NOVEL WEB Chapter 115 - The White Sanctuary
The White Sanctuary
“Before we begin, may I ask you something?”
Martinelshiela-san asked this before starting. As she was currently the one in control, no one objected. We all nodded in agreement.
“About the outside world. Ah, I mean… outside the High Elf Village. What kind of impression do people in your world have of High Elves? I’m already aware of some things, so please be honest.”
That means that she knows that High Elves have a bad reputation. Kron-san seemed ready to answer. Yeah, I figured her level-headedness was best suited for this.
“Well, High Elves are seen as a reclusive race, who don’t accept other races, and also a ruthless race who’ll mercilessly eliminate anyone who trespasses on their territory.”
“Kron, you’re being too blunt!”
Kron-san, you’re too straightforward! Even Gil-san and Nika-san looked flustered. What a sight!
“Oh, my, it’s fine. I appreciate you being honest. Besides, it was just as I expected.”
Ignoring our anxiety, Martinelshiela-san chuckled, seemingly amused. She’s so open-minded. Or maybe that’s just a facade, and she’s actually… No, it didn’t feel that way. It was just a feeling, but…
“Rumors are strange, aren’t they? It started as just a rumor, but it ended up becoming the truth.”
“Really…? So, the High Elves really do dislike other races?”
She didn’t seem offended by Kron-san’s blunt words, but she murmured, “No, that’s not it,” with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“To be honest… we simply don’t interfere with others. We have a barrier, you see. Unless you’re a High Elf, or you’ve been here at least once, it’s impossible to reach this place. Why would we bother attacking, when there’s no threat?”
Now that she mentioned it, she was right. You usually wouldn’t do anything that would threaten your peaceful life, unless you really hated other races. And with this barrier, there’s no risk of invasion either.
“But I felt like we were being watched when we entered the northern mountains, and as we got closer, I could sense hostility.”
Kron-san’s words were also true. Why would they do something like that if they had no intention of interfering? It felt contradictory.
“Because those are the patriarch’s orders.”
The patriarch’s orders… so that means… it’s something Schelmelhorn decided?
“Conversely, it’s only the patriarch who interferes with other races. None of the other High Elves are even interested.”
“So, basically, the other High Elves aren’t interested in other races? Then, why did you accept us? Why are you trying to interact with us?”
It was true that if she wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t have invited us into the village, let alone into her house, and wouldn’t be talking to us like this. And yet, she was even willingly telling us various things. Kron-san’s question was a good one.
“You’re right. If it weren’t for this, I don’t think I’d have wanted to talk to you.”
She said this, taking a sip of her tea, and after a moment, added:
“It’s because Yennaliearl asked me to. She said that if anyone like you were to come here, to please talk to them.”
“…Why wouldn’t Yenna talk to us herself?”
I had a bad feeling about this. I’m sure everyone else was thinking the same thing.
Martinelshiela-san finally stood up and said, turning towards the door:
“I’ll show you. To Yennaliearl.”
She smiled gently and then walked outside, without looking back, saying, “Follow me.”
We silently followed her.
“This is it. A beautiful place, isn’t it? We call it the White Sanctuary.”
The place she led us to was an area where pure white flowers bloomed around a small spring, a sacred space, where the air was the purest and magic power was abundant, even for the High Elf Village.
And then, I saw them—gravestones. And the newest one, pure white, had this inscription:
〈 Yennaliearl, the most beautiful and courageous of the High Elves, sleeps here. 〉
So, she was… gone after all…
“Yenna… how could this…”
The Demon King walked unsteadily towards the grave and then fell to his knees. It was a heart-wrenching sight, and none of us could speak.
“Giving birth to your child. She knew the risks, didn’t she? She was only able to live for a few years after giving birth because of who she was. She didn’t want you to know. But I thought you should, so I told you.”
The Demon King, his shoulders slumped, didn’t react, but I’m sure he was listening. Because I could sense his fists clenching tightly.
“Actually, she should have been able to live a bit longer. I believe she’d still be alive now.”
“…Why?”
The Demon King asked Martinelshiela-san. His voice sounded filled with regret and anger.
Then, Martinelshiela-san turned towards me. And as she approached, she knelt down, meeting my eyes, and gently touched my cheek.
“To protect you, Meg. As a mother, she was prepared to sacrifice her own life to protect you.”
“It’s my…”
I was about to say, “It’s my fault,” when her delicate finger was placed on my lips. She smiled gently and corrected me.
“For you.”
“For… me?”
“Yes.”
“It’s my fault” and “for you,” they had completely different meanings. She understood. It meant that Yenna-san had decided this herself, that she hadn’t regretted it. And she was saying these kind words to prevent me from blaming myself later on.
“Pwease… tell me more…”
I asked this, unable to stop the tears streaming down my face. I wanted to know. How my birth mother had protected me. And why she had to do it, I wanted to know everything.
She stroked my head gently. A large hand, from behind, offered me a clean, white handkerchief.
I’m sure the reason I’m so happy right now… is thanks to Yenna-san.
“You’ll listen properly too, won’t you?”
She called out to the Demon King. After a few seconds, he finally stood up. His expression was filled with pain, but his voice was strong and steady.
“…Please tell me. I beg of you…”
He bowed deeply, as if desperately trying to contain something.