In the darkness lit only by a faint light, the Witch of Lust, Lily, was inspecting her reflection in the mirror with a blank expression.
The sight reflected back was truly horrifying. Her left arm had been torn off at the shoulder, revealing a charred stump, and half of her face was completely mangled due to burns.
These scars were the marks left by the attack of the Witch of Wrath, Scarlet, during a recent battle.
Staring silently at her reflection, Lily suddenly grimaced in pain as she felt a throbbing ache begin to flare up near her wounds, and she screamed.
“…It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it HURTS!!!”
Clenching her teeth, she scratched the wounded area with her nails, as if to erase the residual hurt, causing blood to stream down her arm.
The horrific self-inflicted wounds soon covered her face and arm. But, before long, the witch’s natural recovery started to erase those marks.
Ironically, this very aspect was the reason why her anger was boiling. Although the bleeding had stopped and the scratches were healing, the burning scars from that day remained unchanged.
“Why… why isn’t it healing? Why!!!”
Though she screamed this, in truth, Lily already knew the reason. The magic embedded within the flames shot by the Witch of Wrath was preventing her from recovering.
The memory was still vivid. The relentless and lethal flames that burned with the intention of erasing her from this world.
When considering that the flames engulfed her arm before it could spread to the rest of her body, which resulted in her being left with this much damage, she felt grateful for that, but…
That was one thing, and being angry was another.
Ultimately, unless she had an ability specialized for recovery, like the Witch of Gluttony, it meant she had to carry this scar for life.
Lily gritted her teeth while staring at her reflection in the mirror. She noticed her missing arm and the burns that covered half her face.
With a gloomy mutter, she spoke.
“…It’s not beautiful.”
Objectively speaking, she still fell under the category of being beautiful. Lily had always been a stunning beauty, so her charm didn’t lose its luster due to the burns covering half her face and the loss of one arm.
There would still be men drooling over her beauty, but what mattered to Lily was something entirely different.
She needed to be perfect.
She had to be the most beautiful being in this world.
Yet here it was. A foul scar appearing on a body that should only exude beauty is simply unacceptable.
A flaw.
And a blemish on something supposed to be perfect stands out even more.
Lily could not accept the mere existence of such blemishes on her body.
She could not forgive the one who had carved such blemishes into her.
How long had it been since her pride had been so crushed?
“Ah, damn it… It brings back memories I haven’t thought about in a while.”
For the first time in a long time, a horrible feeling surged within her, bringing forth memories from long ago that she had buried in her mind.
That day from a very distant past which left an indelible scar on her life, just like now.
*
A long time ago, a famous explorer returned from his journey with tales that stirred the world.
He spoke of a city where mermaids, half human and half fish, lived by the beach on a distant continent to the west.
He claimed that if one was lucky, they could witness the mermaids dancing near the shore.
The legend of mermaids, which had been spoken of only in whispers, became the most talked-about story, with people everywhere eager to believe.
“Mermaids? That’s just a rumor. Such a race exists only in legends, doesn’t it?”
“Can you actually believe such nonsense? What a fool you are.”
Certainly, most people dismissed the explorer’s tale as mere fiction to gain fame.
However, even among the skeptics, there were some swayed by the explorer’s words.
“Why are you quitting your job just like that out of nowhere? What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“I’m sorry, but every man should have a dream he cannot give up on, right?”
Driven by the words of mermaids, a few people became restless and set out on a journey to the distant beach to seek a new refuge for their hearts.
And then,
“It… it’s a mermaid!! The explorer’s words were true!”
“Oh, my god… I must have been born for this very moment.”
It was through them that it was confirmed the explorer’s words were true.
The dancing of mermaids, gliding seamlessly between land and sea, was elegant, and their songs were beautiful and melodic.
Captivated by the sight of the actual mermaids and their lives, the people decided to settle by the beach, creating a new home.
Thus, next to the mermaids’ city, a small village emerged.
Though it was a sudden neighbor, the mermaids quickly established a friendly relationship without much conflict.
There was no reason for the mermaids to act otherwise.
Their neighbors, calling themselves “mermaid enthusiasts”, treated the mermaids with such kindness that it tangibly ousted any suspicion, merely for showing a dance or singing a song.
And so, the village of mermaid enthusiasts began.
But as time passed, rumors started to spread.
“There is a village where one can enjoy the beautiful dances and songs of mermaids by the western beach.”
As word spread, more and more people began to flock to the village, and those who returned with stories of what they had witnessed brought even more visitors.
Naturally, traders aimed at those enchanted by the mermaids also set up shop, and the influx of money from the traders quickly led to the prosperity of the village.
What was once a small village of mermaid enthusiasts had swiftly transformed into the continent’s top tourist destination.
With the stage lights for the mermaids’ dances.
With the glow of the shops that drew people in from afar.
Nightfall no longer graced the village of Mermaid Enthusiasts.
Thus it became a proper city, and people began referring to it as the “City of Eternal Lights”.
Another reason that this City of Eternal Lights became famous was due to its strict regulations maintaining that while not breaking laws, and making sure to leave no room for the merchants who wished harm to the mermaids,
“The City of Eternal Lights sells whatever you desire.”
In line with that slogan, there existed something valid in the City of Eternal Lights.
The oldest, most traditional establishment selling…
“Hey there, handsome! Over here!”
“I’ll give you a good deal!”
*
Prostitution.
A place selling “spring.”
“Why, what’s a girl like you doing here?”
“…….?”
“Oh dear, even all scruffy, you’re not bad looking… If you don’t have anywhere to go, come with me?”
And so, the girl was picked up by a woman selling “spring.”
*
There was a little girl.
“Lily, you’re here.”
“Sister, you came!”
The girl was named Lily. The woman who took her in gave her that name, as she believed the girl resembled a beautiful lily flower.
“Oh my, the client I received today was quite rough… I’m all sore now.”
“Ehehe, are you tired? I’ll give you a shoulder massage.”
“Oh, thank you! You’re the only one for me, Lily!”
Lily was raised by the woman in the establishment where “spring” was sold.
Of course, it did not mean that she was involved in the industry herself.
Even in the City of Eternal Lights, where many things were available, there were minimum unwritten rules that kept children from entering until they reached a certain age.
“Wow, look at those scars left behind… There are really so many terrible people around. Every time I see this, I feel worried. I think to myself, I’ll have to face people like them in the future…”
However, as she grew and observed her environment, Lily began to accept her situation.
Someday she too would come of age and be doing the same things as the woman before her, like many others.
“Why are you scared, Lily? You don’t have to worry. You’re special! Are you worried I’ll sell our pretty Lily to those scoundrels? Not even for millions would they get you!”
Yet each time Lily heard those words from the woman, she spoke in such a manner.
That she was special, and that even for millions, she would never sell her.
While it was a matter of fact that the owner of the establishment said she wouldn’t sell her was truly dependent on her own feelings, Lily frankly did not believe it.
She had heard of Yuna, who held a similar position, starting to work as soon as she had reached the right age.
“Is it true? Am I really a special existence?”
“Of course! Our Lily is special. If a beautiful girl like you isn’t special, then who is? So you don’t have to worry about being sold like the others. Just trust in me!”
“Hehe, then the special me will trust only in you!”
Yet, despite her innocence, her heart could not help but feel a twinge of excitement whenever she heard those words.
What if it really were true, and I received special treatment compared to others?
What if Sister truly cared for me?
She harbored such expectations.
Knowing full well that nurturing these hopes could lead to disappointment, she nonetheless wished to believe in them.
Time passed, and the little girl Lily had blossomed into an age where she could work.
And with that age came her beauty, and, indeed, it bloomed like a flower.
Signs of such had always been present.
From the moment the woman took her in and bestowed upon her the name of a lily flower.
The men who frequented the establishment eagerly awaited Lily to come of age.
Amidst the many charms of individuals peddling “spring”, the lily flower stood out prominently, asserting her presence.
And the desire for her only grew.
Who would buy her first? It became a major topic of discussion in the city for a time.
Until one day,
“I’m not for sale.”
“…What?”
“I, Lily, will not be sold. I refuse!”
What happened next was something no one could have foreseen.
The owner of the establishment had declared her refusal to sell.
A statement that had never been uttered before, something that no one could even have dreamed would happen.
At this unprecedented situation, even Lily was left speechless.
All she could do was to look at the faces of the customers saying this made no sense, and then cast a gaze at the woman who resolutely refused to sell her, questioning if it was really all right to do so.
“U-Um, Sister, is it really okay to do this─”
“I told you, didn’t I?”
The woman pulled Lily back as if to hide her from everyone.
“No matter how many millions, I won’t sell you. You are special.”
As those words reached Lily, she saw it.
Those men, watching her with longing expressions on their faces.
The jealous and resentful gazes from other women.
Receiving that attention, Lily couldn’t help but realize.
Ah, I truly am a special existence.
Immediately upon recognizing this, Lily was engulfed by a dizzying sense of superiority and flashed a smile that earned her even more admiration.
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