episode_0035

“So? What exactly did you come here for?”

While I was bathing, Rinde wiped my back and asked.

“It’s all over now, right? So you came back, didn’t you? Isn’t that right?”

“Well, you see…”

“…”

As I hesitated to speak, a cold chill emanated from behind me.

“Actually, there’s something I want to ask of you.”

“Ask?”

“Yeah. You’re a witch, so you must know a bit about magical things, right?”

“Well… something like that.”

“In truth…”

I honestly recounted what had happened in the labyrinth.

Of course, I omitted the subtle incidents involving Dmitri.

“That’s… quite surprising. To think such a thing existed beneath the labyrinth. That child who has been controlling dolls until now, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“Seems like even Sir Lashwood got scared over nothing much.”

“I have no words…”

Rinde rinsed warm water over my head and used her hands to gently wipe away all the soap suds.

“I can take care of your hair.”

“Haha… It’s been a while since I’ve seen this cute side of Sir Lashwood.”

“This isn’t teasing, Uncle.”

“Uncle… right. Sir Lashwood was an uncle.”

“Ah…”

Unintentionally, the word “uncle” slipped out of my mouth.

Perhaps because I’ve been thinking a lot about the past, including Sangcheol.

“Well, it makes sense in a way.”

“…Is it okay for an uncle to do such things to his niece?”

Rinde’s hand slid forward sneakily.

“Don’t tease me.”

I grabbed her hand.

She’s acting a bit strange today.

Usually, she’s quite timid.

“Why are you like this today?”

“What?”

“Why have you suddenly become so bold?”

I turned around, pinched Rinde’s nose, and shook it lightly.

“Ugh… please don’t…”

“Kick.”

I let go of her nose.

“It’s just… thinking that you might really be going to die, I… unknowingly…”

Now her true nature is showing.

Or… was that the side of Rinde she had been hiding?

…Come to think of it, it’s not that strange.

Rinde is already over fifty.

Although she may be a virgin, she hasn’t wasted those years.

So, she probably killed dragons too.

No, isn’t that quite impressive?

In some ways, she might be more experienced than me.

“Anyway, it’s not good to tease Uncle.”

I firmly pressed Rinde’s head.

“I’m sorry…”

“Fine. Anyway, we need to solve the problem within 100 days.”

“100 days?”

“Well, I made a promise with Pratia. If I can’t solve it after sleeping for 100 nights, I agreed to live there for 10 years.”

“…What?”

“No, so within 100 days…”

“What?!”

Rinde suddenly jumped up and rushed towards me.

“Are you crazy?! Why would you make such a promise!?”

“Well, it’s not really… 10 years isn’t that long of a time.”

“What on earth…!”

Rinde’s furrowed face relaxed as if she had realized something.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s just 10 years anyway.”

“10 years… Even if it’s short for us, it’s not for Krisha!”

“What?”

“I mean Krisha! She’s just an ordinary human!”

“Well… that’s true.”

“What do you mean, ‘that’s true’?! Have you not thought about Krisha?!”

“Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“You’ll be by her side.”

“That…! Even if that’s the case! Krisha is family!”

“Seems like you’re mistaken… Krisha isn’t my family. Nor are you.”

“How could… How could you say that…!”

“Calm down a bit. You’re my friend’s daughter.”

“Ah…”

“I allowed you to stay here because of Sangcheol. That’s still the case now. The reason I said this house would be yours when I die is also because of that.”

“Even so… Am I, are we really limited to just that with you?!”

Linde choked up.

“I got you drunk and took advantage of you!”

“Oh, that’s…”

Damn.

There’s really nothing to say about that.

No, I was drunk too at that time.

I still wonder why I did that.

“That was a mistake. I’m sorry…”

“And you did it again after that!”

“Ah.”

No, um, well…

“Sigh… That was truly, truly, truly my fault. I made a huge mistake. It’s disgraceful…”

“So, take responsibility!”

“That… It’s a bit awkward for me to say this, but I’m your uncle. If you want to start a family, find another man. An elf wouldn’t be bad either. They have long lifespans…”

“You’re saying that!?”

This is a real corner I can’t escape from.

If I had known she was Sangcheol’s daughter when I first met her, I would never have made such a mistake…

“I’m here because I like you, sir! And Krisha feels the same way!”

“Krisha is here because of you, not me.”

“Even so, Krisha really likes you! Surely you won’t pretend not to know?!”

“I know. Still, we’re not family.”

“Why!? Why on earth!?”

“…Because you’re a dying human.”

Saying that again makes me feel sick.

“…!”

“Don’t forget. No matter how much you cherish someone, they’ll eventually reach the end of their lifespan and leave. Just like your mother did.”

“But… But…”

“And I’ll lose you someday too.”

“…!”

“You’ll live a long life. But you’ll die earlier than me.”

“But… How can you say that so easily?”

“…Why wouldn’t I?”

“…”

“Companions, friends, lovers… Everyone special to me has left before. It’s happened several times, dozens of times.”

Goet, the carpenter of the Labyrinth City.

I remember vividly when he was a cheeky kid.

And he passed away recently.

“…Tsk.”

Linde bit her lip and glared at me.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“So then…”

Linde wrapped her arms around my neck.

“…Isn’t getting pregnant the solution?”

“Are you crazy?”

“No. I’m serious.”

Her gaze was earnest.

“Even if you reject being a family for that reason, you’d accept the child if I got pregnant.”

“No, absolutely not…”

“Lies. I know you. You wouldn’t ignore it.”

“…”

“So, if I were to get pregnant with your child…”

“Enough!”

I pushed her away.

“Don’t throw yourself around recklessly like that.”

“It’s not reckless.”

“I can’t entertain this. Cool off while you wash your head.”

I stood up.

“Coward!”

Linde shot back fiercely as she looked up at me.

I left her alone and went outside to dry off.

When I emerged from the bathroom, Krisha was leaning against the wall next to the door.

“…”

“…”

“I…”

Krisha spoke.

“Since coming to this city, thanks to you, I’ve truly gained a sense of freedom for the first time.”

“…”

“I consider it a great favor. I’m still a bit angry at what you did to Linde, but I’m trying to understand it in my own way.”

“…But?”

“If… if my mere presence burdens you… if seeing me die first is something you don’t want…”

“Freedom, they say.”

I walked past her and continued on.

“If it truly is freedom, then do as you please.”

“…”

Leaving the two behind, I made my way back to my room.

And I lay down on the bed, closing my eyes.

Sleep did not come.

Again.

It’s turning out like this once more.

Whenever I become close to someone, it always ends like this.

I probably wasn’t like this from the beginning.

With each parting, the fear of relationships grew.

Of course, that doesn’t mean cutting off all human connections.

But… perhaps it’s only a matter of time.

Linde, being half of our kind, will undoubtedly live a long life.

Even for someone like me, who has grown weary of farewells, there will be enough time to accept death in my own way.

Yet, here I am.

Perhaps when I learned about Pratia’s true nature, I felt an excessive fondness for her for that reason.

Pratia is a monster in the labyrinth, destined to live forever.

“…”

Maybe, just maybe… all I want is to venture deep into the labyrinth.

If I were to become a monster like Pratia or Lindburg…

“…Alright.”

Stop these pointless thoughts.

Just… let’s sleep.

The fact that without Linde, I can’t keep my promise to Pratia weighed on me, but right now, I didn’t feel like doing anything.

***

The next morning.

I got up from bed and looked out the window where the morning sun was shining in.

The sky was particularly blue and the sunlight felt nice today.

There’s a lot to do…

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“You’re up?”

“You’re up early.”

Still gazing out the window, I replied.

“Yes… No. Actually, I didn’t sleep.”

“What?”

Only then did I turn my head to look at her.

Dark circles had formed under her eyes, and her face looked tired after just one night.

“Oh, you…”

“You made a promise.”

“What?”

“You said you made a promise with a child named Pratia?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“I searched through books and things in my own way. Did you know there are many books related to magic in this mansion? They were covered in dust.”

“I knew, but I didn’t look. But…”

“Sometimes read books too. It’s good to learn from adventures firsthand, but sometimes knowledge can only be gained from books.”

“What are you implying?”

“There’s no implication. I’m just diligently doing what I have to… or do you no longer need my help?”

“…”

I shook my head.

Linde’s help is necessary.

Beyond necessary, it’s crucial.

I have 100 days left, now 99.

While there are other mages with their own agendas, most are likely busy with their own tasks.

Like the Tower, or the Alchemy Guild.

Of course, if necessary, I’ll bring them even if it’s a stretch, but for now, Linde comes first.

“…Well, then, so be it.”

I got up from the bed.

Perhaps due to the daring escape for my life last night, my body felt unusually heavy and sluggish.

“I’ll change clothes, so wait outside for a moment.”

“Huh? Oh… Okay.”

Linde left the room.

After changing clothes and heading downstairs to the dining area, the smell of delicious food wafted through the air.

“Good morning.”

I greeted Krisha, who was cooking soup in the kitchen.

“?! What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did the soup spill?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that… Uh… Hello. Yes, good morning.”

Krisha’s demeanor was strange.

Something… must have happened.

Given what occurred yesterday, it’s not surprising she’s emotionally shaken.

“…Sorry.”

“Huh, what?”

“That… yesterday, I was a bit, well, emotional. Couldn’t keep my cool. Sorry for being insensitive to you and Linde.”

“Oh… It’s, it’s okay…”

“…Are you sure you’re okay too?”

Krisha seems quite off.

“Uh, yeah! I’m fine! How about… breakfast?”

Krisha subtly avoids making eye contact with me.

I must have been too indifferent towards them last night, causing hurt feelings.

I need to reflect on that.

“Sure. Let’s have breakfast. What about you?”

“I, I’m… full. Already ate… I’ll go check outside…!”

Krisha hurriedly left as if escaping.

Just like Linde…

Was I really that bad yesterday…?