The conversation with Senior Elsi took place quite a while later.
It seemed that the new “reward” was too stimulating for Senior Elsi. Even after that, she had to sit down and catch her breath for a long time.
Perhaps as a residue of that moment, Senior Elsi’s cheeks still bore a flush.
Or maybe she felt embarrassed by the dramatic reaction she had just shown.
Either way, she looked cute, gripping the brim of her hooded hat. Even her attempts to pull it down tight to hide her face were endearing.
If I had my way, I would have wanted to pat Senior Elsi’s head right away.
But it seemed she needed time to calm her mind, so I decided to set that desire aside for a moment.
I simply kept watch over the empty seat next to her, without saying a word.
Before long, the morning sunlight began to filter through the sky.
It was summer, and even the sunlight just now breaking through felt hot. Thankfully, the spot where Senior Elsi and I were sitting was in the shade.
Several more minutes passed like this.
Finally, it was then that Senior Elsi broke the silence.
Still in a crouch, holding her knees, she spoke.
“…When I was a child, I was bullied. By my family.”
It was not an unfamiliar story.
I had heard about it before while playing a game with Lupin, about Senior Elsi and Lupin’s unfortunate childhood.
Still, I pretended to be unaware and remained silent, hoping this would make it easier for Senior Elsi to open up.
Fortunately, her breath had gradually settled down. I couldn’t tell if it was due to my consideration, though.
With a damp but steadfast voice, she continued.
“At that time, I had no magical power, no magic, nothing. There were many who bullied me and my younger brother, who were particularly small in stature. The elders of the clan just watched from afar.”
“…So you decided to put them on a litter?”
“Not a cool tradition… I mean, no, it was a joke! Eheh…”
It was a story from the Southern Kingdoms, where the values of the strong devour the weak were prevalent.
A culture shared only by some tribes living in areas with severely limited resources, and it had become infamously known in the Academy for its negative connotations.
In essence, it involved using litter to abandon unproductive elders in the wilderness to use limited resources more effectively.
It was truly a horrific practice.
Of course, in present times, it was a superstition difficult to come by, as the Southern Kingdoms began to suppress it, deeming it a “depraved culture.”
I also did not believe Senior Elsi would speak such words sincerely.
Perhaps it was so.
To maintain my minimum trust in Senior Elsi, I chose to refrain from any further doubts. I simply kept my mouth shut and listened attentively to what she had to say next.
“…Anyway, one day during those horrific times, one of my siblings took my younger brother and had him fight against a hunting dog.”
I had heard this part too.
Looking back, I realized that Senior Elsi did not use the terms ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ when referring to her siblings. From that mechanical vocabulary, I could sense her emotions.
Excluding the common bonds of our clan meant she was further estranged than from others.
That was inevitable, given what kind of past she had.
“What could that little kid do against a hunting dog? My brother just trembled there, and the sound of those bastards laughing polluted my ears. I couldn’t take it anymore.”
“…So what did you do?”
“What could I do? I heard something snap in my head… and when I came to my senses, I realized I was charging at the hunting dog instead of my brother.”
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at her audacity.
Though I already knew the story, hearing it from Senior Elsi’s mouth gave it a new flavor.
On that day, it seemed Senior Elsi didn’t want to save Lupin; she simply couldn’t overcome her temper.
Such a small child.
However, unlike the girl in the story who seemed incredibly gutsy, the voice of Senior Elsi recounting that day was somber.
It felt as if she were squeezing water from a dry rag.
Regaining her voice, that girl barely managed to spit out the nightmare of that day.
“Did you know? A human cannot win against a dog of similar weight class. I really felt that on that day. That dog was so strong that blood splattered everywhere as it bit down, and bones crunched. I thought I was really going to die.”
There was no trace of fear in her trembling voice.
Only a gloomy sentiment permeated through the words filled with blood.
Sad memories continued, endlessly.
“The thing is, the ones who actually got scared were those bastards. They went off to call someone eventually, but by that time, I had to fight for my life. By then, I could only see the dog in the world.”
I tried to comfort Senior Elsi by reaching out to pat her head but stopped myself.
In the first place, she probably wasn’t saying this for comfort.
So I decided to settle for sharing in the pain with Senior Elsi instead.
“I was a dog, the dog was a dog… and like that, we fought like dogs and I barely survived by choking it with all my might. But after I killed it, I was left dumbfounded.”
The laugh that suddenly burst from her lips was somewhat bittersweet.
Only then did she finally confess the feelings she had buried deep inside.
“…Why did I kill it?”
It was a hollow tone.
And a fundamental question imbued in her words.
“In truth, the hunting dog was innocent. It was just… that dog did what it was told, and so did I. But we fought like the dogs in the fighting ring. To become the best fighting dog.”
“That’s sad.”
“Rather than sad, I realized.”
With a hazy smile, Senior Elsi said in a numb tone.
“This is my fate, I thought. Just a life raised and used as needed… I thought, if that was the case, I might as well become the finest fighting dog.”
“Why?”
“Well, then I could pay back all those bastards who bullied me…”
Suddenly, her words halted as if she had tripped over a stone.
She hesitated for a long time.
Once again, a flush appeared on Senior Elsi’s face. Glancing at my expression, she eventually mumbled in a small voice.
“…Because… I could be loved?”
That must have been the genuine feeling that Senior Elsi had tried to hide until the very end.
Having been abused since childhood.
Her family saw her only as a fighting dog in the fighting ring. It must have been painful and difficult, and she had lived pretending to be strong.
But how could the pain of that day ever fade?
The human desire to be loved cannot be restrained. It can only be hidden.
For the first time, I felt like I had gained insight into Senior Elsi’s heart.
I was deeply grateful.
It is embarrassing and awkward for anyone to reveal their feelings. Yet, Senior Elsi shared her heartfelt truth with me.
Though there was some pressure in the process.
In the end, perhaps unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Senior Elsi burst into an awkward laugh at around that time.
“W, well! It’s all in the past now, Eheh… I realized recently that however great you look, it’s only used to choose a suitable partner…”
“…Senior Elsi.”
With my quiet call, my hand gently rested on top of Senior Elsi’s head.
Senior Elsi’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she didn’t understand what was happening.
So I managed to come up with the best line to comfort her.
“I’ll love you.”
And then silence.
A faint scent of grass carried by the wind tickled my nose.
Senior Elsi froze in place, staring at me blankly.
Was the life of a pit bull in the fighting ring her fate?
I think I began to understand a little.
Why Senior Elsi chose to be a pet.
Unlike fighting dogs, pets could be loved.
What a simple and clear answer it was.
So, I decided to follow that solution.
“From now on.”
Even as I affectionately patted her head, Senior Elsi remained dumbfounded.
After a moment.
With a pop, her face blushed furiously.
Senior Elsi ultimately fainted right there.
“…Senior Elsi? Senior Elsi!”
Still, I was relieved that the fainted Senior Elsi seemed happy.
Perhaps.
It was a day when a new promise formed between Senior Elsi and me.
I left the blushing-faced Senior Elsi in the care of the attendants.
While it would have been proper to take care of her until the end, I still had things to do.
The person I was looking for was at a somewhat distant open area.
She must have retained the habit of practicing in places not noticeable even within the Academy.
I caught sight of her noble gray hair, a mixture of white and black.
With a sword in hand, her stance aimed steady at the front had no openings at all. It was a technique close to a principle, the epitome of what might appear in a swordsmanship manual.
Having already swung the sword a few times, sweat was glistening on her forehead.
Even that seemed like a presentation that highlighted the woman’s beauty, entirely because she was simply beautiful.
Ceria Yuridina.
My dear junior and the youngest daughter of the Yuridina Clan.
I called her name carefully so as not to startle her.
“Ceria…?”
I feared it might interrupt her practice, but her response was unexpectedly obedient.
She immediately lowered her sword and, upon looking at me, her eyes went wide.
“…Senior Ian?”
Clearing my throat, I steadied my breath.
Now was the main point.
“You mentioned you were going to see the Yuridina Clan’s soldiers today, right? Could I join you?”
Ceria tilted her head, puzzled.
It seemed the sudden request for companionship took her by surprise.
Just as I thought, a question came right back at me from Ceria.
“Well, that’s fine, but… why?”
“I heard strange rumors around the garrison. I was a bit concerned.”
Even until then, Ceria blinked curiously, continuing to stare at me.
From having observed her for a long time, I could tell.
That gaze meant she was asking for more explanation.
So, I spoke to Ceria in a somber voice on purpose.
“Well, I saw someone who looked just like me. Apparently, a soldier saw a person who looked very much like a villager from nearby in the woods, haha… it’s not like it’s a ghost…”
Upon hearing my words, Ceria’s complexion turned pale.
I hadn’t known before, but it seemed Ceria was scared of ghosts.
In the end, trembling, Ceria had no choice but to request to accompany me instead.
Now it was time to uncover the truth behind the rumors.
