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(Fate) Chapter 278: Awakening the Cursed God (2.9k words)
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 17:35:43 +0000 UTC"By now, she should have already met Morgan."
Inside the dimly lit room, Promise stood by the window, gazing in the direction where Mellie had disappeared and spoke in a tone, full of certainty.
He had already guessed Mellie’s purpose in coming here tonight.
Besides seeing him, she was also here to meet Morgan.
The entire Fairy Kingdom was under Morgan’s control.
Without the protection of the Goddess of Fate, even Mellie could not completely escape her sight.
In fact, Promise was actually quite curious to see how Morgan would react to Mellie’s presence.
After all, Merlin was still imprisoned by Morgan.
But after thinking it through, Promise felt that even if Morgan were truly surprised, she wouldn’t show it outwardly. That realization made it seem far less interesting to him.
"Well then, it's time to begin."
As he spoke, an object appeared in Promise’s hand—a divine treasure from a queen-ranked goddess.
A golden apple.
Yes, a Golden Apple.
And this particular one had been given to Promise by Clotho… or rather, he currently had three Golden Apples in his possession, each given to him by the three Fate Goddesses on the day they met.
This was Promise’s greatest trump card at the moment.
As for where the Goddesses of Fate got their Golden Apples…
Well...Promise had given them to them in the first place.
Each apple bore the inscription he had carved back then:
"To the fairest—The Golden Apple."
Back in the Age of Gods, to prevent a conflict where the three goddesses would fight over a single apple, Promise came up with an easy solution, so he simply engraved this message on the Golden Apples and simply gave each of them their own.
And since the Golden Apples had been practically stockpiled by him at the time, and even Chiron had an orchard of them, Promise had long since ceased to worry about ever running out.
Now, without hesitation, Promise took a bite.
Immediately, a faint golden hue spread across his clear emerald eyes.
"...You've been watching for quite some time. Isn’t it about time you showed yourself?"
He turned his head slightly, shifting his gaze toward the window.
"At the very least, our goals are aligned for now—we both want to release the suppressed god."
The moment Promise's calm voice faded, a long silence followed.
Then, as if the air itself were a mirror disturbed by rippling water, the space in front of him wavered.
A figure emerged under the moonlight—silver-haired, blue-eyed, appearing as if he had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.
A flawless Prince of Light.
Oberon Vortigern.
The Endbringer of the Cursed World.
Morgan's death was his carefully orchestrated plan, and he was the true mastermind behind the destruction of Fairy Britain.
Appearing like a dream, he moved with practiced elegance and gave Promise a courteous bow.
"It is an honor to meet you,"
"Beloved by the gods, the hero who weaves miracles, the follower of the Athena, the goddess of wisdom."
He spoke each title with reverence.
Promise, however, was unsurprised that the other party knew his identity. He was well aware that the man before him possessed knowledge of Proper Human History.
Not to mention that the Fate Goddess herself was personally accompanying him on this mission.
"Take me to the god’s resting place."
Promise got straight to the point.
"I will be responsible for awakening it. As for Morgan, she is already being held up by Mellie."
Upon hearing this, Oberon couldn't help but glance at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So… the Fairy Knights were never your true target.
It was Mellie all along, wasn’t it?"
Promise had arrived in this Fairy Kingdom and had been frequently interacting with Melusine.
As a result, everyone instinctively assumed that Promise's goal was to turn the strongest Fairy Knight to his side, after all, if Melusine's memories were restored, she would undoubtedly choose to listen to him.
"Who told Mellie to be such an unreliable person?"
Promise clicked his tongue.
"Even if it were Merlin helping me, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble… But you’re still wrong.
My target was never the Fairy Knights. It was never Mellie.
From the very beginning, it was always you, Oberon."
Promise smiled as he looked at Oberon.
"Because I knew… as long as I found Artoria Caster, you would inevitably come looking for me.
And when that time came, you would help me unconditionally—help me release the cursed god and ring the Pilgrimage Bell."
"As for Mellie..."
As he spoke, he glanced once more in the direction where Mellie had disappeared.
"I just knew there was no way she’d behave herself.
Morgan was bound to be interested in her, so I simply set her up as bait."
Oberon listened in silence.
Then, he turned his gaze back to Promise, his eyes reflecting the golden hue now present in the depths of Promise’s own.
"The world knows you as the beloved of the gods. A hero who painted the heavens with divine figures, a legend who created countless miracles.
"Even your sword... is one that can judge the gods themselves."
Oberon chuckled softly as he said.
"But amidst all these dazzling titles, they always overlook the most important thing.
"Your wisdom."
"Even if you weren’t originally chosen by the Goddess of Wisdom,
Even if your paintings once held no trace of the divine,
Even when you were at your weakest, fragile enough to be blown away by the mere wind—
You still created miracles. You rewrote fate. Again and again."
Because from the very beginning, Promise’s fate was intertwined with Athena’s threads.
Just as the Ocean Sage Goddess once interpreted, at that moment, Promise had already possessed the wisdom to find a path to success even in the most impossible of situations.
And because of that—
Even now, even knowing that Promise was just an ordinary human in this moment…
Oberon still did not dare to underestimate him in the slightest.
Therefore…
"But precisely because of that, I know your true goal, Promise."
He smiled at him.
"You are not releasing that god to bring disaster and destruction upon this world.
On the contrary, you wish to quell the rage of that once-kind god."
"You wish to grant true peace to the divine being who has suffered for thousands of years."
Promise did not refute his words.
Even though his disguise had fooled Morgan, even though Mellie had assumed the same, he had still failed to deceive Oberon.
Because Oberon had prepared too much for the destruction of this world.
On this matter, he had been meticulous.
"But I will still destroy this place."
Promise spoke calmly.
"In the end, our goals are aligned.
And more importantly… Oberon, no matter what, you cannot refuse me, can you?"
Promise smiled at him as he said.
"You know that I have a high probability of awakening it.
You also know how weak I am right now.
No matter how glorious my past may have been, at this moment, I am still capable of dying due to my own arrogance and perishing at the hands of that god."
…Can that even be called arrogance?
Oberon found the thought unexpectedly amusing.
But he still nodded.
As Promise had said, regardless of whether he could truly quell the god’s resentment, he had no reason to refuse him.
Thus, Oberon took Promise forward.
Toward the highest and loneliest throne of Fairy Camelot.
Yet along the way, Promise encountered someone unexpected—
Or rather, someone he had already expected.
Melusine.
She stood in their path, blocking the night-cloaked corridor that led to the throne.
Seeing her appear, Oberon gave Promise a mischievous smile before promptly turning away, leaving the stage entirely to them.
And then—
Melusine, with her brilliant golden eyes dimming with sorrow, gazed at Promise.
"I… was always waiting."
She spoke softly.
"Waiting for you to say something."
"In fact… on the night we first met, Her Majesty Morgan came to me.
She restored the sealed memories."
"I just… haven’t dared to open them."
Because of Aurora.
"But as long as you asked, I would have sided with you—even if it meant becoming Morgan’s enemy!"
She stated it with conviction.
"No." Promise shook his head.
"I never intended to involve you from the start."
....
"…So what you're saying is that you don’t need me either, do you?"
Melusine lowered her head.
The sorrow in her eyes was painfully obvious—like a lost, abandoned puppy.
A sense of helplessness.
A quiet panic.
Seeing this, Promise took a step forward.
He placed his hand on her head.
And gently rubbed it.
Melusine looked up, her eyes blinking at him in surprise as the latter smiled.
"When I arrived here, someone told me,
That you are the strongest, most beautiful, and most noble of all Fairy Knights in Britain."
"So from the very beginning, I never intended for you to carry the burden of betrayal."
"I don’t mind!" Melusine immediately replied.
"But I do,"
"I pulled you out of the dirt because you were meant to be this beautiful.
How could I stain your life with something so ugly?"
As Melusine opened her mouth to speak again, Promise continued,
"If you truly want to do something…
Then when that god is awakened—if I fail to resolve things, if everything spirals out of control beyond saving…
Please, help me.
Grant that god the peace it deserves."
Promise spoke seriously, looking directly at her.
Melusine could feel the sincerity in his words, the weight of his resolve.
So after a brief silence, she lifted her head and gave him a firm, resolute nod.
Then, as if gathering courage, her golden eyes sparkled with hope as she carefully asked,
"Then… once I’ve done all of that… would you still pat my head again?"
Promise hesitated for a moment.
"If that’s what you want… then yes."
"I promise I'll do my best!"
At that moment, Melusine beamed with excitement and undeniable joy.
She followed alongside him immediately, determined to stay by his side.
Though she said she wouldn’t ask any questions, Promise knew that even if he refused, she would have followed him in secret anyway.
After a brief internal debate, he let out a sigh and relented.
Then…
"Oberon, what the hell is with that look—like you're watching me kidnap a fairy or something?"
Promise turned to him with a deadpan expression, his brow twitching slightly.
"Me? Oh, nothing, nothing at all!"
The latter quickly turned his head away, retracting the amusement and smirk on his face.
He even shrugged innocently towards Melusine, who was narrowing her eyes at him.
Not long after, under Oberon’s guidance, Promise finally arrived beneath the throne.
Morgan’s veil-covered form remained seated atop the throne.
Her head rested on one hand, her posture relaxed, as if she were merely napping.
But in fact, her consciousness was still within her other self, engaged in conversation with Mellie.
Oberon cast a spell, completely concealing their presence.
Otherwise, the moment Promise entered the silent hall, Morgan would have already awoken.
Beside him, Melusine lowered her gaze, looking somewhat guilty.
"To subdue the god Cernunnos, the queen spent over a thousand years enslaving fairies to forge a total of twelve Holy Lances.
And now…
Those very lances lie beneath this throne."
Oberon turned to Promise and said,
"I can open a path for you—one that avoids the Holy Lances and leads directly to Him.
But I cannot guarantee that your soul will remain untainted by His curse."
Hearing this, Melusine’s expression froze for a moment.
But before she could fully process the weight of those words—
"Enough talk. Let's begin."
Promise smiled and interrupted Oberon. "If you keep wasting time, by the time Morgan comes back, I’ll be fine… but you?"
"You’ll end up just like Merlin—permanently locked away."
Oberon was speechless for a moment, realizing that he couldn't continue the conversation that day.
With that, he began chanting in the language of the fae, casting his magic.
As the incantation echoed, dense black mist began to seep out from beneath the throne, swirling toward them.
The moment Melusine felt the ominous, polluted presence, her face tensed, and without thinking, she immediately drew her weapon, stepping in front of Promise to protect him.
But—
Before she could make a move, Promise placed a hand on her weapon and stopped her.
"No. It's too dangerous!"
Melusine refused to back down.
"Did you already forget what you just promised me?"
"But—"
Just as Melusine, who was filled with frustration, was about to argue further..
"What are you all doing in front of my Mother’s throne!?"
A sudden voice rang out.
A vivid streak of red appeared under the moonlight.
Baobhan Sith.
The vampiric fairy, still restless after Promise’s words from earlier that afternoon, unable to sleep, had wandered out in irritation..
Only to find herself face-to-face with this scene.
Three figures, standing in front of Morgan’s throne.
A thick, malevolent curse rising from beneath it.
For a moment, her mind went blank, unable to process what was happening.
Seizing the perfect moment, Promise grabbed Melusine and lifted her as effortlessly as one might pick up a mischievous cat.
Melusine instinctively tried to struggle.
But the moment she realized that flailing would only end up hurting Promise, she froze.
Completely still, she let herself be thrown—
Straight into Baobhan Sith.
The moment the two collided, tumbling into a chaotic heap, Promise turned to Oberon, ready to hurry him along..
But, was surprised to find that the latter was staring at him.
Not at him..but behind him.
Not with amusement.
But with shock.
At this moment, his gaze was locked on something behind Promise and his face was full of disbelief.
Feeling a sudden chill, Promise instinctively turned his head.
And saw her.
A witch.
Although her face was shrouded, he could feel it.
Her form was like a manifestation of divine curses.
Yet—
The moment she noticed his gaze—
She smiled at him.
And then—
Everything went black.
Promise’s consciousness vanished.
.
.
.
And, at this moment.
On the other side — Mellie and Morgan
Bathed in the moonlight,
Mellie stood with both hands raised, her face the picture of innocence as she pleaded with Morgan.
"Your Majesty, the esteemed Queen—"
"I swear I have already told you everything I know and am allowed to say!"
"I beg you, please don’t push me further! If I keep talking, that petty, grudge-holding bastard is definitely going to write me down in his list of grudges!"
"I really don’t want to be hunted down by gods and heroes!"
Morgan, who had remained silent and composed this whole time, simply gazed at her indifferently and even coldly.
"I never asked you any of these questions. You revealed them of your own will."
Aside from Vivian’s matter, Mellie had almost entirely betrayed Promise’s secrets.
For example—the existence of Clotho, the goddess of fate.
But in reality—
Morgan had never stopped Mellie to ask about any of that.
"I don’t care what he intends to do."
"Even if he destroys this place, even if he ruins everything I have created—I will not hate him."
"On the contrary, it is you that disgusts me right now."
"For betraying him."
Hearing this, Mellie froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she blurted out.
"Wait, wait—hold on a second—"
"You… are you really Morgan? Or are you fake!?"
"No—if you weren’t here to make me betray him, then why the hell did you stop me!?"
"Because you seem to know his past."
"Tell me—who is he, really?"
Hearing this, Mellie finally understood.
Morgan had no interest in stopping Promise’s plan.
She hadn’t even thought about preventing it.
The reason she was here was only to learn more about him.
Thinking about all this, Mellie couldn't help but stare at Morgan.
You’re not Morgan at all. You’re still Vivian, aren’t you!?
"He’s going to destroy everything you care about, and you’re telling me you don’t mind at all!?"
To Mellie, this Morgan in front of her was insane.
She couldn't help but recall the Morgan from her world—
How extreme she was.
And now, looking at this Morgan—she felt like she had completely lost her mind.
"When the time comes, I will do everything in my power to stop him."
Morgan naturally understood her confusion so, she replied in a calm tone.
"But I will not try to stop him before that."
After all, I witnessed, with my own eyes—
That he saved everything I once had."
The Rain Clan.
The time when she was truly happy.
The people who raised her.
The family who treated her kindly.
And Promise had changed their fate, how could she had any desire to hurt him?
Just as Vivian had said—
Morgan’s feelings toward him were complicated.
She feared him.
And yet—
She was grateful to him.
Mellie couldn't help but recall Vivian’s words.
And their shared past.
So when she suddenly realized it, she pouted her lips, and even looked a little regretful.
And then—
Under Morgan’s unwavering gaze,
Mellie, chose to surrender once again, and was just about to reveal everything that Proper Human History had recorded about Promise,
When suddenly—
Her body froze.
At the same time, Morgan lifted her head.
Both of them looked toward the direction of the royal throne.
And then—
Morgan’s gaze snapped back to Mellie.
Now, sharp. Intense. Unforgiving.
Mellie blinked.
Stunned for a moment before she realised.
She had been screwed over.
Her lips twitched, she wanted to cry but had no tears.
She looked at Morgan with pure sincerity and said—
"Your Majesty, the esteemed Queen—"
"I swear, this has nothing to do with me!"
"I am also a victim—you believe me, right?"
