Book 19 Chapter 41

174화

Contrary to common knowledge, fairies are born looking no different from humans.

Fairies are distinguished.

In the year they turn three, by performing a circumcision ritual on their ears. Long, pointed ears were a sign of respect and pride for their ancestors who fought in the Liberation War.

But what if they have no family?

Half-fairies, whose one parent is human, or orphans who have no parents at all, have no connections to perform that circumcision ritual. They cannot find a priest.

Fairies despise poverty.

Fairies scorn weakness.

This was because they believed poverty and weakness stemmed from idleness, or were divine punishment for the sins of their direct ancestors.

I was an orphan.

The very fact of being born an orphan was divine punishment for one of my ancestors being a sinner, so it was natural to be despised and hated wherever I went.

My name was Kisa.

Kisa meant "unclean," and I didn't know who or when this name was given to me; I had simply been called this ever since I could think.

- You are truly unclean…

Even those distributing relief rations seemed reluctant to touch me, practically tossing the bread to me.

I wanted to become strong.

To survive such inherent divine punishment, I wanted to become so strong that no one would dare to mock me.

- You want to register as a mercenary? I don't know where you came from, but you'll need to be skilled.

So I left my hometown.

As is common for those without roots, earning a living by the sword became my daily life.

My unplaced anger, hatred, and desire to become stronger turned towards the demon race, and the Demon Realm became my training ground.

One year, two years, three years…

I was promoted at an unprecedented speed, reaching the rank of Platinum II in just 8 years.

My only weapon was a single spear.

Then one day, a middle-aged man came to visit.

- The world tells me there is no one as knowledgeable about the Demon Realm as you. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you to be our guide.

His daughter, who looked about ten years old, was with him.

They possessed something I did not, as if it were a matter of course: ears longer than any other fairy, a testament to the dignity of the High Priest's noble lineage.

That alone made it impossible for me to tolerate their very existence. Was it an inferiority complex?

- Sorry, but I make it a point not to take commissions from damn fairies. Especially not from someone with ears as long as yours.

It was said that fairies were nothing but corpses without their pride.

Having lived by the sword, I had become a master of all sorts of provocations and insults designed to sting the opponent's feelings, so I used the same tactics on that fairy.

The young daughter's face immediately flushed red, but the middle-aged fairy began to chuckle heartily.

- What's so funny?

- I laughed out of sadness, for I have no words to refute what you said. Originally, long ears meant one had to prove their distinction through their life, but those with long ears assume they are already distinguished and inflict all sorts of harm on those who are not. Fairies are sick. Those who are not truly fairy-like have persecuted you, who is more fairy-like than anyone, so what excuse could I possibly make?

He was a strange man.

No, he was a strange fairy.

It would be accurate to say I had never seen such a fairy in my life. This was the first being I'd met who could warm an entire area with just one word.

- I'm more fairy-like than anyone? What are you talking about?

- Why wouldn't you be? Haven't you fought against the demon race who torment the weak and pitiful for years?

- Hmph, I just needed money. And a place to hone my skills.

- If that were your only reason, there were plenty of easier and more comfortable places. But you chose this place. You chose to fight in the lowest and darkest place in the world. Even a child proves the righteousness of their mindset through their actions, so how could your life not prove your noble spirit?

I tried to laugh it off.

My life had been steeped in cynicism, so I was accustomed to cold laughter to shame others.

But no laughter came.

No matter how hard I tried to laugh, all that came out that day were tears.

My true feelings, which no one, not even myself, had ever acknowledged or understood.

They were acknowledged.

Understood by someone I had just met.

Someone born noble, unlike me, whose very name meant "unclean."

- My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Solboros. I was a mentor of the Eternal Word.

- Me-mentor?

- Don't make it so difficult. I'm retired now, an elder mentor. Oh, and this is my daughter, Besinia. I want to take her to the Demon Realm to teach her the duties of a High Priest's descendant, but I don't know the way well.

Perhaps, at that moment, I felt that destiny might exist.

Besinia.

The moment our eyes met, something breathtaking flowed from the top of my head to my toes, and I thought it might be the string of destiny being plucked.

- Um, hello…?