NOVEL WEB Chapter 89 - Side Story: Schlie Letziano 3 (Part 2)
Side Story: Schlie Letziano 3 (Part 2)
Stunned by the shocking truth revealed by the Don, I was left speechless for a while. However, his story continued, so I somehow managed to get my mind working.
“What I want you to investigate is a certain High Elf.”
“Eh…?”
“Meg is probably a High Elf. You knew that, right? Because her mother is a High Elf. It’s certain.”
“Yes, I thought it was highly likely… That’s right. But that makes it even harder to believe she’s the Demon King’s child.”
It’s too much like a fairy tale. Even if that possibility surfaced, I’d be the first to dismiss it.
But it was highly likely that Meg was indeed a High Elf. And for the Don to be so certain, it meant that he’d heard it from the Demon King. So it must be true…
“About the mother, and about Meg. Do some research and come to a conclusion. I’ll talk about the content of the request after that.”
“U-Understood.”
“Even I can’t access the secret Elven writings. I’m hoping you’ll uncover some new information, something even I don’t know.”
Is he testing me? I had to take this seriously. I had to find information that even the Don couldn’t get his hands on.
And no matter the conclusion, I couldn’t let myself be shaken.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. I think the Don was avoiding going into detail, so I could organize my thoughts. We’d only occasionally talk about what was going on at the guild.
And so, we continued our journey, finally arriving at the Elven Village.
I briefly greeted my friends and then went to the patriarch to ask for permission to access the old writings. As a member of Ortus, I was readily granted permission. I parted ways with the Don, who was still exchanging greetings, and hurried to the archives.
“This is it…”
I found the book I was looking for and immediately started flipping through the pages. My heart was pounding.
『High Elves are beings who have been demoted from their positions as gods. They are said to be the closest to god among those who reside on this earth.』
This is a well-known tale, often told as a story to children. And while it’s uncertain whether it’s true, most of it is factual. If I remember correctly, it’s in another book… Ah, this picture book.
『Once upon a time, the High Elves, who were gods, had one of their own betray them, and they were forced to give up their positions.
One of them had fallen in love with a human. The other gods were furious.
And so, the fallen god came to be known as a High Elf.
The High Elves strived to regain their positions as gods. But there were some who wished to live as humans. The High Elves who chose the path of humanity were deemed sinners and cast out of the village. And they became the Elves.
To live an eternity as gods, watching over the world, hoping to return to the realm of gods.
Or to have your powers diminished, living the same lifespan as a human.
The High Elves didn’t understand why someone would want to live like a human, to lose such immense power, to have death looming so close.
The two choices that had existed, eventually only the former was permitted, and the High Elves created their own rules.』
Hmm, was this how the story went? It’s been a while since I’d heard it as a child, so I’d forgotten quite a bit.
Even though it was a picture book, this was all factual. Or rather, being in picture book form made it easier to pass it down.
I continued reading the second half of the book, the part I’d completely forgotten about. There were a few rules listed, but one sentence caught my eye.
『High Elves are only permitted to bear children with other High Elves. If a child is born between a High Elf and someone of another race, that child will not be given a soul.』
Not be given a soul? Just what did that mean? I picked up another book and started flipping through the pages.
『Children born between High Elves and those of other races are born without a soul, cursed. They have no will, no understanding, they simply carry out whatever they’re told, existing without truly living. It is said that they resemble dolls.』
Oh my…! If Meg was the child of the Demon King and a High Elf, then she would have lived as a soulless doll, unaware of even her own name. Meaning, she hadn’t lost her memories, but she hadn’t been able to understand anything until now.
But… the child I met did have a soul. I couldn’t imagine her being soulless, not after seeing her express so many emotions, after seeing her react in so many ways. She was definitely thinking and acting on her own free will.
“…Did she gain a soul recently…?”
It sounded absurd, but if that was the case, it would explain many things. For some reason, one day, she’d gained a soul. The memories ingrained in her body from her life thus far must have carried over, but she hadn’t been able to understand them. That must be why it seemed like she had amnesia.
And while it wasn’t that strange, considering her age, that clumsy way of speaking was probably…
“…Because she’d never had a chance to talk…”
But if that was the case, why had she suddenly gained a soul? I couldn’t imagine the curse disguised as a High Elf rule being lifted so easily.
“! Come to think of it…”
I suddenly remembered her sleepwalking. That expressionless face, her eyes devoid of light, as she calmly drew pictures.
Could that be Meg’s original state?
Countless possibilities swirled in my mind before vanishing, and I arrived at the most plausible answer. I quickly flipped through more books, gathering information.
『Unlike the rare Elves, all High Elves are born with special abilities.』
Meg must have one too, since she’s probably a High Elf.
I hadn’t asked her about it, but as far as I could tell, she didn’t seem to have any special abilities. Or maybe she just wasn’t aware of them, like me when I was young.
But what if she was using that ability while she was sleepwalking, in her original state? What if she was trying to tell us something?
『Abilities are often hereditary.』
I remembered reading something, a long time ago, in one of the old writings, about a High Elf born with pink, shimmering hair.
『A serious criminal who took an interest in other races and left the village.』
And if I remember correctly, her special ability was…
『The ability to see into the future. Yennaliearl.』
It wouldn’t be strange for her to have a child with someone from another race. And in fact, she had a child with the Demon King. And that child was probably…
“Meg…”
So, Meg was also born with precognition, or something similar. And her soulless self must have been using that ability. What if the only way for her, unable to speak, to communicate was to draw the images she saw in her mind? If her original self had foreseen the future and drawn it.
Maybe she was trying to tell us something.
“The picture… I have to see that picture…!”
I quickly gathered the countless books I’d spread out and rushed to the Don.