At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 85

When Jiwoo and Callan left, those who had been quiet so far began to growl and spoke up again

“How dare you touch someone who has a husband? Are you crazy?”

But Asilion raised his chin without being intimidated.

“Husband? From the looks of it, it doesn’t look like the ceremony has been done yet, so it would be difficult to claim ownership already. It’s not good for her either.”

“That doesn’t mean you guys can approach!”

“Says who? You?”

Enci, who had been silent until now, just fighting with his face, spoke to the person next to him as if he remembered something.

“…But didn’t we also steal someone who had a lover?”
(t/n: why are they so silllyyy i love theeemm hahahahah)

There was nothing wrong with what Enci said, but when Tevon heard it, he hit Enci on the back.

“Where’s your brain!”

* * *

Jiwoo returned with Callan and picked out a change of clothes and simple food for the journey.

Clothing consisted of pants that were easy to move around in and a hood to cover the head, and since the journey wasn’t that long, one or two pieces were enough.

The food was simple too. The thing that caught her eye the most was a piece of black meat. They had been bragging about hunting a water buffalo some time ago and had made jerky with it. She tried one and it was surprisingly soft and sweet.

For some reason, it felt like she was preparing for the Akarna’s work for the first time in a long time, but she didn’t feel that much helplessness or pressure because there were people going with her.

What would the Elandos of other regions look like?

Would she be able to have that connection again?

While Jiwoo was thinking about that, Callan, who was immersed in other serious thoughts, suddenly spoke.

“…We were a bit hurried.”

“What?”

“I mean the first night. And also the wedding…”

Jiwoo didn’t really care, but Callan seemed very bothered by what he heard earlier.

“I’m afraid we may have rushed you too much.”

“Didn’t I agree to the marriage?”

“That is correct. However, if better conditions appear, you may change your mind. As you said before, helping us is something you can do without necessarily getting married.”

Jiwoo was at a loss for words and stared at him.

It was Callan who first suggested getting married. And it was also him who tried to persuade Jiwoo, who was skeptical about love and marriage, and told her to take responsibility because he had his first time with her and could not meet another woman with that body.

Of course, Callan was probably saying this to help Jiwoo, who would live in El Ragneil from now on, to make better choices. Because he was a very considerate person.

However, from Jiwoo’s perspective, she couldn’t help but feel that there was no need to push for marriage since their Ellandos had already been revived.

Of course not. She knew that.

She couldn’t help but feel sad.

“So you’re saying I can leave you behind and follow those people?”

Callan, who always answered without delay, stopped speaking.

He opened his eyes wide as if he had heard something unexpected. The verdant eyes, most like the children of Elandos, were shaking violently.

After a while, Callan spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

“If you… like them more.”

“Are you serious?”

“…I have no right to stop you. Whichever you choose, it has to be a choice that satisfies you.”

“Do you want me to do that, Callan?”

It was clearly something he said out of consideration for her, and Callan himself didn’t seem to like the idea.

But the words had already been spoken. His words had already taken shape and lodged themselves in Jiwoo’s heart.

When Callan seemed hesitant for some reason and didn’t answer, a sigh came out of Jiwoo’s mouth, who had been waiting in silence. This is because the question and answer itself was a bit tiring.

“…Alright.”

She still remembers Callan’s words, who said that if she is tired of loving now, don’t she only want to receive love from now on? It was because of those words that she began to open her heart to the villagers little by little.

He also said he didn’t know love. However, he also said that if Jiwoo’s five years of devotion were love, he was capable of doing that.

So is this the kind of love that Callan wants to do? Maybe that was the way relationships were formed in El Ragneil.

‘But is that something you have to say after having the first night together?’

Maybe that was also the case. They could say that it is normal to try something different and choose another group if she doesn’t like it.

Jiwoo had been forced to adapt to an unfamiliar environment for a long time. It seemed like she had to adapt to this in a similar way.

But still…

“Seo Jiwoo?”

When Jiwoo didn’t say anything, Callan called.

“Did I make a mistake?”

“What?”

“Because your heartbeat has gotten irregular.”

“What? You can hear that?”

Jiwoo asked in surprise, but was easily convinced when she saw his long ears concentrating on this side.

“N-No. I just have something to think about.”

Jiwoo said as she slowly packed her bag. Even though the journey continued for several days, an Akarna’s body held up well. No one knew better than her what she needed to prepare for. This time too, she intended to use the power of an Akarna, and although she packed her bag for that purpose, she did not feel as burdened as before.

In the temple of Carnazion, there were only people who wanted to use Jiwoo, but now it was different. Because here, there were only people who wanted to give her only good things.

“Anyway, you said it for me.”

Callan did not agree right away this time either. Instead, he just paused a little and nodded his head.

It was a question that would give the same answer no matter how many times she asked it. So Jiwoo also closed her mouth at that point.

“…Seo Jiwoo.”

This was when Callan, who had been uncharacteristically restless for some reason, opened his mouth.

Clack.

The door opened and Helkainis came in without a word.

“Seo Jiwoo, are you ready?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then come here. I’ll check it one last time. Callan, please protect the village well.”

When Jiwoo stood next to him holding the bag, Helka immediately took the bag from her and draped it over his shoulder. Then he extended his other hand to Jiwoo. She was about to take his hand and go out, but Callan rushed over and blocked her.

“Hold, hold on!”

Helka tilted his head and looked questioningly.

“…I will go with you this time.”

“Callan?”

Each person in this group had a defined role, and Callan, who was in charge of medical treatment in the village, was not the type to go on trips outside. Callan also said he doesn’t enjoy going outside or engaging in extroverted activities.

So this time, she was planning to go with five people. Helka to help Jiwoo move long distances, Lanceil, Tevon and Enci to prepare for any unexpected events.

Callan had always been the type to wait in the village rather than go out on such matters, but this time, for some reason, he changed his mind.

“I can go instead of Enci.”

“What about Enci’s opinion…?”

“I will persuade him.”

If he says he would do that, does it mean things will go as he wanted?

For some reason, Enci seemed to be the punching bag here.

* * *

There was no reason to postpone the matter, so she decided to leave tomorrow morning once preparations were done this evening. Those who would leave together took care of their own preparations, and those who would stay and help rebuild the village went to rest early.

The first night had been difficult for Jiwoo, but it seems to have been quite an exhausting event for them as well.

Since she was with Helka, no one from the other group came to visit her in the morning.

Jiwoo, who was resting comfortably in a village that was quieter than other times, suddenly asked Helka.

“Helka, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“How rare is the presence of women in El Ragneil?”

In fact, Jiwoo was a stranger and she was far from an ordinary woman, but she was still curious about.

The more she thought about it, the more difficult it was to understand. How can they casually accept that a woman has a group? How can they easily say that if she prefers another group, she can go with that group, when she thought she had a deep connection?

Jiwoo never had a chance to meet other women.

“Hmm…”

Helka thought for a moment after hearing the question.

He tended to take longer than usual when he had to provide the optimal explanation for a situation or object.

Jiwoo spoke one more time when he was taking his time.

“If possible… I want to hear all the details.”

Although she blindly agreed to the marriage and even celebrated the wedding, Jiwoo did not know much about them.