Part 1: The Human Who Hates Humans

　　“Vanessa, when do you think a human is at their most beautiful?”

　　At the sudden question, Vanessa almost opened his eyes. Fren let out a quick laugh and resumed moving his brush. Vanessa felt cosmetics gradually covering his face. Fren applied something to his eyelids and asked again.

　　“Tell me, Vanessa. When is a human most beautiful?”

　　Though it was a command from Lord Fren, his most precious master, Vanessa couldn’t say a word. The reason was embarrassingly simple. He had nothing to say. But Fren clearly wanted an answer. Feeling the weight of guilt pressing on his chest, Vanessa spoke carefully.

　　“I’m sorry. But I cannot answer that question.”

　　“Why is that?”

　　“Because humans aren’t beautiful.”

　　“Why do you think that?”

　　There were countless reasons. Vanessa rattled off all the ways humans were hideous.

　　“They have short lifespans, poor fertility, and aside from a tiny few, they are naturally far too lacking in mana and beauty. Nor are they born with strong bodies.”

　　They lacked the swift, nimble bodies of elves, the jaws of lycanthropes who could chew through steel, and the ability of sirens to swim freely underwater. Vanessa had always wondered why God created humans. No creature was as useless as they were.

　　Fren subtly asked in a sly tone.

　　“Do you really think so?”

　　“Yes.”

　　The brush rubbing against Vanessa’s eyelids pulled away as Fren whispered softly.

　　“You may open your eyes now.”

　　Vanessa slowly opened his eyes. Fren’s green hair fluttered gently in the breeze blowing through the open window.

　　Forgetting for a moment that he was being dressed and prepared, Vanessa stared blankly at his master. Two eyes, one pure and radiant like molten gold, and the other, a murky gray like an overcast sky, were looking down at him benevolently.

　　Seeing Fren’s mismatched eyes made Vanessa’s heart feel heavy again. Instinctively, he tried to avert his gaze, but Fren was faster. Master is quick as always, Vanessa marveled as Fren caught him by the chin. Fren looked at Vanessa with a sorrowful expression.

　　“There’s no need to go that far. You’re human too.”

　　“…”

　　Vanessa glanced at Fren’s elongated ears, so unlike his own round, flat ones.

　　“That is precisely why I cannot help but think so.”

　　His voice held stronger conviction than ever.

　　“There is not a single beautiful moment in a human’s life.”

　　“No, Vanessa.”

　　Fren spoke with just as much conviction.

　　“It’s true that humans are born with less than other races, but moments of beauty exist for you, too.”

　　To Vanessa, Lord Fren’s words were the absolute truth. He was ready to believe Fren even if he told a ridiculous lie, like that sirens hated humans. Yet this time, he could not bring himself to believe him. Hating humans as deeply as he did, Vanessa asked,

　　“When would that be, then?”

　　“That would be…”

　　Fren bent his knees to bring his eyes level with Vanessa’s. Then he whispered as if sharing a secret.

　　“When they fall in love.”

　　“When they fall in love…?”

　　“Yes. It’s the one feature unique to humans in this world. Their one strength.”

　　Fren wrapped an arm around Vanessa’s shoulders and led him before a mirror. Vanessa’s lightly made-up face flushed red on its own. Fren praised him, his voice full of amusement.

　　“As proof, look at how beautiful the human in front of you is right now.”

　　“Still, a human like me…”

　　“Vanessa.”

　　The gold and gray eyes gazed at him without the slightest tremor.

　　“You are beautiful.”

　　His tone made it clear he would tolerate no further denial. At those words, Vanessa realized his own hubris.

　　How dare a slave doubt his master’s word? It made him feel as though his ten-plus years as a slave had been in vain. As Vanessa hung his head in shame, Fren’s hand, the hand that had brought countless works of art to life, pressed gently against his lower back.

　　“Straighten your back.”

　　“Yes, Master.”

　　His embarrassment was brief. Vanessa’s face flushed red with a different emotion entirely. Fren went on adjusting Vanessa’s posture.

　　“Tuck your chin, and let your arms hang naturally. Right, like that. And your expression…”

　　Fren paused, staring intently at Vanessa’s face. Vanessa felt mortified. Whenever Fren stared at him like that, he was so overwhelmed with shame that he couldn’t maintain his composure. He was driven mad with curiosity about what kind of face he was making and how ugly it must look. Right then, Fren murmured cheerfully,

　　“You can just look at me.”

　　“What?”

　　“From now on, don’t take your eyes off me, even for a second. Understand?”

　　Vanessa was bewildered, but he nodded anyway. After checking the time, Fren draped a veil around Vanessa’s body, which resembled a marble sculpture. It was long enough to completely cover his face and reach the tops of his feet. After checking several times to make sure the veil concealed him properly, Fren held out his hand.

　　“Shall we get going?”

　　It was to guide Vanessa, who couldn’t see well through the veil. Fren’s voice was full of excitement.

　　“It’s finally time to reveal my eternal masterpiece to the guests.”

　　Vanessa took his hand and nodded shyly. Together, they stepped through the door.

　　Passing through a corridor where slaves prostrated themselves on the ground, they descended a red-carpeted staircase to reach the glass greenhouse where today’s exhibition was being held. Receiving the attendant’s greeting, Fren entered the greenhouse.

　　Dressed in their finest, the visitors were admiring Fren’s works displayed inside glass cases. One of them sighed.

　　“Holding an exhibition with humans as the theme… He’s gone mad.”

　　Though spoken in the tiniest whisper, it could not escape Fren’s sensitive ears. He began observing the visitors’ reactions in earnest.

　　“Still, it is quite impressive. Fren’s is the first to feature living subjects. There are only paintings and statues at other exhibitions.”

　　“I particularly like this piece. I’d like to take it home right now.”

　　A guest pointed at a woman inside a glass case reading a thick book. Other guests began competing to buy the pieces before anyone else could snatch them up. When red tags had been placed on almost every displayed work, Fren signaled the attendant with a look.

　　“By the way, where is the special piece Fren was supposed to reveal today?”

　　“I heard it’s so special he won’t even sell it…”

　　Ring-ring.

　　Just as the guest finished speaking, the attendant rang a silver bell. All eyes turned toward the entrance. Fren bowed gracefully to the guests, then took Vanessa’s hand and gently walked into the hall.

　　Even with his vision obscured, Vanessa couldn’t help but swallow reflexively under the weight of so many eyes. But the warmth of his master’s touch against his fingertips soon brought him calm.

　　Then, at last, Fren came to a stop.

　　In front of him stood the empty pedestal that had aroused the curiosity of so many guests. Vanessa carefully stepped onto it. Everything was ready now. Fren bowed elegantly to the audience.

　　“Welcome, everyone. Thank you so much for attending my exhibition today.”

　　The guests broke into applause, as if they had been waiting for this moment. Fren waited for the clapping to subside before speaking.

　　“Thanks to everyone gathered here, I have been able to hold many successful exhibitions over the years. But I believe today’s exhibition will be especially unforgettable.”

　　Fren let go of Vanessa’s hand.

　　“Today, as promised, I intend to unveil my masterpiece.”

　　“You seem a bit too young to be speaking of a masterpiece.”

　　A visitor with graying, scale-shaped ears suddenly interjected.

　　“What if the you of tomorrow creates a work that surpasses the one you reveal today?”

　　Though silent, the other guests seemed to agree. But Fren rejected the notion without a second thought.

　　“That will never happen.”

　　“Hmm?”

　　“I dare declare that no matter what work I create in the future, it will never surpass this one. For this is a special creation that only the me of today could ever bring to life. Now, feast your eyes…”

　　Fren gently took hold of the veil covering Vanessa’s body.

　　“On my eternal masterpiece.”

　　With a soft rustle, the veil fell to the floor, exposing Vanessa’s body. Gasps erupted from the guests who had been holding their breath and staring at the front. Fren immediately took a few steps back and admired him as though he too were merely a spectator.

　　“Unbelievable…! How can anyone be so beautiful!”

　　“Was there ever a human slave so breathtaking?”

　　Vanessa stood on the pedestal, still as a statue. Hair as black as the night sky flowed like a river down to his waist, and his vivid purple eyes gleamed like jewels. His slender body was as straight and balanced as a willow, as if it had been painstakingly shaped by God himself.

　　Unlike the heavily adorned guests, Vanessa wore barely any accessories. The laurel wreath on his head and his plain, snow-white clothing evoked not merely dignity, but an overwhelming sense of divinity as well. Just as the spectators were vacillating between dismay and awe at how a mere human reminded them of gods…

　　Vanessa’s eyes met Fren’s. Vanessa’s face, as emotionless as a doll’s, instantly melted. Finally…! Fren felt his body tremble with excitement.

　　“You will never know…”

　　The corners of Vanessa’s lips curved softly like a crescent moon as his cheeks flushed a lovely petal-red. In an instant, the statue that was Vanessa blossomed beautifully like a flower. The guests’ gasps echoed through the greenhouse once more. With a face radiant with ecstasy, Fren said,

　　“How breathtaking your face is when you love me.”

　　A moment later, the guests, utterly spellbound by Vanessa, finally read the title inscribed on the pedestal. The title of the piece was The Most Beautiful in the World.