NOVEL WEB 023 – Interlude: Katarina & Kirina I
The moment Katarina witnessed the explosion at the place known as the mayor's house, she couldn't contain the agitation in her chest.
She knew Euphemia Grimwood wouldn't die.
When they invaded the territory of the humans, she saw Euphemia, who was supposed to have been killed by the tribal chief Janus, standing up with a calm face. Later, she heard that Euphemia had been killed by the human twins nearly five hundred times before. She had also been burned to death by the fox spirit Serena over fifty times.
So, she should be fine.
But even so, her chest was so agitated.
Right now, Euphemia Grimwood is being subjected to something.
Thinking about it, a dark feeling filled her heart.
"It's a signal. I'm going. Jade, take control of the assembly hall. After that, go around the village. It's fine to kill the werewolf tribe. Maya and Katarina, after confirming the granary, it's defense. If the granary is set on fire, Euphemia will probably be angry. Montego, go to the assembly hall with Jade. If you can convey to the orc tribe that we are not enemies, that's enough."
Junos said, then without waiting for a reply, he kicked the ground and dashed down the hill with almost a leap-like force. She couldn't just silently watch his back as he descended the hill.
"We're going too."
"We're coming too."
The sword dancer Jade and the spear wielder Maya said.
Each nodded, and Katarina and the others ran down the hill.
The control seemed to have ended in just an instant... it seemed.
Katarina didn't have the chance to confront the werewolf tribe as she headed towards the granary with Maya as instructed, but she could hear the sounds of battle and screams from all over the village, and she felt it quickly subsiding.
"It seems like we're out of luck here, but don't let your guard down."
Maya, whose long hair was tied behind her neck, turned to Katarina and said, but Katarina had never intended to let her guard down from the start.
Rather than being a hindrance to Euphemia Grimwood, it would be better to die. Katarina seriously believed that.
The granary they headed to was very large compared to the size of the village. Montego said that the population of Sutin Village was thirty-six... and only three orcs were killed, but it seemed that a granary of a scale that could feed over a hundred people for the winter would be necessary for the demonic races like Katarina and her companions to feed just that small number.
It was probably due to differences in physical structure rather than culture or customs.
"Wow, it's a huge door. I'll open it, so you stay back a bit. Don't think about facing anyone if someone comes out."
"I understand."
They nodded to each other, and Katarina waited at a distance of fifteen steps while Maya put her hand on the huge door. Of course, she didn't stare at the door. She kept her attention on the surroundings and also on what might be beyond the opening door.
There was a presence not around them but beyond the door.
And it was probably a presence Katarina knew well.
"Someone's there!"
Maya shouted, pointing her spear towards the back of the door.
Although it was called a granary, it was roughly built, essentially a large storage. Visible from the entrance were numerous wooden boxes and giant farming tools apparently used by the orc tribe.
And just a little deeper from the entrance, there was a beast person.
"Kirina..."
A beast girl raised by the fox spirit Serena.
Why was she here?
Kirina's memories of her life were so scant that they could fit into the confines of a remote border house.
One day, her biological mother visited Serena's place and left Kirina, still a baby, in her care. Kirina had been informed of this by Serena, and she didn't harbor any particular feelings about it.
Because Kirina didn't know what 'parents' were, and there were no children around her who had 'parents.' She didn't feel lonely or sad. Every day was calm, a little boring perhaps, but she didn't find it unpleasant.
That kind of life continued for ten years.
She learned everything in this world from the fox spirit Serena, or naturally, and she gradually built her own worldview.
However, that fragile worldview collapsed easily with the appearance of Euphemia Grimwood.
The leisurely and calm days turned into sparkling times of turmoil.
Meeting Katarina, who was about the same age, allowed Kirina to come into contact with others. Not Serena, who unconditionally protected her, but someone she didn't know, someone unfamiliar. She learned to interact with others from such a state.
And then came the next upheaval.
Her mother, Stella, and father, Zamba, appeared and abducted her, ignoring Kirina's will.
Ah... so these are my parents.
That's what Kirina thought.
They didn't shower her with affection like Serena, nor did they bring something shining like Euphemia Grimwood, nor did they treat her kindly like her friend Katarina... They just imposed their will on Kirina.
They were attacking the orc village.
They were killing orcs.
For their own sake.
Hurting and demeaning others to do what they wanted, wearing a calm face.
"...That's why, I don't understand anymore," Kirina said.
"I don't know what those people want to do. And I think they probably don't care about me at all. Yet, why am I kidnapped and confined here... I want to see Serena..."
As Kirina murmured with a tearful voice, Katarina approached swiftly and squatted beside her.
Then, she slapped Kirina's cheek with the palm of her hand.
"What...?"
As Katarina looked at the fox beast person, who showed more confusion than pain on her face, she spoke.
"My parents, knowing they would die, charged into human territory. They said it was the pride of our clan. I didn't understand at all... No, I stopped understanding. Until just a little while ago, I thought I did."
The beast person in front of her resembled herself.
Since meeting Kirina, Katarina had thought so.
Even though she didn't have parents, there were people she respected.
For example, Junos. He was able to discard the pride of the clan. He discarded it, but still carried his true pride and led them.
Surely, in Kirina's case, it was her foster parent, the fox lady Serena. She should have nurtured her, respected her, and cared for her.
And both of them were strongly drawn to Euphemia Grimwood.
That's why they became friends.
"Hey, Kirina. Think about why I'm here. Do you think we came here on our own will?"
"That's..."
"The fox spirit Serena asked for help from Lady Euphemia. Lady Euphemia nodded. That's why we're here. I don't know what your parents are trying to do, but we absolutely can't do whatever it is they're planning."
Because Euphemia Grimwood came.
They were going to help her.
"Hey, Kirina. Do you plan to sit here and mope like this in front of Lady Euphemia? Think about what she would say to you. Comfort you, scold you, protect you... Is that okay? Is it okay to stay like this?"
"Kata...rina...?"
"I hate that kind of thing, even if it kills me."
Katarina said forcefully, as if spitting it out.
Because they had just gone along with things, their parents went to their deaths.
"It's okay if you want to do that, Kirina. I don't know what to do either. Maybe no one does. But you know, I know what I don't want to do."
She had said it many times.
Katarina didn't even understand why she felt that way.
But... but, but, but!
Katarina could never forget Euphemia Grimwood, who came alone to the border, got her stomach punched by the chief, and still laughed and said, "Just run away." If possible, she wanted to follow her wherever she went.
And that's right.
There was something she absolutely didn't want to do.
"I'll never be a burden to Lady Euphemia. Because I want to be with Lady Euphemia. Kirina, what about you?"
