episode_0037

When we returned to the village, the people of Ende village, including the village chief, had gathered and were anxiously awaiting the village’s victory and the safe return of the kidnapped people.

While they were waiting, those who returned safely praised my performance.

In fact, Arna did it all, but it was so fast that I couldn’t see it, so I, who rolled with impact, ended up being treated as a hero.

“Warrior Kim Ji-hoo entered the orc lair alone and saved us!”

At those words, I looked at Arna, and Arna smiled and pushed me on the back, sending me forward.

“Ah… haha. Thank you.”

I waved my hand as many eyes looked at me as if surprised.

Even if I did a good job, I don’t think I should be praised this much, but to be treated like this without doing anything in particular. I feel like I’m committing a sin.

Then the village chief Yurus came to me, took my hand, and raised our hands together.

So people cheered and were happy.

“You are a warrior!”

“He is a hero who saved people!”

“Wow!”

It’s too burdensome.

My face gets hot and I feel like I want to hide somewhere quickly.

“Well, but… .”

I grabbed Arna’s arm and dragged her to my side while Yurus had let go of my arm.

“My sister did it all.”

“Oh!”

“You even have the virtue of humility!”

Arna covered her ears with her hood and came next to me and smiled shyly.

“I, I didn’t do anything… .”

Arna spoke in a quiet voice and held my hand tightly.

So, after an awkward and shaky welcome ceremony, we ended up spending the night separately in a quiet house thanks to the village chief’s consideration.

It’s normal to be welcomed and congratulated like this when you come back after accomplishing something.

After living as a hero for so long, it felt awkward to do so. Evelia and Elena stole the glory that should have been given to me, and I didn’t receive much attention, as if I were a tool they used.

I didn’t want to be a burden for no reason, so I consoled myself by saying it was okay.

but… To be honest, I felt really burdened, embarrassed, and strange today, but when I think back on it, I felt good and energized when I saw people smiling at me.

“Jihu used to be a hero, so are you used to situations like today?”

“Huh? uh… Well, that’s right.”

I know that I almost died, but I think Arna would be sad if she knew that she lived without hearing a compliment like that for once.

Anyway, what do you do by bringing up the past?

“I asked you to say something earlier, but I got scolded because I was embarrassed. Ugh, I guess people who live outside the forest are hard to deal with.”

I smiled and sat down at the table with a bottle of wine that looked luxurious, one of the huge gifts he had brought me in return.

On the table was a cow that was said to be a hero of the village, prepared with various dishes. There were only things Arna couldn’t eat.

“Don’t worry about me and eat a lot.”

“Uh, uh… .”

I can’t help it.

I inhaled the delicious-looking meat without hesitation.

It was the best beef I had tasted in a long time.

While I was eating dinner, Arna drank a bottle of chocolate milk and strawberry milk, one of the village’s specialties, and looked shocked.

“It’s delicious… .”

Then he looked at the milk for a while with a cautious expression. I picked up a bottle of strawberry milk like the one Arna was looking at and drank it.

“Oh, it’s really delicious.”

really. It’s the most delicious strawberry milk I’ve ever had. When I said it was delicious, Arna’s expression became a little strange.

“Jihoo, I’ll leave for a moment. I’m eating.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“It will come soon.”

Arna suddenly went outside.

what?

I ate dinner without paying much attention. When Arna had almost finished eating the dishes, she came back out of breath.

Arna came in hiding something behind her back, went straight into the room, then came back out and sat down in front of me.

“What is it?”

“Okay, I’ll tell you later.”

I’m looking forward to something, but I also feel anxious.

And then someone came to see us.

Since the village chief had told us not to disturb us after the welcoming ceremony earlier, he was the first person to visit us that day.

I got up right away and opened the door.

“Ah, Ms. Isela.”

Isela brought Serena and her husband Lawrence. Did you come to say thank you separately?

“Ah, that… Sorry for disturbing your rest.”

Serena came carrying a small flower pot.

“I want to give you the flowers I grew as a gift.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“I was thinking about what to give… I feel like this is the only thing I can give you.”

“It’s a pretty flower. That’s right, sister.”

Arna took the flower pot I was holding and smiled.

“It would be pretty to grow it in front of the house.”

“It was a sudden request, but thank you so much for your help. Arna, Jihoo.”

Serena and Lawrence thanked us, and Isela sent them away.

Then Isela came into the house.

“Thank you.”

Isella stroked Arna and I’s hair with both hands, sat us down in front of the table again, and stood between us.

“What are you doing here now? If I could have come now, I think I could have done it myself.”

“That’s right. I asked for it, but I was nervous.”

“Are you here to guard the elves’ quarantine facility?”

When I pretended to know, Isella looked at me and tilted her head, then nodded.

“I know you well. It is something that must be observed in turns. I asked them to change it a little faster next time.”

“What is that?”

Arna asked with wide eyes and then smiled shyly at me. There are so many things Arna doesn’t know.

“Hmm… .”

“If the elves are protecting it, shouldn’t I do it too?”

“You don’t have to worry. Until I die.”

Is it only one person per family going out? There is surprisingly a system in this area.

“Still. You need to know what it is. I think Jihoo knows too… .”

“To explain briefly… This is where elves who are ready to die go. Elves who can no longer survive.”

“Yes?”

Was it something like that?

I thought they were quarantining elves who committed sins or elves who were sick.

“Even though the body continues to live, the mind dies little by little. The longer you live, the stronger your strength becomes, but old memories and immediate boredom turn into an urge to pour that strength outward.”

It means becoming a monster.

“That was a bit grandiose, but if you live too long, you’ll go crazy like that. You will die on your own at the right time. By returning the soul to the sacred tree. … We are protecting his side.”

The end of life chosen by the elf who thought he was just living a long life. Arna, you probably still have a long time left to live… For some reason, I feel strange.

“I’ll tell you more about that next time I have the chance. There’s nothing wrong with knowing.”

Isella shrugged.

“By the way, aunt. that… How is your mom?”

“What? When will mom die?”

“Oh, no! Ugh… … You saw it then. I got into a fight with my mom… .”

Isella laughed.

“That was a fight? I almost died one-sidedly.”

yes. It was a situation far from the word fight.

At other times, Carmene watched it a lot, to the point that it was a fight, but at that moment, he showed such strong sincerity that anyone could feel it.

“Ah, anyway… . How are you now?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see him again after that day either. But what did you say that made it happen like that?”

“Ji-hoo said he was different from other humans. As you can see, Jihoo is a bit special.”

Arna slowly reached out and took my hand.

“He’s good at everything, cute, and handsome… He is always kind to me and has such a kind heart.”

Why am I suddenly proud of myself… .

“And today, he saved the village people, and everyone loved him and said he was a hero. You know that. Jihoo said he was a hero. I found out what that is today.”

Isella, who was listening to Arna’s story, let out a small sigh.

Maybe that was the problem?

“Just brag about Jihoo to your mom.”

“Yes? why? Otherwise, you will continue to look at me negatively.”

Isella quietly looked at me with a slightly embarrassed expression and then nodded.

“Just don’t convince your mom and just live well like you are now. Independence was recognized.”

“Still… .”

No matter how much you fight and disagree with your parents, you may still want to be recognized and confirmed. In Arna’s case, it didn’t seem like she completely hated Carmene.

“Go. Come back here in a few days.”

Isella ruffled Arna’s hair one last time and returned.

“What.”

“Don’t worry too much. Like Isella said, we can just get along well on our own.”

I spoke carefully and opened the wine I had been waiting to drink with Arna.

“That’s not true… .”

It should have been served with dinner, but Arna didn’t eat anything and left midway, so it ended up like an after-dinner dessert.

I shared wine with Arna.

“Sister, have you ever tried something like this?”

Arna gently shook the glass filled with wine and shook her head.

“What is it? I think it smells like grapes.”

“Yes, it’s alcohol made from grapes. If you drink it, you’ll feel a little better, right?”

“Really?”

Arna lightly put a glass of wine to her lips and smiled as she tasted it.

“Delicious.”

“I received a lot.”

Arna’s eyes became bright and she quickly gulped down her wine. It seems like it’s been a while since I had the time to come here and drink.

Here, even if you’re drunk, you don’t feel like anything will happen, and it doesn’t matter if you fall into a deep sleep and can’t wake up all day.

I really liked that leisure.

We shared two bottles of wine with Arna and went into the room together.

As I got a little drunk, my heart pounded harder than before when I saw Arna.

“Sister, so what did you bring earlier?”

Arna smiled shyly. His face was flushed, perhaps from alcohol or embarrassment.

“This… .”

Arna stumbled and took out what she had hidden under the bed.

Strawberry jam?

“Huh? What is it?”

“You said it was delicious earlier, right?”