Truth of the Past

"What about you?"

"Can you understand it?"

A faint, ambiguous smile played on Shen Yi's face as he looked toward Shimada Yukimi beside him.

"Is that something we can discuss?"

Shimada Yukimi smiled slightly and looked at Shen Yi.

"Yes. You're rather special."

"In truth, the bloodline in your body no longer has anything to do with the people of Neon Country. And I've seen your memories—you're different from some of them."

"There's more to it than that, isn't there?"

Lowering her head with a smile, Shimada Yukimi looked gentle and soft. Even though she knew Shen Yi before her was the one responsible for Neon Country's current awkward situation, she bore no hatred toward him. Instead, she remained calm and composed.

"If you want me to say it, the Elf race ended up in its current state for two reasons. First, others in the Shadow World understood Lord Xilos's temperament and deliberately set a trap for her. Second, those at the top of the Shadow World regarded the Elf race as expendable material for dealing with the Source of Black Mist."

"But there's an even more important reason—the most important one..."

"What is it?" Fei Mi asked anxiously.

"It was because Xilos believed she had the situation under control. Of course, that belief was also an image created for her by the other races."

The smile faded from Shimada Yukimi's face, leaving behind a calm expression.

"What does that have to do with the Elf race's decline?"

"If Xilos hadn't been powerful, wouldn't her situation have been even more awkward before?" Fei Mi's eyes widened, unable to understand.

"Yes." Shimada Yukimi nodded. "If she hadn't been strong enough before, the others wouldn't have taken notice of her, and naturally she wouldn't have become their target. You're right about that."