402 The Egg and the Chick #2
“Yes, yes?”
Luna was shocked as if she had just heard something unbelievable.
The story she had just heard seemed quite shocking even for Luna. As if she couldn’t believe what the elder said, she began to stammer.
“What, what do you mean? What are you saying?”
“Take it literally. You’re no longer part of the Nox Child Tribe. You no longer have a place in the village. Leaving the island at your whim and coming back to stir up trouble. It’s behavior we can’t condone.”
“…”
“…”
During this time, I realized that Luna’s hands and legs behind my chair started trembling. It shouldn’t be surprising for her whole body to shake if she’s getting expelled from her clan.
Though leaving her hometown to suffer on Gaia Continent, or tricking the monster Geryon to find the spring water were all, ultimately, for the Nox Child Tribe.
She might have felt as if all her efforts until now were being negated.
But from an objective standpoint, not as her boyfriend, the elder’s words were quite reasonable.
Luna had a history of deserting the clan at her will like a runaway ninja. She drugged and put the whole village to sleep, and even colluded with Naru from the Tatari Tribe during the war.
In the Nox Child Tribe, where hierarchy is important, Luna’s actions were pretty much punishable by exile.
“…”
“…”
While I pondered this, neither Luna nor the elder spoke for a long time.
Meanwhile, the Ideope girls who had started singing and dancing loudly were on the other side of this cold, silent void, making me extremely awkward.
And also, it wasn’t my place to intervene, so I stayed utterly quiet. As the prolonged silence continued, the elder finally spoke again.
“The village fence will no longer protect you. There will be no elder to protect you. No tides or jungles will shelter you. Luna, you must now take care of yourself with your own hands.”
“…Is this because I refused to be your successor? Are you expelling me for that?”
“No. It’s actually something that has been planned since a very long time ago. We tried to assimilate you, to hide you among us, but it was impossible. You cannot hide a swan among ducks. You couldn’t truly blend with the Nox Child Tribe.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m not part of the Nox Child Tribe? Do I have another tribe?”
“No, your tribe isn’t anywhere in Ideope. Your mother isn’t a human from this land. Neither is your father.”
The mention of Luna’s mother and father sent a chill down my spine.
Someone knew about Luna’s parents.
Luna, shocked as if she didn’t believe what she had just heard, raised her voice.
“Do you know them? Where should I go to find them? Are they from another part of the Gaia Continent?”
Luna is an orphan.
Though not truly an orphan, Luna has lived her life as if abandoned by her parents at a young age without knowing who they are.
Orphans are common on this Gaia Continent due to the frequent wars and famine, so Luna never thought of herself as special.
Hipolyte, for one, is also an orphan.
Paranoi too.
Elfride is the same.
They all come from the streets. Reflecting on it now, I wondered why all the women around me seem to have not received the love of their parents.
Could the mental issues they all seem to carry be related to their lack of affection during childhood?
At that moment, the elder spoke.
“Luna Noxdotty, tomorrow morning when the sun rises, you will leave this island on the transportation we have prepared for you. This is the last consideration we can give you.”
“But, I haven’t finished with the island’s curse. I was trying to make nectar…”
“The island’s issues are for the islanders to resolve. You no longer have to help us. We will not receive your help either.”
“…”
Since Luna was behind my chair, I couldn’t see her expression.
However, having known Luna for quite a while, I could vividly imagine the sound of her furrowing her brows, the sound of unshed tears, creating a clear mental picture of her face.
“Well, pack your things and return to Crescent Moon Island, Luna. Once you go, you may never come back. Take everything you can.”
The elder’s words caused Luna to slowly turn her footsteps. The weak sound of her steps made me feel truly sorry for her.
What must it feel like to be expelled from your own tribe?
To Luna, who had grown up as an orphan, the Nox Child Tribe must have been akin to her entire life.
Maybe it’s akin to how Hassan felt when he fell into a manhole and had to eat scraps. No, this is much worse since it feels like being cast out by your family.
“The one who was expected to intervene has surprisingly remained silent.”
The elder seemed to have directed their attention toward me after Luna’s footsteps faded away.
I briefly responded.
“I have enough shame not to meddle in others’ household affairs.”
“Others’ household affairs? You’re surprisingly wise for someone who makes alters for himself on every island. You are truly worthy of being called the young god Zigress.”
“So, is Luna really being expelled?”
“Yes. You must know the secrets that Luna has been dealing with. For Luna, Ideope is simply too confined.”
From the mention of secrets, it seemed probable that the elder, who had raised Luna since she was young, knew who Luna’s real parents were.
After I paused for a while, the elder continued.
“No matter how comfortable the shell is, if you don’t break it and come out, whether you’re a bird, a snake, or an alligator, you are destined to d*e. Luna just needs to break the shell now.”
“Then, you could have treated her more kindly and considerately instead of exiling her. This way, you’ll only end up being hated.”
“Being hated is something I’m accustomed to anyway. I was a witch after all. Moreover, I deliberately raised Luna strictly because we were bound to separate one day. I never praised her or spoke affectionately to her.”
“Is that so?”
I recalled the stories Luna had told me about her childhood.
She was dissatisfied with the elder who inspired fear and the villagers who distanced themselves from her.
Leaving the island was also her way of wanting to gain their approval.
The elder continued.
“Still, I did my best. There were lullabies I’d never sung before, I tried singing them. I helped her learn to walk. Even though she wasn’t my own child, it was honestly quite troublesome…”
The elder’s eyes turned toward the sky. The evening was becoming dim as the two moons cast a bright light. I couldn’t decipher the elder’s expression behind the mask.
Continuing, the elder said,
“Honestly, it was bothersome. But the first time Luna opened her mouth and spoke, the moment she gripped my finger and smiled, calling me ‘mother’—I was lulled into a long dream. Luna was a good-smiling child. Such a magical laugh…”
“…”
“Occasionally, I wondered what it would have been like if Luna had truly been my child. However, I understand my role well. That would have been greed. I am merely the eggshell. No matter how adorable the chick, the shell cannot hold onto the chick—it must let go.”
“Now, it’s time for me to wake from this dream.” The elder trailed off vaguely.
The next morning.
As there was nothing left for me to do in Ideope, we decided to leave the island on the transportation arranged by the elder of the Nox Child Tribe.
The fog brought by the sea cloaked the dark island in a dense darkness.
At the battered port, many pink-haired girls gathered in small groups, handing us various things.
“Hey, Elf, come visit us again! I’ll give you a bath! There’s herbal water ready for you!”
“Come by our house too! I’ll comb your hair!”
Elfride, who was quite popular even among the pink-haired girls, had her face and neck adorned with headbands and flower necklaces gifted by the girls.
Though she responded in a way that seemed bothered, the lack of clear dislike indicated that she wasn’t altogether displeased.
Perhaps she didn’t realize that they intended to boil her like a stew. Elfride, in truth, is rather clumsy.
At that moment, the old woman Hernia approached me at the pier, extending something.
It was a peculiar bracelet created by intertwining black strings with the teeth of animals of unknown species, exuding a strange feeling.
“This is a protective bracelet for our esteemed guest from the Tatari Tribe. It is made from the tail hairs of Orthos. It will surely protect you from most curses.”
Is this something like a good luck charm against curses?
If it can protect against curses, it seems fairly reliable.
“And, if you show this to the sisterhood of Ideope outside, they will remove their masks and help you, Hassan. It’s a mark of identity.”
Oh, so it’s sort of like an inspector’s badge.
That seems useful.
Even the pink-haired girls would undress and come to my aid? It feels quite meaningful and rewarding after suffering from mosquito bites while trudging through the jungle on this island.
I asked,
“Is it okay if Orthos still remains on the island?”
“There should be a guardian in the jungle and the forest. Besides, it used to be harassed by Chrome anyway. Let’s try raising him well.”
That’s a good point.
It wasn’t a long journey; short but with beautiful scenery and some adorable girls made Ideope a rather pleasant island, almost like a vacation spot.
Pak!
That’s when Luna placed her heavy backpack down.
“…”
Since arriving at the pier, Luna had been silent. Her restlessness hinted that she might be looking for someone.
Of course, the skull-masked figure Luna was searching for was nowhere to be seen. Was the elder not planning to see Luna off?
Surrenderingly,
Just then, a dense shadow fell over our heads. Looking up, we saw a tremendous pair of wings slicing through the misty sea fog above us.
“I, what a shock!”
Appearing before us was a bird of prey. An absolutely enormous one, comparable in size to the young dragon, Ice Pearl, that we had ridden before.
An eagle?
What, does this world have an eagle so large? Is it a radioactive mutant? Is there radiation in this world?
…
The eagle swiftly eyed us and then extended one of its wings towards us. The startled Elfride reacted,
“Is that the prepared transport? An enormous eagle?”
“Who knows, let’s just try it.”
Elfride and I climbed onto the eagle’s back behind its wings.
The dragon Ice Pearl gave a cool ride, but this Great Max Pike Zone was comfy with its soft feathers and warm heat, offering a pleasant ride.
Only Luna hesitated to climb on.
Normally, she would have exclaimed, “Wow, look at the size of this thing, Hassan! Roast it and we’ll have enough for thirty people! Look at those huge wings! Enormous drumsticks—!” But not this time.
Luna, with a slightly somber expression, alternated her gaze between the sea and the land as if reluctant to leave. This place has been Luna’s home, the island she lived on her entire life.
Considering she will never return here, it would indeed be impossible to take a step forward lightly.
I’m not so heartless as to hurry her.
Elfride, however, wasn’t like me.
“You can stay if you want to stay in your homeland, little girl. Hassan and I will just head back to Sodomora on our own.”
“…!”
Upon this, Luna, as if startled, quickly shouldered her heavy bag, grabbed the eagle’s wing, and climbed up, almost struggling but managing to get onto the eagle’s back.
Was the bag unusually heavy? It took Luna some time to climb on, prompting Elfride to question her,
“What’s in there that it’s so much baggage?”
To which Luna, after taking a deep breath, answered,
“All my belongings. I’ve brought everything I could. I may not be able to set foot on this island again, after all.”
Pulsating wings.
As soon as Luna climbed aboard, without giving anyone time to think, the giant eagle began flapping its wings towards the sky.
With just one flap, soaring high into the sky, the island of Ideope and the people below began to look like tiny ants.
Wow, it’s really fast.
Indeed the special transport arranged by the elder; this would certainly get us to Sodomora in no time.
While I was contemplating this,
Luna shouted towards the distant Ideope island, tightly gripping the eagle’s neck feathers,
“Farewell, dumb island—full of mosquitoes, swamps, snakes, spiders, toads, ants, and nothing but stupid pink-haired girls! Goodbye!”
It seemed to be Luna’s own farewell message. And holding onto Luna from behind, the nymph Doris of honey water,
“Clutch tightly, Master… Doris has the duty to always protect little Kore, so she’ll ensure a firm grip…”
With Doris’ commotion concluding, the giant eagle flapped its wings powerfully and crossed the sea in an instant.
As befitting a swift bird of prey, a truly enormous eagle smoothly slicing through the wind.
We had crossed the sea and flown across the continent, and just before noon, we spotted the familiar and enjoyable second home, Sodomora, where all sorts of creatures lived with furrowed brows.
Something, something is flying in! Prepare interception!
Is that a dragon? No, it’s a bit different from a dragon. Is it a griffin? Has a griffin come from the Royal Capital Jeruit?
It’s not a griffin, just a very large eagle? How could an eagle be so big?
Amidst the babbling soldiers on the city walls, the enormous eagle gently descended us at a secluded and spacious corner of the walls.
The soldiers rushing towards us— I prioritized showing my silver adventurer identification badge to quell the commotion.
“There’s no need to worry. I’m a resident here.”
With that, the soldiers’ troubled faces eased somewhat.
Unlike how Elfride and I had lightly jumped off behind the eagle’s back, Luna hesitated to place her feet on Sodomora’s ground.
“Every day, scolding me harshly, and hitting me with a honey fist…”
And then surprisingly, she started talking to the eagle she was riding on.
“But, I liked you. Whenever I had a high fever, you always soothed my forehead with your cool hands, staying by me until morning.”
Of course, the eagle only bent lower to let Luna down, extending its wings all the more. However, instead of descending, Luna embraced the eagle’s thick neck tightly.
“Kirke, you know, I’ve always wished that you were my mother. But, actually, you’ve already been my mother. Thank you for raising me until now—Elder Kirke. Stay well in the future.”
Fererrrr…
The colossal bird that had carried Luna emitted a large, peculiar, yet somehow sorrowful sound and ascended skyward.
It flew exceedingly high, expected to disappear in an instant, yet…
Pulsing, pulsing wings…
The eagle circled the Sodomora sky several times, only after Luna waved her hand energetically towards the sky, did it finally seem reassured and vanish into the distance.
Only then did I realize the true identity of the eagle.
Was Luna’s other mother simply observing the city where Luna’s future life would unfold?
Even though I don’t tear up easily, I felt a bit sorrowful.
But the moment was interrupted when the soldiers started talking to me.
“Hassan, we’ve been eagerly waiting for you! There’s a major crisis! People have been shouting for you everywhere, causing quite a commotion!”
