Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Volume 5 - A World Where Heads Are Flower Fields (4)
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"Ah..."
When I first read the book, I thought it was easy to understand and fun because of the pictures.
Especially since it seemed to unfold just like the stories Mom had told me about her and Dad's younger days, comparing the subtle differences and similarities was endlessly entertaining.
But starting from the part where the elf and the orc confirmed their love for each other and fought against the gazes of those around them, my chest started to tighten.
In truth, I'd been pretending not to know, but I was aware that Dad was constantly being harassed by those around him.
So when I heard today that orcs and half-orcs are treated poorly by society, my heart sank.
Ah, so I've been someone unwelcome from the moment I was born.
Yeah, that's probably unavoidable.
But deep down, it felt so unfair.
We hadn't done anything wrong. Mom and Dad loved each other and had me, and our family has no problems at all.
That's why I'd stubbornly insisted on going out to the city, fulfilling that wish.
"I'm so glad."
Still, the elf and orc in this book ended up marrying safely, just like my mom and dad.
This morning, when I heard Mom's prayer for me to have a child, and then saw the two of them in the book happily making that wish come true with joyful expressions...
I thought I wanted to experience such a beautiful love too.
And finally, at the end of the book, when the half-girl was born and smiled cutely, tears started flowing before I knew it.
"Is anyone home?"
Just then, there was a sudden knock at the door, followed by a familiar voice.
It was the voice of the girl who had given me this book earlier, wasn't it?
When I opened the door, she came in carrying a ton of food and set it all down.
"This is a gift. It's the famous dinner set said to be the best at this inn?"
"Th-this is...?"
"My treat! Let's eat together. Oh, was I too pushy? Hehe, I guess I got a bit carried away actually meeting a half-orc."
"...What is this, exactly?"
"A comic book?"
"Comic...?"
She explained that people called books made with pictures like this "comic books."
Hmm, that's not really the explanation I wanted.
I was pondering how to explain what I meant when she seemed to catch on and explained it herself.
"It's a comic drawn by a famous artist named Siu. It's been hugely popular among mages who already loved drawings, and lately, it's been selling like hotcakes in big cities like the capital, pulling in massive popularity at bookstores, right?"
"Th-then...?"
"Oh, you've read it, I see. Yeah. Reading that book really changed my view on orcs and half-orcs. I bet Siu did it on purpose to shift perspectives."
"Ah..."
That artist named Siu must have known exactly how orcs and the half-breeds born from them are treated.
So he wanted to share this incredibly realistic story with as many people as possible, helping them empathize and stop looking at them with prejudiced eyes.
Even though I'd never met the person, his warm heart came through so clearly that my own heart started to race.
"That's probably why the main couple is just named 'Orc' and 'Elf' without specifics. And the daughter's name seems to be 'Half' too."
"Hee..."
"Oh, this might be a bit sensitive, but... is a real orc-elf family anything like the one in the comic?"
"No! It's super similar! At first, I was shocked at how much it matched my mom and dad's story."
"Whoa, really!? So modern orcs are really that cool..."
"Yep! My dad's awesome!"
Hehe, now there are people who appreciate how cool my dad is.
This book really was amazing in so many ways.
From what I knew, the dislike for half-orcs stemmed from emotional scars left by a long war, making it hard to persuade people otherwise.
Yet someone had managed to resolve it with just this one book.
And this person in front of me, smiling and offering me food, had grown fond of me because of it.
"At first, I was really surprised."
"Oh, sorry. I was too pushy, wasn't I?"
"No, not that. I thought I had to hide being a half-orc. Mom had drilled it into me."
"Yeah... I should have brought it up more carefully."
"No. You've talked to me, taught me so much, and even bought me dinner. I'm the one who's grateful."
After that, she introduced me to sights worth seeing in the capital, recommended restaurants, and such.
She helped and guided me so much.
She didn't treat me like a kid who shouldn't go somewhere if I said I wanted to; she'd even go with me and explain things!
She was truly a good person.
And the many people I met during my trip in the capital really had changed their views because of that book and welcomed me.
Most were kind folks who asked if I'd suffered from those looks until now and comforted me.
Because of that, the fears of being discriminated against by someone mostly faded away.
In the past, thinking of the elves and other races who harassed Dad brought scary flashbacks.
But now, knowing not everyone is like that, even if I encountered such a situation, I'd be okay.
"Thank you so much this time!"
"You're welcome, Orca. We'll probably meet again if fate allows."
"Yes! I'll look forward to that day!"
Thanks to her, my birthday gift project of traveling the capital alone ended successfully.
I returned home happily clutching the 'The Elf Dreaming of an Affair with an Orc Feels Frustrated Again Today' she'd gifted me.
The moment I arrived, Mom and Dad hugged me as if they'd been worried sick, and I burst out laughing.
"Mom, Dad! I want to be a mage!"
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Read this! It's by this super famous artist named Siu...!"
I wanted to draw comics like that too.
To make someone as happy as I was now.
It was the first time I'd ever thought about wanting to do something like that as a job.
However...
"This won't work. Sorry. It'd be nice if you'd taken after Mom in this at least."
"Hiiiing..."
So I started practicing magic and drawing, but I couldn't draw anything decent.
I wasn't just bad at drawing; if the pen didn't rip the paper, it was a miracle.
Does that mean I can't draw comics?
"Orca, what if you thought about it a little differently?"
"Differently...?"
"The person who drew this is an amazing mage, right? But when it comes to fighting, a mage always needs a knight by their side."
"A knight..."
"So if you became a knight protecting the person who draws such awesome comics, wouldn't that help with the comics too?"
"Maybe!"
Luckily, I took after Dad physically, and I was confident in moving my body.
After Dad taught me the basics, he praised me, saying I definitely had talent.
So if I become the knight for that artist Siu who drew the comic and protect her?
The moment I saw potential in swordsmanship, I immediately wrote a letter to Artist Siu.
Saying I'd be her sword, I'd protect her, I'd dedicate my life to her.
I filled it with all the cool lines I'd heard before, on pretty stationery I never even used for Mom or Dad's birthdays.
"I'm off!"
"Wait, Orca!?"
Clutching the letter, I barged straight to the capital.
From what I'd heard before, this book was hugely popular in the capital.
So the Siu who sells it must be here too, right?
"Um, excuse me. This comic... do you know where I could meet the artist?"
Most just shook their heads, saying they didn't know.
But a kind older sister told me that if I went to a place called an exhibition hall for drawings and comics, I might get lucky and meet one.
The moment I heard that, I rushed to the exhibition hall.
"Wow..."
Inside were so many paintings and comic books on display.
And I spotted people who looked like artists busily exchanging drawings and chatting.
If anywhere, Siu the artist must be here, right?
"Um, excuse me... is there no way to meet Artist Siu who drew this comic?"
"Sorry. Artist Siu's information is kept private."
"Oh, I see..."
I asked the staff, but they only said they couldn't tell me.
In the end, even coming this far, I couldn't find Artist Siu.
Still, having come all this way, it felt wasteful to leave empty-handed, so I started admiring the large cover illustrations on display.
That's when I noticed a man intently scanning the area and the staff member who'd guided me earlier catching my eye.
And I overheard their conversation—it was about 'The Elf Dreaming of an Affair with an Orc Feels Frustrated Again Today,'
discussing its sales and impact.
Hearing that, I wondered if that man might be Artist Siu.
The moment the staff separated from the man, I clung to her, making a fuss that he was Artist Siu.
"Th-this is a problem. We have rules, so we can't share that info..."
"Then I'll shout out loud right now that you're Artist Siu and call for you!"
"No, he's not Artist Siu..."
In the end, she gave up and told me he was Artist Siu's disciple.
I was a bit disappointed at first that he wasn't the artist himself, but after thinking it over, I realized there was no need to just be disappointed.
If he's Artist Siu's disciple, I can just ask him to pass the letter on!
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