Chapter 289 The Girl Of Mors
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It seems I was abandoned by my parents before I was even aware of myself. When I tell this story, everyone grows serious, but for me—since it happened before I understood anything—I can only think, Oh, is that so?
The reason I was abandoned? I was a throwback of the Mors race. Apparently, Mors can render their existence unrecognizable to others. They used that ability to commit countless wrongdoings, and eventually, they were wiped out. But some survived—one of them was my ancestor. My real parents didn’t possess such powers, but when their daughter—me—began to show the abilities of a Mors, they feared they’d be killed just for having that bloodline. That’s why they let me go, or so I heard from my father.
Oh, when I say “father,” I don’t mean my biological dad, but the adoptive parent who picked me up after my real parents abandoned me.
My Mors abilities are unstable, and honestly, I couldn’t control them at all. I couldn’t suppress my powers at will. If I let my guard down, I’d become unrecognizable to everyone around me. To avoid that, I had to make my existence strongly felt.
How to make myself strongly felt? By calling out loudly, tapping someone on the shoulder, or doing something that would grab attention—so people would know I was there. Being noisy wasn’t a choice; it was necessary. I couldn’t help it!
I digress. The one who picked me up was one of the founders of the famous Grelego in the empire. His true identity? An elf who’s secretly lived while planting seeds all these years.
At first, my father seemed to expect I’d use my Mors abilities to serve the empire. But I had no interest in Grelego’s ideals. Don’t get me wrong—the ideals themselves were good. There are villains the law can’t touch, and someone has to deal with them. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to throw away my life just to serve the country. So I made it clear I didn’t want to inherit those ideals, and my father accepted that.
Even though I wouldn’t follow Grelego’s path, I still had to control my abilities to live like a normal human. Training went on for a while, but I just couldn’t manage it.
If I couldn’t suppress my powers no matter what, I had to give up on living normally and figure out how to use this ability instead. I’m not good at rough work, but maybe, with this ability, hunting monsters would be easy. So I brought it up to my father…
”That’s impossible,” he said. “Many monsters are extremely sensitive to living beings’ presence. If they sense you, they recognize you. Even if you succeed in a surprise attack, if you miss, they’ll retaliate—and you’ll die. Besides, some—like me—are less affected by Mors’s ability. Relying solely on it makes life difficult when it really counts.”
”That’s right,” my father added. “Some people are less susceptible to Mors’s ability. Normally, if I mutter to myself or open and close a door, a regular person wouldn’t notice. But with you, I can always sense your presence, even in those little things. There are individual differences in how much Mors’s ability affects people. I’m still one of the more affected ones. Back then, I’d never met anyone like you, so I didn’t feel much danger. But I convinced you it’s wiser not to rely on the ability alone—to treat it as just one of many tools. So you decided to live that way.”
”Still, what can someone like me do, with no other skills besides this?” I asked. On a day when I struggled to come up with a decent plan for a life using my ability, my father brought a man to me.
”Hey, so you’re the new kid our father has?”
”Who are you, sir?” I asked.
”I’m Aiden. Father asked me to help you out. I’ll be living with you until you can stand on your own. Nice to meet you. Our father lives on the other side of this world,” uncle explained. “He can’t show his face openly, so he asks his child—me—who lives on the front side, to support kids like you. I was raised by father but chose not to follow in his footsteps. By the way, I’m an executive at ‘Flame’s Straight Sword,’ a well-known firm in the empire.”
”And due to my job, I’ve met all kinds of people and seen many professions,” Aiden said. “Leave it to me—I’ll find a way of life that suits you perfectly.”
”Aiden tends to get carried away quickly, but his connections are solid. I’m sure he’ll find a good job for you.”
”Hey, can I take that as a compliment?” Aiden joked.
As our father said, Aiden quickly found me a job. The work and pay were great—but I quit after just two weeks. The problem was my ability: when I worked quietly, my presence slipped from others’ notice. People who couldn’t recognize me thought I was slacking off. I tried talking to them often to prevent that, but they told me things like, “Don’t chatter during work” or “What does a newcomer think they’re doing, talking so casually?” The deteriorating relationships pushed me to quit.
But I needed money to live—and to earn money, I had to work. I landed a new job through my uncle (Aiden)’s connections, but quit for the same reason. After repeating this several times, I grew exhausted and wondered, Why am I forcing myself to live, even if it means this much pain?
One day, dazed and unfocused at work, two staff members came in.
”Hey, a new one came in from the basement, so bring some food later.”
”Sorry, how many this time?”
”Three. Just make sure the other staff don’t catch you.”
It sounded like a secret conversation. They couldn’t notice me standing right there because of their own abilities. Then they dispersed.
That was strange—I’d never heard of a basement here. Their tone hinted at something bad. So I followed the staff carrying food and found three children locked in a dungeon.
Two boys, still pre-adolescent, and a girl—terrified beyond belief. I couldn’t just stand by. I secretly stole the dungeon key and freed them when no one was looking, then took them home.
”Hey, you…! What the hell are you doing, you idiot!” my uncle shouted as I tried to explain. “You brought them here without even properly hearing the situation? What were you thinking!?”
”B-but they were trapped in a dungeon and terrified!? They must have been kidnapped from somewhere!”
”Did these kids ask you, ‘Please help us get out of here’?”
”Huh? No, they didn’t ask me…”
”So you just brought them out because it seemed dangerous? Hah… At that point, what you did isn’t any different from kidnapping. Now, you kids, can you tell us why you were caught in such a place?”
”W-we were told by our father and mother to get into the carriage…”
”What? So you weren’t kidnapped?”
When I asked, the children shook their heads.
”So it was my misunderstanding? But the way they looked was definitely not normal…”
”…Tch, what a disgusting story this has turned into.”
”Uncle?”
”…Alright, let’s take these kids in for now.”
”Really!?”
”Yeah. For the time being, keep working with a straight face. If the kids disappear and you quit right after, it might raise suspicions. It would be bad if we’re hiding the kids here, right?”
”I-I understand. Honestly, I was already wanting to quit, but if that’s the case, I’ll do my best! …But how long do I have to keep this up?”
”That’s the seed you planted; keep it up until the heat dies down.”
”That’s just unfair!”
I let out a pathetic scream at my uncle’s merciless declaration, but as he said, this was my own doing. More than anything, I motivated myself to keep working for the children’s sake. One day, I heard that the firm’s representative and some staff had been arrested.
In that situation, there was no way I could continue working, and without any explanation, I was sent home. I reported this to my uncle…
”Oh, those guys were arrested last night along with the guards.”
”What!? If you knew, you could have told me!”
”Because your expression shows it right away, right? If you went to work with a face saying, ‘I already know,’ it would have caused trouble.”
”Ugh…”
It was frustrating—I couldn’t argue because I knew I might end up the same way.
”So, in the end, what were those people?”
”They were human traffickers, visiting poor villages and selling people to whoever would buy them.”
”What’s the difference between that and a slave trader?”
”I’m not saying it’s based on a slave contract. Slaves are strictly managed—who becomes a slave, who buys them—and if someone tries to use a slave for illegal activities, they get caught immediately. That’s why some people prefer convenient humans who aren’t slaves.”
”So those kids were sold to traffickers to be forced into illegal activities? Did their parents know?”
”Well, they probably knew trafficking was illegal, and they likely understood their child wouldn’t have a good life after being bought.”
”Why would they…”
”The thinking of those who sell their children to traffickers is simple: they want money. Slavery is a refuge for those who can no longer live on their own—a means for those who want to live, even if it means entrusting the rest of their lives to others. Selling to a slave trader doesn’t bring in much money; those who want cash sell to traffickers.”
That day, when I brought the three of them home, I finally understood why my uncle called it a “disgusting story.”
If this was a parent’s agonizing decision because they could no longer support their child, they’d entrust their child rather than sell them to a slave trader—adding conditions for the child’s sake in exchange for no money.
But selling their child to traffickers instead of a slave trader means they’re terrible parents who put their own greed above their child.
Having learned that, my uncle spoke to me as I wore a gloomy expression.
”I’m not defending those awful parents, but it’s not uncommon for parents to sacrifice their children for their own sake. If you worry about every little thing like that, your heart won’t be able to take it.”
”Isn’t there anything that can be done?”
”If there was, those who inherited the will would have acted long ago.”
”The will… right! This incident—could it be that you had those who inherited the will working behind the scenes?”
”Ah, well, that’s true.”
I thought it was strange that most of the firm’s people already knew the information I’d just learned that morning, but it seems my uncle had been working behind the scenes.
”If that’s the case, then can we ask those who inherited the will for help like this time—”
”That’s impossible.”
Before I could finish, my uncle cut me off sharply, but I pressed on.
”Um, I understand it’s difficult! I’m not saying we should save everyone, but I was just wondering if we could help at least within our reach. That’s what I’m talking about.”
”You don’t get it at all. What I’m saying isn’t about feasibility. Even if similar situations arise in the future, I won’t help.”
”W-Why not!?”
”I live on the surface and avoid getting involved in the circumstances behind the scenes. This time, I only helped because you brought those three home.”
”That’s… are you saying that if something similar happens again, we should just abandon them!?”
”I’m not saying to abandon them; I’m just saying don’t involve me.”
”Wha!?”
Since my father asked him to, my uncle had been taking care of me all this time. I thought he was genuinely concerned—not just about work but about the three children—so I couldn’t believe such cold words came from him.
”I’m sorry, I never thought you were that kind of person! Heartless! Devil! Ugh! Heartless!”
”Calling me heartless for the second time? Your vocabulary’s terrible. Is that really something to say to someone who’s taken care of you so patiently?”
”But, but—”
”Listen… I’m being asked by father to support children like you who wish to live openly. You know why he entrusted that to me instead of doing it himself, right? No matter how well you blend in with ordinary citizens, those who live in the shadows can’t walk proudly in the light. They have to constantly be aware of others like them living in the shadows. And the most important thing for such shadows is their relationships; when their true identity is revealed, those connected to them become suspects too. It would be fine if it ended there, but ‘punish the suspicious’ means even those unrelated to the shadows can get caught up in it. That’s why father entrusted it to me, and I have no intention of getting involved with the shadows any further. My life is no longer just my own, and besides, there are those three to think about.”
”The three?”
”Yeah. Once sold to a trafficker, those three can’t be happy even if they’re sent back to their parents. Besides, I’ve developed some feelings for them.”
”I see… That’s true, isn’t it? Your shoulders bear the lives of those living peacefully now—and those children who wish to live peacefully in the future. If you become a shadow, their lives will fall into the shadows too.”
I realized how thoughtless I’d been and trembled at the thought that I might have ruined many lives.
My father always said those who inherit a will must discern who should be saved—and who shouldn’t. Someone like me, who hasn’t even inherited that will, hasn’t received the proper education or training… I’d only make things worse by acting on a half-hearted sense of justice.
But… why is it that even knowing I’d only complicate things, I still can’t turn a blind eye? Even if I were told that by doing so I could save more people, I wouldn’t abandon those suffering right in front of me.
”Damn it, whether you get it or not, you’ve got this subtle look on your face…” My uncle sighed. “Like I said before, I have no intention of getting involved with the shadows any further. If you stick your neck out again, I won’t help next time. And I definitely don’t want to be suspected because of it. So—get out of the house for a bit.”
”…Huh? What!?”
Being told to leave the house out of nowhere left me completely flustered.
”Y-Yes, I know I caused you a lot of trouble this time! But kicking me out of the house is just too much!”
”Oh, that reaction was expected. Don’t worry, it’s not that I’ve given up on you; it’s just that I’ve run out of work to give you in this town.”
”What? Work?”
”Do you remember how many times you’ve changed jobs here?”
”Uh… I stopped counting after I exceeded the number of fingers on both hands.”
”In this short time, you’ve quit repeatedly and earned a bad reputation. If it was just a bad rep, fine, but they call you ‘the genius who disappears like mist.’”
”Like mist?… Ah!”
”Did you realize? Right now it still seems like a joke, so I can brush it off. But the fact you ‘disappear like mist’ is spreading. If you keep working here, people will associate it with your abilities. So I’m going to set you up with a job in another town—Denarl.”
”I see… Then why didn’t you just say so instead of telling me to leave home?!”
”Haha, consider this a little payback for the anxiety you’ve caused me. Accept it graciously. Now, the important next workplace: Harvest Hoe in Denarl.”
”Harvest Hoe is a pretty big firm, right? I think there’s a branch here, too.”
”Yeah, but this tiny warehouse isn’t the main office. The one in Denarl is the core—a place where crops from across the empire gather.”
”Will I do well there…?”
I’ve failed many times before. What if I fail again? I might waste all the effort my uncle’s put into me. Thinking that, I hesitated. But my uncle encouraged me.
”Don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll find you another job.”
”But I can’t keep bothering you…”
”What are you saying? Did you forget I’m here to be bothered? Besides, do you have any idea how many times I’ve gone through this? I stopped complaining after ten or twenty tries. Though I’m not eager to pick up three kids again, that’s for sure.”
”Y-Yeah, I understand… but…”
You’re worried you won’t have confidence in new situations, right? Well, if that happens, just rely on a guy named Alex from Spear of Shouhyou.
”Alex-san?”
”Yeah. Alex is one of the few people directly connected to Melgis.”
”Wait—your sister?”
Melgis—she was taken in by my father before me. Unlike me, she inherited Grelego’s aspirations. She’s about ten years older, and I’ve only heard about her from my father. I’ve never met her directly, but I’ve heard she’s beautiful and capable.
”Relying on her doesn’t mean asking her directly. For example, how about leaving a note?”
”A note?”
”Yeah. With your abilities, you could secretly leave a note. If you find something suspicious, don’t touch it—just pass it on to Melgis’s subordinates. They’ll investigate and handle it.”
That does sound more reliable than complicating things myself.
”…By the way, you call Melgis ‘sister,’ right?”
”Yes. What’s wrong with that?”
”Then why am I not ‘big brother’?”
”Eh?”
That question sent a chill down my spine. I squirmed instinctively.
”I’m not into that kind of thing—making a girl who’s more than two decades younger call you ‘big brother’!”
”Isn’t it a bit unnatural to call me ‘uncle’ when we’re siblings, even if it’s by obligation since we share the same father?”
”Because you’re ‘uncle,’ aren’t you? Calling you ‘big brother’ feels more unnatural given the age difference.”
”Ugh…!”
When I said that, he crumpled to his knees.
”Ugh… I used to be everyone’s reliable big brother. When did I become this kind of uncle…?”
”Maybe the moment you were born?”
”No way that’s true! Hah… You really can say cruel things to someone who’s been taking care of you… But if you’ve got that much courage, you should be able to live boldly even alone in an unfamiliar place.”
”…Yes.”
”If you ever start hating your job, don’t hesitate to come back. Don’t worry about me. This is your home. We’re family.”
”Ugh… You’re so embarrassing, uncle.”
”Embarrassing!? Are you talking about my old-man smell?!”
”No, not your body odor—your lines, pfft──”
Not long ago, we were having serious talks about the underbelly and the surface, but now we were laughing over such silly things.
Yeah, I definitely prefer the surface over the underbelly.
”Well, do your best, Liana.”
”Yes, I’ll do my best!”
Notes:
• Mors – Female. A girl being mentored by Golarf. She struggles to control her powers, similar to her ancestors. Golarf is deeply invested in her well-being and development.
• Grelego – Ally of the empire. The one who judges those who harm the empire.
• Denarl – Known as the ‘City of Craftsmen.’ Now, just an ordinary city.
• Alex – Affiliate of ‘Spear of Shouhyou’s’ Denal branch. Delivered Emperor’s letter instructing Neil to hire personnel. Well-structured and competent. Interaction reveals firm’s awareness of settlement’s needs and willingness to provide specialized personnel, including security and brewing experts.
• Alex-san – Affiliate of ‘Spear of Shouhyou’s’ Denal branch. Delivered Emperor’s letter instructing Neil to hire personnel. Well-structured and competent. Interaction reveals firm’s awareness of settlement’s needs and willingness to provide specialized personnel, including security and brewing experts.
• Melgis – Holds ‘Shouhyou’ title in ‘Spear of Shouhyou.’ Introduced Alex to Neil with Emperor’s letter (pseudonym ‘Gras’). Mature, beautiful, and straightforward. Her role suggests significant influence and connections within the firm and Empire.
• Liana – Gibbett’s habitually late employee, assigned to manage a non-stock store in the settlement. Appearance, short wavy brown hair, bright green eyes, flushed cheeks, gray tunic with firm emblem, dark trousers, boots. Bonds with Gaadhir’s family, has four siblings, shares camaraderie with Gaadhir after surviving Glayna’s teasing.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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