The Foreigner on the Periphery (English Translation)

28. Princess Run (3)

Swish!

With the fairy and the elf watching, Minjun quickly drew a small stone knife across his wrist.

"Ugh!"

The old fairy squinted her eyes and turned her head away, but Blair, standing next to her, observed calmly.

Sssss!

The blood from Minjun's wrist flowed out, creating a hazy mist that spread across the ground. It covered the scorched earth and burnt grass, rapidly expanding. Minjun's intent was to send this blood mist as far as possible.

Of course, covering a wide area with only fresh blood would lead to death from excessive blood loss, no matter how skilled. But the blood, combined with dark magic, was multiplying in the air.

After waiting for a moment...

"What's going on? I feel kind of weird."

The first to notice the change was the fairy, whose sixth sense was quite sharp. At first, it was an inexplicable sense of unease, but she quickly found a reason for the feeling.

"There's a horrible smell."

She hesitated before adding,

"It's getting closer."

After a brief pause, the sharp-eyed elf noticed something.

"What exactly... how far did you spread that?"

She was asking about the range of the blood mist. Minjun responded indifferently.

"About a 3-kilometer radius?"

The soft sound of footsteps over the scorched remains.

"Ugh!"

The fairy grimaced and retched.

Among the group emerging from between the bent and fallen trees, none of them had intact bodies. They were all creatures that had perished in the wildfire.

A sika deer, whose skin was melting and whose front legs were stuck to its chest, wriggled and crawled forward. An owl, with its feathers gone and only bones left in its wings, came stumbling along, as did a squirrel, its snout shriveled, revealing its teeth, and a wild boar whose eyes had melted, leaving tear-like streaks of liquid as it staggered forward.

Before considering the damage to their corpses, it was clear that the force driving them, even in death, was the dark magic.

Crunch!

Perhaps due to the mental shock, the fairy pulled a handful of candy from her pouch, tearing off the wrapper roughly and stuffing it into her mouth. She chewed with such force it seemed as though her teeth might break. Meanwhile, the elf's face remained as calm as a still lake.

"Isn't this, strictly speaking, necromancy?"

She even expressed curiosity.

"From the result, it looks the same, but the source of the power is different."

Without further elaboration, she didn't press for more details. The elf's expression darkened as the undead animals approached.

"Indeed, it's intense."

The animal corpses Minjun had summoned still carried the lingering resentment of their sudden deaths, unable to leave the world due to the shock and grudge.

The spirits were distinct from ghosts, the spectral beings most commonly known. These spirits retained only a limited memory, unable to think rationally.

Most spirits were absorbed in the memories of the moment they died, or the days leading up to their death, lost in meaningless, repetitive actions. Their anger, forged in pain, was intense. Even the magical wildfire that swept through, destroying all residual spirits and ghosts, had not been enough to erase their presence.

And as the undead grew closer, Minjun felt those horrifying memories seeping deeper into his mind.

"See, this proves that just because an animal has lower intelligence than humans doesn't mean it experiences less fear or pain!"

In fact, it made the emotions even more intense.

The confusion and pain they felt right before death were transmitted directly to him. It was a mixture of memories from various animals, all pouring into him at once. Their deaths, caused by the same disaster, were equally horrific, though each had different memories attached. For someone less experienced in magic, these memories would be enough to drive them insane.

But Minjun, with only a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, didn't avoid or delay. He stared directly at it.

The scene in his mind was a chaotic one: the hot air that scorched the ruined house, the acrid smoke that made him want to vomit, the pain as if flesh, feathers, beaks, and skin were being ripped off in whole chunks, the struggle, the horrific screams that eventually tore their throats apart, the confusion, and the increasing pain as time passed. And finally, the heavy darkness that pressed down on them in their last moments.

"If only... if only we could turn back time just a little..."

Even after his will was transmitted, some spirits continued to send out these terrifying memories, but others complied, sending old memories as requested.

The flood of mixed sensations, the disorienting maze of feelings. Minjun carefully sifted through the remnants, making sure not to lose his way.

The memories of the night before the fire.

Minjun hadn't expected much from the visual memories of the animals. Wild animals were not like adventurers who followed curious humans to watch their movements. The moment they heard something, they would have fled.

That's right—sound.

"The resolution of the vision through nocturnal animal eyes doesn't match mine, and it's hard to extract useful information. But their hearing is far superior to mine."

Minjun focused on the sounds the animals had heard last night. After concentrating deeply for a long while...

"Phew."

He let out a deep, heavy sigh.

Thud!

The animal corpses surrounding him collapsed one by one, as if in a domino effect.

"Is it over?"

The fairy, who had her eyes closed while chewing on candy, asked, as though she couldn't bear to look. She was slightly dazed from the drug. The elf responded to her.

"Larissa, it would be better not to open your eyes yet. There are still corpses scattered around."

Knowing the trouble it could cause if the drugged fairy were to go into shock, the elf had acted first.

"Agent, did you find something?"

Minjun nodded.

"There was an animal that heard the voices of intruders wandering deep in the mountains, far from the hiking trail that night."

The conversation between the intruders had been filled with rather typical lines for criminals—'Be careful,' 'Prepare the spell,' 'This one's done,' 'Move quickly.'

But Minjun had caught one word that suggested their identity.

"One of the intruders referred to another as 'brother.'"

The elf's face hardened with cold anger. The old, drugged fairy, still with her eyes closed, asked.

"Why? What's that mean? Who are they?"

She seemed slow to process the information due to the drug. Minjun provided clarification.

"It's a magic that could burn both the material world and the spirit world connected to Bukhansan Mountain. It must have cost quite a bit, and the sorcerers behind it are no amateurs. A group with the ability and motivation to rob an Elder Dragon's vault—calling each other 'brothers' like that—there's only one group I can think of."

The elf muttered in a tone as cold as ice.

"...Those barbaric human supremacists!"

"Human supremacists? Are you talking about that political group, the 'Human-Centered Party' or whatever?"

Minjun dismissed her speculation.

"That party is just a fragment. Behind them, there's a secret faction that's been pulling the strings. A group so vile that even the Elder Dragons haven't fully rooted them out yet."

"...Ah, no way?"

At that moment, the fairy finally realized, and the name of the group slipped from her lips.

"We, the new brothers who have joined the 'Active Human Rights Struggle Alliance,' warmly welcome you!"

The man, who introduced himself as the head of the Seoul branch of the secret faction known as the 'Human Rights Alliance,' stood at the podium and began his speech with a powerful voice.

He made eye contact with each of the ten or so new members sitting in the audience. His eyes were filled with a strangely twisted zeal.

"None of you, I believe, are unaware of what we have united for and what future we dream of. However, if you will allow me a moment, I would like to share a few words that will help in our future struggles. Words that are essential for understanding the very essence of our alliance."

His voice flowed with a strange rhythm, embedding a heavy accent and stress into the audience's ears.

"Let's speak plainly and simply. Who are we? That's right. We are, in short, 'people who want to change the dictionary.'"

On the projector screen, a page from the Korean dictionary was displayed.

"My brothers and I have gathered here to fight for human rights. Human rights, that is. Before discussing the meaning of rights, let us first define what a human is. The dictionary says this: 'Human. Noun. A primate species classified as Homo sapiens sapiens.' That's it. It's short. Simple. Clear. It's good enough, isn't it?"

He let out a smile that was difficult to interpret.

"So now, let's look up the word 'person' in the dictionary."

He pressed the presenter button. The slide switched to a different section of the dictionary. He read the definition without looking back.

"'Person. Noun. A socialized animal that thinks, uses language, and creates tools.'"

The speaker studied the audience's expressions carefully.

"Well, there are some ambiguous parts, but this much is acceptable. The biggest issue is the lower part!"

The slide moved on again. Right beneath the definition of the word in the dictionary, endless synonyms were listed.

"Synonyms for the word 'human'! Look here. Human, Elf, Orc, Dwarf, Goblin, Troll..."

The man spat the words without taking a breath. His voice carried a damp, sour emotion. His eyes bloodshot, he recited the listed synonyms one by one, as though spitting them out.

As he spoke, the slide zoomed in on a full-page list from the dictionary. By the time the audience was beginning to worry about his shortness of breath and fainting, his list had finally ended.

"That was long, wasn't it? Yes, it was long. Right? The synonyms for 'human' listed in the dictionary amount to exactly 112. That means there are 112 species, including humans, that have obtained citizenship on Earth through both mass and individual immigration! This is consistent across every dictionary, in Korean or any other language, where the entry for 'human' is found. Why? Because if we don't list all those species, it would violate anti-species discrimination laws!"

The heat in the room grew more intense.

"I'll say it again. We are the people trying to change the dictionary."

A long red line appeared over the synonym list on the slide, and the words began to disintegrate like dust, one by one. Eventually, the only synonym remaining was 'Human.'

"We are living in a mad society. The worst crime committed by the committee and the world leaders is the violent expansion of the meaning of the word 'human,' without the consent of the majority of humankind. We did not agree. No, we did not agree! The only beings that lived in this world as humans were humans. Until the fall of 1945, the list of synonyms was short and simple, just like what you see now. Back then, everything was simpler than it is now."

The man stepped out from behind the podium, continuing his speech.

"Let me emphasize again. We are living in an unprecedented era of madness in human history. There has never been such a time when darkness is so deep and shadows stretch so long. Monsters live next door to us and walk proudly in the streets. They boldly demand and take away our possessions. They steal our money, our welfare, our jobs, our rights!"

The division chief's voice was sharp, as though it could slice through skin.

"Now, let us put all of this back in its proper place. Let's change the dictionary. Let's return to the old days when 'human' only meant humans. Let's fight for human rights. The word 'human rights' should exist only for humans!"

The man took a breath, grabbed the glass of water on the podium, and gulped it down in one go.

In the meantime, the slide changed, and two silhouettes of different species appeared on the screen.

"Look. Until now, our brothers in the organization have spread across all levels of society, secretly working behind the scenes. Among the many alien species that have invaded Earth, we have focused on the two most threatening ones. Yes, that's right. Dragons and Orcs."

The silhouettes disappeared, replaced by disturbing illustrations of the two species.

"Dragons, those scaled demons, are a sociological disaster that tries to manipulate everything behind the scenes. They must be resisted and overthrown. Orcs, those disgusting pigs that birth eight offspring at a time, are a biological disaster that must be isolated and eradicated if left unchecked, as they will surpass humans in number!"

The man took another breath.

"But recently… we have encountered news of a new alien species that is just as dangerous as these two."

A heavy malice mixed into his gaze.

"We are at a decisive moment. I feel the need to mention this here for our newly joined brothers. Our short-term goal has been revised. We cannot stand by and let the terrifying nightmare of the eighth mass immigration become a reality. When I first heard the news, I was in shock."

The slide changed.

"Do you know the biological characteristics of these species?"

The words came out with a slithering tone, as if they were chewed up raggedly.

"The species being mentioned now ovulates nearly every day. If implantation is successful, they lay more than ten eggs at once. Moreover, their physical capabilities are overwhelming. The average height of adults is 3.5 meters. How much would it cost to retrofit our society's infrastructure for them? Also, their strength is said to rival that of trolls, which is utterly terrifying. What will happen if these beings adopt the same low-class lifestyle as orcs? If a monster capable of tearing through steel with its bare hands begins committing crimes in groups?"

The division chief declared.

"Therefore, our organization will mobilize all of its resources to stop the eighth mass immigration planned by the committee. As the first step, there is an alien we must get our hands on."

The slide changed, showing a picture and name of an alien.

The division chief spoke, almost like a declaration.

"That alien is…"

"Princess Vermi is waiting."

Minjun's fellow convict, Bradley, was about to face the person he was assigned to protect for the first time.

The bodyguards from the Gelanco dimension, who had been escorting the princess from the terminal to the hotel, were now handing over the responsibility to the humans on Earth before returning to their home dimension. It was an indication of how the Shutan people were treated in their home dimension.

Before heading to the room where the princess was staying, Bradley was greeted by a middle-aged female dwarf. Fluent in English, Korean, and the Shutan language, she was assigned as the translator.

"Well, I'll be relying on you for the duration of the assignment."

After exchanging pleasantries, they started walking, and Bradley asked.

"How is the princess's condition?"

This dwarf, named Olga, had been attending to the princess since she crossed over to the Gelanco dimension months ago. She explained that it was because the princess needed someone to translate during video calls with Earth. Olga, stroking her beard, spoke in a low voice.

"Honestly, it's not great. The princess... is quite anxious. The coordination between the committee, the Korean government, and the Gelanco United Kingdom has been a bit rocky, haven't you heard?"

Bradley nodded silently.

"Of course, thanks to that, we were able to assign an excellent person like Agent Bradley here as the head of security, but..."

She trailed off. Bradley pointed out the unspoken part.

"You think it's still insufficient."

"Well, don't take it the wrong way."

They arrived in front of the princess's room and knocked. Though no answer came, the dwarf opened the door forcefully. It seemed to be a regular occurrence.

A strong, fishy odor leaked out from the presidential suite of the hotel, chosen due to its high ceilings. The two entered.

Inside, they found the princess sitting on the sofa, and Bradley's gaze met hers.

She opened her mouth, revealing a snout covered with dark green scales. The Shutan mouth was exceptionally long. As it parted, sharp teeth resembling industrial saw blades came into view.

Though she likely intended only to speak, Bradley couldn't help but feel that she could easily chew off a human head in one bite. The princess made a sound as though she was putting a spoon into a slicer.

Olga translated the princess's intent.

"She says it's nice to meet you and hopes you'll do your best."

"...Yes, don't worry."

Olga made a scraping noise with the spoon and relayed Bradley's words back to the princess. After a few more moments of grating, the princess returned to the book she had been reading.

Olga then turned to Bradley with a serious look.

"Princess Vermi eats 20kg of raw meat six times a day. You, as the head of security, must personally perform poison tests. You've probably already been informed, but for the next few days, she'll be staying in the hotel to manage dimensional sickness, so please keep that in mind. And there's one more important thing..."

Her gaze became stern.

"Once a day, when the princess is in the production phase, no one should be within a ten-meter radius. Do you understand?"

"About what time is it?"

"Around 8 AM Earth time, but it could be irregular for a while due to the time zone difference."

"I see."

"At that time, the princess's mental state becomes very unstable, so you need to be extra cautious."

The Shutan women ovulate nearly every day and regularly lay unfertilized eggs when there is no mate.

The shell of those eggs can be processed into a highly conductive and malleable metal, which is a major export to many dimensions.

"Understood. I'll be careful."

Thinking that the princess might be more difficult than expected, Bradley glanced at the princess—who could be described as a 'crocodile that lays golden eggs'—as he prepared for the next few days.