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Chapter 242: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (35)

Her cheeks were still flushed, either from the lingering effect of my actions or from the embarrassment at her dramatic reaction just moments before.

Nonetheless, it was adorable to see Senior Elsie tightly clutching the brim of her cone hat or even her attempt to hide her face by firmly pressing down the hat.

My heart urged me to pat her head immediately.

However, I sensed that Senior Elsie needed some time to compose herself, so I suppressed that urge for the moment.

I simply kept silent, observing her from the side.

Before we realized it, the morning sun had bathed the surroundings in its warm light.

Given that it was summer, even the early morning sunlight carried some heat. Luckily, the spot where Senior Elsie and I sat was shaded.

A few more minutes passed just like that.

At last, Senior Elsie finally began to speak.

Her voice was trembling slightly as she remained in a crouched position, clutching her knees.

"...I was bullied during my childhood… By my family."

It was something I had heard before.

I had learned about Senior Elsie and Lupine\'s troubled childhood when I drank with him.

Choosing to remain silent, I hoped it would make it easier for Senior Elsie to open up further.

Fortunately, her breathing had steadied somewhat, though whether it was due to my consideration remained uncertain.

Though her voice still carried a hint of vulnerability, Senior Elsie maintained her composure and continued her story.

"Back then, I had no mana, no magic, nothing. There were a lot of people who would pick on my younger brother and me just because we were particularly small. And the elders in the family just let it happen."

“...So, is that why you are going to load them on an A-frame back carrier?“

"Isn’t it such a cool traditio... No, I’m just k-kidding! Hehe...."

It was a tale from the Ten Southern Kingdoms, a realm governed by the law of the jungle.

Even among those kingdoms, there existed a dark custom known only to select tribes living in regions of dire scarcity. However, this tradition was notoriously popular in the Academy.

The custom was as follows.

To optimize the use of scarce resources, they would strap elderly individuals, deemed unproductive, onto A-frame carriers and abandon them in the thick of the forest.

It was truly such a barbaric tradition.

However, finding instances of this cruel practice had become increasingly rare as the Ten Southern Kingdoms had begun to condemn it as an \'immoral culture.\'

Yet, I couldn\'t shake the feeling that Senior Elsie\'s words lacked sincerity.

It was probably like that.

To maintain some trust in her, I decided to refrain from further suspicion. So, I kept silent and continued to listen to her story.

"...Anyway, it was one of those dreadful days. One of the siblings had taken my younger brother to fight a hunting dog.”

This, too, was something I had heard before.

Reflecting on it, I noticed that Senior Elsie never referred to her siblings as \'my brother\' or \'my sister.\' Her detached language hinted at the strained nature of their relationship.

Their bond, if any, seemed to be more distant than that of strangers.

Given their history, it was an unsurprising outcome.

"What could such a little kid do against hunting dogs? My younger brother was just trembling, and the laughter of those bastards grated on my ears. So, I couldn\'t take it anymore."

"...So what did you do?"

"What else could I do? Something snapped in my mind... When I regained my senses, I found myself charging at the hunting dogs instead of protecting my younger brother."

Hmph, that short-tempered of hers. I couldn\'t help but stifle a bitter laugh upon hearing that.

I was already familiar with this story, but hearing it from Senior Elsie brought a different kind of amusement.

It seemed as if, on that day, Senior Elsie\'s actions were driven more by her temper than by her desire to save Lupine.

And here we were, discussing the actions of such a petite girl.

However, unlike the spirited girl in the story, Senior Elsie\'s retelling of that day\'s events was tinged with melancholy.

It was as though she was wringing out the last drops of water from a dry cloth.

Her voice strained as she struggled to convey the horror of that day.

"You know, humans can\'t beat dogs if they\'re of similar size. That day painfully taught me that truth. That bastard dog, the brute strength it possessed... blood flowed from every bite, and my bones were crushed. I really thought I was going to die."

Not a trace of fear was present in her voice as she told the story.

Only a gloomy aura surrounded the bloody story.

The sad memory lingered for what felt like an eternity.

"Ironically, those bastards panicked at the sight of blood. Eventually, they mustered the courage to get some help. However, during that time, I still had to fight for my life. At that point, the only thing I could see was the dog."

I stopped myself from giving Senior Elsie a comforting pat on the head.

After all, she didn’t seem to want to be comforted when she said that.

So, I decided to simply empathize with Senior Elsie\'s pain.

"The dog was just being a dog, yet I found myself behaving no differently... We fought like beasts, with every ounce of strength, and I barely survived by strangling it with my bare hands. However, after killing it, I felt so dumbfounded."

A rueful laugh erupted seemingly out of nowhere.

Only now did she release the emotions she had kept tightly contained.

"...Why did I kill it?"

Disappointment laced her tone.

It was a fundamental question.

"Actually, the hunting dog wasn\'t to blame. It just… did what it was told, and I did the same. Yet, we fought as if we were bred for the dogfighting pits, trying to become the best fighting dog."

"You must have felt sad about it."

"Instead of sadness, I felt a sudden realization."

Senior Elsie\'s voice carried a faint smile, as though even her capacity for pain had been numbed.

"So, this was to be my fate.A pawn to be nurtured and exploited as needed... So, I thought I might as well become the best fighting dog."

"Why?"

"Well, that way, I could screw over those bastards who tormented me all this time to my heart\'s content...."

Senior Elsie\'s words abruptly halted, as if hitting a snag.

She hesitated for what felt like an eternity.

A blush returned to Senior Elsie\'s face as she stole a glance at my expression before whispering in a hushed tone.

"...B-because it was the only way I can be loved?"

That was probably the true feeling Senior Elsie had been hiding until now.

She had endured years of abuse since she was a child.

Her family viewed her solely as a fighting dog in the arena. It must have been painful and difficult, yet she lived her life pretending to be brave.

However, how could the pain of that day ever disappear?

The longing for affection was an innate human need and it was impossible to suppress. It could only be hidden.

Finally, I felt as though I had glimpsed a fragment of Senior Elsie\'s true emotions, and I felt grateful for it.

Revealing one\'s heart to another was a vulnerable and embarrassing act. Despite that, Senior Elsie bared her soul to me—albeit with much coaxing.

Eventually, Senior Elsie couldn\'t withstand the tense atmosphere and awkwardly burst into laughter.

"W-Well! It’s all water under the bridge now, hehe... Also, I just found out about this not too long ago. No matter how skilled I am, my abilities are only useful for securing a suitable marriage for the family, after all..."

"...Senior Elsie."

My voice was soft, and I gently placed my hand on her head.

Senior Elsie\'s eyes widened, seemingly puzzled by the gesture.

So, I carefully selected my words to comfort her.

"I will love you."

A silence enveloped us.

A faint scent of grass wafted through the air, tickling my nostrils.

Senior Elsie remained motionless, her gaze fixed on me.

Was Senior Elsie destined to live as a fighting dog in the arena?

I now had a little more understanding of why Senior Elsie chose to play the role of a pet dog.

Because, unlike those in the arena, a pet dog could receive love.

The answer was as simple and clear as day.

So, I decided to follow that solution.

"From now on, and forever."

Even with such tender words and gentle strokes, Senior Elsie remained rigid and unresponsive.

A moment later, as if a figurative \'pop\' occurred, Senior Elsie\'s face flushed intensely.

Senior Elsie eventually passed out on the spot.

"...Senior Elsie? Senior Elsie!"

Thankfully, even in her unconscious state, Senior Elsie seemed happy, probably.

Nevertheless, it marked the day a new promise was made between Senior Elsie and me.

***

I left Senior Elsie, who was muttering incoherently with a flushed face, in the care of the attendants.

Though seeing to Senior Elsie\'s well-being until she recovered would be appropriate, I still had unfinished business to do.

The person I was looking for stood in the distance, within an open arena.

Seeing how she also trained in a secluded spot at the academy, it seemed to be a habit that had stuck.

Her elegant ash-gray hair, a blend of black\'s virtues, immediately caught my attention.

Her stance left no room for error, her focus unwavering as she faced forward with her sword in hand—a perfect embodiment of swordsmanship principles found only in textbooks.

Despite the sweat glistening on her brow from rigorous training, it seemed almost a deliberate effort to accentuate her beauty, highlighting her stunning appearance.

Seria Yurdina.

A junior I held dear, and an illegitimate daughter of the Yurdina family.

I cautiously called out to her to avoid startling her.

"Um, Seria...?"

To my surprise, Seria responded smoothly, immediately lowering her sword and widening her eyes at the sight of me.

"...Senior Ian?"

Clearing my throat and gathering my resolve, I got straight to the point.

"Are you heading to see the Yurdina family\'s soldiers today? Can I come along with you?"

Seria seemed puzzled by the sudden request, tilting her head in confusion.

Sure enough, Seria directly asked me.

"I don’t mind but... why?"

"I\'ve heard some strange rumors near the military post, so I\'m a bit concerned, you know?"

Seria blinked, her gaze silently urging me to explain further.

With a hushed tone, I felt compelled to elaborate.

"Uh, have you ever seen someone who looks exactly like you? There\'s a rumor circulating that a soldier spotted someone who resembled a villager from a nearby village in the forest, haha... it’s not like it\'s a ghost or anything…"

At my words, Seria\'s complexion paled instantly.

I only realized it now, but Seria seemed afraid of ghosts.

Trembling slightly, Seria requested me to accompany her.

It was time to investigate the truth behind the /genesisforsaken