episode_0110

There wasn’t a single uninjured spot on my body.

My neck and shoulders were bruised, and my tattered clothes were stained with blood.

While the bear attack had only left me with large, fatal injuries, now there were numerous small wounds all over my body, from my toes to my head.

“What happened?”

Marvin Ajusshi replied to the elder’s question.

“He was found at the bottom of the cliff.”

“Oh, Dragon God-nim…”

Given that I was found at the bottom of the cliff and the countless injuries on my body, only one possibility came to mind.

I must have fallen down the cliff.

Without a doubt… Fosao must have disposed of me in that manner.

“Is he alive?”

“……”

Marvin Ajusshi closed his eyes and shook his head.

It seemed the villagers already knew.

Of course, I wasn’t breathing.

“Couldn’t he still be alive? Last time, the imperial doctor-nim…”

“I wish I could think that too, but it’s different from last time… I can’t be sure.”

“Why on earth did Ritsu fall down the cliff? He’s not foolish enough to make such a mistake…”

The elders asked in mournful voices. Their expressions were as if they had lost the world.

Marvin Ajusshi also shook his head with a devastated expression.

“I don’t know. The last time we saw Ritsu was yesterday during the festival, walking alone.”

Olivia Imo also testified.

“Marvin called Ritsu to dance with him, but Ritsu… had a frightened expression.”

“Frightened?”

“Yes. After that, he didn’t show up for breakfast, so Marvin went looking for him…. At the bottom of the cliff…”

Sherry Gomo said.

“Ritsu did come back at night. He slept at our house. But when I woke up in the morning, he wasn’t in bed, so I thought he went to the apothecary…”

“Ritsu didn’t go to the apothecary, Nuna-nim. The door was still closed.”

“Then? Why did Ritsu…”

It was then that the villagers, confused, searched their memories of seeing me.

“We need to find Tia.”

A sharp voice cut through the confusion.

It was Merid Imo.

“I suddenly remembered. Last night. Ritsu’s face was dark, and when I asked him why, he said he had a fight with Tia.”

“……With Tia?”

People turned their heads around.

Now that they mentioned it, Tia wasn’t visible.

“Where did that child go?”

Marvin replied.

“She said she needed to buy warehouse supplies and went to the lower village.”

“Did she get permission?”

“Yes. I checked, and there was no problem, so I just sent her.”

“That means…”

Although no one said it, everyone seemed to be thinking of the most plausible reason.

That I fought with Tia, and my mood became bad because of it.

And as a result, I fell off the cliff… that was the conclusion.

Common sense would dictate that I wouldn’t commit suicide.

However, based solely on the villagers’ testimonies and the confirmed circumstances, there was no easier or simpler interpretation.

The elder said.

“Go bring Tia quickly.”

“Understood. …What about Ritsu?”

“First, we should call a doctor from the lower village to confirm. He might not be dead yet.”

People scattered, dispersed by their grief.

That sight was so bitter.

I knew.

That they should suspect Fosao, not Tia.

But in the villagers’ minds, Fosao was as good as gone.

They couldn’t even imagine that pig-like fellow would harm me, nor did they know he was the real culprit slowly corrupting their village.

As much as Fosao remained hidden, only Tia was exposed.

Because Tia was easy to deal with.

This turn of events was a natural outcome.

Whoosh!

The illusion of memory dispersed.

The place I arrived at again was the Teildun market.

Tia was just exiting the market.

She had a bag full of newly acquired goods and seemed to be heading back to Breezedun.

“……”

She walked silently along the path, then caught a sweet scent.

She turned her head.

It was a bakery.

After a moment of thought, Tia entered.

Clunk.

And then she took off the hood she was wearing.

Lily Ajumoni, who was working, came out and was surprised to see Tia’s face.

“My goodness! Look who it is! Isn’t this Tia!”

“Long time no see, Ajumoni.”

“I heard what happened. They said you almost died because of bandits!”

“Ahaha…”

Lily Ajumoni stroked Tia’s cheek with a sorrowful expression.

“Oh, you must have had such a hard time. Your expression is dark. Your skin is rough. You’ve really suffered a lot.”

“……”

“Where’s Ritsu? Didn’t he come with you? Is he still sick?”

“Ritsu has gotten much better, but… he’s busy with a lot of work. So I came alone.”

“Oh dear. You two used to be inseparable, but I haven’t seen you together lately.”

It was just a meaningless remark, spoken with a hint of regret, but Tia bowed her head deeply, like someone who had committed a sin.

Lily Ajumoni, unaware of anything, laughed and pointed to the display.

“Don’t worry too much. That’s just how it is when you grow up. Feel free to choose whatever you need. Ajumoni will give you a few for free.”

“…Thank you.”

Tia went to the display and began choosing pastries.

Mostly sweet and delicious pastries that I liked.

As she picked them one by one and moved to the end of the display, a different kind of pastry caught her eye.

Ginger biscuits.

I thought that the usual Tia would have unhesitatingly picked a few of those biscuits.

As always, she instinctively reached for it, then realized something and flinched slightly.

“……”

And then she turned her head away, as if to ignore it.

She took the chosen pastries to Lily Ajumoni.

Ajumoni carefully put the pastries into a basket, then, noticing an unexpected fact, asked.

“There are no ginger biscuits?”

“Ah, yes…”

“Why? You always said they were delicious and picked them.”

“……”

Tia forced a smile.

“Ritsu doesn’t really like them. These… aren’t for me to eat, they’re a gift for Ritsu.”

“Oh my. Hoho.”

Ajumoni smiled and handed her the basket.

“How thoughtful. Ritsu will surely like them very much.”

“Yes.”

“Here you go! It’s on me. I’ll give them to you for really cheap! Just give me 1 silver.”

“What? Are you sure you can do that?”

“Of course! I want to support you two. But next time, promise to come buy pastries together, okay? Can you promise?”

A surprised Tia smiled brightly.

“Yes! I promise!”

Tia, who bought the pastries at a much cheaper price, turned her steps back towards Breezedun.

She had worn a sad and gloomy expression throughout her time in Teildun, but today, she looked different.

As if she had made a decision, she clutched the pastry basket and murmured.

“I hope Ritsu likes them…”

It was just as she was entering the mountain pass.

Someone was rushing down the ascending path.

It was Merid Imo.

Tia’s face quickly stiffened upon seeing Imo.

Instinctively, she seemed to realize that she was being sought out for something bad.

Tia stood still there, waiting for Merid Imo to approach.

Just as expected, Imo stopped in front of her, panting.

Clutch.

And then she snatched Tia’s wrist.

“……Merid Imo?”

“Come with me, quickly.”

At the unusual tone of voice, Tia asked again.

“What’s wrong?”

“You, tell me the truth. What happened with Ritsu yesterday?”

“Well…”

As she was dragged along, Tia confessed honestly.

“Ritsu and I had a small argument.”

“Small? Don’t be ridiculous. What on earth did you say to Ritsu…!”

Merid Imo yelled, her face filled with rage, yet also on the verge of tears.

“Did Ritsu jump off the cliff?”

“……What?”

Her red eyes trembled greatly.

The shock was so immense that one could see Tia’s breath catch in her throat.

She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it.

“W-what do you mean… Imo? Ritsu jumped?”

“Ritsu… Ritsu was found dead at the bottom of the cliff…!”

Thud.

Tia dropped the basket she was holding.

The pastries scattered haphazardly onto the dirt ground.

“……That can’t be.”

Tia, letting out a shaky breath, took off her bag.

And then she began to climb the mountain like a madwoman.

Her speed was incredible.

She dashed so fast that Merid Imo couldn’t even keep up, practically running all the way to Breezedun in a single breath.

The atmosphere in the village was different.

Sobbing sounds could be heard, it was chaotic as if something had happened, and everyone was talking with serious faces.

Soft steps. Soft steps.

Tia walked into the center of the village.

People turned to look, one by one, but she just walked blankly towards where the murmuring crowd was gathered.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Tia finally saw it.

The bloody sight of ‘me’.

“…Ritsu?”

Tia clutched my motionless body.

And then she cried out to the surroundings, almost like a wail.

“Ritsu, why…? Why? Why is he like this? Ritsu, why…”

Marvin Ajusshi approached.

And then he shoved Tia’s shoulder, shouting.

“That’s what *I* want to ask! What did you say that made Ritsu throw himself off the cliff?!”

“I… I…”

“Tell me honestly!!”

The scolding voice struck Tia’s dazed face.

With everyone’s gazes glaring at her as if to kill her, and reeling from the shock of hearing what Ritsu had done.

What rational thought could she possibly have?

Tia stammered.

“I… I told him to leave.”

“What?”

“I told him to leave this place… and travel together, just the two of us.”

Tears flowed down.

“But… Ritsu said he couldn’t… so I… I said I understood. That’s… all.”

“……”

People remained silent.

They merely looked down at the pathetic, sobbing girl.

However, the conclusion seemed to have already been drawn.

That I suffered great heartbreak from arguing with Tia. And that’s why I jumped off the cliff.

The villagers knew well that I liked Tia, as I had shown it clearly until now.

Therefore, this responsibility… became Tia’s to bear.

Just for having had a single argument.

Marvin Ajusshi said.

“Get out.”

Thwack!

Sharply swatting away Tia’s last hand resting on my chest.

Marvin pointed outside the house.

“Get out, now!”

She couldn’t resist, nor could she make a sound.

Tia was driven out just like that.

She stumbled and walked to a secluded place.

She then slumped down in front of a fence.

And began to weep sadly.