At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 184

“…Our situation isn’t great. The leader of our group is sick, and we can’t stay here, so we’re planning to cross the continent. It’s going to be a tough journey.”

I know.

Helka is ill, and soon you’ll be crossing the great vortex and heading to Caranazion.

“However, there’s been a suggestion that adding you wouldn’t be a problem. Of course, it’s a bit awkward because of Raelan but it’s difficult to leave you behind.”

Don’t worry. I can take care of you all.

“But still, we don’t welcome outsiders. Everyone will be uncomfortable. Try to keep a low profile.”

No, you will welcome me.

“Still, it’s better than wandering alone in a place like this.”

You might even try to seduce me.

“If it comes to it, you might meet other humans there and leave.”

I don’t think I’ll be leaving.

“Will you come with me?”

Lanceil extended his hand.

The sun was rising outside the cave. The traces of the rain that had fallen all night long were still damp in the cave, filling the air with the scent of moss, the smoke from a fire that had barely burned out, and the fragrance of his wildflowers.

The sunlight behind him seemed almost like a halo. The light was too bright, as if it would swallow her whole and reach deep into her heart.

This feeling couldn’t be love. It was too sudden, too short a meeting to be love. Instead, it felt like pity, a natural sympathy one might feel for a good person.

But maybe that’s why it felt right. It was a soft emotion, enough to begin something tender, not love, but something else.

Jiwoo reached for his hand. Her fingertips trembled as they touched his.

And when their hands finally intertwined,

The light behind Lanceil grew brighter, until it seemed to cover everything, enveloping them both.

At that moment, Jiwoo knew that the light was from Ellandos.

“Ah…”

“Jiwoo, wake up. I have good news.”

“Uh, ung? Lanceil…?”

“What’s wrong?”

Jiwoo took Lanceil’s hand, still in daze and stood up.

That hand she had just held felt completely different now.

The place she had been lying in moments ago was a soft, fragrant bed.

“Oh? What’s going on?”

“We were just in our cave, weren’t we?”

Lanceil smiled happily.

“Did you dream it? I’m flattered.”

A dream?

It felt so real. The scent of rain and moss seemed to linger in her nose, like she was still in that place.

“Hurry up and come out. Everyone’s waiting.”

But Lanceil didn’t leave Jiwoo alone, even though she was still confused, and helped her stand.

Following him in a daze, Jiwoo gradually began to return to her true reality.

And when she opened the door to follow Lanceil outside,

“Wow…”

In reality, the first snow of the year was falling, the sight was so warm just by looking at it.

The first snow.

And on the day the first snow fell…

As Jiwoo stood there, gazing up at the sky, flowers of all kinds suddenly bloomed beside the door she had just opened.

It was as if fireworks had exploded.

“Happy birthday, Seo Jiwoo.”

“Ah…”

“Oh, oohh! Don’t cry. Why are you crying on such a good day?”

“You should get a birthday gift now.”

The tears flowed without Jiwoo realizing it. The tree had helped her understand the emotions she hadn’t known.

“It’s okay. I’ve already received so much.”

She had probably been wondering if she had fallen into the wrong world, or if she was still the outsider who wasn’t accepted.

But the tree had shown her that those things didn’t matter.

Jiwoo smiled as she looked at the Ellandos of their village in the distance.

‘Thank you for the gift, tree.’

If she hadn’t been forcibly summoned, would their first meeting have been like this?

It didn’t matter when or where they met.

It might have taken a bit longer, but that was okay. Just seeing that possibility made her happy.

“You all are my gift.”

Jiwoo smiled brightly as she hugged her husbands.

Today, this world itself has become her gift.

* * *

The weather was clear and sunny. It was hard to believe that heavy snow had fallen just the day before, as the sunlight today was so bright.

Jiwoo decided to clear the snow in the square and prepare for the next trip.

Now that the first snow had fallen, today was the day to decide who would accompany her on the next journey.

When Callan heard the destination, he looked a bit concerned.

“You’re going to the beach, right?”

“Yes.”

Since they had received something like an emergency medicine from them, it seemed best to go quickly.

“Well… even the indecisive ones get to experience the luck of meeting you.”

Callan’s response was not much different from his usual.

He kept talking about how they were not very polite, and Jiwoo found herself wondering what exactly his standard was.

“If they make things difficult for you, will you come back right away?”

“Yes.”

She was really curious.

This reaction was quite unusual, and only Jiwoo seemed to understand that. The others didn’t seem to notice.

When the Asilion group approached Jiwoo, it felt like they were giving her space, and even though their approach was face-to-face, they still tried to engage respectfully and were preparing to send her off even if it made them sad.

It seemed like the Asilion group respected proper etiquette, and they were recognized as a decent group among themselves.

On the other hand, they didn’t hide their dislike towards the other groups Jiwoo met during past trips. Sometimes they even appeared aggressive. The few that they seemed more open to had an uncomfortable air when it came to the favor of healing the trees they held sacred.

But when she mentioned the beach group, it didn’t feel the same.

It was more of a tone like…. “How can there be such pathetic guys?” They didn’t even seem to see them as competitors.

In fact, Jiwoo hadn’t been too curious about the other groups, but now, because of this reaction, she was even more intrigued.

Since he didn’t view that group as competition, Callan didn’t apply to the next trip either.