It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,

 

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

 

Episode 107

 

Should she call this childlike, or unnecessarily precocious?

 

Ailesia, suddenly overwhelmed with sorrow, tightly embraced Elenora and held her breath.

 

Just listening to this made her feel like she might be the one to shed tears instead.

 

“Why… did you think such things?”

 

She herself had once had similar thoughts.

 

The memory of her aunt dragging two large suitcases into her home that day was still vivid.

 

“From today on, Aunt will live with Rina! Isn’t that great?”

 

“Huh…?”

 

“What’s with that expression? Don’t you want to live with Aunt?”

 

“A-Aunt… What about… Uncle…?”

 

“What uncle? I’m not even married. Don’t mention that bastard. Let’s just eat something delicious!”

 

It was much later that she learned her prospective in-laws had coveted the inheritance her parents left her.

 

Her aunt was barely in her mid-twenties then. She had a stable job guaranteed right after graduating from graduate school, and less than a year left until her wedding.

 

She had cleanly given up both professional success and personal happiness, all for her young niece.

 

When Hwirin later learned all the facts, she could only cry endlessly.

 

She sobbed that she had ruined her aunt’s life because of herself, that she felt like she had held her aunt back.

 

“Rina, my beloved little one.”

 

Her aunt held Hwirin tightly and whispered in a gentle voice.

 

“You are my pride and joy. Since I met you, Aunt hasn’t had a single day that wasn’t happy.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“When you had just started talking and called me ‘Auntie’ for the first time, I knew right away, didn’t I? That this child had stolen my heart.”

 

“If Elly hadn’t existed… Uncle might have been much happier. Then people wouldn’t have said anything to Uncle either…”

 

Being young didn’t mean one’s thoughts had to be young too. Elenora was even unusually perceptive for a child.

 

No matter how much the adults around her tried to hush things up, could she really have been completely unaware of her precarious position after her parents passed away?

 

In the end, this child had also been desperately holding on somehow.

 

She must have been fighting a lonely battle all by herself, her heart aching inside.

 

“No, Little One. Uncle could never be happy without Elly.”

 

“…How does Teacher know that?”

 

There was a subtle rebelliousness in the child’s question. Even though it was from her beloved teacher, this time it seemed hard for her to accept right away.

 

“Uncle told Teacher that.”

 

Ailesia gently cupped Elenora’s cheeks with both hands.

 

Hoping that her warmth could melt this frozen child’s heart.

 

“Uncle became the Grand Duke to protect Retis because he loves Elly.”

 

“….”

 

“Uncle has always lived for Elly’s sake. Because that’s Uncle’s happiness.”

 

The boy who had hated the world endured everything and remained in Retis for the sake of his young niece.

 

“That little thing had just started to speak a bit and would follow him around calling ‘Uncle, Uncle.’ When she got tired from walking, she’d even crawl to keep up.”

 

“…He absolutely couldn’t leave.”

 

“He absolutely couldn’t leave.”

 

Always enduring the gazes around him filled with nothing but jealousy and suspicion, giving up even his own dreams and future that he never had the chance to realize.

 

“Uncle would never do anything that would make Elly struggle or feel sad. So Elly should always trust Uncle and love him even more, okay?”

 

“…But then.”

 

Elenora, who had tightly grasped one of Ailesia’s fingers with her small hand, asked with difficulty in a voice that was gradually becoming tearful.

 

“Uncle… can’t do what he wants to do because of Elly, and just endures everything all the time…?”

 

“That’s….”

 

Even if she said no, this clever child wouldn’t accept it at face value. It seemed better to answer a bit more honestly here.

 

“It’s not just because of Elly, but all adults endure something little by little as they live. Sometimes they give up things they want to do, and sometimes they have to force themselves to do things they don’t want to do.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because that’s how the people I love can smile. Rather than just being good for me alone, being good together with the people I love is the greatest happiness.”

 

“…Then what should I do to make Uncle smile?”

 

As expected, Elenora didn’t disappoint. The child met Teacher’s gaze with a more determined expression than ever before.

 

“You told Teacher before, didn’t you? That you’d become super strong and protect Uncle.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When Elly becomes a wonderful adult who can protect Uncle, you’ll tell Uncle. ‘Elly can do well on her own now, so I want to see Uncle happy doing what he wants to do.'”

 

“When I become an adult….”

 

“But don’t push yourself too hard. If Elly works too hard and gets hurt, Uncle will be sad, so just do your best within what you can handle. Teacher will help you too.”

 

“…You know, Teacher.”

 

Making her determined expression from earlier seem pointless, Elenora’s voice became dejected again.

 

‘Was that not enough?’

 

Or wondering if she had misspoken, just as she was anxiously worrying inside, Elenora hugged Ailesia’s waist tightly.

 

“Then where is Teacher’s happiness…?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“Uncle lives for Elly’s sake, and Elly works hard for Uncle’s sake… but Teacher helps Elly and Uncle a lot. So is Teacher happy too?”

 

“Little One.”

 

“Teacher too… do you have things you want to do alone without Elly or Uncle, but you’re enduring it? Because you’re an adult?”

 

“That’s….”

 

Ailesia was swept up in tremendous shock and couldn’t dare continue her words.

 

‘Even if not right now… we’ll have to part ways someday,’

 

It had already been 500 years since she started a new life in this world. It was a problem she had never once considered until now.

 

She had resolved many times to protect this child and live for this child’s happiness. That was the ultimate goal that had sustained her through this unfamiliar world alone.

 

In reality, she had never considered living as a person named ‘Ailesia Milenov’ from the very beginning.

 

‘I was able to endure those long years solely with the determination to meet this child. But…’

 

What happens after Elenora achieves her happy ending?

 

She had known the answer for a long time already.

 

Her future of continuing to live in this world.

 

While she hoped Elenora would remember her as just a good memory from the past, the person who would have to cherish that memory for much longer was herself.

 

‘What meaning could there be in my life without Elly?’

 

After time passes and she parts ways with everyone?

 

Could she endure the remaining long years alone, sustained only by the satisfaction of having seen the original story’s end?

 

It was something she had thought nothing of when she first came to Retis, but now just imagining it made her heart sink with dread.

 

“T-Teacher? Teacher?”

 

Elenora’s voice was growing increasingly frightened.

 

It was because Ailesia’s condition seemed far from normal as she stared blankly at the campfire with unfocused eyes.

 

“Teacher! Teacher!”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“Waaahhh!”

 

When Ailesia finally came to her senses and reflexively responded, Elenora suddenly burst into tears. This unfamiliar side of her teacher, which she had never seen before, must have frightened the child.

 

“Teacher, *hic*! E-Elly, waaahhh!”

 

“It’s okay, shh. Elly didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

What a pathetic display in front of the child. Ailesia continuously stroked Elenora’s back while secretly letting out a sigh.

 

‘I need to hurry.’

 

If she wanted to find meaning in life, she would first need to properly understand what kind of existence she herself was.

 

It seemed she would have to change her plan of enjoying a peaceful sleep beside Elenora.

 

* * *

 

Perhaps it was because she had spent the entire day crying on and off. Elenora was being fussy about going to sleep, something she never did.

 

Nearly an hour of lying side by side, singing lullabies and patting her shoulder.

 

Ailesia finally left a gentle kiss on Elenora, who had departed for Dreamland, and rose from the bedroom.

 

‘Phew, I almost fell asleep with her.’

 

She even used Spatial Transfer Magic in case the child might wake up from the sound of the door, and shook her head.

 

Shaila was nowhere to be seen, having apparently gone off to play, and Whitey was sleeping soundly in front of the entrance.

 

“Not sleeping?”

 

Blanky, who was lying beside him, only perked up his ears and sniffed. Perfect timing, Ailesia thought as she quickly leaned against Blanky’s belly and summoned a small light source.

 

‘Now then, let’s see…’

 

She opened the blue-covered book with a slightly tense expression.

 

-To Ail, my beloved child.

 

-The fact that you can see this page means you have finally arrived at the Gardbale Mountains.

 

-I imagine you’ve had your share of hardships… but it certainly took you long enough, you troublesome disciple.

 

“Ahaha…”

 

It felt as if her late Master’s voice was playing directly in her ears. Laughter naturally flowed from Ailesia’s lips.

 

However, the moment she turned to the next page, she had no choice but to hold her breath after reading the first sentence.

 

-I’m sorry, Ail. I lied to you.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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