Chapter 8

…the fact that I couldn’t understand the language of the elves and mercenaries who were ‘hostile races’ to me.

This means that the curse’s condition isn’t individual, but the average of the entire race!

Therefore, just because someone belongs to a hostile race doesn’t automatically mean they’re hostile to me. Especially here in a human village. If something goes wrong, I’m at a huge disadvantage because I can’t communicate. Shouldn’t I discard hasty prejudices and exercise restraint for now?

Slip. So, I hid the Blue Cutter under the pillow on the bed. So I could use it at any time, just in case.

A certain god stares intently.

Click.

I unlocked the inn room door and opened it. “Come in.” “Excuse me for a moment.” The guest was a man in his mid-30s with neatly graying hair. He looked like an ordinary human. If it weren’t for the curse’s condition, I would never have noticed he wasn’t human. “What is it?”

“Don’t be alarmed. As the village chief, I’ve come to check on a report that a traveler who doesn’t speak our language has arrived.”

“I see.”

The fact that he was masquerading as a human and governing a human village bothered me a little, but lacking information, I let it go. Maybe the Fantasia dimension is just that kind of world?

Perhaps a race like angels, serving the evil goddess, rule over the ignorant humans on Earth… “Kang Han-soo? That’s an unusual name.” “Well…” I had considered adopting a pseudonym suitable for a barbaric fantasy world, but I didn’t want to hide the name my parents gave me. More than that, it was extremely unsettling that my personal information, which I hadn’t even provided, was known to a complete stranger. Could he see my status window? “It’s useless against someone with a blessing of Observation like me, but you should usually keep your status window hidden.” Really?! “How do I hide it?”

“…You really don’t seem to know anything.”

“No.”

I’m sorry for being a newbie on my second day in a barbaric fantasy world. “Hmm. I heard you didn’t speak our language, so I thought it was just some stupid elf hidden away who didn’t know anything about the world, but were you just a country bumpkin from a far-off land?”

“You seem disappointed.”

“Did it show?” “A little…” Not just a little. It was written all over his face that he was annoyed by the wasted trip. “The gnolls, having lost their habitat due to the elves’ greed, have encroached upon human territory. This village was formed by people who united to seek revenge after losing their families then.” “So that’s why there were so many mercenaries.” “It’s been quite a while. There aren’t many people left who remember the original grudge, including myself. Most of the mercenaries here now are just greenhorns from the city looking to gain experience.”

“Heh~”

It’s definitely good when we can communicate! I’m not interested in the village’s origins, but I’m touched that I can have a proper conversation.

While we’re at it, I wish he’d teach me how to hide my status window…

A certain god watches with great frustration. Hmm? Why?

I wanted to ask why, but the village chief was in front of me, so I couldn’t.

He stroked his chin with his right hand and said, “May I ask one last question before I leave?”

“Yes.”

Anything but politics and religion! He pulled an empty glass bottle from his pocket and asked, “Why are you perfectly fine after being hit by my anesthetic?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he was saying, but my body, seasoned by gnoll attacks, reacted first.

Whoosh!

I aimed the Blue Cutter, hidden under the pillow, at the village chief’s neck.

However, “Not bad.”

Just before the blade could cut his Adam’s apple, my body was bound by something transparent, making me completely immobile.

“…?”

Having failed to achieve my objective by a hair’s breadth, I just rolled my eyes and glared at the village chief. The village chief circled around me, tauntingly. “Deceitful elves are naturally highly resistant, so medicine doesn’t work well on them. That’s why I devised this magic.”

“Ugh…!”

“Give up. Your entire body is bound by invisible magic ropes. You can’t break free just by having high resistance like an elf.”

“Why?”

I had no idea why the village chief was attacking me. I didn’t think I’d offended him. “It’s not your fault. You just had bad luck.”

“It’s a simple story. It’ll be faster to show you than to tell you.”

[Name] Crimson

[Level] 16

[Blessing] Madness E

[Curse] Elf C

The village chief’s status window showed a curse, just like mine. “Is it the goddess’s doing?” “You’re still talking nonsense; you don’t understand. This curse is the result of the accumulated resentment of the elves I’ve killed. It’s like an honorable scar!” “Aha!”

Curses weren’t something only the evil goddess could give.

It was conditional, you could say?

[Elf]

Your lifespan and youth, designated as an enemy of elves, will be reduced!

All damage and negative reputation received from elves greatly increase.

I thought it was a terrifying curse because of the part about reduced lifespan and youth, but looking at the village chief’s appearance, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“People were enraged by the gnolls who harmed their families and stole their homeland. But I thought, those gnolls are victims too. It’s the elves who stirred up conflict by taking away the gnolls’ habitat who are our true enemies…!” “But I’m not an elf, the ones you hate, Chief. This isn’t something to say while attacking an innocent person.” It seems I’m about to die a dog’s death, caught up in someone else’s vendetta. ….I’m really going to die, aren’t I? I’m trying to act calm, but my situation, unable to move a single finger, was a clear crisis.

If the village chief’s mood soured, my life was forfeit at any moment. My heart was pounding. “Actually, I hadn’t intended to say so much. But seeing your dagger changed my mind. Where did you get this?” He pointed to the Blue Cutter and asked. This?

“I killed an elf who shot an arrow at me without warning and took it from them.”

There’s something called reading the room.

The Blue Cutter was indeed loot obtained by killing a gnoll called ‘Blue Moon Meat Cutter,’ but to survive here, I had to pretend to be an enemy of the elves. “You skillfully managed to kill elf royalty with that.” “Was it royalty…?” I had always thought it was just a very good, sharp dagger, but I never imagined it belonged to elf royalty.

“Hahaha! What a sight! To kill royalty without even knowing it! It’s becoming increasingly regrettable to kill you.” “Then please spare me!” “Unfortunately. As you can tell by my status window, I am a mage without the Magic blessing. Could it be? You don’t even know what that means?”

“Because I’m an outcast.”

There’s no one (or god) around to kindly teach me.

“Outcast?”

“It means a solitary wolf that roams the wilderness.”

“What a wonderful word. Though you will never roam the wilderness again.”

A certain god offers condolences for the outcast.

The village chief took the Blue Cutter from my hand and said, “I am a Black Mage. You will have to become a sacrifice for my Black Magic to extend my lifespan.”

Princess Ethena Arkmazing. Dubbed the ‘Magic Genius’ in the Arkmazing Magic Kingdom, she had always admired ‘hardworking people.’ Her status as a princess, demanding decorum and superficiality, stole her research time, and her immense talent made effort unnecessary.

A spoiled complaint, you say?

Yes, she knew it was. But it’s not wrong to admire something impossible for oneself.

Perhaps that’s why?

“Princess. You said magic is realized purely through imagination. Are there no conditions or formulas to increase its efficiency?”

Despite being told that magic is determined by bloodline and mentorship, Hero Yoo Bo-ra continued to work hard.

Princess Ethena liked this ‘first disciple.’ That’s why she took her on as her first disciple.

Fwoosh!

A vibrant flame flickered above Hero Yoo Bo-ra’s palm.

Talent and effort.

It was beautiful magic born from the combination of the two. “That’s a good question, Hero Yoo Bo-ra. To strengthen your magic, you should emulate the magic of your master or parents who granted you the blessing.”

“Is there nothing else?”

“Of course there is.”

Crack, crack!

Princess Ethena generated a cold chunk of ice in her palm, contrasting with the fiercely burning flame.

It was in the shape of a cute rabbit!

It oddly suited the creator.

She proudly displayed her magic and said, “Flame magic, known as the flower of war, is a specialty passed down through generations of the Arkmazing royal family. This is thanks to inheriting some of my predecessors’ talent through the blessing. On the other hand, this ice rabbit is my own unique magic!! Would you like to try imitating it?” “Hmm… I can’t.” Nothing appeared on Yoo Bo-ra’s palm.

Princess Ethena blushed shyly and confessed, “It’s because I, your master, am still immature. As my proficiency increases, you, Hero Yoo Bo-ra, my disciple, will also be able to create it easily. Do you understand?” “Yes. Thank you for the kind explanation.” “You’re welcome.” Just then, a voice broke the warm atmosphere between master and disciple. “Princess. What about people like me who don’t have a blessing?” Hero Jang Mi-yeon, who chose to be a mage instead of a knight, knowing the latter would be grueling.

But she, unable to use magic because she wasn’t Princess Ethena’s disciple, was full of complaints.

And she wasn’t the only one.

“We really need a blessing!” “Princess! I want to use magic!”

“Give me the blessing of magic…!”

Other heroes, dissatisfied with the private tutoring-like class focusing on Yoo Bo-ra, chimed in. And their demands grew stronger.

“This is unfair!” “Favoritism is bad!” “We demand equal treatment!” “This is very uncomfortable!”

The heroes began to run wild, clamoring as they pleased. Crunch, munch.

Princess Ethena bit into the ice rabbit she had made and asked with an innocent face, “Then, which hero would like to be my second disciple?”

“Me! Me!”

“Of course it’s me!” “No cutting in!” “I was first!”

The heroes, who had united to petition Princess Ethena.

But with a single word from her, their alliance crumbled like a sandcastle, and they were busy tearing into each other.

Second, third, fourth… No one was willing to give way, as talent would decrease the further back in line they were to become a disciple.

“I’m better than you…!” “You can’t even study…!” “Who’s talking…!”

A pathetic display that made them seem utterly unworthy of saving the world. But Princess Ethena seemed to have no intention of stopping them. “Let me know once you’ve decided!”

“…Princess Ethena. Did you do that on purpose?” “Huh? What do you mean?”

Princess Ethena tilted her head cutely in response to Yoo Bo-ra’s question. “…Nothing.” “Alright! Then, shall we continue the lesson we were having? Oh dear! Where was I?” “The ice rabbit.” “Ah! Thank you! Unique magic can only be acquired through countless trials and errors and continuous practice.” “Like Black Magic?”

“Princess?”

Princess Ethena, who had tensed for a moment, relaxed her expression and replied, “Black Magic is different from White Magic. It’s impossible to practice it consistently alone.” “Why is that?”

“Because a sacrifice is needed every time you use magic.”

The law of equivalent exchange.

It’s an economic theory stating that goods of equal value can be exchanged. But why is this applied to magic in the fantasy world?

Anyway, because of that god-awful law, I was in danger.

“I’ve loosened the magic ropes a bit. You should be able to speak now.”

“…This basement is really nice!”

“Thank you.”

The village chief, who introduced himself as a Black Mage, carried me to his house under the pretense of treating ‘a traveler who had collapsed in the inn room.’ Could the innkeeper, who fell for such a clumsy lie, be in on it too?

I decided to think about that problem if I didn’t die… “Chief. Am I going to suffer and die like these people?”

There were many previous guests in the basement. “□, □, Ugh…” “C-choke! □□, surely…”

” , Gasp…!”

Their bodies, suspended in mid-air like butcher’s meat, were covered in bruises, burns, and whip marks. And without exception, both of their ears were cut off. “…You’re more resolute than you look. Usually, people are too busy begging for their lives and soiling themselves.” “Indeed.”

[Outcast]

If I didn’t have this blessing, wouldn’t I have joined the ranks of those ‘usual’ people?

My state?

It feels like watching a horror movie for the third time, one I’m already bored of. Even though it’s happening to me. “Don’t worry. I don’t force my hobbies on travelers who aren’t elves.”

“That’s fortunate.” He kills abducted humans immediately, but tortures elves for a long time before killing them, it seems.

The village chief said, as if being generous, “You, who killed royalty, I will send you off without pain as a special favor.” “Oh! I hate pain, so I’m truly grateful.” “Hahahaha! What a cheerful friend! It’s a shame we can’t be together.” “I’m sorry too.” The village chief genuinely seemed to like me. Though it seems he still had no intention of letting me live. What should I do now? A certain god packs their bags. A certain god offers condolences for the outcast. “…That’s too much.” Abandoned like an old shoe by the ill-tempered god, but it’s not the worst situation.

My mouth is still perfectly fine! Let’s temporarily set aside the cowardly blessing and go about this honorably. “Chief.” “What is it? If you’re going to beg for your life, give up.” “No way. It’s something else. I smiled the benevolent smile of an Earthling and opened the conversation.