Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“It’s not that simple! Weed, the leaves have grown again! Although it was temporary, it was enough for me to pick up something that had fallen like this!”

“Um.”

“Do you know how worried we were? You said you wouldn’t need it all, no, you gave up without even trying in the first place. Knowing that you would only dry up to the end and die, how could we…”

Unfazed by the persistent words of the priest, Weed remained lost in his own thoughts. Leaning his chin on his hand, he gazed into the distance and let out a heavy sigh.

The rain continued to fall, a constant backdrop to his restless night.

He had spent the previous night sleepless as his mind was fixated on the unexpected rainfall.

Every morning, as soon as the day broke, he would visit Shin Hana’s room. With tender care, he would gently place her on the bed, showering her with kisses until she was content. But today, a sense of unease filled him as he searched in vain for her presence.

He wondered if the bed she had slept in the previous night was comfortable enough. He knew she had been diligently taking care of her body, ensuring her pain was alleviated. Moving her to a warm spot, wiping away any traces of water, and tucking her in with a soft blanket, he emerged from the room, his mind burdened with inexplicable worry.

“…Did she have a good night last night? Did she sleep well?”

“Weed.”

“What?”

“That’s the fifth time you’ve asked me.”

“…Did I?”

The priest sighed lightly.

“If you’re going to keep asking like that, can’t you just go find her now? It’s been a long time since it’s been bright. Isn’t that where Weed used to be in the first place?”

The words of the priest went through Weed’s mind while he only gazed absently through the window, where raindrops trickled down. Though technically, it wasn’t a bright day, and he maintained his internal insistence.

The sun remained hidden behind the shroud of rain clouds.

In truth, he had contemplated entering while Hana was still asleep. He carefully calculated the timing of the sunrise, anticipating the usual time for their morning kisses. He even approached the front door but hesitated and turned back around.

“Haaaaa…”

Weed let out a deep sigh, not knowing how many times he had done already. He questioned whether he had been momentarily caught harboring an impolite thought.

What if she perceived him as repulsive?

The concern had plagued his mind throughout the night, replaying in his thoughts countless times. Even though he wanted to explain that it was never what she might have assumed, he lacked the courage to confront her.

What else could it mean by ‘what she thought’? Though he was making his own judgments now, Weed pondered over her genuine thoughts. The endless worry intertwined with an accelerating heartbeat. Her sweet voice lingered in his mind, refusing to fade away.

He yearned to see her yet felt unworthy of facing her.

Wrestling with his concerns, Weed meticulously gauged the passage of time. Shin Hana should have awakened by now. Considering that her movements slowed on rainy days, it was about time for her to be up.

‘…Wait, didn’t she say it’s harder on a rainy day?’

So, wasn’t she in a situation where she needed him now? After a while, Weed found a legitimate reason to visit Shin Hana. He was just about to get up.

“…So the priests should be talking to the sacrifice by now.”

“What?”

Weed wrinkled his forehead at the moment. It was not a very pleasant word.

“I must have told you not to approach her?”

“…Yes? So, did you intend for her to starve?”

He typically acted as a barrier, preventing the priests from approaching Shin Hana. He also took charge of serving her meals. However, today was different. Weed, who would usually be on standby at dawn and searching for her, was aimlessly wandering.

Consequently, the priests took it upon themselves to serve the food.

The priest sighed in response to his reaction.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know why he was reacting. He despised it when they referred to her as a sacrifice.

“Weed, did you hear everything I said?”

“I heard.”

“Then… I don’t know why you’re stopping us. The divine disease will be healed. Did you check with the leaf I just gave you? It’s definitely getting better. There is no sacrifice more suitable than that…”

“I…”

Glancing at the priest, he turned his gaze back to the mirror. Weed, who had just tidied up his tousled hair after grabbing it, spat out rather coldly.

“I never told you I wanted to live. Did I hear what you guys were saying? I heard it. But it’s not even worth responding to. She is not a sacrifice. Don’t do anything unnecessary, and prepare to open the passage as instructed.”

Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the room, leaving only the priest behind.

The priest remained in the room, bowing his head, and observed as Weed made his exit. He lowered his gaze with his eyes fixated on the discarded piece of the world tree that Weed had casually tossed aside.

At that moment, a wave of emotions washed over him. He knew that Weed could never understand the weight of their burden, the sight of the withered and contorted world tree greeting them each time they entered the sacred space. How did it feel for the priests when they first beheld the golden leaves adorning the sky after decades?

…How deeply did their hearts crumble every time Weed dismissed their efforts as futile?

The priest could not raise his head and rubbed his eyes with the back of his arm.

Weed quickly walked to where Hana was staying.

Anticipating such a situation, he had taken measures to prevent the priests from approaching Hana. Their disregard for her individuality, referring to her as a mere sacrifice, fueled his determination to shield her from their misguided influence.

He repeatedly warned them to keep their distance, fearing they would fill Hana’s mind with senseless notions.

Lately, however, he noticed a growing sense of rebellion among those who had once been obedient.

It troubled him, but he couldn’t let Hana go hungry. It was understandable that the priests attended to her needs first, considering he had been lost in a daze throughout the night. Yet, their generosity stemmed solely from their perception of her as a sacrifice.

Weed’s unease deepened as he quickened his pace.

Upon reaching the entrance of Hana’s room, he was greeted by the sound of laughter emanating from within. His hand hesitated before the doorknob, and he strained his ears to catch fragments of the conversation taking place inside, where Hana’s voice echoed faintly beyond the door.

“Wow! This is really pretty. I don’t really have a chance to wear something like this where I live.”

“Would you like to try this, too?”

“What is this? A waist belt?”

“It’s a hair ornament, but I made it into a shape that humans like these days. I made it last night.”

“Really? On your own? Amazing… should I tie my hair up? It’s really pretty.”

“No. You can wear it like a crown. Wrap it around. It’s hard to do on your own, so I’ll do it for you.”

They said the priest would be talking to her by now. Fortunately, it wasn’t the kind of talk he was worried about.

Weed stood outside the door without even realizing it and overheard what they were saying.

“Hey, that was a trend ten years ago.”

“I didn’t go outside other than that time, so why does it matter? And if it’s made of this, everyone will want to have it, right?”

“Yes, but Hana wouldn’t want it as a decoration, would she?”

Did she get bored? It seemed that the priests were talking to each other.

“Hana, try this pin yourself. This is just what humans left in the past.”

“Yes. Thank you. How is this, oh, ouch!”

“Oh, what? Did you get pricked by a pin?”

“Don’t worry. This kind of wound is…”

Pricked by a pin? Was she hurt? Weed opened the door without further delay. The sound must have been rather loud, so the four of them immediately turned their heads towards him. One of the priests was covering Hana, so she could not be seen.

What caught his eyes more than that was Hana’s outstretched hand and the priest holding it.

‘…What’s going on?’

As if trying to kiss the back of her hand, the priest’s posture made Weed accelerate his pace.

He strode toward them. Before Weed snatched Hana’s hand away from the priest, the priest hurriedly raised both hands into the air and took three steps back from her.

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