Looking at the two options before him, Souya, who had finally recovered his wits, began to think hard.
He had never expected something like multiple-choice questions to appear. To think that even after transmigrating to another world, he still had to deal with this crap.
Damn it, the ghost of standard education is still haunting me.
Casting aside stray thoughts, Souya began to analyze the situation.
Both options were very simple and straightforward, but precisely because of this, Souya could vaguely sense that they must hold significant importance.
Option 1: Enter the lake.
Combining the elements of Britain, a lake, and mystery, it wasn't hard for Souya to deduce who the master of this lake was, and how crucial this lake was to British mythology.
To be honest, Souya was very tempted by this option. It was just that what tempted him wasn't the lake itself, but its master.
However, if a wild fairy like himself recklessly entered this sacred lake, wouldn't she view it as blasphemy and casually obliterate him on the spot?
Hmm... Needs more thought. Let's look at the next one first.
Compared to Option 1, although the information provided by Option 2 was acceptable, Souya couldn't guess what practical benefits it would bring him.
Could it be that there just so happened to be a group of young maidens bathing by the river in that territory, awaiting his arrival?
This is a legitimate novel site! That kind of plot is absolutely forbidden, you bastard!
After thinking it over and over, Souya really couldn't decide, immediately falling into a dilemma.
One was to boldly pursue an opportunity, and the other was to wait and hold out hope. It was truly a difficult choice to make...
Just then, the System's voice brought Souya an immense surprise; it was like hearing heavenly music ringing in his ears.
[Does the Host wish to activate the 'Simulation' function? A simulation allows the Host to choose an option to deduce the outcome of that fate, helping the Host make a better choice regarding their destiny.]
[Furthermore, the experiences from a successful simulation will not completely disappear. Instead, they will be remembered by the people involved in the simulation in other ways. The resulting skill rewards and karmic bonds can also be inherited by the Host with a certain probability, even if you choose the other path.]
[Additionally, the 'Simulation' function can only be used three times per path of destiny. Please use it wisely, Host.]
Awesome, awesome! System, you are just too useful! I'll never call you trash again!
Hearing this, Souya no longer hesitated.
Only children—no, little fairies—make choices! As an adult fairy, I want them all!
"Select Option 2 and begin the simulation!"
[Simulation Beginning:]
[You left the lake and chose to flow downstream along the river.]
[Soon, you arrived at a territory. You noticed the wooden sign at the entrance bore the name of Sir Ector, assuming he must be the master of this land.]
[As for this Sir Ector, you only felt the name sounded somewhat familiar, but you were certain you didn't know him, and he didn't exist in your memories.]
[You figured you must have accidentally heard the name during the conversations of certain knights.]
[The water trickled on. You followed the river channel traversing the territory and entered it.]
[As far as the eye could see was a massive field of golden wheat that brought joy to the heart under the sunlight. There were also many tenant farmers working in the fields.]
[You were a bit surprised by the sight before you. In the currently turbulent Britain, both these rolling waves of wheat and the sweaty yet blissfully happy expressions of the tenant farmers were extremely rare, perhaps even unbelievable.]
[After all, no matter where you are, as long as there is war, those who suffer and pay the price are always the people at the bottom.]
[Through your Fairy Eyes, you saw the fading magical energy of Age of Gods Britain being transformed by some miraculous power into streams of nutrients entering the wheat seedlings. You figured this must be why this place was different from the rest of Britain.]
[With a little thought, you understood what this was.]
[Magecraft. Undoubtedly, Sir Ector's territory had absolutely been blessed by a magus with profound mastery of Magecraft.]
[To be blessed by a magus near the end of the Age of Gods, you realized this place was definitely not simple.]
[After a moment's consideration, you decided to venture deeper into the territory to investigate.]
[As for danger? You felt no magus would be willing to live constantly among ordinary people. Besides, you were just a Water Fairy.]
[What bad intentions could a little fairy have?]
[After wandering around the depths of the territory, you finally saw something interesting within Sir Ector's manor grounds.]
[To be precise, it was a little blond shota holding a wooden sword, practicing basic swordsmanship by the river.]
[Although it wasn't the picture of bathing maidens you had imagined, this tiny boy dressed as a knight's squire still caught your eye.]
[For no other reason than his swordsmanship was absolutely terrible. He had the stance and momentum, but seventy percent of his strength was wasted, leaving only thirty percent applied.]
[You couldn't help but speak up, 'If your talent in swordsmanship is only this superficial, I'm afraid you will never become a qualified knight in your lifetime.']
[The boy was very surprised to hear an unfamiliar voice. He looked up and scanned his surroundings, eventually fixing his gaze on the river where you were.]
[You were astonished that this child's observation skills were so sharp, pinpointing your location so quickly.]
['Hello, sir. Excuse me, are you in the water?']
[The boy greeted you politely. Through the sparkling surface of the water, you caught a glimpse of the boy's delicate face, which was handsome enough to make you doubt if his gender was correct.]
['What a beautiful young boy,' you, a former priest, thought with a wandering mind.]
Souya: ?
Damn it, I'm still in the middle of the simulation. I won't argue with you about this, Trash System.
[Because you had a good first impression of the boy, you didn't choose to hide like before, but generously answered him.]
[After confirming the voice indeed came from the water, the boy's expression turned to surprise. You didn't shy away and told him you were a fairy.]
[You knew that parents in Britain would tell their children stories about fairies, pixies, giants, and the like when they were young. Although most Phantasmal Species had departed to the Inner Sea of the Planet now that mystery was receding, it didn't stop children from hearing about them.]
[But to your surprise, the boy's expression remained confused and bewildered after hearing your words, as if he had no idea what a fairy was.]
[You were a bit baffled. How did this child's parents raise him? Did he have no childhood?]
[However, despite his lack of understanding of a non-human race like fairies, the boy didn't dwell on it. Instead, he focused entirely on the issue you pointed out earlier.]
[Unexpectedly, this blond boy didn't possess the typical pride and arrogance of youth. Rather, he was extremely humble and polite.]
[He modestly asked you for advice regarding the problems with his sword technique. Faced with such a cute and polite little shota, you didn't hold back. After pointing out his mistakes, you also instructed him on how to correct and practice them.]
[Through your conversation with him, you learned his name, 'Artoris'. You also understood that he had been receiving knightly guidance since childhood, spending his earlier years learning knightly etiquette and spirit, and only recently began practicing martial arts.]
[Soon, the sun set over the western hills. Under your guidance, Artoris's issues with basic swordsmanship were quickly corrected. Although he didn't reach the theoretical level of utilizing one hundred percent of his strength as you described, he managed to reach sixty to seventy percent, achieving the standard of a normal knight.]
[You couldn't help but marvel at his immense talent. Just one afternoon of verbal instruction and practice brought him to this level. Given time, this child was bound to achieve greatness!]
[As night fell, Artoris, who was tirelessly familiarizing himself with the techniques, had his stomach let out a grumbling sound. While the boy blushed in embarrassment, a shout calling for him came from the distant manor.]
[After an afternoon together, the boy's affection and trust in you had grown significantly. He asked you somewhat anxiously if you would still be here tomorrow morning.]
[Faced with the boy's pitiful, kitten-like expression, you felt a strange sensation while your heart also softened.]
[Thus, you, who should have continued traveling with the current, chose to stay temporarily and guide this adorable boy.]
[And so, you temporarily remained in Sir Ector's territory. You spent every day with Artoris, and aside from the times he ate, slept, or was summoned by someone, he was basically always with you.]
[As time passed, besides teaching him how to train and techniques, you would also tell him interesting anecdotes from outside the territory and some small stories you adapted yourself.]
[Spending so much time together made you realize that although Artoris, like most children, was very curious about the outside world and stories, he was always restraining his desire for knowledge.]
[Whenever you asked about this, he would just shake his head and say he had very important responsibilities, bearing the expectations and future of many people.]
[You felt a bit angry and bewildered.]
[Just what kind of trash and scumbag would place such responsibilities and burdens on an underage child?]
[Although frustrated, you couldn't change Artoris's mindset. This ideology was already deeply ingrained in his mind. You had no other choice but to keep him company and tell him more stories.]
[Time passed in a blur. This relationship with Artoris, which was both like a teacher and a friend, brought you peace of mind, dispelling much of the loneliness you felt from not having anyone to talk to for so long.]
[And the way the little guy looked at you shifted from reverence and admiration to include trust and happiness.]
[It was obvious the little guy didn't have many friends and valued you highly.]
[But all of this was soon interrupted by a white-and-pink-haired man who abruptly barged into your dream.]
[He held a staff and wore a large white robe. Although his handsome face constantly wore a smile, he gave off an incredibly scummy vibe.]
[The guy clicked his tongue in wonder while examining you, constantly spouting phrases like 'To think there's a wild fairy,' 'I actually can't see his future,' and 'Trying to poach my student.']
[Then, you felt your consciousness slip away. When you woke up again, you had already left Ector's territory, and even if you wanted to go back, you couldn't find the way.]
[Helpless, you could only continue your journey.]
[Ding. Simulation ended. You have acquired the special status 'Karmic Bond'.]
'Karmic Bond: The arrangements of fate will not disappear. You and a certain person will forge a new bond at some point in the future. Wait, and hold out hope.'
Slowly digesting the memories in his mind and reviewing the rapid yet realistic experience that felt like a zoetrope, Souya slowly exhaled.
"Did I just... get kicked out by Merlin?"