C158
After a while, Terence let me down to the ground and asked why I had climbed the tree.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
I bowed my head several times.
"Actually, I came to the Wandering Forest for a walk and found fruits growing on a Tita tree, so I stopped..."
"When you say Tita tree, do you mean this tree?"
"Yes."
"But it's surprising that you would climb up there when there are people sleeping underneath. If you had fallen on my face, it would have been a serious accident."
"It's totally my fault for that. I used to be pretty good at climbing trees when I was young, but I felt complacent because I thought I would still be the same now."
"Couldn't you just have woken me up? If it was just fruit from a tree, I would have picked it and given it to you right away."
"You were sleeping so soundly that it was difficult to wake you up... Anyway, this incident is completely my fault. Thank you very much for saving me."
"Well, that's all."
"I would like to thank you somehow, but, can you tell me your name?"
"It's not necessary."
"But I'm really sorry..."
"There's no need to lament. In fact, there was no chance of you falling on me in the first place."
"What?"
"I was awake from the beginning. There's no way I could keep sleeping with that rustling."
"I-I'm sorry."
"If you truly feel sorry for me, then leave now. I need to finish taking a nap that was interrupted by someone."
The man was kind but stern.
I left the Wandering Forest to avoid him, as he seemed to want to quickly shoo away the uninvited guest.
But in the following days, the memory of him made me restless.
Judging by his behavior, he seemed like a mercenary. Now that I think about it, I heard that many mercenaries gather in the Wandering Forest.
Could we meet again if I go back there?
Leandro has always said that my strength is that I can put my thoughts into action immediately.
This time, too, I used my strengths to the fullest.
"Hello!"
"... Is it you again?"
The man I met at the same place last time frowned.
"What's happening this time? Have you come to pick fruit from a tree called Tita or something?"
"That's also part of it..."
He quickly climbed up the Tita tree, leaving me speechless and embarrassed to say that I came to see him.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
"Now that I see it, there are no Tita fruit trees around here anymore."
"Oh, the Tita tree isn't native to the continent, so it doesn't grow well on the continent, and even when it does grow, it rarely bears fruit."
"Is that so? That's why you decided to climb the tree and pick the fruit."
"In reality, I didn't even know there was a Tita tree in the Wandering Forest. I was surprised. I think it's an amazing forest in many ways, including the atmosphere."
"... There's also the myth that this place was touched by the goddess Miella a long time ago."
"Really? It's the first time I've heard that."
"It's not a very popular theory."
"You have a lot of knowledge. Are you really interested in that kind of thing?"
Then the man made an embarrassed expression.
"Are you going to stay here longer? I suppose you've achieved your goal, so you should return soon..."
"Would it be a bother if I stayed here?"
"Not necessarily. But wouldn't it be dangerous? Being alone with a strange man in a remote place like this."
"Oh, but Sir is a good man."
"... I wonder what you saw in me to make that judgment in just two brief meetings."
"That's because you caught me when I fell from the tree. Sir could have been hurt, but he didn't mind, that would only be possible if he were a good person."
"I caught you on reflex because something fell from above."
"Wow! This is not the time for that!"
I took out a paper bag from my bag and held it out in front of the man.
"As thanks, I bought bread from the most popular bakery in the capital these days! Would you like to eat together?"
"......"
He seemed as if he were wondering if such people existed in this world, repeated his response that he would simply accept my thoughts, and lay back down.
It seemed that he was probably trying to sleep again.
It was then that I thought, oh no.
"It's not poisoned!"
It was my fault. A mercenary who always risks his life would naturally be sensitive to such matters.
But it seemed that he had already fallen asleep and wasn't moving at all.
Regretting not bringing something more in return, I sat a little further away from him.
In the quiet atmosphere, the refreshing spring breeze tickled my forehead.
It seemed like a long time passed here and I wanted to know why.
"... Aren't you going to eat it?"
Suddenly, an unsatisfied voice was heard.
The man I thought was asleep woke up and pointed to the paper bag beside me.
"You said you have to eat the bread before it cools down?"
"What? Oh, it's fine. I'm not really hungry right now. I'll take it home."
Grrrrruur. But soon, the excuse I had given earlier was overridden by the sound that came from my stomach.
While looking away, feeling embarrassed, the man took the paper bag and took out two breads.
Then he put one in his mouth and handed me the other.
"To my embarrassment, I'm so hungry that I can't sleep. It's not appropriate to eat alone, so, would you like?"
"Yes, of course!"
The two sat down next to each other, ate bread, and talked.
"If you don't mind, may I ask your name?"
"... Please call me Tay."
Full Chapter Here☜ (AntiC0pyr1ght)