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Chapter 38
So I looked around with tears on my face. I ran to the only place that crossed my mind, which was Mount Nagi.
Yeah, I was looking for a place to die.
I didn’t mean to blame them. Nobody was at fault here.
It’s because I wanted an affection that was never meant for me.
It’s because I wanted something I shouldn’t wish for.
There was nothing worth living for.
I just remembered Signus and Ayaran who were good to me.
‘How can I protect them when I can’t control my own feelings?’
It didn’t matter if I was known as a foolish rookie who tried to challenge something beyond my ability.
Whether you become a knight or a fool, I want to live without your presence, so go pursue the life you want.
Since my father told me to live as I pleased, I will do what I want for the last time.
Thud! I fell on my knees. My feet quickly got sucked into the damp ground, and soon, my lower body was swallowed by the mud.
It seemed like I entered the swamp area without realizing it, but it didn’t matter.
‘It wouldn’t be so bad to disappear without a trace like this.’
I chewed on my lips.
I just want to…
I wanted to know my younger brother’s name.
I wanted to say it out loud.
I wanted to play with him as much as I could. I wanted to hug him. Even if my parents glared at me, I wanted to hold his small hand.
“Hic…”
Those gentle eyes that didn’t know how the world works. My younger brother burst into tears when he saw me.
My lower body was completely drowned. Moreover, the beautiful yellow fabric wrapped around my hand was now stained with dirt.
Looking at it, I couldn’t control my overwhelming feelings any longer, so I just dropped my head and closed my eyes helplessly. That’s why I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me.
“Damn it.”
Somebody clicked their tongue annoyedly before reaching his hand to my side.
Swoosh.
My half-drowned body was suddenly raised by his muscular arms.
“Wait here.”
The man wrapped me in a large cloak. He was a young man who looked like he just turned 20.
Thump.
The man jumped before the tree he was stepping on was completely submerged and moved to a safe place.
Looking at the calm swamp, he reached out to me as I was covered in a large cloak.
“Do you even know where this place is to be here alone like this?”
I lowered my gaze as I received his hand. The yellow cloth was still hanging on my hand.
“….”
The ribbon given by the store owner was stained by mud. However, the beautiful yellow color still shone elegantly.
“….Uh…”
When I reached out to take his hand, I couldn’t hold back my tears again.
“You were scared, right? You’re safe now.”
The hand that was stroking my head was big and warm.
Just like that, I cried for a long time.
He was a very strange man. Instead of asking anything, he just followed me behind.
“Be careful of the grass.”
He often warned me about dangerous things and sometimes got rid of something that might endanger me. He just followed me silently without telling me to leave this place or asking me about where I was going.
I raised my hand and touched my face. I could feel my swollen eyes. On top of crying, I looked just like a complete beggar after falling into the swamp.
‘I’m tired.’
I was hungry and tired after walking for a long time.
How ridiculous.
I came all the way here to die, but my body shamelessly wanted to rest.
“Why don’t we take a break?”
Looking back, I met his deep gray eyes. He leaned his body against a tree in a relaxed manner.
“It’s because I feel tired.”
I just stood there without answering him. I felt like he’d follow me if I said I’d go first.
While I was ruminating about what to do, he handed me his water bottle. He didn’t forget to clean the bottle before giving it to me.
“What’s wrong? Do you think it’s poisoned? Relax. I don’t have a hobby of killing the person that I saved.”
I think I owe him too much. And I felt even more guilty when he said that, so I took the water bottle.
“….Thank you.”
“I see that you know how to speak.” He laughed.
His smiling face looked harmless. Then I heard a murmur as I was quenching my throat with cold water.
“Come to think of it….” he said, trying to remember something.
“It’s blooming time. You’re lucky.”
He began to walk ahead of me.
“Follow me. Since you’re here, I’ll show you something amazing.”
My feet moved on their own and I ended up following him.
“It’s dangerous from here on. Be careful and don’t touch anything.”
He took off his coat and put it on me.
“The way up will not be smooth. Brace yourself.”
So I looked up and saw an ice cliff with no end in sight. It seemed difficult to climb up a high and steep cliff.
‘If you slip, you’ll die right away.’
Still, I followed him without a word. I would have died if it weren’t for him anyway.
From then on, our rough journey continued.
It was a valuable experience that I couldn’t experience in the academy.
When the old branch swung to our direction due to the blizzard, he jumped over that branch with ease.
When the monster slid down the cliff to attack us, he put me in a safe place before slaughtering them.
On several occasions, a large bird flew over a cliff to steal the cloak and nearly dragged me away.
He saved me again and again. It was a dangerous place where I wouldn’t be able to survive by myself.
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed. I continued to climb the cliff even when the sun was about to set.
“We’re almost there.”
As I was feeling exhausted, he pulled my hand and pushed my back.
“Cheer up.”
It was as if he was telling me not to give up.
“Wow….”
Standing on the edge of the cliff, I exclaimed in amazement. What spread before my eyes was an amazing scenery.
It made me feel thankful for being alive at this moment. While I was looking at the scenery, he looked around carefully.
“Come here, come on!”
I rushed to him as he urged me.
A pink flower was blooming in the middle of the white cliff.
‘What kind of flower is that? There’s silver dust falling from it.’
Then I heard the answer immediately.
“It’s eastern prickly pear.”
“Eastern prickly pear?”
“Mt. Nagi is full of unknown herbs, but that’s not all. On a steep ice cliff located in the deepest part of the forest, there’s eastern prickly pear which blooms every thousand years. It is a legendary medicine that brings out the souls of the dead.”
Surprised, I looked at the beautiful flower again.
“No one ever saw it except for you and me.”
Unbelievable….how can someone like me be able to witness such an amazing thing?
“You are the second person to see the eastern prickly pear bloom. I can assure you of that.”
My mind went blank. I came all the way here purely with the help of that person, but do I really deserve to see this?
“So now wipe your tears and think about who you’re going to give it to.”
“What?”
“There must be someone you want to give it to. You came all the way up here and survived against the danger of death.”
He said it rather so lightly.
“If you don’t have anyone to give it to, you can sell it.”
I shook my head at his nonsense.
“Don’t you want it?”
“I’m fine. Just seeing it is enough.”
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I meant it.
It was a miracle to come all the way here, and I have no regret left after seeing this flower. I feel happy enough that I might be able to fully embrace death.
After contemplating for a while, he said.
“Then should I throw that away?”
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