Volume 3 Chapter 9 The Girl Without Ears 1️⃣
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So, I couldn’t get any information out of her,” I said, lowering my gaze.
”What do you mean, ‘so’?” the branch chief asked sharply, eyes narrowing. “If you just wanted to kill her, there’d be no need for all that effort. A real adventurer would’ve gone further—rescued her and brought her back. That’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?”
”It’s not like I didn’t try,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “The mastermind was stronger than he looked. Not someone you could just capture alive and make talk.”
This all started with the incident at the goblin cave. I was now reporting the details to the guild’s branch chief. Honestly, I thought it’d be a simple job…
”Well, if that’s what happened, then he must’ve been a tough opponent,” he said, leaning back. “So, what’s your take on all this?”
”My take?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
”That robed man, and the ‘experiment’ he mentioned.”
”Ah, that…” I paused, thinking for a moment. “It’s just my personal theory, but… I think they were experimenting with the quality of the breeding grounds.”
”The quality?” he repeated.
”Yeah. As you know, goblins need hosts to reproduce. That’s probably why they target human settlements—because human women are easy to use.”
The branch chief leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, hands folded in front of his face. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes told me to go on.
”In my experience, goblins near towns tend to be stronger than the ones hiding deep in the mountains. I always thought it was just a small variation. But… if there’s a real difference in ability, then it probably comes from the type of host.”
”I see… so you’re saying that goblins born from animals like deer or wild boars are weaker than the ones born from humans.”
”Exactly,” I said with a nod. “And if you used something even more valuable—like an elf—then maybe you’d create goblins of a much higher rank.”
”………”
It was just a theory, based on what I’d seen. Still, the branch chief’s expression darkened as he glared at me. Honestly, I didn’t think it was worth getting mad about.
”I’ll write that down as your opinion,” he finally said, voice low. “But this is something we’ll have to hand off to the higher-ups. It’s beyond what we can handle here. If only that girl had survived mentally… it might’ve been a different story.”
”Yeah,” I murmured.
”Anyway, we’ll take over from here. You’re done with this case. Got it?”
”Yes. Except for Lena,” I added quickly.
He scoffed. “A broken half-elf won’t fetch much even if she’s sold. Might as well keep her and use her like scrap. She’s more useful that way.”
He waved me off like I was some stray mutt.
”I’m going home,” I said, turning away. “And if you ever call Lena ‘scrap’ again, I’ll kill you. No hesitation.”
As I left, I quietly sprinkled a bit of sickening medicine—just a few drops. It’d make the room smell foul for days.
After that, I passed Mel near the front counter.
”If you send me another creepy job like this, I’ll wipe you off the face of the earth,” I said, giving her a tired look before heading home.
──It’s going to be a pain when I get back… but whatever.
* * *
”I’m home,” I called out, stepping into the boarding house.
The first thing I saw was Lena, standing in the entrance, her brows furrowed in concern.
”Welcome back, Sir Soyuz,” she said quietly.
She looked worn out. Probably another long day.
”That girl… still the same?”
”Yes…” she whispered, eyes downcast.
She must’ve felt frustrated, not being able to help.
”It’s fine,” I said gently. “It’s not your fault. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
”Ah…”
She blinked in surprise, her face going slightly red. I gave her a gentle pat on the head and walked past her, heading to the back of the house.
I opened the door to the spare bedroom.
The moment I did—
”No! Nooo! Don’t come!”
A scream tore through the air, and pillows flew at me one after another.
…Yeah. No progress today either.
I quietly shut the door again.
”Emotional wounds don’t heal overnight,” I said with a sigh. “Did she eat?”
”Yes. I believe so,” Lena replied. “The food disappears from her room, at least.”
We shared a look, both of us letting out a sigh.
This was turning out to be much more than I bargained for.
After taking down the magician who’d been behind that strange goblin experiment, I couldn’t leave the girl behind. She had been used in the worst way possible. So, I brought her back with me. That was a few days ago.
Since then, well… things happened. Now, she’s under my care.
The collar around her neck told me she’d been a slave.
But it came off easily—proof that her owner was likely that magician. In most cases, if the slave isn’t under special constraints like Lena, the bond breaks when the owner dies. She was free now.
Still… just saving her wasn’t enough.
She’d clearly been broken, mind and heart. She spoke like a child, her trust completely shattered. Not even Lena, someone who’d suffered as much as she had, could get through to her. I could only assume that before being thrown to the goblins, she had already been cruelly treated by humans.
The most painful clue? Her ears.
When I washed the blood out of her hair, I saw both had been cut clean off at the base.
There was only one reason to do something like that.
She was an elf—or more likely, a half-elf.
Elves are beings far above humans. Half-elves, with fairy blood, have power that far exceeds normal people. They can use spirit magic—something humans can’t. Though their bodies are fragile, they have night vision, enhanced hearing, and even spatial awareness. They make incredible archers. Truly, they’re superhuman.
But they do have weaknesses.
One: their fragile bodies.
Two: their ears—the source of their magic.
Long ago, some twisted humans figured this out. They hunted elves, cutting off their ears to steal their power. It caused war, deep hatred, and a lasting scar between humans and elves.
Even now, elf hunting is the greatest taboo. Anyone caught doing it faces severe punishment.
But that protection doesn’t extend to half-elves.
They’re considered outcasts—too human for the elves, too elven for the humans.
They look just like full elves, which makes them easy targets. Most end up enslaved, bought for their beauty or magical potential. To keep them powerless, their ears are often taken.
She was probably sold off in the same way.
Her magic stolen, her body violated, used for horrible experiments. There’s no way she could trust anyone anymore.
Lena was once like that too—abused, discarded. That’s why I had to save her. And now, I want to save this girl too.
But how?
I’ve always kept my distance from people. Especially from women. I don’t know how to deal with a heart so broken, a soul so fragile.
How am I supposed to help her?
”Hey, Lena…” I said softly. “What should I even do…?”
I sighed without meaning to, the weight pressing down on my shoulders.
”Even if I wanted to heal her, I can’t. The ritual only works if she opens her heart to me… but she won’t even speak.”
Lena stayed quiet for a moment. Then, slowly, she clenched her fists.
”Sir Soyuz… you saved me,” she said, eyes glimmering with tears. “You saved a worthless slave who had given up on everything. I believe… I truly believe your kindness will reach her too.”
Her voice trembled, but her words were clear.
”Please, Sir Soyuz. Save her.”
Lena bowed deeply, her face filled with pain.
She’s projecting herself onto that girl—I can feel it. Maybe she thinks she was the only one who got saved, and that makes her feel guilty.
But… I can’t let her carry that alone.
”Yeah,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. “Looks like I’ve been acting a little pathetic. Some master I am, huh?”
That’s right. I haven’t even tried yet.
If I give up before doing anything, I’m just being selfish.
For that girl who doesn’t even have a name…
And most of all—for Lena.
I’ll do everything I can.
Only those who have done all they could have the right to fall into despair.
Notes:
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
• Mel – Female. The receptionist at the Adventurers Guild branch in Verdaine. She is a woman of a certain age with long, messy blonde hair. Her relationship with the protagonist is casual and slightly teasing. She is laid-back but observant.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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