Chapter 132
Feyden silently wet his lips. Silence was affirmation. He didn’t say that it wasn’t so.
“Don’t worry too much. And Feyden, you know Jin said he’d go up to the Empire with me. And you know better than anyone that Jin isn’t so weak anymore that he’d lose to just anyone.”
“Ha…”
He tightly grabbed my wavy hair. It was probably because he hated the fact that he had to bring up something he’d been agonizing over for months like this in the end.
Out of a sense of duty to fulfill his mission as a mercenary who’d taken payment. Or because he cherished me, he’d tried somehow not to leave Dongguk.
Even though he had to go to the Empire to receive his baptism upon coming of age.
Time and again, notices urging him to appear were sent down in Feyden’s name. Every time, Feyden would snort and say he didn’t need any stupid baptism like that, then tear the papers to shreds.
The final notice that arrived for him not long ago contained what was practically a threat, saying the consequences would fall upon his family.
Feyden, who’d raged that he’d destroy the temple and the Empire if they dared touch Truu, seemed to regain his senses after that, and from time to time he would just stare blankly in the direction of the Empire without a word.
Truu and me. He had clearly been torn between the two.
But I knew well what decision he would make. There was nothing more precious to him than his family. If anything, it was stranger that Feyden had even agonized over choosing between Truu and me.
‘Who do I think I am.’
At the decision Feyden finally made after months of deliberation, I smiled brightly and told him to have a safe trip. I also didn’t forget to thank him for finally offering the apology he’d kept in his heart for three whole years, right as he was about to leave.
“S**t… it’s not like I really want to go, you know?”
“I know. You’re worried about Truu. I’m worried about Truu too, so Feyden, hurry up and go get baptized. I’m really curious how Truu’s been doing too. When you go, make sure you pass along my regards as well.”
He bit down hard on his lower lip. He looked like a child whose face had gone beyond sulking, tears welling up because things weren’t going his way.
“You… Why do you think I was trying to stay here?”
“You said it yourself, Feyden. That a mercenary takes responsibility for the job they’re paid for. And that I’m so dumb you couldn’t leave me to Jin because you were worried. And also… because you like a life of napping all day and getting fed snacks here?”
“Ha…”
Feyden covered his face with his large hand and let out a deep sigh.
“No?”
“…That’s part of it, but it’s not all of it.”
“Hmm. Well, I guess you have your own reasons, Feyden? But what is it, then?”
With his face still covered by his hand, Feyden looked back and glanced over at me. That frustrated expression of his, asking if I really didn’t know, was enough to make me feel even more frustrated.
So what is it, then?
The air heated up and swirled between us. I stared at Feyden with an intensely curious expression, and Feyden turned his gaze away, his face reddened by the warmth.
“…If you don’t know, then forget it.”
“What do you mean, forget it! You can’t just make someone curious like this!”
“I figured it’s better if you don’t know.”
“What is it! Tell me!”
I flung the blanket aside and moved toward Feyden on my knees. Feyden looked up at me while still lying down.
I spread all ten fingers, raised my nails, and smiled slyly.
“Still not going to tell me? I’ll tickle you.”
“That’s enough. You don’t need to know, kid.”
“I’m eighteen now, you know?”
“When you become an adult, yeah. When you become an adult, I’ll tell you then. Kid.”
“Wow. Just a four-year age gap and you treat me like a child.”
Because Feyden stubbornly refused to open his mouth even under my tickling attack, I couldn’t find out the final reason he’d been unable to leave Dongguk.
I’ll run straight to him and make him tell me as soon as I’m of age.
I really can’t stand not knowing things.
With a sulky face, I chased Feyden out of the room. Saying it was hot anyway, he fanned his reddened face with his hand and went outside.
And so, Feyden, who’d been dragging his feet like a sluggish caterpillar, finally finished preparing to leave after a full week.
All he had was one small backpack and a single sword, yet somehow he’d complained lazily that he still couldn’t depart because he was packing all week long.
I pressed a gold coin into the hand of the lazy Feyden and told him to arrive safely and contact me.
“Use it when you need to on the way. And don’t spend it all yourself. When you get there, buy Truu something tasty too and tell him it’s from me. Got it?”
Feyden smiled crookedly and tucked the gold coin into his chest.
“What if I don’t say anything to Truu and just swallow this gold coin myself?”
“Then you’ll have to pay back ten times the amount.”
“Oh yeah? Then I guess I should swallow it myself.”
“Huh? Why! My feelings for Truu…!”
“So you’ll come looking for me.”
“……”
Feyden spread his arms wide and crooked his finger at me.
“What are you doing. Aren’t you going to hug me?”
“…Do we really have to hug?”
“Then should I give you a kiss like Ariel?”
“…Have a safe trip.”
I hesitantly walked up to Feyden and hugged him. Though, given his large build, it ended up looking more like I was the one being held.
He bent down and hugged me tightly, then whispered softly into my ear.
“Let’s definitely meet again, Potato.”
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