Chapter 188 188 – A Kid’s Life

<A small town on the outskirts of Ashenburg Kingdom, north of Ascaind country>

A light green-haired woman was running through the streets in the night. She held a little girl's hand.

"M-mommy, I can't take it anymore!" The little girl, maybe not even ten years old, was crying.

"We can't stop, Noel!" The woman snapped. "We have to run from them!"

The little girl tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground. Her cries grew louder, but her mother forced her to stand, even though one of her knees was bleeding.

"Listen to mommy!" The mother crouched before her daughter. "Everything will be finished if we…."

"That's them!!!"

The scream made the mother raise her head. Several men had emerged from an intersection and were running toward them.

"You rotten elves! How could you steal my fruits!?"

"They are pests!!!"

"We have to kill them!!!"

The elf mother lifted her daughter's body, then ran away from those people.

"I-I don't need to be carried." The little girl was trying to talk while crying. "Doesn't your shoulder hurt?"

"It's okay, Noel." The mother smiled, even though she winced in pain.

Unfortunately, the woman's speed was dropping. Apart from carrying loads, she was also out of breath and stamina.

The men were getting closer, shouting harshly.

And suddenly, another group of men appeared from a different direction, blocking that woman.

She stopped, looking around in both directions. See no way out, she hugged her daughter tightly and closed her eyes.

Seconds passed. The mother didn't feel any beatings or anything like that from the men. She heard screams of pain from both sides instead.

She opened her eyes and saw a female figure with black wings giving combination kicks to the men on one side. Looking to the other side, she found a similar figure. This second figure used its slender tail to slash at the men, injuring their bodies.

And in no time, the men were lying down. Some had fainted, and others were whimpering from their injuries.

The two figures, one with long black hair and the other with short light brown hair, approached the mother and daughter from two directions.

"It's safe now." Xenora gave a warm smile. "There's nothing to be afraid of anymore."

"We were lucky to meet you two." The other succubus added. "We almost gave up after knowing that the elven area had been completely burned."

"Come on." The succubus general reached out her hand. "We're going to a safe place."

The mother looked at Xenora with tears, then fell to her knees and sobbed.

***

"Yeah, the people of this town really hate that elven slump. They burned down our place, and the survivors scattered all over town." The elf mother answered Xenora's question while looking at the bonfire. They had moved to the forest on the outskirts of town.

Xenora replied. "That's awful."

"Well, most of us are a nuisance to them. To survive, we can only beg, sell ourselves, pickpocket… We have no choice. Society in this country does not accept us."

Xenora watched as Noel ate some bread while her left leg was treated by a shapeshifter. That's her second bread. Apparently, she was so starving.

No one knows why, and since when humans have not accepted the elves. They are always associated with negative things such as laziness, stealing, robbery, begging, and others. The only good skill they have is making musical instruments.

Xenora was sure this would not happen if they were accepted by society and given jobs. It was better than gathering them together in a city with no clear solution, as the government of Ashenburg did fifty years ago.

That city is nameless and only known as the city of the elves. The distance is pretty close to this city.

"So…." Xenora kept looking at the elven daughter, who had just finished eating. "If I may ask, why were you exiled from the city of elves, Mrs. Dilya?"

The elf mother took a deep breath, then parted Noel's hair, showing the little girl's ears that weren't as sharp as her mother's. "I had an illicit relationship with a human, and she was born. The elves think she is a disgrace to our bloodline. Her father also didn't care about us."

Noel lay her head on her mother's lap with tears in her eyes.

"Thanks," Dilya said to the shapeshifter, who turned to treat her shoulder with magic. "We don't know where else to go, miss. So, I will comply with the demon lord's request. I will lend my womb to the fairy fetus. As long as we can find food and shelter."

"We promise to meet all your needs," Xenora answered. "And we will protect you and your child."

This made Lord Vorn order Xenora to look for an elven woman in the slump, not in the city of elves. Xenora could easily find a woman who would do anything without a second thought.

"Thank you." Dilya smiled and started to shed tears again. "This means a lot to us."

***

Xenora sat on a large branch of a tree. His mind is full of various things. Her new title, Phisovia, lord Vorn, and the fate of the elves.

And then, one of her underlings, who had helped her help Dylia and Noel, flew up to her.

"It's not your time to be on guard yet, Nimyra," Xenora muttered without looking at that woman. "Go back to sleep, or I will whip your ass many times."

"I can't sleep, lady Xenora. I've been like that lately." Nimyra sighed. "It's because of what you said about being the judge."

Xenora raised an eyebrow. "You disagree with that? Forget it. Lord Vorn won't change his mind."

"It is not like that…." Nimyra gulped. "We don't mind you being the judge. However, as for your replacement as general…."

Xenora suddenly grabbed her subordinate by the neck.

"You disapprove of her as general? Just so you know, madam Phisovia has been with Lord Vorn longer than I have." Xenora gave Nymira a sharp look. "She was the first succubus regiment general. And she is awake now, so she will continue her duties."

"B-but very few of us know lady Phisovia." Nymira struggled to speak. "I've talked to our comrades in this group, and I think others have the same opinion. How can we trust and follow the orders of someone who has never been with us…. We want a solid army, right?"

Xenora tightened her grip on Nymira's neck. "I repeat. Lord Vorn chose madam Phisovia, and I agree with him."

"P-please listen to me, lady Xenora. It is also for the good of the succubus regiment."

Xenora kept looking at the suffering face of her second in command.