I just feel angry.
Even if you throw a bone to a stray dog, it will remember you for two or three days, but Claire healed that man, and he forgot about Claire in less than an hour.
Even if it’s not his fault, it still makes me angry, especially when he treats Claire like a monster.
It’s precisely because I know no one can be blamed that this anger is even more intense.
Claire’s bitter smile deepened as she put her snow-white shawl back on.
“If it were the old me, I would definitely be angry, but ten years have passed, and I’ve gotten used to it.
That man forgot me simply because I didn’t leave a deep enough impression on him.
Otherwise, he should remember my name clearly, like that slum leader.”
“It’s not that the impression wasn’t deep enough; it’s because of the curse.”
Fia lifted her head to correct.
“I know it’s the curse, but we have no way to remove it, so all that’s left is to accept reality and slowly try to change it, right?”
“Ha, dwelling on this topic won’t do any good.
Speaking of which, is there really no way to remove this curse? If it was born from violating the rules of the gods, then shouldn’t we seek the gods to resolve it?”
Although Fia is a complete atheist and doesn’t believe in gods or ghosts, this is a magical world, and the myths and legends here aren’t as illogical and chaotic as those in the human alliance.
They can be verified and matched, so Fia doesn’t completely doubt the existence of gods in this world.
However, because the actions of the gods are too clearly recorded in the myths, Fia can’t help but think that the gods here lack the mystery, making them seem less like gods.
Fia often feels that the gods worshipped by the people of this world are very different from the ‘God’ she understands.
“I did try to find out…” To Fia’s surprise, Claire showed a thoughtful expression.
“The reason I stayed in the Holy Nation of Milcandis instead of other countries is that I once sought an oracle from the Goddess of Life, who is said to have created life.”
“And what was the result?” Although Fia knew that if there was a result, Claire wouldn’t be like this now, she couldn’t help but want to know the specifics.
“The result was that the oracle contained nothing.” Claire spread her hands with a helpless expression.
“It wasn’t that there was no response, but the response was ‘nothing.’ In other words, the Goddess of Life heard the request of the Pope of the Yuna Church and responded, but the response contained nothing.”
“What does that mean?”
“At that time, the Pope asked the Goddess of Life how to remove the curse on Claire.
From this question, it can be inferred that either the Goddess of Life doesn’t know what to do, or my existence is too strange for the Goddess of Life to bother with me.
Of course, the Pope’s explanation was the latter, as the church cannot allow a problem that even the gods can’t solve to exist in the world.”
“So, is it actually the former, that even the Goddess of Life doesn’t know how to solve Claire’s curse?” That would be quite dramatic.
Just like Fia’s view, Claire smiled like an older sister and patted Fia’s head.
“I guess that’s it.
The one who set the rules doesn’t know how to solve situations outside the rules.
The gods aren’t omnipotent.”
Maybe it’s the wrong god to ask.
Without voicing her whimsical thoughts, Fia kept pace with Claire.
Claire’s touch made Fia a bit embarrassed, but she also enjoyed it.
It’s not that Fia lacks a sense of shame, but this was something she hadn’t experienced before.
Claire didn’t give Fia the feeling of being the same age, so instead of shyly brushing off Claire’s hand, Fia felt it was better to maintain the status quo—after all, no one would see it, and it felt like getting closer to Claire, almost warm.
Have I gained an older sister? If it’s Claire, that’s not bad.
Once this awareness emerged, what was originally just a novelty for Fia suddenly mixed with other emotions from the touch on her head, making her feel more at ease.
If Fia had to describe this feeling, it would probably be the transition from “acquaintance” to “the big sister next door.”
If I could rely on Claire like a little sister to sleep—hey, what am I thinking! If Claire weren’t beside her, Fia would have slapped her own face.
To think of such shameless things, and with the premise of being a “little sister.” Even though she had decided to become the elf princess, this adaptation was too fast.
Of course, thinking this way, Fia couldn’t help but slightly imagine the scene she had just thought of—how enviable.
“What’s wrong? Your face is all red.”
Noticing Fia’s slowing pace, Claire couldn’t help but lower her head to look at Fia’s face.
This action made Fia freeze.
When the object of your daydreams suddenly leans in to look at you, anyone would be startled and then deeply embarrassed.
Fia turned her head away, deliberately avoiding Claire’s hand that was patting her head, leaving only a side profile for the latter.
“N-nothing.
I was just thinking if there’s anything we can do to lessen the curse’s impact.”
Fia awkwardly changed the subject.
Claire brushed her silver hair in front of her forehead and smiled wryly.
“A curse isn’t an injury; it can’t be healed with magic.”
“No, what I mean is, if we expand Claire’s influence, let more people, like everyone in Aurora City, remember Claire, wouldn’t that, to some extent, negate the curse’s effect?”
“Isn’t that impossible?”
“But isn’t that what Claire is trying to do? By treating the sick in the slums, using the favor of saving lives to counteract the curse’s effects of forgetfulness and fear.
Although it doesn’t work for everyone, the slum leader is a positive example.”
“He doesn’t fear Claire and can remember Claire’s name.
Claire also mentioned that the orc girl she helped before was initially afraid of Claire, but over time, she became able to remember Claire for a long time and wasn’t afraid of you at all.
So as long as you give people long-term stimulation, letting them remember what ‘Claire’ has done, the curse is lifted.”
Although it’s limited to within Aurora City, and even only to those who live there long-term, even so, it’s much better than walking alone.
However, for Fia’s proposal, Claire’s beautiful face only showed helplessness.
She understood what Fia meant, but making everyone in Aurora City remember her was easier said than done.
Not to mention that after making an effort, there might be no reward.
The slum leader did remember her, but that was the result of her frequently going to the slums to treat the sick, and Fia didn’t mention an important point: the orc girl she adopted forgot everything related to her a year after leaving her.
Outsiders’ memories of the existence of “Claire” always have a time limit, and she can’t make tens of thousands of people see the existence of “Claire” every day.
