The Recorder of Type-Moon History

The Rhine River, once a paradise on earth, was now a somber and desolate place. The fairies that once sang and danced with joy, their laughter echoing across the waters, now spent their days in sorrowful silence. Trapped by the curse of the Rhine Gold, they were bound to this place, unable to leave.

The Rhine Gold, a treasure as old as the world itself, was stolen long ago by the dwarves. In return for their eternal task of guarding the Rhine Gold, the fairies paid the price of their freedom.

For countless years, they had prayed and wept, their crystalline tears blending with the waters of the Rhine. Their laments reached no ears willing or able to help. For even the gods, as powerful as they were, dared not confront the curse of the Rhine Gold.

The curse was absolute. It promised that anyone who possessed the Rhine Gold would gain unimaginable wealth but at a terrible cost. Its curse of greed, temptation, and an inescapable doom made returning it almost impossible. No one—not even a god—was immune to its pull.

And so, the fairies sang their heartbreaking songs, their voices heavy with grief and hopelessness. Their melodies drifted over the still waters of the Rhine, a hymn to a salvation they had long given up on.

Until today.

A beam of golden sunlight broke through the somber skies, illuminating the Rhine River like a divine spotlight. A white horse descended gracefully through the air, its mane gleaming like silk in the radiant light.

On the horse sat Slude, cloaked in white, her long, light-golden hair flowing in the breeze like molten sunlight. Her red eyes, serene yet resolute, mirrored the calm strength of her heart. She embodied a perfect harmony of beauty, grace, and power—an image that left even the Rhine fairies awestruck.

The fairies turned their gazes upward, their sorrowful songs catching in their throats. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, they stopped crying.

As the white horse landed delicately on the riverbank, the fairies' attention shifted to the figure stepping down behind Slude.

Kevin.

Dressed in black clothing gifted to him by Hodr, the god of darkness, Kevin exuded an air of mystery. His black hair tied in a loose ponytail swayed slightly as he dismounted. A faint, relaxed smile played on his lips. Yet, beneath that calm demeanor was a sense of determination—a resolve unshaken by the challenges he had faced.

The fairies froze. Their ethereal eyes widened as they felt it—the unmistakable, cursed aura of the Rhine Gold. It radiated from Kevin like a faint, lingering whisper, one that spoke of power, temptation, and inevitable doom.

Kevin, oblivious to the weight of the fairies' gazes, took a step forward toward the riverbank, intending to help Slude dismount.

But fate, or perhaps the Rhine Gold itself, had other plans.

"Ah!"

Kevin's foot caught on a loose stone, and before he could recover, he toppled forward in a spectacular fall. With a loud splash, he tumbled headfirst into the Rhine River.

The fairies, Slude, and even the white horse stared in stunned silence.

Moments later, Kevin's head emerged from the water, flailing. "Help! I can't swim! Somebody save me!"

The absurdity of the situation hung in the air for several seconds, the silence broken only by Kevin's panicked cries. Then...

"Pfft..."

Slude pressed a hand to her mouth, her shoulders shaking. She tried to hold back, but the sight of Kevin splashing helplessly in the water was too much.

"I'm not laughing," she said, though her body betrayed her. "I swear I'm not—haha—I'm really not laughing!"

The fairies, initially unsure of how to react, began giggling softly, their laughter like the tinkling of wind chimes. It had been centuries since they last smiled, let alone laughed.

Finally, a group of fairies dove gracefully into the river and fished Kevin out, pulling him to the shore like a drenched cat.

Standing on the riverbank, soaking wet and seething with embarrassment, Kevin glared at the laughing fairies and Slude. "This is a curse!" he declared, stamping his foot. "I knew it! The Rhine Gold didn't want to wait—it must've been dragging me into the river!"

His dramatic accusation only made Slude laugh harder.

"Let's just... pretend that didn't happen," Kevin muttered, his cheeks red.

As if on cue, a familiar flapping of wings filled the air. The little bird Neil, absent for nearly twenty days, returned, her beautiful feathers glinting in the sunlight. She landed neatly on Slude's shoulder, tilting her head curiously at the chaotic scene.

"What happened?" Neil asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Kevin, still dripping wet, immediately latched onto Neil, burying his face in her feathers. "Neil! You wouldn't believe what I've been through!"

Neil blinked, her confusion only growing as she tried to piece together what had transpired. Slude, meanwhile, used runes to dry Kevin off, restoring his clothes and dignity.

Finally, Kevin reached into his small silver bag and retrieved the Rhine Gold. The moment he pulled it out, the golden ring, stained red by Fafnir's heart blood, began to glow. The blood receded, and the ring returned to its original golden luster.

The moment the Rhine Gold was revealed, its magic surged forth, filling the air with an invisible pressure. Everyone present—fairies, Slude, and even Neil—felt its allure.

The fairies froze, their breaths catching as they gazed at the treasure they had prayed for over countless years. Even Slude and Neil, though aware of the curse, found themselves momentarily drawn to its beauty.

As for Kevin...

The golden ring whispered to him, its voice like honey dripping into his mind. It promised him everything—wealth, power, and desires fulfilled beyond imagination. All he had to do was slip it onto his finger.

For a moment, Kevin's body stiffened. His black eyes grew hazy as he stared at the ring in his hand.

"Kevin..." Slude stepped forward, worry etched on her face.

"Stop," Neil said, spreading her wings to block Slude. "Trust him."

"But—"

"Slude, he can handle this. He's Kevin. He's flawed, greedy, and petty, but when it matters most, nothing can break his will."

Slude hesitated but nodded, her faith in Kevin steadying her.

Moments later, Kevin blinked. The haze in his eyes cleared, and a small, confident smile tugged at his lips.

He stepped forward, holding the ring firmly in his hand.

The waters of the Rhine, which had tried to pull him in earlier, now lifted him gently. Without using any magic, Kevin walked across the river, each step creating ripples that spread outward like waves of light.

The fairies parted for him, watching with bated breath.

At the center of the Rhine, Kevin reached a stone pedestal rising slightly above the water. Without hesitation, he placed the golden ring on the pedestal.

The moment he did, the ring began to glow, growing larger and larger until it transformed into a crystalline pile of gold.

"So this is your true form," Kevin murmured, a faint smile on his face.

The Rhine River responded with ripples of joy, and the fairies began to sing.

It was a song unlike anything Kevin had ever heard. The fairies' voices rose in perfect harmony, their melodies weaving together like threads of light. It was a song of gratitude, of hope renewed, and of blessings bestowed.

As the fairies danced around the returned Rhine Gold, Slude and Neil stood on the riverbank, watching Kevin with pride.

The sunlight grew brighter, illuminating the scene as if the gods themselves were watching.

Kevin, standing in the center of the river, smiled faintly as the fairies' song washed over him.

He had done it.

He had returned the Rhine Gold.

He had defied its curse.

And now, for the first time in centuries, the Rhine fairies were singing again.

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