NOVEL WEB Chapter 116 - Side Story: Martinelshiela (Part 1)
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 immediately apologized. But what she said next was shocking.
“But this is what I believe. There are multiple gods. Otherwise, the human world would be far more chaotic. Our ancestors must have been gods who had no love for other races. But I don’t believe we have to share the same ideology as our ancestors. I want to have faith in a god who loves other races. Not our ancestors.”
To realize that at such a young age, a young age for a High Elf. I realized, once again, that she was an extraordinary individual. It’s just that her way of thinking was a bit childish. As expected of parent and child, is it in her blood?
That was also the truth I’d come to realize. But just because we share the same opinion, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the correct answer. So I replied:
“Yennaliearl, I won’t dismiss your opinion. It’s a wonderful thing that you arrived at this conclusion on your own. But for now, protect the small world around you.”
“Eh…?”
“You see, I want you and your child to be happy.”
“…You knew?”
I’d sensed it, when Yennaliearl had returned, from her expression and demeanor.
She was carrying a child. Of course, I was curious about who the father was. But because it was her, I wasn’t worried, and more than anything…
“To be able to conceive a child, you truly are a special High Elf.”
“…But the father’s not a High Elf.”
“Well, of course not,” I’d replied. Because I couldn’t imagine there being any High Elves out there, aside from Schelmelhorn. And that was inconceivable, right?
“Listen carefully. The fact that you’re carrying a child conceived outside the village, it’s certainly a problem, but first and foremost, you should be happy, that a new life has begun inside you.”
“…!”
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.