Chapter 5: Mephistopheles
From the very beginning of his transmigration, Faust had already settled upon the goal of his life.
He would lead the Kingdom of Cleartide to rise, step by step, until it stood at the summit as the supreme hegemon!
He would become a legendary emperor whose name would be sung for ten thousand ages!
During these ten years as a prince, Faust had governed with tireless diligence, rising early and sleeping late. Was it not all for the sake of accomplishing a great undertaking?
To do great things, to do great things! Go!
【I see. You wish to become an 「Overlord」.】
Faust immediately caught the implication behind the Fae’s words. “Is that also the role of a protagonist within a certain kind of script?”
【Of course. An 「Overlord」 is a role greatly favored by fate. However, given your circumstances, the possibility of becoming one is vanishingly small. To speak plainly, there is no such possibility at all. It is not because of your temperament, but because the objective conditions simply do not allow it…】
So it really is like that…
Hearing the Fae say so, Faust sighed inwardly.
The prince knew very well himself that his dream of dominating the world was indeed extremely difficult, for the Kingdom of Cleartide was simply too weak.
This little backwater kingdom had been established only a few decades ago. In the past, it had been nothing more than a border province oppressed by the Empire. To take such a place as one’s foundation and build it up into greatness was not something that could be done without the efforts of several generations.
At the very least, Faust himself would most likely never live to see the day Cleartide rose to supremacy.
If his descendants proved capable, then perhaps after several generations of striving onward from the accomplishments of their forebears, they might achieve true hegemony.
Yet Faust’s disappointment lasted only a very short while. He lifted his head, his gaze resolute.
“Even so, my goal has not changed!”
“Whether it means extending my lifespan or obtaining some extraordinary opportunity, there must be a way, must there not? No matter what, I must try, even if I fall and am shattered to pieces!”
Rather than looking back in his old age and feeling deep regret over a life of mediocrity, Faust would far rather fight until there was nothing left to regret.
If a great man cannot dine from the five cauldrons in life, then let him at least be worthy of the five-cauldron death in the end!
【How interesting. I believe we may be able to make a bargain.】
“A bargain?”
Faust’s eyes widened. Then he heard the Fae say slowly:
【There is no need to be surprised. In these endlessly long and tedious years, if we do not put forth a little effort to amuse ourselves, most Fae would probably succumb to Dragonfall…】
【Child of Man, my original intention was simply to stand quietly at your side and watch the 「Witch’s Feast」 unfold around you. But since you possess such a determined will to press forward, I can help you fulfill your wish…】
The prince hurriedly said, “Would that truly be all right? I mean… would you not be…?”
【I would not be defying fate. I would merely be carrying out my duty. It just so happens that you have been drawn into fate, and just so happens that you are being guided by me…】
Faust immediately understood the hint hidden in the Fae’s words.
This so-called “script of fate” did not mean that there truly existed some incomparably detailed script dictating what every person had to say and do, with not the slightest deviation permitted.
A “script” was only a broad process, and as its facilitator, the room the Fae possessed to operate within it was immense.
At once, Faust was overjoyed, and the gloom that had weighed upon him moments before was swept away.
With the assistance of one of the Fae, even setting aside blessings altogether, the mere fact that such an ancient being might offer a little guidance through Their profound foresight would already be an astonishing informational advantage.
Steadying himself, Faust asked, “What must I give in return?”
Since it was a bargain, there naturally had to be give and take. If it were merely a one-sided blessing, he would not even have liked that.
To be helped by the Fae and to rely upon the Fae completely were two entirely different things.
And yet, even after wracking his brains, Faust could not imagine what such an exalted being might possibly gain from an ordinary mortal.
【A Child of Man who can awaken within a witch’s fate is already something unseen since time immemorial. Perhaps you truly might… Mm. There is indeed something I desire, but not now. Consider it an investment on my part. We can speak of it once you possess the ability to help me…】
An investment… that was more or less in line with Faust’s expectations. At least for now, he was of no use whatsoever to one of the Fae.
“I understand. I only hope that the day will come when I can repay you.”
Faust nodded, then asked, “By the way, how should I address you?”
After conversing for this long, he still did not know the name of this Fae.
【Mephistopheles. You may simply call me Mephistopheles…】
Mephistopheles…
Faust had never heard of this particular Fae before.
Though that was only natural. The existence of the Fae was no secret, but they were far too mysterious. Extremely few mortals had ever come into contact with them, and those whose names had been left behind were rarer still.
【I possess more than enough patience to wait. For the moment, what matters most for you is dealing with the imminent 「Witch’s Feast」. This is no jest.】
【Ordinarily, a script of fate is certain to be completed. But if one of the characters upon the stage awakens, that certainty gains an element of uncertainty. If the destined fate cannot be brought to completion… then that is an act of Defiance of Fate, and the consequences would be unthinkable.】
Hearing Mephistopheles issue such a warning, Faust grew serious as well. He weighed the crystal slipper in his hand and said, “As for that, I may already have a few guesses.”
The prince sat down before his desk, took up pen and paper, and began earnestly sorting through the matter.
At present, what could be confirmed was that the script of fate into which he had been drawn was most likely Cinderella.
One could say this was among the most classic of story templates. Across different eras and different lands, it had given rise to countless versions.
The figure of Cinderella could be traced back to a very early period.
The Greek historian Strabo once recorded, in the first century BCE, the story of a Greek girl named Rhodopis who had married into Egypt, and this is considered the earliest version of the Cinderella tale.
At the time, Rhodopis was washing clothes by a stream when suddenly an eagle flew past, snatched away her shoe, and dropped it at the feet of the Pharaoh, who was in the city of Memphis.
The Pharaoh then ordered that all the women in the land try on the shoe to see whether it would fit, and in the end he found Rhodopis.
Another version of Cinderella was China’s Ye Xian. In that story, the diligent and lovable Ye Xian raised a goldfish. The fish was deeply attached to her and would surface from the water and lift its head only when Ye Xian came to the edge of the pond.
Later, the goldfish was killed by Ye Xian’s stepmother. Following the guidance of a Heavenly God, Ye Xian secretly attended a grand festival.
As she hurried home, Ye Xian left behind one of her shoes. The king of the island kingdom of Tuohan found the shoe, fell in love with Ye Xian, and married her.
Of course, the most famous version was the story of Cinderella in Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
If the “script of fate” in this world was also a form of Cinderella, then it would certainly follow a similar line of development.
What, then, was the core thread of the Cinderella story?
Faust lightly tapped the tip of his pen against the snowy white page and listed out a series of key points.
【A heroine subjected to unjust treatment】
【Help from supernatural power】
【An encounter with the male protagonist】
【The heroine’s identity recognized through some object】
【The union of the male and female protagonists】
Roughly speaking, nearly every Cinderella story followed this sort of pattern in its development.
Once Faust had finished sorting it out, Mephistopheles’ voice of astonishment rang out in his mind: