Obsession of the Neglected 6-Star Heroes

A Western Folktale.

Among the many Western folktales, few are as well-known as the story of Cinderella.

It’s a tale nearly everyone has heard at least once, perhaps as a bedtime story from their parents. The story of a young girl who wept at her mother’s grave every day, longing for her presence. The tale of a soot-covered girl who was cruelly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, forced to endure endless chores and errands.

Though not the most heart-wrenching of stories, Cinderella stood out among folktales for its grim portrayal of the protagonist’s hardships—a melancholy narrative that left an impression, if not tears, in the hearts of its audience.

It was bleak enough, in fact, to inspire songs about the despair of this unfortunate princess.

Keyal’s gaze drifted to the center of the room.

Squeak.

Reina, scrubbing the floor with a sponge, diligently wiped the same spot over and over again.

Sip.

Elena, the mint-haired elf, sat nearby, sipping tea as her sharp eyes trailed over the freshly cleaned patches of floor.

The scene triggered an unbidden series of verses in Keyal’s mind.

"Reina lost her parents when she was young~ Constantly bullied by an elf and a dragon~"

The imagined lyrics were so pitiful they could evoke sympathy from anyone. A princess raised so delicately, only to face such harsh realities—it was, indeed, a tragic existence.

"Sha-ba sha-ba~ How much must she have cried? Sha-ba sha-ba~"

The nonsensical final lines of his internal song left Keyal chuckling bitterly to himself.

Even if someone turned her life into a ballad, it wouldn’t change Reina’s circumstances. Still, the absurdity of his train of thought made him hum the tune in his head.