TN: Thank drgregergregergerg for the chapter.
The memories of falling into an unknown world, coming to the Central Empire, and living in the back alleys of this world with no money.
“……”
Even after quite some time has passed, I haven’t forgotten. There’s no way I could forget.
The back alleys are where all the tragedies began and where I became a monster, not a human.
When I wasn’t aware that I was stronger than ordinary humans, I struggled to survive day by day.
Of course, I haven’t forgotten the knowledge I learned then.
“Listen well, Iria. In the back alleys, you have to be careful of kindness without reason. Because there’s nothing free in this world.”
“……”
“You should always be wary of the color white. If someone hands you something like white powder, never accept it.”
“……”
“Surviving in the back alleys where people die every moment means you’re strong. Think of all humans around you as enemies; never confront them head-on and run away. That’s the way to live a little longer.”
And.
Also.
“……”
What was it?
Be careful of kindness without reason, be wary of white things.
And,
Also,
“……”
I don’t know.
I couldn’t remember beyond that.
I was still looking at Riana’s illusion.
I might have been reminiscing about a character who had already died by my own hands.
“Sigh.”
I let out a sigh to shake off the deep thought.
Then, looking at Riana’s illusion that wouldn’t disappear from my sight, I spoke.
“You told me to be wary of white things.”
I say while letting my snow-white hair hang down endlessly.
“But why did you reach out your hand to me?”
I ask the illusion.
I ask the character who reached out to a white thing and eventually lost her life because of it.
“……”
“……”
But there is no answer.
Because the dead don’t say anything.
I couldn’t get an answer today either.
***
Iria asked the saint with tears in her eyes.
“So, how much do you have now?”
“I…… have about thirty silver coins from the funds I received from the church……”
“Hmm.”
Then she took all the money in Clana’s wallet.
“It’s a bit lacking, but I’ll let it slide with this much since it’s the first time. Bring more money next time.”
“Hiiik……”
After that, Clana learned that life is real.
And that the scenery outside the church wasn’t as beautiful as she thought.
And.
That she should be careful of the color white.
“Hi, hiiik! It’s Iria!”
“Everyone run!”
As if it had become common sense in this world, everyone ran away as soon as they saw Iria.
The scariest being in this place, the academy, was that silver-haired girl.
Even after that day, Iria’s bullying towards Clana continued.
Usually, she would appear in front of the direction Clana was going as if she was waiting to extort money from her.
Today, she tripped Clana while she was walking.
Clana, who had no experience with such things, tripped over Iria’s foot and fell spectacularly.
“Heuaak?!”
“Hmm.”
“Ow ow…… It hurts……”
“Where on earth are you looking while walking? With that lack of caution, you won’t be able to live in this world.”
Clana raised her head while lying face down on the floor.
As expected, Iria was there where she slowly lifted her head. The number one target to be wary of.
Now, she gets scared just by seeing her face. According to the rumors, she is also one of the top-ranking powerhouses in the academy in terms of physical strength.
It didn’t seem like she could win against her. Even though Clana was a saint blessed by the stars, she had no proper combat experience until now.
And the fear that had already been learned multiple times made Clana even more withdrawn. Now, her body trembled just by hearing her voice.
“It hurts because you tripped me, and I fell. I think I need compensation for the damage.”
“……”
“How much did you bring today?”
“Uh, about 60 silver coins……”
“Give it all to me.”
“Hiii……”
Iria took Clana’s funds, wallet and all.
Clana is a treasure preciously raised by the Central Church, one of the Empire’s three major powers. It wouldn’t be difficult to make a living just because her wallet has been stolen a few times.
If she had just spoken to the abessess who looks after her, she would receivehave received support.
But tears are unavoidable.
The humiliation from paying tribute itself was more painful than she thought.
“You brought a lot today.”
It has already been a week since Iria started bullying Clana.
Attending the academy was something she dreamed of when she was inside the church. The school life she expected was very different from what she thought.
The biggest reason why Iria’s bullying hurts is her expression.
The expressionless face that couldn’t tell what she was thinking and the chillingly cold eyes were scary. It was like looking at an emotionless doll, not a human.
Afraid of that, Clana showed a tearful expression this time as well.
Iria watched that appearance from beginning to end. A slight silence lingered.
“……”
“Hi, hiii…!”
Iria let out a small sigh, and Clana stepped back, perhaps afraid of such Iria.
Iria’s mouth opened after that.
“Why don’t you try to resist a little? Becoming someone’s target means you look that easy. In this world, power is everything. The strong always take, and the weak are always taken from.”
She said while shaking the wallet in the air.
It was the first time the flower that grew up in the greenhouse called the church heard this kind of talk.
In the end, to come out of the greenhouse and move on to a new world, she had to learn the common sense of the new environment.
Iria’s words were threatening and humiliating, but they didn’t seem wrong because she had also seen and heard things after leaving the church.
The academy was thoroughly based on meritocracy, and it was common for those above to look down on those below.
It wasn’t a hopeful and bright place as it looked from afar. The academy was also a small society and a place where the theory of the weak being prey to the strong that Iria mentioned applied.
“……Then what should I have done?”
Clana asks, mustering her courage despite her fear.
To the villain who had been bullying her for the past week.
And Iria.
“That’s something you have to think about for yourself. The world isn’t kind enough to teach you one by one to someone who doesn’t know.”
“But……”
“But if it were me, I would have at least proven the minimum. That I’m not weak enough to have my wallet stolen by others.”
It’s not like her physical strength is weak.
Iria added, slightly turning her head.
Clana was born with a blessed talent that ordinary humans could never look down upon. She was also born with physical strength that could never be absolutely weak.
Although not as much as Iria or Ariel, Clana is also at the top of the academy regarding physical strength.
I don’t know if she is aware of it, but that’s how it seemed to Iria, who had good eyes.
However, it was frustrating that she didn’t know how to handle that power. Iria turned her head sharply as if there was nothing more to see.
“How long are you going to stay under someone’s shadow?”
Iria left those words behind and walked away.
Of course, she didn’t return the wallet.
“……”
Left alone like that, Clana thinks.
She looked back at herself and tried to understand the meaning of the words Iria left behind.
Clana’s thoughts were deep today.
***
After watching Clana for a few days, Iria was able to recall the contents of the original novel to some extent.
She understood why the current Clana she sees is different from the Clana in the original work.
The timing was before Sertia died of illness, and there was an incident where the remnants of the Demon King’s army invaded the Empire’s territory.
The invasion of the Demon King’s army turned into a major war, and many people died and were injured.
In the original work, Clana had to be dispatched to the front lines without knowing anything. She held the heavy position of a saint before being a timid student.
The flower that had only grown in the warm greenhouse experienced the bloody battlefield. She saw humans being torn apart by demons and witnessed someone dying horribly with her own eyes.
It was too cruel of an experience for the innocent Clana, who knew nothing.
She faced the cruel reality and dark side of the outside world, and she learned about the unknown world more roughly than anyone else.
Maybe even more roughly than the back alley Iria.
“……”
Clana’s innocence died there.
The eyes inside the wall, curious about the outside world and shone as much, lost their color there.
The outside world was not something that shone.
It was hazy.
And dark.
It was red, disgusting, and cruel enough to make one frown.
The Clana in the original work walks like a broken person after losing something, which contrasts with her current appearance.
Is it better to be like this even if she doesn’t know anything?
‘Etiquette education at the back alley level is enough.’
She was just innocent, not stupid.
She just lacked experience.
If she’s been bullied this much, she’ll realize it herself. That she needs to defend herself and think to some extent.
However, Iria didn’t know.
“Wha, what are you looking at!”
“……?”
“I won’t give you my wallet! If you want to take it, you’ll have to knock me down!”
What impact did her words and actions have on Clana.
Clana’s personality started to become strange from that moment.