Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

“So, where are you going next?”

The Giant King looked down at Lake and Poro, asking with some curiosity, “Will you stay here with me for a while? After all, it’s been a long time since anyone has stayed in my castle.”

“No, thank you.”

But Lake shook her head, looking at Jack not far away.

The boy was staring wide-eyed, secretly watching them.

“We were originally planning to leave, but Jack told us about the predicament you were facing here. If not for that…

Perhaps that crack in the sky would have really collapsed, and the monsters born from those angel corpses would have devastated this kingdom.”

Lake said, suddenly realizing something, she untied the small bag from her waist and opened it.

From it, she took out an orange-yellow gem and a cyan-green gem, handing them to the Giant King.

“Regardless of the reason, you did stand here and guard that… crack called Heaven.

You really did save a lot of people because of it.”

Lake continued, the gems shimmering in the air, “I think, you might not be a tyrant who always brings destruction and death anymore.

I want to believe that this time, you shouldn’t be aiming for destruction.”

The gems, supported by strands of cloud, flew towards the Giant King.

“Saying I’m a tyrant? Hey, that’s not very polite.”

Although the Giant King said this, his expression was not angry, he just raised his hand and placed the two gems in his palm.

The blue gem he possessed also flew out from the clouds, flying into his palm together.

At this moment, the processed exterior of the gems shimmered with subtle colorful light.

They twisted like liquid, recombining, turning into three round spheres.

Poro could see that the Bo Ren array patterns carved inside the orange-yellow gem also dissipated at this moment.

“They are beautiful, aren’t they? Just like your Starbane Sword, I can feel… benevolence from them.”

The Giant King said, the surrounding clouds enveloping the three gems.

The clouds began to solidify, turning into a white silk pouch that looked like it was made of silk, floating up and flying to the side—

There, the golden bird, only emitting faint golden light, jumped out.

The pouch hovered in front of the golden bird’s neck, cloud strands weaving two ribbons, hanging on it.

“Haha, thank you both, you’ve helped me a great deal again.”

The Giant King laughed again.

“So, what exactly are you using these gems for? What exactly is their purpose?”

Lake asked, looking at the golden bird on the side pillar.

After injecting its own golden light into the Giant King’s body, this golden bird had become somewhat dim, its body revealing its original feather color.

It was a blackish-purple color.

And after shrinking in size, Lake and Poro also made some guesses about its species.

Was it a swallow?

“For a friend I haven’t met much, these gems also carry some power—some power about benevolence, wisdom, etc., belonging to you humans, some very precious power.”

The Giant King said, his huge finger extending from the clouds, carefully touching the golden, dim bird.

No, it was more like a somewhat reluctant caress.

“These gems are not for myself, and I will not use them, but I know that the other ‘King’ I haven’t met much must need these things now.”

The Giant King said, retracting his finger.

The swallow, whose plumage had become somewhat dim, did not dodge the finger that was hundreds or thousands of times larger than itself, on the contrary, it went up to rub against it:

“Thank you, you are a trustworthy king.”

The golden-black swallow said, in her tone, in addition to some gratitude and joy, there was also more of a sense of guilt.

“Of course, I know that you have a partner who is even closer to you than I am. Now, you have to leave too, right?”

The Giant King retracted his finger, his words showing some sadness and sorrow.

“Sorry.”

The swallow was silent for a while, and then said with her head lowered, “Now that I am still alive and have obtained these gems… I have to leave.

I know that now, there is a golden soul that needs me even more.”

“It doesn’t matter, like those children, you will always leave—

In the words of you humans… a king like me will always be lonely.”

The Giant King laughed freely, and then moved his gaze to Lake and Poro, “Look, this is why I didn’t forcibly demand the gems from you earlier.

They were never mine, and they will take away my only good friend—

You have to compensate me!”

“Ah?”

Lake was stunned for a moment. From the Giant King’s words, she understood something. For some reason, she felt inexplicably guilty.

“Uh, sorry, what do you want… as compensation? I only have some gold coins left, I can’t give you anything else…”

“Hey, wait a minute!”

Poro said with dissatisfaction, “You wanted those gems yourself, we didn’t rush to give them to you. You promised to exchange the gems for power, influence, wealth, and all that nonsense—we didn’t want any of it!

You should be the one giving compensation!”

“Don’t worry, I was just too happy, just kidding.”

The Giant King waved his hand upon hearing this, without any embarrassment, half-jokingly saying, but then, he restrained his smile, “But, can you… listen to my request?”

The Giant King asked sincerely, “This is not a transaction, nor is it an order, or a threat, just a request, uh… let me think, it’s like I’m a beggar, kneeling in front of you…”

“Wait, you don’t have to do that, I can do it myself——”

At this time, the swallow seemed to guess what the Giant King wanted to say, she hurriedly said, her two wings flying up, as if to block the Giant King’s sight.

But the Giant King used clouds to wrap the swallow up and send it to Lake and Poro, continuing to say to Lake and Poro:

“This small request is whether you can help my friend go to the place she wants to go?

Although she looks like just a bird, but I guarantee that compared to me, she has a soul that can be called a saint among you humans…”

The Giant King opened his mouth, was silent for a while, and continued, “For some reason, I can’t leave the clouds now.

I know that you don’t lack anything now.

The only thing I can give you is my own power—you can order me, the king of giants, to do anything.

This is my promise.”

As he spoke, the Giant King raised one hand and grabbed the index finger of his other hand, breaking it hard——

Crack.

With a muffled sound, the next moment, Lake and Poro were surprised to see.

One of the Giant King’s fingers was broken off by himself, the surrounding clouds surging violently, rushing towards the broken finger, shrinking, turning into a black dot.

Finally, the hazy black dot passed through the clouds and flew to Lake.

It was a stone block with cloud patterns surging.

“You, this is your…”

Lake looked at the changes that happened in this fleeting moment, widened her eyes, wanting to refuse.

“It can’t be reattached, it’s different from your human limbs, don’t worry.”

But the Giant King smiled, for some reason, his laughter sounded like a cunning scheme succeeding, “No matter where—as long as you use it, I can appear in the sky with the floating island.

But… the world is old, but I still want to live a little longer.”

The Giant King said, shrugging his shoulders.

The swallow wrapped in clouds had now broken free from the shackles of the clouds, flying to Lake, the girl looked at the bird, thought about it, stretched out her arm, letting the swallow stop on her arm.

The swallow, looking at the Giant King, said sternly:

“I won’t be grateful to you for doing this.”

After speaking, she looked at Lake, nodded slightly, and said softly:

“Sorry, I know you should have more important things, so if it’s troublesome, I’ll go by myself…”

“It’s okay, Miss Bird, after my things are done, I will help you.”

Lake smiled, and then said, “I think you are really kind. My grandmother always told me that kindness is the most beautiful part of the human soul.

If what you want to do is out of kindness, virtue, those truly beautiful things in the world, I am happy to help you.”

The swallow looked at Lake, not knowing if it was moved, or something else, she seemed to be strangely silent, for a long time, she nodded slightly, “Thank you, you really look like… my friend.”

Saying that, she raised her head, “I promise, what I want to do will make this world a better place.”

……

In the sky, the floating island was only a small part where the castle was located, and the previous vine had withered and fallen to the ground.

The clouds dissipated, Lake and Poro stood on the ground, the clouds above their heads floating hazily.

No one could see that above the clouds above their heads, there was a huge castle.

Just like… the once lush giant garden.

“After that, the giant will be alone in the sky, right?”

“I believe he will find his own fun—he is not the kind of guy who will always be in pain, or rather, he is very smart, even in the clouds, there are magical ways to create a way to make himself not so lonely.”

Lake’s shoulder, the golden-black swallow said, but her words seemed to be persuading herself.

Lake and Poro watched the cloud slowly drift towards the horizon.

Retracting their gaze, the carriage was parked in the forest not far away, the two walked forward, but just then, a somewhat stumbling footstep came from the nearby trees.

Very slight, but for Lake and Poro, who were sensitive to their senses, it was very obvious.

“Who!?”

“Uh, sorry, I’m not an enemy——”

A somewhat hoarse young voice sounded, coming from a person leaning against a tree, raising his hands, indicating that he had no hostility.

It was the young hunter whose limbs had been broken by the strong man earlier.

“Huh? The Giant King didn’t erase your memory?”

Seeing him, Lake and the others were very surprised, they all knew a little about the effects of the Giant King’s magic.

And previously, this young man was sent back to the ground with the other surviving humans, with their memories erased.

“Uh, I’m just a little special, which exempted me from this influence, of course—only that, without a gun, I’m nothing now, just a disabled person.”

The young hunter’s eyes, looking at the Starbane Sword hilt exposed at Lake’s waist, flashed a hint of dimness and struggle.

“Sir, so what are you waiting for us for?”

Lake blinked and asked.

From the boy Jack’s description, she knew that this young man was the only one who dared to stand up when the giant’s chosen one launched an attack.

In other words, he has more morality or goodwill than the other mercenaries.

“I, I… can I take another look at your Starbane Sword? Savior Angel, please, please…”

The young hunter finally couldn’t hold on any longer after hearing Lake’s words.

His legs, which were already disabled and not fully healed, instantly softened, kneeling on the ground, putting his head on the ground, prostrating himself.

His voice carried a cry of some kind of emotional breakdown.

“Ah? Sir, you… don’t cry, just take a look, of course there’s no problem with that.”

Lake was stunned by this sudden scene.

However, such a request can be regarded as a real helping hand.

After all, every guy who died under the Starbane Sword can be regarded as having seen the Starbane Sword.

Lake agreed.

Then, in the young hunter’s hopeful gaze, he gently pulled out the Starbane Sword from its sheath.

At this time, the Starbane Sword had no starlight at all.

The sword body was like a silver-white smooth mirror.

“The Starbane Sword only shines when I fight for protection. It usually looks like this.”

Lake explained apologetically, “Sorry sir, I can’t always keep it lit, the Starbane Sword also needs to rest…”

“Of course, of course, it doesn’t matter, I understand, only a kind savior is qualified to make it bloom with starlight!”

But unlike what Lake thought, the young hunter’s gaze at the Starbane Sword became more and more fiery, without the slightest disappointment, as if he wanted to engrave the appearance of the Starbane Sword firmly in his heart.

Among them, there was also a kind of reverence mixed with sadness.

He couldn’t help but raise his hand, wanting to touch the blade, but at a slight distance, he stopped and retracted it.

“Thank you, that’s enough, I’m not worthy… to touch it.”

The young hunter said in a low voice, smiling gratefully at Lake, with some kind of relief, “It recognizes you, you are indeed a hero, truly saving countless humans, but not seeking any benefit or wealth——

Thank you, for letting this sword shine again!”

Lake and Poro stopped, all showing a little doubt, the things revealed from the young man’s words, the understanding of certain aspects of the Starbane Sword——

Even the former King Bo Ren probably didn't reach this level.

Leike thought for a moment and asked:

"You seem to know a lot about the Star Killer Sword? What else do you know?"

"My ancestors once passed down a legend about the Star Killer Sword, or rather... about its origin and history.

Of course, it might just be a legend, but I've always strived for it.

I wanted to become a hero and eventually wield the Star Killer Sword, but—I failed, but you did it, allowing me to witness its brilliance...

Anyway, thank you!"

The young hunter said sincerely, gazing at the Star Killer Sword, its silver, mirror-like blade. "The Star Killer Sword most likely originates from a...

Girl blessed by the stars, whose gown was formed from countless starlight.

Just like the Star Killer Sword."