Crazy Britain:They’re All Raising Me

[Through your conversation with Gareth, you learned the truth behind the Mirror Clan's destruction more than a decade ago.]

"Although Ainsel had long foreseen the possibility of an attack and made preparations in advance, it was all in vain... because among the fairies that assaulted the Mirror Clan back then, there were four Great Fairies."

"Aside from Marreo, the other three Great Fairies were Black Annis, Grindylow, and Slender Man."

Guinevere could see the deep hatred etched into Gareth's usually gentle face as he spoke those three names.

"Oberon, do you know anything about these three Great Fairies?" Guinevere asked, turning her head.

"Oh, them? Yeah, I know about those beasts," Oberon replied with a frown.

"Black Annis is a man-eating witch who lived in the marshes of the Scottish Highlands in pan-human history. She's a vicious and petty monster who hunts humans, tears them apart, and uses their skin to decorate her walls—especially fond of eating children."

"Grindylow, on the other hand, is a water demon that lives in the lakes of Britain and Ireland. It's aggressive and cruel, attacking swimmers and dragging kids from the shore to drown them."

"Lastly, Slender Man is a monster from modern urban legends. He can stretch and contract his limbs at will, sprouting tentacle-like appendages from his back. He causes memory loss, insomnia, paranoia, and coughing. Supposedly, he targets children's souls, appearing in their dreams or through open windows, abducting them when no one's watching."

"Why do all these fairies target children?" Guinevere frowned.

"Exactly. That's why I called them beasts," Oberon replied. "They've been around for over a thousand years. Even though they weren't part of the six major clans, they were born with immense magic. Just like in pan-human history, they loved attacking young humans and newborn fairies in Fairyland."

"Back then, they were arrested precisely because they attacked many children and newborn fairies."

"Then why weren't they executed on the spot?" Guinevere asked angrily.

"I thought they should've been too, but the judge at the time was a Mirror Clan fairy. The Mirror Clan are known for their kindness and compassion. Considering the three were still considered children by their race's standards, the judge decided to show mercy and only sentenced them to a few hundred years."

"Yes... I remember that too," Gareth sighed. "That judge passed away about twenty years ago. His successor, a young newly born fairy, ended up in the hands of those beasts... and they recognized him."

"And?" Oberon asked. "What did they do to the successor?"

"He died a horrible death..."

Recalling the scene, Gareth's expression darkened.

"They tortured the newborn Mirror Clan fairy until he was covered in wounds, then threw him into saltwater to drown—no, maybe he died from the pain first. His screams still haunt me..."

"Those monsters didn't appreciate the mercy shown to them. They only resented the judge for their imprisonment."

"Whinny\~ Showing mercy to evil is cruelty to the innocent. Even I, a horse, understand that. How could that judge not? He brought down the whole Mirror Clan with him," Redra, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"Still, since we've run into them, we can't just ignore it." Guinevere tapped her fingers on her sword hilt, eyes narrowing.

"From our interrogation, we learned that aside from rotating guards near the dragon remains, all others are inside Glasgow."

"Meaning, if we want to rescue Artoria and Bawanxi, we'll have to enter the prison city—and we'll likely run into those three beasts."

Her eyes now open, filled with murderous intent, Guinevere said:

"Before we save Artoria and Bawanxi, let's rid the world of these beasts. What say you?"

[All of you unanimously agreed to the plan to kill the three Great Fairies.]

[After further interrogating the captured guards and learning the layout of Glasgow and the territories of the three Great Fairies, you allowed Gareth to execute them, as they were also involved in the Mirror Clan massacre.]

[Then, you began planning your assassination strategy as you made your way toward Glasgow.]

[As a prison city, Glasgow sits on an island in the center of a lake, accessible only by boat.]

[After thorough discussion, Redra and Gareth agreed to be stored in Pal Balls for transport, while Oberon volunteered to shrink and ride Blanca ahead to scout the prison island.]

[You suggested Oberon carry a few Pal Balls and release powerful monsters on the island to create chaos.]

[While Oberon distracted the enemy with the Pal creatures, you planned to sneak into the island from underwater.]

[Drawing on your past experience walking on water using magic, you devised a way to move underwater while remaining dry.]

[As expected, you encountered Grindylow among the three Great Fairies. Grindylow was uglier than you imagined—a pale green aquatic monster with green teeth and horns.]

[To prevent prisoners from escaping by water, Grindylow and her minions constantly patrolled the lake. Upon spotting you, she led an attack.]

[You quickly released Gareth, several lamias, sea witches, and even a Hydra from your Pal Balls—water-based creatures you brought specifically for lake combat.]

[Your forces quickly outnumbered Grindylow's, and though she tried to flee, you wounded her with a Swift Shield Strike that sliced through the water.]

[You and Gareth kept her pinned down. Your Windmill Sword Style was weakened by water resistance, preventing a quick kill, but each time she tried to escape, your Swift Shield Strike—enhanced with the Overload rune—paralyzed her with lightning even when blocked.]

[Thanks to Oberon's diversion, your lake battle went unnoticed by the prison island's inhabitants.]

[After a prolonged fight, you and Gareth finally killed Grindylow.]

[This victory, against a stronger opponent, marked your 92nd win.]

[You rejoined your water creatures to finish off the lake patrols, ensuring no survivors could raise the alarm.]

[After recalling your Pals and Gareth, you infiltrated the prison island through the sewers.]

[Following the tunnel for some distance, you found piles of bones—signs that you'd entered Black Annis's territory.]

According to Oberon's intel, Black Annis was a hideous one-eyed monster with blue skin. She was lazy and preferred to lie in wait like a spider. She often sat on piles of bones, which she'd collected from her victims.

—Because of this habit, she was assigned to the sewers to prevent prisoners from escaping that way.

Following the trail of bones, Guinevere and the others soon found Black Annis, seated atop the largest pile, stroking the bones while making grotesque gurgling noises.

But seeing her wrinkled, hag-like face made Guinevere pause.

Given that fairy appearances don't change after birth, how had the judge a thousand years ago deemed this witch-like creature a child?

"Is this thing supposed to be eight years old?"

[While she appeared to be resting, you launched a surprise attack.]

[Your opening move was a Powerful Strike combined with the Gunpowder rune, blasting Black Annis and her bone pile into the air.]

[As she struggled to rise, you bashed her face with your shield.]

[Dazed, she had no time to recover before Gareth followed up with a spear through her chest and a Dragon Cannon Blast.]

[Though not dead, Black Annis was badly wounded and unable to continue fighting.]

[A few rounds later, you and Gareth defeated her.]

[As she was not killed outright, Gareth questioned her about the Mirror Clan attack.]

[Black Annis quickly confessed. The mastermind was a fairy from the Wind Clan, who hired them to destroy the Mirror Clan simply because "they were an eyesore."]

[Though the payment was low, the three Great Fairies, already harboring resentment, stirred Marreo into joining the attack.]

"I told you everything I know… We were just following orders. If we hadn't done it, someone else would've… Please, spare me…"

Guinevere looked to Gareth: "You're the real victim. You decide."

"...The Mirror Clan might've forgiven her," Gareth said emotionlessly.

Black Annis looked hopeful—until Gareth added:

"That's why the Mirror Clan is dead."

He raised his spear high.

"Redra was right: Mercy to the wicked is cruelty to the innocent."

Then, he struck.

[You killed Black Annis.]

[You proceeded through the sewers and reached the lowest level of the prison.]