Chapter 13

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Chapter 13

Fren’s feat of finding Yuria’s lost items was not as easy as it seemed. Although he held the appearance of a four-year kid, he was born less than two years ago. It’s said he grew up so quickly due to his inherited blood of the devil, because of this his physical abilities were also superior to those of humans. Regardless of appearance, Fren was still a child who lacked any proper teaching, thus the blood he inherited was only used to threaten, hurt, or kill his opponents. Though it wasn’t difficult to locate the lost items (he only had to follow the scent of the blood and vague traces of energy), practically bushwhacking through the forest path was like climbing a cliff without any rope. Previously he’d always walked with Yuria, so it was his first time alone, the road didn’t feel difficult when he was with her, but as he hiked alone he suddenly found it to be incredibly wearisome.

Fren’s small feet hit the ground without a break, but even after what seemed like hours he didn’t reach his destination. If he were an ordinary adult, he would have been there in 30 minutes; however, even after walking for nearly an hour Fren was still trudging through the same unchanging trees. He stumbled again and again falling each time, and standing back up each time. A stone got stuck in his shoe, making Fren’s foot sorer with every step. His palms tingled, turning red and swelling from contacting the ground so much. His knees weren’t unscathed either, after falling and scraping his knees on rocks blood had begun trickling from the cut. Despite the obvious struggle, Fren didn’t frown once, only shaking his head as he stood as if nothing had happened.

The sight of the small child repeatedly falling and getting up on a rough forest path was pitiful.

The sun had set during this time, darkening the forest. The woods, which was a beautiful green scenery with sunlight, became like the jaws of a monster gaping open to snatch unsuspecting prey. The harsh wind caused the trees to sway; it looked like it would grab Fren at any moment. Nonetheless, Fren wasn’t scared of the dark or the changed atmosphere -Fren was familiar with darkness- before meeting Yuria, he had been living in a dark and gloomy place without any light. With no windows and only solid walls, it was very bleak and cold, like a cell or a dreary morgue. In the midst of this, Fren spent his time alone curled up, making not a single sound, only the occasional groan of pain filled the emptiness. As soon as he could see, and for as long as he could remember he spent all his days there.

He didn’t truly understand how absolutely scary and absurd living in that place was. There, he was always beaten by people, sworn at, and treated worse than an animal. He was continually starved, and even the rare meals were worse than rubbish.

Years passed and he met Yuria and got to learn of the many things he’d been missing out on… all the things he never got to experience. At the same time, he discovered that the world wasn’t so cold with only darkness enshrouding it, that there was warmth being with someone who he liked, a comfortable sincere feeling that could never be replaced.

Fren, who couldn’t tell when walking together, realized how precious Yuria was as he struggled alone, now he couldn’t let it slide any longer.

He would rather have not known, and stayed the same. If only he’d stayed unaware, Fren could have let it go, and believed it was natural to be in such pain through his first years, not doubting or complaining about a single thing. However, it wasn’t like that anymore. Fren didn’t want to be alone, he didn’t want someone to hurt him. Only now did he realize that he was hurt and wounded because of them.

Fren finally arrived at the place where the items had been lost. The corpses of men who hadn’t disappeared remained intact, yet Fren was completely unaffected. It was something he was used to seeing, hence he wasn’t the slightest bit shocked; rather, it brought back memories of Yuria and only made Fren feel bad.

‘If it weren’t for those.’ Yuria wouldn’t have been so hurt. Yuria wouldn’t have cried in pain. Most importantly, he wouldn’t have had to show such a terrifying appearance in front of her.

Looking at the corpses, Fren thought, ‘…I hate humans.’

Fren hated all human beings. They were always the ones to hurt him, he had never been liked by people and never felt their warmth. However, one human, Yuria, was the exception. Fren didn’t hate Yuria. There was no reason to hate her, she was different from any human he experienced before.

‘I like Yuria.’ Fren vaguely thought. If he had to explain why he liked her, all his fingers would not be enough to count all the reasons.

Yuria was a brand new world for Fren. Now, his world was divided into one with Yuria and one without Yuria. A world without Yuria always made Fren hurt, and gave him a lot of scars. There, he couldn’t do anything, nor was he allowed to. However, the world with Yuria was completely different, the world with Yuria was warm, shiny, and fluffy. There, Fren was able to enjoy all the things he’d never been able to before.

‘So, Yuri is mine.’

I’ll never let go. I’ll never lose her.

If someone tried to take Yuria away from him, he was going to destroy everything. If he hadn’t met Yuria, he wouldn’t have known, but now he couldn’t afford to live without her. He didn’t want to return to how he lived previously; it was so sad and painful. It was awful, and he hated it. Now that he knew what comfort was, his previous life was nothing but hell.

Fren looked away from the men, leaning down to pick up the items scattered on the ground. Fren’s clothes Yuria bought for him. Fren’s toys. Fren’s tableware…

Some were completely broken, nevertheless, he did not ignore the fragments scattered on the ground, picking up each broken piece. He cut his fingers, but Fren didn’t mind the pain. If I bring these, I think Yuria will like it. At the thought of Yuria he didn’t feel the stinging pain.

The way back was also a series of hardships, but it wasn’t as difficult as the first time, probably because the thought of giving her the present gave Fren joy. Despite falling and getting up again and again, Fren remained strong. Even amidst falling, he held the objects tightly in his arms, lest he would lose the things he had just found. He could get hurt, but he couldn’t let the gifts for her be ruined, they were the hard things to obtain.

‘So… then, why?’ Upon arriving at home, the Yuria reflected in Fren’s eyes did not look happy. He brought it all for her, hoping that she would smile. It was a gift for her, and she looked like she was about to cry.

So Fren felt dejected and gloomy.

Yuria struggled to hold back her tears and called out tenderly, “…Fren.”

‘What should I do with you?’ Such a lovely child, such a wounded child.

All the objects were there just not in their original condition. Throwing them at the men and then getting tossed on the ground, the new clothes she bought were dirty, the dishes were broken, and all the groceries were torn.

But what does it matter? Fren’s heart that was contained in such a present was too heavy and large. It hurt her just to think how Fren must have suffered to find all of that, with such a frail body, alone in the forest.

The forest at night was dark, scary, and rough. Even as an adult, she wouldn’t think of stepping into the woods at night. Such a place… that child, that small child…

“Aren’t you happy? Is Yuri hurt?” Fren asked in a dispirited tone, staring at Yuria, who looked like she would shed tears if he touched her. He didn’t bring them for this. At that moment, he hated them. If he had known that Yuria would be sad, he would not have tried to find them in the first place.

“No, it is not that.” Yuria shook her head in denial, noticing Fren’s gloomy expression and discouraged emotions.

“Did you bring all this for me?” Yuria asked, an indescribable feeling rising in her chest.

“Yuri smile pretty. …Like it.” He spoke sparsely and oddly, but Yuria was able to understand his words. Fren had gone into the forest to retrieve the items simply because he wanted to make her smile.

Yuria choked in tears. She was a good person, she had even hurt him just that afternoon because she wasn’t good enough. She couldn’t even keep the promise she made to Fren.

Then why… Why are you this sweet?

“Thank you, Fren.”

Thank you for appearing in front of me.

For allowing me to meet you.

For giving me one more chance.

And for accepting me and giving me these precious things.

Yuria cautiously approached Fren and hugged him. They could feel each other’s warmth through their touch. The warmth felt so nice, Fren buried his face in Yuria’s shoulder, his wiggling hands hovered in the air, too short to hug Yuria back.

“Yuri not hurt?”

“I am very happy.”

“Yuri is crying.”

When Yuria said that she was happy, Fren tilted his head in confusion.

“I’m crying because I’m happy.”

Again, Fren frowned at the words that he did not understand.

“Sometimes, even when I’m happy, tears come out from joy. It’s just… I’m so happy.”

Fren tilted his head again. ‘Why do you cry if you are happy?’ Raising his head slightly, he looked at Yuria’s face and couldn’t tell if she was happy or hurt.

“Later, Fren will find out. The fact that you can cry out of joy.” Yuria said with a friendly gaze.

You’re a kid who doesn’t even know how to smile properly, so it’s hard to understand what I’m saying right now.

Seeing that gaze, Fren was a little relieved.

“I’m so happy that Fren gave me a present.”

Fren just looked at Yuria.

“But do you remember? The greatest gift to me is Fren.”

“Fren, is a present?”

“Of course. So for me, you don’t have to do anything. Fren itself is the biggest gift to me, so being with you is my happiness.”

Fren looked at Yuria quietly. He liked the fact that he was a present to her. He felt a warm tickling feeling as if millions of blanket-like feathers were surrounding him. He didn’t know what the word ‘gift’ meant to her, or how profound it was, but instinctively, Fren knew that it was something boundless and immeasurable. His heart was pounding wildly, it just felt so amazing that he felt like he was going to get the hiccups from excitement.

They both were looking at each other with their hearts bared. Fren’s eyes were filled solely with Yuria, only she remained in Fren’s world, not even Fren himself held a place in this world.

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