Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

"Indeed, I can't do it either."

Lake was somewhat dejected.

It was like playing a game, finally getting a piece of gold equipment, clicking to equip it, but it shows...

Job mismatch / Insufficient level / Unlock with money, and other strange conditions reject you – you can only look but not use.

Anyone would feel bad, right?

But Poro's eyes were still fixed on the crack in the sword, and he suddenly said:

"Lake, you embarked on this journey to save the Forest Witch, right?"

"Yes, but it seems... the Star Killer Sword doesn't approve?"

"The answer recorded by the Queen in her notes should be correct, and the crack also indicates that the Star Killer Sword should have approved."

Poro said in a deep voice, "However, it's not enough!"

"Not enough? What do you mean?"

"The urgency of the need, or... the proportion of selfish intentions."

Poro looked into Lake's eyes, the girl's pupils were still clear and azure blue.

During their previous travels, Poro's understanding of the girl had become more complete. He understood that this girl possessed extraordinary resilience and a... similarly brilliant heart.

Virtue, a trait known to all.

Everyone hopes to get along with people who possess more virtues, but for anyone, maintaining virtue is not an easy task.

But whether noble or despicable, everyone prefers to be around people with virtues.

The person chosen by the Star Killer Sword... is someone who chooses to fight to protect and save others.

Protect, save, and emphasize 'others'.

Undoubtedly, protection, dedication, and sacrifice... are all virtues.

"Lake, I think... you are qualified to pick up this sword. The crack on the sword proves everything."

Poro took a deep breath, looking at the crack on the surface of the Star Killer Sword.

But deep within the crack, there was only a small amount of darkness, and nothing could be seen. However, when the contact area between Lake's hand and the hilt changed, these cracks seemed to come to life and fluctuate.

"But why is this sword still so dull?"

"Because you are not ready yet, Lake."

Poro looked away, grinned at Lake, and gave her an encouraging smile, "In your heart, there is already a prototype of something to protect, but because of certain things—

You have some concerns, don't you?"

"I... do I?"

Lake was stunned for a moment, and light flowed within her pupils.

"Let me guess... you may have some ideas about fighting to protect, but you gave up fighting for certain reasons and leaned towards escape."

Poro raised his paw and rubbed his chin, "You actually want to help these Borens to fight against the upcoming Seven and those giants, right?

But no one dares to say that they can emerge unscathed when facing such powerful enemies, even with the Star Killer Sword—

You can't guarantee that in the process, people you care more about won't be hurt?"

"Eh? It seems, I really... have such thoughts."

Lake followed Poro's words and thought, her azure eyes gradually widened, and she looked at Poro with an incredible expression, "Poro, have you gained some mind-reading ability?!"

And when she thought of Poro's last sentence, "people you care more about."

Lake glanced at Poro, and a blush suddenly appeared on her fair cheeks.

Poro... shouldn't be human, right?

"It's okay, Lake, you don't need to worry about us. Compassion, justice, kindness... although most of the time, they don't bring any direct benefits..."

Poro patted his chest and pointed to the girl's chest, "But I never belittle them because of that.

I also know their preciousness, they are the shining components of humanity.

It's like... a fire in the dark."

As Poro spoke, he looked at the stone-covered sword in Lake's hand.

The crack that split from the hilt seemed to be getting bigger, which was a good sign.

"You and I are different, Lake, your heart is clearer than mine."

Poro recalled slightly, the past nights flashed quickly before his eyes, and scene after scene of details were staged in turn.

"The first time you saw that... village that was slaughtered by giants, your sorrow and compassion lasted much longer than ours.

On that night in Aim City, you felt pity for those Borens who were easily slaughtered, and anger towards that human traitor Seven.

When those Boren soldiers risked their lives to stop the giants—

I knew that at that time, you had truly taken their sacrifices to heart.

And in the royal capital, when you saw the old man surrounded by the crowd, being bullied, and saw that the people venting were not mobs or villains, but also victims full of sorrow.

Your virtues and heart were even more at war—

You can't turn a blind eye to this..."

Poro spoke word by word, and every word seemed to strike directly at the heart!

The surprise on Lake's face became more and more obvious, she lowered her head slightly, and her eyes looked a little red:

"Poro, how... how do you remember so much?"

"Because I have always been by your side. Next to me, you have never been good at hiding your emotions."

Poro smiled and winked at Lake, "You actually wanted to help these Borens a long time ago, right?

But you were afraid that me, the old soldier, and Dans, because of your decision, would be injured or even have our lives threatened in the war with the giants, so you suppressed this idea, right?"

"I, I just..."

The blush on Lake's face became more and more obvious, she held the hilt of the Star Killer Sword and murmured softly.

"It's okay, Lake, no matter what choice you make, I will stand by your side.

And the old soldier and Dans, the invisibility cloak, is enough for them to get away unscathed in almost all chaos and conflicts."

Poro restrained his smile and said sternly,

"Defending the Boren Kingdom against the giants may be a thankless task for all of us—

But ah...

Lake, the motivation for doing things is never just profit and selfishness!

I don't want you to suppress your heart because of this.

You need to know that all virtues and character, the initial pure and sincere heart, will disappear in the 'compromises' made again and again in the face of reality and interests...

You may have gained wealth, power, or saved your life because of these choices—

But at the same time, you must have lost something."

Poro paused, the secret room lost the light patterns of the array engravings and appeared dim and unclear. Only outside, in the princess's bedroom, a few candles were still flickering with weak light.

In Poro's spiritual world, page after page of golden pages symbolizing fairy tales.

The bright colors emitted brought a illusory light mist, which was beautiful...

"What your heart and soul possess now is the most precious treasure for the fairy tale world.

It far surpasses any magic and all divine weapons!

I don't want you to lose them!"

"Crack—Crack——"

In Lake's hand, the cracks on the Star Killer Sword's body spread faster, and a glimmer of light flashed in the depths of the black cracks, reflecting in Poro's eyes.

Poro laughed again, looked up at Lake, and asked seriously, "Face your heart, Lake, think again, if you really have the power of this sword—

Would you allow those giants to wantonly slaughter in this royal capital?"

Lake looked at the stone sword in her hand, which was already covered with cracks. The halo in the cracks was clear and bright, just like the virtues it represented.

Without the seal made by those three stars, she and the others could directly take this sword away and leave the Boren Kingdom without looking back.

But...

Lake saw again one after another Boren people who lost their loved ones in the disaster.

And there emerged the scenes of those Boren soldiers, with fear and tears on their faces, still rushing towards the giants.

This sword once protected the Boren Kingdom.

And the choice of this sword for the wielder also symbolizes protection and salvation.

Could it be that she can really just walk away like this?

On the eve of the disaster, take away this... sword that could have prevented all of this?

"Poro, if this sword can really give us... enough power to stop the disaster brought by these giants..."

Lake's lips were bitten a little pale, and she said the last few words, "I... want to try."

"Okay, Lake, I will be with you—"

Poro gently pressed his paw on the back of the girl's hand holding the hilt of the sword, "To meet this disaster, just like... in a real fairy tale!"

"Crack——"

The last complete shattering sound was no longer the dull sound of stone breaking, but more like the crisp sound of glass.

The falling stone skin turned into dust in the air and dissipated without a trace—

Beneath it, endless starlight, brilliant and suddenly appeared!