly. "Only when I wear the mask do I possess those unbelievable Mysteries. I have no idea where they came from; I suspect it's an awakening within my Path."
Good, good. You're not even acting anymore, are you?
You called it a second personality before, and now you've switched to calling it a mask!
Faust was furious but didn't dare speak up. Who told Viviana to be a [Witch]? I bow to the [Witch] milady; you can do whatever you want!
This is the true value of a top-tier destiny!
However, his internal grumbling was quickly dispelled by the latter half of the girl's sentence:
"...Afterward, it seems I can attempt to learn those techniques within my Path."
Occultism was inherently an indescribable thing; no one could fully delve into its ultimate truths. While Casters might have the drive to research it, Viviana was not a Caster, so her attitude was less than enthusiastic; she mentioned it only in passing.
Her interest in the occult was nonexistent; her sole purpose for acquiring power was to fulfill Faust's tasks.
But this sounded completely different to Faust's ears. The Prince of Qingxi felt a surge of profound respect.
What did that mean? Did "Cinderella's" abilities not have a time limit?
In an instant, Faust hit upon an incredibly frightening fact.
"Viviana..." The Prince of Qingxi took a deep breath and looked at his childhood friend with great solemnity.
"Mhm?" The pale-gold-haired girl opened her eyes and looked at Faust.
"I plan to go speak with Father now and request to vacate the position of Crown Prince."
"...Actually, there's no need to be so urgent." Viviana's beautiful eyes widened slightly. She already believed in Faust's resolve; there was no need to supervise him in fulfilling his promise.
But Faust was exceptionally decisive. He stood up immediately and walked toward the King's bedchamber.
Along the way, the Prince's pace quickened. He clenched his fists, trembling with excitement.
The [Witch] status was effective for a lifetime!
He had originally thought the so-called [Witches' Feast] ended after the process was finished. On the surface, that seemed to be the case.
But there was a massive catch in the final step of this "process."
The vast majority of "fairy tale scripts" ended with the formulaic "lived happily ever after," which was practically nonsense. For example, if Faust truly gave up his ambition and stayed in Qingxi to grow old with Viviana, under the arrangement of Destiny, they would likely live out a peaceful, ordinary life.
"Mephisto, I have a question..." Faust licked his lips and voiced his doubt.
Under normal circumstances, Viviana as she is now would be enough. But what if a powerful external force interfered, making it impossible for the two to live a "happily ever after" life? What then?
[Faust... you thought of it after all. Yes. Destiny will ensure the completion of the 'Witches' Feast' and grant the Witch enough power to fulfill the script. If things proceed smoothly, the power the Witch eventually gains is negligible. But if the path is full of obstacles... Destiny will continuously increase the stakes.]
The Fairy's voice seemed to carry a hint of gratification, confirming Faust's hypothesis.
The Prince was overjoyed. "If you put it that way, I know exactly what to do."
[How bold. No one in the past has dared to do this. Once it spirals out of control, you will face a disaster from which there is no return!]
The Fairy's warning didn't scare Faust at all—or rather, Mephisto wasn't warning him at all.
Faust laughed. "Stop pretending, Mephisto. I'm no fool. Didn't you intentionally guide me to think this way? Then let it be as you wish."
As his voice fell, Mephisto went silent. After a long time, it spoke eerily:
[Faust, do you intend to defy fate? After witnessing what kind of existence it is?]
"I don't have a set idea that I must obey or resist destiny; I judge based on the situation. If it's a destiny I'm satisfied with, of course, I'll gladly accept it. But if it's an ending I can't accept, I don't mind putting everything on the line to fight back!"
The Prince's view on destiny was quite simple. He never felt that because he was being toyed with by fate, he had to break free from the cage.
If Destiny gave him the life of his dreams, what was wrong with immersing oneself in the illusion?
The problem was, the life given by the Wheel of Destiny didn't look ideal. Even if it was an ending considered excellent for ordinary people, if it's not the destiny I like—direct rejection!
[Heh heh ha ha... Faust, you truly are lovable. In that case, do as you wish. This way, you can also help me achieve my goal.]
As expected, what Mephisto sought required defying fate. No wonder it had been dropping hints, consciously or unconsciously.
Faust nodded. "No need to say more. Our contract is there. So, Mephisto, what exactly is your goal?"
Perhaps feeling they had finally reached a point of mutual candor, the Fairy's calm voice echoed in Faust's mind after a long silence.
[...There are many things I wish to do, but the first thing I need is—A fallen dragonll.]
A fallen dragonll!
Hearing this word—one capable of stopping a child's crying and bringing ruin to a nation—Faust's brain lagged for a moment.
Oh man, scared me to death!
He truly hadn't expected... no, he should have seen it coming!
Aside from A fallen dragonll, given a Fairy's power and status, what else was unachievable?
That's it. That's the only way it makes sense.
Just as Faust was wrestling with whether to ask Mephisto about the reason for the A fallen dragonll, he arrived at the gates of the King's bedchamber.