novelzi Chapter 116
Chapter 116
Side Story: Martinelshiela (Part 1)
Yenna’s departure had been sudden, but so had her return. For us, it was just a short trip, like a child’s rebellious phase. Everyone except Schelmelhorn thought that, so no one reprimanded her.
And so, when she returned, Schelmelhorn immediately scolded her severely and ordered her to spend several years in the reflection room. I’d bring her meals every day, and chatting with her became part of my daily routine.
“I disagree with the patriarch’s way of thinking. He sees other races as nothing more than pebbles, and yet, he establishes a guild in the human world to entertain himself by observing their misfortunes. His taste is atrocious!”
“You’re right, it’s certainly in poor taste. And childish. Yes, Schelmelhorn is still a child.”
She said this with a disgusted expression. “Even though he’s lived far longer than me?” Eh? Ah, yes, that’s right. He’d established a guild in the human world so he could feel superior by having other races under his control. Childish, right?
Oh my, no need to make such an angry face. It might seem incredibly malicious to you, but to him, it’s a serious matter. And to us, it just looks like a child’s tantrum. Perception is relative.
“He’ll never admit it, but he admires the other races.”
“That’s a lie! He despises them more than anyone!”
I thought Yenna was also a child. She could only see things from her perspective. I wondered what she’d even learned from her time outside. But I guess that also depends on the individual.
“He’s just sincere. Sincere, and desperate to protect the High Elf Village as the patriarch. He’s interested in other races, deep down, but he’s simply denying those feelings by seeing them as pests.”
“That’s impossible... I can’t believe it. He massacres them so easily. It’s time for things to change. High Elves as gods... I have no desire to become a god who looks down on other races.”
It’s true that his true intentions are hard to grasp. Especially since he’s denying them. To even consider massacring other races... it’s as if he’s obsessed. How sad. There was some truth to what Yennaliearl was saying, but I couldn’t accept her blasphemy. Because not all gods are like that.
“Yennaliearl, that’s inappropriate.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“...!”
She must have been incredibly anxious. She’d probably immediately looked into the curse placed on children born between a High Elf and someone of another race, and been overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety. It’s impossible to deal with that alone.
Until I left that day, she’d been clinging onto my clothes, sobbing. I held her hand, until she calmed down. I thought it best to let it all out.
And so, I listened to her story, little by little, every day. We had plenty of time. I was certainly surprised when she told me the father was the current Demon King. To think that I’d be surprised at my age, what a valuable experience.
Time passed, and her stomach slowly grew. Thankfully, it wasn’t very noticeable, and as she’d confined herself to the reflection room, no one else saw her. She was all alone.
Even so, I was incredibly nervous when the time for her to give birth arrived. I was grateful that Schelmelhorn hadn’t been coming back here much lately. It was fortunate that he wasn’t here.
Childbirth, it was a harsh experience. I’d never given birth myself, and I’d never even witnessed it. So of course I researched it. I looked into records from thousands of years ago and discreetly asked my friends who’d given birth. I read countless documents, it was the first time I’d studied anything in years.
But because of that, I realized something. That she was having a difficult labor. She was in pain, and even though it was time for the child to be born, it took two whole days. Yennaliearl was in agony the whole time. Even though I’d created a soundproof barrier, she’d endured it all, tears streaming down her face, without even a scream.
“Be strong, be strong, my baby,” she kept murmuring.
The child had no soul. It was difficult for it to even be born. When I realized this, I used magic with the utmost care, helping with the childbirth. I wasn’t even sure I was doing it right. But I had to do it. If I didn’t, I thought that neither Yennaliearl, nor the baby, would survive.
I guided the baby, “Come this way,” using magic. Little by little.
And so, just as the second night was about to break, you were born, Meg. These were Yennaliearl’s first words.
“...She’s a girl, as I thought. Thank you for being strong. Let’s live our best, shall we? ...Meg.”
It seemed like she’d already decided on a name. I thought I would never forget her happy face at that time. That’s how beautiful Yennaliearl was after giving birth.