Chapter 306: My Friend Is Me

Human nature is complex.

Virtues such as humility, compassion, care, unity, and kindness truly exist.

But that kindness is limited only to humans and to existences that humans recognize.

Clearly, the skeletal monster is not among them.

The girl, plagued by a wizard's curse and eroded by the aura of the undead, had long since become a hideous existence.

She lost her beautiful face, becoming ugly and terrifying.

She lost her fair skin, with pale, skeletal bones clearly visible.

She lost her beating heart, her Soul Fire glaring and impossible to hide.

"Get out, monster!"

"Quick, quick, kill this monster!"

Angry stones were thrown, and ruthless blades slashed at her.

Sevia Claufeel.

The emerald that once bloomed in the sunlight experienced human malice for the first time, watching in terror and helplessness as people called her a monster.

It shouldn't be like this; it shouldn't have been this way.

Sevia had no intention of harming anyone.

She only wanted to protect the people of the Claufeel Territory as much as she could, even though so much time had passed, so long that people had forgotten the name.

Yet, the young girl who grew up listening to stories of "heroes" still wanted to protect innocent people in this dangerous world.

At the very least, she could not let her deceased parents down.

That was what Sevia thought, but the villagers did not feel the same.

With terrified and fearful expressions, they roared as they drove away the undead Sevia.

In the end, Sevia had no choice but to flee.

In the most pathetic state, she stumbled and fell to the ground, only to stand up again and run away.

She could not do it.

She could not bring herself to swing her sword at the fearful people.

So, she could only choose to run.

She fled very, very far away, so far that only decay and the stench of rot were her companions, returning to her home that had long since collapsed into ruins.

"Lord Wizard."

In the damp, withered forest after the rain, the sound of dripping water echoed crisply.

The hero, clad in heavy armor with half her body hidden in the darkness, appeared somewhat small.

Her voice was hesitant and lost: "Do you think…"

"Whether a person is good or bad should be determined by their appearance or by their inner self."

"My… friend."

"Sevia, she really, really wants to know the answer to this question."

Her hands crossed unconsciously, rubbing the rust between her fingers.

Inside the heavy armor, the undead girl waited for Xu Xi's answer.

That voice was so hoarse and trembling, as if filled with lead sand.

It was sharp and unpleasant to the ear.

It even affected the withered branches overhead, causing water droplets to fall faster, one after another, splashing right before Xu Xi's eyes.

"An answer, huh…" Xu Xi recalled the previous simulations.

Finally, he spoke to the girl in front of him, who was wrapped tightly in armor.

"I don't know."

"Why?"

This answer left the girl unable to understand; she appeared incredulous.

Even through the heavy iron helmet, Xu Xi could feel that invisible gaze of astonishment, silently expressing her confusion.

Xu Xi met her gaze: "A person's goodness or badness depends on many aspects; it is neither solely based on appearance nor solely on the inner self."

"In this world, there is actually no absolute answer."

"Whether one is good or bad, no one can say for sure."

"Moreover, I have never felt that my own goodness or badness requires the judgment of others."

Recalling the third simulation, leading the Qiuhuo Army to attack Daqian and hearing the angry curses of the Daqian officials, Xu Xi shook his head.

"In a person's life, what is actually most important is to believe in oneself enough."

"Don't need to pay attention to others' words?"

"You can pay attention, or you can ignore them. The final choice isn't important; what's important is that you are the one who makes that choice."

Inside the armor, the undead girl fell silent.

The wizard before her was too peculiar.

He was not as evil as those she had encountered before; he did not wantonly toy with the Souls of the living, and he even spoke some strange yet inexplicably profound words.

He seemed… to be a good wizard.

"Thank you for your guidance."

As if unburdened, the undead girl's Soul Fire became somewhat active, and she politely thanked Xu Xi.

"If my friend were here, I believe she would also… be grateful for your answer."

The girl's words were somewhat clumsy.

She kept saying "friend," masking a lie that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Amidst the sound of falling water, the undead girl asked Xu Xi one last question.

"Lord Wizard, do you think… Sevia, my friend, can she still be considered human?"

The girl added: "She believes she is still truly human, but she still wants to hear what others think."

In the dark night, a bright fire was flickering.

It was the light of a Soul, hollow and devoid of spirit, yet burning fiercely.

An invisible yearning burst forth into the air; it was a fragile and painful Soul waiting for Xu Xi's answer, waiting for affirmation of its heart.

The withered forest was so quiet that the Soul felt uneasy.

Finally, the girl waited for a beam of "light" to appear.

"Of course. Even if the body has become undead, the mind is undoubtedly human."

A voice turned into light, tearing through the silent dark night.

That sound of cracking was crisp and resounding, yet it held a silent warmth.

Beaten, insulted, driven away, and attacked.

The "hero" who had stood up after countless setbacks was now somewhat broken.

She was dazed for a long time.

"…Thank you."

Inside the armor, the voice was still hoarse and unpleasant, but it held a newfound sense of relief and brightness.

The emerald of the Claufeel Family was the most fearless knight.

Even alone, she would bravely advance with sword in hand.

She knew she had never been a hero.

She was aware that she was pitifully weak.

She wasn't even sure if her actions had any meaning; she was simply atoning, suffering because she had ended her parents' lives with her own hands, longing to do more right things to make up for it.

"Monster!"

"Devil!"

"Demon!"

People loathed her, driving her away and attacking her time and time again.

Even wearing armor to hide her true face, she could still hear the malice of the people.

But today, someone acknowledged Sevia's existence, speaking with a tone of firm conviction, believing that within that monster-like body, a human heart existed.

"…Thank you."

The undead girl thanked him once more.

She felt some guilt and self-reproach.

She placed her hands on her helmet, and with trembling motions, slowly removed the steel helmet, once again revealing her hideous and terrifying face.

The girl seemed to have made a decision.

"Lord Wizard, you previously asked me about my real name and the reason for this body's alienation."

"I will give you the answer now."

"Actually, I am…"

"Sevia Claufeel!"

The night was very quiet.

Sevia waited for Xu Xi's reaction, but Xu Xi remained expressionless, sitting where he was, watching her with unblinking eyes.

There was neither surprise nor astonishment.

Sevia was somewhat bewildered: "Are you not surprised? Just… about my identity."

"Sevia."

"Ah, yes, I'm here."

"Has anyone ever told you that you actually… aren't very good at chatting?"

"Eh, how did you know?!"