episode_0180

He continued.

“I’m a friend from Tia’s hometown. I’ve heard a lot about Tcharrak.”

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

Clunk.

The sharp spear was lowered.

Pashu, the boy from Tcharrak, let go of all his wariness at the words, ‘Tia’s friend.’

This child deeply respected Tia. Though Tia herself seemed unaware of it. Any man would recognize that look in his eyes.

Because he had looked at Tia with the same expression he wore when seeing his working father’s back, when showing respect to his Teacher-nim, or when addressing the elders of the village.

Moreover, I carried the sword of the person he respected. There was no need to waste breath proving anything.

Pashu took the Rose Sabre and gestured.

“Follow me.”

Things went better than expected.

I had thought of various methods in case of unforeseen circumstances, but it turned out simply mentioning Tia’s name was the easiest and fastest.

We slowly followed the boy into Tcharrak.

After crossing a hill, smoke rising from chimneys and sparsely built houses appeared.

It was the same scenery I had seen in my memories. Tcharrak remained exactly as it was, unchanged.

My heart pounded wildly.

If I could remain calm even after coming all this way… that would be a lie.

While it was certain that Tia and Fosao had come to Tcharrak, it was still unknown if they were currently staying. Since it could be a sudden encounter, it was necessary to be vigilant.

I also signaled Marie with a glance to prepare for any eventuality.

However, not long after we passed through the middle of the village.

I realized Tia wasn’t here.

The people of Tcharrak had gone to great lengths to give Fosao anything more they could.

But looking at the peaceful atmosphere throughout the village, it seemed we were the only travelers who had come here now.

From the start, Tia and Fosao had unique appearances, recognizable even from afar. If they weren’t visible by now, they certainly weren’t here.

I subtly asked Pashu, who was walking ahead.

“Is Tia… here?”

“No. Sister has already left.”

“When?”

“Hmm- about a month ago.”

A month?

The gap was larger than I thought.

I had pursued Tia relentlessly. My sense of time had become a little distorted from reading countless memories, but in terms of ‘normal people’s time’… only a little over two weeks had passed since I first opened my eyes in Ruyef’s shabby hut.

I ran without rest. I thought of nothing and just ran.

From Taildon to Gordburg. From arriving back in Taildon to coming to the Tcharrak mountains. Marie was so exhausted because we had marched hard for two weeks without proper rest.

No, was it perhaps amazing that she had followed me no matter what? Now, saying Marie was frail no longer seemed to fit her.

Anyway, since I had run so diligently, I thought the time difference with Tia would be at most around half a month.

Surprisingly, the gap hadn’t narrowed.

The boy stopped walking.

“This is our village chief’s house. Go in and say hello.”

Leaving Marie behind for a moment, I went inside alone to meet the Tcharrak Village Chief.

Inside, an old man was leisurely sitting.

He glanced at me and asked.

“And you are…?”

“Pleased to meet you, Village Chief. I am a traveler passing through this village.”

“Hmm. A traveler, I see.”

The Village Chief stood up and asked.

“This place is safe, so you may stay for a while. When do you plan to leave?”

“Thank you. As night has fallen, I was thinking of staying for about a day.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“Excuse me?”

He looked me over and said.

“This village is too small, so there’s no place for outsiders to lodge. What I meant was, you may rest for a bit and then pass through, not that you may spend the night.”

“……”

It was a lie.

I knew perfectly well that Tia and Fosao had stayed here for two days. Yet, the Village Chief refused our lodging, claiming there was no place to stay.

“And you’ve brought a woman. I’m sorry, but our village doesn’t accept women from outside.”

“She is to be my wife.”

I countered with a lie of my own.

Exactly as Fosao had done.

Only then did the Village Chief show a hint of surprise.

“Ah, is that so? In that case… it doesn’t matter.”

“Furthermore, we would like to spend a quiet, comfortable night.”

Clink.

I took ten gold coins from my pocket and placed them on the table.

As expected, the Village Chief’s expression suddenly brightened significantly.

“Ahem! It’s not that I specifically intended for that, but since things have come to this, I will wholeheartedly accommodate you. Is anyone out there? Welcome these guests.”

“Yes, Village Chief!”

With a few coins, the treatment quickly changed.

How laughable.

If I had only seen it through Tia’s memories, this village truly seemed peaceful and kind.

But recalling how Fosao had sold treasures to win their favor and was subsequently treated with utmost hospitality… it was truly a materialistic village.

In any case, it was resolved nicely with a few gold coins.

I would stay here for about a day to regroup and then continue pursuing Tia. Knowing that she had passed through here a month ago was a significant gain in itself, confirming I was on the right track.

When I came out, Pashu, who had been waiting, asked.

“Are you going to bathe? Our village has a large hot spring, you know.”

Well, there was nothing else to do right away. It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

“…Alright.”

“Follow me!”

We walked the path leading to the hot spring.

Strangely, every place in Tcharrak felt familiar and known. When Pashu told me to be careful not to slip on the rocks, I was ‘unconsciously’ already being careful.

Feeling a warm aura, I raised my head.

A pond with thick steam rising from it. If you put your hand in the stagnant water, it was heated as hot as a boiling kettle.

“Then, Hyung, you can wash here.”

“What about you?”

“It’s not our time yet.”

I heard that the Tcharrak villagers washed themselves here once every two days. Meaning, today I could use the hot spring alone without disturbance.

I took off my clothes and immersed myself in the hot water.

“Haa-.”

It felt good.

Breezedon had abundant water, but boiling enough water for a bath was very difficult, so washing oneself in hot water was hard to imagine.

……But Fosao was different.

Fosao enjoyed bathing in hot water. Since he sat in his general store all day, he could control the fire and boil water. That’s why, when we were much younger, we used to go to Fosao’s house to bathe.

Ah.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if that guy was looking at Tia with those murky eyes even back then?

There was a small hole drilled in the floor of Fosao’s second-floor bedroom. A hole connected to the bathroom ceiling. Through that gap, he peeked at Tia as she washed. It’s almost certain he had been peeking at us like that since ancient times.

“……”

Splash!

I scooped up a handful of hot water and washed my face.

I didn’t want to ruin this wonderfully warm feeling with thoughts of that pig.

“Tch.”

Let’s not think about anything.

It was when I slowly leaned back against a rock, trying to simply abandon myself to the water without any distracting thoughts.

“A joyful squeal…!”

Suddenly, a girl’s voice came from somewhere.

Who was it?

A villager? Or Marie?

I raised my head. I squinted my eyes through the hazy mist, but saw nothing.

I closed my eyes again, wondering if I had misheard.

“You shouldn’t do that, Chii. You startled me.”

“Hehe-.”

I couldn’t close my eyes.

The voices were clearly audible.

And that voice… was Tia’s.

Across from the rock where I was sitting. There, Tia and Chii, the girl from Tcharrak, sat naked side by side.

Tia scooped up water with one hand and poured it between her shoulder and neck.

[Haa- It’s warm- It’s been so long. How long has it been? Half a year, maybe?]

[Yes! Chii got one year older.]

[That’s right! Chii seems to have grown quite a bit since I last saw you.]

Laughing with a lively voice, she untied her red hair.

[This place is still the same, nothing has changed. Still quiet and cozy.]

[Yes. Everything is the same. Unnie, and Chii who loves Unnie too.]

[Oh my- Chii, aren’t you speaking too beautifully-?]

Tia hugged Chii tightly. Playing in the water with the giggling child in her arms, they shared the joy of their reunion after half a year.

[Come on, Chii. Sit here. I’ll wash your hair for you.]

[Yes!]

Tia seated Chii between her legs and carefully wet and washed her fine blonde hair.

Chii gazed at the night sky and then spoke.

[Unnie.]

[Yes?]

[Did you marry the fat Mister?]

Tia’s hand, which had been gently stroking her hair, paused for a moment.

[Chii, I heard from Pashu. He said Unnie married the fat Mister.]

[Ah……]

I expected Tia to be greatly flustered.

But surprisingly, she simply nodded and replied.

[That’s right. Unnie married Mister.]

[Really? You said ‘lover’ before- So now you’re ‘married’?]

[That’s right! We’re married.]

[Did you marry the fat Mister because you like him?]

[Yes! Unnie liked Mister a lot- so she married him.]

[Heh- My mom said the fat Mister stutters and is ugly, so no woman would like him-.]

[Hahaha…. No. Mister may be a bit clumsy, but he’s truly a kind and good person at heart. And to me, Mister looks as reliable as a bear and quite lovable, you know?]

Tia placed her hands on Chii’s shoulders.

[Let’s see- Chii, do you still like Pashu?]

[Yes.]

[When Pashu grows up, he’ll be taller and grow a beard. You’ll still like him then, right?]

[Yes.]

[Exactly. If you keep that feeling unchanged- until you’re an adult, you’ll marry Pashu, just like Unnie and Mister.]

[Woah-.]

The child, who had expressed pure admiration, continued with equally pure questions.

[Then- since you’re married, will Unnie also have a baby?]

[……]

At that question, Tia looked down at her lower abdomen.

I could tell too.

Tia’s body was definitely different from before.

Tia, who had trained diligently, had a slender waist and a slightly hollowed abdomen, giving her a somewhat lean appearance. Despite that, her hips were full and her thighs thick, making her figure appear ‘beautiful’ and healthy to anyone who saw it.

Of course, her figure hadn’t drastically changed even now.

The ‘subtle difference’ I noticed was that Tia’s belly was slightly protruding, as if forming a gentle curve.

It wasn’t merely the kind of belly fat that comes from eating too much or gaining weight like Fosao.

Like a bud swelling fully just before a flower blooms. It was the body of a woman carrying something precious within her.

[……]

Tia smiled, looking at Chii sitting beside her.

[You know, Chii. This is a secret from others….]

Tia whispered into Chii’s ear.

The girl, upon hearing the story, was surprised.

[Really?!]

[Yes. It’s in here.]

Tia rubbed her belly.

[Can I touch it?]

[Stroke it gently. So the baby doesn’t get startled.]

[Mhm.]

A small hand stroked Tia’s belly. Then, she put her ear to it, her eyes sparkling with wonder as if truly checking if a baby was inside.

[Do you hear anything?]

[No. I don’t hear anything. When can I meet the baby?]

[I don’t know either. The baby decides that, not me. But usually it’s ten months, so… I think it might be around late summer or early autumn this year.]

[Then you have to come again with the baby-!]

[Yes. I’ll definitely come if I have time.]

Just as Tia was about to stroke Chii’s hair.

Rustle-!

Suddenly, the sound of someone walking through the bushes next to the hot spring was heard.

[…!]

Tia immediately put her hand into the water and picked up a stone.

At this late hour. No one should be coming to this quiet hot spring, a place permitted only to this beautiful woman and innocent child.

An uninvited shadow was seen approaching them.

Was she going to throw the stone? The veins on Tia’s wrist stood out tautly, but then.

[Pant- pant-.]

The moment she heard the distinct heavy breathing, Tia dropped the stone from her hand.

Why?

At the same time a question arose in my mind.

Chii pointed into the darkness and cried out.

[Oh? It’s Mister!]