Chapter 7: The Half-Elf Girl
On the cold, dark experiment table, she had experienced despair countless times.
Her name was Elma, a half-elf girl.
The flesh and blood of a half-demon born between a human and an elf apparently sold for a high price as an alchemical catalyst.
Elma had been bought by a corrupt alchemist.
Her limbs were cut off while she was still alive, and she was exploited repeatedly.
Agonizing pain and terror were the only things that filled her world.
Once she was no longer useful, she was handed over to smugglers.
However, while being transported to another country, they were attacked by monsters.
Seeing her as dead weight, they abandoned her by the roadside.
The one who picked up Elma, who had been waiting only for death, was an adventurer from the Madeucas Empire who happened to pass by.
And now, she woke up on a soft bed, surrounded by the faintly sweet scent of chamomile.
“Huh…?”
Her hands and legs, which had been cut off, had grown back exactly as they were before.
Gently touching the beautiful skin that did not even bear a single scar, Elma gasped.
“Are you awake?”
A refined voice, clear like the ringing of a bell, spoke as a beautiful woman leaned over to look at her.
Her name was Lieselotte.
She was the one who had given Elma a potion created with alchemy and regenerated her lost limbs.
‘Alchemy… can do something this amazing?’
For Elma, alchemy had been nothing more than a cursed technique used to take lives and tear them apart.
This was the first time she realized that such a warm and miraculous art that could save lives existed.
“How does your body feel?”
“What are you planning to do from now on?”
When asked gently, Elma’s eyes wandered uncertainly.
“I don’t know.”
“My parents are already dead, and I’m a half-demon who is hated by others.”
There was no place for her to return to.
However, thanks to being trapped in that hellish laboratory for so long, she ironically had knowledge of herbs and catalysts engraved into her mind.
“Is there anything you’re good at?”
“…Because I stayed beside a corrupt alchemist, I know a little about materials.”
At Elma’s quiet words, Lieselotte smiled gently and gracefully.
“Then why don’t you work here?”
Startled by the unexpected offer, Elma quickly lifted her head.
“At your place?”
“Yes.”
“My atelier has been short on help, and I’ve been having trouble because of it.”
She felt truly happy that someone had reached out a helping hand to her.
However, dark feelings still passed through her heart.
“But someone like me…”
“I’m nothing more than worthless trash.”
The moment those self-deprecating words left her mouth, Lieselotte’s eyes gained a quiet light.
It was not pity, but a straightforward gaze that carried firm strength.
“You mustn’t belittle yourself like that.”
Lieselotte gently wrapped Elma’s hands in her own and spoke with a dignified voice.
“Self-pity is meaningless.”
“It truly is meaningless.”
Those words resonated deeply, as if Lieselotte herself were also reminding herself of them.
“Even if you pity yourself, nothing will improve, and your heart will only grow sick.”
“Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, it’s better to take pride in who you are and keep walking forward.”
Warmth slowly spread deep within Elma’s chest.
‘This person…’
‘She’s so kind.’
‘To reach out a hand to someone like me, a half-demon she’s never even met before…’
It almost felt too convenient, as if there might be something hidden behind such kindness.
But Elma simply could not believe that this person was evil.
After all, she had used a miraculous medicine on someone like Elma without hesitation, even though she had no money.
No villain would do such a thing.
‘This… is a chance given by the goddess.’
The tightly wound thread in her heart finally snapped, and large tears began spilling endlessly from her eyes.
“I’m so happy.”
“Please let me work here!”
While sobbing, she bowed deeply, her shoulders trembling.
Lieselotte gently stroked Elma’s back.
“Yes, of course.”
“What is your name?”
A new world began spreading before Elma’s eyes like light.
She wiped her tears and proudly declared her name.
“My name is Elma.”