episode_0027

“Thank you so much! I haven’t been able to feast on proper snacks for a long time while traveling through the Central Wasteland, but thanks to Eliza, I can now eat to my heart’s content!”

Anastasia, the self-proclaimed eldest sister of the black-robed group, chuckled softly as she popped a freshly baked chocolate cookie into her mouth.

“I merely provided the opportunity. You should thank Vina.”

Eliza, who had only observed Vina coercing the shopkeeper in front of the bakery, responded vaguely to Anastasia’s words and glanced around uncomfortably.

The place Eliza currently found herself in was an abandoned communal cemetery to the east of Libra. Situated on a small hillside in front of one of the many mountains of the Houston Range, this cemetery, neglected since the Day of Hardship, had crumbling walls and deteriorating gravestones, indicating poor upkeep.

Faintly visible on the gravestone against which Anastasia leaned was the name of the owner. H.P Lovecraft 1462~1555.

Beneath the name, a lengthy dedication was inscribed, but it remained unreadable as Anastasia obscured it with her body.

The four siblings in black robes had removed their hooded masks and bronze masks. Their faces… were serious enough for Eliza to understand why Anastasia had insisted on covering them with hoods and masks.

Objectively speaking, their faces were not necessarily ugly or horrifying. One could endure the ‘blessed’ bodies of the Black Blood Elenises, where eyes might be missing, exposing hollow sockets, flesh might be peeled off revealing teeth, or black blood might trickle down grayish decaying flesh, if they could handle it.

While Nana stared blankly into space without touching the snacks or bread, Yuli sat munching on cookies, and the two others, playing an endless game of rock-paper-scissors unless one intervened, murmured over muffins.

Though their ages varied (Yuli appeared the oldest, looking like a lower elementary school student even when viewed generously), they all shared a resemblance to Anastasia.

“They are all lovely family members.”

Anastasia, though possessing a face almost indistinguishable from a human’s, given the circumstances, also had a high likelihood of being an Elenis.

“I’m fine with having lost the brilliance of my past life. Everyone has come to love me. Oh, except for Nana. She has always been that way since birth. I found her obedience incredibly endearing, so I never paid it much mind, but my parents and sisters, among others, found Nana discomforting.”

“Did you turn all your sisters into Elenises?”

“I didn’t do that. I just prayed to the Lord. I asked Him to make my sisters love me.”

Anya smiled at Eliza, with bits of chocolate cookie clinging to the corners of her mouth.

Hearing this, Eliza recalled the crosses she had seen on the way to Libra. Hoping for the resurrection of deceased family members, she had instead become a pitiful sacrificial lamb.

Anya, too, blessed by the wings (more precisely, by Prada, the origin of the Black Blood Elenises), seemed to have met a happier fate than the boy who had met a tragic end.

“My prayers worked wonderfully, and now I am the elder sister to my sisters!”

Whether those ‘sisters’ were happy, however, remained uncertain.

“Wait, if your sisters were the subjects of your wishes, why did Nana become an Elenis?”

Anya looked at Eliza with a gaze that questioned the obviousness of her inquiry.

“I couldn’t just leave Nana alone as a human, could I? I personally killed her to turn her into an Elenis.”

Eliza gazed back at Anya, who boldly admitted to committing familial slaughter, her expression a mix of complexity.

“Sure, I know how you feel about me. But the place where I used to live was like a slum long before the days of hardship. I thought living freely as an Elenis would be better for me than living miserably as a human.

In such a cruel world already, there’s no one who would show mercy to Jina.”

It seemed like Anya could sense the disgust in Eliza’s gaze as she spoke with a bitter smile. While Eliza felt a hint of sympathy when Anya lamented about the harsh world, it was difficult for her to understand turning her family into Elenis due to her own desires.

“…So… um, how did Partina become ‘family’ then?”

Eliza asked a new question to steer away from the uncomfortable topic.

“Partina… had an occasion long ago where she went to what seemed like ruins of an archaeological museum? She found bones on display and jokingly tried to resurrect them, resulting in creating something non-human. It wasn’t a mindless zombie Elenis like the Black Blood Elenis, but one like me, capable of thinking and speaking properly.”

“Hmm….”

Anya’s words contained two key pieces of information: first, as mentioned earlier, she had the ability to create Black Blood Elenis using corpses or bones, and second, Partina, after perishing in a battle with Black Blood Elenis in Dina City, somehow ended up in human hands and was displayed in a museum without being transformed into an Elenis.

The second point was quite significant. The possibility that Partina’s remains were left in Dina City and her being exhibited in a human museum hinted at humans discovering Dina City.

Perhaps Titania was also unearthed in this process, and humans, realizing the danger, might have destroyed her.

‘But things might get complicated… maybe…’

‘Wait.’

‘Complicated?’

“Eliza? Did I say something wrong? You look pale.”

Eliza snapped back to reality, looking at a worried Anya. Jinna, standing beside her, gazed at Eliza with eyes that lacked vitality.

“Oh? Uh… I’m fine.”

“Really? Okay. By the way, Eliza, do you know anything about fairies? Partina claimed she was a fairy, not a human, but didn’t reveal much…”

“Fairies? Um… I don’t know much either… Maybe it’s different from what you know, Anya.”

“Well, what I know about fairies is… um… well…”

After a moment of contemplation, Anya continued.

“Anyway, I really hated humans! At first, I thought they were human and tried to kill them! Later, I realized and tried to kill Tena when I found out I had revived her as an Elenis. They say I died fighting with Black Blood Elenis like me. Quite ironic, isn’t it?”

“Ahaha….”

Eliza weakly laughed in agreement with the cruel irony she felt from Partina. Jinna, too, smiled along after looking at Eliza’s face. Despite the eerie sight of her left cheek missing flesh, revealing teeth and jawbone, it was a beautiful smile.

“It’s fortunate that we’ve become somewhat close now. In the beginning, it truly felt like a threat to existence.

If I hadn’t revived Tena, something terrible would have happened.”

Anya said as she embraced Jinna without hesitation, answering Eliza’s question while stroking Jinna’s head.

“She didn’t particularly share any special stories? Like about her past or anything.”

“She doesn’t talk much about her past. Other than saying she’s a fairy and hates humans, she hasn’t revealed much.”

Anya answered Eliza’s question while gently patting Jinna’s head.

“……”

Elaiza, having heard Anya’s response, watched Vina and Partina conversing from a slight distance.

Though their conversation was inaudible, the subtle tension displayed in front of the bakery seemed to have dissipated.

“What on earth could they be talking about…,” Elaiza wondered, gazing at Vina engaging in conversation with Partina with a sarcastic expression.

Partina’s complexion seemed better than her other sisters. While her skin color matched the same gray hue as her siblings, she didn’t give off a sense of emaciation. Elaiza thought she might have naturally had grayish skin.

Apart from being filled with a gel-like substance where her left eyeball should have been, she looked almost identical to how she did when alive.

“Elaiza, have you ever met Tina?”

“Well… I’ve come across the name in a book.”

Upon hearing this, Anya was visibly surprised.

“A book? There’s a book? Mentioning Tina?”

“Yes. It’s more like a diary. I don’t have it myself, but… if you’re interested, I can lend it to you sometime.”

Pushing aside Anya’s eager inquiries with a determined air, Elaiza responded.

“Just tell me now, please? I’m dying of curiosity!”

“Dying of curiosity~!”

Jina echoed in a cute voice.

“Oh, I see. That would be quicker indeed. So… the Partina I had in mind was taller and more imposing, but the actual Partina is much smaller…”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t talk about the past.”

“Eek!”

Elaiza was taken aback by Partina suddenly interjecting.

“Elsa, what were you two talking about while I was away? Were you scheming something with that monster against me?”

Vina approached Elaiza and absurdly accused her with crossed arms.

“She’s not a monster! She’s a lich!”

Anya retorted, but Vina paid no attention.

“I didn’t do anything like that! Rather, a lich? Does that mean rich? Anya does seem wealthy though…”

“It starts with an ‘R’ here, but with an ‘L’ in this context.”

Partina answered in place of Anya.

As Elaiza suggested, Partina was slightly taller than Elaiza, with a petite figure. However, her gaze, still preserved in her intact sky-blue eyes, exuded strength, proving her resilience throughout her life and death.

“That’s right! Anastasia is a proud lich blessed with Hemokinesis! She has the power to resurrect corpses into Eirenes. She used that power to revive Jina and Tina too.”

Anya smiled brightly as she stroked Jina’s silver hair. Jina purred like a contented cat.

Vina glanced at Anya petting Jina’s head briefly before addressing Elaiza.

“That was just a joke, so don’t worry.”

“It didn’t sound like a joke…”

“Don’t worry. Even if it wasn’t a joke, I wouldn’t have killed Elsa.”

“Instead, you would have done something even more dreadful…”

“Not feeling good?”

“….”

Elaiza remained silent.

“Hmm. So the three of them are like that. Somehow, I had a feeling it would turn out this way.”

“Not at all!”

“What you think might be different.”

Both Elaiza and Vina denied Anya’s thoughts.

After watching the trio for a moment, Partina sighed and spoke to Vina.

“So, Fairy Princess, will you accept my proposal?”

“Yes, I really want to go.”

“Huh? Tina? Are you talking about that?”

“Yes. We felt uneasy on our own, so we sought help from the Fairy Princess.”

“Well… it might be quite risky for non-living beings…”

“Hemokinesis Eirenes? Call it that way. Anyway, we’ve dealt with it exhaustively even before meeting Elsa.”

“Coincidentally, I have practical experience. Moreover, that person named Elza seems to be an alchemist…”

“An alchemist… The Fairy Princess also seems quite strong. Great!

Elaiza? Could she possibly have a potion to make us stronger? I’ve never fought under the protection of an alchemist before, so I’m not sure…”

“I don’t know~.”

I followed Annya’s words.

“…Eilena? That one rumored to be in the north here…”

“People around here call it Canterbury Eilena, right? We’re planning to subjugate that place.”

Elaiza was also well aware.

Eilena, a place full of Eilenis. Enter and you die.

“For a lich like me to continue a happy life, I need the remnants of souls extracted from corpses. There are ways to gather them from mass graves, but… killing and absorbing Eilenis is more satisfying.”

To the confused Vine, Annya kindly explained the reason for going there.

“A fair reward will be given. 5 18K gold bars and 100 milliliters of blood from a lich, known for its value in alchemy. Also, 40% of the loot obtained from Eilena. All useless Eilenis byproducts unnecessary for the lich’s survival will be transferred to the alchemist.

Isn’t this acceptable? I think it’s quite generous.”

The rewards offered by Partina were not bad. While the idea of a lich’s blood being valuable in alchemy was new to her, the gold bars were certainly appealing, and Elaiza had heard from her mother that the bones of dark-blooded Eilenis could be forged into potent weapons.

However, Elaiza was considering refusal. According to Meisa and Cantaloupe, Eilena seemed to be a significantly large and high-level place. Entering such a place could lead to a senseless death.

Furthermore, Elaiza couldn’t trust Annya.

“…I’m sorry… that’s a bit difficult…”

“Elza has never given us a choice.”

“…”

Upon hearing Vine’s words, Elaiza’s mouth froze.

“…Um… well…”

Although Elaiza tried to speak, she was interrupted.

“You made a good decision. I know Elza’s alchemy is top-notch too.”

“…Really?”

With Vine’s praise, Elaiza responded with a flustered tone.

“That potion… I thought it would kill me, but the wound from the bear healed cleanly. Look.”

Vine slightly lifted her white dress skirt to show her side where she had been hit by the bear. There wasn’t a single scar.

“Elza’s magic potion was amazing too. Fire spewed from her hands…”

“Stop… Vine… please stop…”

Embarrassed, Elaiza, with a face flushed with embarrassment, asked Vine to stop.

“Is everything okay then? Elaiza is a great alchemist.”

“…Yes.”

Elaiza obediently agreed with Vine in a subdued voice.

Partina, watching the Fairy Princess and the human they called the ‘Key,’ recalled what Vine had said to her.

– I won’t deny the terrible crimes I committed against our compatriots.

– But I’ve got the ‘Key’ that can redeem those sins. It’s a superior form to the key I used to activate Titania.

– So, give me a chance.

If it were the former Partina, who harbored animosity towards the Fairy Princess, she might have fought her as before. However, the Partina who faced death, traveling with Annya and her sisters over the years, had softened and much of her indiscriminate hatred towards the Fairy Princess had subsided.

– Then, the two of you try to eradicate the source of Eilena together.

Partina proposed to Vine, who sought forgiveness from their compatriots.

The Fairy Princess and the enslaved alchemist alone, to eradicate the source of Canterbury Eilena.

It was as good as telling her to go die. Even if her sisters all rushed in, capturing Aleyna was a daunting task due to the presence of Eilenis, who sustained Aleyna’s existence. No matter how much they were fairy princesses or alchemists, it was impossible for the two of them to capture her.

Anyang was also an issue. Though she was quite twisted, her nature itself was kind and gentle. She wouldn’t force her comrades into perilous situations. If it were up to her, she would oppose passing on the duty of expelling Eilenis to the two in the first place.

But it didn’t matter. What Partina mentioned was merely the eradication of the source, Eilenis, on their way. The numerous lesser Eilenises they might encounter along the path did not apply.

Intentionally separating the sisters from the two… If that didn’t work either…

“I should try to persuade Anya.”

If it had been the former Partina, she would have easily dismissed anything other than fairies, but unfortunately, she had grown fond of these five during their time together.

“If things don’t work out… Well, we’ll just have to fight together.”

To the extent of putting aside enmity towards the fairy princess, Anyang and her sisters had become precious to Partina.

The fairy compatriots, including Faylang Sajestia, were also dear to her, but they were not here now. There was no evidence of their survival.

Partina secretly hoped for the day when her fairy compatriots and new sisters would meet.

She wanted to see the affectionate exchanges between her dear connections, sharing common ground with Partina. It was a daydream to imagine the fairies not panicking and trying to kill the Black Blood Eilenis when they saw it, but…

“…”

Partina covered Nina’s eyes with her hand from behind to prevent her from seeing Eliza’s chest being groped by Vine, while she watched eagerly, smiling softly as she observed Anya approaching amidst the chaos, and the other three sisters coming closer.

“I won’t forgive you even if you succeed in redeeming yourself beautifully… But if you do succeed…”

“I might end up worshiping you again.”

Partina, once feared by humans as the “Devil of the Forest,” now only bore traces of her past.