Chapter 88


    Garbage Dump.


    The dictionary definition is “a designated ce for disposing of garbage,” but…


    In the western continent—formerly the territory of the Grasis Kingdom—the term Garbage Dump held a different connotation.


    It referred to a ce where trash that couldn’t mingle with humans gathered to live.


    It was where the Demonic Race, who came over from Laxia, resided.


    That was what people meant by Garbage Dump.


    ***


    The path leading out of the bustling city toward Laxia.


    Da-eun, who had been deep in thought all this time, suddenly spoke up.“Kana, did you know? That they call the ce where the Demonic Race lives a ‘Garbage Dump.’”


    “That’s what you were thinking about?”


    I was wondering what she was so deeply contemting, but it turned out to be nothing much.


    “I knew. So what?”


    “Hmm… I just thought, people really do hate the Demonic Race more than I imagined.”


    “Garbage Dump is a mild term. There are far worse ones.”


    “This is mild?”


    “Yeah. For example—”


    Words like ‘<i>bleep—’</i> or <i>‘bleeeep—’.</i>


    “Wait, Kana, stop!”


    “There’s also <i>‘bleeeep—’</i>, and mmph—”


    “Stop! No more bad words!”


    Da-eun’s slender hand covered my mouth.


    I tried to shake my head and free myself from her grasp, but Da-eun’s hand persistently held onto me and wouldn’t let go.


    “Mmmff—”


    “You can’t use such bad words! Got it?”


    “Puhah! I only mentioned them because you seemed curious.”


    “Regardless, it’s a no. How would others feel if they heard such words? And saying things like that will rot your brain and make your cute face ugly.”


    “Wow, that’s some serious effect.”


    But, seeing how dimwitted nobles and royals get, I doubt it’s because of bad words.


    Their speech might have been refined, but the intent behind their words was impure.


    Those who despised direct speech twisted even simple phrases multiple times over.


    What sounded like apliment was often an insult, and if it seemed like an insult, it was definitely an insult.


    Wait,e to think of it, I guess it was always an insult, wasn’t it?


    …So, was that why I got angry whenever I listened to them?


    “Joanie. How would you feel if someone said, ‘You have a natural talent for swordsmanship’?”


    “Uh… Isn’t that apliment? I’d feel good if it were me.”


    “Unfortunately, it’s not.”


    What that really means is, “You’re too dumb to do anything else, so you’ll be swinging a sword for the rest of your life.”


    Da-eun looked at me with a skeptical expression.


    “…Isn’t that a bit of a stretch? They could genuinely beplimenting you.”


    “Who knows? Until you experience it yourself, you won’t understand.”


    People never truly understand a statement’s weight until they’ve gone through it themselves.


    That’s why I didn’t bother trying to convince her and shrugged, steering the conversation back to the original topic.


    “Anyway, do you see why I said Garbage Dump is mild now?”


    “Um, yeah… I guesspared to those, it’s pretty tame…”


    Da-eun seemed to be recalling the deeply resentful things people have said about the Demonic Race and spoke reluctantly.


    “Still, calling it a Garbage Dump… It does feel a bit wrong.”


    It’s less malicious inparison, but ultimately, it’s still lumping the Demonic Race together as trash. No wonder Da-eun felt ufortable about it.


    What’s interesting is that even the Demonic Race didn’t deny the term.


    Some of them even chastised themselves more harshly than humans did.


    “They consider themselves sinners.”


    They may have been driven by necessity, but they took the lives of countless people across the Ardina Continent.


    And they were sinners who abandoned their duties and fled.


    Thus, the Demonic Race refused to name the ce they lived.


    They believed they didn’t deserve the right to name it.


    “…Duties? What duties?”


    “You’ll find out soon.”


    “Gah…”


    After all, the reason we’re heading to Laxia is precisely because of that.


    I responded to Da-eun, whose lips were pouting, as I looked forward.


    Beyond the distant horizon, shrouded in thick Magi, thend of sinners came into view.


    Step by step.


    As we approached the Land of Sinners, the dense Magi in the air grew thicker, trying to press in on me. But it couldn’t break through the Mana I hadyered around myself, so it merelyshed out powerlessly.


    I nced over at Celine, who maintained her usual gentle expression, as if this level of Magi didn’t bother her at all.


    That was expected. The real concern was Da-eun.


    I looked back at Da-eun, the weakest among us, and the one I worried about the most.


    “Huff… I’m okay. It’s not too bad.”


    Thankfully, Da-eun, the weakest member of our group, seemed to be holding up just fine.


    She looked a little pale, but that was probably due to nerves.


    The ring on her finger was gleaming, indicating that the magic artifact was functioning as intended.


    Well, considering it was made from the Dragon Orb, it would have been odd if it didn’t work at all.


    The real test, however, would be whether it remained effective once we entered Laxia.


    “It’s dark….”


    “It’s dark?”


    “It means it’s dark.”


    “Oh, I see.”


    Just as she said, even though it was far from sundown, the area around us was shrouded in darkness.


    The sunlight was clearly shining down from above, but it felt like we were looking through an opaque veil due to the Magi in the air.


    If a normal person came here, they wouldn’tst more than a few minutes before coughing up blood.


    “Oh, I see a vige!”


    Celine, with her hand shielding her eyes, suddenly eximed brightly.


    A stockade visible through the thick Magi.


    She must have spotted it too.


    From a distance, the stockade looked high and sturdy enough to be mistaken for a fortress wall.


    Yes, it certainly looked sturdy, but… if one wanted to bring it down, it probably wouldn’t be too difficult.


    “…Kana?”


    “No, I wasn’t saying I would do it.”


    I was referring to monsters, beasts… or humans, not myself.


    If I had meant myself, I wouldn’t have made such a tentativement like, “It probably could be brought down.”


    I can slice through castle walls; why wouldn’t I be able to destroy a measly stockade?


    “Yeah, that’s true.”


    Though this exnation left me feeling oddly unsatisfied, I managed to convince Da-eun.


    As we exchanged trivial banter, the distant stockade quickly loomed right before us.


    “Stop!”


    Just as we found the entrance to the stockade and were about to enter the vige, a deep voice rang out from above.


    Looking up, I saw a man with a bloodless white face and ck horns protruding from the sides of his head, staring down at us from the watchtower.


    “What brings humans here?!”


    “We’re here to board a ship.”


    “What did you say?!”


    The man’s sudden outburst startled Da-eun, making her flinch and dart her eyes around nervously.


    “Does he think we’re here to invade Laxia?”


    She whispered anxiously.


    But her worry didn’tst long.


    “I can’t hear you! Speak louder!”


    “Doesn’t seem like it.”


    “Yeah, I guess not…”


    With the man’s response, Da-eun let out an awkward chuckle.


    I prodded her side.


    “Joanie, you tell him.”


    “Why? Can’t you understand him?”


    “If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have responded, right?”


    “That’s true. …Wait, we’re not even using Granguage, so how is he understanding us?”


    “Think about thatter. Just speak up; he’s waiting.”


    “Okay, okay. But if you can understand, why don’t you just speak for yourself, Kana?”


    “It’s too much hassle to yell.”


    Raising my voice is such a pain. Could there be a more bothersome task?


    My straightforward reply made Da-eun close her mouth.


    She looked like she had a lot more to say, but as I tugged at her robe, she sighed and shook her head.


    I think I heard her muttering something like, “You cheeky little brat,” but it was probably just my imagination.


    “We’vee to board a ship heading to Laxia!”


    “…Laxia?”


    The man who had been shouting loudly suddenly fell silent.


    <i>Dong—</i>


    <i>Ding—!</i>


    Then, a bell from the watchtower began to toll.


    After a short while, themotion inside the stockade began to grow louder.


    <i>Rumble, rumble—</i>


    With a heavy scraping noise, the enormous gate of the stockade started to open.


    Naturally, what emerged from within were members of the Demonic Race.


    About ten in total, the Demonic beings held their weapons at the ready, disying intense vignce toward us.


    “K-Kana… Can I hold your hand?”


    Perhaps feeling nervous at the Demonic beings’ tant hostility, Da-eun gripped my hand tightly.


    Her hand, as pale as her face, was damp with sweat.


    “Why are you so nervous?”


    “W-Why wouldn’t I be…? What if a fight breaks out…?”


    “We fought just finest time.”


    “T-That’s….”


    Da-eun mumbled and swallowed her words.


    The confidence she had disyed when confronting the one-armed swordsman had vanished, and she’d reverted to being a coward.


    See? People’s true nature doesn’t change that easily.


    Enjoying a moment of triumphant satisfaction, I squeezed Da-eun’s hand.


    “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”


    There’s no way I’d lose to enemies of that level.


    Da-eun, who had been staring nkly at me, suddenly smiled brightly.


    “Kana, is it okay if I fall for you?”


    “…That would be a bit troublesome.”


    “Haha, just kidding! There’s no way I’d fall for my little sister!”


    Still, that was pretty cool.


    Muttering softly to herself, she squeezed my hand back just as firmly.


    “With such a dependable little sister, why was I even nervous?”


    Although I was aware I’d just said something quite embarrassing…


    At least her tension had eased. That’s what mattered, right?


    “What business do you have in Laxia?”


    While we were chatting, one of the Demonic beings stepped forward and asked.


    Judging by his gear, the man who posed the question seemed to be the highest-ranking among the group.


    “I’ll exin.”


    Before I could answer, Celine stepped forward.


    The divine energy that bloomed from her hand gently swirled around us before reaching out to the Demonic beings.


    They, who had been startled by the sudden influx of divine power, felt the gentle touch of its energy soothing their bodies, and they gradually rxed, lowering their weapons.


    “Does this exnation suffice?”


    “…You’re a nun who serves Lady Edel, aren’t you?”


    The man’s previously stern demeanor shifted almost instantly.


    “Huh?”


    Regardless of Da-eun’s confusion over the sudden change in attitude, the man continued.


    Bowing his head deeply, he gestured with his hand.


    Following his signal, the group of Demonic beings that had surrounded us parted to either side.


    “Our apologies for the intrusion.”


    “No, you were just doing your duty. But may wee inside and continue this conversation?”


    “Anyone who serves Lady Edel is always wee.”


    Celine turned toward us and smiled brightly.


    “We’ve received permission, so let’s head inside.”