52 . The cruelty of the dark elves
His hair turns white.
No thoughts, no questions came to my mind now.
I just remembered what Noah had just said.
Huh? Caught? No, no? It’s not what I think, you’re going to say it’s a joke, right?
The more she denies her words, the quicker her breath becomes, and the tips of her fingers tremble as if they were addicts who have been on the verge of withdrawal.
To put an end to the trembling, I asked Noah again.
“What are you talking about?
Although he was pretending to be as calm as possible, his voice was shabby and trembling as if responding to his trembling fingers.
Unlike me who was pale and tired, Noah passed me by and pointed her finger at a passage in the open book, looking quite calm.
Now, no matter what phrase I refer to, the only thing that comes to my mind is that I doubt them. I closed her eyes and decided to face the painful reality of Noah.
“This… I got caught by my dad.”
I slowly read the passage Noah was pointing to.
There was something written about the Dark Elves. This wasn’t what I was reading, but it was probably because I was flustered and handled the book carelessly that a page I didn’t know was unfolding.
It was fortunate among the misfortunes, but there could be no greater misfortune than this for Noah.
‘Dark elves are unclean beings who are not welcome even in elven society. Their dark skin and eyes reminiscent of the red moon are said to be the karma of ancient curses and evil deeds, and misfortune can spread just by being by their side.’
Unlike me, who was stunned at the thought that she hadn’t heard anything about the elves, Noah opened his mouth with a trembling voice.
“I, in fact, have known for a long time…. When I go out to play in a different village, not from my hometown, the way people look at me is different from when they see other sisters or Elia.”
Noah’s expression was more sad than usual when he said that.
Unlike her other children, I couldn’t fully grasp Noah’s sadness, as he was dark-skinned. Since she doesn’t talk, maybe she didn’t want to worry me, but she always shows a bright side in front of me, so I can’t fathom the grievances of her children… Even with a hundred mouths, she had nothing to say.
Just because they have stronger power than children her age doesn’t mean they’ve matured. Her immature mind was not healthy, receiving the hateful glances of others.
People in my hometown took care of them since they were young, so it was okay, but if she went to another village to play, the countless stares she would have received would have come as a complete burden.
The moment she saw the tears forming in Noah’s eyes, her doubts about them disappeared like snow melting, and only the guilt she felt towards them filled the empty seat.
I forgot that people were watching and held her Noah tightly in her arms.
Noah didn’t resist, she put her arm around my waist. She didn’t really cry, but her faint tremors were transmitted to her skin.
“It’s okay. No matter what anyone says about you, no matter what others say about you, she is the daughter I love and am proud of.”
“Yes….”
Having finally calmed down, Noah looked at her book again and smiled slightly.
“Ah, I think this is also correct.”
That’s what Noah said, pointing to the middle of her book.
‘Elfs are proud of themselves and never bow down to other races, but they serve only one companion for the rest of their lives, and are infinitely kind to those who give them affection once.’
Was there a topic like this?
It seems that he couldn’t find it because his vision was narrowed by other shocking words.
Noah smiled brightly, ignored the gaze of others, and hugged me around the waist.
“We will live with Dad for the rest of our lives, right?”
“Yes, that is correct. A daughter who has no intention of becoming independent, isn’t it a bit big?”
He whispered a joke in a small voice.
Realizing belatedly that this was the Great Library, I bowed my head to the librarian and came out of the Great Library with a guilty heart.
The savory sea breeze brushed my hair, and in the sky I heard the chirping of seagulls again.
After Noah came out, she stared at me and then opened her mouth.
“By the way, Dad, why were you reading a book about elves?”
What is to come has come.
The sweat dripping from my forehead is by no means caused by the heat of the beach.
Even if you say a word here, you will have to think it through carefully before speaking it out.
I stroked Noah’s head and slowly parted her lips.
“I did it because I wanted to know a little more about you guys. Wouldn’t that make me a little better father? From that heart.”
This was the best answer. Noah took a short breath as if touched by her, then raised the corner of her mouth slightly.
“Dad is still cool enough.”
Noah, who said something wonderful to me who didn’t deserve to hear such words, quietly grabbed her finger.
Yes, all my doubts will be answered when I go to Great Forest. From now on, I couldn’t give them a chance to get caught with my hasty actions. I looked around the streets with such a comfortable hope, and I asked Noah about the strange things I felt belatedly.
“What about the other kids?”
Noah didn’t delay, he answered right away.
“I am playing with my sister.”
Unnie must mean Rihanna.
In front of me, she is just a nice girl, but it won’t be easy to play with her as each of them has a distinct personality…. I decided to go and buy a small gift for Rihanna, who would struggle with being swayed by her three children.
Of course, spending a little time with Noah, who visited me before, would be fine.
“What shall we eat secretly?”
Instead of answering, Noah nodded her head, her eyes shining.
Recently, I haven’t spent time alone with Noah. To relieve my sorry for him, I started looking for a suitable store.
One thing I realized while walking the streets was that Brah was a city that was infinitely tolerant of different races.
According to what I just read in the book, dark elves are not very welcome even in the Great Forest, but it was different here.
The people of Brah, where all kinds of tribes gather and live by their stories, had an open mind to the extent of greeting Noah lightly.
Occasionally beggars begging in the streets sent insulting comments, but the situation was over when a guard standing next to them issued a warning.
After a long time, Noah, who received warm attention from outside the village where we live, seemed to be in a good mood.
After finding a fairly quiet restaurant, I sat down and handed the menu to Noah.
“What do you want Noah to eat?”
Noah stared at the menu and whispered in a small voice.
“This….”
What Noah pointed out was fish dishes, one of Brah’s specialties.
Brach was a city that only dealt with fish that the sailors caught at dawn on the day, no matter how shabby they ate.
Shortly after, the good-looking hostess put Noah’s food on her table.
A huge fish that looked like two of my palms put together, and the red sauce seeping through the scabbard gave off an appetizingly spicy, good scent.
Noah opened her mouth, drool, then bowed her head at me, holding the utensil in her hand.
“I will eat well.”
After ordering a simple soup, I watched with delight as Noah ate.
It was an undeniable fact that parents get full just by watching their children eat.
At that time when you are having a leisurely time, a noisy group enters one after another as if they will not allow that time.
Each of them had a different size, but each had muscles so thick that the grain could be seen. Slightly tanned skin and dark beards revealed the fact that they were sailors.
Having lived on such a rough sea, they did not have a very friendly attitude towards others.
The shop became noisy in an instant, and while they were having a conversation with each other, the man who hadn’t noticed me sitting next to me, or even if he had found me, had erased the thought that he should avoid me, and just tapped me on the shoulder and passed by.
I prided myself on having a fairly stocky physique, but I couldn’t help it when I was suddenly hit from behind.
I bumped into the man with a small sound, and I spilled the soup I was eating onto my pants.
Since it was hot food, I made a few screams of pain outside, but they didn’t give me a glance, found a seat, sat down, and started making noise again to leave the store.
Not wanting to cause a commotion, I pressed my lips together and moved my gaze back to Noah.
However, it seems that Noah’s thoughts were different from mine.
The knives and forks Noah was holding were already neatly placed on the table, and Noah moved his hands to his bosom, staring intently at the men seated in the corner of him.
Then, Noah slowly withdrew her hand. Seeing a sharp object shining in her grip, I immediately grabbed her wrist.
Noah’s expression as she grabbed her wrist was so cold that I couldn’t believe they were the same person.
“Noah, what are you trying to do?”
Noah looked straight at me and said this without an inch of error.
“That man hurt my dad. So I will make the same for you.”
The atmosphere was dangerous. I opened her mouth, even waving her hand to calm her noah somehow.
“Me, I’m fine! So let’s put that in? Yes?”
But Noah had no intention of giving up on her will.
“Dad, it will be over in a moment. It’s okay, I’ll never get caught.”
Noah’s voice reassured me, and before I knew it, Noah’s fingertips that shed my wrist moved, and at the same time, fresh blood splattered inside her shop along with her screams.