Savage Forest - Chapter 133.2

As she had anticipated, Kiyan was visibly shaken by the name Eireke.

“…That child could never be strong. She was always so fragile. I worried so much when she said she had to move that gigantic monster. Even after those worries became reality, I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Kiyan’s tear-filled eyes lifted to meet Enya’s.

“You resemble Eireke so much.”

Her fingers gently traced Enya’s cheek.

“I’m so grateful that you take after her…”

Enya, too, found it hard to speak.

Her heart tightened with emotion.

Kiyan, speaking those words, looked so much like her. Enya rested her cheek against Kiyan’s palm and offered a small smile.

“Now, now! Enya needs to rest. You have to sit down!”

At that moment, someone intervened.

It was Piache.

Piache, standing at the edge of the forest’s peak and gazing down at the Nervana forest below, called out anxiously to Enya and Kiyan.

“You shouldn’t make a pregnant woman stand for so long!”

Piache still found it hard to accept that Enya’s body had fully recovered since coming to Nervana Forest.

These days, Piache’s only concern seemed to be Enya’s health.

Would she break if she stood too long? Would she collapse if she sat? If Enya wasn’t lying down, Piache acted like something terrible was bound to happen.

“Don’t you know how fragile Enya’s body is?”

Her worry came from experience. Considering Enya’s health during her time in Aquilea, it was completely understandable.

However, Enya was no longer fragile. Just like the Nervana forest people, who had fully recovered after coming to the forest, she was now a part of the forest’s lifeblood. The air of Nervana had completely restored her to health.

She was even confident in her own strength.

‘This child will be born safely.’

She gently wrapped her hands around her belly. And just as she was about to speak, wanting to reassure Piache that she was fine…

“Oh, stop it. Old woman!”

A small shadow trailed behind Piache.

It was Ihita.

“Stop treating her like a child! Enya’s strong now, she can even chew on buffalo tendons, what’s the problem?”

Ihita grumbled, grabbing Piache by the arm.

“Enya is the next leader of the forest! Don’t keep thinking of her as that fragile person from before!”

Ihita’s words were all true.

The Nervana forest had accepted Enya as the rightful heir, the next Daughter of the Forest. Since Kiyan, Nervana hadn’t been able to properly establish a leader. For a while, the strong warriors Yaru and Fiarca had been considered as candidates, but that was all.

‘Now that Enya is back, it’s only natural that she will be the next leader.’

‘I agree. The position of leader is nothing but responsibility, with little to gain.’

Yaru and Fiarca had taken it for granted that Enya would be the next leader. It wasn’t just them. The entire Nervana clan thought of Enya’s ascension as the next leader as a natural progression.

For Enya, it was a surprise.

‘I had said I would take some time to learn the ways of leadership under Kiyan…’

She could faintly guess the reality.

It was only a matter of time before she would lead Nervana, and she was gradually preparing herself to accept that.

Ihita grumbled to Piache again.

“Silanda confirmed that the baby inside Enya is strong! Anyway, old woman, you’re always causing trouble!”

“What?!”

Piache finally snapped.

“You’re one to talk, Ihita. You don’t even know when your own baby will come, yet you act like this!”

She shouted loudly.

“I should’ve known from when you were playfully bickering with that big distracting guy in the apothecary!”

“What?!”

Ihita’s cheeks immediately turned bright red.

“I-I’m not… what kid are you talking about…!”

Piache had been like this ever since she saw Ihita and Reyhald hug each other when they reunited. She gave Ihita endless words and scolded Reyhald to no end. The problem, however, was that Reyhald was someone Piache simply couldn’t manage.

“Hey, Ihita!”

At that moment, another figure appeared from behind. Piache muttered, grinding her teeth.

“Really, a monkey always comes around when you’re talking.”

Reyhald swung his arms and headed toward them.

Seeing Reyhald, Piache started grumbling.

“…You worthless little brat.”

Reyhald stopped as soon as he noticed Piache. He greeted her first.

“Hey, old woman. You were here? Managed to survive the night, huh?”

Laughing loudly, Reyhald caught Piache’s reaction. Piache raised her hands in frustration and shouted.

“Who’s going to die? You should die, you scoundrel!”

“You’re still going strong. I’m glad, anyway. I’m sure you won’t die early, old lady.”

Reyhald, still joking, noticed Enya.

“Oh, Enya’s here too. Good morning. And hello, Old Lady Kiyan.”

With his usual charm, Reyhald greeted Kiyan before suddenly picking Ihita up and lifting her into the air.

“You, you’re crazy! Hey, let me go!”

Ihita’s face turned bright red in an instant.

“Alright, alright. With those short legs, how long did you think it would take? Come on, settle down!”

Reyhald playfully slapped Ihita on the behind.

“You’re dead today!”

“Yes, yes. Let’s see if I can die under you tonight. Ha ha!”

Ihita fiercely hit Reyhald, but it seemed to have no effect on him. He held her by the waist, lifting her up and carrying her off. The two of them, now living together at the peak of Nervana, were always close like this.

Enya glanced at the two of them as they moved away.

Though Ihita grumbled, she was subtly holding Reyhald’s thick neck, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“Really, Ihita, that girl has no shame! That scoundrel!”

Piache was still hopping around, clearly not having calmed down.

Piache thought of Ihita like her own daughter. Enya understood her feelings well. She watched the young lovers move further away. Now, Ihita had stopped struggling, completely holding Reyhald’s neck as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Enya unconsciously stroked her belly.

‘Maybe this child will have a friend faster than I thought.’