Beast.
This is how everyone felt about the Doragunov people after hearing Belserion's story.
Compared to their deeds, Belserion's revenge methods are relatively mild; after all, no matter how he retaliates, his targets are merely a bunch of dead people.
Meanwhile, Erin, pregnant and betrayed by her husband and ministers, endured countless tortures just to protect the child in her womb.
No wonder they say a mother's love is the greatest force in the world.
Elusa felt a tightness in her chest; she looked up at the sky, only to feel a warm trickle on her left cheek, and when she touched it she realized she had been shedding tears without noticing.
It was just an irrelevant story, yet... why do I feel so sad? My tears just won't stop.
Hop watched Elusa wiping her tears and was surprised that the usually tough female knight also had this side; after all, she's a woman, being emotional is normal.
But he immediately noticed something odd: only her left eye was shedding tears.
"Elusa, what about your right eye?"
Hearing her companion's concerned voice, Elusa instinctively gave a reassuring smile, "It's nothing, it's just that the tears from this eye have long since dried up."
"That's exactly why it's abnormal; no one's tears just dry up," Hop still wasn't convinced. "We'll check with Grandma Borusika after the guild meeting."
Elusa shook her head, her expression suddenly turning sorrowful, "No, this eye is a prosthetic that Grandma Borusika gave me; my original right eye was damaged."
Hop was stunned, feeling like slapping himself for being so nagging; now he'd uncovered someone else's painful secret.
Hop fell silent, but Belserion's concern followed, "Child, let me look at your eye; perhaps I can help."
Elusa lifted her head and met Belserion's slightly tense massive dragon eye.
A few minutes later, Belserion breathed a sigh of relief, "The healer who fixed your eye is highly skilled; this magical prosthetic has fully merged with your body and is now a true eye."
"The reason it can't shed tears is probably psychological."
Belserion's gentle voice sounded like a kindly old grandfather, "Child, tell me what you've been through all these years."
Elusa nodded, opened her mouth, and instantly realized something was off—they had been talking about Erin, why had it suddenly turned to her?
"Um, I still don't understand why you thought I should know Erin's news earlier."
Hearing Elusa abruptly steer the conversation back, Belserion let out a long sigh, a complex emotion flashing in his dragon eye.
"I thought you might know about Erin because you bear an unmistakable mark, child."
"What mark?" Elusa asked instinctively.
"When you touched the stone tablet, I sensed a familiar magical resonance."
The wise dragon said slowly, "Your magical signature is almost identical to hers, and more importantly... in appearance, personality, even that resilience, you closely resemble Erin."
"Child, do you think such a likeness could appear from a faint blood relation?"
"You... you mean..."
Elusa's eyes widened, her voice trembling in a way she hadn't noticed, "I and Queen Erin..."
"You are her daughter, Elusa."
Belserion's voice was decisive, full of unquestionable confidence, "She is my dear friend Erin, and her blood line continues in this world!"
This revelation hit harder than any previous information.
The archaeologists were stunned; Old Buck and Derek gaped, Hop wore an expression of utter shock, looking at Elusa as if seeing her for the first time.
"Elusa is the daughter of Erin, the 'Mother of the Dragon‑slaying Mage' from four hundred years ago?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Because Belserion's words were so shocking, Hop clenched his thigh hard; the pain confirmed that what he had just seen wasn't a hallucination.
"Whew, I almost thought I'd drunk the innkeeper's mushroom soup this morning and hallucinated."
"But this is even more absurd than a hallucination!!"
Elusa herself felt as if struck by lightning, stumbling back a step, her face turning pale, "No, this can't be... how could a human live four hundred years?"
"I was an orphan, found at the church gate..."
Seeing Elusa unable to accept it, Belserion spoke again, "I don't know exactly what Erin went through later, but the moment I first saw you, I knew you were her daughter."
Elusa's mind was in chaos.
"I am Erin's daughter?"
"The queen who endured three years of inhuman torment for her child... is my mother?"
"And my father... is the husband who betrayed her and led the torture?"
A huge sense of absurdity clenched Elusa's heart like a giant hand. She had imagined countless possible parentage scenarios as a child, never expecting the truth to be so heavy.
A hint of guilt flashed in Belserion's dragon eye; had he not slept, had he used his last ounce of strength, perhaps Erin and her daughter wouldn't have suffered so much.
But in reality there is no "if"... Watching Elusa curled beneath the stone tablet, silently weeping, the others wanted to comfort her, yet everyone present, including Belserion, were men who didn't know how to console.
Only Hop came to her side, sitting beside her against the stone tablet; he could feel the girl's slight tremor, the barely audible sobs more heartbreaking than a wail.
The steadfast female knight who always brandished a sword and shielded her comrades now finally showed her softer side.
After a while, Hop spoke gently, "I know saying 'don't be sad' or 'it's over' now is useless. After all, anyone would break down in this situation."
Elusa said nothing, only burying her face deeper.
Hop scratched his messy hair and continued, "But Elusa, you're not a discarded orphan. Your birth itself is a miracle, brought about by that great mother's unimaginable will and love."
"I don't know what happened later, but I think you were left at the church gate not because Erin stopped loving you."
"On the contrary, I believe she faced some circumstance and left you to protect you; after all, your mother suffered the deepest betrayal... so she would never let you fall into danger again."
"Hop, I understand..."
Elusa's shoulders twitched slightly, her voice choked, "I just don't know how to face all this."
Hop turned his head, looking seriously at Elusa's profile, "What's there to face? You are you, Elusa, a Fairy‑Tail mage; that will never change."
"But..."
"There is no 'but'."
Hop cut her off, his tone firm, "Queen Erin was a great mother; she surely wants you to be happy and safe."
"As for that terrible father, you don't know his name or his face; to you he's a complete stranger, a person you don't even want to think about, so there's nothing to worry about."
Elusa finally lifted her head slowly; her eyes were still red, but the sorrow and turmoil in them had eased considerably.
"Hop..."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
Elusa's voice was still a bit hoarse, but regained her usual composure; Hop was right—being tangled in that man's bloodline was meaningless.
Her bonds with her companions wouldn't change because of blood, and more importantly, Elusa now knew her birth was deeply anticipated and guarded by her mother.
Although they don't know where Erin went, they will meet again someday.
Hop slapped his thigh, stood up, and extended his hand, "So, my lady queen, are you feeling better now?"
Elusa looked at Hop's outstretched hand, hesitated, then took it.
After Hop helped her up, Elusa brushed dust off her armor, straightened her back, and the familiar, sword‑like sharp aura returned to her.
She turned to Belserion and gave a deep bow.
"Belserion... uncle, thank you for telling me the truth. It may be hard to digest now, but knowing my mother loves me is enough."
Seeing Elusa revitalized, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief; a satisfied glow shone in the wise dragon's eyes.
"Erin, it seems your daughter grew up in a good place. She has the same resilient spirit as you and has found reliable companions there."
The gloom may still linger, but sunlight has already pierced through.
"By the way, Elusa, you've called me uncle now, so this uncle will give you a welcome gift." Belserion's dragon claw drew a circle in the air.
A magical array instantly appeared before Elusa; in golden light, seven sharp swords of varied shapes, each set with different colored gems, slowly materialized.
Even before touching them, Elusa could feel the terrible magic within the seven weapons; any one of them possessed power far beyond all her current armor.
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