Savage Forest - Chapter 116.2
Enya had a feeling she knew who Silanda was referring to. As expected, Silanda spoke in a tone that seemed somewhat lonely, as if she had nothing to hide.
“It was Senu.”
Silanda continued with a wry laugh.
“When we were trapped in the cave, everyone initially blamed that man. They completely forgot that it was Senu who had begged to keep us alive. They thought that if only that man hadn’t contracted leprosy, we wouldn’t have needed to live such a miserable existence under Servia’s eyes. Of course, most of us had already been living a life that wasn’t really a life… We were all in the same boat. Forced to hide away from their families, people living alone in the empty fields or hiding with their diseases… Looking back now, it’s clear that everyone was just suffering. They were so caught up in their own pain that they had no room to care for others.”
Enya fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Silanda paused as if understanding, then continued.
“But Senu… He was relentless. It was as if he didn’t even realize he was suffering. He never gave up. Maybe he thought it was his punishment for his sins. Or maybe he still thinks that way.”
There was a deep worry in her voice.
Although Silanda had never shown it since parting with Senu, it was clear now how worried she was about Senu’s condition.
Enya felt foolish for not having realized this sooner. So preoccupied with her own condition, she had forgotten that Silanda was also grieving from getting separated from Senu.
“That man followed me even when everyone else avoided me. I think I even hit him a few times when he ranted about making useless weapons. But he just kept going. Whenever that pathetic man caused a ruckus in the cave, everyone thought he was mad, but in time, everyone ended up joining in on Senu’s plans.”
In the darkness, Enya could sense Silanda’s lips curling.
“Even though he looks so frail and weak now, back then, he was quite convincing. He was being groomed to be the next chieftain, after all.”
Although Enya hadn’t seen Senu in those days, she could fully relate to Silanda’s words. When she first saw Senu, even with his body covered in sores and bandages, he still spoke in that distinctive manner. His voice was soft yet resolute, the kind that could persuade anyone.
Silanda’s words seemed to drift on the breeze, gently reaching Enya’s ears.
“Even in that dirty, gloomy cave, whenever that madman refused to give up and managed to change things little by little… Honestly, it felt like sunlight was breaking through the darkness of that cave.”
Enya felt a lump in her throat.
She wanted to tell Silanda that she knew someone like that, too. She understood that feeling all too well. Someone who never gives up, who protects and never abandons even in the most desperate situations.
As if reading her thoughts, Silanda spoke again.
“I’ve heard a lot about that man named Tarhan from Reyhald.”
The two of them were now facing each other in the dark. Her eyes, adjusted to the darkness, could make out Silanda’s expression.
“That man is the father of this child, right?”
Silanda gestured toward Enya’s abdomen with a nod. The word ‘father’ made Enya hesitate for a moment. She cleared her throat to hold back the tears and replied.
“Yes, that’s right. Tarhan is the father of this child.”
At that moment, Enya couldn’t understand why she had such a desperate urge to see Tarhan.
Silanda was silent for a while.
As she listened to the sounds of Silanda shifting, Enya thought the conversation had ended. Then, Silanda murmured.
“That man, he really isn’t well.”
She was talking about Senu.
Enya was a bit taken aback.
She had been like someone who would never show weakness, no matter what. However, the Silanda now had a voice that sounded as fragile as a candle about to be extinguished.
Listening to her, Enya couldn’t find any words to answer. She felt that no words of comfort could possibly help Silanda at this moment.
Silanda was silent once again.
As Enya felt the rise and fall of Silanda’s even breaths, she finally couldn’t hold back and asked.
“Um, Silanda. About the father of your child. Was it Senu by any chance?”
The moment she heard this, Silanda sprang up from where she was lying.
Enya was taken aback.
“What, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
Even in the darkness, it was clear that Silanda’s face was flushed red.
“That can’t be true! I only spoke to Senu for the first time in that cave!”
Silanda’s voice was so loud that it startled Reyhald, who let out a strange sound before resuming his snoring. Enya stammered in response.
“If I misunderstood, I-I’m sorry. You both seemed very close…”
Silanda turned away with a huff and uttered firmly.
“He’s just my benefactor.”
Enya couldn’t understand her attitude. From what she had seen, Silanda’s treatment of Senu was no different from her treatment of Tarhan. She always worried about Senu’s well-being, made sure he had meals and quietly watched over him while he slept.
She couldn’t agree with Silanda’s claim that Senu was merely a benefactor, but she pretended to nod in agreement and replied.
“Oh, so it was because he was your benefactor. After all, Senu saved Silanda.”
At this, Silanda blinked in the darkness and then let out a hollow laugh.
“Saved… me? That man?”
Silanda seemed lost in thought, murmuring with a sigh.
“Well, I suppose it could be true.”
A night insect’s call could be heard from somewhere.
Enya closed her eyes and focused on the sound. Silanda seemed to want to end this trivial conversation and was preparing to sleep for the night.
Then, Silanda’s quiet voice came through.
“Yes. It must be true. He saved me and the people in that leper cave.”
As she spoke of Senu, Silanda’s voice trembled slightly. Her voice felt both hazy as if she had just realized something and somehow sharply focused.
“…He must have saved all of us. We all unknowingly depended on Senu, basking in the sunlight of his presence.”
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