Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: The Scarecrow and the Fairy
The sun rises in front of her; a hite light hit Ann's face, shi+ning
brightly On the driver's seat, Ann held the reins From the hem of her cotton
dress, she could feel the cold wind blowing Even with clean lace covering the
hem of her htly
As she took in a deep breath, she looked up at the sky
The rain froht seemed to shed some of the dust from the air
The autumn sky was clear
Today is the day for her departure Clasping the reins with both hands, she
looked ahead
The road wasup
with mud
Fro this road
alone Worry and nervousness spread throughout her thin body
But there is also a bit of hope that she feels in her chest
”Ann! Wait, Ann!”
She heard a voice from behind
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol 1 - Ginzatoushi+ to Kuro no Yousei
Behind the box-shaped carriage that Ann was riding, simple houses made of
stone were strewn out For the past half year, Ann had been indebted to
Knoxberry, a village located in the northwest part of the Highland Kingdom
Ever since Ann was born, she, together with her mother, Emma, had lived by
travelling Therefore, Knoxberry village was the first that they stayed in the
same place for six months
Froolden-haired boy came over He was the only son of
a fae of Knoxberry His
name was Jonas
”Waah, this is bad!”
Ducking her head, Ann whipped the horse, allowing the carriage to start
She then waved back
”Jonas! Thank you Please take care!”
”Wait a moment, Ann! Wait! Do you hate me?!”
”That's not it, so don't worry about it”
Returning with a loud voice, Jonas yelled out completely out of breath
”Then - then, please wait!”
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”Geez, I've already made up my mind Goodbye!”
The distance between the two quickly grew apart When Jonas couldn't catch
up, he paused He looked towards her with a bewildered expression, as he
gasped for breath
Ann gave a big wave back again, before looking forward once more
”Watch over meMama”
Earlier that spring, the healthy and merry Emma, fell sick
And during that ti at Knoxberry by chance, she became
unable to move
The villagers were kind to Ann and Eers to them
They stayed at the village while trying to cure Emma of her disease, and the
villagers gave theo to Jonas's house The mother and
daughter spent six ht be
due to the fact that they were in the same business that the family helped them
out
However, Eo
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”Find your oay of living, and walk on that path firmly If it's you, you
can definitely do it You're a good child, so don't cry”
Those were…Emma's final words
The funeral arrangements, such as the burial in the country's church, went on
While doing necessary tasks, the grief that surfaced quickly slid by Although
Ann did feel sorrow, she was never able to cry out loud
E in the corner of the Knoxberry cemetery And while
thinking that, sohts
When she'd finished all the tasks, half a month had passed since Emma had
died At that exact time, Ann decided to depart
Three nights ago, Ann told the fao out
on a journey
“Ann, you can't go out on a journey alone It's fine if you just stay in this
village And… that's right Why don't you become my bride?”
Jonas whispered, grasping the hand of Ann, as detero on a
journey Brushi+ng up strands of soft golden hair with a smile, he looked at
Ann with gli eyes
“You've always been in my mind”
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol 1 - Ginzatoushi+ to Kuro no Yousei
Ann and Jonas had spent sixthat
period, they had never talked intimately It didn't even cross her mind that the
other party would possibly court her
A Jonas's refined features, his blue eyes were exceptionally beautiful It
looked like an expensive glass i
So being stared at by those eyes, when they don't even know each other's likes
and dislikes, puzzled her
It's not like being courted made her unhappy But even then, Ann had already
decided to go on her journey
She thought that if she inforht be held
back froe early in the
However, as expected, Jonas followed her
“Marriage…”
Absent-mindedly, she voiced it out It was as if that as completely
unrelated to her
In the village, Jonas was popular with the ladies
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Of course, one of the reasons why he is so popular was because he was from a
wealthy candy shop
Even though he was living in a rural area like Knoxberry, Jonas came from a
well-known faction of candy craftsmen, and also a blood relative of the
founder of the Radcliffe guild
It is a big possibility that he will be chosen as the next head of the Radcliffe
guild
Before long, to prepare hiuild, Jonas
would probably be going to the Imperial City, Lewiston, for his apprenticeshi+p
That was the rue
Speaking about the head of a candy guild faction, if he's lucky, he can even
become a viscount
Jonas, for the girls of the village, was already the equivalent of a prince
In coly and
having light wheat colored hair, she was always called “Scarecrow”
And incidentally, her only property was a single tired horse and the old horse
carriage
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A wealthy blonde prince asking a poor scarecrow to marry him It's like a
dream
“Oh well It's not like the prince seriously falls in love with the scarecrow
anyway”
Ann muttered with a bitter smile, as she whipped the horse
Jonas was by nature a playboy; he was especially kind to girls The only
reason that a person like hie would
be because he felt pity for her due to her circumstances
She wouldn't want to get married out of sympathy A happily-ever-after by
a prince - that kind of princess like fairytale, doesn't seem to be a life
worth living
It's not like she hated Jonas But living a life with him didn't seem to have any
charm
Experiencing everything by taking each step with her oo feet, that is the
life she wants
Ann's father, having been caught up in the civil war, died soon after she was
born
But Ele woman, raised Ann, and lived on
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Furtherar Master, an admirable occupation
Candy craftshland But only
those recognized as Silver Sugar Masters are the best, and in Highland only a
few of them existed
Ee of twenty
The sugar candy her price
compared to the candies made by an ordinary candy craftsman However, in
towns and villages of the countryside, these expensive sugar candies don‟t sell
well
In the ie demand for these But because
faathered there, it was very difficult place to
compete in
Edom, to find customers who
needed sugar candies there
She liked the abyshtness that Emma possessed
The journey was harsh, but having earned it on your own - having walked on
your own feet, made it enjoyable
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If I can be a Silver Sugar Master like Mama, then it would be wonderful
For so long, that hat she idly thought When Emma died, she finally
decided on her future, and through the deep love and respect for her mother,
determination bloomed inside Ann
I'll becoar Master
But, becoar Master isn't an easy task She knew that as well
Every year in Lewiston, the royal faar sculpture festival
To becoar master, it is necessary to participate and win the topranking
royal medal
Emma participated in the fair when she enty years old, and was
awarded the royal ht to call herself a
Silver Sugar Master
Silver sugar candy is a candy ar
apples Apart froar
candies There is nothing more beautiful that the workmanshi+p of candies
using silver candies
Sugar candies can be used for weddings, funerals, coronations, coe,
and other various ceremonies
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It is said that without sugar candies, all kinds of ceremonies wouldn't be able
to begin
Silver sugar invites blessings, and expels misfortune It is often called the
”pros”, a holy food
Legends say that during the era when fairies still ruled over Highland, the
fairy people consuar to extend their lives
It was said that a y, referred to as ”Form”, dwelled within
beautiful sugar candies ar
Huar candies, but of course, it doesn't extend
their lives
But humans were also able to obtain the mysterious power that helps extend a
fairy's life
In fact, when people have beautiful sugar candy and eat them, often,
unexpected luck pours in Without a doubt, the probability of good fortune
co increases
That is what hu
it
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It is because of that fact that the kingdoulations to qualify as a
Silver Sugar Master
The nobility were always trying to get their hands on the holiest and most
beautiful sugar candies in order to garner good fortune for them It was even
said that the fate of the country was determined based on the success of the
sugar sculptures displayed at the Autumn festival, an event carried out in order
to pray for the peace of the country
Just like in previous years, when autumn is about to end, a fair will be held in
Lewiston
And Ann planned on participating
Every year, only one person would be given the title of Silver Sugar Master
Froar Masters in the
country since Emma died
It wasn‟t going to be easy
But she had confidence She didn't help a Silver Sugar Master for 15 years for
nothing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The cart proceeded down a road with fields of wheat spreading out on both
sides
By the tih in the sky, she‟d arrived at the provincial capital
of Redington, the largest city in the vicinity of Knoxberry Village
Redington was a castle town[1] that radiated out around a circular plaza at its
center Up on a hill overlooking Redington was the castle of the Duke who
ruled Redington province
As she proceeded slowly into the city, she came upon a crowd of people in
front of her The croas co the road
Ann shrugged her shoulders and got down from the driver‟s seat She tapped
lightly on the shoulder of a peasant woman whose back was turned toward her
“U? The road is blocked, and my cart
can‟t pass through…”
“No… You can go through, but Young lady, do you have the courage to cut
through that?”
“That?”
Ann ducked down as if to pass under the peasant woman‟s armpit, and peered
at the thing everyone was looking at
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There was a brawnyin a puddle of mud There was a bow
strapped to his back and a longsword hanging at his waist He earing
leather boots and a fur vest He was most likely a hunter
“You useless little--!!”
Raising his voice, the hunter stoain
Drops ofEach time the clump of mud was stomped on, it let
out a loud, “Gyaa!!”
Looking closely, Ann could see that the clump of mud was the size of a
hu face down and had a single,
half transparent wing sticking out of its back, repelling the mud
“Is that a fairy?! That‟s horrible!”
As Ann let out what sounded like a little shriek, the peasant woman nodded
Fairies were living creatures rese humans who lived in the forests and
fields There were many types in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but the two
half-transparent wings growing out of their backs were a special feature they
all shared
Fairies had special abilities, so if you used[2] theht, there were all sorts
of things you could get them to do
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She‟d heard that the royal fae
number of fairies for their own various purposes
Even a the populace, middle class families often had at least one fairy
helping them do household chores
Jonas‟s fae also had a fairy named Kathy, as
about the size of a human‟s palm Kathy helped with Jonas‟s personal care and
with preparing the sugar sculptures
“It‟s a labor fairy belonging to that fairy hunter It stole its oing and tried
to run away”
The peasant woman lowered her voice and pointed to the fairy hunter
In his hand, the fairy hunter was gripping a slender wing It was likely the
pair to the one on the back of the mud-drenched fairy
In order to control a fairy, the master[3] would pluck off one of the fairy‟s
wings and keep it with them at all times
A fairy‟s wings were the source of their life‟s energy It was said that fairies
could survive even if their wings were separated from their bodies However,
if their wings were daroeak and die
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analogous to a hus were like it‟s heart Anyone would
quake in fear if their heart were held in the palm of someone else‟s hand
They‟d become unable to oppose the person who held their heart
That‟s why, by plucking off one of the fairy‟s wings, the master was able to
use the fairy as they wished
But, of course, no fairy wanted to be a slave There were many who tried to
distract their s and run away
Although people hispering “Even if he is a fairy, that treatment is too
horrible,” and “That fairy is going to die,” not one of them made a move to do
anything about it
Ann looked up at the peasant woman next to her and the men nearby
“Hold on, everyone! Is it really okay not to stop that guy‟s horrible behavior?!”
But the people around her averted their eyes, seely unsure of themselves
The peasant woman whispered weakly, “I feel bad for him, but… Fairy
hunters have violent temperaments We‟re afraid of retaliation… And besides,
it‟s only a fairy…”
“So what if it‟s a fairy?! If you sit around wringing your hands and doing
nothing, that poor child will die Fine then, I‟ll go!”
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Ann brushed the peasant woman aside and took a step towards the fairy hunter
“Hey, young lady I‟ you, a child like you should quit while you‟re
ahead”
“I‟ally an adult at
15, right? I’ adult I‟d be mortified my whole life if I, as a
full-grown adult, just stood by and watched a fairy be pummeled to death It‟s
not a joke”
Ann straightened her back and strode determinedly towards the fairy hunter
Perhaps because he was so worked up, the fairy hunter didn‟t notice Ann
With the fairy crushed under his boot, he gripped the wing he possessed in
both hands
“This is your wing! Itto me!”
“Stop it, you bastard! Stop!!”
Given everything, the fairy still acted bravely, thrashi+ng his tiny ars
and sending up splashes of h-pitched voice
But the fairy hunterin his hands
The fairy in the mud let out a shriek
“I‟ fairy!”
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Just as the fairy hunter putin half,
Ann came to stand behind him She lowered her hips and braced herself
“Hey you, you‟re too rude!!”
Together with her voice, the he up Ann kicked out
forcefully with one leg and connected with the backs of the fairy hunter‟s
knees It was Ann‟s special technique, the sudden death knee kick
The fairy hunter was caught couard and his knees buckled He
lost his balance and fell face-first onto the muddy road, his mouth open in an
O of surprise
As the onlookers burst out laughing, the fairy leapt to his feet, freed from
under the fairy hunter‟s boot Ann leapt over the fairy hunter‟s head and
ni out of his hand
“You bitch!!” the fairy hunter yelled, raising his mud-covered face
Ann leapt lightly back and held out the wing she‟d recovered to the fairy, who
stood motionless in shock
“Here, take it This is yours, right?”
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As if he‟d finally co In his mudstreaked
face, only his blue eyes shone with a strange light The fairy looked
up at Ann and said, “Tch! I‟ to thank a human!!”
After spewing this out[4], he took off, dodging around the legs of the
onlookers, clutching the wing Ignoring the people who let out yelps of
surprise and moved to let him pass, the fairy made for the outskirts of the city
with all the speed of a gale of wind, and soon disappeared froht
Ann shrugged
“Oh well I guess I am one of those detestable humans, after all”
“What are you going to do about this, little girl?! How dare you let my
iet away!!” the fairy hunter shouted, standing up roughly
withfrom his chin
Ann turned back to the fairy hunter and said, “But, Oji-san, you were planning
to kill that fairy, weren‟t you? If so, isn‟t that the sa?”
“What?!”
The furious fairy hunter raised his arm
But the onlookers surrounding them raised their voices as one in protest
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“A big ainst a child like that?!”
“It‟s as that girl says!”
“You‟re too barbaric!!”
Under the force of the onlookers‟ protests, the man shrunk back Ann looked
straight up at hily
With a low groan, he lowered his raised arm
“Thank you It‟s a good thing you‟re such a good person, Oji-san A good
person like you will surely be kind to fairies froht?
That‟s great!”
Ann flashed hirin, and the fairy hunter‟s expression twisted
into an inco and furious
Lightly bidding the fairy hunter goodbye with a “See you later,” Ann made
her way through the crowd of thunderously applauding onlookers and returned
to the driver‟s seat of her cart
She nantly, “I can‟t believe it It‟s just too cruel So what if he‟s
a fairy?!”
Fairies were, primarily in their appearance, a bit different from humans Yet
they still possessed feelings and free will, and spoke the hue Ann
though that they were no different than humans People whose conscience
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol 1 - Ginzatoushi+ to Kuro no Yousei
wasn‟t bothered by using fairies like slaves were the ones with so
wrong with them That‟s why Emma absolutely never used fairies either
We won‟t use fairies That was Emma and Ann‟s creed But----
Ann‟s expression suddenly turned dark
“But… I, too, right now…A horrible…”
Ann lightly applied the whip to the horses and drove the cart forward again
When she came to the center of town, she called out to a few children playing
nearby, and passed thee Then she asked them to watch
the cart for her for a short while The children eagerly accepted
She got down from the cart and headed towards the circular plaza
In the plaza there were tents lined up at irregular intervals
The tents were ave off a
particular, greasy stench Groceries, cloth, copperware and other goods were
laid out underneath the tents This was awith
people
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A sweet and sour scent tickled her nose, co from the tent where one
could drink heated wine It was a famous product of this marketplace from fall
through winter
Making her way through the ested that people
were literally shoulder-to-shoulder, she came out to a place with fewer
passers-by
This block was deserted There were quite a few shops, but extremely few
customers
She cast her eyes at a nearby tent
A cage woven with ivy hung from the tents crossbeam There was a fairy the
size of a hule, half
translucent wing 5 or 6 of these cages were lined up in a row The tiny fairy
sitting inside of the cage was looking over at her with suspicious eyes
In the next tent, there were 3 shaggy fairies the size of dogs They were
chained with collars around their necks The single translucent wings on each
of their backs hung liy fairies bared their
teeth threateningly at Ann
This was the fairy market
Fairy hunters hunted fairies in the forests and fields and sold them to fairy
merchants The fairy s of the
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol 1 - Ginzatoushi+ to Kuro no Yousei
fairies ould become their merchandise, set an appropriate price, and
sold them off at the fairy market
If she intended to head for the royal capital of Lewiston, passing through
Redington required going a bit out of the way The reason she‟d stopped here
regardless of that fact was because she knew that the marketplace in this city
contained an established fairy market
Approaching the nearest tent, Ann called out to the fairy merchant, “Excuse
me, do you sell warrior fairies?”
At this, the fairy merchant shook his head
“I don‟t deal in theerous, those types”
“Then, do you know of anyone in this marketplace who does handle them?”
“There‟s only one place The old man in that tent by the wall over there deals
in theood quality
product, that one”
“Oh, really? Well, I‟ll just go and have a look Thank you”
She thanked him and walked off
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Fairyto their appearances and
abilities
The majority of fairies were sold as “Labor Fairies,” to be used for manual
labor
Those whose appearances were particularly beautiful or particularly exotic
were sold as “Pet Fairies,” to be used ornamentally
And those ere particularly ferocious and could be used as guards or
soldiers were sold as “Warrior Fairies”
Ann had come to the fairy market to buy a warrior fairy
Froar sculpture
festival[5]
The highway connecting the western part of the kingdom where Knoxberry
Village and Redington were to Lewiston was called “The bloody Highway”
It was a very dangerous highway The highway traversed unsettled wilderness
and there were no rest stops or towns along the way Because the area was
very poor, there were brigades of people who‟d gone broke and become
bandits, and there were also many wild beasts
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It was a highway that E her continuous
journeys
There was a safe way to get to Lewiston bya detour to the south and
taking another highway
However that route wouldn‟t get her to Lewiston in tiar
sculpture festival
Ann wanted to ar sculpture festival no matter
what It was for an incredibly sentimental reason
Even she knew that But without clinging to those sentimental reasons and
constructing an objective before her eyes towards which to strive, she felt that
she‟d surely lose her footing
----This year, for sure, I will becoar master I’ve decided
She raised her gaze determinedly
To traverse the bloody highway, she would need a guard
But, unfortunately, reliable guards were nearly impossible to find
In that case, her only option was a warrior fairy Fairies didn‟t disobey the
person who held their wing As guards they were extremely reliable
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol 1 - Ginzatoushi+ to Kuro no Yousei
Her desire to becoe For that
purpose, Ann would bend her conviction not to use fairies
When she reached the area she‟d been told about, she came to a halt and
looked around
In which of these tents arrior fairies being sold?
In the tent to her left, cages containing pal up
These fairies were probably being sold as labor fairies
In the tent to her right, there were adorable little fairies the size of a grain of
wheat inside of glass bottles sitting on a table A fairy of that size probably
wouldn‟t be of any use for manual labor, so they was likely a pet fairies They
were sold for children to play with as toys
There was another tent at the end of the alleyway straight ahead The goods
for sale in this tent consisted of a single fairy
There was a tanned leather rug laid out under the tent, and the fairy was sitting
on top of it, with one knee bent There was a chain around its ankle, connected
to an iron stake driven into the ground
The fairy‟s appearance was that of a young man, approximately 2 heads taller
than Ann
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He wore black boots and pants, and a supple jacket Theset of
clothing, all in black, was likely so the fairy merchant dressed him in
to drive up the price The fairy‟s appearance certainly stood out
He had black eyes and black hair, and there was a sharp atmosphere about him
His white skin, which looked as if it had never been exposed to the sun, was
another special characteristic all fairies shared
On his back, there was a single, half transparent wing It lay out on the rug
looking just like a veil The fairy‟s appearance was extremely beautiful There
was sonity
There was no doubt that this was a pet fairy He seemed to be exactly the type
that aristocratic ladies would be clah price as a
decoration
Beneath the bangs that hung down over his forehead, his eyes were downcast