After learning his lesson the hard way, Faust no longer dared to harbor any excess confidence.
Sure, the Cinderella script only lasted a few days, but if he hadn't thought on his feet, he'd probably still be locked in that basement filming "Love Faust TV."
Bro, seriously, no more. If another DLC drops, I won't survive it.
[An addendum? You could say that. The script written by fate is never absolute. There's always room to maneuver.
Many characters take the stage and then exit, but the fate of the Witch continues until life itself ends.]
What, once a witch, always a witch?
Faust was about to crack a joke when he suddenly realized that was exactly how it worked.
No matter what fairy tale it was, they all ended with "and so, they lived happily ever after."
For a story, that ending was fine. But in the real world, summing up decades or even centuries with that single line felt far too abbreviated.
Wait, could it be...
Faust's pupils dilated sharply.
He looked at the pale golden-haired girl who was gently swaying, seeming quite pleased with herself, and asked, "Viviana, those spells you used before... what was that all about?"
Earlier, he'd been too focused on the fate script.
Setting aside the twisted influence on hearts and reality, the unicorn carriage Viviana rode to the banquet, her ability to traverse the ethereal void, and the way she bound him so tightly he couldn't move with just a gesture... all of it was utterly inexplicable.
"I don't know."
Viviana shook her head and said honestly, "I only have those incredible mysteries when I'm wearing the mask.
I have no idea where they come from. I assume it's something opened up along my path."
Oh, so we're done pretending now, are we?
Before, she was talking about a second personality. Now she's switched to calling it a mask!
Faust was angry but didn't dare say anything. After all, Viviana was the Witch. He'd kneel before the Witch. She could do whatever she wanted!
This was the value of a top-tier fate!
Still, his complaints were quickly dispelled by the second half of what she said.
"...After that, it seems I can try learning these arts along my path as well."
Mysticism was inherently unknowable. No one could fully grasp its truths. If a sorcerer still had the drive to research it, fine, but Viviana wasn't a sorcerer.
So her attitude toward it wasn't all that enthusiastic. She only mentioned it in passing.
She'd never been passionate about mysticism. Her sole reason for gaining power was to complete Faust's missions.
But to Faust, those words carried an entirely different weight. The Prince of Aurum was awestruck.
What? Did that mean Cinderella's abilities weren't temporary?
In an instant, Faust realized something truly terrifying.
"Viviana..."
The prince took a deep breath and looked at his childhood friend with utmost seriousness.
"Mm?"
The pale golden-haired girl opened her eyes and looked at Faust.
"I'm going to talk to Father right now. I'll ask him to relieve me of my position as heir."
"...Actually, there's no need to rush."
Viviana's beautiful eyes widened slightly. She already believed in Faust's resolve. There was no need to supervise him keeping his promise.
But Faust was resolute. He stood up immediately and headed toward the king's chambers.
---
As he walked, the prince's pace quickened. His fists clenched. His entire body trembled with excitement.
The Witch's fate was lifelong!
He'd originally thought the so-called Witch's Feast ended once the process was complete. And in fact, it seemed to be exactly that.
But the final step of that "process" held enormous significance.
Most "fairy tale scripts" ended with the formulaic "they lived happily ever after." It was practically a throwaway line.
Take now, for instance. If Faust truly gave up his ambitions and simply stayed in Aurum, living out his days with Viviana, fate would likely arrange for them to pass their lives peacefully together.
"Mephisto, I have a question..."
Faust licked his lips and voiced his doubt.
Normally, Viviana's role would end here. But what if some powerful external force interfered and prevented them from living "happily ever after"? What then?
[Faust... you've figured it out.
Yes, fate will always ensure the Witch's Feast is completed and grant the Witch enough power to finish the script.
If things go smoothly, the power the Witch gains in the end is negligible. But if the road is rough... fate will keep raising the stakes.]
The Fae's voice seemed tinged with approval, affirming Faust's theory.
The Prince of Aurum was overjoyed. "Well, if that's the case, then I know exactly what to do."
[How bold. No one in the past has dared to do this. If it gets out of control, you'll face utter catastrophe!]
The Fae's warning didn't scare Faust in the slightest. Or rather, Mephisto wasn't warning him at all.
Faust smiled. "Drop the act, Mephisto. I'm not an idiot. Weren't you the one subtly guiding me to think this way? Fine then. I'll do as you wish."
As his words fell, Mephisto went silent. After a long pause, the Fae spoke softly.
[Faust, are you planning to defy fate? After witnessing what it truly is?]
"I have no set intention to obey or resist fate. It all depends on the situation.
If it's a fate I'm satisfied with, of course I'll accept it gladly. But if it's an outcome I can't accept, I won't hesitate to take a gamble!"
The Prince of Aurum had a rather straightforward view of fate. He never felt he was being toyed with by destiny, so he had no burning need to break free from its cage.
If fate handed him the life of his dreams, what was so bad about basking in that dream?
The problem was, the life the Wheel of Fate was offering didn't look ideal.
Even if it was already an excellent ending by normal standards, it wasn't the fate he wanted. So he'd just refuse it!
[Heh heh ha ha ha... Faust, you really are adorable. Very well. Do as you please. This way, you'll help me achieve my goal as well.]
As expected, Mephisto's objective required defying fate. No wonder the Fae had been hinting at it all along.
Faust nodded. "No need to say more. Our contract is right there. So, Mephisto, what exactly is your goal?"
Perhaps feeling they'd reached a level of honesty, the Fae fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly in Faust's mind.
[...There are many things I wish to do. But first, I need this: a Fallen Dragon.]
A Fallen Dragon!
Hearing that term, one that could silence crying children and bring ruin to entire nations, Faust's brain froze for a second.
Oh crap, that scared the hell out of me!
He truly hadn't expected... no, he should have expected this!
Aside from a Fallen Dragon, what else could possibly be beyond the Fae's power and station?
Of course. Of course that made sense.
Just as Faust was debating whether to ask Mephisto why a Fallen Dragon was needed, he arrived at the doors to the king's chambers.