I Was Just an Ugly Girl, But in Another World They Call Me an Angel - 22 - You Saved Me, Who Was Called the Child of the Devil

As Asphalt stared intently at the flames of the campfire, he spoke softly.

“Saint… could you spare a moment to listen to my story?”

His voice was quiet, yet it carried a deep sorrow.

“…My mother was just a maid serving in a noble’s mansion.

One night, the master of the house… took her without her being able to resist.

And I was born from that.

Every time my mother looked at my face, she cried.

‘Why do you have such a face…’ she would say.

Surely… she loved me. But I think every time she held me, it was unbearable for her.

By the time I became aware of my surroundings, the mistress of the house knew of my existence—

That woman, trembling with anger, chased us out of the mansion.

‘That filthy child is an eyesore,’ she said.

After that, my mother and I, even in the village we drifted to…

The people frowned and pointed as soon as they saw my face.

‘How creepy,’ ‘a child of the devil’…

My mother shielded me from the stones thrown by the other children countless times.

With each instance, more bruises appeared on her arms.

Yet every day, my mother would say this to me.

‘You are my treasure. Thank you for being born.’

…But then, that day.

A monster appeared in the village… and both my home and my mother were swallowed by flames.

I couldn’t even cry; I just sat amidst the ashes, and it was then that the mercenary group found me.

They wrapped my battered and dirty self in a warm blanket without asking anything…

And for the first time, I thought, ‘It’s okay to be alive’… I truly felt that way.”

A single tear quietly traced down Asphalt’s cheek as he finished speaking.

Only the crackling of the campfire remained, and silence fell.

It was Kanako’s faint voice that broke that silence.

“…I’m sorry. I… had no idea you carried such a past…”

Kanako said this with a trembling voice. Yet, her gaze fixed on Asphalt was unwavering.

“But… even so, you are here now, protecting me.

Just that alone is… more than enough; it’s incredible.

I’m… really glad to have gotten to know you.”

Saying this, Kanako gently reached out and enveloped Asphalt’s hand in hers.

Her hand trembled slightly, but it was warm and gentle.

“Thank you for being born.

I’m truly glad to have met someone as kind as you.”

Asphalt remained wide-eyed, unable to move for a while.

Eventually, he lowered his head slightly—letting out a soundless sob.