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Is there no safe place anywhere in the world? (10) – unedited
The next day, Merson’s unfamiliar coldness continued throughout the day. Before going to County Abitz, there was no such thing as wasting time by whining that he didn’t want to part from me.
Starting from the inn, he walked without a word the whole time, then separately neatly in front of the main gate, with each of us going our own way. It’s where I’ve always left him to Evan as if tossing Merson, but today it’s uselessly peaceful.
Each time I peeled off one layer of onion skin at a time, the same amount of worry piled up in my head. Merson often sulks whenever he doesn’t get what he wants from me, but this was the first time he has ever tried to keep his mouth shut and not even make eye contact.
It seems that he was upset because he thinks I don’t trust him and pushes him away. To relieve the mood, I cleared my throat and called Merson’s name in a softer tone than usual, but Merson only answered ‘Yes’, coldly, without emotion. The answer was so chilly that I felt like I had been poured with cold water in an attempt to show a little bit of cuteness.
Does he have to be that upset?
I suddenly had a thought. It’s not like I was going to go all day, it’s just a few hours. Even while in Sezaine, going out like this was common.
‘How long are you going to sulk like that?’ I wanted to scream at him, but I couldn’t do it when I remembered Merson, who was exhausted and depressed. Haa… I’m upset I have to leave him alone, but how upset would he be if he got angry again?
“You can’t peel the onion’s inside!”
Flinch–
I trembled at the loud noise I heard behind my back. The rough blade almost rubbed my thumb. And I saw the white flesh of the onion feel under my feet.
Oh my God. My head was full of Merson and I didn’t even know what I was peeling.
“Sorry, I got distracted for a while.”
“Are you sick?”
“No, I am fine.”
Laughing exaggeratedly, Uncle Grick took a bunch of onions from my share today towards him.
“Take it easy.”
When I saw the markedly reduced onion, I told Uncle Grick it was okay, but if I can’t concentrate like today, I’ll just be throwing away the cherished onion. I bowed my head towards Uncle Grick.
“Thank you.”
When I came out from work, a soft orange light spread across the boundary between the ridge of the mountain and the sky in the distance.
Strangely, looking at the sunset makes me feel like I’m taking a break. Like a navel clock that notices the time to eat, is it because the body confirms through the sunset that a hard day is over?
“Merson, you worked hard.”
“Erina too.”
Merson responds formally. As he moved his long legs and strode forward, I jumped and blocked Merson’s path.
“How long are you going to do that?”
I didn’t mean to sound angry, but the words that came out were sharp, contrary to my intentions. Merson quietly looks down at me and moves his hand. Unknowingly, all my nerves were focused on that natural and relaxed movement.
I thought he wanted to gently brush my hair from my forehead, and then something comes off. It was an onion peel.
I shook my head violently and brushed them off. It wasn’t just one or two, the peels came over my shoulder.
“Merson, won’t you talk to me for the rest of your life?”
“…….”
“Even if you act like that, I won’t change my mind.”
Even as I said it, Merson still kept his mouth shut and was just tidying up my messy hair. I put Merson’s arm away and looked straight at him.
“Aren’t you going to answer whatever I say?”
“…….”
“Okay, fine. You go straight to the inn. I have a place to go.”
Merson still didn’t answer. The red eye stayed on my face for a long time and moved away with great difficulty.
Merson turned his back and walked in the opposite direction as mine. As I looked at the familiar wide back that was getting farther away, my heart was stabbed. How much damage must have been done to his tender heart…….
“I’ll come back quickly.”
Although I had weak physical strength, I did my best and sprinted to the temple.
When I arrived in front of the temple, I saw that huge stairway.
I started to climb on all fours using my hands, gasp-gasp- and when I saw the ground, the massive temple door opened and a large number of people started coming out all at once. As the slow accompaniment hymn rang behind them, I felt my complicated mind calmly subside, even though I had no particular religion.
“Wait, is Mass over now?”
Damn it. I thought I’d lose today’s opportunity, so I used my superhuman strength and moved my legs quickly. As I dug through the crowd and entered the temple, someone tapped my shoulder.
“A believer?”
“Haa, yes?”
Taking a deep breath, I reflexively look to the side, and a priest who looks familiar somewhere calls me.
“Ah! From last time that…….”
The old priest I met in front of the temple a week ago smiled and nodded his head.
“The Saint is waiting for you. Let’s go.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
It was an unexpected situation. I came here without an appointment, so I was not going to ask her to meet me unilaterally, but the Saint was rather waiting for me?
I followed the priest with bewildered footsteps. As I walked along the long corridor, I reached the depths of the temple. Seeing that the number of temple knights increased from a certain moment, I thought it was likely to be the Saint’s personal space.
After passing the place where walls continued, the priest’s feet finally stopped. It was in front of a single door that hung on one side of the ivory hallway.
“Please go in.”
“Without knocking?”
As I hesitated, the priest immediately grabbed the long doorknob and turned it. No, this guy! Allow me to prepare my heart!