146 Mushoku Tensei

There once was a young girl, rescued some 200 years ago from a Labyrinth.
However, that girl lost all her memory and emotions.
Her identity unknown, but from appearance her race could be determined.
Thus, that girl was dropped off at that race's village and begun her life there.
The villagers happily welcomed that girl.

That girl never regain her memories.
But few years later, emotions did return to her.
Soon that bright and cheerful girl fell for a boy of the village, and they became lovers.

Soon they married, but from then a strange problem appeared.
Her sexual appetite grew and grew.
Every night she craved for him.

The race that girl belonged to lacks strong sexual appetite.
Inferior to human or goblins.
Because of that, the boy often felt troubled, but still they lived a quiet life.

Soon afterwards, that girl's body began to change.

Starting from her first time with a boy, every time of the month, she gave birth to something.
A magical crystal.
A small and round magical crystal.
Containing enormous magic power, it could be sold for a high price.
With her husband they discussed it.
Although it made him slightly uncomfortable, never less he accepts her.

Afterwards, the boy sold the magical crystal in the city.
The enormous sums blinded him... But it wasn't his fault, so don't blame the boy.
Not particularly wealthy, nor did the girl work.
At least, the boy did not treat that girl as a golden goose.
They lived happily together.

It happened 5 years later.

The boy died.
He was murdered.
Carrying valuables so regularly, he was marked by human bandits, attacked, losing both life and money.
The boy died, and that girl became a widow.

Ten days after his death.
That girl lost control of herself and attacked another boy in the village.
She knew she shouldn't, yet she did.
But the target didn't really mind, so the matter rests.

Ten days passed.
That girl attacked another boy.
Another ten days, then another.
That girl went wild, her actions exposed, and finally caught by the girls of the village.

Thus she was cast out the village.
Thereafter, she lived as a prostitute, a slave, and finally an adventurer, and even now she wanders the world.

---

Listening to Elinalise's story was the first thing I did this morning.

"... Pretty much that's my life's story."
"I don't really need that much detail..."

Honestly, I feel rather bothered by that story.
ALl I really need is information about curses.
Yet, Elinalise went ahead and told me everything.

"I'm sorry for hiding this from you all this time."
"Does... Cliff know about this?"
"Of course, I told him everything before the wedding."
"Right... and Sylphy?"
"Sylphy doesn't know.  Her grandma was once a prostitute, isn't it better if she doesn't?"
"I think Sylphy wouldn't mind something like this..."
"Rudeus too, please don't look at Sylphy differently after hearing these things.  That girl may be of my blood, but she's just a normal girl."
"Of course.  Me too."

Elinalise is Elinalise, Sylphy is Sylphy.
Still, with a past like hers, I can understand why she wasn't so forthcoming as Sylphy's grandma.
Most people would probably look at her at a differnt light.
What's past is past.
One shouldn't run from one's past, but only I know of it is enough.

"Well, in summary, what is this curse Elinalise speaks of?"
"Magic crystalize within my body after fertilized by men.  Without sperm, magic will expand until I die.  That sort of feeling."
"But, nothing happened in the first few years?"
"I'm not very sure myself about that... But back then, my monthlies haven't start yet, so that might be the case."
"Monthlies..."

So it's related to menstruation.  Magic crystallized from her eggs?
In that case, Zenith's curse is probably something different.
Zenith already have two kids.
I should check with Lilia, but Zenith should be 35 or so, so it's possible.
Still, at least for now, nothing has happened.

"Memory, did it ever return?"
"No, still nothing."
"..."

Her memory never came back.
So who Elinalise actually is, we may never know.
It's still possible that she would suddenly know one day.
But after 200 years, I doubt it.

"Well, Zenith is different from 'that girl' back then.  At least right now, she seems to recognize her flesh and blood.  Maybe her memories can recover."
"It'd be great if that's the case."

I shouldn't be too opportunistic.
Rather, I should just assume the worse and plan from there.

"What about the curse?"
"For now, no symptoms of like mine."
"Right."
"She probably... have a different curse."
"Right."
"Highly likely.  Do you have an idea?"

Idea?
Clues?
Well.
Maybe, maybe not.
I don't have any clue for the curse.

"Nothing."
"Is that so.  Still, can't be too careful."

Probably not a life threatening one.
But as Elinalise said, there might be a trigger somewhere.

"In other words, all we can do now is wait and see?"
"Yeah."

Not too opportunistic.
Hopefully, nothing will happen to Zenith in the future.

"That's everything I know.  I'm sorry.  There's a lot I don't want to talk about, so I was so late to tell you these things."

Elinalise looks downcast after those words.
Yeah, it's a little late.
If it was someone else, he'd yell at her for not saying anything until now.
But I can understand wanting to hide a dark past.
Rather, I should be the one apologizing for hiding my past life.

"No, it's obviously something hard to talk about, yet you told me anyways.  I'm really thankful."

I hold out a hand to Elinalise.
She hold it tightly.

"Then, I'm heading back to Cliff's."
"I'll take a break, then head over to check in with Nanahoshi."
"Ah, then see you later."

Elinalise left the room with those words.

In the end, not much progress regarding Zenith.
Although a curse is highly likely, at least so far nothing happened.
Prepare for now, we'll deal with situations as they arise.

---