episode_0162

A period of comfortable rest followed, as we leaned on the cargo cart without a word. Marie, with a tired face, leaned her head on Ruyef’s arm and began to nod off. Ruyef expressionlessly stroked his younger sibling’s head.

Whether soothing our tired bodies or lost in deep thought, we were naturally quiet friends, and that remained true even after leaving our hometown.

Seeing the golden plains after leaving Teildon was a first for everyone. We had traveled by carriage all night, so we must have come far enough that Teildon’s walls were no longer visible.

If asked how I felt, I would say it felt as if something was finally beginning.

But it wasn’t entirely hopeful. Like this carriage running through the pitch-black darkness, I also felt as if I was moving toward an unknown place, beyond my control.

…Was Tia feeling this way too?

“Woah!”

The merchant slowly reduced speed. The wheels of the cart creaked as it began to enter beneath a small mountain.

The carriage eventually stopped in a moderately wide clearing.

“Let’s rest here for a bit.”

We entered the clearing.

Under the dim moonlight, there were rocks suitable for sitting, and in the center, traces of a campfire remained. It seemed like a place frequently used by travelers on this road.

Whoosh!

The merchant lit a fire in the ash pile and said we would depart as soon as it was light. If the weather was good, we could reach Gordburg tomorrow night, he added.

After explaining, the merchant lay down on the carriage, telling us to get plenty of sleep as the journey ahead would be arduous.

Ruyef asked.

“What about you?”

“Not really. I’m not tired.”

“Is that so?”

He said, carrying the limp Marie on his back.

“Still, it would be better to get some sleep. I’m going first.”

“Sleep well.”

I sat on a rock and hunched my body. The campfire didn’t seem very big, so I threw in some more straw.

Gordburg is coming soon. Tia is there.

Then what… should I do?

I still hadn’t found an answer. The fact that I had to go to Gordburg for revenge hadn’t changed, but…

The question of ‘how’ to take revenge remained stagnant.

Ruyef seemed to have his own plan.

He had once said that Fosao was the culprit who destroyed our hometown, and that he would catch him and seize his assets. And with that money, he would raise funds to rebuild our hometown.

Honestly, I thought the chances were low. An empty mountain village where people had been gone for almost half a year. To restore it to its former state… That was close to impossible.

But I didn’t even have such an uncertain plan.

I had rushed out with only the intention of killing Fosao. So, how should I kill him now?

Should I go to the lord of Gordburg, tell him everything, and have Fosao hanged? Or should I wait for him to be alone, kill him, and then explain everything to Tia?

Either option seemed the worst.

Both people finding out about Tia’s situation and me becoming a murderer, living my life on the run.

The ending I could create… was it just a thorny path?

But even if I had to endure all that pain…

My desire to kill Fosao remained unchanged.

Yes. First, kill him.

The rest can be thought about later; it won’t be too late then.

“……”

It was when I was slowly trying to close my eyes.

[They say we’ll arrive tomorrow.]

A voice was heard from somewhere.

I opened my eyes again.

Crackling beyond the campfire, two people were sitting on a rock.

It was Fosao and Tia.

They were wrapped together in a thick blanket, warming themselves by the fire.

Tia asked.

[Wasn’t it uncomfortable hiding inside the coffin?]

[It was a little hard to br-breathe. What about you, Ti-Tia?]

[I… was so cold.]

She said, casting her eyes down.

[I didn’t know inside a coffin was this cold.]

[It’s w-wooden planks. Of course it’s cold.]

[If I had known it was this cold… I would have made it warmer for you.]

[……]

Fosao looked down at Tia, then suddenly grabbed her shoulder firmly.

[Co-come in here.]

Then he pulled her firmly onto his large belly. He wrapped the blanket tightly around them, making it even thicker, and hugged the girl’s small body close.

Tia, seeming to crave warmth, closed her eyes while embraced in his arms. Each breath she exhaled turned into a misty puff.

[How is it?]

[It’s warm.]

She said quietly, as if resting her head and listening to his heartbeat.

[I like that you’re warm, Mister. Your hands, and your chest.]

[That’s why I sw-sweat a lot. You don’t like it because it smells s-strong, do you?]

[No.]

Tia shook her head.

[Your sweat smell, Mister… I like it because when you hug me, that warm feeling seems to flow into my chest.]

Tia was the one who used to complain to me that Fosao’s smell was unpleasant. She would frown and even yell at him to leave immediately due to the strong stench whenever he passed by.

…But that smell, which used to cause a physiological revulsion in women, Tia now says she ‘likes’.

Right in front of me.

[Hehe.]

Fosao laughed awkwardly.

The two remained wrapped in the blanket for a long time. As Tia, intoxicated by the cozy warmth, began to blink her half-closed eyes.

[……!]

Suddenly, as if jolted awake, Tia’s eyes returned to clarity.

And she looked back at Fosao with extremely flustered eyes.

[Mister…?]

[Hehe-.]

But Fosao only let out a sly chuckle.

I saw Tia’s cheeks and ears instantly turn bright red. Why she was suddenly reacting that way, I only realized a little later.

Tia spoke in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.

[Now is difficult….]

[Th-this much is fine, isn’t it? Th-there’s no one around anyway.]

[Still….]

I thought it was distorted because of the campfire’s flames. But looking closely, the blanket they were sharing was subtly squirming.

Tia’s hand slightly emerged as if to resist, but Fosao continued to move his arm repeatedly, teasing her.

Tia exhaled a short breath.

[It’s embarrassing….]

Thump. Thump.

My chest pounded.

What on earth was happening inside that blanket?

I couldn’t tell.

[J-just stay still.]

[Ahhn…♥]

[If you make a sound, we’ll be d-discovered, won’t we?]

Tia bit her lip to hold back her breath. And with anxious eyes, she looked down at ‘something’ moving inside the blanket.

[Honestly, Tia, you w-wanted to do it too, didn’t you?]

[……]

She didn’t deny it.

Fosao’s hand wriggled as if a mouse crawling under a blanket. If Tia was sitting curled up inside the blanket… that place was undoubtedly between her legs.

Fosao whispered into her flushed ear.

[You g-got wet quickly, didn’t you?]

[Ngh….]

[How is it? Your b-body got warm, right? Hmm?]

Tia nodded without answering.

…She was more flushed than ever.

Her forcibly held breaths were shallow like a baby’s, and her heart pounded loudly as if it would burst from embarrassment.

Her face, completely focused on the movement of the fingers digging between her thighs, was unmistakably that of a girl secretly engaged in a hidden act.

Just then.

[Whew-. It’s ridiculously cold!]

Startled, Tia froze solid.

Two men walked towards the campfire. From their shabby clothes, they seemed to be fellow travelers who had shared the carriage.

They sat on a rock opposite, warming themselves by the fire, then cast their gaze towards Tia and Fosao.

After looking at Tia, who was covered by the blanket up to her head, one asked Fosao.

[…Is that your daughter?]

[Ah. Yes… yes. Sh-she’s my d-daughter.]

Fosao hastily blurted out.

If a man and a woman with such a large age difference were close enough to share a blanket, anyone would naturally assume they were father and daughter.

The companion said.

[I also have a daughter and a son back home. When my daughter was little, she’d follow me around saying she liked me. But now that she’s grown a bit, she runs away whenever she sees me. Haha! But your daughter seems to still follow you well. I’ve been watching, and your relationship looks so good, it’s enviable.]

[Ehehe- Th-thank you.]

Even as he replied, the blanket was still squirming within.

Tia bowed her head deeply, her ears turning bright red. Clenching her hands tightly, she let out a short, faint groan, as if in pain.

The man asked, puzzled.

[Your daughter isn’t sick, is she?]

[Ah, no. Sh-she’s just very sh-shy.]

[Haha. That’s certainly the age for it.]

The men didn’t notice.

That the girl they thought was a daughter was actually in a relationship where she had repeatedly pressed bellies with this old, fat man and received his seed in her womb.

And that even now, as they spoke, she was helplessly experiencing the man’s fingers inside her.

…However, as men, they must have instinctively felt it.

That she was exposing a lustful nape that a virgin would never reveal, and exhaling sweet breaths that would excite a man.

[……]

Perhaps feeling ashamed for having indecent thoughts about someone else’s daughter, the men suddenly fell silent.

[Well then, have a good night with your daughter.]

Saying so, they awkwardly stood up as if the spot was uncomfortable and moved elsewhere.

Crackle. Crackle-.

Only Fosao and Tia remained in front of the campfire again. Tia, who had been quiet, didn’t move for a long time even after the men disappeared.

[Ugh- It’s h-hot!]

Fosao, with a mischievous look, lifted the blanket.

Woosh!

Then, trapped hot steam rose up in a misty cloud, finally revealing ‘what had happened inside the blanket’.

Tia’s pants were halfway down, caught at her knees, and her pale white legs had no strength at all.

Squish.

Fosao’s finger, which had been buried beneath her lower abdomen, came up. A thin, sticky liquid stretched from his middle finger.

[They’re all g-gone, Tia.]

[Haa… haa…♥]

How much strength had she lost inside that blanket?

Tia, who had been so strong and robust, now slumped and leaned against Fosao’s body.

[Ung….]

But that wasn’t the end. Tia, seeming to be impatient, kept rubbing her chest against Fosao’s arm.

[Why? Do you want to do m-more?]

[Because you keep touching me, Mister….]

[Hehe! It was y-you, Tia, who said you wouldn’t do it o-outside.]

[……]

The girl looked up at Fosao with a wistful gaze, wishing for something. He grinned, as if looking at a cute puppy, then gently held her small chin and kissed her.

Slurp. Kiss.

The two opened their mouths, mingling tongues and saliva.

What kind of expressions would those men from earlier have made if they had seen this scene?

Probably… the same expression as mine.

Crackle. Hiss–.

As the campfire died down, the illusion of the two people vanished.

Only smoking ashes remained in front of me.