TVWRDWMEHHSL 25

25. The Reincarnated Noblewoman Receives Alarming News

“‘Fairy Panic’?”

The moment I heard that name, I instinctively stood up from my chair.

I was so sudden that my momentum knocked the chair over.

That alone tells you how urgent this situation was.

“‘Fairy Panic,’ you mean that? The abnormal potion that brings chaos to fairies?”

“As expected of you, my lady. You know it well,” Gatou said.

Though his tone was calm, the tension was evident.

“‘Fairy Panic’ is familiar to us in the underworld. Not surprising, since it’s illegal…”

“A substance whose production, possession, and use are forbidden by law. It’s a medicine that deserves that much caution…”

From what I knew, ‘Fairy Panic’ was truly a forbidden drug.

As its name suggests, it affects only fairies, stripping them of their sanity and plunging them into catastrophic chaos.

“I’ve heard there’s a herb called Clacido far to the north. Even in the barren, frigid lands of the extreme north, it roots itself and blooms—such astonishing vitality. Its internal components have an intense euphoric effect,” Gatou continued.

“But for some reason, that effect manifests only in fairies. By extracting the nectar from the Clacido flower, boiling it to increase its purity, and combining it with other stimulants in precise amounts, you get the forbidden potion known as ‘Fairy Panic.’”

“As expected of you, my lady. You know it well,” he repeated.

I didn’t need him to say it again.

“If ‘Fairy Panic’ is dispersed in mist form, the fairies around it lose their sanity and become violent. Even normally gentle pixies and nymphs take on the savage appearance of lamias and attack humans and beasts alike.”

“Since fairies are spirits that aid in the growth of plants and flowers, they exist wherever nature does. If you make them violent, nearby villages and towns would be in serious trouble.”

Fairies are small and cute, but once in combat, their aggression and cruelty are far beyond what their appearance suggests.

‘Fairy Panic,’ which artificially induces fairy havoc, is classified as a weapon for urban attacks and is internationally banned.

“To think such a thing has been brought into the country at this exact time… it’s the worst.”

“Is there a problem?”

“The second stage of the Crown Princess selection will be held in the Gremlin Forest.”

Just imagine what would happen if ‘Fairy Panic,’ which can turn even ordinary fairies into vicious monsters, were used on gremlins—already notorious for their mischief and extremism.

“If it’s used to coincide with the start of the second stage, you’ll see… the ten or so noblewomen with magical power strong enough to be considered candidates for Crown Princess… they might not all make it out alive.”

Of course, that’s assuming someone intends to use ‘Fairy Panic’ in the selection. Nothing is decided yet.

Yet, for some reason, I already had a strong sense that ‘Fairy Panic’ would be used in the Crown Princess selection.

“Do you have any idea who brought ‘Fairy Panic’ into the country?”

“That… I’m terribly sorry…”

You don’t know? Then how can you even determine that ‘Fairy Panic’ has been brought in?

“…It seems that in a small village about fifty ri from the capital, there have been reports of attacks by fairies.”

“Fairies? Which kind?”

“Ordinary pixies. Pixies almost never attack humans. The only plausible cause would be ‘Fairy Panic.’”

“I see.”

“Moreover, following that initial incident, similar reports came from other villages and towns. The second incident occurred in a village about forty ri from the capital, then another twenty ri away…”

“Wait… that order—don’t tell me…”

The incidents are gradually approaching the capital?

“When did these incidents occur?”

“The first report was eight days ago. Considering travel time, it’s no surprise if it has already reached the capital.”

This is getting serious.

We don’t know who is doing this.

But ‘Fairy Panic’ brought into a major city could cause catastrophic damage, depending on how it’s used.

Yet something feels off…

“We don’t know who is transporting such a dangerous substance, but why use it recklessly along the way? These reports only exist because it’s been used, right?”

Using precious ‘Fairy Panic’ in what seems like a wasteful manner. And even with the risk of being discovered?

“Most likely, it wasn’t intentional. It was probably an accident. They must have been careless while transporting it,” Gatou explained.

Ah, I understand.

So perhaps a lid came loose on a bottle containing ‘Fairy Panic,’ spilling just a little. That tiny amount was enough to make nearby fairies go berserk.

“The proof is that reports ceased after the area about twenty ri from the capital. They probably realized it there and hastily resealed it.”

“Still, traces remained, and they got noticed. How foolish.”

Without even that mishap, the dangerous substance could have entered the capital completely unnoticed. Just imagining it sends chills down my spine.

“Do the government officials know about this yet?”

“No, most likely…”

They don’t!? How could they ignore a crisis that could threaten the entire capital?

“Fairy mischief happens often, so even if their aggression increases, officials tend to dismiss it. Plus, connecting the involvement of ‘Fairy Panic’ only becomes evident by linking the three incidents near the capital.”

The fairy incidents occurring fifty, forty, and twenty ri from the capital…

“Officials rarely coordinate between cities. There’s a sense of territoriality, so information exchange is infrequent. We gathered rumors from traveling merchants entering the capital, and that’s how we noticed the unusual pattern.”

I see. This alone makes me grateful I hired Gatou as an ally.

“Have you reported this to the officials?”

“Do you think they’d listen? To us, petty criminals?”

True. Officials and lawless types are natural enemies. In this country, even noble mages look down on powerless commoners. No wonder they wouldn’t take Gatou seriously.

“My lady, what about you? Will you believe us?”

“Huh?”

“You’re a noble too. You might not believe us, just like the others.”

Foolish. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have hired you in the first place. If the information gatherer isn’t trusted, hiring them is a waste of money.

“You all owe me a debt of gratitude. People like you, even lawless ones, do not betray debts. I know that.”

“My lady…!”

“Gatou quickly obtained this crucial information and delivered it to me. I’m glad I hired you—it makes me feel it was the right choice so soon. Thank you for living up to my expectations.”

“My lady! How generous of you…!”

Wow, Gatou is crying? I didn’t say anything that touching!

There’s no need for tears.

I have another reason to be certain of his report’s truth.

In my previous life… before reincarnation, ‘Fairy Panic’ was indeed dispersed at the second stage.

Because of that, the fairies went berserk, and over two-thirds of the participating Crown Princess candidates were injured and eliminated.

Is that painful incident about to repeat in this life as well?

But if the same thing happened before, wouldn’t it be simple to fix?

Surely it’s the same culprit, and if you catch them, it should end happily… you’d think, right?

The one who dispersed ‘Fairy Panic’ in my previous life… was me.

At that time, I ordered Gatou, who had become my agent, to secretly import ‘Fairy Panic’ from a neighboring country and scatter it in the Gremlin Forest where the second stage would take place.

I did it to eliminate as many rivals as possible.

To become the Crown Princess.

I truly did not care about the means, only the end.

And now, in this life, ‘Fairy Panic’ has been brought into the capital again.

Of course, neither I nor Gatou am involved this time.

Then who is the culprit?

The same scenario is repeating across two lives, yet with a different mastermind?

What does this mean?

As I struggled with these thoughts, Gatou spoke with determination:

“If it’s you, my lady, you can speak directly to that prince. And the prince can command officials to act. Please, inform him of this crisis!”

But that’s another misunderstanding.

My prince isn’t special. Don’t involve him in solving this.

I have no intention of becoming Crown Princess in this life.

Yet the sins I committed in my past life seem to chase me even now.

The attempted elopement of Lady Adelina… and now my misdeeds are being reenacted without me.

What is going on?

Is someone orchestrating this? Or is the world itself correcting to make it happen?