At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 142
“That must have been an incredibly strange experience.”
“Yes, it really is.”
The fact that they could share such a feeling of wonder was intriguing in itself.
“Anyway, it’s something that has long been considered a taboo. If the tree is closer to the capital, it probably knows more about it.”
“Mm.”
It felt strange to continue discussing this topic, so Jiwoo just nodded along.
“Thanks for the explanation, Lanset and Arven.”
It was amusing to see how touched they were by simply hearing their names called by her.
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
At first, Jiwoo had only interacted with the five husbands she accepted in Caranazion, and some
still reacted to trivial things like this.
She reached out with both hands and held onto their ears, rubbing the tips. They exchanged glances and kissed her on the cheeks. After receiving those kisses, she returned the gesture with a kiss on Lanceil’s lips.
Jiwoo secretly thought that it would take a while to fully understand the culture here.
* * *
Soon, the day arrived for Jiwoo to go on her ‘business trip.’
After treating the tree, there was the risk of losing strength, and since she didn’t know the geography of El Ragneil well enough to go alone, she needed a few husbands to accompany her. Of course, she also considered the risk of them trying to pull any tricks on her.
While everyone prepared together, they decided on the day of departure who would accompany them. To Jiwoo’s surprise, Helka appeared on that day after having been absent throughout the preparations.
“What have you been doing? I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“…I was getting ready because I thought something like this might happen.”
Behind Helka were the two ‘gifts’ that had previously been missing.
‘It feels like Lofrel has dropped two bombs here.’
They looked at Jiwoo with curiosity, their ears perked up. When she met their gaze, they smiled brightly. It seemed they were happy to be accepted.
“What are your names?”
“Not yet.”
“We don’t have any.”
They spoke in the fluent imperial language, which they had mastered during their time here.
Just then, Tevon appeared and explained abruptly.
“I told them to use the imperial language because it’s embarrassing.”
It seemed that, since the existing thirty husbands couldn’t use that language, it gave the two newcomers a special advantage to score points with Jiwoo. In other words, it was just a petty issue.
It made Jiwoo wonder if that was truly the case.
“Why don’t you have names?”
“Usually, the older brothers give them names.”
Helka glanced at Tevon as she said this, but he didn’t look very trusting.
Tevon was clearly taken aback.
“What? You want me to do that? I don’t know anything about that, you old man.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Seriously.”
Then, Helka’s gaze turned to Jiwoo, who had been watching silently.
“So, I’m counting on you.”
“Me?”
Of course, Jiwoo was equally shocked.
Well, technically speaking…. since they were just born, it made sense that they wouldn’t have names.
But Jiwoo, who could barely remember the names of the husbands here, definitely couldn’t just come up with names on the spot.
“I don’t really know…”
“You could name them after your trip. Associating them with what you see or experience there might help you remember them better.”
Even the two of them looked at her with eager expressions.
“Right, I’ll give it a try.”
For now, that meant she would decide after the trip.
After all, she still needed to choose which husbands would accompany her this time.
“Then we’re going to draw lots again?”
“Why do we have to decide things that way?”
It was Enci who voiced his discontent. For some reason, he wasn’t particularly keen on this method…
Maybe that’s why he was already dissatisfied with it.
“But this is the fairest way to do it.”
As Jiwoo said this, she picked up the box she had prepared in advance and placed it behind her. She had also carved thirty-two long sticks from branches, which she had done together with Lanceil earlier.
“Then… should I mark about four of the thirty-two?”
Since usually around four or five would go, she thought that would work.
“Nope.”
Helka shook his head.
“This time, you only need thirty-one.”
“Hmm? Why?”
It was surprising to hear that someone wouldn’t be going since usually everyone wanted to go along.
Jiwoo absentmindedly looked at the husbands gathered around.
Now that she thought about it…
“Where’s Callan?”
No matter how she looked, Callan was nowhere to be found.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t spoken to Callan since the announcement about the visit from the female manifestation.
“Why hasn’t Callan come?”
Jiwoo was surprised since Callan had always wanted to be included in any gathering whenever she went on a trip, often complaining about the others.
Tevon stepped closer and asked while picking the first lot.
“Isn’t Callan usually someone you see at night?”
“No, I haven’t seen him lately.”
As she moved with the box, Jiwoo asked Helka again,
“Helka, didn’t you discuss this with Callan regarding these individuals?”
“That’s right. Callan said he had other preparations to make. You’ll see when you come back.”
Helka said briefly while picking a lot.
“Is that so…”
What else could he possibly be preparing?
Hadn’t Callan done the most preparation for the ‘gifts’?
That was why the husbands had all banded together to get ready. Did he have something else in mind aside from that?
“Is he not having some strange thoughts alone again? Like the last time…?”
“That shouldn’t be the case.”
Callan was the one who had declared his love first but had complicated matters the most.
From his actions, it seemed like this time would be similar, but if Helka said it wasn’t, then it probably wasn’t…
For now, she would need to discuss it with him once she returned after this matter.
While Jiwoo was lost in thought, the drawing ended. The winning lots had already all been picked.
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