Ch.147EP.37 – The Knight Grew to Hate the Ball (2)

# Mystical Races

They are sometimes called descendants of heroes who received special powers when ancient gods walked the earth, and there are many theories that they were born from fairy blessings.

Gods, fairies, and dragons.

Because they originated from sacred and mystical beings, the mystical races were both powerful and special.

For instance, dwarves are born with mystical craftsmanship skills, while mermaids, the mystical race of the sea, can live underwater.

Indeed, as their name suggests, mystical races are truly mysterious and difficult to encounter. However, the difficulty in meeting them isn’t just because they’re minority races, but possibly because they’re wary of civilized society.

They’re aware of the risk of being sold into slavery if they venture into civilization.

For this reason, mystical races often reject civilized society. They occasionally appear in the southern continent where “mysticism” is more familiar, usually as students, but in other continents, most people consider them fairy tale creatures, unsure if they even exist.

Even in the southern continent, they’re rarely seen.

Even if one were to meet a mystical race, the chances of recognizing them are low.

Barbarians, for example, are just like ordinary people except for their large build and strength. Many other mystical races also resemble humans, making them difficult to identify.

However…

“I-it’s real! A r-real mystical race has appeared…!”

Damian Pollet was shocked.

It floated in the air with bat-like wings on its back.

Its eyes were red, and its hair moved as if it had a will of its own.

Moreover.

‘Such an enchanting aura…!’

Just looking at it made his mind hazy with an intoxicating scent that made him want to surrender immediately.

It possessed an irresistible “demonic charm” that no man could resist, and it was only natural for anyone to lose their senses…

“Wow, you’re still not dead after all this beating? You’re fascinating.”

“P-please spare me, or at least stop hitting me…”

“Would cutting your throat kill you? Or should I burn you? Or perhaps…”

“Hiiieek!”

“…Don’t be so scared, I’m not going to kill you. I was just giving examples.”

“……”

“Hmm, but you would die if I burned you, right?”

“P-please spare me…!”

“I see, so fire would kill you. Good to know.”

“Huuung!!”

The succubus wailed pitifully, but unfortunately, it didn’t work on him.

The knight, who had been beating it for a full 7 hours and still showed no signs of satisfaction, displayed obvious irritation.

“Stop it. Before I really bring a torch and oil.”

“……”

He threatened ‘with sincerity,’ and the succubus immediately stopped crying.

Though her body still trembled.

‘…Seems like she wants to live.’

Damian Pollet involuntarily turned his eyes away from the strange and cruel scene.

If he got involved…

‘I’d only be shortening my own life.’

Though he was extremely curious about where the succubus came from and why she was being beaten, Damian buried all his questions deep in his heart.

After half a year of working as an assistant under a monster…

Even if he didn’t want to develop keen instincts, he had no choice but to do so.

The assistant grabbed a pickaxe to go pull weeds from the instructor’s field.

It was a tumultuous Sunday morning.

* * *

‘So this creature is a mystical race.’

And a succubus at that.

A race said to manipulate dreams and feed on men’s vital energy.

It was undoubtedly a race reminiscent of a succubus, and one of those races that, like vampires or witches, tend to be ostracized among mystical races.

‘Is this why old man Raphael called her a pitiful child?’

Somehow, he understood why the old priest called other priests “brothers” but referred to Judia Pierre as a “child.”

Unofficially, the temple still harbored prejudice against mystical races.

And not just any race, but a succubus?

It would be stranger to accept this, and the moment her identity was revealed…

‘No joke, this one would be interrogated.’

She would be subject to inquisition.

Furthermore…

“…So, who are you?”

“Pardon?”

“The redhead I know doesn’t seem to be you, so I’m asking.”

“……”

“I thought so.”

…The problem was that even if she were interrogated, she wouldn’t have any excuse.

Trait: Hyper-Perception.

According to the status window, it was Ihan’s trait that gave him near-mystical senses, and these enhanced senses provided him with a wealth of real-time information.

Just as he had recognized the duke and his adopted daughter’s relationship the day before, Ihan’s senses revealed much about Judia Pierre.

“Not just your appearance, speech, or personality. Even small habits, tremors, voice tone, and the way you use your hands are almost completely different. Like a completely different person.”

“Y-you can tell all that?”

“It’s obvious just by looking.”

“…Perhaps you had feelings for me before?”

“What a horrible thing to say. Do you want another beating?”

“N-no! Absolutely not…!”

Denying it like a scream, she soon continued.

“I-I was just surprised. I never thought there would be someone who could clearly distinguish between ‘Pierre’ and ‘me’.”

“…Hmm.”

“L-let me introduce myself again. I’m ‘Judia’… I’m also another ‘personality’ sharing a soul and body with Pierre.”

“…You’re making it complicated.”

Leaving aside the simple explanation of multiple personality disorder.

* * *

Judia Pierre.

No, the “personality” named “Judia” began to speak.

“The succubus race is considered equivalent to demons among mystical races. It’s unfair to me, but succubi inevitably sustain their lives by feeding on others’ vital energy. So it’s unavoidable that we’re ostracized.”

“That’s right.”

“S-shouldn’t you comfort me at times like this, saying it’s pitiful?”

“Do you think comfort would come from someone who almost had their vital energy sucked out?”

“…I-I don’t cause harm. Even if I feed, you’d only feel a bit tired…”

“Your logic is like a thief saying it’s fine to take a little from the rich because they have plenty, you rascal.”

“A-anyway!”

“…What an impudent woman.”

Judia shamelessly continued her explanation.

“S-succubi, you see, are born by chance through human wombs, like witches. The difference is that while witches are born with the knowledge of previous generations of witches, succubi are born as ordinary humans and then one day realize they are succubi. So I was originally…”

“I suppose you caused some trouble while blending into human society?”

“No, I was kidnapped.”

“……”

“There was a group that kidnapped only mystical races. I was kidnapped, brainwashed, and had my blood drawn. It was so painful that I denied my own personality… and that’s when ‘Pierre’ was born.”

– Perhaps it was possible because I was a succubus…

“……”

At her quiet words, Ihan’s eyes sank deeply.

It wasn’t out of sympathy for her story.

Rather…

‘What Galahad said might not be completely nonsensical after all.’

The mention of “a group kidnapping mystical races” strongly disturbed him.

Ihan’s intuition was certain that these people were definitely related to the Blood Cult imitation.

* * *

“So to summarize, you created a personality because you were in so much pain that you needed someone else to suffer for you.”

“…Doesn’t that make me sound like garbage?”

“…Isn’t it true?”

“……”

…A face wanting to deny it, but unable to do so.

Some might fall for her seductive and mysterious aura and try to comfort Judia, but her mystique had no effect on Ihan.

Rather, his interest was in…

‘Pierre, was it? So that’s why.’

Ihan recalled the madman who had fought him and, when about to lose, immediately pointed a gun at his own forehead.

The one who seemed to find no meaning in his own life.

‘A created personality…’

It certainly could lead to a sense of existential emptiness.

But while he pitied her, he wouldn’t condemn Judia’s cowardice.

After all…

‘…I would have created one too if I could have.’

– It hurts, it hurts so much…

– Mom…

– P-please save me! Save me!!

Ihan recalled his own past.

When he was only three years old, sold by his parents as a slave to a magician.

Children his age writhed in pain, whimpering, and dying all around him.

When a child he had talked to the day before became a cold corpse overnight, the emotions he felt were truly dark.

He had even felt anger, wondering how much longer he had to struggle in such pain.

– Why do I have to suffer like this…?

He had repeated these words several times a day.

– If it was going to be like this, I wouldn’t have wanted to be born!

He resented and hated everything in the world.

And…

‘I had imagined how nice it would be to have an alter ego to suffer in my place.’

Despite calling her garbage earlier, it wasn’t an opinion he couldn’t understand, and Ihan secretly hid a bitter smile.

Because it was an emotion he didn’t want to reveal to others.

“…I really didn’t expect it to happen. Suddenly a new personality appeared, and I didn’t expect that personality to take over my body…”

“Is creating personalities also a power of succubi?”

“I-I think so?”

“…How would you know?”

“…I’ve never seen another succubus.”

“……”

“D-don’t look at me like that!”

Judia Pierre… no, Judia’s personality was honestly frivolous, and he could see that she was infinitely arrogant toward those weaker than her but became infinitely humble before the strong.

Thus, Ihan was certain.

‘That’s it, that’s the [villainess] he mentioned.’

Judia Pierre, one of the three great villainesses.

A character from the original work or game, and the very person who had enraged that black guy so much—Ihan was inwardly certain it was her.

How could he be so sure?

“Hey, it’s a bit late to ask now, but why did you try to jump me?”

“What? W-well…”

“I won’t get angry, so tell me.”

“…I just needed vital energy, and I thought a man with abundant energy would be good?”

“…You wench.”

“T-that’s too harsh…”

See? A woman with no conscience whatsoever.

Ihan was convinced that this dark redhead would have no defense if subjected to inquisition.