YDPTB Chapter 78

When I opened my eyes, the sun was high in the sky. I frowned at the chirping of birds and turned my head. No one was beside me, but I could hear the sound of someone washing in the bathroom.

With a dazed feeling, I stared at the ceiling. How did it come to this? I carefully retraced the development of events. Right, this was all because of Asmil and Asdion. If those two hadn’t had sex in the next room, none of this would have happened. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes.

As I lay there, taking a deep sigh, the bathroom door opened and hot air invaded the room. Lifting my heavy eyelids, I saw Karhan emerging with a towel wrapped around his waist. His well-defined muscles looked like a work of art.

Sensing my gaze, Karhan turned his head. Water droplets formed at the ends of his wet hair and dripped down.

“You’re awake.”

As I watched him approach slowly, I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. It was really stupid, but I’d only just realized.

“Be honest. What we did last night… that’s not something friends do, is it?”

How could friends casually take such a position? As I stared at him with wide eyes, he stood there blankly before letting out a laugh. His beautifully creased eyes looked pretty and annoying at the same time.

“It wasn’t completely wrong. There are friends like this too.”

“…You’re mean.”

He had some nerve. I glared at him while breathing heavily, but Karhan smiled and changed his clothes, seemingly unaffected. He naturally untied the towel around his waist. I guess there’s nothing left to hide now.

“Hah.”

I let out a sigh, letting everything go, and blinked. In contrast to my complicated feelings, the scenery outside the window was peaceful. Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily. I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of “friends like this” meant, but it certainly didn’t seem like a normal relationship.

How did it come to this? Was it since those three days in Atlena?

Karhan, now fully dressed, approached and held out his hand. I lay there staring blankly at it before grasping it and raising my upper body. It seemed I had been changed into fresh clothes while sleeping, as they didn’t smell of sweat at all.

“Change your clothes.”

“I’ll wash first.”

“I already washed you at dawn.”

“…Personally?”

I asked, twitching my eyebrows, and he nodded nonchalantly. I lowered my head with a distant expression and looked at my hands. What was I thinking when I shook Karhan’s thing? I feel like crying.

Was it funny? Did you find it amusing that I fell for such a simple play on words? I buried my face in my hands. I want to be alone.

Sluggishly, I pulled back the blanket and changed my clothes. When we left the inn, the horse we had parked in the stable and the guide were waiting for us.

“Did you have a comfortable night?”

“Pardon?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah, yes, I slept well.”

Like the pot calling the kettle black, I was startled and asked back. The guide looked at me suspiciously, but I pretended not to notice and looked up at the sky.

As Karhan and I mounted our horses, the guide also hopped on his horse and slowly led the way ahead of us. Suddenly, he turned around and gave us a warning.

“Of course, as you’re a duke, you probably know this, but the elves dislike humans, so you need to be careful. You mustn’t do anything that might irritate them.”

Karhan may be human, but I’m a bird-folk, so it should be fine, right? Though I’m not sure if they can see through my human appearance.

Despite the swaying of the horse, I could comfortably lean back against Karhan’s solid body supporting me from behind. After a few hours, we stopped in front of an open space.

“It’s here.”

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary forest. I slowly dismounted the horse, holding Karhan’s outstretched hand. Cautiously walking forward and looking around, I could only hear the sounds of small insects and birds.

The guide picked up small pebbles from the surroundings and placed them one by one on top of a large rock hidden among the grass. Then, as if playing a prank, he drew strange symbols with a tree branch and waved at us to come closer. Feeling a scary sensation as if he was summoning something, I tightly held Karhan’s hand and slowly approached.

As the three of us huddled together, the clearing that had been full of insect and bird sounds suddenly fell silent. After a moment of silence, an unbelievable sight unfolded before our eyes. A dark, opaque membrane appeared where trees and grass had been abundant. It looked like a door that might lead to an unknown place.

“You can pass through here. Since only two people are allowed, I’ll have to wait here.”

It seemed the saying about them disliking humans was true, as the number of people allowed to pass was very limited. The hand holding mine tightened and pulled me. Karhan, seemingly unafraid, strode into the door. His entire body had passed through, with only our joined hands peeking out.

“Karhan, are you okay?”

As I asked in a trembling voice, the hand without a body playfully tickled my palm. Thankfully, he’s still alive. I closed my eyes tightly and leaped through the door. The door that looked slippery like jelly felt like nothing when passing through. I slowly opened my eyelids.

“Wow…”

A world I had never seen before unfolded before my eyes. It was so different from the environment where ordinary people live. Everywhere was filled with green grass, and even the buildings were not angular but composed of living trees. It was a sight I might never see again in my lifetime.

Unable to close my wide-open mouth, I turned my head this way and that. It was truly the epitome of eco-friendliness. As I looked around in admiration, a sharp voice came from behind.

“What are you standing there like an idiot for?”

Tilting my head at the unfamiliar voice, I looked back. There stood a man with his arms crossed, looking displeased. Green hair that reminded me of someone swayed back and forth around his neck. Upon closer inspection, I noticed his ears were not round but pointed upwards towards the sky.

I swallowed my admiration along with the saliva that had pooled in my mouth. He might be offended if I expressed amazement at his appearance. As I quietly stared at him, his face crumpled even more, and he pouted.

“Come this way. I’ll guide you to the Elder.”

With an excited heart, I let go of Karhan’s hand and ran over. The elf recoiled in horror, backing away. With a face full of shock, he shouted.

“No, I said come this way, not get close to me!”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Not at all, completely different. Don’t cling to me. You smell like humans.”

What an utterly unpleasant fellow. I narrowed my eyes and glared at the insolent guy. Somehow, his extreme reaction made me want to approach even more. As I slowly raised my hand, the elf in front of me hurriedly backed away. Being treated like a forbidden germ made me feel like I should faithfully fulfill the role.

As I approached with twitching lips, Karhan put his hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him, and he gently shook his head.

“Stop it.”

“I was just going to tease him a little.”

While it wasn’t particularly pleasant to be treated this way out of the blue, I had no intention of forcibly doing something that someone genuinely disliked.

Giving up on the prank, I slowly followed behind, and we saw an enormous tree house in what appeared to be the center of the village, large enough to envelop the whole world. As we slowly approached, I felt glances darting our way. The gazes weren’t kind, as if our sudden visit was unwelcome.

Trying to ignore the pointed stares, we passed through the wooden door and entered. Inside, we found a young woman sitting at the end of a large table. I had thought the Elder would be an elderly person, but that wasn’t the case.

I wondered if she would dislike humans too. As I stood at a distance, assessing the atmosphere, the Elder opened her mouth with a refreshing smile.

“Please come closer.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the stationary chairs moved on their own like living beings, creating seats for us. Wow. I wonder if they’d like it if I pet them too.

The Elder seemed to have no aversion to humans, so I was about to approach with somewhat excited steps, but Karhan stretched out his hand to block my way. What’s this? As I looked up at Karhan with a puzzled expression, he spoke without taking his eyes off the Elder.

“The conversation will be sufficient with just me, so go sightseeing around the village with that elf.”

“Eck.”

I immediately frowned and turned my head. There I saw an elf whose expression wasn’t much different from mine. He clenched his fist and twitched his lips.

“I don’t want to. Why should I guide a mere human around the village?”

“Geez.”

I had let it slide during our first meeting, but his manner of speaking was truly nasty. He couldn’t distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be said in front of the person concerned. I narrowed my eyes and turned my head with a huff.

“I don’t want to either. I’m staying here.”

As I stood stubbornly with my arms crossed, I felt a hand tickling my head. Trying to coax me again, huh? I pushed out my lips and shook my head to brush off his hand. Come to think of it, you’ve been gradually deceiving me.

As I remained steadfastly unresponsive, the gentle voice of the Elder sitting far away reached us.

“Silion. It’s been a while since we’ve had visitors. I’m sure you’d be very happy to show them around the village.”

So the elf’s name is Silion. While he had sharply reacted and immediately refused when Karhan spoke, when the Elder spoke, he bowed his head at a 90-degree angle, his hands trembling. He even answered loudly with a voice full of spirit.

“Understood!”

That guy, I think he just answered with abdominal breathing. He looked like he would lay down his life at his superior’s command. I glared at him with incredulous eyes, but he hurriedly approached the door and gestured for me to come out.

“Hurry up and come out.”

“No.”

I answered sharply, trying to rebel against the situation progressing without my consent. As I stared at the innocent floor with a sullen expression, not looking at anyone, a low voice came from above my head.

“When we get home, I’ll make you that ice cream I mentioned before.”