〈 Chapter 215 〉 Chapter 212 – Pink Nightmare.
*
After finishing chicken with Elcia.
We simply brushed our teeth with the dental tools we had brought, and Elcia gave me a knee pillow.
As I felt the incredibly soft sensation on the back of my head, one question popped into my mind.
“Elcia. Can I ask you something?”
“Yes! Should I let you bite my chest? My little chick?”
“No, f*ck. Wait a minute.”
I quickly stopped Elcia from trying to take off her clothes.
Of course, it wasn’t a bad idea.
“Why are you so obsessed with investing in Elf Coins?”
“…Are you talking about the coins?”
There was something more important I wanted to ask.
And my questions were far from over.
At that moment, my mouth just wouldn’t stay shut.
“Your gluttony is really strong, and you have kleptomania too.”
“…That’s right.”
“Can you explain why?”
“…”
Elcia’s usual behavior was slightly different from the principles behind others’ actions.
In general, she was pathological about Elf Coins.
Her instincts led her to reach for food, with a gluttony much stronger than others, and occasionally she committed theft.
It all felt too complicated to just brush off.
Elcia fell silent after hearing me.
After a brief moment of silence, she finally began to speak.
“It might take a little longer, but is that okay, Husband?”
“…Can you wrap it up in one story?”
“I’m not sure if I can do it in one go.”
Elcia hesitated slightly.
She seemed to need time to brace herself to reveal whatever she had been hiding.
And finally.
“I’ll start.”
Elcia began her story.
*
A High Elf and a Half High Elf formed a relationship and had a family.
Of course, no one referred to them as a Half High Elf.
Since they mixed with other blood, they were simply called hybrids.
And it was the same for the child born from them.
She wasn’t a purebred either.
Therefore, the parents struggled.
They wanted to make more money for their child.
They wanted to provide a better living environment.
To not be dismissed by everyone.
To overcome discrimination.
This was a natural feeling for parents.
However, the method was wrong.
In chasing after quick riches, they ended up losing everything they had.
Wanting the best for their child was good, but they shouldn’t have done it that way.
In the end, all that remained was a dilapidated hut.
It was the only asset they could leave behind.
They were even expelled from the society of High Elves.
Holding back rising tears, the parents told their child a lie.
They said they would be away for a while to find their dreams.
And the little elf was left without the flimsy barrier of parental protection.
In the end, all that was left was the shabby hut left behind by her parents.
And merciless violence in her surroundings.
If there was any consolation, it was that direct violence was not inflicted upon her.
That was likely the last respect from the elves toward the High Elf blood flowing in her veins.
For the little elf, succumbing to violence and dying was also an option.
Her fear of death was so far gone that she had forgotten it.
But the little elf chose to live.
A will to survive.
A desire for life.
That was the little spark held onto by someone with a precious life.
It was a pitiful existence that others pointed at as a life that led to vain hopes.
I can’t count how many times she heard mockeries saying she might as well die than live ugly.
However, even if her life was worthless, she couldn’t easily throw it away.
For the parents she might meet again someday.
For the happiness that would definitely come.
That’s why the little elf struggled.
To survive, she shoved anything she could into her mouth.
Grass. Roots. Tree bark. Mice. Insects. Food scraps.
She didn’t care about the types; as long as she could eat it, that was enough.
Because even that could be taken from her at any time.
She had long since discarded her conscience about stealing from others.
From the beginning, if Elcia had something that could be owned, the elves took everything away.
The difference between them was that.
Elcia took for survival, while the elves took just for fun.
Eventually, she reached out to something called coins.
The coin named Elf was merely a coincidence.
Perhaps it was a subconscious attempt to not lose her last identity.
Others who saw that all ridiculed her.
Some called her foolish.
Some called her stupid.
Some called her dimwitted.
But there was no option to not get involved.
Whenever she had even a little money, the elves would take it all away.
Rather, if she changed things that way, they wouldn’t bother her anymore.
For those with life, living meant winning a battle called life.
For the little elf to achieve victory in a fight where winning was unlikely was literally a miracle.
Thus, after a long time of desperately surviving, the little elf became a girl.
And she challenged the towering walls for another victory in life.
To a position unsuitable for the representative of the World Tree.
Honestly, I didn’t expect much.
But they say opportunities come to those who struggle.
By sheer chance, she barely managed to seize it.
And when she stood in that position, she met someone for the first time.
A little star shining on the ground.
That star was quite dirty.
It would be more accurate to say it was a shining rock.
Ugly and vile, yet.
It shone without yielding at all.
“I am here.”
“I won’t give up anything.”
“I’ll get up repeatedly.”
Because of that, the little elf slowly began to take an interest in the star.
And one day, the World Tree wanted to meet that star.
At that time, she didn’t know.
That such stories would pass between them.
And that they would clash in their opinions like that.
Eventually, the star sacrificed everything for itself, helping her escape from that hell.
And for a short time, it protected her with a flimsy barrier called the Academy.
In that small society, someone would attack her, so they even went around together all the time.
Not only that, but the coins she possessed started to rise perfectly.
For the first time in her life, she experienced happiness.
It was only natural for a small affection for the star to bloom in a corner of her heart.
Because her life was filled with happiness thanks to that star.
However, that happiness didn’t last long.
As she graduated, that flimsy barrier disappeared.
The little elf was dragged back to where she originally lived.
After that, she could no longer meet the little star.
But the flame kindled in her heart didn’t go out.
Due to longing and affection, the fire only grew fiercer.
It was the warmth she tasted for the first time in her life.
If it had been a life that didn’t exist at all, it might not matter.
Once she had experienced it even once, there was no option to give up.
Because it was like a drug for her.
How much time had passed?
An opportunity came unexpectedly.
Seizing that opportunity, she quickly set out to find the star again.
This time, she would convey her feelings.
She would surely connect with it.
And somehow, she would seize happiness.
After many ups and downs, she found the star.
But it was already too late.
A red comet nearby was taking the star away.
It didn’t even leave a small gap.
Like an evil spirit mercilessly eliminating anyone approaching.
And it didn’t discriminate between genders.
But she didn’t despair or give up.
She just continued to look for opportunities.
How long had she been watching?
Her affection transformed into a sticky and clingy feeling.
Because of that, her intention to confess gradually turned into a terrifying plan to forcefully take the star.
The idea of stealing its freedom and not allowing it to escape was just an added bonus.
Then came the last opportunity, quite by chance.
She seized that chance and kidnapped the star.
And finally, she bound herself to the star.
Though it was forced, it was nothing serious.
She had confidence she could make it fall for her given time.
After all, elves had plenty of time.
It was happiness that returned, but.
That happiness didn’t last long.
Before she knew it, the dirty elves along with the red comet found her.
Before she was dragged away once more.
She returned.
To the moment she first met the star.
As soon as she returned, she vowed.
This time, she would definitely be together from the beginning.
She would walk a completely different future than before.
To escape the heinous pink nightmare.
*
“And that’s how I returned.”
“……”
After hearing all of Elcia’s story, I couldn’t say a word.
I had watered down my words as much as possible.
But that life was too harrowing.
It made sense she would have a strong desire for food, since she would’ve died if she didn’t eat anything in sight.
Her kleptomania also stemmed from survival instincts. It was somewhat natural, I guess.
And I could understand why she kept buying coins and obsessing over them.
She could confirm what was clear in the future before regression.
Above all, it was the last refuge where she wouldn’t lose what she had to the elves.
[What a terribly rough life, huh?]
‘……It must have been tough.’
The only thing I could do was embrace Elcia.
Then Elcia flashed a happy smile again.
“So now I’m really happy!”
“……You’ve worked hard. It’s been so tough, hasn’t it?”
“If I can meet you, Husband, I’d do it all over again!”
At that moment, Elcia suddenly pulled away from me.
“Today is the day it rises!”
“Really?”
Elcia immediately started fiddling with her mobile phone.
Her hands moved frantically while her mouth chatted away.
“It’ll rise in just a few seconds! I’ve seen this before!”
“Congratulations in advance. It’s finally going to see the light.”
“Let’s get a home where we can all live together! Hyeji, Ayeon, everyone!”
Elcia finished operating her phone with a bright smile.
However.
“…….Huh?”
“Elcia?”
Elcia’s smile vanished in an instant.
“This, this can’t be right!”
“……No way?”
“This can’t be happening!”
Elcia’s hands trembled as she dropped her phone.
On the fallen phone screen was a blue curve that was almost a straight line.
Once again.
The pink nightmare began.
*
