episode_0004

“Yes.”

“You… what do you think?”

I was about to ask, ‘About what?’ but soon realized what the Elder-nim was trying to say.

“Well, it’s a done deal already, isn’t it?”

“I want to hear your thoughts.”

“You yourself have already bent the will of the villagers. Would my thoughts matter?”

The Elder-nim was silent for a moment.

A voice as stiff and hard as an old tree echoed through the hut.

“Because you are my son… therefore, your thoughts are important.”

“……”

A heavy silence fell. So heavy that it felt as if sound had forgotten how to exist. Although we weren’t of the same blood, the Elder-nim raised me. Therefore, I am the Elder-nim’s son, and the Elder-nim is my father.

If the Elder-nim were to pass away someday, I would become the next Elder of Breezedawn. I knew that fact well.

“Then, I dare to speak, Elder-nim.”

After Joseph Uncle’s commotion, I saw many things. I could now read the atmosphere flowing through this village.

Breezedawn was definitely changing little by little. We could no longer live our simple, quiet lives as we once did.

The human heart is like a tender branch. People who had no greed, once they tasted the sweetness of money, came to know discomfort and suffocation.

The well of Breezedawn, which had lasted for 100 years, was shattered into pieces by a mere 10-day commotion. If it swayed so easily even with a fleeting thread of wind that brushed by, could one truly expect people’s hearts to calm down again by forcibly containing that wind?

“I believe we must protect the village.”

I love this village. No matter what anyone says, Breezedawn is my hometown. It is the place that allowed me to exist, where I grew up, and where I live.

Whether by choice or by force. If there was anyone staying here, I wanted them to be happy, at least. I wished for our simple lives to continue as before.

But sometimes, it resurfaces. Joseph Uncle’s voice, shouting with veins bulging in his neck. And Tia’s face, stubbornly swinging her sword.

“……But I think we should open up the village, even if it’s little by little.”

“Then even more people will be swept away by the wind.”

“We must make them return. Even if it means turning this place into Deseo.”

“Deseo.”

The Elder-nim gazed quietly at the shadowy corner, but it seemed he was actually looking at something much farther away.

“Everyone calls Deseo the best in the world. But its reality is a whirlpool of pleasure and madness. When that desire swallows this mountain and spits it out, even an unblemished child like you will lose their essence. Even then… do you think you can protect this village?”

“If it were me, I would answer yes.”

At my brief reply, the Elder-nim remained silent for a very long time.

After a long wait, I finally saw a small nod.

“……I understand. You may go.”

*Creak.*

As I stepped out of the hut, the breath I’d been holding burst forth.

My mind was tangled. I understood the Elder-nim’s words, but I was still able to properly say what I wanted. That alone was a significant gain.

I was about to turn back to cool my hot forehead.

“Oh my. There he is, just in time. Hey, Ritsu!”

The Aunts sitting by the stone wall called out to me. Merid Aunt asked with a mischievous look.

“You’re having your baptism this winter, aren’t you?”

“Ah… yes. That’s right.”

“So, have you chosen a partner?”

“That…”

“Merid! What are you talking about? Of course, Ritsu has Tia! Right?”

Olivia Aunt chuckled merrily. Her heavily pregnant belly was visible. I thought she was staying home to rest, given her condition, but it seemed she came out because she was bored.

While I was wondering what to say, the two Aunts began chattering among themselves.

“Let’s see. Girls have their baptism two years earlier than boys. Oh my. So, they really will have their baptism together?”

“Right, Merid. Isn’t it good?”

“Tsk. When I had my baptism, the only man left was Fosao.”

“What? You danced with that disgusting fatso?”

“No! I just danced with my dad! I would’ve rather died than danced with him!”

“Indeed. What woman would want to dance with that pig? Besides Rina Unnie…”

At that moment, the two women shut their chattering mouths. And as if trying to quickly change the subject, they turned to look at me.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that Tia has a reliable Ritsu.”

“That’s right. That’s what childhood friends are all about, aren’t they? Being together from birth until adulthood.”

“So they usually get married too. Ritsu, come here.”

Olivia Aunt gestured for me to come closer. As I took a step closer, she suddenly whispered into my ear.

“How about it, Ritsu? Tia would make a good bride, right? She’s pretty and cute.”

“Ah… well… Hahahaha.”

“Just say it! We can talk about these things when it’s just us.”

“Well… I don’t dislike her…”

Merid Aunt slapped my arm. *Splat.*

“What’s that supposed to mean? If you don’t dislike her, does that mean you don’t like her either?”

“No. That’s not what I mean…”

“Tia would be disappointed if she heard that, kid.”

I grew up with Tia. Because we were always together, people sometimes said we were like siblings.

Siblings, huh. It wasn’t wrong. We only slept in our respective homes separately; when the sun was up, we were always together. We just lived like family.

But ‘like’? ‘Dislike’? Beyond such simple distinctions, I wanted to protect Tia. How should I express this feeling? Is that what ‘liking’ means?

If being at ease when she’s nearby, and feeling anxious when she’s away, is called ‘liking’ a person, then I would declare definitively that I like her.

Merid Aunt asked in a stern voice.

“Tell me right now. Are you going to marry Tia, or not?”

“That…”

It felt like too vague a topic, so my words trailed off.

I definitely liked Tia, but marriage… isn’t it something that can’t be achieved if only I like her?

“I think it’s too early to decide now.”

From the start, we never looked that far into the future. We were still young, and we cherished the present moments together more.

But what if. If Tia also harbored such feelings for me. If she ‘liked’ me.

I had always thought that living with her like this, for my entire life, wouldn’t be so bad.

“Hey! Merid! Stop it. There’s no end to your talk of marriage and whatnot already.”

“How long are kids going to be kids?! If they’re best friends and have even had their baptism, isn’t marriage a natural next step?”

“Marriage is unpredictable! It’s the most important thing in life! Ah, you wouldn’t know much since you danced with your dad at your baptism, would you?”

“What? This woman has no filter! If it weren’t for that baby in your belly, I would’ve pulled your hair out.”

“Oh my, oh my. Look at how she speaks.”

Suddenly, they started arguing among themselves again.

Good. Rather than letting them fulfill their bizarre desires by making our relationship a topic of gossip, it was better to let them argue and quietly slip away.

I was just about to slip away and head up the hill.

*Rustle.*

Suddenly feeling a presence, I turned to look and saw Ruyef leaning against the stone wall.

He was staring at me. And as soon as our eyes met, he asked in a sneering voice.

“Too early?”

“…What?”

“No, never mind. It just means you’re still a kid, Ritsu.”

That annoying bastard lightly disregarded my words again. Normally, I would have just let it go, but since last time, he’d been subtly grating on my patience, and I just couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Hey, Ruyef. Stop muttering to yourself, it’s annoying.”

*Swish.*

Suddenly, Ruyef picked up a large axe.

My heart sank for a moment, but he simply hoisted the axe onto his shoulder and began to move somewhere.

That place was the mountainside.

……What?

That’s where Tia is practicing her swordplay.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“To chop wood.”

Ruyef turned his head and looked at me.

“Why, are you going to help me?”

“……”

I couldn’t say anything.

Chopping wood was a job only for chosen men, those who were strong and skillful. It was not only extremely arduous and difficult, but more importantly, only those who had undergone the ‘baptism’ from the Divine Dragon, the owner and guardian deity of this mountain range, were allowed to cut down trees.

That bastard had his baptism last winter. The reason he called me ‘kid’ was because he had already been recognized as a full-fledged member of this village.

Ruyef trudged up the mountainside again and casually blurted out.

“If you’re bored, go make some bandages in your apothecary.”

“……Tch.”

He was really an annoying bastard. Especially these days.

***

Warm light tickled my eyelids. I could hear the chirping of birds.

I sat up and stretched vigorously.

“Yawn.”

I had overslept during my nap. The air was wonderfully cozy. It meant autumn was approaching.

Still, thankfully, I woke up quickly. I had a lot to do today. Because the herbs that only grew in summer were starting to run out, and I needed to prepare for winter.

“Time to work…”

I checked and recorded the stock of herbs stored in the shed. Actually, there was no need to check so meticulously. Still, I felt more at ease knowing I had enough for regular use and extra for emergencies.

Because I was the only ‘apothecary’ in this village.

If something happened to me and I couldn’t make medicine, the villagers could be in danger. Of course, in such a worst-case scenario, a Doctor-nim from Taildon would make a house call… but my thought was to at least prepare things so they could easily dispense medicine.

Taking out drawer by drawer, weighing, writing…

“Ritsu!”

“Aargh!!!”

I dropped everything I was holding and fell to the floor, only then did my dazed mind return.

Right next to me, Tia was holding her stomach and giggling.

“It’s just me. Why are you so surprised?”

“You… how did you get in?”

Even I, the apothecary owner, hadn’t heard the door open. Since when had she been here?

Instead of answering, she pointed outside the shed. In the moment I stared blankly, not understanding what that meant, soon, one possibility flashed through my mind.

Don’t tell me, this girl, she climbed down the cliff from the mountainside to get here?

My jaw dropped. Of course, it was possible to come that way. If you had a body that could slither like a snake, or wings like a bird.

But she climbed that steep and dangerous cliff bare-handed? She was truly insane. I couldn’t even imagine her daring to do such a reckless thing.

What if she slipped then…? Ah, never mind. What’s the point of saying anything to her? I should just accept it.

“What were you doing, Ritsu?”

Tia asked nonchalantly, as if nothing unusual had happened.

“I was writing in the ledger. You came at a good time. Help me.”

“Ugh, no thanks. It’s boring.”

“It’s important, you know? I need to check the inventory beforehand to prepare for winter. Anyway, what brings you here? You’re not just here to chat, are you?”

Tia snapped her fingers. *Snap.*

“Ta-da! I’m here to get bandages again today!”

“Again?”

“Hehehe-. That’s just how it ended up.”

“You’ve been coming to get them often these days. Our Rubus herb is almost gone now… Sigh.”

Even as I grumbled, my hands automatically searched for bandages.

I casually took out one of the cleanest ones and handed it to her, but Tia didn’t take the bandage and instead made a V-shape with her fingers.

“What’s that? Is that a celebratory pose for successfully pillaging bandages?”

“No- I want two!”

“Two?”

The girl who always took just one suddenly and unexpectedly demanded two.

Is it because she gets hurt a lot? Well, if she’s climbing cliffs, it’d be strange if she *didn’t* get hurt…

Anyway, adding one more wasn’t difficult, so I just tossed her two.

“Here, take them. I’ll put it on your tab, just like last time.”

“Thanks-!”

Tia stuffed the received bandages into her small pocket.

It was just as I was about to open my notebook to resume work. She lightly approached my side.

“Ritsu. Do you have a moment?”

“Do I look like I have time right now?”

“Can’t you do that tomorrow? There’s no rush.”

“……”

She hit the nail on the head.

Seriously. She says apothecary work is boring and she hates it, but she knows exactly what I’m doing.

“Hmm…”

Glancing sideways, I saw Tia’s cheeks were flushed. That’s exactly the face she makes when there’s something she wants to do.

In that case, the best course of action was to listen to her obediently for now. If I ignored her, it would come back as something even more unmanageable next time.

“I can make some time for a bit, I guess.”

“Really? Then let’s go!”

Tia, her face instantly brightening, firmly grabbed my hand. We then ran out of the apothecary and dashed down the hill.

“Where are we going?”

A large hut reflected in her red eyes.

“My house!”