Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 510

510

Some time passed, and we were sitting on a park bench in a very awkward atmosphere. Since the concealment was finished, I felt overwhelmed by the attention we were getting from all sides, so I gestured to Sibelius that we should leave. He nodded in agreement, and that’s how we ended up here.

The weather was cloudy with dark clouds. Maybe that’s why there wasn’t a single person passing by. Of course, if there were people around, it would have been even more embarrassing, so this was probably better.

“Do you want to eat this?”

I took out a bread from the bag and offered it to Sibelius, who blankly accepted it and mumbled thanks. He still looked dazed, so I couldn’t tell if he was fully aware of the situation.

“I’ll be a little sad if you’re too shocked.”

“…Sorry.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing if I made you misunderstand. It’s not my fault I was born with a confusing appearance. …But was it really that misleading?”

“Well… it’s not just the appearance, but the scent too…”

Ah, now that I think about it, unicorns sense the other person’s aura through scent. I think he confessed that he mistook my gender because he liked the scent that women give off. He said he only misunderstood for a brief moment, but I guess that wasn’t the case.

Well, I probably wouldn’t have been able to tell the whole truth if I were him. Especially if the person involved didn’t remember the situation. Who would have known I’d go back to the past and see it for myself?

“Now that I see it again, it is the scent of a spirit. But even for a spirit caster, it’s rare to have such a strong scent, so I thought the influence of gender was greater. Actually, everyone who saw you back then thought you were a woman.”

The last words sounded like an excuse. Perhaps he felt that way too, as his hands fidgeting with the bread showed his nervousness.

“Well, let’s put that aside. So, you’re saying you helped me all this time because you really thought I was a woman?”

“That’s not it.”

He quickly shook his head, seemingly regaining his senses. I glanced at him with suspicion, and his restless appearance was a little amusing. Seeing this, I think I have a bad personality.

“No, it’s not that it wasn’t at all… but it wasn’t like I had any other intentions…”

“Is it no, or is it yes?”

“…I’m really sorry.”

In the end, I chuckled at him as he blushed and lowered his head. He might start crying if I teased him any more. I should probably stop teasing him here.

“Well, it can’t be helped since your clan prides itself on helping women. I don’t care as long as you don’t feel betrayed or resentful towards me.”

“N-no, that’s not it. I was a little surprised, but I misunderstood on my own. I don’t think it’s your fault.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

It seems he hasn’t completely lost his mind. I don’t know if he’s just saying that or if he means it, but I feel much more at ease thanks to him. Then, Sibelius, who had a hesitant expression, said with a sigh.

“I’m glad you’re a man.”

“That’s a bit of a strange thing to say…”

“Ah, no. I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just that my current situation isn’t very good.”

Situation? What situation? Is he talking about running away from home? I looked at him with a questioning gaze, and a hesitant answer came back.

“Technically, I’m not supposed to interact with other races. If you were a woman, things would have been even more complicated.”

“I understand what you’re saying… but you’re not allowed to interact with other races? Is that a rule?”

I asked in bewilderment, and Sibelius slowly nodded. I was even more taken aback by this. The situation when we met wasn’t good, so I thought he was just showing strong wariness, but I didn’t know there was even a rule that he shouldn’t associate with them at all. And the fact that he’s only talking about himself means it’s not a rule for the entire unicorn clan. It meant that Sibelius had particularly strict restrictions. I looked at him, meaning to explain in more detail, and he opened his mouth with an awkward expression. But suddenly, his face hardened and he pushed me away.

“Get away!”

“…!”

The situation was so sudden that I didn’t even have time to defend myself. But when I turned around in panic, an even more bewildering sight unfolded. I was the one who was pushed, but Sibelius was the one who fell to the ground.

“Damn it, finally…”

He was groaning, unable to move as if he was being crushed by something. He seemed to be trying to force himself up, but all he could do was twitch his fingers.

“Sibyl? What’s wrong with you?”

“D-don’t come closer. Get out of here. Now!”

He screamed 힘겹게 [with difficulty] with a distorted face. Of course, there wouldn’t be many people who would listen to him in this situation. Ignoring him, I went closer to check on him, and there was something I could see at a glance. There was a string around his neck that hadn’t been there just a moment ago. No, to be exact, it wasn’t a real string, but it looked like a tattoo of letters.

“This is…”

“It’s a binding spell.”

“What?”

“It’s been 아슬아슬 [touch and go] these days, but it seems my location has finally been discovered. A pursuer will be here soon. So you can’t be here. Go now.”

“It’s already too late.”

Before I could answer, a voice came from elsewhere. I raised my head and saw a man standing a little distance away. With long ears and skin that was so white it seemed to shine, he had an appearance that was clearly different from humans. He looked like an elf at first glance, but he couldn’t be an elf given the circumstances.

“Edwin.”

Sibelius groaned lowly, his eyes shaking. His expression was rapidly darkening, so he didn’t seem like a good person. The man glanced at him and reached out, 뿌렸다 [sprinkled] something in all directions. Then, I felt like I was being wrapped in something, and I felt a sense of incongruity in the surrounding scenery. He probably 펼친 [unleashed] a 진법 [magic circle] to prevent anyone from seeing this place. No, to be exact, it was closer to preventing anyone from escaping. Sibelius bit his lip and looked 낭패 [disconcerted]. The man looked at him with a 힐난 [reproachful] gaze.

“Your 일탈 [deviation] ends here, Sibelius. Do you know that the village is 발칵 뒤집혔 [turned upside down] because of you? All the 전력 [forces] of the clan has been 흩어졌 [scattered] across the continent to find you. The quietest rabbit is the most 음흉 [crafty]. I never thought you would do something like this. Why are you making things so complicated? The Elder is very angry.”

“I know. I’ll go back on my own. Just 풀어 [release] this first.”

“Do you think I’ll believe that? You should be glad I found you. If it were someone else, they would have 부러트려 [broken] your legs right away.”

“…”

“Stay there for now. I’ll take care of that woman first and then talk to you again.”

The man’s gaze was directed at me. Take care of me? I blinked, more bewildered by those words than by the misunderstanding about my gender. No, before that, I didn’t understand the whole situation at all. Sibelius’s expression became 급해졌다 [urgent].

“No, wait a minute! Don’t touch El! Just let her go!”

“You know that’s not possible.”

“There was nothing to worry about! She’s not a woman!”

“You want me to believe that?”

“It’s true. She said she’s a man! You can check!”

As I thought, I don’t know what’s going on no matter how much I listen. Then the man shrugged his shoulders and 성큼 [stepped] stood in front of me. His 탐색 [searching] gaze seemed to 훑어내리는 [scan] me up and down, and then a 피식 비웃음 서렸다 [a sneer formed]. It was as if he was saying, ‘Where did you learn to play such an obvious trick?’

“A man?”

“…So?”

“Hmm, is that so? Then take off your clothes.”

What, is he crazy?

I looked at him in 어이없어 [disbelief], and the man’s 비웃음 [sneer] grew deeper.

“You don’t look like one at all. Shouldn’t we 확인 [verify] the 증거 [evidence]?”

“Why do I have to 확인 [verify] that?”

“Because you’ll have to die if you’re a woman. Isn’t your life more important than a moment of 수치심 [shame]? If you’re really a man, that is.”

“…I don’t understand the situation at all.”

“Oh dear, didn’t you know anything? That person isn’t just an ordinary Blue Elf. He’s a Rune, who inherited the noble bloodline of the Unicorns.”

The intention of 순순히 밝히는 [readily revealing] this was obvious. He didn’t have the slightest intention of letting me live. I pretended not to know and asked him to explain in more detail, and he continued.

“Runes are not allowed to 교류 [interact] with other races. Especially in the case of the opposite sex. If 교류 [interaction] is 발각 [discovered], they are all 죽여서 처리 [killed and disposed of].”

“Huh?”

“This is to 방지 [prevent] any 불미스러운 일이 [unseemly incidents]. Originally, it wasn’t this bad, but the 규정이 [regulations] were 강화 [strengthened] due to the 잘못 [mistake] that the 선대 [predecessor] Rune committed.”

…That’s why he said he was glad I was a man? Looking back 차분히 [calmly], Sibelius was 질끈 감고 [tightly closing] his eyes. I could clearly see his 움켜쥔 주먹 떨리고 [clenched fist trembling]. The man also looked back at Sibelius when he saw my gaze 향한 [directed at] him.

“It’s too much that you didn’t explain any of this. That’s why Runes aren’t even allowed to 나가 [go] outside the village without permission.”

“You can’t 나가 [go] without permission?”

“It’s not just that you can’t 나가 [go]. You have to 주기적으로 알려 [periodically inform] where you are, even inside the village. It’s the 당연한 의무 [natural duty] of someone who has 막중한 책임을 [heavy responsibility] on their shoulders.”

“…”

“But you 저버리고 [abandoned] that 의무 [duty] and ran away from home. You even 걸고 [used] 웰디, the Elder’s only 손녀 [granddaughter], with 수면술 [hypnotism]. Isn’t that a 정말 기가 막힌 일 [truly amazing thing], Sibelius? It’s really 당황스럽습니다 [embarrassing] that someone who should 알 만하신 [know better] is doing this. You haven’t even 제대로 각성 [properly awakened] the Rune’s 힘 [power], even at that 나이 [age], can’t you even 조용히 지내 [stay quiet]?”

Sibelius’s 움찔한 눈동자 떨렸다 파르르 [twitching eyes trembled]. The 떨림 [trembling] was also 전해지긴 마찬가지 [conveyed] in the 숨 [breath] he seemed to 참았다 내뱉은 [hold and release]. I also 긴 숨 내뱉었다 [sighed]. The man looked back at me with an 오만한 [arrogant] gaze.

“Do you understand now?”

“No, not at all.”

His 눈썹 꿈틀거렸다 크게 [eyebrows twitched] as I 빙긋 웃으며 답 [smiled and answered].

“You said 고결한 [noble] Rune earlier? That means they have the highest 신분 [status], right?”

“That’s right. It’s a 자리 [position] that has 엄중한 의무와 책임감 [strict duties and responsibilities] to 위하는 [for the sake of] the entire 일족 [clan].”

“Wow, I didn’t know Unicorns were such an 불공평한 종족 [unfair race].”

“What do you mean?”

“Usually, a 자리 [position] that comes with 의무와 책임감 [duties and responsibilities] also comes with 그만한 대접 [commensurate treatment]. At least that’s 상식 [common sense] in our 인간들 [human] society. Who would 짊어지겠어요 [shoulder] 의무와 책임 [duties and responsibilities] if there’s no such thing?”

“Of course we do too.”

“Wow, so the way you 대접해준다는 [treat] is by 묶는 [tying] their 목 [neck]? That’s something we only do to 짐승 [beasts] in our society.”

“…That’s because I was trying to 막으려다 못하시게 도주 [prevent him from escaping].”

“Usually, you 묶죠 [tie] their 몸 [body], no matter what. Don’t you know better since your 본체 [true form] is a 말 [horse]? What does 결박 거는 [binding] on the 목 [neck] mean?”

The man who was trying to 변명 [excuse] 입을 꾹 다물었다 [shut his mouth].

“In my opinion, the 의미 [meaning] of Rune is 잘못됐 [wrong] in many ways. What kind of 가장 높은 신분 [highest status] is it if you need 허가 [permission] to 나가 [go] and have to 계속 보고 [continuously report] your 위치 [location]? What’s more, if you’re a 진짜 높은 신분 [really high status], no one can 모멸감을 주거나 비꼬지도 [insult or mock]. Do you know what we usually call someone who does that?”

“What do you call them?”

“반역자 [Traitors].”

The man’s 눈빛 흉흉해졌다 [eyes turned fierce] as I 웃었더니 [smiled] in the 의미 [sense] of ‘what are you asking something so 뻔한 [obvious]’. The man who 뗀 입을 [opened his mouth] 무겁게 갈았다 이를 바득 [ground his teeth heavily].

“I don’t think it matters what your 성별 [gender] is anymore.”

“Oh, really? You’re saying that 되게 새삼스럽게 [very belatedly]. You were thinking that from the 처음부터 [beginning].”

“…I don’t know what you’re 믿고 구는지 [relying on] so 방종하게 [recklessly]. You don’t 믿는 [believe in] Sibelius 님 [Mr. Sibelius] who’s 쓰러져 [collapsed] there, do you? It’s 안됐지만 [unfortunate] that 저분 [he] won’t be able to 풀어낼 결박 [untie the binding] 스스로 [himself]. That 주술 [spell] was 완성 [completed] with his 피 [blood].”

“피 [Blood]?”

“That’s right. Because the 피 [blood] of a Rune is needed to 걸다 [cast] 강한 주술 [strong spells], we 주기적으로 공급해둡니다 [periodically supply] it.”

“Is that also an 의무 [duty]?”

“That’s right.”

Why didn’t Sibelius 패주 루세프 [beat up that loser] even 한 대 [once] when he met him? I should have 팼을 [beat him up] even if I had to. I regret now that I never 자세히 물어보지 [asked in detail] his 과거 [past] because I was 괜히 긁어 부스럼이 될까 봐 [afraid of stirring up trouble]. It was 슬슬 힘들다 [slowly getting hard] to 유지 [maintain] the 웃는 낯 [smiling face] because 속이 부글부글 끓다 [my insides were boiling]. The man 피식 웃었다 [smirked], thinking I was 겁먹은 [frightened], as I 내리자 [lowered] the 입꼬리를 [corners of my mouth] I was 올리고 억지로 [raising forcibly].

“Are you 정신이 들었습니까 [coming to your senses] now? But it’s 늦었습니다 [too late] to 후회 [regret] now. I can’t 용서 [forgive] you anymore.”

“하하 [Ha ha], 누가 할 소리를… [look who’s talking…]”

“You really don’t have any 기색 반성 [sign of remorse]. 똑똑히 보십시오 [Look closely], Sibelius 님 [Mr. Sibelius]. You should 제대로 확인하시는 [properly confirm] today what kind of 결과를 [consequences] your 이기적인 행동 [selfish actions] 일으켰는지 [caused].”

스르릉 [Shwing], The 쇳소리가 울렸다 [sound of metal rang] from the man’s 검집 [scabbard]. Sibelius’s 눈을 부릅떴다 [eyes widened] as he 다급해진 [became urgent].

“안 돼 [No]! 그만둬 [Stop]!”

“You should have 만들지 않으셨다면 사태 이런 [not created this situation] from the 처음부터 [beginning] before saying those words.”

The man, who 찬 혀 안타깝다는 듯 [clicked his tongue sadly], 뻗었다 검을 아랑곳하지 않고 [extended his sword without hesitation]. The 검날 [blade] of his 다다랐 눈앞에 바로 [reached right in front of my eyes], as the 소리가 울리면서 바람을 가르는 [sound rang as it cut through the wind]. Of course, it 튕겨 나가지긴 [bounced off] before 완전히 닿기도 [completely touching].

콰직 [Crash]! 쿠웅 [Boom]!

“커억 [Gack]!”

The man who 나동그라진 [stumbled] 뱉었다 걸쭉한 피 [spat thick blood] on the 바닥 [floor]. The 얼굴 [face] he 든 고개를 [raised his head] had 가득 들어차 표정이 없다는 믿을 수 [filled with an unbelievable expression of disbelief].

Sibelius was also 굳어 [frozen] with an 얼떨떨한 표정 [dazed expression]. I 털어내고 가볍게 블레스터 든 뽑아 [dusted off and lightly drew my blaster] and 내쉬었다 한숨 [sighed].

“Sibelius.”

“…어 [Huh]? 어 [Huh]?”

“I’m 너무 화나서 머리가 돌았거든 [so angry that I’ve lost my mind] now. 손속이 좀 많이 과해져 이럴 땐 [My actions become a bit excessive at times like this]. So I’ll 확인해 둘게 [confirm] 일단 하나만 [just one thing for now].”

“무슨 [What]…”

“저거 죽이면 네가 곤란해져 [Will you be in trouble if I kill him]?”